I am in my placement season, and my friend and I decided to get prepared together. We shared the topics that are important for the exam... I told her what my preparation was and everything... She told me that she is not going to learn advanced topics because it is difficult rn. So, I thought, okay, if i do learn the topics for MCQs, at least I will get the entry-level one, and now that's my mistake for completely depending on her preparation i realised it later. The same person who told me that she is not preparing for coding but cracked the highest package, okay. Maybe her fundamentals are strong, but even when they are strong, the coding questions are from high-level DSA questions, and she told me she got all test cases passed for a medium question. I did not confront her because it feels like i am making a scene, and it is my fault to completely believe whatever she told me. Now, she is asking me what I am going to practice for other companies, and I felt like, isn't it the other way around?? She kept saying that she hasn't prepared anything beyond passing the first rounds. Now, she is asking me to watch movies with her so she can have someone to talk to and not helping me with how to prepare for the interviews. I have no friends she was my only good friend. I understand it is her life and all, but why agree to something that she can't stand for?? Why downplay it every time I ask for help?

Question

I am in my placement season, and my friend and I decided to get prepared together. We shared the topics that are important for the exam... I told her what my preparation was and everything... She told me that she is not going to learn advanced topics because it is difficult rn. So, I thought, okay, if i do learn the topics for MCQs, at least I will get the entry-level one, and now that's my mistake for completely depending on her preparation i realised it later. The same person who told me that she is not preparing for coding but cracked the highest package, okay. Maybe her fundamentals are strong, but even when they are strong, the coding questions are from high-level DSA questions, and she told me she got all test cases passed for a medium question.  I did not confront her because it feels like i am making a scene, and it is my fault to completely believe whatever she told me. Now, she is asking me what I am going to practice for other companies, and I felt like, isn't it the other way around?? She kept saying that she hasn't prepared anything beyond passing the first rounds. Now, she is asking me to watch movies with her so she can have someone to talk to and not helping me with how to prepare for the interviews. I have no friends she was my only good friend. I understand it is her life and all, but why agree to something that she can't stand for?? Why downplay it every time I ask for help?

Anonymous Practitioner · Accepted Answer

I don't know if I'm being rude, but i think you need to cut off that friend from your life. I mean, she's not even your friend at this point, just a mere distraction for you. A real friend would actually help you out in your difficult times. This person whom you mentioned, is just trying to take advantage of you, and spoiling your chances of getting better in life.

All i would say, today's world is selfish and so, be selfish yourself. Being good and kind doesn't always work in our benefit at times and your case is an example.  Be selfish, just focus on what you want to study and prepare. You need help regarding portions and interviews? I would rather suggest you to go to library, refer resources, use Google or AI tools to help for the preparation, rather than ask for help from your so called 'friend'.

And please, I beg you, don't tell anything about what you're preparing or studying to your friend or any other student. They might take advantage of it and get ahead of you. Sounds selfish and I know that, but placement season is nothing but a competition. Only the best survives. And you gotta be selfish to get ahead.