What’s the Best Value for Career Change Courses?

Good questions! A lot of those scary stories tend to come from folks who expect a guaranteed job rather than a solid learning experience. Bootcamps can be valuable if you need accountability and mentoring while balancing work, but remember, the return on investment really hinges more on your effort and the quality of your portfolio rather than just the name on the certificate.

Honestly, review sites can be pretty sketchy—companies know how to game them. I’d trust what I see on forums more, like this one, since people here aren't paid to promote bootcamps. That said, it sounds like you're doing great starting out with free resources. Consider sticking with that a bit longer and look for online communities or local meetups for support instead of spending a lot upfront. You can build your own structure with free resources and YouTube, plus see if your current job has a learning budget you can use.

You might want to check out Udemy, where Colt Steele and Angela Yu have their bootcamp content available for less than $20 when they’re on sale. Many web development courses on Udemy cover the same material as expensive bootcamps but at a fraction of the price. Starting with an inexpensive course could be a smart move for you.

I used to teach at a well-known code bootcamp, and I can tell you, it's not worth the money. They often provide mediocre job placements at best. Some of my most dedicated students learned so much on their own, while those who hoped to coast their way into jobs were out of luck.

Honestly, community college might give you the best bang for your buck. If you really want to level up your skills, there aren't shortcuts.

Consider The Odin Project; it’s completely free and offers a comprehensive path to web development.