For a Topcoder

This article is for those who have registered in topcoder and wondering “what next?”.
Well, the obvious answer is “just do it” Start participating in srms regularly and get into the groove.
1)Try your best to attend matches.
2)Make it a point to just practise in a couple of practise rooms before taking on an srm. It helps you in getting warmed up for the match.
3)Chill and switch!! I have seen many (including me)coders just knocking their heads over the wall for simple 250 point problems during my early days of topcoding.Trust me, it never helps.!! If you struggle with div2 250 pointer for more than 15 mins its probably better to switch to 500/1000. This is very important tip.
4)Hang on till the last minute.When you are done solving the problems which you thought were right, just have a second look at them. Just do a exhaustive testing of your solutions with varied input cases. It helps in 2 ways
1) Helps you figure out a mistake in your code. A resubmission of a correct solution is always better than a first submit of a wrong one.
2) Helps you prepare yourself for the challenge phase. A tricky test case can act as a killer in the challenge phase blowing off all the solutions! I have personal experience of that one!!;)

This should keep you up for while in the ratings stack. But trust me, PRACTISE MAKES THINGS PERFECT!! This is very much true when it comes to topcoder.
Cheers and happy coding.