The topics covered, although non-comprehensive (as it is quite impossible to cover everything in one course) are selected in a quite balanced way with all key issues being addressed and most topics further discussed in assignments. The first two levels are allocated to C, which gives the student a chance to see where the roots of C++ in the first place where and to have a feel of how C++ is similar to and/or different from C.
A key advantage of this course is the inclusion of Boost library (Level 8) -- a library typically excluded from standard C++ books that can be quite useful in certain applications involving math (statistical modeling, random number generation, linear algebra, etc.) Level 9 further builds on this topic by using Boost in the context of option pricing – a nice application of C++ in finance. Not only Level 9 is a nice opportunity to put almost everything learnt to practice and try to improve one's coding style by categorizing functions into proper classes, it is also the first true experience of writing code based on preexisting codes (there are numerous files provided by Dr. Duffy), which is an important skill in the real world.
One of the true strengths of the course is in its assignments. The assignments build up on one another in a quite thoughtful manner, thereby enabling the student to grasp why things are the way they are. There are also end-of-level quizzes, some of which are quite tricky and useful to enhance the student's understanding of the concepts. These quizzes can also serve as a good source for exam and interview preparations.
Last but not least, the TAs and other students (as well as some current MFE students who actively participate on the forum) are quite helpful in answering questions or posting interesting materials related to the topics. The people involved are all nice, laid-back people that all together make the forum environment quite enjoyable. Here, you often get support from your TA in a timely fashion and can also use their feedback on assignments to enhance your style of coding.
All in all, this course was a great learning experience. It was my first purely online course and one which I truly enjoyed. I highly recommend taking this course to anyone who wants to have a solid first course in C++, especially with financial applications in mind.
- Recommend
- Yes, I would recommend this program