termindev's blog

I'm going to reach master by summer
By termindev, 7 days ago, In English

I recently participated in ETSR (Egyptian Team Selection Rounds) which is basically qualifications for qualifications for qualifications for the IOI team for Egypt.

I thought I did well in the online qualifications and thought that I'd easily qualify for the onsite qualifications, but sadly, 47 people qualified, and I was not there...

So, I decided that, something needed to change, I got a hit of reality and realized I was no where near begin the best, even at something like a qualifications for qualifications for qualifications for the IOI team, I failed.

So, shortly, I decided that I need to improve at a higher rate, and I chose master.
However, you may ask, why am I posting this? For two reasons actually:

  1. To be more accountable, that'd help me stick more to my goal
  2. To ask: Am I even doing this right? I'm doing this the casual way, solving problems that are outside of my "comfort zone" (aka problems that are slightly harder than my level) and learning and practicing new algorithms along the way, is there something I'm missing?
  • Vote: I like it
  • +3
  • Vote: I do not like it

»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +20 Vote: I do not like it

I would suggest setting achievable goals first(not to cast any shade on your dreams), maybe expert is more plausible in this timeframe.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    7 days ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

    I thought of that too, but I decided to keep it because, whether I reach it or not, the point is to improve over a period of time.

    The other thing is that I thought that settings a high enough goal would motivate me to study more, because I'd obviously put more effort into practice if my goal was to reach master than if it were to reach expert, even if at the end I ended up reaching expert anyways.

    → Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

I am setting the goal to expert within three months. Let's hope we can both reach our goals.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    7 days ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    I'll remind you in three months to see if you've reached it yet)

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      7 days ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      Yeah sure. This is my alt. Hopefully by the time you knock me i will reach there :)

      → Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

I have set the same goal too. For me it is July EOM. This is my alt, but if you wanna do pair study, feel free to dm.

→ Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
← Rev. 3   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

I am also setting the bars high like you so that if not at least i can touch purple. I am super dedicated to reach my goal this time.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    7 days ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    That's also a high goal, how do you study? and how do you plan to achieve it?

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      7 days ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      I solved questions from cses and 1400 rated problems. I think i will continue doing so until i reach specialist. Also I am planning on learning new data structures which comes in this range in contests.

      → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        7 days ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

        I'm also solving CSES but some problems are a little hard to solve, do you know how to find editorials for them or someone that explains the solutions of problems on youtube?

        → Reply
        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          7 days ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

          Umm whenever i need to see the solution i just search for that on yt by its name. Also u can check out solutions in cf blogs. They are also pretty nice.

          → Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

you cannot

→ Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -19 Vote: I do not like it

you can reach master in 1 month. Just use o3.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    7 days ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    I use it sometimes to help solutions of problems that I don't understand, I have to say though it makes understand it less...

    → Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

shit posting or what ?

→ Reply
»
7 days ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Try participating in more contests (even if you are not available at the contest time, you can do virtual participation) and upsolving them. I'd also recommend you this site. It might help you as a guide on what topics are important to learn :)

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    6 days ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    Yes! I can't recommend the ultimate topic list enough.

    → Reply
»
6 days ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Practice, ez.

→ Reply