Why do you care so much that the student has to pay? And why insist that it's just a cheaper bootcamp? That plus the fact that your account was created an hour ago makes your negativity suspicious. Sorry if I'm wrong.
It's just unorthodox, is all. It also sets up a strange dynamic if a student can't or won't pay.
It would be even lower risk for the student if the hiring company paid, which is a standard practice -- referral fees as a percentage of the referral's first-year salary.
If you don't find a job, you don't pay. And you pay in installments over 6 months (ie, 2% of your annual salary per month). This does not seem crazy. At all.
I'll agree it's so crazy its brilliant! I have been trying to self train and make it into mobile platforms for over a year now and its not as easy or speedy as I originally expected. I have very little programming experience and am looking for a more specific career change from IT break fix to mobile dev. I think this model is the perfect way out of the current long term schooling or upfront high cost boot camp that may or may not deliver. Experience is the key and this style of class seems to have lots of hands on experience. It's the perfect mix of intense focus as far as I can tell.
It would be even lower risk for the student if the hiring company paid, which is a standard practice -- referral fees as a percentage of the referral's first-year salary.
15%-20% is the standard.