Pros
Built production-like backend systems (Spring Boot, APIs, DB design)
Worked on real financial logic (XIRR, tax, risk analytics) — not just CRUD
Gained experience with data processing (PDF parsing, 30K+ records)
Exposure to system design, scalability, and architecture patterns
Improved problem-solving and debugging through complex logic implementation
Cons
Heavy backend focus — fewer opportunities in UI/UX or product thinking