Scaler Review: NIT Dropout to Microsoft Senior Engineer
Imagine earning a seat at a reputed institution after years of preparation, only to decide to walk away from it.
After making a decision this bold, you end up hearing whispers: Why leave? What happens next? Was it the right decision? From within and even around.
Sounds like the kind of decision people would remember you for, doesn't it?
This is what Rishi Prakash was dealing with after he dropped out of NIT Karnataka.
And what happened after? And how did he get into software engineering?
Let’s find out through his journey ahead!
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Walking Away from NIT
As an engineer, it is a dream to get into a good institute and then land a good job. And that in itself is the toughest journey. So choosing a path other than that feels impossible.
For many students in India, getting into an NIT is the result of years spent preparing for JEE Main, one of the country's largest engineering entrance examinations. Every year, more than 13 lakh students register for the exam, competing for admission to NITs and other leading engineering institutes. For those who make it, the admission letter is the result of years of preparation. Coaching classes, mock tests, long study hours, and the hopes of an entire family often lead up to that one moment. Most students who earn an NIT seat expect to spend the next four years there and graduate as engineers.
Rishi Prakash was one of those students. He got into NIT Karnataka. At some point, he decided to leave.
Now for him, it became much more important to take his next steps carefully and see where everything can work out.
Preparing for the Next Leap
By the time Rishi joined Scaler, he had already spent years working as a software engineer.
After graduating in 2012, he started his career at a small product-based company. Later, he moved to service-based organisations, hoping the change would expose him to better engineering work and new technical challenges. Instead, he found himself asking a different question: What would it take to get into the kind of product companies he had always wanted to work for?
To which he later found out that only experience won’t work.
As he looked at interview processes across leading product companies, one pattern kept coming up. Candidates were expected to know how to work with data structures, algorithms, and system design very well. Those interview rounds demanded focused preparation, regardless of how many years someone had already spent in the industry.
Like many others, Rishi first looked for resources online. He worked through coding platforms such as HackerRank and HackerEarth, searched for tutorials, and tried piecing together different resources. But learning that way wasn't easy.
In his words, the resources were "scattered over the internet." One topic would lead to another, different instructors explained concepts in different ways, and there was no clear learning path. Progress depended as much on finding the right material as it did on studying it.
That was when he decided to join Scaler.
What made it helpful for him was the way the program was organised. Live instructor-led classes, mentorship sessions, a learner community, and interview support gave him one place to prepare instead of juggling multiple resources.
So, now he didn’t have to worry about finding the next topic and gathering resources; instead, he could just continue learning.
"I Can Do Anything."
After joining Scaler, Rishi began working with his mentor, Shishir Chandra.
Alongside the curriculum, mentors work closely with learners throughout their preparation, helping them stay consistent through regular check-ins, progress reviews, technical discussions, interview preparation, and accountability.
When he thought about that time, Rishi said:
"After dropping out of NIT-K, two things helped me get back on track: joining Scaler, which gave me direction and my mentor Shishir Chandra, whose guidance pushed me forward and kept me from dropping out. The most valuable thing I gained from Scaler was confidence; the belief that 'I can do anything."
Preparing for technical interviews can take months, and it's common to go through periods where motivation drops or progress feels slower than expected. Having someone to discuss roadblocks with, review your progress, and keep you accountable can make that process easier to navigate. For Rishi, mentorship became one of the reasons he was able to keep moving forward.
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The idea of a college dropout software engineer may still surprise many people, but that’s what’s so interesting about careers in tech, your skills matter most.
And that’s why Rishi's story challenges a common assumption about career growth. When someone falls behind or takes an unconventional path, it's easy to question their ability. In reality, ability is often only one part of the equation. Sustained progress depends just as much on having the right environment to learn, practise, receive feedback, and keep going when motivation fades.
That's also why gaining confidence was such a crucial thing for him. It wasn't the reason he succeeded; it was the result of the work he put in over time. Every class attended, every concept understood, every interview prepared for, and every practice with his mentor added to it. By the end of the journey, confidence had become a natural result of the progress he had made along the way.
If You're Feeling Left Behind
If Rishi's journey resonates with you, don’t worry about thinking if you’re capable or not. It's time to understand where your preparation stands today.
Here’s how you can get started!
Start with an honest assessment of your fundamentals. Are you familiar with programming basics? Can you solve data structures and algorithms problems with confidence? Do you understand system design concepts expected in technical interviews?
Once you’re done analyzing where your knowledge is at present, you’ll understand even better while building a realistic, focused preparation plan.
So, if you’re wondering, is it too late to learn coding?
Then don’t worry; there are times when a path isn’t linear, but there is also no criteria to begin learning.
And if you are in need of support and guided learning, then you can look into Scaler Academy.
The beginner track is designed for learners who are building their fundamentals. As they progress, each learner is paired with an experienced software engineer who provides one-on-one guidance, reviews their progress, answers technical questions, and supports them through interview preparation.
Rishi's journey didn't follow the conventional path. But it shows that with consistent preparation, the right guidance, and the willingness to keep showing up, it's possible to build towards the career you want, one step at a time.
Every career journey looks different. Rishi's story is one example of how consistent preparation and the right guidance can help professionals work towards their goals. If you’re curious about more such scaler success story across different backgrounds and experience levels, you can check out Scaler's audited Career Report.
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FAQs
Can someone who has dropped out of college get a job as a software engineer for Microsoft?
Yes, although it depends on the individual's experience, skills, and preparation. Rishi Prakash is one such example who decided to drop out of NIT. After working as a software engineer, he used structured preparation and mentorship to strengthen his technical skills before making the move to Microsoft as a Senior Software Engineer. His journey shows that dropping out doesn't necessarily close the door to a successful tech career.
Should there be a second chance for a tech career after flunking out of college?
Yes, but there isn't a single path that works for everyone. Some professionals switch roles after gaining work experience, while others return to strengthen their fundamentals before aiming for product companies. What often makes the difference is consistent preparation, structured learning, and guidance from experienced mentors. Rishi's journey is one example, but he isn't the only one.
