Pathways in Computer Science
There is no one sure way of entering the field of Computer science, whether it's website development or hardcore A.I. algorithmic problem-solving. There are countless ways that you can become a Computer scientist. After all, computer science is the career of the future. Navigating our world requires more technical knowledge. We people in computer science are the backbone of the new world filled with virtual reality and crypto. The three main ways of entering this field are through College, the path most of us decide on, and coding boot camps, another popular pathway into computer science. There are both benefits and negatives to all the paths, producing similar results. Lastly, the most unethical of the group, you can self-teach, and some people take that route.
Computer Science Through College
A viable argument could be made that College is the best route if a person wants all the skills necessary to maintain a job in computer science. The opportunities that are presented through College are unmatched. From being required to have a bachelor's degree in some positions to utilizing the help of an experienced professor, going through College is the best way to maximize your chances of success in computer science. College is the best way to go if you want a clear shot at having a career in computer science, and that fact is very widely known.
Bachelor's Degree: How Does it Help?
In many cases, a job in computer science requires you to have a bachelor's degree in the field. Often, it would be best if you had a bachelor's degree to get a job. Most software developers have a bachelor's degree in C.S. It becomes easier to start a career with the degree that most companies require of you. Although it is not impossible, it is like climbing extra steps to work the same amount as someone with a degree. It is just much harder. Even though a bachelor's degree helps, it is optional for some jobs. Even though most jobs require it, some assignments can make an exception and do not need it since it is the skill that matters, not the degree.
The Help of a Professor
The assistance of a professor could be the one thing you need to succeed in computer science. Computer science isn't a field where you can do everything yourself because that is impossible. Well, it is, but you are much more susceptible to making mistakes and stressing yourself out in all the stages of programming. When you enter College, you are blessed with a professor who is a senior in their respective field and has the experience and expertise to help you with the problems they used to have when they were at your level in computer science. Having that person look over your shoulder to ensure that you are doing everything right to help you when you mess up is an advantage that most people don't have when they are not in College for computer science.
Computer science Through Coding Bootcamps
A coding boot camp is second on my list because it is the one thing that gives you first-hand experience when it comes to coding and the workforce. Coding boot camps are well known to teach students what they need to know and not what they should know. Compared to College, they are like internships. Coding boot camps are much more hands-on than College, giving you the skills you need to succeed in computer science. For most people, if they haven't gone through the college route, they have gone through coding boot camps, and that is how they prepared for the life of a computer scientist.
The Benefits of Coding Bootcamps
When you go through a coding boot camp, they teach you precisely what you need to know and what the employers of companies are looking for when hiring a computer scientist. This is because coding boot camps teach people the newest needs of employers. After all, there is a need for more capable people to be computer scientists. Since there is a shortage of talented people to work in the field, they need to be taught the best and most efficient way of coding.
Another reason a coding boot camp is good for someone not looking to get a college degree in computer science is that they receive good job preparation for "post-graduate opportunities." When you are in a coding boot camp, there is a period that gives students job preparation. They give you multiple tools to succeed in the workforce, from helping you with your resumes to practicing interviews to participating in networking events.
Being a Self-Taught Coder
Finally, it is entirely possible to teach yourself how to code. It is more common than most people think. With free tools like YouTube, anyone can search for tutorials on becoming a software developer. The only thing they would need, aside from a computer and the internet, is the time and dedication to become software developers.
There are many reasons that someone wants to be a self-taught software developer. It could be because they want to go at their own pace instead of having deadlines and going at the classroom rate, while they need more time to spend on grueling programming tasks. They might need more money to pay for college or coding boot camps that would help them. People have reasons for not going to College or through a coding boot camp, but they also have to understand that it will be much harder for them to get the job they want or have the time to complete this specific goal.
It isn't a surprise that being self-taught will be the most complex way to break into the computer science scene and get a job since you have yet to show what you have accomplished. When you go to College, you have a degree to show that you have sufficient knowledge in computer science. When you go through a boot camp, you finish with a certificate and have something to show for what you have done. When you are self-taught, there is nothing for you to show your potential employer.
With all that being said, it is not impossible. If you have the time and dedication, you can start working toward becoming a software developer. You would have to find a reliable source to teach you code. There are many tutorials on YouTube, and there are loads of websites just waiting to be watched and used by people who want to learn how to code. Second, you would have to sit down, watch the videos, and understand the websites because getting lost in computer science is effortless. It is straightforward to give up on it because it is not easy, but once you get past that point, it does become more accessible, although it never gets less annoying.
Takeaway
Although there are many ways to jump into computer science and be successful in that field, the most effective ones are getting a degree, going through a boot camp, and even being self-taught through the internet. Being self-taught is the most complicated way to jump into computer science, but after you build your skills, you can also get a job in the computer science field. Earning a degree is the best and most sure way to get a job in the computer science field, and going through a boot camp gives you first-hand experience that is difficult to gain any other way.
