How Hard Are Coding Bootcamps?

How Hard Are Coding Bootcamps? An Insider's Perspective

Our bootcamps are written with beginners in mind, but we want to be clear: Bootcamps are no walk in the park. Our curriculum is proven and our instructors are some of the best in the industry, but it's up to you to do the work.

Ok, But How Hard Are Coding Bootcamps, Really?

Bootcamps are Intense

Bootcamps are relatively short, intense trainings that prepare you for the next stage of your career. It's a lot of information to absorb in just weeks!

You won't just be learning how to code, you'll be learning how to learn. You'll learn how to apply your new skills across programming languages or contexts, and you'll also be learning how to think like a professional in your new field.

How Hard Are Coding Bootcamps? An Insider's Perspective

Our bootcamps are written with beginners in mind, but we want to be clear: Bootcamps are no walk in the park. Our curriculum is proven and our instructors are some of the best in the industry, but it's up to you to do the work.

Ok, But How Hard Are Coding Bootcamps, Really?

Bootcamps are Intense

Bootcamps are relatively short, intense trainings that prepare you for the next stage of your career. It's a lot of information to absorb in just weeks!

You won't just be learning how to code, you'll be learning how to learn. You'll learn how to apply your new skills across programming languages or contexts, and you'll also be learning how to think like a professional in your new field.

Bootcamps Require A Big Time Commitment

You'll need to make a real commitment in order to fully participate and successfully complete your program. In addition to class hours, you'll need to commit to time outside of class to study and to working on projects, your resume and your portfolio.

All of this means that you'll need to clear your calendar so that you can commit the time needed for your bootcamp. After all, this is a career-changing experience! You'll want to be able to fully pay attention and participate in class.

During COVID, this may mean that you'll need to arrange for childcare in another room of your home, or later, that you'll need to hold off on social engagements or vacations.

If you're enrolled in one of our full-time programs, you should expect to commit to 35 hours of class a week, with another 10-15 hours outside the classroom. Students in our part-time programs will need to commit to 10 hours of class and an additional 15-20 hours of study outside of class.

Three Tips for Success In Your Tech Bootcamp

There's a lot to take in during a technical bootcamp, so here are three tips to help you succeed.

1. Be realistic about whether a bootcamp is a good fit for you.

   Ask yourself:

   • How much time can I dedicate each week to a bootcamp?
   • Do I enjoy learning with others and also on my own?
   • Am I willing to commit to additional time outside of class?
   • Do I need to work during my bootcamp?
   • What other time commitments do I have?

2. Study before your bootcamp.

   We write our curriculum with beginners in mind, but our classes are challenging enough to keep more advanced learners engaged. If you don't have any technical background, you'll be much more likely to do well in class if you do some prep work first.

   This doesn't mean that you need to have studied computer science in school or have worked in the tech industry before! However, it does mean that we strongly suggest that you do some self-learning with Codecademy, freeCodeCamp or any of the many free services available.

   Completing exercises on these sites will increase your familiarity with your laptop and some new commands, as well as help you learn to type more quickly. Both of these will serve you well in class.

3. Complete the pre-work.

   Once you enroll into one of our programs, we'll assign you 40+ hours of prerequisite work that you'll need to complete before class starts. Completing this pre-work will make sure you're familiar with basic concepts and will set you up for success in class. This is the #1 piece of advice our instructors recommend!

   Start Your Career In Tech

   Ready to take the next step and launch your career in tech? Download our course catalog for more information about our programs..