How to Get Accepted Into Coding Bootcamp in 2022

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 or those with busy lifestyles. This means it is time to find the right coding bootcamp, enroll, and get started on your learning journey. But how? To get into a coding bootcamp, you must first complete thorough research.

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 show you how to get into coding bootcamp, how to prepare for your training, and how to pass the admissions process. We also look at some of the most popular bootcamp fields as well as ways to finance your education.

Instead of wondering how to get accepted into coding bootcamp, keep reading. This article gives you details that we hope will ease your journey and clear your path toward a promising future and top pay in the tech industry.

What Is a Coding Bootcamp?

A coding bootcamp is essentially an accelerated learning program for those who want to learn a tech skill like coding. These bootcamps are focused on teaching skills that are applicable to the real world. These technical skills will be useful for those looking to make a career out of coding.

Coding bootcamps teach a variety of languages such as HTML, CSS, Ruby, Python, Javascript, and much more. Coding languages aren’t the only thing you may learn. Many of these bootcamps teach additional skills such as full-stack web development, digital marketing, data science, UX/UI design, and programming skills. By the end of a bootcamp, you’ll be able to apply these skills to real-life use cases.

How Should I Prepare for Bootcamp?

Your time in coding bootcamp can open the door to a fantastic career in tech with up-and-coming companies. You will not wonder how to get accepted into coding bootcamp if you lay good groundwork. Take the time to teach yourself different coding skills through an introductory coding course. Additionally, read a book or watch a video.

Any extra time and effort that you put into preparing for coding bootcamp will help your cause. Once enrolled, you can fall back on these basic skills to excel at the beginning of each bootcamp too. We cover some other great ideas to prepare for coding bootcamp below.

Learn Some Coding

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.

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 you don’t waste time during your 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. YouTube is full of videos produced by industry professionals that can help you learn to program. Make the site your virtual classroom to develop your coding skills. Create a few independent projects, and your skills will blossom.

If you’re a complete beginner, it won’t hurt to try some coding on your own to see if it’s something you’d be interested in. There is a wide range of free tools, such as Grasshopper and Codeacademy, where you can learn some extremely basic coding. Once you get comfortable, start on a coding bootcamp prep program that gives a solid introduction to bootcamp topics. It’s good to dip your toes in the water before diving in headfirst.

Look Up Some Job Descriptions

After you’ve learned some basic coding and decided whether or not it’s something you’d like to do for your career, you can see what is expected in the industry by looking up some job descriptions for coding professionals, web developers, and software engineers.

People who complete coding bootcamps will often seek jobs in software engineering or software development. The responsibilities of these types of jobs typically include designing and developing software, running tests, searching for and fixing bugs, and much more.

Make a List of Goals

Sorry to make you write out another list, but this one is important! Decide what it is you want out of a coding bootcamp. Do you want to make a lifelong career out of coding? Do you want to learn so you can make your own app? Do you want to get through this as soon as possible, or do you want to take your time? A general idea of what you want will help you decide on a coding bootcamp and give you a finish line to work toward.

Understand the Intensity

This one is important to keep in mind. Coding bootcamps are accelerated and can teach you how to become proficient in a coding language quickly, but only if you put the work in. Just because these camps are quick doesn’t mean they’re easy. Many students reports experiencing coding bootcamp burnout due to high-intensity levels. But you can succeed if you listen to your instructors, do the work, and study.

Research Some Bootcamps

It’s a good idea to check out some bootcamp reviews and bootcamp providers on your own. Just browse the websites, see what they offer, and read about the expectations. This will give you a better idea of what coding bootcamps are like and how different each one can be from the other. It will also provide you with guidance on how to get into the coding bootcamp, which is a great starting point.

Let Career Karma Help

Here at Career Karma, our specialty is connecting you to coding bootcamps that are right for you. By enlisting our help, you take all the guesswork out of this part of the process. Not only that, but we can mentor you every step of the way, all the way until your eventual graduation!

Preparation is a vital part of getting yourself on the path to a career in coding. Not only will it help guide you in the beginning, but it will also help you better understand coding and coding bootcamps as a whole.

How to Get Into a Coding Bootcamp: A Step-by-Step Guide

After making the decision to enroll in a coding bootcamp, it is important to understand how to get into a coding bootcamp in general. There is a misconception that anyone who applies to coding bootcamp will get in. In reality, this is not the case. In order to understand how to get accepted into coding bootcamp, you need to prepare a list of steps to take to navigate the process.

Getting into a coding bootcamp may seem daunting, but we have made it easy. Below we have a comprehensive list of steps that will guide you as you begin the process of enrolling in a coding bootcamp.

Step 1: Do Your Research

Randomly selecting a coding bootcamp because it has a nice website, pleasant name, or catchy advertisements is not a good way to make a determination. In order to choose the right coding bootcamp, it is important to conduct a large quantity of research into the entire bootcamp program.

When conducting a bootcamp review, it is imperative that a prospective student focuses on key information. Prospective students should research the syllabus, the class schedule, and additional resources offered by the program. Additionally, prospective students should read reviews about the program and the instructor as well as look for opinions of prior students.

This will provide a comprehensive understanding of the quality and value you will receive from the bootcamp. It will also help you understand whether or not the bootcamp is the right match for you.

Step 2: Decide What Bootcamp Format Suits You Best

Every bootcamp offers its curriculum in different formats. It is important to understand the formats provided and how they compare to your individual learning style and your schedule. Many bootcamps are online learning programs. These programs tend to be asynchronous, which means you will learn by yourself via self-paced learning.

Other bootcamps still offer traditional, on-campus courses. These courses are considered to be synchronous, meaning you will learn with a group of people at a set pace. These courses usually require set schedules and do not allow students to jump ahead in the course material.

Choosing the format that matches your learning style, needs, and schedule is the best course of action for any student choosing a coding bootcamp for the first time.

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

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Step 3: Meet the 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 coding bootcamp requirements and how to meet them appropriately. After all, each bootcamp has a different set of requirements, depending on the bootcamp provider.

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 meet the coding bootcamp requirements. 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 skill set. 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 many other things. The more of this you can learn beforehand, the better off you’ll be.

There are people who pursue a program aggressively because they need to make a change quickly for personal reasons. Take as much time as you need to prepare if this isn’t the case for you. This will only increase your odds of meeting the coding bootcamp’s requirements in regards to skills.

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 will 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

You’re usually assessed for these character traits during the interview process, 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.

Step 4: Start Prepping for the Admissions Process

Now that you understand the coding bootcamp requirements you will need to meet, you can begin working on your bootcamp admission through the application 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.

Most bootcamps we’ve come across ensure that every applicant undergoes rigorous onboarding during coding bootcamp admission. 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 participation.

Step 5: Nail Your Interview

Once your application has been reviewed, an admissions advisor will contact you to conduct an interview. Every student enrolling in a coding bootcamp must participate in a coding interview. Bootcamp enrolls students with resilience, dedication, and perseverance. The admissions advisor will ask questions in search of these characteristics.

Before making it to this step, it is important to read up on interview questions and answers. Each coding bootcamp interview has a series of different questions it asks its prospective students. These coding bootcamp interview questions are typically tailored to the program curriculum. If you read up on these questions and practice interviewing with a friend or family member, you will be more likely to successfully get accepted into coding bootcamp.

Step 6: Research Financing Options

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

Upfront Payments

Getting into coding bootcamp is exciting until it’s time to pay the bill. Those who are economically stable and can afford the tuition can always opt to pay for the entire cost of the program upfront. An upfront payment occasionally results in a discount.

Most upfront payments can be made in the form of a standard credit card or ACH transaction. If you prefer to pay in cash or via check, you will need to contact the coding bootcamp directly. Each coding bootcamp has different payment policies and will accept limited payment methods. Cash or check may not be viable depending on the circumstance.

Installments Plans

Many online coding bootcamps allow students who have been accepted into coding bootcamp to pay for their education via an installment plan. Installment plans are great for students who only have enough money saved up for partial payment at the beginning of the program but can afford to pay the rest of the program monthly.

Most installment plans require an initial down payment or deposit. The bigger the deposit or downpayment, the smaller the monthly installment. Once the deposit or down payment is provided, the school divides the rest of the outstanding balance into monthly payments. These payments can last for one to four years, depending on the coding bootcamp.

Loans

Alternatively, students may seek private loans. If you take out a loan to pay for coding bootcamp, some private banks will consider it a student loan. This will reduce the interest paid on the loan, making it more affordable.

Some coding bootcamps have partnered with different lending companies to assist students in affording tuition. Lenders like Affirm allow students to repay their bootcamp loan over the course of one year or in four equal payments. Loans are a great option for costly bootcamps that promise high-yielding jobs after their successful completion.

Deferred Tuition

Many coding bootcamps allow students to sign up for deferred tuition programs. Coding bootcamp tuition can be expensive. For those students who have left their current career in pursuit of a new one, affording a new education can seem next to impossible. Coding bootcamps understand this fear and believe finances should not prevent a student from accessing a new education.

Because of this, deferred tuition was invented. This method of payment allows the student to take the entire coding bootcamp without making any payments. After the student graduates, they are given a grace period of a few months, after which they need to start paying back the tuition through monthly payments. Deferred tuition often includes interest charges, so it is important to review the entire plan to ensure it makes sense for your situation.

Income Share Agreements

Finally, there are income share agreements or ISAs. Schools with job placement guarantees typically offer these. 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 the school a certain percentage of your annual income until your tuition has been paid in full. If you want to learn more about the difference between deferred tuition and ISAs, Career Karma can help you.

Step 7: Choose Your Start Date

If your coding bootcamp is online and self-paced, many students are able to choose their start date. In some rarer cases, the student will be given one or two future dates to choose from. By contrast, students who partake in an on-campus coding bootcamp will be given a structured start date and class schedule.

Bootcamps are relatively flexible with their start dates, but it is important to remember that not every bootcamp treats schedules the same way. With this in mind, go back to your previous notes and speak to an admissions specialist to determine the best start date for you based on the bootcamp’s program offerings.

How to Start a Bootcamp: Bootcamp Application and Admissions Process

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. 

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

1. Submit an application online. To start a coding bootcamp, you need first to submit your bootcamp application online. The application process often requires a detailed explanation of your past experience, education, a current portfolio of projects and applicable skills, and financial information. 
2. Partake in an admissions interview. After submitting your bootcamp application, it is reviewed by an admissions specialist. The admissions specialist will schedule a screening interview. During the interview, you will be asked about your motivations for attending bootcamp, how you deal with stress, and how you solve problems.
3. Take a skills assessment test. Some coding bootcamps require students to take a skills assessment test before being accepted into the program. These skills tests ensure the student is prepared to face the challenges of the bootcamp and test whether they have the perseverance and motivation to succeed.
4. Select your cohort and schedule. After successfully passing the interview and assessment process, you will be admitted to the bootcamp. Students can choose their cohort and schedule based on the class offerings. They can also determine whether they will take the bootcamp online or in person.
5. Pay the coding bootcamp tuition. After selecting your cohort and schedule, you will then be tasked with making arrangements to pay for the coding bootcamp tuition. Coding bootcamp tuition can be paid upfront via a personal loan or through monthly installments. Each coding bootcamp supports different payment options.

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

Getting into coding is already a bit of a challenge for many, but 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, so you must 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 coding bootcamp programs can be intimidating, partly due to unfamiliar jargon and the sheer number of bootcamps. Additionally, it can be hard to tell the difference between a coding bootcamp and bootcamp prep courses. Taking the time to learn the difference and understand the curriculum and offerings for each program will help you understand which courses you can take.

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. The best coding bootcamp programs will provide students with the newest information, tools, and tech to help them succeed in their future careers.

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, back end, or front end 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?

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. Though, there’s no need to let costs get in the way of top-notch programming education.

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 tuition price? What are the school’s career services?

How to Get Into Coding Bootcamp in 2022

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 FAQ