I study in a tier-3 college and most companies visiting are service based. Is it still realistic to target product companies, or is it better to keep expectations practical?
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Yes, it is realistic to aim for product companies from a tier-3 college, but it’s important to be honest about what that path looks like.
Coming from a tier-3 college mostly means you won’t get many product companies on campus. That’s the main disadvantage. It doesn’t mean you’re less capable, it just means access is limited, so most opportunities will be off campus.
I’ve seen many people from tier-3 colleges make it to good product companies, but almost none of them did it easily or quickly. They focused heavily on strong fundamentals, especially DSA, built projects they could clearly explain, and applied consistently off campus. Referrals, contests, hackathons, and direct applications played a big role.
The key difference is timeline. Tier-1 students may get product roles straight from campus. Tier-3 students often take a longer route. Some start in service companies or startups, gain experience, and then switch. Others crack it directly, but that usually requires strong preparation and persistence.
So yes, it’s realistic, but only if you’re ready to put in focused effort and not compare your journey with others. Your college might limit your starting point, but it doesn’t cap where you can end up.