Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re feeling right now.

When I was in college, I also used to watch mock interviews and feel like “Yaar, I’m nowhere close to this level”. Trust me, most students go through this phase — it’s normal.

👉 For your questions:

DSA Prep – The key is not just solving problems but also learning how to explain your approach (that’s where most of us get stuck).

Off-campus internships/jobs – It’s more about strategy than luck. Applying everywhere randomly doesn’t work; you need a proper plan (good resume + LinkedIn + referrals).

Roadmap to MAANG – There’s no one magic roadmap, but there is a structured way to grow step by step: DSA → CS Fundamentals → Projects → Communication → Mock Interviews.

Instead of me just giving you a generic roadmap, why don’t we do something better? 🙂

I usually take a free trial session where I try to understand exactly where a student is struggling (DSA depth, interview confidence, or application strategy). After that, I can share a personalized plan that will actually work for you.

If you’re up for it, just book a trial — no strings attached. We’ll figure out the next steps together 🚀

https://preplaced.in/profile/jai-patel

1️⃣ How to Study DSA Properly

You’re not “nowhere,” you’re just comparing your beginning with someone’s years of practice. Here’s the step-by-step DSA roadmap:

Phase 1: Foundations (1–2 months)

• Learn basics of arrays, strings, hashing, recursion, sorting, searching.
• Practice easy-medium LeetCode/GFG problems (20–30 problems per topic).
• Make notes of patterns — e.g., sliding window, two pointers, binary search tricks.

Phase 2: Core DSA (3–4 months)

• Cover Linked List, Stack, Queue, Binary Search, Binary Tree, Graphs, DP.
• Follow Striver’s SDE Sheet / TUF+ course (you’re already on this, good ✅).
• After each topic:
• Solve ~40–50 problems.
• Revise once after 2 weeks.

Phase 3: Advanced & Interview Prep (2–3 months)

• Practice LeetCode Top Interview 150 or NeetCode 150.
• Mock interviews (Pramp, peers, or even explaining aloud to yourself).
• Focus on time/space complexity explanation, not just coding.

📌 Rule: Don’t jump around. Pick one roadmap (e.g., Striver’s Sheet) → finish → revise.

2️⃣ How to Apply for Off-Campus Internships & Jobs

• Resume: One-page, highlight projects + DSA progress + open-source contributions (like your GSSoC/GSoC work 🚀).
• LinkedIn & GitHub: Keep active. Post about your progress (like Codex, DSA journey). Recruiters do notice.
• Off-campus sites:
• LinkedIn Jobs
• AngelList / Wellfound
• Internshala (for internships)
• Company career pages directly
• Referrals: Connect with seniors or employees politely (never spam). A good referral = 10x chance.
• LeetCode Contests: Many companies look at contest rating.

📌 Apply even if you feel “not ready” — interviews themselves are practice.

3️⃣ Roadmap to Crack MAANG (Google, Amazon, etc.)

Here’s a structured 1-year roadmap if you’re serious:

Months 1–3:

• Arrays, Strings, Recursion, Sorting, Binary Search.
• Start solving Easy → Medium on LeetCode daily (1–2 problems).

Months 4–6:

• Linked List, Stack, Queue, Binary Tree, BST.
• Start contests (LeetCode Weekly/Biweekly).

Months 7–9:

• Graphs (BFS, DFS, Shortest Path, DSU), DP (classic patterns).
• System Design basics (for internships: LLD only).
• Apply to startups, mid-level companies for practice.

Months 10–12:

• Mock interviews weekly.
• Revise sheets (Striver/NeetCode).
• Focus on behavioral + HR questions (don’t ignore).
• Start applying to MAANG + tier-1 companies.