Coding bootcamps
I’m a big fan of coding bootcamps, I attended one and it was one of the best decisions of my life. What is a coding bootcamp you might ask?
Well, coding bootcamps help students with little to no coding skills or experience focus on the most important aspects of coding. After you learn the basic skills you will be able to immediately apply what you have learned to solve real-world problems through an app or website.
Why should I care about coding?
Technology is taking over the world and it dictates a lot of different aspects of our lives. Your phone, tablets, laptop, are all full of codes. drastically changing how we do everything in our lives. By 2020 there will be over 1,000,000 job openings in the tech field.
Coding looks impossible to most at first glance. What are all of these letters and numbers?! It is actually a language that anyone can learn, especially if you're a millennial or a part of Generation Z! Millennials and Gen-Z are at an advantage because technology is a major part of our livelihood. We have grown up on Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We know the basics of a computer, phone, and tablet. We are more likely to pick up on coding quicker than older generations, so let's get these coding positions!
Should I attend a coding bootcamp?
Attending a coding bootcamp is a viable path to transition into a career in web development as an alternative to graduating with a 4-year degree in computer science. You can save tons of money by just attending a coding boot camp and opting out of attending a university for 4 years!
How does it work?
Coding bootcamps range from 8 - 24 weeks, and they typically cost anywhere between $1K - $15K. We all know that $15K is a shit ton of money, but there are plenty of financing and scholarship opportunities. You can also pay it off over time. When you compare $15K to the price of tuition at a university, $15K really isn't that bad. If you would like to learn more about financing and how it all works, please visit our financing section.
Okay so that’s how it works, but what's it like?
I’ll be the first to admit, when I got into code school I assumed I wouldn't fit in. I was expecting the stereotypical group of “nerds.” I was almost sure the class would be full of young men way smarter than me, anti-social and awkward. But this wasn't the case at all. My class was extremely diverse, with individuals from 18-60 years old. We were of all different backgrounds, ethnic groups and cultures. It was even pretty equal with men and women. The instructors were patient and had teaching styles specifically adaptable to each student. It’s called a “bootcamp” for a reason, it does take hard work. However, once you learn to code, the job opportunities are endless. Studies show that coding is one of the fastest growing careers in history. Just think about every website there is, there's most likely a few web developers behind each one of them. If you are curious about learning to code, but don't want to go to a bootcamp, that’s okay too! You can still learn from the internet. All you really need is access to a computer. Check out Codecademy to start, it’s completely free!
When looking for a coding bootcamp, be sure to check out the reviews on their website. Email or call the company directly and set up a tour or to set up an advising session! Below we have listed a couple of our favorites in New York City, Los Angeles, & Texas. If you're not based in any of those locations, send us a message and we will refer you to one in your area.