Choosing the Right Coding Boot Camp: Curriculum, Support, and Red Flags

Introduction

• Peter Elbaum discusses their experience with coding boot camps and the questions they receive about attending one.

• They mention the abundance of boot camps available, some of which are great while others are scams due to the lack of regulation in the industry.

• The speaker introduces the three main areas they will cover: curriculum, support network, and things to watch out for.

Curriculum

• Peter Elbaum emphasizes the importance of a coherent curriculum that focuses on modern technologies.

• They recommend boot camps that teach languages like Ruby on Rails, Python in Django, or full stack JavaScript with React or Vue.

• Java is considered less modern, but still widely used in the industry.

• The speaker suggests focusing on beginner-friendly languages like Python in Django or full stack JavaScript, as they offer opportunities for sequential learning.

• Picking a boot camp that covers Ruby on Rails, Python and Django, or full-stack JavaScript with a modern front-end framework is recommended.

• Full-stack development should be included in the curriculum, along with modern front-end frameworks.

Support Network

• Mentorship, office hours, career development, and connections with local employers are highlighted as important aspects of a boot camp's support network.

• One-on-one help and access to assistance when needed are crucial.

• Networking and job placement assistance should be provided.

• Transparency in publishing statistics and information about post-graduation support are important factors.

• Well-paying jobs as application developers should be the goal, rather than settling for technical customer support roles.

• Assistance with resumes, LinkedIn, and coaching should be offered.

Red Flags

• Three things to watch out for when considering a boot camp are discussed: bad reviews, income share agreements (ISAs), and job guarantees.

• Checking reviews on websites like SwitchUp or Course Report is recommended to gather information and look for any red flags.

• Contacting past students through LinkedIn is suggested to gather more information and ask questions about their experiences.

• ISAs, where the boot camp takes a portion of the student's paycheck after they get a developer job, are explained.

• Concerns about ISAs and the pressure to accept any job offer to start repaying the boot camp are expressed.

• The lack of job guarantees and the presence of fine print and legalistic terms in agreements are highlighted as potential issues.

Conclusion

• Caution is advised when choosing a boot camp with a job guarantee, and reading the fine print is emphasized.

• Other factors, such as curriculum and support network, are mentioned.

• Viewers are invited to subscribe to the speaker's channel focused on software engineering and self-employment.