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Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

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Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#251

Post by omalleyt »

sigstoat wrote: post #81
omalleyt wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, I'd be good with that. I also think that if there are some things that are non-profitable but still valuable to society (and no doubt, there are), then the problem is really that the agent isn't capturing enough of the value they are creating for society, and society ought to find an incentive mechanism that changes that. But since we live in a practical world and that is an impractical demand, I agree a hybrid…

> Sure, I'd be good with that. I also think that if there are some things that are non-profitable but still valuable to society (and no doubt, there are), then the problem is really that the agent isn't capturing enough of the value they are creating for society more likely (and IMO obviously, when you make this more concrete), educational institutions are overproducing the unprofitable degrees. for instance, if some…

Well, that's the problem with the status quo, that wouldn't be the problem if universities switched to an income sharing strategy as proposed. I was assuming we were talking about "unprofitable"-but-valuable majors in a world in which income sharing has been implemented

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#252

Post by bb611 »

plinkplonk wrote: post #204
iomotoko wrote: post #192

In the registration process: Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? Just a note: We are currently unable to offer income-based repayment outside of the United States. You can still attend Lambda School, but you would have to pay at least $10,000 up-front $10,000 - that's about as expensive as a high quality bachelor's degree (in Germany) at private university via distance learning, where someone can…

If I wanted to spend 10,000 $ on a CS education, I'd put some of it into the Georgia Tech online MS program [1] and still have 3k+ left. Admittedly I do have a Bachelor's degree in (non CS) engineering,so I meet their eligibility criteria. Burning 10k for a non accredited "CS" education makes no sense. How much Computer Science you can learn in 6 months is another question. If you don't want accreditation,why not wor…

I think you're making a big assumption that you'll be accepted - anecdotally I've heard that they turn away many people who meet their basic acceptance criteria unless those people have a large amount of industry experience. As a result, it's pretty apples to oranges - if you can get into GT's OMSCS you don't need Lambda School, because you're already in the field.

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#253

Post by jhall1468 »

austenallred wrote: post #203
rajacombinator wrote: post #200

Mixed feelings ... 50k/yr hardly sounds like a successful placement for a semi competent programmer, more like a pipeline to the gulag in a profession that's notoriously bad at obtaining fair wages. (I presume OP will be teaching the segment on living in your car in Palo Alto ... ;p ) However, I've always been curious about this business model for schools and hope it succeeds!

The number is $50k because of folks in smaller/more rural areas. There $50k can be quite a lot.

Yes it can, which is why using a flat pretax minimum is absolutely silly. $50k in Seattle isn't living confortably, but with your cut it's $41.5k. That's less than a bank teller makes.

You should have a COL adjusted minimum. Otherwise you'll only be targeting rural areas where most jobs aren't.

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#254

Post by bb611 »

GuiA wrote: post #168
keithnz wrote: post #150

I feel it's misleading, it's naming feels like its coat tailing off implying something like a university comp sci degree ( with a practical bent), and this seems more of a React web/mobile app design course with a bit of C++ and some basic algorithms ( presumably so they can pass interviews that seem to be obsessed with such things ) $30k seems steep, and while 0 $ upfront is appealing, that kind of strategy can be e…

17% is huge, particularly when you consider it within the context of after tax income. $100k salary is $60k or so after taxes in California; take away $17k + rent and food, and you're getting pretty close to paycheck to paycheck living, particularly if the person has loans from a failed college attempt, medical expenses, etc. They're essentially asking for $30-$60k or so - which is more than in state tuition for a ba…

I lived (well) in San Jose on I agree with your larger point that a bachelor's degree is a better value, especially over the long term. Unfortunately a BS is going to take longer to get, especially in CA, where the education pipeline is overflowing and underfunded (but still very good value for money).

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#255

Post by sailfast »

I like that this model has become available and wish you luck! Always good to have options for getting this education.

One pedantic but perhaps important nit to pick: I would not recommend the language "especially if you come from a lower-class background". Lower income, reduced opportunity, lower education, etc but lower class reads like you're coming from a position of privilege that looks down on potential students.

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#256

Post by TrickyRick »

bostonvaulter2 wrote: post #230
TrickyRick wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The concept of community colleges in the way you have in the US doesn't really exist in Europe in the same format. It's a result of education being cheap or free that everyone can attend "real" universities. So you're comparing someone with a 3 year university degree to someone from a 6 month bootcamp. I know who I would pick for my team.

What if you compared someone with a 3 year university degree against someone with a 6 month bootcamp and 2.5 year work experience?

That's not the issue, the issue is getting that first 2.5 years of experience. I would argue that a university degree gets you into that first job easier, at least in Sweden. Not only because of the (hopefully) superior education but also thanks to the connections you make with older students who might influence that hiring decision.

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#259

Post by artur_makly »

wyclif wrote: post #197
artur_makly wrote: post #42

Bravo! This is overdue. Back in the early 80's my dad ( a chess teacher from Odessa ) immigrated to NYC ( with just $150 ). My mom worked 3 jobs to put him through Yeshiva Uni where he learned Cobol, JCL, and Fortran. He ended up getting hired right away by Lehman Bros, and realized he was sitting on a gold-mine. Tons of well-educated immigrants were coming onto the golden-paved shores, with 0 knowledge of computer p…

Fascinating story; why don't you write this up long-form and submit it here to HN?

yeah there is much to say! (good and bad)

Alas running a digital studio, a startup, and being a father to a wild 5yr old boy has produced few disposable hours(sigh)

..however weekly Medium posts is something i've been meaning to do...especially as im living abroad.

thanks for the encouragement.

Re: Launch HN: Lambda School (YC S17) – CS education that's free until you get a job

#260

Post by acchow »

koolba wrote: post #75
austenallred wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We only take a percentage if you get a career in software engineering, so we have built that kind of risk into our model.

Is there a time limit after which the debt is forgiven? What prevents someone with no intention of finding a job of signing up for the free education? EDIT: I'm entirely serious about part two. I know quite a few people that would love to learn programming but, AFAIK, have no intention of working in the tech world. I could see them taking advantage of something like this. Most of them work in non-tech functions in an…

They still need a job to pay the bills, don't they? As long as that job pays over $50k, I'd assume they'd have to pay the commission.
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