How do I become a computer programmer?

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I AM ABOUT TO STUDY COMPUTER SCIENCE IN HIGHER INSTITUTION, PLIS I NEED YOUR ADVICE, WHAT ARE THOSE POTENTIALS I REALLY NEED TO POSSESS IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS FIELD

Dear Leo,

I am extremely confused, 30 years old. I have a math phobia. My dad and my schoolteacher had a great contribution to my dislike of math, even though i have known many people who are enjoying math, and have enviable careers.

I have always been shying away from the subject due to embarrassment. I want to now give a second chance before concluding that it is not for me.
I have a knowledge of computer graphics and there are many design and animation software that require programming skills, and for learning those skills you need to learn basic math, which I also read in your website –
http://ask-leo.com/how_hard_is_it_to_learn_programming.html

What advise do you have for me? My trouble with math is that my mind freezes when trying to solve basic addition or subtraction problem. I do know how to approach with the aid of a calculator. My first question is do I need to be a wizard to solve all the problems in my head? For learning programming skills required in animation and graphic software, what level of math is required?
Look forward to your reply.
Thanks,
Shikha

I don't have a comment,yet.I want to learn how to become a computer programmer, pls help!It's a dream of mine,pls. show me where and how to start. Thank you kindly.

They won't talk to me/ give any info at the BCS. I would like to know what computer programming languages to learn by knowing what's in demand. I'd like to know if I can get jobs or freelance as programmer as older person.

Dear Leo- I am an arabic linguist in the USN and am interested in programming. Is there any jobs that you know of that would be able to use both my language skills and my hopeful programming dreams?

Hey Leo,
I'd like to become a Computer Programmer. I have just left school and about to start college. I have no previous experience in programming but will learn it in College.
My concern is that I heard programming requires a lot of Mathematics...I'm not the best at Maths although I did pass my GCSE in Maths.
Do you think I should still try and become a programmer even though maths isnt really one of my strenghts?

leo pls can you help me, i am not a computer programmer thou i do have an amazing idea for a computer programme for athletes. i belive if i can get my idea of the grnd it will be HUGE. but i have only that, ... my idea i havent got the knowledge an skill to take it any further and do not know where to go to get the advise i need. pls help many thanks chris humphries

I HAVE NO COLLEGE DEGREE ... IS IT A MUST?? CAN I GO TO A CAREER COLLEGE AND HOW LONG IS IT REQUIED??

i guess i have a question, or more accurately, a request for advice...
a long time ago i was very into MUDs... especially once i discovered building...
what i really loved about building was being able to code all sorts of different things, and kind of create life out of text and code... i loved being able to think out of the box and finding new challenges to chew on. i loved the problem solving aspect of it, and i was surprised to learn that you could be creative with computer code... it wasn't just number crunching at all... eventually, over time, i came to resent that i had to ask the MUD administrator to code new things for me every time i wanted a mob to do something really cool and unique... i wanted to be able to do this myself... and finally i came to appreciate just how limitless the world of computer code can be... i was intrigued... i bought a bunch of those books that are supposed to teach you C++... unfortunately i could never get the compiler to work and my computer ended up crashing (totally unrelated to the compiler) and i kind of forgot about my desire to learn to code...
recently i got a new computer and the thought has been creeping back into my mind on whether to go to school for programming and pursue it as a career...

i know that was really long rant, but i guess basically my question is this:
would actual computer programming be as interesting to me as building on my old MUD was? i mean, am i deluding myself in believing that just because i had so much fun creating mobprogs and ifchecks and whatnot i would probably enjoy tackling programming languages?
my goal here really is not to get into game programming neccessarily, i really just want to learn programming for its own sake, and i don't want to spend a bunch of money on school and throw myself into it only to be disappointed and find that what i thought computer programming was was entirely off the mark...

did that make sense? i could really use some advice on this... thanks so much!!!

ok i am 12 and im sure you have heard of the game runescape. Well i was great at that game when i played. So anyways i love to create computer games and stuff so i wanted to create make my own game like runescape but way better and better graphic system. i was going to get a car and than get a job and than save up for the $2000 gaming computer and start it out on there. Your advice has helped me greatly. And i look forward to making it so i can make money off of it while im out there doing whatever i want. Like pyrotecnition or anything like that because i was going to make it a 24\7 server with a high detailed graphic system.

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