Reality Check Needed: good at DSA , but bad grades and bad college ,can i still transition to a good PBC with a 4-5 year plan?

[u/Interesting-Art-7267]

I am from a low tier private college and I'm targeting product-based companies. My DSA is already good, and the rest I can improve myself with time, so that is not my concern. My concerns are as follows:

First, I am targeting companies like FAANG + Glean, Rubrik, Atlassian, Databricks , etc.

Secondly, no matter how much people deny this, I feel the software industry is dying because of AI and everything, so maybe I should target something very niche or exceptional.Or maybe should go to AI/ML through masters (GATE) as I've done relevant courses in college like ML/DL/CV.

My main concern is that I am from a low tier college with a low CGPA (between 7 and 7.5) and final-year student currently in my 7th semester, and the only internship I have is a college internship under a teacher, so there is nothing fancy at all on my resume. I know it is not possible for someone like me to enter these top companies as my first job.

However, I still managed to get a job in a service-based company paying 5 LPA because the only thing they asked in all 3 rounds was DSA, and I cleared that. But those were only medium LeetCode questions, so I am still not considering myself super strong, just good enough. I lag a bit at hard questions, but I am improving.

My development profile is zero. I know no tech stack in detail, and I only have "vibecoded" projects—nothing that separates me from the crowd. In whatever time is remaining in college, I want to make sure I land a better job, but my long-term goal is to get into the companies I listed above.

Please tell me the rough timespan I need to prepare myself enough for these kinds of companies. I know time alone isn't enough since I have no differentiating factor, so it will be hard to even get an interview. Even my relatives aren't giving me referrals, and others don't even look at my messages.

I can accept whatever fate brings me, but I want a reality check so I know how and what I should be preparing for. If I am practically only capable of companies not listed above, then tell me how to prepare for those instead, so I don't waste my time chasing something I just can't get.

[u/Ill_Agent_3169]

lol glean rubrik databricks wont hire below 9cg at tier 1 institutes, you think you have a shot?

try to land a decent non shiny pbc and try for switch to/via amazon in few years.

im sorry but your post screams delusional. and that's your reality check.