Blew $300 on a coding bootcamp and barely learned anything useful

I signed up for one of those 12-week online coding bootcamps last spring. Paid $300 upfront thinking it would jumpstart a career switch. Two months in, I realized the curriculum was all theory and no real-world projects. The instructor just read off slides. I quit after 8 weeks. My buddy took a different route - paid $50 for a Udemy course and built a portfolio in 3 months. He got a junior dev job. Am I wrong for thinking bootcamps are mostly a scam now? Anyone else waste cash on one?

4 comments

4 Comments

ninaowens1mo ago

You said the curriculum was all theory and no real-world projects. Did you check for that kind of stuff before you signed up, or was it all hidden in the fine print?

ruby_jones1mo ago

Oh absolutely, I read every single bullet point in the enrollment packet like it was a thriller novel.

morgan.rose26d ago

Right?! Same here! I literally highlighted sections and bookmarked pages in my program guide like I was studying for a final exam. Most people just skim through all that stuff and then act surprised later. Found this one line way in the back that basically said "projects are optional for extra credit" - that was a huge red flag I almost missed. Definitely saved me from signing up for what sounded like a waste of time.

charlescraig1mo ago

@ninaowens I thought "practical application" meant we'd actually build things, not just read about building them. Guess I should have asked if the "hands-on" projects involved more than just holding a pencil.