Hyena comments on MIT Challenge: blogger to attempt CS curriculum on own - Less Wrong

8 Post author: komponisto 27 September 2011 11:01PM

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Comment author: omslin 28 September 2011 08:24:43AM 4 points [-]

At MIT, some students take 8+ classes over ~15 weeks. This involves lots of busywork and an expectation of getting the highest grade (an A). [They also often do side projects.]

Scott Young aims to complete classes at the same rate. But he's skipping much of the busywork and requiring merely passing grades. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls it off.

I'm an MIT student and currently spend 60-100 hours/class. Taking Young's approach, I could probably average 30 hours/class, which for 33 classes might be doable in about 2 months... Maybe doing 33 MIT classes in 1 month is something for a Tim Ferriss.

Comment author: Hyena 28 September 2011 12:15:31PM 1 point [-]

How is this done? When I was at university, scheduling conflicts would start becoming a problem at 5 classes and be almost insurmountable at 7.

Comment author: omslin 28 September 2011 04:29:38PM *  1 point [-]

Students manage conflicts by simply skipping class sessions. Last semester, I often skipped two thirds of my class sessions. As long as you read lecture notes, do the work, and show up to tests, you're fine.

Comment author: Hyena 28 September 2011 06:18:55PM 2 points [-]

Ah, okay. This is strictly forbidden elsewhere.

Comment author: pedanterrific 28 September 2011 04:35:55PM 2 points [-]

Whaa? How do you even manage to get signed up for conflicting classes- is MIT's registration system set up such that it allows you to do that?

Comment author: drc500free 02 October 2011 07:45:45PM 2 points [-]

In general, MIT's registration policies are "we'll provide the rope, try not to hang yourself." On the flip side, it's nearly impossible to fail out.

Comment author: omslin 28 September 2011 07:01:50PM 1 point [-]

Yup.