Ever wished you could retool your skillset and add to your resume so that you can land better jobs with better pay? Geeky computer type? Then you should know about “coding bootcamps”.
Let’s start with the most basic question: What’s a coding boot camp?
In a nutshell, coding bootcamps are 10-30 week programs where students learn how to make websites, create apps and develop software. It’s a cool idea and a smart alternative for people who don’t want to go through 4-5 years of a typical undergrad program at a college and walk out with a substantial debt if they funded it through student loans. And there’s another issue: Are they legit, particularly in light of the collapse of trade college ITT Technical Institute last week?
One of the many organizations offering courses in this space is Portland, Oregon-based The Tech Academy. You can take classes from anywhere through their online options and they have solid reviews online. So I reached out to Tech Academy co-founder Jack Stanley and asked him some questions about this new academic trend and specifically what they’re doing to help 21st Century job seekers reinvent themselves for the latest tech trends.
Why would someone decide to go to a code school instead of college?
It depends on a few different factors. Including: What sort of education the student is interested in? What is the student’s budget? What type of career do they want? And, how much time does the student have to train?
Code schools are a great option for those short on time and money. You aren’t going to get as broad of an education as you would in college, but a decent code school will give you enough knowledge to land your first tech job.
Do you see colleges as completion?
Not at all. Actually, we have had college graduates take our program.
A computer science degree covers many topics, from computer architecture to psychology. Whereas most boot camps are going to be all about how to write code in specific languages. Boot camps don’t have time to cover any “fluff” so you are simply immersed in coding. Again, there are benefits to college and code schools alike.
Why couldn’t someone just take online tutorial classes or some sort of free resource instead?
We have instructors and job placement staff that help students anytime they need it. You miss that mentorship through studying on your own. Also, it’s really useful to have other people check out your code. It’s the same as asking a person studying for their MBA why they didn’t just take online classes.
What are the downsides to code schools?
I would say it depends on the code school. It’s a relatively new industry so there’s always a chance that the school you go to has issues and “growing pains”. And some are definitely better than others. Do your research and also see how the school interacts with you from initial contact. Are they rude and slow getting back to you? Or are they polite and helpful?
Why did you decide to start a code school?
My business partner (a software developer named Erik Gross) was training people on the side to help him on projects. Then he heard about coding boot camps. He decided to start a school. We had been friends for over ten years and he pitched the idea to me. I got involved because I saw it as a real opportunity to help people. We have helped many people go from being unemployed to and no previous experienced, to employed developers. The average salary of our graduates is $60,000.00 a year. Changing people’s lives for the better is what it is all about!
Where are you based, and where are your classes?
We are based in Portland, Oregon but our program can be taken online from anywhere in the world. We have students across the US and even in Europe (we refer to them as remote students). Our Instructors and job placement staff help remote students to the same level as our local students.
What’s your advice to someone interested in learning to write code and become a programmer?
Research different schools and find the best one for you. People who completely “self-teach” don’t know what they don’t know. I’m slightly biased, but I would recommend a code school or college. We here at The Tech Academy teach students to work in seven different in-demand programming languages and provide them with real-world experience and job placement assistance. So, for those interested in having a well-rounded education and in landing their first tech job, I would say check us out. But hey, I’m biased. 😉
How do people reach you if they want to learn more, Jack?
Through our website at: learncodinganywhere.com or you can call (503) 206-6915 or email us via info@learncodinganywhere.com.
Great, thanks, Jack! I learned my programming through a four year undergrad program years ago, but learning all the basics in 15 weeks sounds a lot more interesting and efficient!