Morgan Stanley Coding Questions

Overview

Practice Morgan Stanley coding questions in the style candidates report for online assessments and technical interviews. Focus: arrays/hashing + SQL-flavored logic.

Morgan Stanley coding pattern

Item	Typical expectation
Problems	1-3 coding tasks depending on drive
Skills	arrays/hashing + SQL-flavored logic
Languages	Java, C++, Python (confirm invite)
Bar	Correctness first, then complexity

Practice problems

Question 1: max concurrent sessions

Show approach

Approach: Sweep line on intervals.

from collections import defaultdict
def solve(arr):
  # fill logic
  return arr

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Question 2: SQL-flavored: second highest salary

Show approach

Approach: Track top two unique.

Map<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<>();
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
  // fill logic
}

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Question 3: validate parentheses in expression

Show approach

Approach: Stack.

from collections import defaultdict
def solve(arr):
  # fill logic
  return arr

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Question 4: group anagrams of customer codes

Show approach

Approach: Sorted signature keys.

Map<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<>();
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
  // fill logic
}

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Question 5: minimum platforms / meeting rooms

Show approach

Approach: Sort starts/ends.

from collections import defaultdict
def solve(arr):
  # fill logic
  return arr

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Question 6: two sum on transaction amounts

Show approach

Approach: Hash map.

Map<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<>();
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
  // fill logic
}

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Question 7: running average balance

Show approach

Approach: Prefix sums.

from collections import defaultdict
def solve(arr):
  # fill logic
  return arr

Complexity: State time/space before coding. Test empty input and single-element cases.

Pattern drill plan (2 weeks)

Day	Drill
Mon	Arrays + hashing (2 problems)
Tue	Two pointers / sliding window
Wed	Stacks / strings
Thu	Trees or graphs basics
Fri	Timed mock (2 problems / 90 min)
Sat	Re-solve Friday misses cold
Sun	Light CS theory + rest

Common coding mistakes

Coding before reading constraints
Passing samples but failing hidden tests
Silent complexity (cannot explain Big-O in interview)
Switching languages mid-prep
Never practicing on the real OA editor style

Comments & Suggestions

Preparation guide

Aptitude / mock quiz

Interview experience

Morgan Stanley hub

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