The world of tech moves fast, and one of the most popular (or at least most advertised) ways to keep up is getting involved in coding bootcamps.
They teach you new skills, and new languages, connect you with others, and aim to provide you with the experience to keep you moving forward in your career.
And when it comes to bootcamps, one name you'll see everywhere is Thinkful. But is Thinkful the real deal? Is it good, is it worth your money, and is it a bootcamp where you should spend your time?
In today's guide, I'll break down everything you need to know.
BUT WAIT!
Big update here: Thinkful is now known as Chegg Skills. I think I personally prefer the previous name, and I'll refer to it as Thinkful just because it's my keyword for this post 😉, but it is now Chegg Skills, so bear that in mind.
Onwards!
Thinkful Bootcamps: A Quick Overview
Source - Alt: An Asian girl sits fixing a computer desktop tower with goggles on
Thinkful has been around the block for a while now (it launched back in 2012 and became part of Chegg as of 2019), and they've definitely expanded their course catalog since they first launched. These days, they offer bootcamps in some of the hottest fields in tech. Think:
- Data science and data analytics
- Software engineering
- AI prompt engineering and fundamentals
- Cybersecurity
- UX/UI design
- Leadership
- Sales
- Marketing
And so many more. And the best part? They offer these bootcamps in a variety of formats to fit your lifestyle:
- Full-time: Immerse yourself in the learning experience and graduate faster.
- Part-time: Balance your studies with work or other commitments.
- In-Person: Learn alongside your peers in a dynamic classroom setting (available in select locations).
- Online: Study from anywhere in the world with their flexible online platform.
- Hybrid: A mix of online learning and in-person interaction.
So, whether you're a busy professional, a recent grad, or someone looking to make a career change, Thinkful has a program that can work for you. But let's get into the nitty-gritty and see what these bootcamps are really all about...
Curriculum Deep Dive
Source - Alt: A close-up of someone going through a resume document of a bootcamp graduate
Of course, we can't go into the curriculum of every course on the site (there are literally hundreds), but I'm going to dive deep into the general courses since the heart and soul of any bootcamp is its curriculum.
After all, that's what you're really paying for, right? So, let's take a closer look at what Thinkful is packing under the hood.
Data Science
Alt: A screenshot of the Data Science bootcamp on Chegg Skills
The Data Science bootcamp runs between 6-10 months and requires you to invest between 10 and 20 hours per week. However, looking through the course page, I see that it looks pretty basic.
It starts with some figures of potential salary earnings, I guess to get you excited about the prospect of getting into data science and making you want to sign up, but A: this is relative to the business you get a job with (if you can get a job), and B: it's a statistical average, rather than actually leading with the value the course has to offer its students.
Alt: Some basic stats on the data science career industry
Personally, I'd rather know what percentage of students who take up this boot camp actually get into a data science role after they graduate.
There are then some basic bullet points on what you're learning, but this doesn't give any information whatsoever on what topics are actually covered or what's included. Sure, statistics and computer programming are important, but I want to know what Chegg has to offer, and I should pay to be here rather than just watching YouTube tutorials.
After scrolling down, there is a little more information, but again, it kind of outlines each course but nothing about why I should use Thinkful. Learn the basics of SQL? Why can't I just read a blog or watch a free YouTube course?
Learn Data Science Tutorial - Full Course for Beginners
I want to know who my coaches are, what experience they have, what I have access to, and this is the authority. The page briefly says real-time guidance through Live Chat and Live Q&A sessions with industry experts, but that doesn't mean the course has been set up by industry experts.
Who's to say this information isn't just generally available out there?
Now, I know this might sound like I'm pulling Chegg apart and maybe being too fussy, but at the end of the day, I want to know that my money is going to the place that will serve me and my career best. I want to make sure I'm spending my time in the right places, and these web pages aren't selling me that Chegg is that place.
Reviews and Public Opinion
Okay, so what do the previous students and attendees think?
Well, if you go by Chegg's Testimonials page and paid school website review platforms, like Course Report, you obviously get shining reviews, hundreds of five-star reviews, and blah blah blah.
Obviously, it's going to be like that. I wanted to hear what people actually think, so I headed over to regulated review sites and public forums like Trustpilot and Reddit.
Unfortunately, the reviews are mixed, with a leniency towards being a poor experience, but they do span back years (the oldest post I could quickly find was seven years old, so it is most probably out of date - bear this in mind).
The most common concern is that Chegg is overrated, overpriced, and some people actually claim that it sets you back more than progressing you, but this depends on your individual learning style.
The status quo is that the resources are okay, not really different from what you can get elsewhere, and don't really stand out as anything amazing.
Heading over to Trustpilot, things get a little more daunting.
There are plenty of recent reports of scam activity, money being taken out of accounts without notice, no refunds when requested, poor customer service, and now the website being filled with a slew of AI slop, rather than quality, properly put together academic content.
You can check it out for yourself here.
How much does Thinkful cost?
Interestingly, a lot of the educational content on Chegg Skills is now hosted on Guild Education rather than on Chegg themselves, so bear this in mind, as prices will vary depending on the course you go for.
Therefore, it's pretty impossible to get the prices since it's only on a sign-up basis, which makes it infinitely difficult to compare to other providers. You'll need a Guild account to even see it, which I'm not going to sign up for (I imagine it's a lot of newsletters and so on).
Thinkful Alternatives
Source - Alt: A coding bootcamp in an aesthetic purple room with computers
I went into reviewing this site blindly, and while I didn't sign up for any of the courses or check over any of the content itself, I have no plans to simply because there are so many other great options out there that I believe are actually worth your time.
I'm not here to flog anything (you can tell from the site this is posted on that there's obviously a bias there), so I'm instead going to provide some better alternatives based on the same research process that actually stands out.
Of course, the best platforms will depend on what you're trying to learn, so pay attention, research, and see what's out there for you.
If you're looking for anything tech-focused, which is what Thinkful (Chegg Skills) tends to focus on, try looking at these alternatives:
- Springboard: I recommend Springboard because it's typically more affordable than other bootcamp options and has some pretty decent reviews. The resources and structure of the course are good, at least in comparison to other options. One of the highest-rated bootcamps out there.
- General Assembly: Still a lot of poor talk online from various Reddit communities, but it has a better reputation than Thinkful. It's one of those ones where it's not bad, the teachers seem okay (some better than others), but the Trustpilot consensus is that you'll get out what you put in. If you work hard on your skills, build your portfolio, and make the most of the resources, then it might be worth it for you.
- Flatiron School: Lots of great reviews here, lots of hardworking people, and a great support network, but intense. Lots to learn. Which is probably what you want.
Best thing you can do when looking at your options is to make a list of the bootcamps that look good, then research the opinions of past students. Look for public forums (Reddit is pretty good, but it's typically negative) and neutral review sites like Trustpilot or even Google reviews.
Read both the good and bad to get a good idea of what you'll be signing up for and whether or not it's worth it.
When comparing alternatives, consider factors like:
- Curriculum focus: Does the curriculum align with your specific career goals?
- Learning format: Do you prefer in-person, online, or hybrid learning?
- Tuition costs and financing options: What's the overall cost, and what kind of payment plans or scholarships are available?
- Career services and job placement rates: How strong is their career support, and what are their graduates' outcomes? If you don’t see them, ask, or find another service that does.
- Student reviews and reputation: What are other students saying about their experience?
Don't be afraid to attend online info sessions, connect with alumni, or even try out free introductory courses to get a feel for different bootcamps. The more research you do, the better equipped you'll be to make the right choice for you.
Final thoughts
To finish off with, I want to say that I don't think bootcamps, in general, are worth it.
At the end of the day, the best thing you can do, especially if you're looking to progress a career in tech, is to work on your individual skills, work on building up your GitHub, build a worthwhile portfolio, network, and build your relationships with the right people, and keep going in this direction.
Bootcamps are just non-essential in this process. They may be helpful for the resources, but then it's making sure you choose to work with a bootcamp with good, well-respected resources. Otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good.
If you're looking for assistance or guidance during this process, then it may be worth taking the mentor or coaching route, where you'll get personalized, experienced advice that can actually help you move forward.
Think about it and see what decision you can make that's best for you.