I’m Joining 42 Because Traditional CS Education Is Broken
After years of watching the gap widen between what universities teach and what the industry actually needs, I’ve made a decision: I’m joining 42. Not because it’s trendy or because I’m following some tech influencer’s advice. I’m doing it because the traditional CS education model is fundamentally broken.
Let’s cut the crap – most CS degrees are stuck teaching theoretical concepts from the 90s while the industry has moved on. You spend four years and a small fortune to get a piece of paper that says you understand how computers work, but can’t build anything useful without six months of on-the-job training.
What Makes 42 Different
42 isn’t perfect, but it gets a few critical things right:
No Bullshit Lectures – You won’t sit through 3-hour PowerPoints about abstract concepts delivered by someone who hasn’t written production code in 15 years. You learn by building actual projects. When you get stuck, you figure it out or ask your peers. Just like real software development.
C Programming First – They start you with C, not Python or JavaScript. This forces you to understand memory management, pointers, and how computers actually work at a lower level. Once you master C, other languages feel like easy mode.
Peer Learning – There are no professors. You learn from and teach other students, which mirrors how actual development teams function. You can’t hide in the back of the lecture hall here – you either contribute or you fall behind.
DSA That Actually Sticks
Every decent programmer knows that data structures and algorithms are the foundation of good code. The problem with traditional programs is they teach DSA through memorization rather than application.
At 42, you implement these core concepts in real projects. You don’t just learn about binary trees – you build them, use them to solve problems, and understand when they’re the right tool for the job.
This approach means you actually remember this stuff when you need it, not just long enough to pass an exam.
Industry Reality Check
Let’s be honest: tech hiring is broken too. Companies claim they want CS grads, but what they actually want is:
- Can you solve problems without hand-holding?
- Can you learn new technologies quickly?
- Can you work with a team to ship features?
42’s model trains these exact skills. You’re constantly thrown into deep water with new projects, languages, and problem domains. Sink or swim. After two years of this, a technical interview feels like a walk in the park.
Time Investment Reality Check
The core curriculum at 42 takes about two years of focused work. That’s roughly 3.33% of your life expectancy. Is that too much to invest in skills that will likely define your career for decades?
Traditional CS degrees take 4+ years, often leave you with substantial debt, and still require you to learn most practical skills on your own time. The 42 model cuts out the fluff and focuses on what matters.
You can join regardless of your background. No previous coding experience required. No arbitrary age limits. No degree prerequisites. Just pass their selection process, which tests your aptitude and grit, not your existing knowledge.
My Hybrid Approach
I’m not dropping everything for 42. I’m continuing my current studies for the formal foundation while adding 42 for the practical skills. Yes, it’s extra work. No, I don’t care. The combination of theoretical understanding and hands-on experience will make me more versatile than someone with just one or the other.
Bottom Line
If you’re considering a career in software development, you have options:
- Spend 4 years and $100K+ on a CS degree (i mean, i’m not from the US, but you get the point)
- Take a 12-week bootcamp and know just enough to be dangerous
- Teach yourself through random YouTube tutorials and Stack Overflow
- Or spend 2 years at 42 building real projects and genuine skills
42 isn’t magic. It won’t make you a senior dev overnight. But it provides a structured path to practical competence that most educational models completely miss.
I’m going all in. You should consider it too.
