Lambda School lays off 65 employees • Hacker News Board

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#41

Post by nr2x » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

HenryKissinger wrote: post #34

teruakohatu wrote: post #28

Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months? What jobs do these grads walk into? The tech prerequisite is: "You should feel extremely comfortable with how a computer works including: touch-typing, web browsers, search engines, and basic computer programs." The Curriculum: Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Modeling: 3 Weeks Data Engineering, Databases, SQL, Productionisation: 3 We…

> Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Ridiculous. Introductory statistics and linear algebra are two separate undergraduate level courses. And if you want a real grasp of statistics, you need to learn probability theory first, which is another semester long course. To say nothing of "data wrangling", whatever the fuck it means.

Pretty sure "data wrangling" boils down to god-tier regex knowledge - which is less theoretical heavy-lifting than an acquired art that comes with practice.

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#42

Post by sandofsky » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

teruakohatu wrote: post #28

Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months? What jobs do these grads walk into? The tech prerequisite is: "You should feel extremely comfortable with how a computer works including: touch-typing, web browsers, search engines, and basic computer programs." The Curriculum: Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Modeling: 3 Weeks Data Engineering, Databases, SQL, Productionisation: 3 We…

You assign precourse work that rejects 98% of applicants. That helps select students with existing experience, sometimes even STEM degrees.

According to the example contract on their site, their income share agreements last up to seven years. Even if they fail to teach a student anything, the student can spend years studying on their own (or even get a degree), and still owe money.

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#43

Post by void_mint » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

pilingual wrote: post #27

lifer555 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a recent LS graduate. The program is a total shit show. I was able to get a job but I would never recommend it to anyone. They are just very good at marketing. Great idea, terrible execution.

What about it makes you say that?

Most code schools (including Lambda School) don't really train students effectively. It's closer to a crash course in a bunch of different topics. Students that graduate often aren't actually able to perform whatever they were supposed to have learned effectively on the job. Worse, to pad hiring stats, lots of code schools also will hire recent grads that cannot find employment as instructors. They technically aren't lying when they say "95% of graduates get a job within 6 months", but their statistics would be a lot worse if you looked at those hired _externally_.

Code schools are actually pretty gross. The idea is fine, but reality and greed kind of ruin them.

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#44

Post by legerdemain » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

  > Lambda pioneered the income share agreement (ISA) in the career
  > and technical education space, and we're now watching many of
  > the schools who followed us abandon their ISA offerings because
  > they believe it's impossible to make this model work. We strongly
  > disagree. In fact, many things at Lambda School are working very
  > well, and we are...

  > ...laying off 65 Lambda School employees.

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#45

Post by catillac » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

wbronitsky wrote: post #32

The levels of inhumanity and doublespeak in here are staggering. This post attempts to euphemize 65 people losing their incomes, and probably healthcare, to the point that it reads almost as farce. Not to mention what the impact will be on those remaining, students and staff alike. "...they believe it's impossible to make this model work. We strongly disagree." This is wildly insensitive to those involved. I find it…

I get what you’re saying here, but think you’re being a little too harsh. I’m not sure what else to call a reduction in force for PR purposes, I don’t imaging just saying “fired 65 people” is productive.

In this comment:

“ "For employers looking to hire senior product, engineering, design, community management, or instructional staff, we'll be sharing a list of interested staff looking for their next opportunity on social media" And good luck current students; these people will take all the jobs you're aiming for.”

Sounds like Lambda School grads are pretty junior and they’re giving people that are senior a good recommendation. I don’t think there’s much overlap between LS boot camp grads and senior people leaving LS as employees. Maybe I’m wrong?

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#46

Post by bboylen » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

teruakohatu wrote: post #28

Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months? What jobs do these grads walk into? The tech prerequisite is: "You should feel extremely comfortable with how a computer works including: touch-typing, web browsers, search engines, and basic computer programs." The Curriculum: Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Modeling: 3 Weeks Data Engineering, Databases, SQL, Productionisation: 3 We…

Data science bootcamps don't make much sense to me unless the student is coming from a STEM background. If someone has studied engineering and already had courses in linear algebra,stats, basic programming, then it shouldn't be hard to learn the more practical data science stuff

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#47

Post by 908B64B197 » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

teruakohatu wrote: post #28

Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months? What jobs do these grads walk into? The tech prerequisite is: "You should feel extremely comfortable with how a computer works including: touch-typing, web browsers, search engines, and basic computer programs." The Curriculum: Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Modeling: 3 Weeks Data Engineering, Databases, SQL, Productionisation: 3 We…

It's cramming. Simple as that.

Enough buzzword to pass an interview. Unless someone already has a pretty solid degree, it's impossible to learn the fundamentals that quickly. And if they do, they should take grad classes on data science, not go into a bootcamp...

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#48

Post by void_mint » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

teruakohatu wrote: post #28

Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months? What jobs do these grads walk into? The tech prerequisite is: "You should feel extremely comfortable with how a computer works including: touch-typing, web browsers, search engines, and basic computer programs." The Curriculum: Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Modeling: 3 Weeks Data Engineering, Databases, SQL, Productionisation: 3 We…

> Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months?

You don't. You show them slideshows and hold their hand through a bunch of labs and then give them a certificate saying they graduated.

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#49

Post by granzymes » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

potatoman22 wrote: post #40

HenryKissinger wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Ridiculous. Introductory statistics and linear algebra are two separate undergraduate level courses. And if you want a real grasp of statistics, you need to learn probability theory first, which is another semester long course. To say nothing of "data wrangling", whatever the fuck it means.

Ehh, you could come close to condensing 1-2 college courses into 4 weeks. It wouldn't be fun though.

I don't think I could retain the information if it was that compressed, either.

Re: Lambda School lays off 65 employees

#50

Post by ZephyrBlu » Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 11:00 PM UTC

teruakohatu wrote: post #28

Can someone explain how you can train Data Scientists in 6 months? What jobs do these grads walk into? The tech prerequisite is: "You should feel extremely comfortable with how a computer works including: touch-typing, web browsers, search engines, and basic computer programs." The Curriculum: Stats, Linear Algebra AND Data Wrangling: 4 Weeks Modeling: 3 Weeks Data Engineering, Databases, SQL, Productionisation: 3 We…

That seems like an odd course setup for a DS. I'm not a DS but kind of learn about it as a hobby, but I think if you cut the course down to just the first 2 topics people would have a better foundation.

All the DB related stuff seems like a bonus, ML should be easy to pick up if you have good LinAlg and stats knowledge and Python you can pick up along the way.

I also agree on your last point. I don't understand how someone would be able to remember a fraction of this knowledge when you're changing topics so often.