🛠️ How to Build a Strong DSA Foundation in 90 Days

🚀 Introduction

Do you ever feel overwhelmed staring at the endless list of Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) topics? You’re not alone. But what if we told you that you can build a rock-solid DSA foundation in just 90 days? Whether you're a college student starting out, a placement aspirant racing against time, or a coding enthusiast aiming to sharpen your skills—this guide is your battle plan.

Let’s break down the chaos and replace it with clarity, consistency, and confidence. Welcome to your 90-day DSA mastery journey with Campus Rank!

📅 The 90-Day DSA Roadmap: A Bird’s Eye View

Month 1: Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Focus: Arrays, Strings, Linked Lists, and Recursion

Week 1:

Learn how arrays and strings work.

Solve 15–20 basic problems on platforms like LeetCode or GeeksforGeeks.

Code Sample: Reverse an array in-place.

        void reverseArray(vector<int>& arr) {
            int start = 0, end = arr.size() - 1;
            while(start < end) swap(arr[start++], arr[end--]);
        }

Week 2–3:

Deep dive into Linked Lists (Singly, Doubly, and Circular)

Work on recursion patterns (factorial, Fibonacci, backtracking basics)

Week 4:

Mini-project: Build a simple Linked List in C++/Java

Mock test on the topics covered

Student writing code with a laptop and notebook

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters

Month 2: Intermediate DSA + Problem Solving

Focus: Stacks, Queues, Trees, Heaps, and Hash Maps

Week 5–6:

Learn Stacks and Queues using arrays and linked lists

Solve 20+ problems related to these topics

Week 7:

Understand Trees (binary trees, binary search trees)

Use recursion to solve problems like height of tree, level order traversal

Week 8:

Dive into Hash Maps and Heaps (min-heap, max-heap)

Solve frequency-based and priority problems

Month 3: Advanced Topics + Mock Interviews

Focus: Graphs, Dynamic Programming (DP), and Revision

Week 9:

Basics of Graphs: BFS, DFS, adjacency matrix/list

Practice pathfinding problems (shortest path, cycle detection)

Week 10–11:

Learn Dynamic Programming with tabulation and memoization

Focus on standard problems like:

0/1 Knapsack

Longest Increasing Subsequence

Matrix DP problems

Week 12:

Full revision and mock interviews

Timed contests on Campus Rank or LeetCode

Focused student preparing for tech interview

Photo by Patrick Amoy

🎯 Tips to Stick with the Plan

Set Micro Goals

Solve at least 2–3 problems a day.

Spend 1–2 hours daily instead of long weekend sessions.

Use the Right Platforms

Campus Rank: Track your progress and compete with peers.

LeetCode/Codeforces: Practice platform-specific contests.

GeeksforGeeks: In-depth articles for theory and practice.

Practice Mindfully

Focus on _understanding_ over _memorizing_.

Revisit unsolved problems after 24–48 hours.

💻 Tools and Platforms to Use

Tool	Purpose
Campus Rank	Track DSA progress & compete
GeeksforGeeks	Theory + Problem Practice
LeetCode	Industry-level problems
Notion/Obsidian	Daily notes and revision logs

📚 Books That Can Help (Optional but Powerful)

“Cracking the Coding Interview” by Gayle Laakmann McDowell

“Introduction to Algorithms” by Cormen et al.

“DSA Made Easy” by Narasimha Karumanchi

🏁 Conclusion: Make Your 90 Days Count

DSA doesn’t have to be scary or boring. With the right plan, tools like Campus Rank, and consistent effort, 90 days is all it takes to lay a strong foundation.

Call to Action:

💥 Ready to track your DSA growth, compete in weekly leaderboards, and prepare for placements like a pro?

> **Join Campus Rank Now** and begin your 90-day transformation!

❓ FAQs

Q1. Can beginners really master DSA in 90 days?

Yes! With the right strategy and consistency, even complete beginners can build a solid foundation.

Q2. How much time should I dedicate daily?

1–2 focused hours per day are enough. The key is consistency, not intensity.

Q3. Should I learn C++, Java, or Python for DSA?

All three work. Choose one you're comfortable with or that aligns with your placement goals.

Q4. What if I miss a few days?

It’s okay! Just re-align with the plan and avoid long breaks. Use Campus Rank’s weekly reminders to stay on track.

Q5. Is solving problems enough or should I focus on theory too?

Both matter. Understand the “why” behind the code—it improves retention and adaptability.

Campus Rank - Coding Leaderboard