The Countdown to October Has Started

Saturday was not exactly a heavy study day, but it was still useful. Most of my academic focus remained on Computer Networks, while I also started thinking seriously about how packed the coming days are going to become.

Because from October 1, things are going to get considerably more rigid.

Computer Networks: Almost Done With MAC Address

I continued working on the MAC Address chapter in Computer Networks.

I haven't completed it yet, but I'm getting close. There are only three lectures remaining, and I'm aiming to finish the chapter by Sunday.

After that, I'll move on to Routing, which will be the next Computer Networks chapter in my preparation.

The bigger goal is to get Computer Networks into a much better position before October begins. I want to complete the overall syllabus by 30 October, so there's not much room left for casually saying, "I'll do it later."

Human beings apparently need deadlines to discover their hidden ability to panic productively.

More CN Notes

Apart from the lecture, I spent some time making notes for Computer Networks.

I covered several TCP-related topics, including:

• TCP Timer Management
• Silly Window Syndrome
• TCP Error Control
• TCP Flow Control

There is still quite a bit more note-making left in the TCP/UDP portion, but at least these topics are now being converted into notes that I can use for revision later.

I've realised that making these notes alongside the lectures takes time, but it should make the revision phase easier when I eventually have to revisit the subject.

No Question Practice Today

One thing I didn't do today was question practice.

That's not ideal, but the good thing is that my weekly question practice has already crossed 50 questions.

My target for the week was roughly 50–100 questions from completed subjects, so I'm already inside the target range.

This week has also been more varied than some of my earlier practice. I've worked with questions from C Programming, Digital Logic, Data Structures, and Algorithms.

So even though I didn't add anything today, the overall weekly target is still moving in the right direction.

Sequential Circuits Can Wait

I also decided not to touch the Digital Logic Sequential Circuits revision today.

The test I had originally planned has already been pushed to next week, and I'm okay with that decision.

There's no point forcing myself to take a test just because it appears on a calendar when I haven't revised the topic properly. I'll deal with Sequential Circuits next week and then take the test when it actually makes sense.

Sunday Is Going to Be Busy

Sunday is looking considerably more packed.

I have several things lined up:

1. Finish the remaining MAC Address lectures.
2. Take my second C Programming subject-wise test.
3. Do some question practice.
4. Spend some time with my girlfriend.

We had originally planned to meet on Saturday from around 5 PM to 9 PM, but because of studies and her being busy, we postponed it to Sunday.

So Sunday is going to involve some careful time management.

I'm not planning to reduce the study targets, though. I'll try to manage both.

That's also why I'm deliberately keeping the plan simple. I don't want to keep adding extra tasks just because I suddenly remember another thing I could study. There is already enough on the list.

October Is Coming

The bigger thing on my mind today was actually the next phase of preparation.

Starting 1 October, I'm planning to enter what I jokingly think of as my "insane mode" for syllabus completion.

The goal is simple:

Complete the GATE CSE syllabus by 30 October.

That means the next month is going to be much more structured and rigid than the earlier part of my preparation.

I'm expecting there will be days when the schedule feels uncomfortable. There will probably be unfinished targets, tired evenings, and the occasional moment where I question why I decided to put an entire Computer Science syllabus between myself and a peaceful life.

But the deadline is clear.

For now, I just need to handle Sunday.

Then October begins.

And apparently, so does the madness. 😭