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Comment by melvinmt | Hacker News Reader

I'm guessing most people over 30 can not commit to a 3-year full time study, but it's weird indeed that they're not even allowed in.

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3 years of study?? What!? That's insane, you do not need 3 years of study to enter this industry. At that point, I may as well go and get a Computer Science degree at a local college and at least have a legitimate degree.

This course is not a bootcamp. It is a substitute for an undergraduate degree and it is intended to give you a similar width and depth of knowledge (undergraduate degrees in Europe are three years). In France there are very few schools teaching computer science to a very high standard (Grade Ecoles teach engineering) and 42 has the ambition to educate the best computer scientists in France. Thumbing on the years makes that impossible.

You can go to community college; that is a legitimate choice; but 42 teaches you in a different way, one which 42 argues is more suitable for learning than classroom hours and lectures. And you miss out on some of that ambition.

3 years is the basic cursus. You can do it in one year if you are able to. You can also Just take the skills you want and leave. Its on your own

Yeah you can but to do that you need to match the academic prerequisites. You can enter 42 whatever your background is.

Unless you are older then 30.. then it doesn't allow you to enter regardless of your background.

Most universities and almost every community college has acceptance for a wide range of backgrounds. You can enter my university on a GED at 31 if you like, doesn't seem possible here.

Would it be tuition free ?

Can you afford to take 3 years off? Tuition at a community college is pennies compared to living expenses for 3 years.

The opportunity cost of not working for three years is huge, maybe more than the tuition at a non-top end university.

I'm sure that if they are looking for a change in career, taking some time off to make that change is not really a choice.

I'm 43, and enrolled at Holberton School, which is project based. Granted, I'm only taking 2 years off, but by the time the 9th month rolls around we will be interning in San Franciso (and possibly around the World). Some of those internships are paid.

If you are at Holberton you are In a great place so no worries :-)

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