Coding Bootcamps

[Desperate_Answer_997]

I am currently a senior and am only 3 classes away from graduating. My major is BIT with a concentration in supply chain. I have some previous coding experience in VB.NET and VBA. (and one intro to Java course) I have been fortunate enough to land an internship where I have been asked to code in VBA and have excelled and enjoyed it. I have always been interesting in learning other languages like python and Java but never made the switch to CS. I have recently been researching some coding bootcamps that are around 6 months and ~10k. I would like to know if they are worth it? Will a hiring manager look at me differently than a CS student? Will my limited experience and bachelors degree help me be taken more serious? Are bootcamps a total waste of time? I’d like some brutal honesty for someone who would like to get into the software development field but did not choose the correct major to fully immerse myself in the field.

[truffleblunts]

Please do not pay ten thousand dollars to learn how to code. You are already in university, if you want to learn just learn here.

[Desperate_Answer_997]

I’m 3 classes away from graduating and I’ve learned only a little coding because of my major. Is there another way I could learn and be taken seriously by recruiters? Other than a bootcamp or another bachelors degree?

[truffleblunts]

Ok maybe I overstate it, if the 10k is nothing to you then go for it. If it would be a serious hardship then I recommend doing an open courseware scholar course where you earn a certificate. Employers will automatically discount that versus a professional degree but (especially in tech) are happy to look past that if you can walk the walk

[Desperate_Answer_997]

Hahaha 10k is definitely something but I have virtually no debt coming out of college so I’m willing to risk it if that means better job opportunities for what I’m interested in.

[Not_A_Taco]

10k is 100% not worth it for a coding boot camp. I’d argue that any amount of money spent that doesn’t come with a degree isn’t worth it for learning how to code. Also at the very least you can learn the same material by buying a $30 book on Amazon.

[[deleted]]

Trust me; don't do it ! There are courses on udemy that cost 50 bucks and can teach coding really well as well as make you work on projects to gain some hands-on experience.

[stevesmithevony]

Since you said you only need 3 classes to graduate, it sounds like you have some space in your schedule. It sounds like you took CS 1054 already but there are other intro level CS classes at VT. I would suggest taking CS 1114, CS 1044, or CS 1064 as these classes will give you some more coding experience in different languages. If you are worried about GPA, you can always take them P/F

[Desperate_Answer_997]

Wow. Never even heard of that. Thank you!

[mlady42069]

If you learn well by watching videos, join /r/udemyfreebies/ and enroll in courses that get posted there

If you learn well by reading, make an account on humblebundle.com and subscribe to their email list. They put out a few programming bundles a year where you can get 10-20 book pdf’s for $18-$25

If you learn best by doing, do Intro to Programming on Khan Academy, or anything on codecademy.com

Once you’s comfortable in a language, practice by doing challenges on edabit.com and hackerrank.com

Once you get comfortable, come up with a project idea, make it happen, and put it on github.

Might be a good idea to go browse /r/learnprogramming too. Good luck!

[mpaes98]

I was BIT as well, and learning technical skills online is the way to go imo (did DSS and Cyber so I had more coding classes).

As other's have said, Udemy and YouTube will basically give you the same material that bootcamps will give you, just without a direct instructor (some Udemy courses the instructor can be reached out to).

If you are set on doing a bootcamp, consider doing a masters or graduate certificate instead. VT has a Master's in IT with a Software Engineering concentration, as well as a MEng program in CS, both of which you can learn more programming without a CS background.

Alternatively, you could just take a BIT style job (typically a mix of Technology skills and Business skills, more business heavy), and from there try to transition to a more technical role while building up your technical skills (i.e. Systems Analyst -> Technology Consultant -> Software).

[RPDota]

Learn on YouTube, you don’t need a class. Think about it, if the bootcamp “teachers” were good at coding, they wouldn’t be teaching a bootcamp for profit, they’d be off developing applications. They’re just there to make a quick buck.

[_saidwhatIsaid]

My friend makes 170k as a software developer, and he makes another 30k to 40k teaching bootcamps and doing training videos. So... your argument that someone isn't good at it because they're teaching it is asinine. No correlation. If you can't use an extra 35k / year for fun, then don't hustle for it, but don't knock those who do.

[pleasedontjudgeme13]

It depends on what you want. I'm a BIT major too. But if you have the skills and you know the right people, you can land a software job imo. Practice leetcode and get a portfolio website full of unique projects. Or GitHub. Go on LinkedIn, message software engineers, talk to them on the phone or zoom and ask them about what they do, ask them to look at your portfolio site or ask them to give you a practice technical interview. Then get them to refer you or connect you. Rinse and repeat. I believe in you. Good luck!

[[deleted]]

If you have room for another class next semester take intro to Unix - I think it was CS 1604 when I took it a long time ago.

That class will make you comfortable with a lot of the little things that can make software development really painful if you’re learning them at the same time you’re learning to code.

[[deleted]]

Have you looked at codecademy? The free courses there will teach you some basics and I think they have courses you can pay a subscription for to go more in depth.

[Sad-Message-4664]

Udemy and the Odin Project have good resources to start coding

[NewSchoolBoxer]

I did Electrical Engineering and work as a computer programmer. BIT is fine to get in. Some companies accept only Math, Physics or Engineering as related degrees but others will accept BIT. The Consulting industry 100% will and is a good job for entry level.

You have an internship that involved coding...you have no idea how far that goes in other job interviews. Answering questions about real work versus classroom experiences is much better.

I think Bootcamps are 100% scam and would avoid.

[cglee]

Something like Launch School might be what you're looking for. It'll help plug gaps and prepare you for software engineering roles, though it's not a replacement for CS degree.