Dear Future Coding Bootcamp Student: Reflection from Marilee

Recent We Can Code IT graduate, Marilee, gives a reflection on the course and also three pieces of advice to anyone considering a coding bootcamp.

Future Coding Bootcamp Student,

We Can Code IT is an excellent program. The instructors are readily available to every student to share their knowledge. They know the industry and are able to help students find their individual strengths and niches within IT. From what I have gathered, this is not the case for many other bootcamps.

Everyone genuinely cares about the success of each person in the course. It is an intellectually challenging experience, but the relaxed environment makes it possible to learn material that might otherwise seem intimidating. The curriculum breaks down the information to demystify the coding experience.

The course feels the way it felt to learn as a child; there are fewer fears about being successful or outperforming others, and there is a simple joy to learning something entirely new. There are no efforts to embarrass students for not knowing certain information. Rather, it is a supportive environment where everyone rejoices in each other’s success. Each student has unique strengths, and the community allowed us to draw ideas from each other and solve problems more efficiently. This is probably the best possible environment in which to learn computer science.

I could name off other superlatives to describe the course, but many of my classmates will testify to the quality of instruction and material at We Can Code IT. I have already recommended this course to a friend.

Three pieces of advice that I would give to anyone considering a coding bootcamp:

1. Do not overthink the experience or psych yourself out.

It is easy to get intimidated or convince yourself that coding is not for you. Nowadays, however, basic programming knowledge is almost as necessary as knowing how to read. Perhaps this is a slight exaggeration, but simplified: it does not hurt to learn how to code. It is becoming an essential skill to have in nearly all industries. If you immerse yourself in what you are doing, you will get absorbed in the experience of creating something and not waste energy wondering if you are in the right field.

2. Keep a side project!

Having a side project makes it a lot easier to stay motivated through the dryer or more repetitive material. For instance, debugging a large C# program.

3. Be sure to research the career opportunities in your area.

Recruiters are fighting really hard to fill programming jobs for insurance companies and finance companies, but it is helpful to know what’s out there ahead of time so that you find a position for which you are most well suited.