u/Pristine_Fun2146

I genuinely need some honest advice because I feel completely stuck right now.

I’m a final-year Computer Engineering student and I also have around 8 months of internship experience as a MERN Stack Web Developer.

My current stack is mostly:

• JavaScript
• React
• Next.js
• Node.js
• MongoDB

For the last 1 year, I’ve been trying to learn Java mainly for DSA and interview preparation.

Current situation:

• I know basic/intermediate Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems
• I understand basic DSA concepts
• But I’m EXTREMELY inconsistent

The biggest reason is:
I honestly do not enjoy Java.

And I think the reason is because long term I do NOT see myself becoming a Java backend developer.

I’m not interested in:

• Spring Boot
• Enterprise Java
• Java backend development

So every time I sit for DSA in Java, mentally it feels like I’m investing time into a language I may never use in my actual career.

That’s where my confusion started.

Now I’m stuck between JavaScript and Python for DSA/interview prep.

People online keep giving completely opposite advice:

Some people say:
“Stick to JavaScript because you’re already a MERN developer.”

• No context switching
• You’ll stay more consistent
• Interviews allow JavaScript anyway

But others say:
“Use Python because DSA is much easier in Python.”

• Cleaner syntax
• Faster coding in interviews
• Better for competitive programming/LeetCode
• Easier to stay consistent than Java

And honestly, both sides make sense to me.

This is the mental hell I’m currently in:

• I don’t enjoy Java anymore
• I’m scared switching languages again will waste more time
• I’m scared JavaScript may become difficult for advanced DSA
• I’m scared Python will disconnect me from my main MERN stack
• Every few weeks I feel like changing direction again
• Because of this confusion, my DSA consistency is getting destroyed

My actual goals are:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA for the next 6–12 months
• Focus on one language properly instead of constantly switching
• Become a strong engineer overall, not just “learn syntax”

I honestly feel like I’m wasting time being confused instead of improving.

So I really want advice from people who have:

• Cracked product companies
• Done DSA in JavaScript or Python
• Come from a MERN background
• Switched languages during prep
• Been in a similar situation mentally

If you were in my position today, what would you do?

Would you:

• Continue DSA in JavaScript?
• Switch fully to Python?
• Or still continue Java despite not enjoying it?

I genuinely need a final direction before I waste another few months overthinking this.

I genuinely need some honest advice because I feel completely stuck right now.

I’m a final-year Computer Engineering student and I also have around 8 months of internship experience as a MERN Stack Web Developer.

My current stack is mostly:

• JavaScript
• React
• Next.js
• Node.js
• MongoDB

For the last 1 year, I’ve been trying to learn Java mainly for DSA and interview preparation.

Current situation:

• I know basic/intermediate Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems
• I understand basic DSA concepts
• But I’m EXTREMELY inconsistent

The biggest reason is:
I honestly do not enjoy Java.

And I think the reason is because long term I do NOT see myself becoming a Java backend developer.

I’m not interested in:

• Spring Boot
• Enterprise Java
• Java backend development

So every time I sit for DSA in Java, mentally it feels like I’m investing time into a language I may never use in my actual career.

That’s where my confusion started.

Now I’m stuck between JavaScript and Python for DSA/interview prep.

People online keep giving completely opposite advice:

Some people say:
“Stick to JavaScript because you’re already a MERN developer.”

• No context switching
• You’ll stay more consistent
• Interviews allow JavaScript anyway

But others say:
“Use Python because DSA is much easier in Python.”

• Cleaner syntax
• Faster coding in interviews
• Better for competitive programming/LeetCode
• Easier to stay consistent than Java

And honestly, both sides make sense to me.

This is the mental hell I’m currently in:

• I don’t enjoy Java anymore
• I’m scared switching languages again will waste more time
• I’m scared JavaScript may become difficult for advanced DSA
• I’m scared Python will disconnect me from my main MERN stack
• Every few weeks I feel like changing direction again
• Because of this confusion, my DSA consistency is getting destroyed

My actual goals are:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA for the next 6–12 months
• Focus on one language properly instead of constantly switching
• Become a strong engineer overall, not just “learn syntax”

I honestly feel like I’m wasting time being confused instead of improving.

So I really want advice from people who have:

• Cracked product companies
• Done DSA in JavaScript or Python
• Come from a MERN background
• Switched languages during prep
• Been in a similar situation mentally

If you were in my position today, what would you do?

Would you:

• Continue DSA in JavaScript?
• Switch fully to Python?
• Or still continue Java despite not enjoying it?

I genuinely need a final direction before I waste another few months overthinking this.

I need some honest career advice from people who’ve been through this.

I’m currently a final-year Computer Engineering student and I also have 8 months of internship experience as a MERN Stack Web Developer.

My current background:

• I know basic Java and have been learning it for around 1 year
• I mainly use Java for DSA/interview preparation
• I’m not very consistent with Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems so far
• I’m already a MERN developer
• I also know basic Next.js

Long term, I do NOT want to become a Java backend developer.

I’m not interested in Spring Boot or Java backend roles.

This is my main issue:

Because I don’t see myself becoming a Java developer in the future, I don’t enjoy practicing Java that much. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’ve become very inconsistent with DSA.

Now I’m confused:

• Should I continue using Java only for DSA and interviews?
• Or should I switch to Python for DSA/interview prep since it feels easier and maybe I’ll stay more consistent?
• For FAANG/top product companies, does it really matter whether I use Java or Python for DSA interviews?
• Since I already come from a MERN background, would switching to Python be a smarter decision for consistency and interview preparation?

My goals are:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA
• Focus on a language I can continue long term

I don’t want to waste more time forcing myself to use Java if it’s not the right fit for me.

Would genuinely appreciate advice from people who were in a similar situation or from interviewers/recruiters who have seen this in the industry.

What would you do in my situation as a final piece of advice?

I need some honest career advice from people who’ve been through this.

I’m currently a final-year Computer Engineering student and I also have 8 months of internship experience as a MERN Stack Web Developer.

My current background:

• I know basic Java and have been learning it for around 1 year
• I mainly use Java for DSA/interview preparation
• I’m not very consistent with Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems so far
• I’m already a MERN developer
• I also know basic Next.js

Long term, I do NOT want to become a Java backend developer.

I’m not interested in Spring Boot or Java backend roles.

This is my main issue:

Because I don’t see myself becoming a Java developer in the future, I don’t enjoy practicing Java that much. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’ve become very inconsistent with DSA.

Now I’m confused:

• Should I continue using Java only for DSA and interviews?
• Or should I switch to Python for DSA/interview prep since it feels easier and maybe I’ll stay more consistent?
• For FAANG/top product companies, does it really matter whether I use Java or Python for DSA interviews?
• Since I already come from a MERN background, would switching to Python be a smarter decision for consistency and interview preparation?

My goals are:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA
• Focus on a language I can continue long term

I don’t want to waste more time forcing myself to use Java if it’s not the right fit for me.

Would genuinely appreciate advice from people who were in a similar situation or from interviewers/recruiters who have seen this in the industry.

What would you do in my situation as a final piece of advice?

Need honest career advice.

I’m confused about what language I should focus on for DSA and interviews.

My current background:

• I know basic Java (have been learning it for around 1 year)
• I use Java mainly for DSA/interview prep
• I’m not very consistent with Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems so far
• I’m already a MERN developer
• I also know basic Next.js
• Long term, I do not want to become a Java backend developer
• I’m not interested in Spring Boot / Java backend roles

This is my main problem:
Because I don’t see myself becoming a Java developer in the long term, I don’t enjoy practicing Java that much. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’m very inconsistent with DSA in Java.

Now I’m confused:

• Should I continue Java only for DSA and interviews?
• Or should I shift to Python for DSA/interview prep since it feels easier and maybe I’ll stay more consistent?
• For FAANG / top product companies, does it matter much if I do DSA in Java vs Python?
• Since I already come from MERN, would switching to Python be a smarter move for consistency and interviews?

My goal is:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA
• Focus on a language I can actually continue long term

I don’t want to waste more time forcing Java if it’s not the right fit for me.

Would really appreciate advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

Need honest career advice.

I’m confused about what language I should focus on for DSA and interviews.

My current background:

I know basic Java (have been learning it for around 1 year)

I use Java mainly for DSA/interview prep

I’m not very consistent with Java

I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems so far

I’m already a MERN developer

I also know basic Next.js

Long term, I do not want to become a Java backend developer

I’m not interested in Spring Boot / Java backend roles

This is my main problem:
Because I don’t see myself becoming a Java developer in the long term, I don’t enjoy practicing Java that much. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’m very inconsistent with DSA in Java.

Now I’m confused:

Should I continue Java only for DSA and interviews?

Or should I shift to Python for DSA/interview prep since it feels easier and maybe I’ll stay more consistent?

For FAANG / top product companies, does it matter much if I do DSA in Java vs Python?

Since I already come from MERN, would switching to Python be a smarter move for consistency and interviews?

My goal is:

Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews

Stay consistent with DSA

Focus on a language I can actually continue long term

I don’t want to waste more time forcing Java if it’s not the right fit for me.

Would really appreciate advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

Need honest career advice.

I’m confused about what language I should focus on for DSA and interviews.

My current background:

• I know basic Java (have been learning it for around 1 year)
• I use Java mainly for DSA/interview prep
• I’m not very consistent with Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems so far
• I’m already a MERN developer
• I also know basic Next.js
• Long term, I do not want to become a Java backend developer
• I’m not interested in Spring Boot / Java backend roles

This is my main problem:
Because I don’t see myself becoming a Java developer in the long term, I don’t enjoy practicing Java that much. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’m very inconsistent with DSA in Java.

Now I’m confused:

• Should I continue Java only for DSA and interviews?
• Or should I shift to Python for DSA/interview prep since it feels easier and maybe I’ll stay more consistent?
• For FAANG / top product companies, does it matter much if I do DSA in Java vs Python?
• Since I already come from MERN, would switching to Python be a smarter move for consistency and interviews?

My goal is:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA
• Focus on a language I can actually continue long term

I don’t want to waste more time forcing Java if it’s not the right fit for me.

Would really appreciate advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

Need honest career advice.

I’m confused about what language I should focus on for DSA and interviews.

My current background:

• I know basic Java (have been learning it for around 1 year)
• I use Java mainly for DSA/interview prep
• I’m not very consistent with Java
• I’ve solved around 80–90 DSA problems so far
• I’m already a MERN developer
• I also know basic Next.js
• Long term, I do not want to become a Java backend developer
• I’m not interested in Spring Boot / Java backend roles

This is my main problem:
Because I don’t see myself becoming a Java developer in the long term, I don’t enjoy practicing Java that much. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’m very inconsistent with DSA in Java.

Now I’m confused:

• Should I continue Java only for DSA and interviews?
• Or should I shift to Python for DSA/interview prep since it feels easier and maybe I’ll stay more consistent?
• For FAANG / top product companies, does it matter much if I do DSA in Java vs Python?
• Since I already come from MERN, would switching to Python be a smarter move for consistency and interviews?

My goal is:

• Crack top product companies / FAANG-level interviews
• Stay consistent with DSA
• Focus on a language I can actually continue long term

I don’t want to waste more time forcing Java if it’s not the right fit for me.

Would really appreciate advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation.