When selecting the most suitable bootcamp for your needs, it is prudent to contemplate the following questions:
What are your career aspirations?
As with any educational venture, completing a bootcamp should facilitate your attainment of a personal or professional objective. While investigating coding bootcamps, meticulously evaluate the curriculum each institution offers and ascertain its alignment with your aspirations.
If a significant portion of a program’s content pertains to topics you are already familiar with, it may not represent a worthwhile investment compared to one that concentrates on languages or tools yet to be discovered.
Reflect on the outcomes you desire from a coding bootcamp. Which role would you aspire to secure with the aid of such a program? What competencies do you aim to acquire during the course? By clarifying your ultimate objectives, you can better discern how well each bootcamp corresponds with your vision.
What is your schedule like?
Each bootcamp follows its own timeline; therefore, as you ponder which one best accommodates your requirements, ensure that your preferred options coincide with your practical availability.
What are the costs associated with an online coding bootcamp?
As cited by bootcamp provider Codeworks, the financial outlay for private bootcamps in the UK can range between £2,500 and upwards of £15,000. Regardless, this constitutes a substantial financial commitment.
Prior to submitting an application, investigate potential funding opportunities such as scholarships or tuition rebates for which you might qualify. If financing independently, devise a payment strategy at the outset.
How to finance an online coding bootcamp
Bootcamp providers typically extend a variety of payment alternatives. However, students who cover their expenses out of pocket, particularly those who can pay the full amount upfront, often incur the least total expenditure.
Other options differ by program, yet learners might have the flexibility to pay in installments or even benefit from a scholarship or tuition discount.
Certain employers offer tuition reimbursement benefits that staff can utilize for relevant skill-enhancement programs. Verify if your workplace includes this provision.
Moreover, if you have conducted thorough research and are confident in your decision, you could consider securing a personal loan to fund your bootcamp—though such loans will incur interest.
What is an income share agreement?
Several bootcamp providers may present an ‘income share’ arrangement. This model entails students making an initial deposit, after which they pay the remaining tuition using a percentage of their salary once employed in an eligible position.
This option typically requires graduates to meet a specified income threshold before repayment commences, thereby offering a financing alternative for those in need of different payment structures.
Since these plans hinge upon a percentage of earnings, you must secure employment that meets the minimum income criteria prior to discussing how much of your salary will contribute toward tuition repayment.
Exercise due diligence when considering these agreements; meticulously examine the terms and seek reviews from former students. Opting for this pathway can result in higher costs than paying tuition upfront and may bind you to an unfavorable contract.
Is there a Job Guarantee?
Certain bootcamps provide ‘job guarantees’ to qualified students. Such agreements entail a refund of tuition fees for graduates unable to secure employment in their field after a designated timeframe.
Job guarantees can serve as motivation for individuals pursuing a career transition, yet it is paramount to scrutinize the fine print.
Eligible graduates may need to adhere to strict prerequisites, including submitting applications and participating in interviews for a minimum number of positions within a specified duration. Once more, proceed with caution regarding private companies offering ‘job guarantees’.
Source link: Forbes.com.
