My College Wasn't Top Tier But My Ambition Was

Hi, I'm Sayan Biswas, from a Tier 3 college, currently working as a Systems Engineer (Grade C1) at Tata Consultancy Services.

My placement journey wasn't about having the best starting point. It was about having the right preparation and staying consistent.

I Found My Way Through DSA

A major part of my preparation was guided by takeUforward.

I followed TUF almost every day for DSA, which helped me:

• Build strong core DSA fundamentals.

• Understand problem solving patterns.

• Practise consistently.

• Improve how I approached coding problems.

• Explain my solutions more confidently during interviews.

The Brute Force → Better → Optimal approach especially changed how I solved and presented problems.

I Stuck to What Worked

I didn't try to make preparation complicated.

My approach was:

• Practise DSA daily.

• Revise regularly.

• Understand concepts instead of memorising solutions.

• Stay consistent with the roadmap.

• Focus on explaining my thought process clearly.

Over time, this consistency made problem solving feel more natural.

Then the Rejections Started Turning Into Offers

During my placement journey, I cracked multiple job offers.

Coming from a Tier 3 college, having access to structured preparation and quality resources gave me the confidence to compete with students from different backgrounds.

Eventually, that preparation helped me secure my role at Tata Consultancy Services.

I Let My Progress Speak for Itself

My biggest advice to juniors is simple:

Trust the process. Stay disciplined. Don't compare your journey with someone else's. Every problem you solve makes you a better problem solver. Your college may influence where you start, but consistent preparation can change how far you go.

TCS Wasn't Limited by My College

• Tier 3 College → Consistent DSA Practice → Multiple Offers → TCS

I'm truly grateful to Striver and the entire TUF team for being such an important part of my placement journey.