My Uncensored Lighthouse Labs Experience — Exploring both the shining lights and murky shadows of bootcamps (Part 1)
Around a month ago, I graduated from a coding bootcamp — Lighthouse Labs. Now, having completed the program, I feel it’s time to share my experience — to give future students a clear view of what lies ahead.
Choosing to embark on the Lighthouse journey was a significant decision, one driven by both personal and professional motivations. Like a lighthouse guiding seafarers through uncharted waters, I saw Lighthouse Labs as a beacon that could guide me to a new career path in tech. But like any journey, it wasn’t without its share of ups and downs.
This is Part 1 in a three-part series exploring the shining lights and murky shadows of bootcamps.
The Shining Lights
As soon as I embarked on my coding bootcamp journey in Lighthouse Labs, I was struck by the supportive student culture and the close-knit community formed by the cohort. Fellow students were always willing to lend a hand or offer advice, fostering a nurturing environment that made the challenging journey seem a little less daunting.
The Murky Shadows
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Despite some outstanding teachers, there were instructors and mentors whose unclear advice made grasping certain concepts difficult. The curriculum was often muddled with spelling mistakes littering the material — a minor issue, perhaps, but indicative of a lack of attention to detail that can be frustrating when you’re trying to absorb new information.
Moreover, the admissions process seemed to be lacking in rigour — a sentiment shared by Kelsey, a fellow Lighthouse graduate, who found the process much easier than anticipated. This accessibility meant a diverse cohort, but it also led to fewer students graduating than starting in Kelsey’s cohort, which raises concerns about the admission criteria and program retention.
Despite these challenges, Kelsey remained committed. She never considered dropping out, although she did question her decision at times. Her tenacity mirrored my own. After all, once you’ve committed, there’s no turning back.
Jeff, another Lighthouse graduate, also voiced concerns about the quality of student engagement. With the shift to online learning, cohort interactions often felt limited and impersonal, diminishing what could be a vital part of the bootcamp experience. His cohort started with 24 students, and by the end of the 12 weeks, only 21 remained.
Reflection
In our unique and varying journeys through Lighthouse Labs, we encountered both shining lights and murky shadows. The program, while offering a plethora of perspectives and invaluable opportunities to collaborate with talented mentors and instructors, also presented challenges through inconsistent instruction, variable curriculum quality, and an alarming dropout rate. My intention in this series is to illuminate these shadows while emphasizing the bright spots, providing an uncensored guide for those thinking about making that shift into tech. Stay tuned for Part 2!
