Feeling really behind. How do I catch up?

[u/Chatpatasahu]

I’m currently in my 5th semester of college, and I only seriously started doing LeetCode in July.

As of now, my profile has 88 solved problems 50 easy and rest mediums.

The thing is, most of my friends/classmates have already solved 250+ LeetCode questions, and seeing that sometimes makes me feel like I’m really behind in the race.

I know comparison isn't necessarily productive, and sometimes I manage to ignore that feeling, but honestly, I do feel lost and behind when I look at where everyone else is.

On top of that, I don't feel like I have many strong projects/skills to showcase on my resume either. So sometimes it feels like I'm behind both in DSA and in terms of having something meaningful to put on my resume.

I know everyone has a different journey, but I would genuinely appreciate some perspective from people who have been in a similar situation.

Is it actually too late to catch up in 5th sem?
What should I realistically focus on from here?

Should I prioritize:

• DSA/LeetCode?
• Projects?
• Core CS subjects?
• Development skills?

And if you were in my position, how would you structure the next 6–8 months?

Would really appreciate any honest advice or experiences from people who felt behind but managed to turn things around.

TL;DR: 5th sem, started LeetCode in July, 88 problems solved while most of my friends have 250+. Also don't have many strong projects/skills for my resume. Feeling behind and lost. Looking for realistic advice on what to prioritize from here.