If you have been considering learning to code to start a tech career, or you’re already learning the basics of programming but missing the structured learning of a curriculum and mentors, then a coding bootcamp may be the right choice for you.
In a good coding bootcamp, you’ll get access to a specialized web development, data analytics or programming curriculum and dedicated mentors. In this environment, you’ll learn by doing, rather than studying theory to pass an exam.
The decision of attending a bootcamp to become a full-time developer depends on many things. It is possible to learn by following YouTube tutorials, but a coding bootcamp is a great way of mixing the best of learning by yourself with proper guidance. It is this guidance that means 92% of Ubiqum students find work within two months of graduating.
Choosing which bootcamp to attend is bit hard, which is why we’ve outlined three steps to streamline the process.
Understand your own goals
One of the most common goals among those attending a coding bootcamp is to learn the skills and technologies to land their dream job in tech. Bootcamps, with their accelerated learning process, are the best way to achieve this goal.
But there are other things that will help you determine which coding bootcamp to attend. For example, do you want to work in web development using React, MongoDB, and Express? Do you want to learn Java development? Maybe you want to become a data analyst.
For others, it might be PHP, Node, Python and Django, or UX/UI design. If you don’t know exactly what it is that you want to study, bootcamps will often have a team on hand to clarify the often complex world of programming for you.
Determine your limitations
We usually don’t like to talk about limitations. They make us think about not being able to do exactly what we want. But limitations are really not that bad. Being aware of them helps to boost your creativity and achieve realistic goals, and this also applies for programming.
In the case of determining the best coding bootcamp for you, one important limitation is how much money you have available.
A coding bootcamp might seem as expensive, but they are considerably cheaper than full tuition at a university. Also, after the few months it takes to complete a good coding bootcamp, you should be landing your first developer job amazingly quickly.
Some coding bootcamps offer payment plans to pay only half of the tuition fees, with the other half to be paid once you’ve got your first programming job. For others, you agree to pay a percentage of your future salary as a developer until the fees are paid.
Yet another limitation is where you can study. Maybe you already know exactly what bootcamp to attend, but they don’t have a campus on your city or country. Don’t worry, coding bootcamps are opening new campuses on many more cities in the world, and there are plenty of online options too. This makes it easier for you to immerse yourself in code while staying in your city or even staying in your own bedroom.
Choose the coding bootcamp that speaks to you
This is the most feelings-driven factor in deciding which coding bootcamp to attend to become a full-time programmer, but it can’t be ignored. No matter what you are deciding, you’ll want to feel good doing it.
There are many good coding bootcamps, and if you know your limitations and what you want to learn, you can choose the bootcamp that makes you feel like you want to be there.
To get this feeling, explore student stories, look at what you’ll be doing or how a day or week as a full-time or part-time developer student in a particular bootcamp is like.
For many students, Ubiqum Code Academy has proven to be the best option. Most graduates have been able to land a job as web developers and data analysts through our carefully curated learning by doing methodology.
By taking these factors into consideration, we’re sure you’ll be taking your first step toward a new career.