Ivy + AI Startup Offers —Why Did He Keep Chasing Big Tech?

Before joining Drill Insight, Ethan was studying Data Science and had completed several projects with AI startups. However, his experience felt fragmented, and he did not have a clear strategy for breaking into a major technology company. When he received his first Google New Grad Software Engineer interview, he was not fully prepared for the technical round and did not move forward. The experience helped him realize that effort alone was not enough—having the right direction and preparation method mattered just as much.

After joining Drill Insight, Ethan worked with his mentors to evaluate his Ivy League admission, startup opportunity, and long-term Big Tech goals. His preparation included structured interview reviews, LeetCode practice, and technical communication training. He also recorded daily 10-to-20-minute videos explaining coding problems, which helped him improve his thought process, communication, and ability to stay consistently interview-ready.

Ethan eventually faced a high-pressure panel interview with five to six interviewers, covering his résumé, technical concepts, RAG, and coding questions. Despite limited information about the interview format and challenging interviewer feedback, he remained composed and completed the process with confidence. He ultimately stood out among more than 2,700 candidates and secured a Samsung 2026 Summer Software Development Engineer Internship offer—a result built on consistent preparation, reflection, and resilience.