Is it necessary to learn coding before entering college? I'm looking into tech-related fields and can't decide if I should spend time learning to code now or if college will teach me what I need.
While it's not technically necessary to learn coding before entering college, having some background can certainly be beneficial, especially if you're interested in tech-related fields. These fields are increasingly competitive, and having a head start can set you apart from others.
Coding can help to develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are valuable not only in computer science and related majors, but also in many other disciplines. Additionally, many introductory programming courses in college assume some level of previous acquaintance with the basics.
However, it's also worth mentioning that college curriculums are designed to accommodate students with various educational backgrounds. In most cases, you'll start from introductory courses where you are taught the basics, so don't worry if you haven't learned coding before college.
As a suggestion, try exploring some free online resources, like Codecademy, to get a feel for whether or not this is something you enjoy. This way, you can also figure out which languages you might want to focus on. If you find that you enjoy coding and have an aptitude for it, then by all means continue! But if it feels overwhelming or simply not enjoyable, then know that you're not at a disadvantage when starting your tech studies in college.
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