Candidate Master in 1 Year - This Strategy Works Wonders

Some tips on how to select problems for practice, how to use editorials/solutions properly, why you should take notes of your thoughts, and how to reflect on your attempts at a problem.

probably my best thumbnail ever

Description stuff:

Timestamps:
Intro 00:00
Before practice 01:04
During practice 02:48
After practice 06:39
Conclusions 08:46

[abhinavkumar]

I loved the idea of getting as much information from a problem as you can. Feels like the right way of learning!

[mightguy]

Please, try to read this Galen. A thanks to you.

I practiced a lot (for 3 years) and never got to be an expert.

My practice method was basically choosing a problem of 1700-2000 difficulty and trying it for 1 hour. After that I've always read the editorial or seen someone else's code.

Like that I've done (not solved) 1500+ problems over past 3 years and 10% of them were actually solved by myself.

Then I've started watching your videos and learned that you emphasize on thinking for a long time and I thought, "ok, let's give it a try".

You know, I've solved 11 problems of 2100-2200 difficulty (non dp, dp is my weak spot, I'll train it later) this month and you know what, my rating is now 1700+.

And now I like to think about solution
for 2-3 days no matter how difficult they are. Feels like a problem solver rather than a coder. Thank you very much Galen.

[kippe]

What i do is to construct the generic version of a algorithm in my head and argue about every step until it makes sense.
When im in bed for example, i think about how to reverse a singly linked list or a generic BFS, when i am able to do this i know i can recall it from memory whenever i want, building the fundament and later i am able to change it in code to what i need.
I guess the trick is to be able to construct the whole thing in your head without any other stimulation or hints.
Works for me

[fxrcode]

6:53, Neetcode also used spreadsheet to record each problem analysis along the leetcoding, quite useful for reflection. I think your metacognition is quite useful to record the mind flow~

[BiggestOtaku]

Thanks, I became a master following your strategy in one year.

[LoneWolf.]

"Your practice will tell you what topics you need to learn" love this statement. My strategy is similar to it.

[anonnona]

One should definitely practice watching this video regularly.

[AlexandrBorschchev]

1. I just do whichever problem, any type. doing different problems allows me to creatively reuse those thought process that led me to solve a hard problem for later problems.
2. I then practice by solving specific problems of only a certain type
3. improve solving speed, usually from lots of experience in observation problems, and good implementation skills and tricks.

to improve, i am studying classical algo/ds. practicing ad-hoc and non-classical problems are good

over time, classical knowledge just becomes common sense. no doubt, problem solving intuition will get stronger. c++ knowledge, good code readability, and usage seems to be a good thing to improve imo

[mercy]

"Learning relearning, Learning Relearning
U are too concerned about it JUST let your thoughts flow"
-master oogway ✌️

[mazierx]

Great advice. I've been programming for many years but I really want to become pro.

[nskybytskyi]

Great overview. I have only one minor note: for me, most of the useful reflections happen **immediately** after I realized what idea I was missing to complete a solution. Moreover, I sometimes find my conclusions from reflections done long after the contest faulty, as they do work for slow-paced practice but not in the time trouble of a real contest. But this thing is hugely personal, so idk, use it at your own risk

[anupestuff]

To Colin or anyone else,
To you folks see loop invariants as a effective thought process? It helps me a lot in some problems. Also thinking about making progress in each iteration, guarantees for termination and so on help! Any other thinking paradigm you folks follow?

[me_souljah]

this is the principle of deliberate practice, it's like learning to touch-type, its grunt work. thank you for your contribution...

[synister_]

Thank you so much for the tips. I will definitely try them out :)

[shubham]

Very good tips. I'll try to implement them, if worked for me I'll definitely share my experience with you. Thank you.

[guneeshvats]

It's great advice thank you so much, it's helping me a lot!!

[krsurrya]

I had never thought about meta-cognition the way you explained, this is unique!
Thank you!!

[userpmzjah]

i think i'm kinda already doing what you said in the video! i won't ever stop until i get the result i want thank you.

[MohammadRezaDarvishy]

Thank you bro, I think your advices are going to help me :)

[pearljamever]

thanks for all your videos please keep up the work ❤