After 28 Interviews, I Was Still Trying

Hi, I’m Rama Shesha Sai, a 2026 Computer Science graduate. I started my DSA journey towards the end of my second year and gradually built my skills in problem solving, interview preparation, and communication.

The Roadmap I Was Missing

When I started preparing, I often felt confused about what to study next. Then I discovered takeUforward and Striver’s lectures. The structured roadmap gave my preparation direction and helped me build strong DSA fundamentals.

I solved 500+ problems through the TUF Sheet, and whenever I got stuck, Striver’s explanations helped me understand the intuition behind the approach rather than simply memorising the solution.

The Method I Kept Following

My strategy was simple:

• Follow the TUF Sheet topic by topic

• Watch the corresponding explanations

• Solve problems until the patterns became clear

• Focus on intuition instead of memorising code

• Revise regularly

• Practise mock interviews

• Revisit previously solved problems

• Improve communication and interview explanation skills

Consistency mattered more than speed.

The Journey Wasn't Easy

I appeared for around 28 interviews during college. There were multiple rejections and plenty of difficult moments.

But every interview showed me something I needed to improve.

• Rejection → Reflection → Improvement → Another Attempt

Eventually, I cracked opportunities at FourKites, TCS, and HCL, with an internship converting into a full time role.

Struggles Will Be There Forever, Don't Stick With Them

Don't stop because you're struggling.

Stay consistent, follow a structured roadmap, and focus on understanding how to approach problems. Every rejection can teach you something.

Keep learning until the results catch up with your effort.

The Mentor Behind My Preparation

I'm genuinely grateful to takeUforward and Striver for the role their content played in my journey. Even after getting placed, I continue going back to TUF to strengthen my fundamentals.

The right roadmap can change how you prepare. Consistency can change where you end up.