3rd-year student looking for a practical ML + Deep Learning roadmap/resources

[u/CheckStrong103]

Hi everyone,

I’m a 3rd-year CS student and I want to seriously start learning Machine Learning. I’ve already spent almost a day trying to figure out which resources/courses to follow, but there are so many options that I’m getting confused.

My current background:

• I know Python fairly well.
• I’ve used NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and Seaborn.
• I understand the basic theory of some ML algorithms, but I haven’t implemented them properly yet.
• I now want to focus on actually implementing ML algorithms and building projects, rather than spending months only on theory.

What I’m looking for

I want to learn:

1. ML fundamentals + implementation
2. Deep Learning
3. Later, I’ll learn model evaluation in more depth and deployment/MLOps, but right now I want to build a strong practical foundation in ML and Deep Learning.

I don’t want a very long course that takes hundreds of hours. For example, I know Andrew Ng's courses are highly recommended, but I'm looking for something more concise and practical.

I recently found fast.ai's Practical Deep Learning for Coders, which seems interesting because it focuses heavily on implementation. It has 9 lessons and covers things like random forests, neural networks, PyTorch, and even deployment.

So I'd really appreciate recommendations from people who have actually learned ML/Deep Learning and used these resources:

• Short/practical courses
• YouTube channels/playlists
• Good documentation
• Books/notes
• Hands-on project resources

If you were starting from my position (Python + basic ML theory), what exact resources would you follow and in what order?.

Thanks!

[u/mustardpete]

Books I found good:
Machine learning with PyTorch and scikit-learn
ISBN 978-1-80181-931-2

Effective pandas 2
ISBN 9798870528342

Understanding deep learning
ISBN 978-0-262-04864-4

Approaching (almost) any machine learning problem
ISBN 978-82-692115-0-4

Machine learning using tensorflow cookbook
ISBN 978-1-80020-886-5

Generative ai with langchain
ISBN 978-1-83702-201-4

Gradient boosting with xgboost and scikit-learn
ISBN 978-1-83921-835-4

My notes after a ml collage course that I still refer to(although not really a tutorial):
https://simplesteps.guide/guides/technology/machine-learning-ai

An iPhone/ipad app I made that lets you play with machine learning etc on the go:
https://pds-technology.ltd/apps/QuickML

[u/inkeep]

I find his channel super helpful - https://www.youtube.com/@datamlistic He makes short concise videos on core concepts.

There is a google crash course on ML which is nice - https://developers.google.com/machine-learning/crash-course

You could also just use NotebookLM on any course material you come across and convert it into short videos or mind-maps.

I have also built a micro learning app for ML, just simple practical knowledge with Python examples and quiz - Here is a sample topic https://www.bitelrn.com/library/principal-component-analysis and this is the app - https://www.bitelrn.com/ if you find it interesting. All the best!

[u/Exact-Contact-3837]

If you're learning for production, sendex on youtube has a really good series for AI. If you're learning for yourself, use gemini and ask this exact same question.

[u/ProfHEEHAW]

Andrew Ng coursera course is a good start.
Then you can follow statquest’s yt channel..

[u/CheckStrong103 → u/ProfHEEHAW]

It's worth it? Because if i completed this i don't have time for anyone else.

[u/ProfHEEHAW → u/CheckStrong103]

It’s definitely worth it for starters…
See that’s the thing. U wanna learn ML cause ur passionate or just so that u can tell ur friends that uk ML. Good things take time, and if u really wanna get good, you have to invest time into the subject!
The course wont cover all ML topics ofc, the space is too vast, but it is for sure a very good starting point…

[u/Notsoboringi]

Machine learning and deep learning takes time if u want to learn it properly along with all optimization techniques.If u want to learn only practical side like import pytorch and just train the model , it's useless nobody hires freshers for ml engineering roles and the chances hiring ml engineers with these skills is impossible.If ML, DL really interests you , you can learn it from standford and mit youtube courses , then watch standford course of Computer vision then go for transformers course it's the right path following along with deep learning book by Ian g. , u should get familiar with linear algebra , statistical inference , probability as these are the cores of DL models they teach how dl models outputs are generated and what changes can change the output and how it can change the output.ML isn't about just training models it's majorly about finding out best optimizations that would produce best results.

[u/CheckStrong103 → u/Notsoboringi]

So i need to learn ml in deep? Should i join andrew ng ml course?

[u/Notsoboringi → u/CheckStrong103]

Ya u should if u want to be a ML enginner u need to know for which type of data which gradient descent is best , which optimizations can we use , how backpropogation works instead of saying it's magic , it's simple mathematics.U can watch Andrew ng youtube lectures , stay quest, NPTEL, Gilbert stang linear algebra , along with it do handson learn numpy , pytorch , tensorflow .You can learn this from YouTube but try code yourself first then go for tuts , also for each training loop derive loss , weights updation on paper by urself for 2-3 epochs.

[u/Suoritin]

I now want to focus on actually implementing ML algorithms and building projects, rather than spending months only on theory.

Sure, start coding

1. ML fundamentals + implementation

Ok, open a book and start studying.

Or, do both of them simultaneously. You just have to choose and stick to something. Take small steps so you don't burnout.