How to Prepare for a Coding Bootcamp So You Don’t Freak Out Once You Get There
Are you ready to be put through an intensive coding program so that you can start an entirely new career in a field you’re not familiar with? If that sounds a bit scary and really intimidating, you’re not wrong. Starting a whole new field of study and learning everything you need to know for a whole new career in a few short months is huge and, let’s face it, nerve-racking. We’re not saying this to psych you out or make you second guess your decision– we’re just saying it’s okay to feel the way you do. Rest assured, you’re not alone; that’s part of the good news. Most likely, everyone else is feeling just as nervous as you. The other good news? You can reduce those nerves by fully preparing for your coding bootcamp.
Read
This is going to be a huge help to you. If you’ve been given anything to read to prepare for your coding bootcamp, read it. Seriously. Don’t start your bootcamp by slacking off; it’ll only hurt you in the long run. So, read it. Yes, all of it. If you haven’t been given anything to read, or you’ve already read what they told you to, you’re not off the hook.
The more you know, the more prepared you will be for your coding bootcamp, so hit the bookstore or the library. Find some beginner books on coding. Don’t knock Coding for Dummies until you’ve read it! The most important thing to remember is to pick up books in the right language. No, we don’t mean English. We mean your coding language. Know the languages you are going to be learning in your bootcamp and get those. And only those. No sense in confusing yourself before you even start.
Do Online Tutorials
There are a lot of really good videos and tutorials online that will start getting you familiar with code. If you’re thinking, “Why spend money on tutorials when I already paid tons of money for a bootcamp,” some of these tutorials are free, and the rest are affordable. And the more comfortable you feel with code, the more prepared you will feel for your coding bootcamp. Codecademy, for example, has a range of programs that can help you learn all of the most popular languages. You’ll get a strong foundation in coding that will help you understand what your teachers are saying once you get to your bootcamp.
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Udemy is also great for coding videos that will help you start understanding different programming languages and getting familiar with web developing and programming. These programs do cost money, but they are very affordable (less than $20) and you’ll definitely walk away from them having learned something useful. You might even be able to feel like the smart one in your coding bootcamp class.
TreeHouse is another great tutorial. It does cost $25 a month, but if you just need it for a month before your bootcamp, then it is well worth it. You get videos and some interactive coding challenges so you can apply what you are learning. You’ll find that once you start actually working with code and creating things that it becomes much less intimidating.
Prep Your Credentials
Listen, you’re about to be really busy, so take the time now to update your resume and get it looking great. That way, once you are done with your coding bootcamp, all you have to do is add in that experience. It will save you time after your bootcamp and get you on that job search even faster.
Preparing for a coding bootcamp is the best way to deal with nerves, and it will help ensure your success in the program. Some bootcamps hit the ground running, and you do not want to be struggling to keep up. Just remember, you can do this and it will all be worth it in the end!
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