I have a CS degree and feel dumb almost every day. Devs with 20+ yoe feel dumb almost every day. Albeit, the problems that make those with more experience feel dumb are typically more complex. Programming is hard.
During my first year classes, I too was overwhelmed by the homework. My best advice is to really practice the divide and conquer techniques that I'm sure have been preached. Break the problem down until you have an iterative solution.
My other advice is to not procrastinate, and give yourself ample time to work on the problems. As soon as it is assigned, begin working on it, or at least be thinking, breaking down, and prototyping solutions until you have a couple potential solution paths.
Doing so will allow you to truly strengthen your problem solving. Languages, syntax, data structures, etc. Will become second nature, letting you focus on the problem solving. And that's what programming really is about.
Eventually, with the problem solving techniques you learn and develop, you will understand that with enough time, there won't be a problem you can't solve. Or at least have the skills to begin researching and learning. It's one of the most satisfying experiences, that reaches beyond programming and into every other facet of life. That is the invaluable skill I obtained from college that I'm not sure I would have gained otherwise.
Learn to learn. Embrace that feeling of being dumb. Push through that wall. Do it enough, and that feeling of "I'm too dumb" or "I can't do this" goes away. You begin to acknowledge that you may not currently know, but you can figure it out.
Anyways, my point is to persist. Almost everyone has experienced what you are currently.
Oh, also, step away. Take breaks. Go do something else while you ponder the problem. I've had many breakthroughs doing this.
I have a CS degree and feel dumb almost every day. Devs with 20+ yoe feel dumb almost every day. Albeit, the problems that make those with more experience feel dumb are typically more complex. Programming is hard.
During my first year classes, I too was overwhelmed by the homework. My best advice is to really practice the divide and conquer techniques that I'm sure have been preached. Break the problem down until you have an iterative solution.
My other advice is to not procrastinate, and give yourself ample time to work on the problems. As soon as it is assigned, begin working on it, or at least be thinking, breaking down, and prototyping solutions until you have a couple potential solution paths.
Doing so will allow you to truly strengthen your problem solving. Languages, syntax, data structures, etc. Will become second nature, letting you focus on the problem solving. And that's what programming really is about.
Eventually, with the problem solving techniques you learn and develop, you will understand that with enough time, there won't be a problem you can't solve. Or at least have the skills to begin researching and learning. It's one of the most satisfying experiences, that reaches beyond programming and into every other facet of life. That is the invaluable skill I obtained from college that I'm not sure I would have gained otherwise.
Learn to learn. Embrace that feeling of being dumb. Push through that wall. Do it enough, and that feeling of "I'm too dumb" or "I can't do this" goes away. You begin to acknowledge that you may not currently know, but you can figure it out.
Anyways, my point is to persist. Almost everyone has experienced what you are currently.
Oh, also, step away. Take breaks. Go do something else while you ponder the problem. I've had many breakthroughs doing this.