Can we talk about that bootcamp's group project rule

Last week I started a free coding bootcamp in Austin. Day 3 they said all projects must be in pairs. No solo work allowed. I get the teamwork thing, but I had a panic attack trying to explain my sorting code to a stranger over Zoom. The instructor said, "Real jobs do pair programming, so get used to it." I quit after day 5. I have a friend in Seattle who took the same course and felt the same pressure. We've been doing solo tutorials since and I'm actually learning more. Is forcing beginners into pairs really the best way, or does it just push people out? Any other solo learners here?

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zara_sanchez19d ago

Whoa, hold on... they made you pair up on day three?? That's wild. Like, you barely know the difference between a loop and a function at that point, let alone how to explain your thinking to a random person on a screen. Panic attack seems like a pretty normal reaction honestly, I'd probably freeze up too. It's cool that they want to teach teamwork, but forcing it on total beginners feels backwards. Maybe that works later on, but starting out solo is how most people actually get the basics down... at least that's how it worked for me.