Should I Go to a Coding Bootcamp? A Values-Based Decision Framework
Coding bootcamps promise to transform you into a developer in just weeks or months, opening doors to high-paying tech careers. But they're expensive, the job placement claims seem too good to be true, and you're not sure if you're the right candidate or if the industry has become saturated.
Key Takeaway
This decision is fundamentally about Career Change vs. Structured Learning. Your choice will also impact your time efficiency.
The Core Values at Stake
This decision touches on several fundamental values that may be in tension with each other:
Career Change
Your desire to enter the tech industry. Consider whether your expectations about post-bootcamp careers are realistic.
Structured Learning
Your need for guided instruction vs. self-teaching. Bootcamps provide structure but require you to keep up with the pace.
Time Efficiency
Your desire to learn quickly. Bootcamps compress learning but can't give you the depth of longer programs.
Financial Investment
Your ability to afford $10-20K+ and potentially months without income. Calculate the true cost including opportunity cost.
Risk Tolerance
Your comfort with uncertainty about outcomes. Bootcamp results vary widely by person and program.
5 Key Questions to Ask Yourself
Before making this decision, work through these questions honestly:
- 1Have I tried learning to code on my own to verify I enjoy it?
- 2What are the verified job placement rates and salaries for this specific bootcamp?
- 3Can I afford the tuition plus living expenses during the program?
- 4Am I prepared for the intensity—often 60+ hours/week of work?
- 5What is the job market like for junior developers in my area?
Key Considerations
As you weigh this decision, keep these important factors in mind:
Watch Out For: Marketing Over Reality
Bootcamps are businesses with marketing budgets. Placement rates can be inflated or misleading (counting any job, not just relevant ones). Success stories are promoted; struggles are hidden. Research independently through third-party reviews and contact graduates directly, not just through bootcamp-provided references.
Make This Decision With Clarity
Don't just guess. Use Dcider to calculate your alignment score and make decisions that truly reflect your values.
Download on the App StoreFrequently Asked Questions
Are coding bootcamps worth it?
Can you really get a job after a bootcamp?
What is an income share agreement?
How do I choose a coding bootcamp?
Related Decisions
Should I Learn to Code?
Coding seems like a superpower that could open doors to new careers and opportunities. But you're not sure if you have the aptitude, if it's too late to start, or if you should invest months of effort learning something you might not enjoy. The tech industry's promise beckons while imposter syndrome holds you back.
Should I Change Careers?
The desire for a career change often builds gradually—a growing sense that you're in the wrong place, doing work that doesn't resonate. But the prospect of starting over, potentially at a lower level or salary, creates paralyzing fear. You wonder if the grass really is greener or if you're just restless.
Should I Take an Online Course?
An online course promises to teach you something valuable—a new skill, a new field, personal enrichment. But you've maybe started courses before and not finished. You're wondering if this investment of time and money will actually lead somewhere or just become another abandoned tab.
People Also Considered
Similar decisions in other areas of life:
Sources
- Thayer, K., & Ko, A. J. (2017). Barriers to entry and returns on investment for female coding bootcamp students. ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research.doi:10.1145/3105726.3106170
- Lyon, L. A., & Green, E. (2021). Coding bootcamps: Enabling women to enter the software development workforce. ACM Transactions on Computing Education.doi:10.1145/3440891