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"Coding schools" are a sham, and I'm glad they're not covered by the GI Bill. There's nothing stopping these veterans from going to a regular university, colle

"Coding schools" are a sham, and I'm glad they're not covered by the GI Bill. There's nothing stopping these veterans from going to a regular university, college, or community college and getting a real degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field.

killjoywashere 10y ago
> There's nothing stopping these veterans fear, uncertainty, and doubt. And some self-loathing.
muninn_ 10y ago
It depends. I was fortunate to have no obligations, so I left and went to a 4 year school. Many veterans leave and have obligations that may prevent them from being able to handle the reduced amount of income. I don't have any "sympathy" for this, but there are things that prevent many veterans from attending college based on life choices. Also, let me tell you. When I started engineering school I nearly failed out. 5 years of 0 school and it was very difficult to go back to school. I eventually graduated and landed a great job, but there aren't a lot of 4.0 high school valedictorians going to the Army. My point here is that it's complicated. I do agree though that it's good that these coding schools are not covered. But! The GI Bill IIRC does provide support for trade schools. So if you were able to create a coding trade school (which is what most devs are doing in their daily work) you could be able to train veterans.
RandomOpinion 10y ago
> There's nothing stopping these veterans from going to a regular university, college, or community college and getting a real degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Nothing? Have a little empathy, buddy. While I have some sympathy for your opinion of coding bootcamps, just bear in mind that it's not easy giving up something you've been doing for a couple of decades and going back to college with people half you age and then having to restart your career in an entirely new profession. The mental flexibility one has when one is young just isn't there anymore for these individuals.
- jlarocco 10y ago
  Okay, I phrased it too strongly, but that doesn't change my point. They'd have exactly the same problem with any other profession that requires a degree, and lowering standards isn't the answer.
  - drawnwren 10y ago
    Hey, I'm a vet who went back first to a coding bootcamp and then to a CC before 'real' university. The hardest part for me (especially because I feel like I'm a pretty ok programmer) was being willing to do the very basic Freshman/Sophomore material. Also, humanities. I really wish there was an option to just take Math and CS. I imagine this is what was originally imagined with Associates degrees. I was extremely lucky because I already enjoyed math and coding on my own. How much Trig do you remember? I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but for a vet who has a lot of real world experience - going back to high school math can be a real challenge in unexpected ways.
- nradov 10y ago
  Citation needed. Where is your proof that mental flexibility is inversely correlated with age?
  - Tenobrus 10y ago
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278262606000431 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278262606... Let me know if you can't access the full article/the abstract is not enough.
liquidise 10y ago
College costs more, takes longer and in many cases has a more selective acceptance process. To state that "there's nothing stopping" them from going back to school is a totally unsubstantiated claim that casually dismisses the circumstances of people and their families.

killjoywashere 10y ago

> There's nothing stopping these veterans fear, uncertainty, and doubt. And some self-loathing.

muninn_ 10y ago

It depends. I was fortunate to have no obligations, so I left and went to a 4 year school. Many veterans leave and have obligations that may prevent them from being able to handle the reduced amount of income. I don't have any "sympathy" for this, but there are things that prevent many veterans from attending college based on life choices. Also, let me tell you. When I started engineering school I nearly failed out. 5 years of 0 school and it was very difficult to go back to school. I eventually graduated and landed a great job, but there aren't a lot of 4.0 high school valedictorians going to the Army. My point here is that it's complicated. I do agree though that it's good that these coding schools are not covered. But! The GI Bill IIRC does provide support for trade schools. So if you were able to create a coding trade school (which is what most devs are doing in their daily work) you could be able to train veterans.

RandomOpinion 10y ago

> There's nothing stopping these veterans from going to a regular university, college, or community college and getting a real degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Nothing? Have a little empathy, buddy. While I have some sympathy for your opinion of coding bootcamps, just bear in mind that it's not easy giving up something you've been doing for a couple of decades and going back to college with people half you age and then having to restart your career in an entirely new profession. The mental flexibility one has when one is young just isn't there anymore for these individuals.

jlarocco 10y ago
Okay, I phrased it too strongly, but that doesn't change my point. They'd have exactly the same problem with any other profession that requires a degree, and lowering standards isn't the answer.
- drawnwren 10y ago
  Hey, I'm a vet who went back first to a coding bootcamp and then to a CC before 'real' university. The hardest part for me (especially because I feel like I'm a pretty ok programmer) was being willing to do the very basic Freshman/Sophomore material. Also, humanities. I really wish there was an option to just take Math and CS. I imagine this is what was originally imagined with Associates degrees. I was extremely lucky because I already enjoyed math and coding on my own. How much Trig do you remember? I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but for a vet who has a lot of real world experience - going back to high school math can be a real challenge in unexpected ways.
nradov 10y ago
Citation needed. Where is your proof that mental flexibility is inversely correlated with age?
- Tenobrus 10y ago
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278262606000431 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278262606... Let me know if you can't access the full article/the abstract is not enough.

liquidise 10y ago

College costs more, takes longer and in many cases has a more selective acceptance process. To state that "there's nothing stopping" them from going back to school is a totally unsubstantiated claim that casually dismisses the circumstances of people and their families.