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- Dec 30, 2019
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Think carefully Sam! Only do a coding bootcamp if you want to get a software development job. That is their main purpose - to get people jobs as software developers. Even then, I would hesitate.
Why do I say this? I'm a software developer that took CS in college and has been building apps and websites for the past 6 years professionally. A few years back I decided to take a six month Machine Learning bootcamp with Thinkful. The structure was this: they set you up with a mentor and give you access to their online course. That's it! Granted, I didn't do the in-person version, but I presume it's the same material. The online course was no better than the Udemy courses I had taken in the past. When I went to the monthly social, I quickly realized that all of other students were doing the course to get a job in the field. They weren't entrepreneurs. That's when I realized I was paying way too much to learn material I could easily learn from a textbook for $100. I dropped out of the course and saved over $8k.
If your goal is to build a software product or start a software contracting business, I would advise against doing a coding bootcamp, unless you're balling and can easily afford $10-15k. Being that you're 19, I doubt that is the case.
Better alternative? Online coding courses and textbooks are really good! You're already doing these, so you obviously have the discipline to continue learning this way. I would say without a doubt, some of them are the highest quality courses on the internet. I've learned more from Udemy courses (most of which are $30) than I did in all of CS undergrad. You have to be committed to learning.
One thing to note, you should develop a deep understanding of CS fundamentals before learning a framework. In CS undergrad, typically you learn Java and C/C++ first, then Python, JS, etc. You should know object oriented concepts like the back of your hand. Classes, interfaces, static methods, instance methods, constants, variables, data structures, etc. Learn some advanced algorithms. Know them by heart. Know why some algorithms are faster than others. Learn what memory leaks are and how to debug for them. This will take a year or two of study and practice. Just because you can look something up on StackOverflow or Wikipedia doesn't mean you understand it!
The only benefit that these bootcamps give you is this:
That being said, if you're looking for a software engineering job, then it's a decent idea (if you're okay with the $10-15k of debt or loans to pay off). It'll be the fastest way to get interviews at good companies.
If you are not looking to get a software job and decide to take the bootcamp, you might as well get a software job afterward, because you're going to need to figure out some way to pay off all that debt!
Hope that helps.
Why do I say this? I'm a software developer that took CS in college and has been building apps and websites for the past 6 years professionally. A few years back I decided to take a six month Machine Learning bootcamp with Thinkful. The structure was this: they set you up with a mentor and give you access to their online course. That's it! Granted, I didn't do the in-person version, but I presume it's the same material. The online course was no better than the Udemy courses I had taken in the past. When I went to the monthly social, I quickly realized that all of other students were doing the course to get a job in the field. They weren't entrepreneurs. That's when I realized I was paying way too much to learn material I could easily learn from a textbook for $100. I dropped out of the course and saved over $8k.
If your goal is to build a software product or start a software contracting business, I would advise against doing a coding bootcamp, unless you're balling and can easily afford $10-15k. Being that you're 19, I doubt that is the case.
Better alternative? Online coding courses and textbooks are really good! You're already doing these, so you obviously have the discipline to continue learning this way. I would say without a doubt, some of them are the highest quality courses on the internet. I've learned more from Udemy courses (most of which are $30) than I did in all of CS undergrad. You have to be committed to learning.
One thing to note, you should develop a deep understanding of CS fundamentals before learning a framework. In CS undergrad, typically you learn Java and C/C++ first, then Python, JS, etc. You should know object oriented concepts like the back of your hand. Classes, interfaces, static methods, instance methods, constants, variables, data structures, etc. Learn some advanced algorithms. Know them by heart. Know why some algorithms are faster than others. Learn what memory leaks are and how to debug for them. This will take a year or two of study and practice. Just because you can look something up on StackOverflow or Wikipedia doesn't mean you understand it!
The only benefit that these bootcamps give you is this:
- Accountability - if you're paying $10k for something, you're going to make damn sure you take it seriously
- Job offers - the more reputable companies (GA, Thinkful, Flatiron) have a network of companies that they can get you interviews at. It's part of their business model.
That being said, if you're looking for a software engineering job, then it's a decent idea (if you're okay with the $10-15k of debt or loans to pay off). It'll be the fastest way to get interviews at good companies.
If you are not looking to get a software job and decide to take the bootcamp, you might as well get a software job afterward, because you're going to need to figure out some way to pay off all that debt!
Hope that helps.
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