When prospective students find Nucamp, they soon discover what sets Nucamp apart—their community-based model. This approach is not only meant to encourage more participation in the industry, but also to nurture a strong bond between tech enthusiasts, especially in the places where tech resources are still limited.
At Nucamp, there is a place for everybody, regardless of your experience, location, economic background, or employment status. In fact, inclusivity and accessibility were at the core of its inception.
Co-founder and chief executive officer Ludo Fourrage said the school was built to close the market gap by catering to the folks who are not based in bigger cities, could not afford the high tuition that comes with conventional tertiary education, or could not dedicate their hours to a full-time program.
As such, the school has found a way to keep the costs highly affordable—well below $2,000—without compromising the quality of the education and that is through employing talented local professionals who share a passion for teaching.
Sticking true to its community-centric model, Nucamp’s instructors are essentially real-life web developers and veterans who have had the first-hand experience of maneuvering the industry. The best part is that they are a group of local experts, which means they are able to lead the way for students who are interested to help spur the growth of the local tech scene.
This is also a plus for Nucamp graduates when it comes to job applications as they will be able to learn the know-how from instructors who are well-versed in the expectations and needs of the local industry.
It is important to note that credibility still comes first when the school is hiring. Instructors must have documented experience working in the industry themselves, and applicants with teaching experience are prioritized. Some instructors have previously served the biggest names like Microsoft, Intel, Amazon, and T-Mobile, which means Nucamp students will be in good hands.
“Nucamp’s mission is to offer affordable learning programs for professional adults seeking the skills they need for the career they want. We are bringing together local teaching assistants, students, and offering a great curriculum and pedagogy structure to make it happen.
“This is the perfect position for someone interested in community development through education while supplementing his/her income. Instructors will be supporting adult students of diverse careers, educational backgrounds, and cultures to learn the awesome world of programming,” the school said.
How Nucamp Instructors Stand Out
The stringent vetting procedure ensures that Nucamp students get only the best, from the best. Here is a breakdown of how the instructors at Nucamp can help you launch a successful and rewarding career:
Engaging Lessons
At Nucamp, lessons are kept very intimate with a maximum of 12 students per class. This 12-to-1 teacher-to-student ratio creates an environment that allows for impromptu discussions, spontaneous discourse, and equal interaction opportunities. This also means that students and instructors get to develop stronger relationships over the course period.
While a standardized curriculum serves as a guide to conduct the lessons, the small classroom environment allows instructors to really listen to the students’ feedback and report them back to the school. Following this, oft-requested course content may then be added to the teaching material.
Personalized Support
The school also offers career services in which instructors play a central role. According to Nucamp, this support works both ways; either prompted by the instructors themselves or in other instances, sought by the students.
Students can reach out to their instructors on the school’s Slack channel for all kinds of job application advice—from industry generalities to specific applications with a certain company. Students can also use the same resource for a portfolio and resume review from these professionals-cum-educators.
The school employs a hybrid learning concept where Saturdays are dedicated to a special meeting and live workshop with their instructors, which can either be done online or in-person. However, it should be noted that the current COVID-19 circumstance has prompted the school to shift to a teleconference-only model.
An interesting point to note is that instructors are also available daily to answer any queries that students might have. They are also accessible via Nucamp’s very active Slack channels.
Key to Networking
The great relationship that students share with their instructors will also prove to be helpful for them in terms of networking. In other words, your instructors are the beginning of your new network. Considering that the instructors are local tech veterans, they would have established a solid connection with fellow techies and local tech companies that they can extend to students.
Meet the Instructors
An instructor who is based in Texas, Juan Cortez, has had an illustrious career in tech, having previously interned and worked at notable companies including Intel and Toshiba. Mr. Cortez, who is currently a software engineer at a startup, has added another feather in his cap with this teaching position at Nucamp.
“The thing most special about Nucamp is having the opportunity to teach people at all stages of life—fresh out of high school or mid-career. Also different cultures—not everyone processes information the same way, so what works with one cohort may not work with the next. So I’m always adapting my approach.”
Elaborating on his teaching journey, he said his students’ achievements—even the simplest one like being able to work a computer for the first time—can really tug at his heartstrings.
“A student bought a computer for the first time ever. It was challenging because I had to teach him basic computer skills and during the video conferences I could see in the background that he lived with multiple other people who would come up behind him and say, ‘Man we are so proud of you’ and it stuck with me to this day. Those are the moments why I teach.”
He said he enjoys the collaborative environment that Nucamp has created, making it a unique experience for both students and instructors.
“Nucamp instructors are always available, the community is very strong. The culture that Nucamp has fostered is very good, and I think that’s reflective of the leadership. Whenever there’s an issue it is addressed quickly, and I think the instructors can sense this.”
One piece of advice that Mr. Cortez has for those who want to make it in the tech industry is to put in the work to reap the rewards of success.
“I see the students that are most successful; when they finish the week’s material early and then ask for additional material on how they can improve. I feel that those students who finish the required things first then try to go above and beyond are the most successful. The ones that have most difficulty are the ones that procrastinate, or treat it as they did their schooling back in the day, but with this bootcamp that doesn’t fly.”
This sentiment is echoed by another instructor Leesa Ruzicka, a tech entrepreneur who has been teaching at Nucamp for a year. The web and software development major from Brigham Young University-Idaho added that commitment is the number one make-or-break factor, even among the brightest.
“This involves putting in the time throughout the week to work through the lessons and exercises, asking questions and engaging with the materials when we review them during the workshop, involving themselves in the community to teach and learn from others, and taking the opportunity to apply their knowledge to their own projects. Engage in learning!”
Ms. Ruzicka, whose love for web building started in high school, said she enjoys being able to provide Nucamp students with mentorship and resources that she felt she was lacking when she was interested in learning to code.
“One thing that really stands out about Nucamp is having an actual live class and teacher not only for the workshops but throughout the week. The bootcamps are affordable and flexible on time, so you can take the course even while working a typical 9-5 schedule. There’s a huge value on the hybrid balance of independent learning, group accountability, and community.”
She encourages more tech enthusiasts to join the Nucamp family and emphasized that web development skills can open the doors to various opportunities.
“There is much empowerment and freedom to be found through learning to code. You can build your own career or business outside of the restraints of a typical job. There are so many amazing opportunities in tech, and even people who feel they are not tech-savvy can learn tech skills such as web development.
“You don’t have to work for a top tech company to live your dream lifestyle. Choose to build something of value that makes the world a better place while doing work you love and build your own dream.”
Meanwhile, Sacramento-based Franklin Carvajal is a senior UI engineer at Code Science who has been a part of the Nucamp family for almost a year. Being a bootcamp graduate himself, Mr. Carvajal finds that he can connect more to the lessons and the journey that his students go through.
“The people who are going through the bootcamp are right where I was,” he said, adding that he believes perseverance and hard work are the keys to success.
“If you’re in it for the money, you can still be very successful but it’s gonna be very very grueling. Make learning the most important part of your career. Because if that’s the focal point, you become a developer who is capable of a lot more.
“It may not be what you expect, but it is an opportunity to provide for your family. But it’s not a career for the fainthearted.”
Mr. Carvajal said Nucamp is a great place for tech enthusiasts to start learning, mainly because the school offers affordable, quality education.
“I like the affordability factor here, but also it’s a structured solution. You don’t feel so much pressure investing thousands into something you’re not sure will work out. You’re getting more structure and getting a community, that you can’t get with other resources (which I still end up recommending).
“If I could do it over, I would go through Nucamp and then some of the other resources I recommend. [Nucamp is] Removing the gatekeeping and the cost of the gatekeeping,” he said.
“I’m working with individuals who are trying to change their career and lifestyle for their family or for whatever reasons, but they can’t afford $17k. The other thing is I just love development and am passionate about it. I know what’s it like being on the other side, and feeling [like this isn’t for me, and that it can’t be done, and that it won’t succeed]: I can confirm that it is, and it can, and it will.”
What Students Love About Nucamp Instructors
There is a lot to love about Nucamp’s offerings—the community-centric model, the affordable fees, and the flexibility of the programs, among others. But, let’s hear from some of the Nucamp graduates who enjoyed the learning experience, particularly the instructors who provided the extra nudge toward their dream career.
A graduate, who is now a front end developer, from Spokane, WA said the main reason he chose Nucamp was the opportunity to connect with real-life developers and mentors. He also added that the school’s career support helped him land the current role.
“I immediately got connected with the instructors and future coders of Spokane. They’ve walked me through interviews, got me in the door for tech interviews, and become lifelong peers and mentors!
“My Nucamp instructors/mentors really vouched for me and helped me with resumes and interviews.”
Meanwhile, a reviewer on our website said: “Nucamp was my first ever bootcamp. It was a wonderful experience to get my feet wet in programming. Had good content and instructors that walk you through everything and are always willing to help when you get stuck. I would recommend it to anyone interested in getting into this industry. “
A Nucamp graduate who did Web Development Fundamentals, Brian K, commented on a review site that he found the instructors to be very informative and supportive.
“I liked Nucamp because it was affordable and the instructor was very understanding and helpful in my journey. In the Fundamentals course, my instructor helped turn a 4-week beginner course from daunting to easily understood and succeeded in having us, the students, retain the knowledge.”
Join Nucamp Today
What are you waiting for? You, too, can become a part of Nucamp’s tight-knit community while helping your local tech scene thrive. Get ready to learn from industry veterans without putting a dent in your wallet. There are two main courses to pick from and one beginner’s course to get you familiarized with the fundamentals.
If you’re interested to find out more, head on over to Nucamp’s website, pick a bootcamp of your choice, and click “interested”. An Advisor will reach out accordingly and arrange a meeting.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
