Rutgers Bootcamps

My consideration for this course first came from a place of a desperation. Fresh out of my battle with cancer, a stalled degree, and too much uncertainty over my future I knew I needed to gain some control over my life. So through the recommendation of some mutual friends one month after being declared cancer free I would embark on a six month journey that would leave me feeling more fulfilled than I've ever felt in my entire life. This bootcamp will push you to your limit and test your patience every chance it gets, but you will leave it with a strong skillset you had no idea you were capable of. Through instructors that care so much about the material and your individual progress, the resources to further yourself along and an environment that only has your success in mind, you're more than equipped to handle every challenge that is presented. I graduated with a new sense of confidence I desperately needed, a future I'm no longer afraid of, and to my biggest surprise a community of my peers, some of whom have come to be wonderful friends. Anyone looking to make a change in their life, career, or just wanting to try something new I can't recommend this bootcamp enough. It will not be easy, but nothing deeply rewarding and worthwhile ever is. 

The Data science boot camp at Rutgers University was an excellent experience, one that I will never forget. When I started the program, I knew nothing about data science or data analytics. I was familiar with the technology used such as PostgreSQL, Python, along with the other programming languages that are used in data science. however, I didn’t know about all the tools the combine that make data science work. Fortunately for me, I registered for data science boot camp at Rutgers, the program provided the necessary skills to start a career as data scientist or data analytics professional. With the homework assignments and projects done and posted to my GIT hub account I now have a portfolio that I can showcase with pride to potential employers. The Rutgers University data science boot camp was a good choice for me one that I would recommend to other boot camp seekers. With all the programming languages combined with the machine learning and big data technology thought, as a graduate of the Rutgers data science boot camp I am now marketable to move into a data science career path.  

First thing that comes to mind when I think of this course is "Wow! I can't believe I learned all of that in 6 months!". The course was challenging, but not overly hard. I do not come from a Data background (I'm an accountant), and most of the processes/systems were completely new to me. I recently completed my MBA in Quantitative Analysis and needed some experience working in the programs that were used in this course. This is a very fast paced program that does require 100% effort, but if you are willing to invest in yourself, you should give it your all anyway. The instructor and the TA staff were phenomenal, and really help make sure you understand the material. I really feel that if I can do it anyone can.  

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!