How To Prepare Yourself For a Coding Bootcamp

How To Prepare Yourself For a Coding Bootcamp

Nov 18, 2018
Chelsea Kaufman

Whether you’re an intermediate programmer, or you’re just now starting your coding education, you can greatly benefit from being trained by Learn Academy’s accomplished industry professionals. To this goal, you’ve done your research, you’ve chosen the programming language you want to learn, and now you’ve finally enrolled in the best coding bootcamp San Diego has to offer. Well done. But are you 100% ready to take full advantage of your lessons? Most students are not, and end up getting less value out of the course because of it. Here are a few tips on how to prepare yourself for a coding bootcamp.

Top 3 things to keep in mind:

  • Short-term costs such as stress and boredom are integral parts of any learning process. Incorporating this into your mindset will make an immense difference.
  • Wrestling with complex problems is a big part of the coding profession. Learn to love the challenge.
  • Although having prior IT knowledge before jumping into a bootcamp can help you gain a better understanding of the more complicated lessons, well-versed instructors should be able to provide you with invaluable insights and skills.

Learn the tech

The obvious answer to how to prepare yourself for a coding bootcamp is: go online. Explore the world of programming and get a glimpse of the basics of coding. However, relying on online resources without the guidance of an industry professional can be overwhelming. If you want to avoid bumps in the road, it’s best that you start learning how to code at a beginner bootcamp. Your programming can also benefit from skills not directly related to coding so you should be focused on building logical thinking as well.

Develop a good mindset

Coding bootcamps aren’t easy, and that’s putting it mildly. Not only will you be getting stuck on challenging coding problems all the time, but you’ll also be learning brand new ideas every day. Most students understand this and are prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. But what about the people around you?

When it comes to how to prepare yourself for a coding bootcamp, setting up a support system among your family and close friends is critical. Having your loved ones become offended because you’re too busy with the bootcamp to pay attention to them will not only damage your personal life, it can also slow down your learning process. Take the time to ensure they understand the difficult journey you’re about to embark on.

Be financially responsible

Chances are, you won’t have the time to study and also work full time. Take a good look at your budget and plan your expenses. How much will it cost to live while you’re attending bootcamp? Rent, food, transportation, utilities – add all these things on top of the bootcamp cost. A loan may be necessary. Be ready to make these sacrifices.

How to prepare yourself for a coding bootcamp: the most important step

Establishing a support system and having a basic understanding of coding can help you get ready emotionally and mentally. That being said, choosing the right bootcamp is infinitely more beneficial. At Learn Academy, we offer you more than just coding lessons. Our connections in the local tech community enable us to give each student a 1-month internship at one of San Diego’s tech companies. What’s more, many of our students end up getting hired right after finishing our bootcamp. Reach out to Learn Academy today and unlock your coding potential.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to the most common questions you may have. If you are interested in receiving updates on our future cohorts please join our waitlist!

A woman presenting and a woman listening.

Can I work while attending LEARN academy?

We have had students hold part-time jobs while attending the coding bootcamps at LEARN academy. They tell us that it’s not too bad if your work is on the weekend, but working more than one night per week is really tough. It is tough but possible.


What is the class schedule?

LEARN academy’s 4 month bootcamp is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.


What do you mean by "full-time"?

LEARN academy’s full-time course is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Students spend the first 12 weeks working in the online classroom and the final 4 weeks in their remote programming internship.


What is the background of the typical LEARN Student?

There isn’t really a typical student at LEARN academy. Most have not taken computer science classes in college, although some have. Some have not gone to college at all, but many have undergraduate degrees in something other than computer science. Past graduates have been in the entertainment industry, waitresses, massage therapists, in the military, and just about anything else you can think of.

Can I call you or drop by to talk?

Absolutely! We love chatting with potential partners and students. It is always best to make an appointment first so we can make sure someone is available to answer your questions. You can email us hello@learnacademyorg.


Is there any required prep work?

Students who are accepted and enrolled in the 4 month bootcamp are required to attend and participate in a workshop, called Jumpstart, offered by LEARN academy prior to the first day of the program. These workshops are free for students and included in the price of the tuition for the bootcamp. LEARN academy offers multiple workshops leading up to the start of class that students can sign up for.


I don't live in San Diego, can I still apply?

Yes! LEARN academy’s live-remote courses allow students to take our courses from just about anywhere in the United States. However, we are not able to support International students at this time.


How long should my application be?

One of the things we look for in an application is – did we get to know you? It’s almost impossible for us to get to know a candidate if each of the essay answers is only two sentences long. It doesn’t need to be a novel, but before you submit, check to make sure your personality is coming out in your writing.


How old do I have to be to attend LEARN academy?

Code school students must be 18 years old by the date of the first class as we are not legally able to accommodate minors.


What does the application process look like at LEARN academy?

Once you have submitted your application, the team at LEARN academy will review it and be in touch within a week of your submission date. If we feel it is a good fit we will ask you in for an interview. It is an informal interview. A chance for us to get to know you and for you to ask any questions you might have about the coding course. We know that it is vital to your success to find the course that is best for you and your learning needs. We use the interview to find out if we are the best fit for you! If at that point we both agree that it is a good fit we will invite you to secure a seat in the class of your choice.


Can I call you or drop by to talk?

Absolutely! We love chatting with potential partners and students. It is always best to make an appointment first so we can make sure someone is available to answer your questions. You can email us hello@learnacademyorg.


Is there any required prep work?

Students who are accepted and enrolled in the 4 month bootcamp are required to attend and participate in a workshop, called Jumpstart, offered by LEARN academy prior to the first day of the program. These workshops are free for students and included in the price of the tuition for the bootcamp. LEARN academy offers multiple workshops leading up to the start of class that students can sign up for.


I don't live in San Diego, can I still apply?

Yes! LEARN academy’s live-remote courses allow students to take our courses from just about anywhere in the United States. However, we are not able to support International students at this time.


How long should my application be?

One of the things we look for in an application is – did we get to know you? It’s almost impossible for us to get to know a candidate if each of the essay answers is only two sentences long. It doesn’t need to be a novel, but before you submit, check to make sure your personality is coming out in your writing.


Can I work while attending LEARN academy?

We have had students hold part-time jobs while attending the coding bootcamps at LEARN academy. They tell us that it’s not too bad if your work is on the weekend, but working more than one night per week is really tough. It is tough but possible.


What is the class schedule?

LEARN academy’s 4 month bootcamp is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.


What do you mean by "full-time"?

LEARN academy’s full-time course is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Students spend the first 12 weeks working in the online classroom and the final 4 weeks in their remote programming internship.


What is the background of the typical LEARN Student?

There isn’t really a typical student at LEARN academy. Most have not taken computer science classes in college, although some have. Some have not gone to college at all, but many have undergraduate degrees in something other than computer science. Past graduates have been in the entertainment industry, waitresses, massage therapists, in the military, and just about anything else you can think of.

Can I call you or drop by to talk?

Absolutely! We love chatting with potential partners and students. It is always best to make an appointment first so we can make sure someone is available to answer your questions. You can email us hello@learnacademyorg.


Is there any required prep work?

Students who are accepted and enrolled in the 4 month bootcamp are required to attend and participate in a workshop, called Jumpstart, offered by LEARN academy prior to the first day of the program. These workshops are free for students and included in the price of the tuition for the bootcamp. LEARN academy offers multiple workshops leading up to the start of class that students can sign up for.


I don't live in San Diego, can I still apply?

Yes! LEARN academy’s live-remote courses allow students to take our courses from just about anywhere in the United States. However, we are not able to support International students at this time.


How long should my application be?

One of the things we look for in an application is – did we get to know you? It’s almost impossible for us to get to know a candidate if each of the essay answers is only two sentences long. It doesn’t need to be a novel, but before you submit, check to make sure your personality is coming out in your writing.


How old do I have to be to attend LEARN academy?

Code school students must be 18 years old by the date of the first class as we are not legally able to accommodate minors.


What does the application process look like at LEARN academy?

Once you have submitted your application, the team at LEARN academy will review it and be in touch within a week of your submission date. If we feel it is a good fit we will ask you in for an interview. It is an informal interview. A chance for us to get to know you and for you to ask any questions you might have about the coding course. We know that it is vital to your success to find the course that is best for you and your learning needs. We use the interview to find out if we are the best fit for you! If at that point we both agree that it is a good fit we will invite you to secure a seat in the class of your choice.


Still have questions?