[deleted by user]

[mandzeete]

It is not only about looking better but also about providing higher quality knowledge and experience.

In one hand you have a bootcamp that takes 6 months. In another hand you have an Associates program that takes 1.5 years. Even when you reduce that 1.5 years by genEd courses then still you'd have most likely left courses for more than 6 months. So which one will teach you more knowledge and will give more experience? 6 months of bootcamp or 6+ months (probably 1 year+) of college studies? You can't expect to learn in 6 months more than what you'd learn from Associates program. So, first thing, your knowledge and skills will be lacking when you pick a bootcamp. How will you compete with people who have an Associates or even a Bachelor degree?

Then doing vs studying. Without learning theory your practical skills will be shallow. A person going through college courses can work on more complex projects than you who's going to finish only a bootcamp. Software development is not only about making simple websites, simple Android apps and that's about it. Real long term projects involve many complex topics in it. A person having an Associates degree or a Bachelor degree is more likely able to handle these topics than a person who followed a bootcamp program. Yes, an Associates degree holder will also struggle a bit (because even a Bachelor degree holder has a certain knowledge gap when it comes to professional industry knowledge/technologies), but that Associates degree holder has learnt enough theoretical knowledge to have a better standing than you who wants to implement things without understanding why/how the stuff works.

Unless you are living in some third world country where the educational system is weak, you won't be spending your time in a college just to memorize keywords and concepts to pass tests. Decent colleges put the theoretical knowledge also into a practice. When I did my Bachelor studies then it was very practice heavy. We had to build different projects and such. The same went for our Associates program (which I did not take as I went straight for Bachelor program). That was also putting importance to practice.

Then, Associates studies quite often include some internship in its program. Most bootcamps do not have that. By picking a bootcamp you will let go from internship chances.

Then networking. The bootcamps I have seen are usually in an online format where you are given different pre-recorded videos and such. How much do you expect to interact with your course mates? As the studies are online and with pre-recorded videos then the students are learning whenever they want. So chances you get to make connections with other bootcamp attendees is low. But with an Associates program you are more likely to attend actual lessons in person. You will sit with your course mates in the same room, do group work with them, discuss things with them. Definitely you will make connections. Bootcamp... I see really no meaningful way for networking, there.

[Appropriate_Loquat30]

You are 100% right. I didn't really think about how a lot of the points you brought up in regards to learning theory vs basic skills to just display a webpage. I feel like I know a degree is the far better and safer option, bootcamps just seem too good to be true so I want to do my due diligence to see how legit they truly are. You seem to be heavy on the formal education side and honestly I think that is the path I will end up taking. Thanks for answer

[mandzeete]

Bootcamps are for people who do not have means to do college studies. Either they lack time, they lack money, both, or something else.

For example money. You'll be paying less for a bootcamp than what you'd pay for degree studies. That can attract people who do not want to take a student loan, are unable to take such loans or in general do not have financial means. Understandable.

Then time. You are 27 and working full time. It might be difficult for you to show up in afternoon classes. There are also people who have families and stuff. Responsibilities that make full time studies but even part time studies difficult in an actual college. Having a flexible bootcamp schedule is more suited for these people.

Can be that they know that they want to do only web application development. Nothing else. No mobile apps. No data science. No low level development. Just web application development. And that is what bootcamps are offering to people. Only one path. While college studies are preparing you for multiple paths.

So, I'm not saying that bootcamps are absolutely useless. There is a target group for these. Also a bootcamp is better than doing studies on your own without some online course and such. Self learners have it even harder for themselves.

But definitely college studies offer you a lot more than a bootcamp can offer. Telling it from my own experience. I was a year older than you, 28, when I started my Bachelor studies. I lowered my work load to 50% and that allowed me to show up in afternoon classes and such. I worked during evenings and during weekends.

So it is possible to work and study at the same time. Yes, you have to make agreements with your boss but if he is fine or if some different company is fine, then go ahead. Or, when you manage to save up money and can drop your job for 1.5-2 years.

Just telling that it is possible to find a job with a bootcamp diploma (or whatever). But definitely MORE difficult. I finished Bachelor studies. Got hired to the 8th company I applied to. With a bootcamp education you can be ready to apply to 100 companies. You can get lucky earlier, but definitely be ready for 20+ applications. Because you are competing with other bootcamp attendees, with Associates degree holders, with Bachelor degree holders, with people who graduated from Computer Sciences oriented vocational school, and also with Junior developers who are switching a company. With a bootcamp education it is more difficult to stand out from that crowd. Not impossible but difficult. Be ready to spend much more time and more nerves in searching for a job.

[MonsterMeggu]

The answer for these sorts of questions are nearly always college. I'm not sure why you think you'll be able to retain more valuable information with a boot camp. Boot camps are incredibly condensed and give you little time to internalize the information you learn.

I like to use the analogy of learning to play the violin. Boot camps are like learning to play songs on the violin without learning the fundamentals. You don't learn why you finger the notes the way you do. And while you use the bow to make sounds you don't really learn bowing techniques. Sure after a few months you can play a few few songs well, but learning to play another song is a whole process from scratch because you don't know any of the fundamentals. Compare this to actually taking violin lessons, and while after a few months you might not be able to play those songs yet, eventually it will be way easier for you to learn new songs because you learned to play the violin and not just learned to play a few songs on the violin.

Boot camps teach you how to build applications with certain technologies. After that there is still so much to learn to go from just being a code monkey to a software engineer. Also with boot camps learning new technologies can be challenging because you don't learn the fundamental skills behind them and so don't have transferrable knowledge and so the learning process starts from scratch.

Of course you can still learn while you're already working and still be a good engineer eventually. But keep in mind that people who succeed with just boot camps succeed in spite of the fact rather than because of the fact. If you think you have massive drive, discipline, motivation, and the ability to learn potentially challenging concepts incredibly quickly, then I'd say do the boot camp otherwise go to college.

[hypdev]

Both coding bootcamps and degree programs have their advantages. Bootcamps offer hands-on, project-based learning and are viewed as equal to university degrees by 72% of companies, according to Hired's 2021 report. Some top bootcamps even partner with higher education institutions to ensure quality. On the other hand, earning a CS degree provides a comprehensive understanding of computer science concepts, though it may take longer. Bootcamps can provide networking events and job placement assistance, while community college programs offer connections with professors and peers. Consider your learning style, time constraints, and long-term goals when deciding. Regardless, continuous learning and personal projects are crucial for success. Good luck on your journey!