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General Discussion

Posted by Michael Fish
Michael Fish
7,804 Points

Should I take out a loan for a coding bootcamp or keep looking for an internship?

Hello all,

I have been playing around with code since 1994 and I finally figured out it is what I want to do. My web development skills are still in their infancy but I do understand the JavaScript syntax and how programming works as a whole. I devote 8 hours a day to coding and have been doing so since November. I have finally learned enough to hack together a decent website with bootstrap and jQuery but feel like I could be progressing much faster in a work environment. My portfolio isn't ready yet however and I am trying to figure out whether to relocate at the start or end of summer. Where I live computer science isn't big and I am willing to move anywhere to jumpstart my career. Are coding bootcamps worth the money or should I look for an internship?

Thanks in advance,

Mike

Ken Alger
Ken Alger
Treehouse Teacher
Ken Alger
Ken Alger
Treehouse Teacher

Mike;

Where are you located?

Ken

Michael Fish
Michael Fish
7,804 Points

I am located in Lexington, Ky. My inner gypsy and savings account say that I could move anywhere in North America for (almost) any opportunity. My girlfriend has family in Oregon and I have family in Seattle so those areas are at the top of my list.

Mike

3 Answers

Nathaniel Nasarow
Nathaniel Nasarow
10,291 Points
Nathaniel Nasarow
Nathaniel Nasarow
10,291 Points

I suggest Software Craftsmanship Guild. Check them out on Reddit and on their webpage. They're in Ohio, and teach C# and Java, as well as front-end stuff.

I'm 50/50 on going there myself, but may end up moving to Taiwan instead if I can build my front end skills enough to land some freelance jobs by the end of the year.

Liam Raven
Liam Raven
10,875 Points
Liam Raven
Liam Raven
10,875 Points

I've done a degree in web development, I went to university with a good understanding of coding, treehouse has been a better resource for learning new languages than any of my tutors. One thing I have learnt though is that any kind of course you take should make you new contacts. I may not be satisfied with the amount of code they've taught but they have put me in contact with the top of industry. Is that worth £47k of debt... Probably not but its done now.

I'm from the UK so I'm not completely full of knowledge about the US jobs market, but moving for opportunities is a good idea if it also provides a better quality of life.

Michael Fish
Michael Fish
7,804 Points

Thanks for the responses guys. University isn't a road I want to go down as I am the kind of guy who doesn't take out loans. I still drive a 1994 Toyota but it is paid for haha. I guess my plan is to finish my portfolio and start trying to find internships or entry level positions. If anyone would like to share leads my email address is mfish0005@gmail.com. Have a good day guys.

Jonathan Lau
Jonathan Lau
2,857 Points
Jonathan Lau
Jonathan Lau
2,857 Points

I went through a coding school myself and can say that it was helpful - but do be careful when making a decision, because some schools are better than others!

There are many other cheaper options out there that can get you to your end goal. Have you considered community college or other part-time online bootcamps like Bloc or Thinkful? Those are cheaper and more affordable than an in-person bootcamp - especially if you don't want to move as you have said.

Also, you should read more Coding Bootcamp Reviews. These alumni testimonials are very helpful information for prospective students as it provides an insider's perspective on different schools.

Finally, it all depends on your: a) time frame - is it urgent? b) financial situation - do you have enough savings for a bootcamp + a few months after the bootcamp to support yourself? c) career goals - do you want a junior developer job?

If the answer is yes to above all three, then I'd say go for it.

If not, well-reviewed online courses like Treehouse or CodeAcademy can take you pretty far. If you supplement with some part-time or full-time in person classes - you can certainly get to the level required to get a junior dev job.

Hope that helps!

Best of luck!