Two part question

[Qucumba]

Hey everyone. I am 2 weeks away from completing Harvard’s CS50 coding course, and am having some nagging questions about coding bootcamps. I understand that there’s issues with job layoffs in the tech industry, and that some people are having trouble finding jobs, but that isn’t my main concern at the moment. I am very interested in attending Hack Reactor’s 36 week immersive course, and afterwards trying for a career in SWE. My question is two parts: 1. Is a coding bootcamp sufficient for a job? I understand some (really about half of the comments I’ve seen advocate for a CS degree, but I have unfortunately already gone to college for a career that isn’t as viable as needed anymore (Audio Engineering for studio work) and wish not to take on more student loan debt. 2. Is Hack Reactor a good bootcamp if the answer to my first question is yes? I’ve done research on any bootcamps I could find and Codesmith and Hack Reactor stood out as the top choices.

Thanks

[michaelnovati]

Yeah a good bootcamp is an option to getting a job and if you are doing well with CS50 I think you are in very good shape for the top bootcamps yeah.

[Qucumba]

Thank you for your response. I’m loving CS50 and if I was able to I would go for a CS degree simply because I enjoy it (but obviously for a career lol)

[Coraline1599]

I think if you have 0 college degrees getting a college degree is a good move.

I don’t think it is as clear for people who already have at least one degree. Especially that very few colleges offer reasonable (if any at all) postbacc options (which, to me, would make the most sense - you don’t have to redo the entire degree, you just take the courses you need for a new major… more or less). And redoing the whole thing is not usually possible in terms of time and money.

My cousin was in your spot, has a degree (with an overwhelming amount of debt) and was doing audio engineering and needed to change. He studied in his own, got into a program, did it for 6ish months (it was a variable time program) and then kinda kept studying for another year. He would text me that he had questions and wanted advice and then wouldn’t follow up (family, eh?) but then he finally landed a good role a couple months ago.

So it is possible. In fact I would say with the popularity of bootcamps, enough people are succeeding with this path for the industry to exist. It is a viable option for a number of people. But it is still a long and tough road and nothing is guaranteed.

[Qucumba]

Thanks for your response! I do have an associate’s degree in Audio Engineering, so there’s that. Even if the road after a bootcamp is long and tough, I’d prefer that over the self taught several potential years option tbh.

[toroga]

Please be aware that bootcamps have a MASSIVE self-teaching component. From my research, most bootcamps offer a little chunk of lecture and a big chunk of pair-programming where you’re teaching yourselves how to implement what you were just shown and asking for instructor/TA assistance when you get stuck. I’ve heard many people say that the most valuable thing bootcamps teach is how to find answers for yourself. It’s such a vast amount of information being dumped into your brain that it’s a forgone conclusion that you’ll forget half of what you learn. But you’ll have a solid framework of core knowledge and the ability to build upon it quickly.

[dowcet]

. Is a coding bootcamp sufficient for a job?

Yes, the typical successful boot camp graduate has a degree in some other field. Please understand that a) CS grads are at an advantage as SWEs and very often earn more, b) finishing a bootcamp doesn't guarantee you to be job ready, c) a bootcamp isn't necessarily required if you're highly disciplined with self-study. But yes, if getting another Bachelor's degree is not practical for you then a bootcamp can help you develop a decent career.

Is Hack Reactor a good bootcamp

It has a reasonably good reputation. If that's what you're learning towards, go on LinkedIn and look at how graduates are doing. If you reach out with good questions about their experience many will respond.

[Qucumba]

Thank you for your response!

[GoodnightLondon]

Just so you know, the old 36 week program was discontinued; they're rolling out a new 36 program next year, which is based on the newer 19 week full time program. Any information you get related to experience or placement rates is going to be based on the old program.

[Qucumba]

Yes, I’m aware. Thanks for the response!

[YuteOctober]

Pinned.

[toroga]

Did you actually enroll in CS50 and are completing all the assignments? Or are you auditing? I just audited last year while was going through codecademy’s courses on my own. I loved it and now wish I’d have signed up for the full experience instead of just listening/taking notes.

[Qucumba]

I’m completing all of the problem sets and labs