My Coding Bootcamp Experience: An Insider‘s Perspective for Prospective Students

Three years ago, I took a leap of faith and enrolled in a coding bootcamp to transition from digital marketing to software engineering. It was the most intense educational experience of my life – and one of the most transformative. As I reflect on my journey through the bootcamp and into my career as a developer, I want to share an unfiltered view of the good, the bad, and the ugly to help you determine if this path is right for you.

From Aspiring Creator to Bootcamp Student

Ever since dabbling in graphic design and web development as a teenager, I had always been drawn to the creativity and problem-solving of coding. But like many, I doubted my math skills were good enough to pursue it as a career. I graduated with a business degree and fell into digital marketing roles, which introduced me to the powers of software, but left me craving to build it myself.

After a few years of exploring coding through online tutorials like freeCodeCamp, I knew I wanted to fully commit to making the career change. I considered pursuing a second bachelor‘s in computer science, but I was eager to learn the most relevant skills quickly and cost-effectively. A coding bootcamp seemed like the perfect blend of structure, intensity, and support to launch me into this new field.

But the decision was not one I took lightly. I spent several months researching programs, analyzing my finances and career prospects, and mentally preparing for the challenge. I knew I would need to quit my job and fully dedicate myself to learning for months, with no guarantee of a developer job on the other side. After much deliberation and encouragement from friends in the industry, I took the plunge and enrolled in a reputable 12-week full-stack JavaScript program.

Inside the Coding Bootcamp Industry

Before I share my personal experience, let‘s take a high-level look at the coding bootcamp industry to put it in context. Bootcamps have exploded in popularity over the last decade as a fast-track alternative to traditional computer science degrees. According to data collected by Course Report, there were 23,043 graduates of coding bootcamps in 2019, up more than 10x from 2013:

The typical student is 30 years old with 7 years of work experience and at least a bachelor‘s degree. However, the demographics are diversifying as bootcamps aim to close the tech skills gap and improve accessibility to underrepresented groups in tech. Many programs offer scholarships, deferred tuition, and income share agreements to lower financial barriers to entry.

So does this short-term educational model actually work in preparing students for software engineering careers? The data shows strong outcomes, with 83% of graduates landing a job within a year with an average salary increase of 51% (Course Report). However, placement rates vary widely between schools, from 100% to 50%. And these statistics often only include job-seeking graduates who respond to outcomes surveys.

Critics argue that 3 months is nowhere near enough time to gain the depth of knowledge taught in a 4-year computer science degree. And many hiring managers remain skeptical of bootcamp grads, concerned they lack the computer science fundamentals and have been taught to simply follow tutorials rather than architect systems. There are certainly bootcamp grads who struggle to compete for jobs with more seasoned developers.

Bootcamps counter that their curricula are tailored to the most in-demand skills that employers are actually hiring for, and that they are more effective than universities in evolving to the rapidly changing needs of the tech industry. And in a field where the half-life of technology skills is estimated to be just 2 years, a bootcamp can be an efficient way to upskill or reskill later in one‘s career.

As the industry matures and differentiates, the question is no longer "are bootcamps effective?" but rather "which bootcamps are high quality and deliver on their outcomes promises?" Like any educational institution, there are stronger and weaker programs. Thorough research into curriculum, instructional quality, and job placement assistance is essential.

A Day in the Life of a Bootcamp Student

So what is it actually like to go through an immersive coding bootcamp? Let me tell you – it‘s not for the faint of heart. Ours was advertised as a 40-60 hour per week commitment, but I don‘t think I had a week under 70 hours.

A typical day looked like:

• 9am-10:30am: Lecture on new concept
• 10:30am-12pm: Implement concept in a workshop/lab
• 1pm-2:30pm: Lecture 2
• 2:30pm-6pm: Lab 2 / Work on weekly project
• 6pm-10pm+: Homework, projects, study, debug

This doesn‘t include the extra time on weekends spent reviewing material, working on projects, and preparing for technical interviews. Our instructors half-joked that we should say goodbye to our friends and family for 3 months. I definitely had several tearful phone calls with my mom about how I didn‘t think I could make it through. But I also formed some of my deepest friendships with my fellow students who understood the struggle.

The curriculum was roughly broken down into:

• Weeks 1-3: Front-end fundamentals – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Bootstrap, Git
• Week 3 Project: Browser-based Game – I built a Pokémon battle simulator
• Weeks 4-6: Back-end with Node – Node.js, Express, MongoDB, REST APIs
• Week 6 Project: CRUD Web App – A social recipe sharing app with user authentication
• Weeks 7-9: Front-end frameworks – React, Redux
• Weeks 10-12: Full-stack & Advanced Topics – System design, DevOps, data structures, algorithms
• Final Project: Full-stack App – Mine was a Slack app for scheduling remote team-building activities

Imagine trying to learn all of that in 3 months! It‘s no wonder I regularly dreamed in code. The pace was breakneck and unrelenting. Each day introduced a brand new concept, and you were expected to implement it in a lab that same day. Falling even a day behind could snowball into a mountain of catch-up work.

The program culminated in a capstone project showcasing a full-stack JavaScript application, to be presented at a "Demo Day" to potential employers, friends, and family. Let‘s just say there was no shortage of Red Bull and frantic debugging the nights leading up to it. But finishing that project was one of my proudest and most hard-earned accomplishments.

Will a Bootcamp Get You a Developer Job?

The answer is that it varies widely depending on the individual and program. From my experience as both a former bootcamp student and now a senior engineer who interviews entry-level candidates, here‘s my perspective:

A coding bootcamp alone will not make you a competitive candidate for most software engineering jobs. What it will do is give you a base foundation of practical skills, experience learning challenging technical concepts, and a portfolio of projects that demonstrate your potential.

Most students are not fully job-ready by graduation day. The curriculum moves too quickly to gain true depth of understanding, and 3 projects are not enough to impress most employers on their own. Where bootcamp grads stand out is in their ability to learn quickly, persist through difficulty, and build functioning applications.

To be successful in the job search, you need to put in significant effort into continuing to build your skills and portfolio after graduation. The most dedicated students take several more months to do additional projects, contribute to open source, and even take on freelance work. You need to be able to sell yourself and your non-traditional background, which often takes longer than someone with a computer science degree.

All that said, I absolutely would not have broken into the tech industry this quickly without the bootcamp. It accelerated my learning and credibility far beyond what I could do with self-study, and gave me the confidence to persevere through the job search. And once I did land that first developer role, I was able to learn and grow rapidly on the job.

One major caveat is that not all bootcamps are created equal in terms of quality of instruction and career support. Be sure to research student outcomes data and understand that placement rates often only include job-seeking graduates who report their outcomes. Read reviews, reach out to alumni, and look for third-party verified outcomes reports.

Also carefully consider your location and the demand for junior developers in your market. Graduates in major tech hubs have very different job prospects than more rural areas. Some bootcamps have better employer connections and reputations than others.

Finally, a coding bootcamp is not a silver bullet for a successful career transition. You need to put in the hard work of learning, both during the program and for years after. You need to challenge yourself to move beyond your comfort zone and basic tutorial-level knowledge. And you need unshakeable commitment and confidence to overcome the many rejections and setbacks of breaking into a competitive industry.

If you have the determination, growth mindset, and realistic expectations, a coding bootcamp can be a phenomenal launching point into a fulfilling career in tech. But it is not for the faint of heart or get-rich-quick dreamers. Go into it eyes wide open about the challenges, and be willing to embrace the struggle. For me, it was the best risk I ever took.

Key Takeaways for Prospective Students

For those considering taking the bootcamp plunge, here are my key pieces of advice:

1. Validate your interest in coding first. Build some simple projects with online tutorials before committing time and money to an immersive program. Make sure you enjoy the constant problem-solving and learning.

2. Research programs deeply. Don‘t just rely on advertising claims. Reach out to alumni, check out student projects on Github, and look for transparent student outcomes data. Focus on programs with a track record and employer network in your area.

3. Prepare for the intensity. A bootcamp will likely be the most difficult educational experience of your life. Make sure you have support from family, a financial runway, and a plan to balance your life. Steel yourself mentally to feel uncomfortable and discouraged at times.

4. Don‘t expect a job handed to you. A bootcamp can open doors, but you still have to put in significant work to become a competitive candidate. Start building your portfolio and networking with employers from day 1, and be prepared for a 3-9 month job search after.

5. Embrace the struggle. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone daily, and that‘s where real growth happens. Get comfortable with constantly feeling stupid, and turn to your classmates and instructors for support. Adopt a growth mindset and stay focused on how far you‘ve come instead of comparing yourself to others.

6. Never stop learning. A bootcamp is just the beginning of your education as a developer. Your learning must continue on the job and for the rest of your career. Be hungry to constantly improve your craft and learn new technologies. That passion and drive are ultimately what will make you successful.

If you go in clear-eyed about the challenges and committed to embracing the journey, a coding bootcamp can be a life-changing experience. You will amaze yourself with how much you can grow and create in such a short time. You will make lifelong friends and memories in the trenches together. And with determination and a bit of luck, it can launch you into the infinitely rewarding experience of getting paid to build and learn every day. Best of luck in your decision and journey!