AY2020/21 Semester 2 Module Ramblings

 posted: 03/07/21 (last edited: 17/06/21)

Officially falling prey to the Dunning-Kruger effect? Interesting.

CS2105 Introduction to Computer Networks

MCs: 4

Expected Grade: A-

Actual Grade: A

Workload: Very manageable if you start your assignments early

The lecture slides call this module “An Awesome Introduction to Computer Networks”. Reality is not too far off, I guess. Doesn’t really go in depth to each part of networking, but this is an introductory module, after all, so that’s acceptable. Knowing the difference between UDP and TCP is important for technical interviews, so this is a good module to take early, ideally before you start applying for internships.

Enjoyed the first half of the module more than the second half because Prof Ma appeared more prepared for lectures than Prof Zimmermann, though I think Prof Zimmermann is more experienced.

Assignments were pretty “hands-on”, I think? It seems like something that can be applied to real life programming, so it was rather enjoyable, if not a little confusing and time consuming at times. I was unfamiliar with python, so it was a pretty steep learning curve to start coding. Debugging was kinda finicky at times, but deadlines were often long enough to give lots of time to explore.

Assessments were not too difficult so that’s good.

CS2107 Introduction to Information Security

MCs: 4

Expected Grade: B

Actual Grade: A-

Workload: Usually quite chill except for crunch time during assignments and the night before lecture tests

Learning about security and encryption and attacks and stuff was really exciting but the delivery of the module left much to be desired. Prof Chang likes to jump around the lecture slides. Now questioning my decision to specialise in security. I enjoyed the assignments too but it was kinda challenging because in Capture-the-Flag you never really know where to start. Felt burdensome at times when I had to rely on my friends and friends of friends for answers.

Tutorials were enjoyable but mainly because I was looking forward to the tcss session with a friend and his friends who were in the same tutorial class, after the tutorial ended. That was like one of the things helping me to maintain my sanity through this hectic semester. My tutor wasn’t really engaging, but perhaps it was because of the timing? Haha.

I completely guessed my way through the Finals, so I am pleasantly surprised to get A- instead of a B.

CS3230 Design and Analysis of Algorithms

MCs: 4

Expected Grade: B+

Actual Grade: A

Workload: Assignments are rather time consuming, content hard to understand

This module makes me punch the damn “X” button to doubt my decision to specialise in Algorithms and Theory. I realise that I don’t enjoy proving things at all. I’m like. SO done with the math side of CS. I don’t want to do any more math. On hindsight, choosing Algos and Security as my specialisations was really questionable, when I am weak in math.

Prof Diptarka explains things well, even though he sometimes skips through some steps in the proofs. It was a little hard to understand what he was saying at times, though, since I usually prefer to listen to my lectures at 2x speed. But I shan’t say more on this because it’ll become kinda r*cist.

Learning about the algorithms was pleasant. I now feel more prepared to take on Kattis questions. Which reminds me that I have ignored Kattis for a long time, oops. Also questioning my desire to take Theory of Computation, as recommended by NUSWhispers’ resident professor.

The Finals was completely undoable. I was really scared when people were coming out of the exam hall saying that they only completed 50% worth of questions. Meanwhile the only question I was even a little confident of was one of the 15-mark questions. And it was an 80-mark paper. Really surprised to get an A.

ES2660 Communicating in the Information Age

MCs: 4

Expected Grade: B-

Actual Grade: B+

Workload: Too many small assignments, keeps you on your toes

Not even sure what I learnt in this class. When I first heard about the fairytale retelling assignment from a friend who took this class last the previous semester I should have known that it would be a complete waste of time. I have so much to say about this module, but none of it is good.

I think the only thing good about this module was that my class had a rather chill Prof who was likely queer. So, their mannerisms made things interesting. But they made class feel like a waste of time too, so theres that. But they allowed us to have lessons on Good Friday, so at least we didn’t have to waste a Saturday lol.

Also, I need to mention how bad my group is. I don’t know if it is because it is a class at a bad timing, so most of the class was freshmen. BUT MOST OF THE CLASS WAS FRESHMEN. And they literally do not give a shit about the module because they have a ton of S/Us left. I was in a group with 3 freshmen and another sophmore who, well she was in UTCP and very eloquent, so she doesn’t even need to put in effort lol. And the freshmen were charismatic too. So basically, I (with my generalised anxiety and severe social anxiety) was panicking about every group assignment but I can’t take initiative, so I just died when no one replied my messages or when they didn’t start on their work early.

And this module caused me to relapse in my yeeting and break a 52-day streak with over 50 bill-thigh-the-science-thigh yeets. Basically, what happened was we were discussing before a panel presentation the next day. And they decided to script the whole thing. And I felt my parts were inadequate. So, I tried to speak up but in the end they changed it again and I fucking got even less parts. I needed to prepare for Q&A but I had fuck-all mood. So, I yote to help me with my focus. And the next day I was sore and all. And I did badly for the panel presentation. And from then on it was relapse-o-rama for the rest of the semester.

GET1028 Logic

MCs: 4

Expected Grade: A-

Actual Grade: A

Workload: Very chill actually if you have any prior experience with formal logic

Basically, extracting the pure logic parts of a few other modules that I have taken, including CS1231, CS2100, GET1029, PH2211, and some things that remind me of my first PH3243 lesson before I decided to drop the module. The logic laws and stuff, I already learnt from my past modules. But the proofs of validity and invalidity were new, so those were cool. I knew it was gonna be a watered-down version of CS1231 but I didn’t expect to see some CS2100 (the Minterms and truth value combinations part) too.

Proofs werent too difficult. Tutorial questions werent too difficult but it was very time consuming. LogiCola practices were fun but time consuming too.

Tests and exams were hell. The questions themselves were perhaps manageable? But the problem was the Examplify which made annotations impossible. And how the f do you do logic without annotating? I basically called a friend and cried to him after the first test. Like flat out bawling my eyes out after the paper. I ended up getting a 6/10. I was surprised to even pass, considering how tragic my cry sessh was. But apart from how emotionally draining the tests were, they were actually rather kind to me.

PH2201 Introduction to Philosophy of Science

MCs: 4

Expected Grade: A-

Actual Grade: A+

Workload: Quite chill except for the week before tests and the night before tutorial

Taught by the same prof as GET1028. I thought that this module didn’t seem like the usual philosophy modules. Because there were right and wrong answers even for like class discussions and the final exam which comprised of short answer questions and an essay. More emphasis was placed on knowing the different theories of philosophy of science (scientific revolutions, explanation, confirmation, induction, etc) rather than coming up with our own theories. In my (sparse) experience, this is atypical of philosophy modules. There is quite a lot of overlap with PH2243.

But Prof Lee was really well prepared for lessons because he filmed himself delivering all the lectures way back in December? And I really appreciate all his dedication.

Tests were alright, just that it would have been better if I started preparing earlier, because there was a lot of content. But luckily it was open book, so I just had to compile the notes and search for the information during the exam.

Conclusions

Notice that my predicted grades were all less than my actual grade. Im not sure why. Is it because I didn’t believe that I could do as well as I could? Or is this just a defence mechanism to prevent myself from getting disappointed in the event that my actual grades were lower than my expectations? On the other hand, I wrote my predictions in an insomnic delierium at like 2 / 3 am while I was desperately trying to fall asleep but also panicking about my grades.

I got my double degree too. I haven’t replied the offer email but it feels unreal. I’ve literally been obsessing about it for over 2 years. Literally since before I entered NUS I was staying up till 4am trying to plan my study plan such that I can complete 2 degrees. I literally jumped for joy when I saw that notification for the email pop up on my phone. At that point a meeting just ended and I was like, nope, that’s enough work for today, I am literally in a fucking good mood.

Hopefully now that I have the DDP that I always wanted, which also serves to decouple my CAP, I will stop being so stressed over grades. I calculated, and unless I want to do FYP, I no longer needed to overload. Like, at all. As long as I sucessfully complete this summer internship and find another one for the summer of year 3, it is fine for me to “cruise” with 20MCs per semester for the rest of my semesters. What am I even saying. It will be a strggle either ways.

And I also have the option of doing honours for Philosophy I think. I applied for non-honours DDP. But I think if I manage to meet the milestones it shouldn’t be too hard to convert it to double honours? Im not sure. Anyways. The word is ecstatic. I am ecs-fucking-static.