I just completed CS50, Harvard’s intense Introduction to Computer Science, through Harvard’s Extension School, and I can honestly say it was the most challenging course I’ve ever taken. The rigor was intense—every problem set pushed me to think in completely new ways, and I found myself spending countless hours debugging code and wrestling with concepts that felt impossible at first. But that difficulty was exactly what made it so valuable.
What’s been most rewarding is how this course became the foundation for launching TRTS: The Race Timing Solution, allowing me to apply these hard-earned programming skills to a real-world project I’m passionate about. More importantly, CS50 has reignited my enthusiasm for academic learning in a way I didn’t expect. Starting my Master’s in Computer Science at this stage of life initially felt daunting, but this experience has shown me that the combination of life experience and genuine curiosity can be incredibly powerful. If you’re considering taking on an academic challenge—regardless of timing—I’d highly recommend it. The growth is worth every frustrating debugging session.
