Rutgers Bootcamps

I have spent a lot of time researching online on how to create my own webApp and found it to be a huge challenge being that there are so many resources online and steps required to complete a full stack webApp. Joining this Bootcamp has allowed me to closely work with the instructor to dive deep into all the necessary steps to creating a webApp. I have also had the chance to work with tutors to help me get through some tough homework assignments. I am more than halfway done with the bootcamp and the knowledge I have already gained is a whole lot! The instructor is very patient and does an amazing job explaining every line of code to ensure his students understand how the functionality works. The guidance is awesome and I definitely suggest anyone looking to learn code to join Rutgers Bootcamp. Even for someone like myself who already had some background knowledge in web development, I learn something new everyday! I highly recommend this course to all beginners, intermediate and even advanced. And to top it off, the career services provided to help prepare for future jobs is incredible. 

When I originally signed up for the Bootcamp, I was extremely nervous.  I had very little coding knowledge and was driven to make a career change.

Throughout the Bootcamp, it was evident that a lot of time and effort went into preparing each class and student assignment.  

Our instructor would give a lesson on a new topic, and we would go into breakout rooms with other students to work on an assignment we just learned.  The instructor then reviewed the assignment with the class to ensure everyone understood the material before moving on to the next topic.

At the start and end of each class were office hours, where we could ask questions and spend time with the instructor and TAs to review any class material to help better understand it. 

Thank you to our instructor Nathan Shown, TAs Shaminder Singh, Danny Ramirez, Freddy Kwak, James Young, and Jeanna LaBella, our Student Support Advisor.  This fantastic team made this Bootcamp a wonderful learning experience. 

Absolutely! Here's a 200-word review for your data visualization bootcamp:

"My experience with the data visualization bootcamp was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I stepped into the classroom, I knew I was in for an incredible learning journey. The bootcamp exceeded all my expectations, providing me with a comprehensive and hands-on understanding of the world of data visualization.

The instructors were undoubtedly the greatest strength of the program. Their expertise, passion, and dedication were evident in every session. They effortlessly translated complex concepts into simple, digestible explanations, ensuring that everyone could grasp the material regardless of prior knowledge. Their guidance and encouragement fueled my curiosity and inspired me to push my limits.

The curriculum was thoughtfully designed, covering various topics and techniques. From understanding data types and storytelling through visuals to mastering industry-leading tools and software, the bootcamp left no stone unturned. The balance between theory and practical exercises allowed me to apply my newfound knowledge and develop my skills effectively immediately.

Moreover, the bootcamp fostered a collaborative and supportive learning environment. Through group projects and discussions, I had the opportunity to work alongside fellow enthusiasts, exchanging ideas and learning from different perspectives. This camaraderie created a vibrant atmosphere that enhanced the overall learning experience.

I am immensely grateful for this boot camp's impact on my career. The skills and insights gained here have made me a better data visualization practitioner and opened doors to new opportunities. I highly recommend this bootcamp to anyone looking to dive into the world of data visualization. It is an investment that will undoubtedly pay off in the long run."

Overall the experience of taking the full stack course was an enjoyable one. It was overwhelming at first but as I got into the course I started to feel more comfortable. The instructors are very informative and helpful and will do anything within their power to help you succeed. The tutors were phenomenal with answering all the questions I had and would even make additional time for me to get assistance if needed. Overall all the staff at this bootcamp is super supportive and will do anything to make sure you succeed. I can fully recommend taking these courses if you are looking for a change of pace in your life.

My experience in the Rutgers Data Science Bootcamp has been fantastic but successful completion in any bootcamp environment (mine was part-time) requires sacrifice.  These folks aren't kidding when they tell you you'll need to dedicate between 10 and 20 hours each week outside of class time but don't let that scare you!  This is worth the investment.

THE GOOD
One thing I noticed early on, and consistently throughout the duration, was the caliber of instructors in the program.  My instructors (Vikas and Arin) foster a great learning environment by starting with caring about my success.  And boy did I have questions!  Both instructors were infinitely patient with my granular questions, I learn best by doing so I SQ3R'd everything (essentially rinse & repeat).  Additionally, it's clear that the instructors are professionals in their fields who draw from a wealth of experience.  They helped me to connect what appeared to be unrelated concepts resulting in deeper understandings.

The second thing is the out-of-class support.  Tutoring and Student Success Managers in particular.  Christie (my student success manager) was kind and helpful, in the last third of the class I had to move out of my home.  Christie presented me with options, including extra tutoring, focused on ensuring my ability to complete the program on time.

The topics covered opened a world to me that I hadn't imagined before.  Understanding how data can be transformed and presented is going to help me evolve my career.  Additionally, the instructors provided TONS of reference material which is useful for assignments.
 
THE BAD
The only genuine criticism I have for the bootcamp is the breakneck pace.  My learning style requires more time to practice concepts and test new ideas.  I spent many a late-night tweaking code (mostly in Python) to get the output just right.

One of my frustrations is the many programming environments lead to syntax confusion.  Coding { } vs. [ ] vs. ( ) and "tothis" vs. "to_this".  This is not a flaw with the bootcamp program but just the nature of programming languages.

THE UGLY
As the old saying goes, there is never enough time.  If you consider this program, you must accept making the long-term decision to spend all your time dedicated to success in this program for the duration.  I spent a great deal of time running different versions of code to achieve the results I desired.  You'll need a GSD (Get Stuff Done) mentality to get the most out of this program.

Additionally, this meant missing family dinners, sporting events, and summer events that had become second nature.  Also, needing help with all of the day-to-day essentials of maintaining a life/household.

FINAL THOUGHTS If you're looking to master the myriad of concepts from this program, resign yourself to years for continuing skills development.  You can get hired straight out of the bootcamp, no doubt!  And it's the beginning of this adventure!  Prepare yourself for a new challenges and struggles.  You can do it and you won't have to do it alone.  ===================================================================================================== 
TLDR
This is a big and difficult challenge but it is doable.   If you are a novice (like I was) this is a great way to focus and make huge gains in skill and understanding.  But the significant sacrifice of time is worth it.  If you want to grow your skills or change your career, you can but you have to earn it.   Clear your social calendar! 

After multiple "No" responses from employers and again receiving a "No" from an employer on a Friday after a long week, I signed up last minute to the Data Analysis Bootcamp at Rutgers.  Probably one of my craziest, last minute, decisions to date but I was depressed about my job prospects and hating my current job, so I needed something to help move me forward.  The class started on a Tuesday, so I had exactly the weekend to decide, sign-up, and pay for the class. 
 
After the first week I wanted to quit.  Not so much because the class was awful, or the instructor was terrible but the sheer force that the information came to you was intense.  At least the first week was not too difficult since I used Excel regularly.  But then a light switched the moment we moved into Python.  I never learned python or any coding.  I was a biology-chemistry major many years ago when I attended University. It was tough.  The syntax mistakes and the late nights dragged on.  I would love to say that the class got easier as time progressed, but it did not.  Each week there is a new topic so the moment you have one topic you get challenged again by learning something completely new. 

At the beginning, they said to regularly reach out to the tutor etc.  I only used my tutor twice for the whole period because my time between work and class was not very flexible and I found myself working out issues late at night.  You Tube will become your friend.  You will become a google master to find that one piece of code that is giving you issues.  You will become angry and upset, maybe to the point of screaming and wanting to throw your computer.  But when you figure something out, that has been bugging you for days, those eureka moments will be worth it! 

If you are interested in this course, I would suggest taking a basic course on python or a beginner’s course on data analysis to start.  I went in completely new, and I spent a lot of time outside of class getting up to speed.  I did try python several years ago but did not commit so did not get far. Trust me, you will be much happier in the course having some basic coding under your belt.  There are several online options available for this and even things you can do on your own. 

The second item to consider is how much time do you have between work and family life? Are you willing to commit 10 hours for class time during the week with an additional 15+ hours outside of that?  Maybe you know some coding already so it may not take you this long.  It did for me. This is something to consider.
  
Third item and most important in my opinion is how committed will you be?  You will be tired, you will work long hours every week, you will not have a full weekend, and you will want to quit at times.  Think of this class as running a marathon, one foot in front of the other for 21.6 miles. If you are an endurance kind of person, you will make it through this class.  Make a commitment to yourself and then tell your family that you will need assistance around the house. You will need your family on board with this because it is a tremendous time commitment.  I told my Fiancé at the beginning that for the next 6 months we will be homebodies and my time would be divided between work and class work.  He did help with making dinner etc. when I was working on project or other times when I was super busy.  This was a huge help and something you only realize while you are busy.
Either way, I made it.  I did move jobs right in the middle of this course.  It is not in data, but I have used the skills learned in this course and already applied them to my new role.  Would I take it again?  I would with a foundation before the course.  It would have been less grueling and more enjoyable for me.  

The best part about the course is that there are TONS of resources for you provided by Rutgers from career help and class help. The tutors are great.  The instructors have the patience of a saint and will help you.  You will also learn from other students and collaborate on projects. 

So, I will leave you with this, if you are committed, if you have the time, and if you want to learn many things in data that you otherwise would not know, take this course.  But you must be 100% in. When things get tough you will need to remember WHY you started this and continue to commit to yourself throughout the course.  At the end, you WILL have a sense of accomplishment and if you are looking for a career change you will have a great foundation and the ability to build on that.  Good luck to you when you decide to take this course.  It WILL be worth it in the end!

This program does exactly what they say. It is a little fast-paced but if you have a SOLID background in programing specifically 
Javascript You will find this course to provide you with all the needed tools to make it in the software industry. Professor Han is a top-notch instructor Who can easily navigate code and provide you with any solution you may face in the Mern stack. But let's not forget about our TA Manoli who will push you to new limits that you never thought you would be able to reach. I would say Professor Han and Manoli are polar opposites but that makes them the dynamic duo I really have nothing bad to say about the program because if you can survive this then you can make it in any FAANG Company and reach the goals you are trying to attain. Put it like this only do this if you have a passion for tech problem solving or critical thinking. This is for the weak-hearted or the people who feel like they shouldn't have to google answers for all the problems they will face while coding. Oh, I almost forgot You have got to use AskBCS and The tutor(Ricardo) that the program provides are the best and are also just another asset to getting you to fully understand and grasp the content in front of you I love the program and do not regret it at all. if you see shakey reviews honestly those are from ppl who just need to have their hand held the whole time throughout the program I loved every minute of it. Another thing apply apply apply for work on your resume and portfolio and make sure your projects area looking somewhat decent and I'm telling you to put in the work to get them there don't be afraid of not working for this cause this isn't easy career services is helpful but still, you have to be proactive.

I recently graduated from the part time Web Dev Bootcamp and I can say it was well worth the time and money. The course was incredibly substantial in many ways. Not only did it push us to learn and cooperate with our classmates, but it provided us with an amazing amount of resources to work with for future projects and career growth. A sincere thank you to the instructor, Kevin Ferguson, and the TAs Francisco Cruz, Kristen De La Rosa, Manolis Koutouzos and Josh Appel for providing the most educational, supportive, and outright enjoyable class I have ever taken. 

So I recently graduated from this bootcamp about a month ago and after applying to over 50 entry level jobs, I am realizing that this bootcamp alone will not prepare you for a job in this field. Even if you master everything they teach you (which you won't in 12 weeks, even if you put in 40 hours of practice a week outside of class like they recommend), you will not be able to compete in the job market right after graduation. Don't get me wrong, the class course was good, the instructor and teacher assistant were good, but I was told by a recruiter before I signed up that I would have companies fighting each other to hire me after I graduate. That was a lie. In summary, I am not saying not to take the course, but if you decide to take it, make sure you are willing to continue learning long after you graduate. This course is just a first step in a long road to getting a job in this field.