How To Choose A Coding Bootcamp

These days, it can seem like there are so many different types of coding bootcamps to choose from—online versus offline, front end versus full stack—that it can make choosing a coding bootcamp seem next-to-impossible. While at first glance it can feel like an overwhelming process, having a strong grasp of what coding bootcamps are all about, how to prepare for them, how to understand which coding languages to learn, and how to pick the right coding bootcamp model will go a long way to letting you choose a coding bootcamp that’s right for you.

What Is A Coding Bootcamp

Coding bootcamps are a direct response to the ever-growing need for developers. Traditionally, individuals entering into web development or software engineering roles attended four-year colleges for Computer Science or related fields. While this may have worked decades ago, the need for tech talent is growing and this approach just can’t keep up.

That’s why coding bootcamps came about. Instead of requiring students to spend four years learning computer theory, and perhaps other seemingly unrelated classes to earn a Bachelor’s degree, coding bootcamps focus completely on learning to code. In a just a short time frame, they empower students with the coding education they need to enter into careers in the tech sector. They are intense and hyper-focused, and allow their graduates to not just understand if a career as a developer is right for them but also get them on the path to that career too!

Check out our Ultimate Guide To Coding Bootcamps to learn more.

Choosing Between A Coding Bootcamp & College

Are you wondering if it’s possible to enter into a web development career by bypassing college? While the answer is “yes,” there are trade-offs you’ll have to make if you’re considering these two options.

• Time Commitment: The typical college computer science degree will take a minimum of 4 years. However, considering that these days most students earn their bachelor’s degree in six years, a college degree could definitely take you over half a decade to complete. In contrast, coding bootcamps vary in length. Some of the shortest bootcamps can teach you the fundamentals of web development in as little as four weeks while longer, more comprehensive programs often span five to six months.

• Subject Matter Commitment: A major challenge with going for a computer science degree is that it is a major commitment. Once you select the major, you have to go through with it. Even if you end up not liking coding! In contrast, the shorter time span of coding bootcamps, as well as the flexibility offered by some bootcamps to exit at an early stage, gives students the freedom to explore coding and see if it’s the right fit for them.

• Cost: The average annual cost of a computer science degree is over $40,000! Over the course of four years, that could mean $160,000 in either out of pocket expenses or debt. Coding bootcamps are a fraction of the cost. While traditional bootcamps can cost upwards of $10,000, newer, hybrid coding bootcamp can cost less than $2,000 for the same content, delivered partly online, partly in classroom.

• Theory vs. Practice: Computer Science degrees span four years because they cover a wide range of science and coding theory. It includes dense concepts that require a good deal of time to master. In contrast, coding bootcamps focus more on practical applications such as building web sites. They’ll teach you the actual coding languages you’ll need to hit the ground running.

• Early Job Prospects & Salaries: Both college degrees and coding bootcamps will open up opportunities in the tech sector, albeit at different levels. Individuals with computer science degrees will often enter into software engineering jobs and make $80,000 out of the gate. In contrast, individuals just completing a full stack coding bootcamp will likely enter into software testing or quality assurance roles that can start around $60,000. However, long-term prospects don’t rely on one’s education. Someone that stays invested in their coding learning and is a strong contributor to both their peers and their organization can rise up the ranks, no matter how they first started out.
  
  

How To Get Ready For A Coding Bootcamp

Coding bootcamps assume you know little to nothing about web development or coding. As a result, getting ready for a coding bootcamp is not about picking up technical chops before you enter the doors. Instead, it’s about assessing your readiness for what is an intense but rewarding opportunity.

To fully get your head in the game, prepare yourself to…

• Work Hard: Traditional coding bootcamps require you to be in a classroom seat everyday of the week. Meanwhile, even community coding bootcamps that offer flexible learning options still require you to do coding homework during the week and meet with students and a dedicated instructor during weekend work sessions. It’s a lot to juggle, and it’s worth it, but it means you’ll be heads down working hard for many months.

• Solve Challenging Problems: On the one hand, coding is extremely powerful because if you can think of something, you can ultimately create it. However, creating what’s in your mind requires significant problem solving. Not only will you be learning individual coding languages but you’ll frequently come up against questions or bugs you won’t know how to solve immediately. Being patient and taking the time to think through roadblocks is what makes for a successful web developer.

• Work As A Team: Perhaps surprisingly, coding is a team activity. Sure, individuals are creating distinct lines of code. However, that troubleshooting we just talked about often comes from leveraging colleagues, peers and online communities. Collaborative coders are often the best because they know how to leverage resources to their fullest to solve problems, and they also know how to support their team members so everyone moves ahead.

If you’re wondering if there is anything you can do ahead of time to test your readiness for a coding bootcamp, consider taking a free course or two from organizations like EdX or Coursera. While not as dynamic as a coding bootcamp, nor is there anyone keeping you accountable and encouraging you, these courses are a good way to dip your toe into the web development waters.

What Type Of Coding Bootcamp Should I Attend?

You might see coding bootcamps covering a wide variety of topics, yet they all tend to fall into 3 general categories: introduction to web development, front end web development and back end web development. To understand what type of coding bootcamp you should attend, you’ll need to understand what each of these bootcamps cover, and what you’ll be able to do after graduation.

• Introduction To Web Development: Coding bootcamps focused on web development are oriented towards helping you quickly build simple website experiences. You’ll learn the main languages and technologies involved in constructing web pages (more on that later!), as well as how to build some of the critical elements needed in most web pages like forms. After this type of course, you’d be able to build very simple but functioning web sites like dating sites as well as guessing and matching games.

• Front End Development: Front end development refers to all the work that goes into making a website look and feel great. It means learning how to make websites responsive (e.g. adjustable to different screen sizes), creating compelling visual experiences, and developing easy-to-use user interfaces. Front-end development is in high-demand in the market today.

• Back End Development: Back end development bootcamps refers to everything behind the scenes that makes web experiences work flawlessly. In these coding bootcamps, you’ll learn everything from how to store data, set up user authentications, run dynamic calculations for your web site in the background, and present real-time dynamic content to users. These bootcamps cover the nitty gritty details that make websites and apps actually work flawlessly.

• Full Stack Development: For people who want to be able to do it all, full stack web development coding bootcamps combine front end and back end web development. By the time you’re done, you’ll not only be able to create websites and apps that look great but you’ll be able to create fluid experiences that people actually want to use.
  
  
  

Programming Languages Taught In Coding Bootcamps

While it can seem like there are hundreds of programming languages out there, coding bootcamps are focused on only the few programming languages that prepare you for a career in the tech sector when you graduate. As a result, you’ll generally see bootcamps offering programming languages and tools most frequently used by top software companies. If you’re particularly interested in web development, look for coding bootcamps that offer the following:

• HTML: HTML is generally considered the building block of websites. It’s the language that lets you create structured, formatted text with headings, paragraphs and bullet points as well as tells sites where to place images and other visual features. If you want to create content that’s ordered and easy to read and enjoy, HTML is the first step in your coding language education journey.

• CSS: While HTML is all about structure and order, CSS is all about look and feel. With CSS knowledge under your belt, you’ll be able to control how content is presented via its layout, colors and fonts. Knowing CSS is what lets you make a web or app experience feel cohesive and “branded” the whole way through.

• JavaScript: JavaScript is what lets you combine HTML and CSS into a truly dynamic web experience. It lets you add interactivity to sites and mobile apps as well as create fun game experiences. JavaScript is truly the programming language “glue” that makes our online experiences fun and engaging.

If you’re interested in creating rich front-end experiences, also look for bootcamps that include:

• Bootstrap: Bootstrap lets you create responsive mobile experiences by acting as a major repository for HTML, CSS and JavaScript code. Knowing how to use Bootstrap means you won’t have to create code from scratch. Instead, you can leverage freely-available blocks of code to help get your project up and running. Coupled with your knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript, you can customize that code to your criteria.

• React & React Native: React is a JavaScript library that will help you build functional user interfaces. It lets developers create web and mobile experiences that are dynamic without having to reload content. In essence, React lets you create digital experiences that people will actually want to use because they are easy to use! React Native lets you do all of this...but on mobile. With React Native, you can package a website into a mobile app letting you reach people on Apple’s App Store or Google Play.

If you’re looking to focus on back-end web development (or add it onto front-end web development!), you’ll also want to consider coding bootcamps that include:

• NodeJS: NodeJS lets web developers do something called server-side scripting, which means writing code that lets a website or app take actions according to a user’s behavior. This can include everything from performing database operations and user authentication to running complex calculations on the user data.

• MongoDB: Behind the scenes of any website or app is data, lots and lots of data. MongoDB lets you actually store that data and store it in a way that’s flexible and accessible so that the websites and apps you create run quickly and smoothly.

Coding Bootcamp Experience

Just as important as the substance included in the coding bootcamp is the actual format of the coding bootcamp itself. These days, coding bootcamps take a variety of forms—online, offline or both—and you’ll need to understand the pros and cons of each format to help you choose a coding bootcamp that fits your needs.

• Offline-Only Model: Traditional, offline bootcamps take the classic classroom approach of having students attend classes full-time in a structured school setting. They are immersive experiences that require students to be present five days a week. For students with a lot of flexibility this model may work. Though, at easily $10,000 per bootcamp, they are the most expensive option out there. Also, because they tend to only be located in major metropolitan areas, they either are not an option for students based in smaller cities or towns, or they require students to move to attend.

• Online-Only Model: Online-only bootcamps are, arguably, the most flexible coding bootcamp option out there. Students can take classes as time permits, and work at their own pace. And, considering that some are as low a $100 per course, they are often the most affordable solution out there. Unfortunately, this option offers zero accountability and zero student support which is why very few students who go the online coding bootcamp route actually end up completing the coursework.

• Hybrid (Flipped Classroom) Model: The hybrid, or “flipped classroom” coding bootcamp model aims to take the best of both the online and offline world. It has structured lessons with fixed deadlines that students complete online, with the support of a dedicated instructor. Students then attend weekly workshops over the weekend in their local area to troubleshoot and work through challenges they faced during the week, and to build a ‘portfolio project’ which they will be able to showcase with employers. The hybrid model offers clear accountability, but also flexibility. Additionally, since this type of coding bootcamp is generally priced under $2,000 per course it’s affordable and accessible to most students.

Still wondering if a coding bootcamp is right for you? Come check out some of the frequently asked questions to keeping on learning more