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So which is better for learning coding - bootcamps or self-taught? | Education Replacements - Hub Chatter

So which is better for learning coding - bootcamps or self-taught?

I spent 3 months in a $12k bootcamp last year and honestly felt like I rushed through everything without really getting it. But then my buddy learned Python on his own using free YouTube videos over 8 months and now he's actually building apps for a startup. The bootcamp gave me structure but I forgot half the stuff within a week. Self-taught seems harder to stick with but you go at your own pace. Which approach actually works better long term for people who've tried both?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_green861mo ago

Wait, did your bootcamp not give you any ongoing support after? Most decent ones have a few months of career coaching or project reviews, which is literally half the value. I did a self-taught route for 2 years but hit a wall hard on the job search cause I had zero portfolio feedback. Your buddy sounds lucky but not everyone can just "build apps" without some serious debugging help along the way. If you're gonna go self-taught, at least join a discord community or find a local meetup to bounce code off of.

the_jana1mo ago

I have noticed this pattern in all sorts of training, not just coding. People pay for a big class or a program but then get dropped back into real life with no net. It is a big problem in a lot of fields. A friend of mine did a real estate licensing course and they were great at teaching the test, but had zero help with the actual business side of getting clients. That is basically the whole job. It is like learning to bake in a well stocked kitchen and then getting sent home with just some flour and no oven. Community support is key, and you are right to point it out, @blair_green86. Without that ongoing feedback loop, most people just drift away.