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Should you go to a bootcamp or self-teach?

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Recently, I’ve had some friends and people in the community asking for advice about getting into software. Are you interested in learning to code but unsure of how to start? Do you question whether to go to a Bootcamp or go the self-teaching route?

Both bootcamps and self-teaching have their own advantages and disadvantages. Especially today with how accessible online resources and schools are! Bootcamps offer a structured curriculum, mentorship, and a sense of community, which can be helpful for people who need discipline and guidance to learn to code. On the other hand, self-teaching allows for greater flexibility and freedom to learn at one's own pace, and can be a good option for people who are self-motivated and disciplined.

There are many options when it comes to schools and resources, but I would say before shelling out thousands of dollars for a bootcamp, it’s valuable to try out some of these strategies:

  • Try out an online course or a program track on educative.io or freecodecamp.com. I’ve used both online learning platforms and a huge advocate for them.
  • Open a GitHub account and contribute to open source. Search for open source projects to contribute to
  • Build a developer portfolio. Github is a perfect resource to look for inspiration for open-sourced template or source code
  • Start growing and engaging with the online developer community on Twitter, Github, and Discord
  • Attend online or in-person events to network for opportunities

Ultimately, the decision of whether to attend a bootcamp or self-teach should depend on your individual learning style and goals! I did a combination of the above but no one path is the same. Stick to a plan and try it out and if it doesn’t suffice, try another route! Share what your career path was like? And what is what advice you would give to your beginner self entering tech?