Rice University Boot Camps

Coming from a non-coding background, initially this bootcamp was initimidating and overwhelming. The first weeks were the toughest, but our Instructor 'James Casanelli' was great at breaking down the problem into pieces and explaining it really well. We also had a very helpful and enthusiastic TA 'Justin' who would go way beyond to help us out in our projects and regular assignments. Completing this course was a big achievement as you learn a lot in very little time. I recommend putting in the hours that required to get the most out of it. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and would definitely want to be a part of it in the future in some assistance. Thankyou everyone on the team bootcamp! 

 The scheme of prestigious universities advertising for bootcamps so that the real player, 2U and its subsidiary Trilogy remain offstage is fishy. Those technical skills that are in high demand such as coding and digital marketing do not depend on the name of the institution, they depend only on your passion, experience and self learning. Unfortunately, those trusted universities are jeopridizing their reputation by putting their logo and name on certificates that have nothing to do with them. It's all business and the goal is how to take money from the naive hopeless jobless young people. If you want to learn carpentry for example, and your instructor spends several lessons talking about the different kinds of saws, does that make you a good sawer? No, definitely not. Your instructor can talk about that in less than 30 minutes instead of wasting many hours and you need to see the saw and use it yourself after demonstration in order to be a carpenter. I joined the bootcamp of digital marketing and it was a scam, a big waste of time and money, my expectations crushed, my hopes shattered. Nothing practical is learnt not even email campaigns are brought up. It's all concepts, it's all theories, and the few practical info presented in the bootcamp can be learnt from a one or two short Youtube videos. Believe me if you commit yourself, you can benefit much much more from Youtube and the many other free or cheap resources available online. 

After unexpectedly becoming available on the job market again, all the jobs I was interested in required digital marketing skills. No matter how much I tried to avoid it, I was going to have to accept that digital marketing was not only here to stay, but to continue growing. Rice University Digital Marketing Boot Camp used their digital marketing strategies to find me through paid search ads on social media platforms. Every step of the program was challenging from start to finish, and it is an experience that is truly empowering on multiple levels. The incredible support from the entire instructional staff as well as from peers in the cohort throughout the program made completing the course possible. The experience makes one realize that the ultimate success is never achieved alone, but with a team of others working toward the same goal. For any prospective student considering signing up, brace yourself for commitment, dedication and hard work. Follow the recommended guidelines for completing homework assignments in small segments. Remain steadfast and do not ever give up even when it gets hard. The program is challenging, but you will come out better and stronger than before you started.

I decided to pursue this coding boot camp to further my current career and to transition to being a software developer. I chose the coding boot camp because it provided many tech stacks that are relevant to the current job market. 
The boot camp was the most intense program I've taken. It was fast paced and will keep you at your toes at all time. It was most difficult due to having a full time job and keeping up with the class assignments and projects. 
I think the most rewarding aspect of the program would be the satisfaction of resolving the issues or bugs after taking a few hours trying to figure out what you did wrong. 
Anybody thinking of taking the boot camp, be sure to block out the time to dedicate yourself to the class. It will require your full dedication if you are to be successful in the course. The boot camp will teach you what you need to know to get started in the web development career but it will be up to you to make the best of your time with the course. 

 24 weeks of an intensive boot camp journey not having experienced it like ever before. An amazing program for anyone up to the challenge, having time and cost permitting, and if data analysis by coding and visualizing is your cup of tea or coffee. 

I think at the end of the day it wasn’t about the excellent grades received nor this certificate. Of course learning the technical skills are important but we barely scratched the surface. Therefore, it was mostly about the overall experience as a whole instead of "a la carte" and the wonderful connections made along the way. 

First and foremost by being taught from an instructor who is very knowledgeable, insightful and having the quality dedication to speak energetically with great admirable passion. I felt this added value to that learning experience. Thank you!

Second, I am so glad to have met my cohorts and got to collaborate on some really neat projects together. It would not have been possible without each of their helpful contributions. We are still maintaining that relationship for additional projects which could perhaps lead to better opportunities. Thank you!

Third, continued access to career services including scheduled webinars, workshops, and the many dedicated advisors and directors who are caring and providing outstanding support that encourages recent graduates to prepare for landing a job. Thank you!

Finally, the wonderful experience has inspired me to reciprocate everything learned with future cohort students. I am in the process of applying for a teaching assistant position with Rice University and Trilogy 2U education. This will be an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and inspire other students in their pursuit of growth and learning.

Wishing everyone the best on their journey...

Thank you! 

-Reza.  

Having worked in customer support roles for a pharmaceutical software company 17 years, I found myself wanting a change to move back into programming and analytics.  Job posting after job posting referenced Python, data analytics, and hands-on financial skills I did not have.  Technology has changed a lot in 10 years since completing my undergraduate degree!  My wife and I began to research different avenues, including education, and Rice University Boot Camp popped up at the top of our search results.  Being from Houston and knowing Rice University's reputation, we were intrigued.  We began researching information online about the FinTech Boot Camp, speaking with a representative of Rice University about services offered to support me in my career and education.  We quickly realized the course is exactly what I had been looking for as I enjoy talking tech and finance!  Rice University's FinTech Boot Camp has it all: career services, knowledgeable education teams, and a curriculum designed to stay current, flexible and provide in-demand skills, while partnering with a large network of community organizations.

The experience of the boot camp is superior to others changing my view of how education needs to be taught.  The instructor, TAs and career service advisors help me hone in on my strengths as I am learning the content and building my personal brand.  The program encourages opportunity for discovery and self-learning during every class and assignment.  If I want to change my code in an activity to quickly see if there is a different result, I can make the change, see the result and then correct it...if needed!

Anyone interested in the Rice University FinTech Boot Camp needs to commit the time to do the activities, homework, attend every class and each session during office hours before and after class.  Form study groups and network with classmates outside of class to learn from each other and grow your own skills.  Finally, make sure to reach out to the career service advisors, the instructor, and TAs.  They are there to help you be all in!

I decided to pursue the Cybersecurity career path because it is the future. Information Technology is the new "Age" of the world and I believe that Cybersecurity is its future. I have always had a fascination, passion and devotion to Information Technology (IT). This is made obvious by my standing 20 years of experience (professional and otherwise). This mindset drives my commitment to this career path and I am working towards leaving a legacy in the IT world.

I applied to the Rice University Cybersecurity Boot Camp for three major reasons: 1. Cybersecurity Skills Acquisition (which will enable me work and walk my career path); 2. A prestigious institution that will ensure I acquire said skills and equally prepare me on this career path with professional services (Rice University exceeds my expectations).

 

Taking this course in Rice University has been nothing short of a blessing and I intend to take optimum advantage of this opportunity. My experience so far has been satisfactory (and so much more) in the various interesting aspects that make up this Boot Camp. Although my favorite aspect will always remain the Homework and Re-Doing all the activities done in class. Rice University platform offers resources in various platforms such as videos, online reading materials and communities that broaden my knowledge on Cybersecurity. I will definitely refer this glorious and prestigious institution to anyone who wants to further their knowledge on any course or subject.

 

Finally, my advice to any potential student to achieve success will be: Commit, Devote, Be Prepared and Assimilate. This course is the future and Rice University gets you 100% ready to tackle it.

 

I am glad I enrolled into the Rice University Boot Camp for Cybersecurity. It was my 2019 best decision by far.

 

Thank you.

I came in to the course just seeking knowledge that can propel me to the next level in my career; However, I earned a whole lot more. I learned how to code, I learned how to learn and how to teach. I developed empathy and team work skills while working on projects with people from the most diverse of Backgrounds. 

Two months into the course, I landed a job in a fortune 500 company and I have been able to put what I have learnt to good use. Although the pace of the course is very fast, Students need to understand that you get what you put in. The amount of sleepless nights will definitely be worth it eventually. Might I add that when I started this course I had zero coding experience apart from using Excel, but now I develop apps and systems from scratch and I have this burning desire to help people. 

The instructor had a very obvious passion for teaching and imparting knowledge and a very impressive knowledge about all subject matters taught during the class. 

I can confidently say that I came out of the program an all round better person I went in.

Thank you Rice Data Analytics Bootcamp 

Through reading an excellent review article on the front page of the "Houston Chronicle" business section, I first learned about the Rice University Data Analytics and Visualization Boot Camp.  The number of technical skills which could be acquired in the course was very impressive.  Having this course offered at Rice University played a major factor in my final decision to enroll. 

From my first day of class, the high caliber of the instructional and support staff was quite evident.  Cam Kirkland served as the lead instructor and had a real passion for teaching.  He truly wanted each student to succeed in their professional pursuits.  I will always remember his motivating words to our class,  “We’re not here to be mediocre, we are here for excellence.”  

One of my favorite aspects of the course was working on real-world group projects in a collaborative environment (integrating Git/GitHub along with Slack).  Each project was extremely challenging, especially with the tight deadlines.  Without a doubt, Rice opened many doors for me while researching my group projects.  This included meetings with a professor, lawyer, city council member, movie director, and the county flood control district. 

The final project presentation on the last day of class proved to be incredibly rewarding for me. The boot camp gave me the confidence to use data science terminology and methods known by professionals which has greatly enhanced my marketability.  I also developed a great comradery with my new network of fellow classmates.  If you are interested in attending Rice University for a boot camp, please give it your fullest consideration – you will not be disappointed!

One word for my experience- “Amazing”. Amazing teaching staff and amazing curriculum!

Initially I was a little skeptical about joining a bootcamp because of the intense nature of the curriculum that comes along with it. Would I be able to do it? With 2 young kids and 5-day job, will I be able to give my focus on it? I was wrong, it turned out to be just the opposite. You actually get used to the pace and the flow. I come from a healthcare industry and work with a lot of applications ranging from clinical to business and facilities. Information security is a very crucial part while implementing these systems, so I gained a lot of curiosity doing them. Being PCI, HIPAA or PHI compliant made so much more sense while at Rice University cybersecurity bootcamp. I have been applying what I learn from the sessions at my work on a daily basis. Be it creating simple Python programs to automate tasks or making sure only certain ports are opened in a firewall or checking if my web applications are vulnerable or just as simple as access management have helped me tremendously at my current workplace. You learn a lot from this bootcamp. The instructors and teaching assistants have been helping with curriculum as well as giving away general tips on perfecting yourself for the real-world scenario. My biggest suggestion for everyone doing this bootcamp is to collaborate with your co-students, it helps you brainstorm ideas, give a different perspective or outlook and can really extend your knowledge on a topic. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to do so. I am only halfway through this camp but already feel excited to get into the security side. The only thing I wish this bootcamp had was a real hacker come in to do a session to actually see how a criminal mind works and share their personal experience or the list of vulnerabilities they see that auditors don’t. Saying that, I won’t deny the fact that you learn a lot from this bootcamp from Linux administration, Burpsuite, Python programming, Metasploit, SIEM, Wireshark to much more and overall it was the best decision I made in my recent years.