I’m a 5th semester university student, still struggling to find my place in competitive programming.
I started coding in my 1st semester, full of excitement, thinking I’d improve quickly. But semester after semester, I failed to stay consistent. I’d start, stop, start again — always losing focus halfway through. Now, in my 5th semester, I’m finally trying to hold on to some consistency, to really keep going this time.
Still, things aren’t easy. I can barely solve problems above 800 rating on my own. Sometimes I manage to solve Div. A problems, but most of the time, I can’t even handle the easy ones. My patience runs out fast. I can’t sit with a single problem for too long before my mind drifts away.
And yes, I depend a lot on ChatGPT. Maybe more than most people admit. Some say it’s wrong to rely on it — but honestly, without it, I wouldn’t have learned half the things I know today. YouTube videos teach the basics, but ChatGPT explains those small, detailed things that no video ever covers. That’s how I’ve been learning — slowly, imperfectly, but learning nonetheless.
Sometimes, when I solve a problem with GPT’s help and see how simple the logic actually was, it hurts a little. I ask myself, “Why didn’t I think of that?” It makes me feel small, like my brain just isn’t wired the way others’ are. I see people solving problems so easily, and I can’t help comparing myself.
I know I’m not naturally smart. I know I’m not talented. But I try. Every day, I try a little more — to understand, to stay patient, to push my limits.
I want to prepare for ICPC someday. But I also have to maintain my CGPA, manage my studies, and somehow balance everything. Some days it feels like I’m running in circles — trying hard, but not really moving forward.
Even writing this post, I took help from ChatGPT. Because I struggle to express my thoughts clearly on my own. Maybe I’m too dependent, maybe I’m obsessed. But I don’t hide it — I admit it. Everyone uses help in some way; I just happen to take mine from GPT.
I’m sharing this not for sympathy, but for connection — maybe someone out there feels the same. Maybe someone was once like me and found a way forward. I’d love to hear from those people.
How do you stay patient? How do you grow when progress feels invisible? How do you keep going when it feels like you’ll never catch up?
На ваши вопросы не могу ответить товарищ, но у меня тоже была боль когда я читал разборы задач после контестов в которых я постоянно просто тратил время. Могу пожелать удачи и терпения. Я тоже сейчас учусь. У меня все немного жестче, так как в нашей школе codeforces обязателен.
Но желаю удачи, надеюсь, вместе пройдем этот путь)
upvoted
Appreciate the support
try AtCoder Beginner Contest
Should I stop solving problems on Codeforces and try AtCoder? How long should I practice there? And what else should I do alongside it to improve?
If you feel that Atcoder is more helpful to you, you can indeed reduce the frequency of Codeforces because Atcoder questions are more beginner friendly.
When you are able to solve the ABCD problems in the ABC competition or feel that you have made progress, you can try Codeforces again.
It is important to reflect on a problem in order to better improve oneself.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful advice I will start trying more problems on AtCoder as you suggested. I also visited your profile and saw that you are an expert-level coder, which is really inspiring to me. I hope to improve like you and even reach the level beyond expert someday. Thanks again for your support
Have you considered getting an ADHD diagnosis?
Try programming other than doing it competitively too. It helps when implementation is your bottleneck. Read editorials. Read others' solutions. Try AtCoder, like the other comment suggested.
Honestly, I’ve never really thought about getting an ADHD diagnosis. But what you said makes a lot of sense, and I’ll definitely try those things. Also, I can tell you’re really experienced, so if you have any good advice for a beginner like me, I’d love to hear it.
wtf strong
Means? I didn't get it Sir
Don't give up bro.
Thank You bro
Give up if it is not fun for you
Before, I didn’t like it that much, but now I like it more.Since I started a bit late and there isn’t much time left before the upcoming ICPC, I feel a bit disappointed
I think you and I faced the same situatons. Could'nt find any better solutions.
last contest e tw deklam 2 ta solve korchen and 100+ rating tulchen.Jekane ami A problem chara ar konovabe pari na.Dore raken eta ar baki comment gula dekte paren help hisebe
The more expectations you have the more you'll suffer when you don't achieve them, solve problems for fun and learning , if you are not learning some new trick or approach from a problem then it is not worth doing. 800-1200 is mostly adhoc, you have to improve your logical reasoning, try solving logical puzzles or games in your free time to build a problem solving mindset
Okay, I will try. But I don’t have much patience. I want quick results. Please tell me some ways to increase my patience
you’re building your foundation. Just keep going. You'll thank yourself later for not giving up.
Thank you, apner comment ta bhaloi mone dorche amar
Solve more of virtual contests and go through this sheet
https://www.tle-eliminators.com/cp-sheet
do the questions in it, they are really helpful. I feel the same that I can't sit on the same problem for long time, but all you have to do is increase your tolerance and bare it. Inshallah you will improve.
Inshallah i will try
Don't waste your time on CP if it doesn't interest you.
Don't rely on ChatGPT for developing logic, bro. When I started avoiding ChatGPT for logic, I saw how slowly I was improving. Don't depend on it at all. Just use ChatGPT for development, especially for questions where answers aren't readily available.
First, dedicate at least 45 minutes to a problem. Then, as some previous comments suggest, just look at a hint and continue your thought process, thinking for around 20 minutes. If you still don't get the logic, then check the solution. Even then, don't take ChatGPT's solution; instead, look at other people's solutions, dry run them, and see where you missed.
Nowadays, ChatGPT makes us lazy and quick to give up. Don't rely on it too much.
Try to learn through Google searches, which will help a lot, brother...
I'm in the same situation as you brother...just gotta keep pushing the limits,we'll get through this
good bro
I hope you will be successful .Keep up your good work . You can start with (https://codeforces.me/group/MWSDmqGsZm/contests)
1- Try to enjoy making observations even if the solution doesn't follow immediately.
2- Try setting a time limit for how long you intend to work on a problem(set), makes it easier to lock in. You could try virtual participation (don't use LLMs), and doing it with friends can result in even more discipline.
3- Don't force yourself too much when you're not enjoying it, you might end up doing more this way.
Good luck have fun
I used to struggle with the same things. I can’t say those problems are completely gone now, but I’ve had so many moments when I thought, That’s my limit. I’m just not capable of more. I knew all the topics, I practiced a lot, and yet I couldn’t solve it. But now I see how wrong I was and I’m truly glad I didn’t give up back then. If solving 800-rated problems still feels hard right now, that’s completely okay maybe it’s just a bit early to jump into Codeforces. I solved on acmp before going to Codeforces, its a russian language site but there are plenty of others where you can build a solid foundation like eolymp, HackerRank, USACO, or CodeChef. Just remember every single minute you spend learning is never wasted. Little by little, everything in your mind starts to connect, like pieces of a puzzle coming together. The most important thing is to keep practicing and to stay consistent.