Need advice on a DSA roadmap as a 2nd-year student
Hi everyone! I’m currently in 2nd year, 1st semester of CSE, and I’m looking for some guidance on how I should structure my learning from here.
I’m still pretty much a rookie. I have a basic understanding of DSA concepts/topics, but I haven’t seriously started practicing yet, and I haven’t built any proper projects either.
I’ve been seeing roadmaps/resources like TUF+, NeetCode, Striver, etc., and I’m a little confused about whether I should follow one structured roadmap from start to finish or combine resources based on the topic.
I’d really appreciate advice from people who have already gone through this stage:
- Should I follow something like TUF+/Striver, NeetCode, or another structured DSA roadmap? Which one would you recommend for someone starting from almost zero?
- What kind of projects should I start building at my level? Should I first learn a particular tech stack before starting projects?
- What CS fundamentals should I make sure I don't neglect (DBMS, OS, CN, OOP, Git/GitHub, etc.)?
- What are some common mistakes/things I should take care of during 2nd year?
- Are there any free resources you would strongly recommend?
- I’m also open to paid resources/courses if you genuinely think they’re worth the money. So recommendations for both free and paid resources would be really helpful.
I’m not looking for shortcuts. I mainly want to choose a sensible structure so I can stop jumping between resources and actually stay consistent.
Any advice, resources, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 🙌