Strong in Java and DSA, Built MERN Projects, But Unsure Whether to Continue MERN or Switch to Spring Boot
I'm an MCA student entering my final year, and placements have started at my university. My goal is to prepare for Software Development Engineer (SDE) roles in the 10–15 LPA range, and I'm trying to decide where I should focus my efforts over the next few months.
My strongest skill is Java. I do DSA in Java and have solved 350+ LeetCode problems. I am comfortable with OOP, collections, and core Java concepts.
For development, I have built a few projects using the MERN stack, including a full-stack project with authentication, REST APIs, MongoDB, JWT, file uploads, and payment integration. However, I don't feel I have very deep JavaScript knowledge. I can build applications and understand the code, but I'm much more confident in Java than in JavaScript.
Recently, my college started a Spring Boot course that includes classes and a project. Since my Java foundation is much stronger than my JavaScript foundation, I'm wondering whether I should:
- Continue focusing on MERN and strengthen my JavaScript/interview fundamentals.
- Shift my focus toward Spring Boot and Java backend development.
- Try to balance both.
My goal is to maximize my chances in campus placements while also building skills that will remain valuable in the industry long term.
For those who have worked in backend or full-stack roles, what would you recommend? Is moving from Node.js to Spring Boot a good idea if Java is already my strongest language? How much JavaScript depth is typically expected for freshers targeting 10–15 LPA SDE roles?
Any advice would be appreciated.