How to Learn DSA and Prepare for Coding Interviews: A Student’s Self-Study Roadmap

When we think of coding, we think of basic software and a few techie jargons, but this world is far beyond these trends. DSA-Data Structures and Algorithms; learning and knowing them truly keeps you at a different level. Aayush Yadav, a final-year B.Tech CSE student of Parul University, mastered his skills, and his steady efforts took him into a classic selection at Odoo x Parul University’s Hackathon. This guide has the exact breakdown of how he cracked it!

Aayush did not begin with an elaborate plan; he began with Java fundamentals. His approach was deliberately methodical: learn the basics thoroughly and make proper notes before attempting to solve anything hard.

I learned all the basics of Java first and made the notes properly.
– Aayush Yadav

He worked through around 150 basic Java questions purely to get comfortable with syntax and common patterns before moving on. The lesson for beginners is not “learn Java” specifically; it is to pick one language and build real comfort with it first, because everything after that is easier on a solid basis.

Once his fundamentals were solid, Aayush shifted into DSA within Java. He started by attempting a few problems at a time but soon settled into the habit that mattered most: one problem a day, every day, a rhythm he still keeps. He believed in one single roadmap, and that’s why he figured it out. He took one problem at a time, and that’s when he built real skills. He merely followed a structured DSA course, made notes, and resolved problems on platforms like LeetCode!

One of Aayush’s most useful habits is how he handles forgetting, which everyone does. Rather than rereading pages of notes, he resolves a single well-chosen problem.

Only one question is enough to revise all the concepts.
– Aayush Yadav

Re-solving a problem forces you to memorise the concept, so it’s one of the most effective ways to learn. It’s one of the most time-saving techniques while studying tech concepts!

With a foundation in a language and DSA, Aayush began learning web-development technologies (he mentioned working with JavaScript and MongoDB, among others) and building his own projects, revisiting and improving them over time. His recommended order is clear and worth following:

• One language: Spend two to three months getting genuinely comfortable with any one programming language.
• DSA – Practice it thoroughly and daily; focus on one single problem, and that’s how you can learn!
• Development – Start with a basic project and then build up to larger ones.

Resist the temptation to jump straight to building an impressive project. The base comes first.

ERP 101 – How Do Companies Run on One System?

Aayush is blunt about why this matters for anyone hoping to get hired, especially at product-based companies.

Without DSA, you won’t get hired by any company.
– Aayush Yadav

Companies test DSA because it reveals how you think, your logical reasoning, and your problem-solving, not just what you have memorised. This is the same foundation that supports adjacent tech careers too, from software engineering to cloud and DevOps. Build it early, and doors open.

Aayush’s effort was self-driven, but not solitary. He credits Parul University’s Impact Training program with reinforcing his fundamentals, strengthening his Java and coding, and, importantly, running mock interviews that helped him communicate clearly when it counted. Faculty mentors also guided him at key moments, including when he was unsure which project to build next. Self-study plus timely guidance, he found, is a powerful combination.