My Major is MIS...but i am a bad programmer

[Unregistered]

I am really confused. My major is Management Information Systems(MIS) and I am really bad at data structures and programming. I can do basic programming well but when it gets too technical I have many problems following. Are there any professionals who are in the field of MIS who can give me some advice on if I should switch majors since I am not good at programming. Or can I get by just knowing a little programming and alot of Economics(which is my favorite subject) and the other courses which dont involve programmig. I really try hard at programming but I just dont get it for some reason. Anyone with any advice will be apreciated.........ill take a couple of laughs by you little wiz programmers too......thanx

[Unregistered]

I think that you would be happier working in a field where you excel.

[Unregistered]

You could be a MISprogrammer.

[Unregistered]

Define "really bad".

If you're "really bad" in that you can't think of a logical, step by step pseudocode solution to a given problem, then yeah, maybe you should think about something else.

If you're "really bad" in that you can think of a solution, but can't think of how to turn that into code, well that's not so bad. That's the same problem any programmer would face in going from one language to another. Algorithm design is algorithm design and is largely the same from language to language. Don't sweat getting tied up on syntax issues. Even old hands at programming still use reference books and/or built in help functions to remember what the 3rd parameter of function X was supposed to be.

Also, if you got a random job in the field, odds are very good it would be maintaining code, not writing new stuff from scratch. Writing stuff from scratch can be tough if you're rusty (or no good at it), but maintaining existing code means there's always plenty of examples floating around, most of your job duties will consist of minor changes to fix bugs or implement (generally minor) new features.

Especially as a fresh graduate with 0 work experience, nobody (sane) is going to hire you as a senior level programmer. Junior level programmers are not expected to sit down and write things from scratch using only a customer specification.


Still if economics is your favorite subject, there may be something more enjoyable for you in that direction. Talk about money and benefits all you like, what work really boils down to is getting woken up by an alarm and deciding how happy you are about another trip to work.

[Unregistered]

thanx for everybodies advice especially the last person. Yeah now that I think about it your right. When I go out for a job they will train me in everything I will need to know for a job anyways. All I really have trouble is in coding the solution. I can solve the problem I just have problems with syntax. Anyways thanx for everybodies input.

[Unregistered]

I think you should keep on banging your head against the wall, because eventually the wall will break, providing your head survives.

[Unregistered]

I think you shoud keep trying. Everyone learns programming at a different pace. Ask teachers for help, ask other students for help. The more you program the better you get at it. I know some teachers are discouraging and dont offer much help, but there are always other sources if you really want to learn. Besides dont sweat it too much, Economics and Management is basically half of the course work your going to be doing for your major.