How To Choose a Coding Bootcamp That’s Right For You
No matter how motivated you are, you will get disheartened if the coding bootcamp you enrolled in is just not right for you. At best, such a coding bootcamp will teach you computer programming skills you don’t need. At worst, the coding classes will frustrate you and waste precious time, money, and energy. This is especially true when getting a complex web developer or coding education that includes the JavaScript or Ruby on Rails programming languages. As one of the top coding bootcamps San Diego, LEARN Academy provides in-depth coding courses, as well as a one-month internship and career coaching so their students get the best opportunity to become a professional programmer. Read on to learn how to choose a coding bootcamp that’s going to give you not only the training but also real-life working experience.
What is a Coding Bootcamp?
Codong bootcamps are accelerated and intensive programs that teach individuals the necessary coding skills to start a new career in technology. Some focus on specific languages like JavaScript or Python, and some are dedicated to certain topics like Data Science. Most coding bootcamps are 16 weeks in length and the average cost comes out to around $14,000. The best coding bootcamps will offer their students more than instruction and will include an internship and career services to help their students land a job after graduation.
What are the different kinds of coding bootcamps?
Coding Bootcamps come in a few different flavors, and each has their own benefits.
There are 4 main kinds of coding bootcamps:
- Full-Time In-Person Coding Bootcamps
- Full-Time Online Coding Bootcamps
- Part-Time In-Person Coding Bootcamps
- Part-Time Online Coding Bootcamps
Full-Time In-Person Coding Bootcamps
Full-Time and In-Person Coding Bootcamps are usually the way to go. Going this route allows students who need structure and provide an immersive learning environment to help the students get the most out of the program. They tend to teach the most in demand coding languages that, when you graduate, will have the skills to become a full stack developer. This kind of coding bootcamp tends to see the best results. However, the downside is it does require the most commitment out of all of the options.
Full-Time Online Coding Bootcamps
Similar to the Full-Time and In-Person Coding Bootcamps, this style does require a commitment, however, it does offer a little more flexibility. Most of these coding bootcamps are larger, more corporate companies that have the capital to provide an in-depth online learning platform that includes coding tutorials, video tutorials, and online courses. The downside of this choice is it does not have as much hands-on learning or the attention or structure that some students might need.
Part-Time In-Person Coding Bootcamps
This style of coding bootcamps offers a little bit more flexibility than other choices. It allows the students to learn web development and keep a job if needed, but they are still bound to the location of the facility. You will want to make sure the establishment offers more than just coding lessons that compensates for the lost hours of time that you will need to be learning how to code.
Part-Time Online Coding Bootcamps
Part-Time and Online Coding Bootcamps offer the most flexibility out of all the options. These coders need to be the most dedicated outside of class and have the ability to learn the material mostly on their own. They can keep some type of job and you are not bound by the location of the coding bootcamp, you can work anywhere. However, this style offers the least amenities minus the education and usually does not include any type of internship program and career services.
How Much do Coding Bootcamps Cost?
The cost of coding bootcamps will depend on which style of coding bootcamp you choose. The average price for most Full-Time and In-Person Coding Bootcamps is around $14,000 because they offer the most benefits along with the education. As you go down the list the price tends to decrease. Some Full-Time Online programs can cost around $10,000, and the Part-Time In-Person and Online programs can get to around $5,000 or less.
Make sure the curriculum fits your goals
The coding languages you’ll learn during your chosen bootcamp will have a direct impact on how you will get a job after graduation and how you start your new career. You don’t want to spent months learning Ruby on Rails if what you really want to do is learn how to code in JavaScript. Ask questions and make sure the curriculum meets the technical skills you are interested in and how that will affect your software development career. Do you learn front end languages? Do you learn Backend languages? Is this program Full Stack? These are all important questions you will want to ask when you are doing your research.
Choosing the right environment
Ask yourself, how much time and energy are you prepared, or able to devote to your coding experience? Full-time classes, such as Learn Academy’s trademark 4-month intensive bootcamp, teaches you necessary programming skills, but they also require a lot of commitment from the student. Jump-starting your career with our weekend coding boot camps for beginners, on the other hand, may be the right choice for you. When it comes to the question of how to choose a coding bootcamp, finding one that you can attend regularly and get the most out of is paramount.
Plan for the future
What will you do once you’ve graduated? Does a bootcamp offer career planning or job placement to its students? What about actual work experience in a real-world environment? Does the code school give you an opportunity to build connections or receive mentorship within the industry? Think ahead. Don’t just ask how to choose a coding bootcamp, ask what specific things that bootcamp offers that will enable you to dive right into a successful career change.
What are coding bootcamps really like?
Even the best bootcamp in the world will not give you your money’s worth if their approach just doesn’t click with you. Some programming schools offer introductory classes or online coding courses that can give you a feel for their teaching method. Others, like Learn Academy, allow all aspiring web developers to schedule a visit and acquaint themselves with our premises, and our internship program gives you actual hands-on experience in one of the many tech firms in San Diego.
How to choose a coding bootcamp? You’re in the right place
Learn Academy is the premier web development and coder academy in San Diego. Whether you’re a beginner, or an experienced software developer looking to perfect their programming skills, you can benefit from our intense bootcamps and experienced tutors. Not only do we provide you with all the necessary tools to start your coding career, but we also give you vital opportunities to meet industry experts and showcase your skills where it matters the most. In fact, it’s not unheard of for our students to get high-paying tech jobs shortly after completing their internships. Reach out to Learn Academy today and start your journey toward a lucrative computer science career.