Deep down, you know all you really need is leetcode or a used copy of Elements of Programming Interviews. But it's a grind, and you're looking at these programs to provide some kind of magic shortcut to FANG that doesn't exist. They justify themselves with video reviews, mock interviews, "structured learning"...but you can find that in the ToC of EPI, a Google search away. For mock interviews, ask a friend and offer a dinner or something instead of dunking over $5k on programs like Interview Kickstart. That's not to say they're not effective, but you're unnecessarily lighting money on fire. Stop trying to find an easy way to FANG, embrace the grind, and save your money.
LeetCode and EPI did the job for me.
Itās because marketing, not necessarily wanting a shortcut. People need something to learn about the interview and the questions being asked. It was CTCI, EPI, Hackerrank, then LeetCode, and all the youtubers offering their service.
Not everyone can sit down and read a book for that long. Some people are visual learners... and they probably understand better when others explain the concepts in simplified ways. Instead of worrying about how people achieve their goals, why donāt you focus on yourself?
EPI is the bible. The code in that book is beautiful. Then leetcode to grind company tagged questions sorted by frequency.
I have already gone through IK and credit them for being here. You make very simplistic generalizations. First of all, neither Leetcode nor EPI teach you how to think. They throw hundreds of random problems with random solutions. If you are among the elites that had a great CS education, then a question bank with solutions may be good enough. But not for those of us who didn't have a good education. Your post is like asking why go through any CS program at a college - deep down in your heart you know it is just knowing what is in Cormen, Skiena, etc. Just read these books and save yourself a few years. If an 18 year old needs to go to college, a 35 year old who lacks fundamentals and is more or less starting from scratch also needs a shorter program that would make him learn. I never saw the course as a shortcut. It was like going back to college that is geared towards clearing interviews.
You compared a college to IK? Shame on you for doing that
Why? Some of the students whoāve gone to top 10 eng schools have mentioned Omkar is basically MIT/Stanford faculty level of intelligence + willingness to sit at length to explain concepts. Something youād never get even at a top uniās algo course. Itās literally like having Gandalf the White tutor you.
What is ToC of EPI ?
I bought one of these programs (not listed but similar) and only $250. My goal was not to take a shortcut, but to learn how to kick ass at interviews even after lc stops being the main method. āLearn how to solveā rather than just doing 1,000 lc problems. The result? I spent a year going in deep on blocks and basics of how to solve problems and I can pretty much name how to solve every single LC easy before finishing reading the question. Going into some interviews I was surprised to be getting so many medium questions, and doing poorly as a result. LC meds are really combinations of easys and the way you learn how to do those is unfortunately just by doing a massive amount of them. Iām back to the point that I just need to grind out a ton of LC before Iāll be good at it. Luckily I only spent $250 on the program and it was pretty useful, but I think my time would have been better spent just grinding LC.
Mind sharing the program name?
Iāll pm you