The Best Spokane Coding Bootcamps Of 2024

NuCamp FullStack Web & Mobile App Development Review

Introduction and Decision-Making Process
When I first started researching bootcamps, NuCamp stood out because of its affordable price and flexible schedule, combining self-paced learning with instructor support and a community for help and advice. These factors played a significant role in my decision to choose NuCamp.

Course Structure and Content
The course structure was well-designed. The bootcamp I attended was the FullStack and Mobile App Development bootcamp, which teaches JavaScript fundamentals and how to build FullStack applications with MongoDB, Express, React, and NodeJS (MERN stack). It also covered React Native for mobile app development. The subjects built on each other as the course progressed, and some topics were revisited to reinforce learning.
The bootcamp is structured with weekly assignments that include lesson overview videos, lesson videos, and exercise videos to follow along with. Sometimes there would be practice lessons where we wouldn't code using VSCode on our computers but use CodePen or similar websites that allow students to code in the browser and post links to their code. There were also discussion forums for students to post some of the assignments and discuss them with each other, similar to college discussion posts. At the end of the week, there is a quiz and a weekly feedback session where students can share what they liked or any potential issues. This approach makes you feel like NuCamp genuinely cares about student experiences.
Each section of the bootcamp allows students to work on a portfolio project, either individually or in teams, to facilitate their learning. Although I noticed that portfolio projects were mentioned less frequently during the workshops towards the end of the bootcamp, I recommend doing a portfolio project for each course in the FullStack bootcamp as they significantly enhance your learning, coding, research, and debugging skills.
NuCamp’s community is on Discord, with various servers for different courses. The servers include instructors, students, graduates, and ambassadors who can help answer questions. This is very useful and makes the community feel lively and active.

Flexibility and Part-Time Schedule
The bootcamp offered a flexible schedule, allowing me to complete lessons at my own pace throughout the week. As long as the lesson modules were completed before the weekend workshop, you’re on track.

Instruction and Mentorship
The instructors were very knowledgeable. While the quality of instruction can vary depending on the instructor, mine were responsive on Discord, typically replying within a day.

Learning Environment
The learning environment was generally good. Weekly workshops facilitated useful discussions, and many students shared common issues. The Discord community was a valuable resource for finding answers. Considering debugging and fixing issues is a big part of software development, NuCamp has a guideline called the 20-minute rule, which encourages students to research answers to any question that arises for 20 minutes before asking for help.

Skills and Knowledge Gained
I gained significant technical skills, particularly in JavaScript and FullStack MERN applications. However, I supplemented my learning with additional YouTube videos for specific topics and portfolio project needs.

Career Support and Outcomes
Completing the FullStack bootcamp gave me the skills to build FullStack applications. While it doesn't guarantee immediate job placement, it provides access to NuCamp's Job Hunting course content. Paying for the course includes instructor support.

Cost and Value
NuCamp offers an affordable price compared to other bootcamps that can cost upwards of $10K. It also provides lifetime access to course content. The part-time, self-paced format means it takes longer than some other bootcamps, which might have full-day classes, but this isn't necessarily a drawback.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement
One area for improvement is the inconsistency between videos and written lessons, particularly in the NodeJS and MongoDB sections. Video instructions sometimes used different versions than the written instructions, causing confusion and time-consuming debugging sessions. While debugging is a critical skill, the inconsistency could be frustrating.

Conclusion
Overall, I rate NuCamp highly. The FullStack bootcamp provides enough knowledge and confidence to create your own projects and continue learning independently. It also helps you identify areas where you need further learning, which is crucial for advancing in FullStack application development.