Learning Computer Programming Without Teachers or Tuition
Aspiring software engineers Kevin Yook and Becky Chen are hunched over a computer screen, fervently discussing lines of code indecipherable to the average person.
The pair of twenty-somethings are students at the Holberton School in San Francisco. Founded two years ago by French software engineers, Holberton is poised to graduate its first class.
Leveling the Playing Field
Holberton aims to level the playing field for access to high-paying computer engineering jobs in Silicon Valley.
Innovative Method
- Anonymous Admissions Tests: Students are admitted based on anonymous tests.
- No Tuition Fees: Instead, when students find a job, the school is paid 17 percent of their income for three years.
The two-year program is open to beginners. Its founders say it offers a path to prestigious employers like Apple, LinkedIn, and NASA. Some students are hired before completing the course as employers rush to snap up the best talent.
Diverse Student Body
“Most people in the tech industry look like me: white and male,” said Sylvain Kalache, 29, one of the school’s co-founders. However, Holberton’s student demographics are quite different:
- Age Range: Students are aged from 18 to 56.
- Gender Diversity: 35 percent of the more than 200 students are women.
- Ethnic Diversity: More than half come from ethnic minority backgrounds.
These profiles differ significantly from those in programs at Stanford or Caltech. Many students are retraining for a new career, attracted by the prospect of high salaries.
Real-Life Stories
Lee Gaines, 30, a former yoga teacher, sought a financially secure career to support dreams of owning a home and starting a family.
Jesse Hedden, 32, a former teacher, found university and boot camp costs prohibitive. Studying at Holberton, Hedden works on “debugging” an internet server.
Self-Help and Problem-Solving
Holberton focuses on self-help and problem-solving skills, with no teachers and no traditional lessons, which reduces costs. Instead, around 150 mentors from Facebook, Google, and Microsoft visit regularly to help students and update the curriculum. The school has received $13 million from investors.
Amy Galles, an arts graduate, finds the course “hard” but is motivated by the school’s investment in her future. She spent $40,000 on her art studies but is hopeful that Holberton will help her land her “dream job.”
Conclusion
Holberton School’s innovative approach offers a unique opportunity for a diverse group of students to enter the tech industry. With no upfront tuition and a curriculum designed by industry professionals, it provides a viable alternative to traditional education models.
The school is paving the way for more inclusive and accessible pathways to lucrative tech careers.