How to Get Into Coding Bootcamp: Answers to All Your Questions About How to Get Into Coding

You’ve made the decision to take action and start training for a career in high tech. Coding bootcamps are a great option for new techies and working folks, but how do you get into coding bootcamps? How do you even get into coding? Are coding bootcamps hard to get into? What should you expect during the program search and application process? 

Taking the time to gather information before you start your education allows you to identify a program that suits you and helps you set yourself up for a lucrative and interesting career. With a little research, you’ll be more informed on your quest for a new profession.

We’ve got the good stuff for you here. Our look at getting into bootcamp covers topics that concern many new techies. We will:

• Show you how to prepare for your training.
• Delve into the admissions process.
• Look at some of the most popular bootcamp fields.
• Get into school costs and ways you can pay for your time in class. 

This article gives you details that we hope will ease your journey and clear your path toward a promising future and top pay.

How Should I Prepare for Bootcamp?

You can prepare for a coding bootcamp by simply getting into coding. While this will be done while you’re in the bootcamp, you can also do so in a variety of ways before your program even starts. Not only will it make the bootcamp easier, but it will also help you achieve your career goals faster.

Your time in coding bootcamp can open the door to fantastic gigs with up-and-coming companies. To make it into bootcamp and get the most out of your classroom time, though, it’s important to lay good groundwork.

Take some time each day to work on coding before you start your application. Having about 40 hours of coding under your belt before you begin class helps ensure that you don’t waste time in bootcamp playing catch-up.

There are a number of ways to start learning to code by yourself before you start checking out schools. You can find several outstanding free coding courses available online, for example. And YouTube is full of videos produced by industry pros that can help you learn programming. Make the site your virtual classroom to develop your skills. Create a few independent projects, and your skills will blossom.

Coding Bootcamp Requirements

While bootcamps are hardly brand new, they’re not nearly as old as the university system which flowered across Europe sometime in the 12th century. There’s still a lot of confusion around what bootcamps are, how they work, who they’re for, and what you need to do to prepare for one.

It can be a bit overwhelming to try and determine what all the coding bootcamp requirements are, so we have taken the time to organize a guide for you to prepare. This includes all coding bootcamp requirements, such as education, skills, and personal traits you will need to succeed.

Coding Bootcamp Requirements: Education

Coding bootcamps are hard. There is no way around it. So, the more time you can spend preparing yourself for these rigors the better off you’ll be. In your typical coding bootcamp, such as the Galvanize Data Science Immersive, there will be people with decades of coding experience and advanced degrees. 

However, that doesn’t mean that you have to have studied computer science or web development, taken classes in computer programming, or worked in a technical field before to attend a coding bootcamp. There may be basic coding requirements, like experience in JavaScript, but most bootcamps offer free or low-cost prep courses for these.

This is a remarkable fact and means educational opportunities are open to many people who would previously have not had them. But it also means that you must be prepared to make up the lost ground if you are a complete newbie.

Coding Bootcamp Requirements: Skills

Succeeding at a bootcamp requires you to have or develop a certain skillset. In the case of data science, you would need to know how to work through the command line, use Github, write code, do statistical analysis, troubleshoot machine learning algorithms, and do lots of other things. The more of this you can learn beforehand, the better off you’ll be.

Some people pursue a program aggressively because personal factors made it such that they need to make a change quickly. If this isn’t the case for you, take as much time to prepare as makes sense.

Bootcamps generally don’t require you to already know how to code or whatever, but you’re going to have a vastly easier time if you do. Besides, if you’re learning to become a web developer, does learning a certain programming language have to be a coding requirement for bootcamp to be fun?

Coding Bootcamp Requirements: Personal

One of the things a bootcamp will want to know before they accept you is whether you’re going to be able to handle the intensity of their program. More important than technical know-how is a range of hard-to-define personal qualities which make you well-suited to overcoming adversity. These include:

• Able to easily manage stress/emotions
• Great at problem-solving
• Determined and a bit stubborn
• Accepts constructive criticism

It’s usually during the interview process that you’re assessed for these character traits, but they’re also things you can and should develop in yourself. They’ll serve you well not only as you complete your coding bootcamp, but as you transition into a new career and a new life.

How to Start a Bootcamp: Bootcamp Application and Admissions Process

Now that you understand the coding bootcamp requirements you will need to meet, you can begin working on your application and the admissions process. It can be a tricky and confusing process, but we are here to help.

Coding bootcamps generally require a lot of time and effort on your part and demand a significant investment of resources from the school for each student. Bootcamps have a vested interest in making the experience worthwhile to you. This is why some students are left wondering how to get into a coding bootcamp.

The majority of bootcamps we’ve come across make sure that every applicant goes through a rigorous onboarding. This is to ensure that the applicant has both the technical abilities and the drive to make it through the program and obtain a valuable skillset through their participation.

Almost every school has you start the process by filling out a bootcamp application, usually online. Have your school and work history ready to go, and make sure to update any portfolios or projects you refer to on the application before you press “Submit.”

Generally, an admissions counselor will then contact you to vet you. You’ll conduct an interview at most bootcamps, like App Academy and General Assembly. In this interview, you will answer technical questions along with questions meant to assess your determination to complete the course. After you clear admissions, you will likely be able to select a cohort and decide how to pay for the program.

In-Person vs Online Coding Bootcamp: Which Is Better?

Getting into coding is already a bit of a challenge for many, but on top of that, you have to decide between taking in-person bootcamp courses or online courses. It’s a lot to process, and there are pros and cons to both in-person and online classes. Both tend to have similar coding requirements to get into, so you mainly have to focus on the learning format when comparing.

Enrolling in an in-person bootcamp, such as Flatiron School or Rithm School, provides many benefits. The biggest pro is the practical experience gained from attending in person. Many bootcamp students report that they have an easier time learning in a traditional classroom environment than in asynchronous classes online.

In-person courses, however, are often more time-consuming. Not only do you have to commit to being in a classroom for a certain period of time each week, but you also have to factor in the commute time. And, for many, in-person bootcamps are not available close to home, so they may have to consider moving away for the duration of the bootcamp.

In an online bootcamp, you get the luxury of choosing when and where to study. Some online programs involve a synchronous virtual classroom experience, which means you do have to tune in at a certain time each day. However, most online programs are asynchronous and allow students the flexibility needed to schedule classes as they see fit.

Attending bootcamp online does have a few downsides. For some prospective students, the idea of taking online-only courses is intimidating. It requires a lot of time management and organizational skills, as well as the self-control necessary to sit down and make yourself study for long periods of time. 

It is difficult to say whether an in-person or online bootcamp is best. Bootcamp grads will tell you what worked best for them, but you’ll likely hear mixed reviews. If you want to get into coding and aren’t sure if in-person or online is best for you, try taking a free online coding course to determine which options suit you best.

Getting Into Coding: What Courses Can You Take?

Researching bootcamp programs can be intimidating, in part due to unfamiliar jargon and the sheer number of bootcamps. When you’re getting into coding, it’s important to learn which programs are popular, and which ones will prepare you for an in-demand tech field.

While the number of different bootcamps can overwhelm the new techie, a little research shows that there are a few programs that most schools offer, even if schools change the names a little bit to make their programs stand out from the rest.

Coding bootcamps aim to teach exactly that: coding. The programs instruct students on how to write programs by teaching them popular coding languages and showing them how the development cycle functions in a programmer’s world. Coding bootcamp graduates often earn job titles such as junior developer, software developer, and data scientist.

Coding education programs often focus on software engineering, backend development, or frontend development. The curricula will differ depending on the program’s focus. Data science, engineering, and analysis are also hot fields, and UI/UX design programs are perfect for helping app designers prepare for future employment. 

How Much Do Bootcamps Cost, and How Do I Pay Tuition?

If you are considering how to start a bootcamp, one big question you likely have is: how much do coding bootcamps cost? School is rarely cheap, and folks who already have trouble making ends meet while holding down full-time jobs may miss out on opportunities because of money concerns. There’s no need to let costs get in the way of top-notch programming education, though. 

Bootcamp tuition varies, but most programs charge between $6K and $15K. The price difference often comes down to amenities, so look to see what the program offers—do they include lodging, break rooms, snacks, or other goodies in the price of tuition? How are the school’s career services?

Once you decide which program works for you, it’s time to decide how to pay for the program. There are a few different payment methods you will find at most schools:

• Upfront payments
• Installments plans
• Loans
• Deferred tuition
• Income Share Agreements (ISAs)

Upfront payments always work and often save you thousands of dollars. As the name suggests, you pay the entire tuition amount when you enroll in the program. Many schools also offer students the option to pay via installments. With this option, you agree to pay the school a determined amount on a regular schedule.

Alternatively, many schools partner with one or several lenders to help students finance their studies. These work more like personal loans than student loans. An increasing number of schools also offer deferred tuition plans that allow you to defer payments until after graduation. Both of these options typically involve interest charges.

Finally, there are income share agreements or ISAs. These are typically offered by schools with job placement guarantees. Essentially, an ISA allows you to complete your bootcamp program without paying a dime until you find a job after graduating. Then, once you find a qualifying job, you give a certain percentage of your annual income to the school until your tuition has been paid in full.

How to Get Into a Coding Bootcamp Summarized

To get into a coding bootcamp, start by getting into coding. Enroll in free online courses or simply watch YouTube videos. You should have at least 40 hours of practice prior to starting in a bootcamp. Then, research coding bootcamp requirements and ensure you meet them all, including any coding requirements for your desired program.

Next, fill out the online application for your desired bootcamp and pass the interview. You can then determine if you want to attend bootcamp in-person or online, as well as which courses you want to take.

Once you have figured out how to start a bootcamp, you are well on your way to becoming a fantastic programmer. This is a skill anyone in the tech industry should master before trying to start their career. With a strong coding bootcamp education, you’ll be on your way to your dream job in no time.

Coding bootcamp can transform your life and prepare you for an amazing career, but it’s helpful to get the facts before you pick a program. We hope this examination of coding bootcamps helps you get your new professional life started.

How to Get Into Coding Bootcamp FAQs