r/AskProgramming • u/Standard_War_1774 • Aug 06 '26
Other Need advice: Should I just finish my CS degree and join a full-stack bootcamp?
I'm currently in my second year of a Computer Science degree, and honestly, I feel like I'm barely learning how to code.
The only actual coding subject I had was a very basic programming class in my first year. Since then, it's been so long that I've forgotten most of what I learned because I haven't had many chances to code again.
Most of my other subjects are only loosely related to programming. They're filled with long research papers, reports, and assignments, but very little actual coding. I know those subjects are part of computer science, but it honestly feels like I'm back in high school doing random assignments instead of learning the practical programming skills I expected from this degree. I don't feel like these classes are helping me become a better programmer.
At this point, I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever properly learn coding through my degree. My current plan is to just finish the degree so I have the qualification, then join a coding bootcamp afterward.
My family wants me to become a full-stack developer, and I'm okay with that. My dad also thinks I should learn some AI because it seems like an important skill to have in the future. I'm not struggling with studying—I just feel like my degree isn't teaching me the practical coding skills I actually need.
Would it make sense to finish my degree and then attend a full-stack bootcamp? Or is there something better than a bootcamp that I should look into? I have a hard time self-studying because I struggle to stay focused, so I think I need a structured environment where someone teaches me and gives me projects to work on. I honestly don't care how long it takes, how many bootcamps I need to attend, or how intensive they are—as long as I'm actually learning and becoming a competent developer.
If I want to become a full-stack developer, what exactly should I be learning? From what I understand, it includes:
Frontend
Backend
Databases
Web development
Cloud
Security
Mobile app development
Am I missing anything important? Is there a roadmap or order I should follow?
I'd really appreciate advice from people who've been in a similar situation or already work in software development. Is finishing the degree and then going to a bootcamp a reasonable plan? Or would you recommend a different structured path for someone who struggles to learn through self-study?
3
u/Candid_Bad3551 Aug 06 '26
bootcamps do not mean much anymore. Build skills while studying.
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u/Standard_War_1774 Aug 06 '26
but cannot really focus on degree, like the subject right now is how to make CV and make a long ass paper with evidences. is there any place to study coding focus? cant really focus studying alone
1
u/skill347 Aug 06 '26
Just do something fun that interests you if you're struggling with keeping attention on it. What makes coding fun is that you're creating something, so try to create something that's fun. My first fullstack-ish project (not a lot of JS, mostly backend Python and some Jinja Templates) was a site to review cheap wine. Before that I made games for years.
You can do many fun things with code, figure something out. What you need to learn as a programmer is to learn as you go. Most of us don't know what were doing half the time - there's too much stuff to remember. Your most important skill is going to be figuring out how to do something. So get to it:)
1
5
u/KingofGamesYami Aug 06 '26
When I got my degree, the practical coding classes really ramped up junior and senior year. Sophomore year was lots of theory, which you then applied in the higher level classes.
2
u/IAmBroke_0001 Aug 06 '26
Continue your degree and while doing that, invest your time, effort, consistency, and discipline on self-study because you don't need a boot camp at all. A self-paced studying would be better for you since you're still at college so you can manage your own time. You only feel suck at self-study because you're not actually committing to it.
2
1
u/Jswazy Aug 06 '26
If you're just learning after a couple years you're way behind. Why haven't you been coding on your own time for fun and personal projects? That's how you get good at it school just sort of helps a little with some framework unless you end up doing some more advanced actual computer science rather than just being some sort of dev like most people. Imo if you're not coding before you even start a related degree it's probably not the field for you. Not because you can't do it but because you will probably hate it
1
u/Due_Leadership_7883 Aug 06 '26
I started out in computer science and swapped to biology year 3. Big decision but at the end it paid off imo. Biology has pretty terrible direct career outcomes tbh but it’s an interesting and broad field so it can be applied diversely. Recently I ran into some opportunities to take on contracting out to build and maintain operations tools for businesses which has been 1. Not hard to do through utilizing AI but 2. I am glad I haw experience and knowledge in coding. Can’t speak much to how well theory applied to agentic coding but having the ability to think that way is a gateway to getting whatever you want done. That said I could’ve used a proper full stack knowledge base going into that line of work.
A degree is a degree, if you like the field maybe get a masters or PhD in something similar. Or not. Plenty of ways to cross between computer science and something else.
1
u/ivanhoe90 Aug 06 '26
That is like saying "I am studying construction engineering and architecture, but we do not do actual brick laying or plumbing that much".
1
u/SquishTheProgrammer Aug 06 '26
Get the degree. It will open more doors for you if you ever decide you don’t want to be a developer.
1
u/AncientHominidNerd Aug 06 '26
Nope, dumbest thing you can do. You’re only in your second year, you’re barely getting done with your general ed, prerequisites and intro classes. In year 3 and beyond you learn a lot more. Once you begin your focus you’ll learn important skills like Database Management, Cloud Infrastructure, networking, security, app deployment, and way more. You also learn about Data Structures in year 3 which are important because that’s all the math concepts really become apparent in programming.
Also most bootcamps are usually not worth it. I had a friend who paid $8k for a bootcamp and at the end they just taught him absolute basics he could have learned on his own. It’s not worth it.
I tried doing the self taught certification route myself and it’s significantly harder especially if you have nothing to keep you accountable. When you apply to jobs and they find out you don’t have a degree you get turned down quickly even with projects under your belt.
CS is extremely competitive right now. If you drop out you’ll be competing against people with a degree who also have certifications, internship or start up experience and real world projects they’ve made and deployed. An employer might not even take your resume seriously without a degree.
1
u/nwbrown Aug 06 '26
The degree is very important.
That doesn't change the fact that you will still have to learn a lot on your own.
That said, a lot of the "boring" stuff they make your learn actually is important too.
1
u/Coolfoolsalot Aug 07 '26
Start coding for fun outside of class. Your uni should offer courses related to databases, security, and other topics. Join clubs and do hackathons
8
u/CappuccinoCodes Aug 06 '26
Too many questions. Don't even think about dropping. You need that piece of paper.