Background
Even if you aren’t learning how to code, it might seem like everyone else has. Companies have such a need for new talent in tech, you may have heard the various ways to go from rags to Ruby, from earthworm to Python. With a variety of free sources out on the web to learn from, people are still turning to a more expensive yet effective resource, the bootcamp.
While it’s hard to know exactly where developer bootcamps started, but Andrew Callahan, who is currently a Senior Software Engineer at LiftForward, suggests that it might have had something to do with this post.
On November 22th of 2011, someone with the username “kabuks” posted, “I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of).” People responded with interest and skepticism. Kabuks posted that they were willing to train anyone no matter what their background was and, in 8 weeks, introduce the trainees to employers who would then pay Kabuks directly while gaining a skilled workforce.
Since then, bootcamps began to fill the demand for skilled workers in tech. The collapse of the financial markets in 2007 left the job markets bleak for college students even after many years of so-called recovery. The demand for developers has only increased since these years and making bootcamps a very viable option to recent graduates. Upon successful completion of these bootcamps practically guarantees you a job that would allow you to pay back your tuition in fraction of the time you could take to repay hefty student loans.
San Francisco-based App Academy, was one of the first pieces on the board of bootcamps to take hold in 2012. I spoke with Asher King Abramson an Engineering Manager, at App Academy who originally started as a student in July of 2013.
Abramson described those who succeed in places similar to App Academy as people who may be “broke, somewhat good with people, and have good work ethic.” In the early days of App Academy, Abramson said they, “were based out of the upper floor of a church. People slept in the office. It was all very ad hoc. There was one guy who looked like hacker Jesus who slept under his desk.” Talk about grit and dedication!
So… should I skip college for a bootcamp?
Today, there is an increasing demand for data analysts with coding skills and an eye for data visualization. Forbes published a great historical timeline of the development of data science. The article suggests that the first reputable mention was in 2001, by William S. Cleveland.
The majority of data scientists have PhDs, but the demand for businesses to understand data continues to outpace the PhDs that enter the field and data science bootcamps are popping up with the same approach as developer bootcamps.
To understand a little more about how bootcamps can benefit prospective data scientists, I asked Abramson what he thought the limitations of bootcamps were. He said, “What Bootcamps do, they do very well, but they don’t do other things very well. When you think about an interdisciplinary education they don’t do that and that’s not their purpose. They get you a job. They will not give you a well-rounded educational background.” To supplement his bootcamp learning, Abramson says that his favorite sources are, “books, self-study, and (most importantly) conversation”.
When asked about how bootcamps are affecting traditional learning in higher education he said, “Some universities have already started incorporating bootcamps. What we think of ‘traditional education’ is changing to match the workforce”. Meaning, you might want to hold off on applying for a Master’s in Data Science.
From an economic standpoint, bootcamps are much more affordable because, when structured properly, their monetary incentives align with the needs of their students. For example, with App Academy, you don’t pay anything until you have a job and once you do, you pay 32% of your first year’s salary. However, App Academy is testing prices and 32% is on the higher end of the spectrum. Abramson says, “where I see it going is that eventually people see that college might not be as worth it economically. They might do college a little more ‘a la cart’ or maybe for retirement”.
Further investigation
If you are interested in attending a bootcamp for data science, I recommend the first thing you do is list the ones in New York City that you are interested in. Follow-up by checking their websites to see if they are hosting any events so that you can go there and talk to graduates directly to get a first-hand account for what the staff is like.
Use this post to ask critical questions about how they run their business and why they chose certain models over others. If their incentives don’t align with your goals, you should probably look for another bootcamp or explore various other options.