Can I Study On My Own and Save Some Money?

This is an entry in our series of FAQ articles in which we answer questions from the community. We’ve changed the names for the sake of privacy, but the things they asked haven’t been touched. So – fake names, real questions. To ask us a question, just fill in the form in our newsletter. Subscribe by using the banner on the right.

Nick’s question:
There are so many free online resources that can help me learn to code. Can’t I study on my own and save some money?

TripleTen’s Answer:

In short, yes. With determination, ambition, and self-organization, you can learn a new trade all on your own and save some money. There are tons of free videos, articles, and courses.

But here’s a fun fact: the completion rate for free online courses ranges between 5% and 15%, meaning that only a small group of students finish.

And that doesn’t even consider whether the knowledge is applicable or if you’ll get real hands-on practice. 

If you are serious about a career change and want to land a lucrative tech job in less than a year, it might be better to get some guidance, join a community, and get help from tutors.

In fact, many of our students used free resources but found them lacking. For example, Colin Maretsky_{From Teacher to Student to Front-End Engineer: Colin Maretksy’s TripleTen Story}craved a career change when he was teaching English throughout Southeast Asia. He tried some free online resources but quickly discovered they didn’t have the focus he needed. “There are no deadlines. There are no teachers. I didn't really understand what I was learning, I was just learning it. I didn't know how to use it,” he says. So Colin started looking for something more structured and hands-on. He signed up for TripleTen.

And he’s just one of a large cohort of TripleTen students who started with free resources but later still chose a bootcamp. 

It’s no surprise, as TripleTen fuels your pursuit of a new tech job by offering what self-studying can’t:

1. The curriculum: Our syllabus is thorough and covers all the topics you need to master to become a specialist without the “junior” prefix. Software engineering, for instance, prepares specialists for full-stack work, meaning they can land a job in nearly any software development position.
2. Mentorship: Starting a new career can be hard if no one’s guiding you. A mentor_{How Can a Mentor Help Kickstart Your IT Career?} can answer your questions, help with code review, and give you advice. Of course, regular mentorship costs money, but at TripleTen, it’s all covered. Tutors, code reviewers_{TripleTen Code Reviews: Why, Who, How?}, senior students, and career coaches will be there for you.
3. Experience: Your future employers are interested in your experience, so accomplishing as many projects as possible will help you show that you’re not just a newbie. It will also give you an understanding of how the tech industry works as well as train your soft skills. TripleTen grads usually have over 15 projects in their portfolio, not to mention externships_{Why Externships Are Great for Your Portfolio}.
4. Career prep: Career coaches_{How TripleTen’s Career Center Helps You Land a Job} help you shape your resume and portfolio, incorporating your previous experience. They also advise you on the right companies to apply to. A session with a qualified career coach in tech can cost up to $1,200, but guess what — TripleTen’s career prep course is available to all students. It definitely contributes to our grads’ high employment numbers.

So, with discipline, strong motivation, and connections in the tech industry, you have a chance to become a tech specialist without any other assistance. However, if you want everything to be covered in one place, to benefit from industry-insider employment guidance, and to thrive among a community of students and mentors, a bootcamp is your best bet. It’s an investment in your future that will pay off — guaranteed.