I saw this link published by Fast Company about diversity in coding boot camps. I finally had a chance to read the article and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. All STEM fields could use some help in recruiting a more diverse student population, but is this the way to do it?
Given, I've not clicked through most of the links to each of the different boot camps to see what it is they are promising, but at the cost of $11K, the one amount I do remember reading from the article, for less than a year of training, sure does sound like a scam. Of course they can find companies to underwrite scholarships and financial aid to help traditionally underrepresented students, but how well prepared are they? When the tech bubble burst and the media reported that all the good technology jobs were getting outsourced, there wasn't an asterisk to the story describing exactly what those "good" jobs were. After several years, companies and agencies were starting to "on-shore" jobs that had previously been sent elsewhere. Coding can be taught, but learning how to solve problems, think creatively, and having a strong mathematical background isn't quite as easy to teach in weeks or months.
I'm always leery of some "new big thing" that feels the need to throw others under the bus. I'd also like to have a crystal ball to see how well these code camp graduates are doing further down the road and if their background is sufficient to progress in a career. I just have to wonder if these "boot camps" saw a need and slapped a shingle up, trying to make a buck off of the latest hot trend. In the long run, though, they may be doing a great disservice to those trying to find a career.
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