Practicum: Coding bootcamps

At first, I didn't really know if what I was getting into would be worth it or not. For some one like me, I have done nothing but physical labor my entire life, constantly moving, always using my hands to see the work I have done. Because of this I didn't... Read More know how I would respond to doing a different type of work, where I'm sitting down in one place and on a computer (I'm not tech savvy at all). I have very little experience with computers but I was referred the program by someone close to me as a new outlook on work. One where I would not have to physical pain or tiredness to get my money. So I signed up for the trial week just to test it out. At first it was a little overwhelming, but I kept thinking, it would be worth it for a better life. The instructions and interactive course were clear, and it used examples and explanations to drive the point across in a way you can understand. After the week course, at the end you are given a mini project, and by the time you finish you've made this small, simple webpage, and you feel accomplished that you actually made something. It reminded me of hands on work just instead of physically making something, you created something digitally. I felt eager to learn more. So I signed up for the full course and it got more challenging, "how can I remember all of this information?" is how I started to feel. How it's structured though is learning through practice, where each lesson you're learning something new but building on things you previously learned. Sometimes I would get stuck but if you ever feel stuck they have a whole community willing to help and share ideas! There's other students learning the same thing so they might have similar questions and post them in their respective forums, so that students and tutors can respond. Other times I needed a more detailed explanation and a tutor is always more than willing to hop on a video call to explain something to you in a way you can understand. There's also regular coworking hours with the tutors daily (I strongly encourage logging in) where you can interact and ask questions or see what other students are working on. You have more than enough support if you feel stuck and as you continue you get better each day. The projects at the end of each sprint further your understanding of what you have been working on and you start making more and more complex webpages, and you see how far you've come and what you are able to make. There's a sense of pride and excitement you make, and I continue to look forward to things I am learning and what I will be able to do.

i chose to pursue software engineering because i realized the potential it had to open many doors for me. im currently still a student at practicum but in my short time within the program, i feel extremely confident that once i complete the program, ill... Read More be set up for a very comfortable future. i also like solving problems and figuring things out and when im stuck on something coding related and i finally figure it out, i get a euphoric feeling i dont get from anything else. even if i cant figure out the coding problem im stuck on, tutoring is available most of the time and thankfully the community operates through a chat room that makes it easy to communicate with tutors who respond fairly quickly. i dont have much time to spend studying as i work most of the time but the program is pretty flexible and even though there are set hard deadlines, if you ever need a little extra time, you just message the community manager and they can help you out with setting that up. im very happy i chose practicum as my bootcamp, highly recommend if youre interested in joining a bootcamp.

I don't suppose I can really say how Practicum stacks against similar bootcamps as I have never tried another. I can say that for the price, Practicum seems to be offering some of the best and most applicable curriculum to move into the field of web development/software... Read More engineering. I decided to take this bootcamp, in part because it is much cheaper than others, but also because it came highly recommended from a friend. He had the same degree as I did and was just as unhappy in his job as I am in mine. He said he learned a lot, and I saw how he was able to move from working in traditional engineering at a site in the middle of nowhere, to being able to work fully remote/hybrid in a much more interesting city, making even more money, doing more interesting work. Practicum has absolutely been the bootcamp for me. The flexible schedule and part time learning has been essential. I have been able to maintain my full time engineering job while learning at night and on weekends. The platform is mostly very intuitive. Every now and then, it seems hard to gather what a task is actually asking of you, but there are hints available, and if it comes down to it, you can see a solution after several attempts if you were potentially solving the problem in a different way. The projects seem like they will help me stand out in an interview. Overall, would recommend to anyone looking to get into this industry.

I'm currently enrolled in Practicum's Software Engineering bootcamp. I've always enjoyed coding as a hobby- I taught myself Python when I was in high school, and I've coded several games in Unity/C#. When I lost my job, I decided it was time for a career... Read More change- and I knew programming was what I wanted to do! I looked into Practicum's different programs (Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Software Engineer) and ultimately decided on Software Engineer because it was the area that I had the least experience in. Javascript was easy to pick up, because I already knew a lot of the basic coding concepts (variables, functions, OOP). I still learned a LOT (and am still learning)- so it's definitely worth it to join even if you have a bit of coding experience. I'm about to start learning about backend web development, and I'm really excited about that! Practicum helps you with career prep- resume help, LinkedIn profile help, and practice interviews. The bootcamp is pretty long- 10 months- BUT you have gained enough skills to start applying to front-end developer jobs before you're done. I'm 3 months away from finishing the bootcamp, and I'm applying to jobs- no offers yet, but I've had several interviews! :) Once I finish the bootcamp, if I haven't found a job by then, I'll be able to apply to backend and full stack positions. The support from the tutors is really great. There's a Slack thread where you can post coding questions. (Bonus: Writing your questions out helps you think through them!) Tutors also have office hours, which is really great for when you're really stuck on a coding question, and posting in Slack isn't enough. Different tutors have different hours on different days, so on any given day, you can generally find a tutor's office hours to join. There's also pre-recorded videos on each project, which are great if you're starting a project and not quite sure what to do first. I also really liked the code reviews. Every time you submit a project, a code reviewer will look through it and give you feedback on what parts of the project you need to fix- as well as optional things you can change to make your code better. They promise to give you feedback within 24 hours of submitting your project, and I've found that to be true- a lot of times I'll submit a project before bed, and wake up to find that I've gotten feedback. I felt like the code reviews really helped me-it's very personalized feedback, and it turns my good code into something great.

For about two years now, I have known that I wanted to be in tech. I didn't really know what I wanted to specialize in at all though and I was kind of looking through Data Science and Cyber Security, but it never caught my eye enough for me to pursue.... Read More I learned a bit of python on my own and went through a few free HTML and CSS courses to try to learn more. I graduated high school a little over a year ago and I knew that I didn't want to go to college to learn how to create software, as the process is long and tedious, filled with things that aren't always super practical, so I turned my attention towards bootcamps. I knew I wanted an online bootcamp with the pandemic still going strong. I also wanted a program that wouldn't consume my life so I would still be able to work and do other things while pursuing software engineering. Practicum was one of the first bootcamps that caught my eye as it was more of a part-time course that lasted a longer duration, ensuring that I could take my time through the program to learn correctly and not get burnt out. I took the free course that they offered (which took about 8 hours) and I really took to the tasks that the platform offered, as it allowed me to learn things on my own time and at my own pace. I started the full Software Engineer course soon after. I'm nearly finished with the course, being about 8 months through at this point, and I have enjoyed the program completely. The tasks are good at introducing new material and can be revisited at any time throughout the course, which I took advantage of when working on the projects. The projects are the best part of the course though and have been the driving force of my learning while studying at Practicum. Doing the projects have gotten me to remember and utilize the concepts learned through the tasks and apply what I have learned to life-like projects. The code reviews and tutors have been great and I have learned so much while attending, much more than I would have been able to through self-study alone. There are a lot of technologies that I have learned through the program that I might not have even heard of if I had been trying to self-teach. I usually spend about 15-20 hours a week working through the tasks and projects, although that can differ depending on how difficult a project is for me. I would recommend this course to anyone who is looking to get into web development or software engineering.

When I first decided I wanted a career change, I was overwhelmed. There is an information overload on the internet when it comes to the tech industry. Having no background in the area, I stumbled across Practicum, which markets itself to be made for beginners... Read More like me. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to study with them. I am still working full-time as a teacher while I work through the program. Practicum’ part-time workload means that I spend approximately 15 hours a week studying. Over the last few months, I have found a rhythm where I read the theory for a few hours a night during the week, and complete my project on the weekend when I have more flexible time. The code review process is simple, and there is a team of tutors available to help at virtually anytime on Slack. Now that I’ve completed 4 sprints, I’m able to start taking on other projects, like the Code Bridge competition I’m participating in soon. I get to work on a team of fellow students to create a project and present it, boosting my portfolio and giving me real works experience. The only con, and it’s a very small one, is that I wish there were more practice exercises throughout the theory portions of the program. They do provide third-party recommendations though, so I supplement my learning with other apps and sites. I’m no longer afraid to change careers, in fact I am eager and excited to transition into the tech industry. I know that I’ll be ready thanks to Practicum.

I joined because of a friend’s recommendation and I haven’t regretted it. Without any prior coding experience Practicum will give anyone the confidence they need in their own ability. With practical lessons and a fantastic community, Practicum is a fit... Read More for everyone. They’ll make you feel like you’re thriving and a capable person gaining a new skill set. I’ve looked at other Bootcamps, mostly the free ones and some that popped up on my socials but Practicum is different. With a revolutionary built in coding platform and feedback from live tutors and co-working sessions, I can’t imagine anyone else giving what Practicum gives. This is definitely the community to be a part of.

I decided to get into Data Analytics because of an interest in coding and learning Python. My overall goal is to get into machine learning and automation in sustainable farming and agriculture, and so I thought I would start with the Data Analyst course... Read More to give me a good base. I was also looking for something to challenge my brain in new ways I had never experienced before! After researching the internet for a few months and trying out a few different schools to find the right fit, I stumbled upon Practicum. I started the introductory course, and I loved it. I loved the platform and felt this was the most thorough explanations and teaching that I could find out there for how I personally learn. The way things are broken down and explained made sense to me, also that I could reach out to get help and instruction at any time through the platform and through Slack. I felt a very understanding and accepting vibe from everyone in the Practicum team, in that I have never had any experience in coding previous to this, and so, if I didn't understand something, I did not feel wrong for it or anything like that. I feel support, understanding, and problem solving from the team and tutors. The platform is easy to follow and its really fun, almost like a game when moving through tasks. All the information is right there for you, but again if there is anything you are not understanding, there is ample support. I have really enjoyed expanding my mind in this way. I'm about halfway through and am excited to learn more and more with each passing task and project. It's very helpful that Practicum has the free introductory section, so one can try it out and see if its a match. For me it has been! I highly recommend it!

Data science is such a broad field and can be a daunting task for a newbie. Before I started my journey to become a data scientist on Practicum, I was looking for a way to integrate automation and data manipulation into my medical career to help me transition... Read More into the health tech space. I came across different data science programs but most of the good ones required some background in programming which I didn't have due to my professional background. But then I found Practicum and I was captivated by the promise of taking a total newbie like me and making them into data scientists at the end of the course. I was skeptical at first but decided to try it, and the results were mind-blowing. Firstly, Practicum has an interactive platform which is really helpful, especially for people who do not own powerful computers. You can code directly on the platform and use Practicum's servers to run your code. It's like a plug-and-play experience. Also, there are many real-life projects on the platform and so you get thrown into the action really quickly and end up graduating with a pretty impressive portfolio. Secondly, the support team, learning team, and slack community are all top-notch. They work 24hrs a day and so you can ask a question at any point of your day and will get a response. This makes the online experience really unique especially if you study at odd hours, be rest assured that you're not alone. Practicum has really helped transform my career and has made my transition from a medical to a health tech career path seamless.

Coming from a background in public health, I had some knowledge regarding statistical analysis but not nearly enough to consider myself proficient in the field. I really wanted to grow in my understanding of data analytics on a deeper level and even go... Read More further to study data science in order to gain the ability to utilize the power of data more effectively in a professional setting. On a personal level, I also really wanted to pursue a career that has the option of remote work in order to have a level of flexibility, especially as a new mother of 2. Practicum has been instrumental in helping me to both gain important skills in data and also grow in my confidence to conduct analyses. The curriculum has been challenging at times, but overall very easy to follow. I have felt supported throughout my experience so far by the tutors, community managers, and even other students who have offered help when I needed it. I loved the pace of the program as it gave me ample time to digest all the material and put it into practice. The atmosphere of the program was also incredibly friendly and inviting. Although I went through some difficult personal and family-related circumstances during the program, I still found myself able to work through the curriculum and felt the relief of knowing that there was a level of flexibility that could be afforded to me if I could not. Overall, I would highly recommend Practicum to anyone who is looking to pivot to a career in data analytics or data science!