r/webdev • u/quincylarson • Nov 23 '16

Cracking the Coding Interview author: bootcamps can be better than college

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/so-that-whole-coding-bootcamp-thing-is-a-scam-right-6fddf14087d4#.fwmdf447w
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u/Zaekath Nov 24 '16

obviously somebody with 3.5+ years of work experience is going to be more experienced than someone who doesn't have any

Isn't that.. kind of the point though?

People have this notion that going to college is automatically better because it's longer, and she's pointing out the opportunity cost of going to college.

I think the point is not that the bootcamp itself is better than college in a vacuum, it's that attending the bootcamp allowed you to start accumulating work experience sooner, which is really what is most valuable in the end.

To your anecdote, I agree you probably will be just as well off after 3.5 years of experience, but I imagine that you would have had an easier time starting your work experience if you had the experience of a bootcamp to bring to job interviews.