12 Secrets Top Computer Science Students Use to Crush Exams, Code Like Pros, and Land Dream Jobs

Updated March 2025

We’ve all seen them—the students who seem to have it all. They ace exams without all-nighters, build projects that recruiters love, and still have time to have fun. What’s their secret? Are they geniuses? Born coders? Nope.

The truth is, top CSE students aren’t magical. They just do things differently. Over the years, I’ve studied these students—from tier 1 IITians to tier 3 college toppers—and found 12 habits that set them apart. The best part? These aren’t rocket science. They’re simple, actionable steps anyone can follow.

Whether you’re struggling with coding, struggling in lab files, or just want to land that dream internship, this post is your cheat sheet to working smarter, not harder. Let’s dive in.

1. They Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals (No, Not Just “Get a Job”)

Top CSE students don’t just dream about success—they plan for it. They set S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

For example, instead of saying, ‘I want to get better at coding,’ they say:

  • Specific: ‘I’ll solve 3 LeetCode problems daily.’

  • Measurable: ‘I’ll track my progress on a spreadsheet.’

  • Attainable: ‘I’ll start with easy problems and move to medium.’

  • Relevant: ‘This will help me crack coding rounds.’

  • Timely: ‘I’ll do this for 30 days before my next interview.’

Why It Works:
When your goals are S.M.A.R.T., you stop feeling overwhelmed. You know exactly what to do, how to measure progress, and when to celebrate wins.

Do This Now:
Pick one goal (e.g., ‘Learn Python’) and make it S.M.A.R.T. Example:

  • ‘I’ll complete 1 Python project every 2 weeks for the next 3 months.’

Pro Tip: Use Notion to track your goals. It’s like GitHub for your life.

2. They Balance Life Like a Pro (No, All-Nighters Aren’t the Answer)

Top CSE students don’t just survive—they thrive. They know that coding 24/7 doesn’t make you a better engineer; it just makes you a sleep-deprived zombie.

Here’s how they balance life:

  • Academics: Study in focused bursts (e.g., 50 mins coding, 10 mins break).

  • Health: Do 5-minute workouts between lectures (try Yoga with Adriene on YouTube).

  • Social Life: Hostel chai breaks > Instagram scrolling.

  • Hobbies: Learn guitar, sketch, or binge Panchayat—anything that isn’t coding.

Why It Works:
Balance isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing what matters. When you take care of your mind and body, you code faster, think clearer, and stress less.

Do This Now:
Pick one area you’ve been neglecting (e.g., health) and commit to a small change. Example:

  • ‘I’ll take a 10-minute walk after dinner every day.’

Pro Tip: Use the Pomodoro Technique (25 mins work, 5 mins break) to balance study and rest. Apps like Forest can help you stay focused.

3. They Hang Out with the Right People (No, Not Just Coders)

Top CSE students know one secret: Your network is your net worth. But it’s not about hanging out with the ‘smartest’ people—it’s about finding those who push you to grow.

Here’s how they do it:

  • Study Buddies: Partner with someone who’s serious about learning, not just copying lab files.

  • Mentors: DM seniors or professors for advice (e.g., ‘Hi! Can I ask 2 quick questions about placements?’).

  • Diverse Friends: Hang out with non-CSE friends too—they’ll remind you there’s life beyond coding.

Why It Works:
When you surround yourself with the right people, you:

  • Get unstuck faster (e.g., debugging help at 2 AM).

  • Stay motivated during tough times (e.g., exam stress).

  • Learn about opportunities (e.g., internships, hackathons).

Do This Now:
Reach out to one person who inspires you. Example:

  • ‘Hi [Name], I loved your project on [topic]. Can I ask how you got started?’

Pro Tip: Join Discord coding communities or college WhatsApp groups to meet like-minded peers.

4. They Turn Failures into Fuel (No, Bugs Aren’t the Enemy)

Top CSE students don’t fear failure—they embrace it. They know every error message, failed exam, or rejected internship application is a step closer to success.

Here’s how they stay positive:

  • Debugging Mindset: Treat coding errors as puzzles, not punishments. Example: ‘Segmentation fault? Cool, let’s fix it.’

  • Exam Failures: Analyze where you went wrong (e.g., ‘I didn’t practice enough DSA problems’) and make a plan.

  • Rejections: Every ‘no’ is feedback. Example: ‘I didn’t clear the coding round? Time to grind LeetCode.’

Why It Works:
When you focus on learning, not losing, you:

  • Build resilience (e.g., debugging for hours without rage-quitting).

  • Grow faster (e.g., turning exam mistakes into study strategies).

  • Stay motivated (e.g., seeing rejections as redirections).

Do This Now:
Reflect on one recent failure and write down 1 lesson you learned. Example:

  • ‘I failed my OS exam because I didn’t practice enough numericals. Next time, I’ll solve 10 problems daily.’

Pro Tip: Use Notion to create a ‘Failure Journal’—track mistakes, lessons, and progress.

5. They Track Progress Like a Pro (No, Guessing Doesn’t Work)

Top CSE students don’t just work hard—they work smart. They know that tracking progress is the secret to staying on top of coding, exams, and projects.

Here’s how they do it:

  • Coding Practice: Track LeetCode problems solved daily (e.g., ‘Week 1: 10 easy, 5 medium’).

  • Exam Prep: Use a checklist for syllabus coverage (e.g., ‘OS: 80% done, CN: 50% done’).

  • Projects: Break tasks into milestones (e.g., ‘Day 1: Research, Day 2: Design, Day 3: Code’).

Why It Works:
When you measure progress, you:

  • Stay motivated (e.g., seeing your LeetCode streak grow).

  • Avoid last-minute panic (e.g., knowing exactly what’s left to study).

  • Celebrate small wins (e.g., completing a project milestone).

Do This Now:
Pick one area (e.g., coding, exams) and start tracking. Example:

  • ‘I’ll solve 3 LeetCode problems daily and log them in a spreadsheet.’

Pro Tip: Use Notion to create progress trackers. It’s like GitHub for your goals.

6. They Improve Slowly but Surely (No, Overnight Genius Isn’t Real)

Top CSE students know that success isn’t about big leaps—it’s about small, consistent steps. They focus on getting 1% better every day.

Here’s how they do it:

  • Coding Skills: Solve 1 LeetCode problem daily (e.g., ‘Week 1: Arrays, Week 2: Linked Lists’).

  • Exam Prep: Study 1 new topic daily (e.g., ‘Today: OS Scheduling, Tomorrow: Deadlocks’).

  • Projects: Break tasks into tiny steps (e.g., ‘Day 1: Research, Day 2: Design, Day 3: Code’).

Why It Works:
When you focus on small improvements, you:

  • Avoid burnout (e.g., no 12-hour coding marathons).

  • Build momentum (e.g., solving 30 problems in a month feels easier than 100 in a week).

  • Stay consistent (e.g., daily progress > last-minute cramming).

Do This Now:
Pick one skill (e.g., coding, DSA) and commit to a tiny daily habit. Example:

  • ‘I’ll solve 1 LeetCode problem daily for the next 30 days.’

Pro Tip: Use Habit Tracker apps (eg: Quitzilla) to stay consistent.

7. They Keep It Simple (No, You Don’t Need 10 IDEs)

Top CSE students know that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. They don’t waste time juggling 10 tools or overcomplicating projects—they focus on what works.

Here’s how they simplify:

  • Coding Tools: Stick to 1-2 IDEs (e.g., VS Code for everything).

  • Exam Prep: Focus on high-weightage topics (e.g., ‘OS: Scheduling, Deadlocks, Memory Management’).

  • Projects: Start small (e.g., ‘Library Management System’) instead of aiming for AI-driven robots.

Why It Works:
When you keep things simple, you:

  • Save time (e.g., no more Googling ‘best Python IDE’).

  • Reduce stress (e.g., focusing on 3 topics > trying to memorize 10).

  • Get results faster (e.g., completing a simple project > abandoning a complex one).

Do This Now:
Simplify one area of your life. Example:

  • ‘I’ll use only VS Code for all my coding projects.’

Pro Tip: Use Notion to create a ‘Simple Life’ checklist—tools, topics, and tasks that matter most.

8. They Step Out of Their Comfort Zone (No, You Don’t Need to Be ‘Ready’)

Top CSE students know that growth happens outside their comfort zone. They don’t wait to feel ‘ready’—they jump into opportunities, even if it scares them.

Here’s how they do it:

  • Coding Interviews: Apply for internships even if you’ve solved only 50 LeetCode problems.

  • Public Speaking: Present your project in class, even if your voice shakes.

  • Hackathons: Join one, even if you’ve never built a full project.

Why It Works:
When you step out of your comfort zone, you:

  • Learn faster (e.g., failing a coding interview teaches you more than 100 solved problems).

  • Build confidence (e.g., presenting a project makes you better at explaining your ideas).

  • Discover opportunities (e.g., hackathons can lead to internships or startup ideas).

Do This Now:
Pick one thing that scares you and take a small step. Example:

  • ‘I’ll apply for 3 internships this week, even if I don’t feel ready.’

Pro Tip: Use LinkedIn to find beginner-friendly hackathons or coding challenges.

9. They Don’t Chase Perfection (No, Your Code Doesn’t Need to Be Flawless)

Top CSE students know that ‘done’ is better than ‘perfect.’ They focus on progress, not perfection, because they know the real world rewards action, not overthinking.

Here’s how they avoid the perfection trap:

  • Coding Projects: Ship the first version, even if it’s buggy (e.g., ‘Library Management System v1.0’).

  • Exam Prep: Cover 80% of the syllabus well instead of 100% poorly.

  • Resume Building: Apply for internships with a ‘good enough’ resume, not a ‘perfect’ one.

Why It Works:
When you stop chasing perfection, you:

  • Save time (e.g., no more rewriting the same code 10 times).

  • Reduce stress (e.g., focusing on progress, not impossible standards).

  • Get results faster (e.g., landing an internship with a decent resume).

Do This Now:
Pick one task you’ve been overthinking and just start. Example:

  • ‘I’ll submit my project today, even if it’s not perfect.’

Pro Tip: Use GitHub to track progress—commit often, even if it’s imperfect.

10. They Make Smart Decisions (No, Gut Feelings Aren’t Enough)

Top CSE students know that emotions can cloud judgment. They make logical, informed decisions—whether it’s choosing a career path, preparing for exams, or picking a project topic.

Here’s how they do it:

  • Career Choices: Research job roles, salaries, and skills needed (e.g., ‘Should I learn Python or Java?’).

  • Exam Prep: Analyze past papers to focus on high-weightage topics (e.g., ‘OS: 30% marks from Scheduling’).

  • Projects: Pick topics based on industry demand, not just interest (e.g., ‘Web Development > Blockchain for beginners’).

Why It Works:
When you make informed decisions, you:

  • Avoid regrets (e.g., choosing a career path you actually enjoy).

  • Save time (e.g., focusing on topics that matter most in exams).

  • Build relevant skills (e.g., projects that recruiters care about).

Do This Now:
Make one informed decision today. Example:

  • ‘I’ll research 3 job roles and pick one to focus on.’

Pro Tip: Use Glassdoor to compare salaries and roles before making career decisions.

11. They Focus on Productivity, Not Busywork (No, All-Nighters Aren’t the Answer)

Top CSE students know the difference between being busy and being productive. They don’t code for 12 hours straight—they focus on what actually moves the needle.

Here’s how they stay productive:

  • Coding Practice: Solve 3 high-quality LeetCode problems daily instead of 10 random ones.

  • Exam Prep: Study in focused 50-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks (Pomodoro Technique).

  • Projects: Break tasks into milestones (e.g., ‘Day 1: Research, Day 2: Design, Day 3: Code’).

Why It Works:
When you focus on productivity, you:

  • Save time (e.g., no more 12-hour coding marathons).

  • Reduce stress (e.g., studying in short, focused bursts).

  • Get better results (e.g., solving 3 problems deeply > skimming 10).

Do This Now:
Pick one task and focus on quality, not quantity. Example:

  • ‘I’ll solve 3 LeetCode problems daily for the next 30 days.’

Pro Tip: Use a small diary (affiliate link) to prioritize tasks and track progress.

12. They Take Action (No, Overthinking Won’t Get You a Job)

Top CSE students don’t just dream about success—they take action. They know that coding 100 problems in your head won’t help you crack interviews.

Here’s how they get moving:

  • Coding Practice: Start solving LeetCode problems today, even if it’s just 1 easy problem.

  • Exam Prep: Open your book and study 1 topic right now—no more ‘I’ll start tomorrow.’

  • Projects: Pick a simple idea (e.g., ‘Library Management System’) and start coding today.

Why It Works:
When you take action, you:

  • Build momentum (e.g., solving 1 problem leads to 10).

  • Overcome fear (e.g., starting is scarier than continuing).

  • Create opportunities (e.g., projects get you internships).

Do This Now:
Pick one thing and start today. Example:

  • ‘I’ll solve 1 LeetCode problem right now.’

Pro Tip: Use Habit Tracker apps (eg: Quitzilla) to stay consistent. It’s like GitHub commits for your goals.

Success in B.Tech isn’t about being a genius or having a perfect plan—it’s about taking small, consistent steps that add up over time. Whether it’s setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, stepping out of your comfort zone, or focusing on productivity over busywork, these 12 habits can transform your college experience. Remember, every top CSE student started where you are now. They didn’t wait for the ‘perfect moment’—they created it by taking action today. So, what’s your first step? Pick one habit, start small, and watch how it changes everything. Your dream career isn’t as far as you think—it’s just one decision away.

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