Jeremy Rossmann of Make School on Income Share Agreements and the Future of College

TL;DR

Make School is a project-based college in San Francisco that offers a bachelor's degree in applied computer science and focuses on practical skills and job placement, using an income share agreement (ISA) model to align incentives between the college and the students.

Transcript

okay Jeremy rossmann welcome to the podcast glad to be here you are one of the cofounders of make school so for those who don't know what is make school make school is a new College in San Francisco we offer a bachelor's degree program and applied computer science it's a college in the ways you'd expect to college to be a college those dorms and a ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎓 Make School offers a project-based bachelor's degree program in applied computer science, where students only have to pay tuition if they get a job.
• 🕑 The intensive track at Make School allows students to complete a four-year bachelor's degree in just two years by structuring their week like a work week.
• 💻 Make School students differentiate themselves by building a portfolio of real-world projects, which allow them to showcase their coding abilities to potential employers.
• 🏢 Make School provides a campus environment with dorms and full-time faculty, offering a college experience along with its innovative curriculum.
• 🧠 Employers highly value the critical thinking, communication, and cultural skills that come with a liberal arts education, in addition to technical skills.
• 💰 Income share agreements (ISAs) align the incentives between colleges and students, allowing graduates to pay tuition only if they are successful in finding a job.
• 👦 Make School attracts a diverse student population, including those who would otherwise attend traditional colleges and those looking to transfer to a better college.
• 💡 Project-based learning at Make School integrates theoretical computer science education with practical skills, allowing students to easily adapt to new technologies and frameworks.
• 🌍 More colleges may adopt income share agreements and rethink the relevance of degrees in order to better serve their students and align their incentives with future career outcomes.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the intensive track at Make School differ from the regular 4-year program?

The intensive track at Make School allows students to complete a bachelor's degree in just two years by engaging in a full-time schedule of 40 hours per week, focusing on project-based learning and practical skills.

Q: How does Make School differentiate its students from those coming out of traditional computer science programs?

Make School equips its students with project-based portfolios that showcase their coding abilities, skills, and practical and theoretical background. This sets them apart from traditional computer science graduates and makes them attractive to employers.

Q: What benefits do parents see in sending their children to Make School instead of more traditional colleges?

Parents appreciate the unique income share agreement (ISA) model at Make School, which ensures that students only pay tuition if they secure a job. This takes away the financial burden from parents and aligns the college's incentives with student success.

Q: How does Make School address the demand for a more practical and relevant education in today's rapidly changing job market?

Make School focuses on project-based learning, which allows students to gain real-world experience and build a portfolio that demonstrates their skills to prospective employers. By combining theoretical knowledge and practical applications, Make School prepares students for high-demand jobs in the tech industry.

Q: Are traditional degrees becoming less relevant in today's job market?

While some companies, such as Google and Apple, have dropped degree requirements for certain positions, most employers still prioritize hiring candidates with a college degree. However, there is a growing recognition that traditional degrees may not be the best indicator of job readiness. Make School aims to bridge this gap by offering a project-based, job-focused education that aligns with industry demands.

Q: How does Make School ensure that students are equipped with self-learning skills?

Make School's curriculum includes a robust theoretical computer science fundamentals component, which helps students understand the core concepts of programming. Additionally, the college exposes students to different technologies and frameworks, teaching them how to adapt and learn new languages and tools. This prepares students to be lifelong learners in the rapidly evolving tech industry.

Answer: Make School understands the importance of mentorship and tailored guidance in developing self-learning skills. The college provides students with dedicated coaches and mentors who act as tutors, unblock obstacles, and provide real-time support. This personalized attention helps students become independent learners and feel confident in tackling new challenges.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Make School is a college in San Francisco that offers a bachelor's degree program in applied computer science.

• The college operates on a project-based curriculum, focusing on practical skills and job preparation.

• Students can graduate with a bachelor's degree in two years by taking an intensive track and completing 40 hours of work per week.

• The college uses an income share agreement (ISA) model, where students don't pay tuition upfront but instead pay a percentage of their income once they get a job.