My Journey to Becoming a Codeforces Master: The Beginning

Hello, fellow programmers and competitive programming enthusiasts! My name is Advin Suryavanshi, and this is the start of my journey toward achieving the title of Codeforces Master. I am a newbie with a rating of 949, and my goal is to reach a Master within the next 9-12 months. I’ve decided to document this adventure through blogs to share my progress, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. I hope my experiences inspire others who are just starting or striving to reach new heights in competitive programming.

Why I’m Starting This Journey

Competitive programming has always fascinated me with its problem-solving, logic, and creativity blend. However, like many beginners, I’ve faced struggles—getting stuck on problems, dealing with time pressure, and sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of what there is to learn. Despite these challenges, I believe that consistent effort, smart learning strategies, and a supportive community can help anyone grow. This blog series is as much for me as it is for you, the reader—a way to stay motivated and accountable while reflecting on my progress.

My Current State

Here’s a snapshot of where I am: - Rating: 949 (Newbie) - Strengths: Basic implementation, loops, and conditional problems. - Weaknesses: Dynamic programming, graphs, and advanced algorithms. - Experience: A few contests under my belt but no consistent practice schedule yet.

My Goal

To achieve a Master rating (2100+) in the next 9-12 months. This is ambitious but achievable with the right approach. It’s not just about the rating but also about becoming a better problem-solver and a more confident programmer.

The Plan

To structure my journey, I’ve broken it down into manageable steps:

1. Assessing My Weaknesses:

• Identify key topics where I struggle by analyzing problems I’ve failed to solve in past contests.
• Prioritize learning topics like dynamic programming, graphs, and number theory.

1. Creating a Practice Routine:

• Solve at least 3 problems daily from the topics I’m weak in.
• Participate in at least 2 contests every week and analyze my performance.

1. Learning from the Best:

• Follow the blogs, tutorials, and solutions of top-rated programmers.
• Watch YouTube channels and read articles to learn new techniques.

1. Tracking Progress:

• Maintain a log of problems solved, rating changes, and key takeaways after every contest.
• Share updates through these blogs every 2 weeks.

1. Staying Motivated:

• Celebrate small milestones, like reaching Specialist (1400) and Expert (1600).
• Connect with other programmers to learn and grow together.

Challenges as a Working Professional

As a working professional, I don’t have a lot of time to code. Balancing a full-time job and competitive programming is challenging, but I’m determined to make the most of the time I have. By focusing on quality practice and efficient learning strategies, I believe I can still achieve my goal.

First Steps

For the next two weeks, I’ll focus on: 1. Solving 30 problems on topics I find challenging (dynamic programming and graphs). 2. Participating in 4 Codeforces contests and analyzing my performance in detail. 3. Writing a follow-up blog to share my experience and insights.

Join Me!

If you’re on a similar journey, let’s connect! Share your progress, tips, and struggles in the comments. Let’s build a community where we can support each other and grow together.

Thank you for reading my first blog. I’m excited to embark on this adventure and hope you’ll join me in my quest to become a Codeforces Master. Let’s make it happen, one problem at a time!