University of Arizona Boot Camps

I was accepted to four different programs that I was deciding between before I chose to earn a certificate from the University of Arizona Data Analytics Boot Camp. My other three choices were: a Master’s degree in business analytics at the University of Arizona in Tucson, a Master’s degree in business analytics online through Arizona State University, and an online certificate through Harvard University (including a $10,000 scholarship). I asked for advice from some people who work in analytics at the hospital in my community, and both of them recommended the UA Data Analytics Boot Camp because they said the hands-on, in-person learning of this material would be more important in this industry than my other options. This option involved a huge commitment for me because I commute 2 hours each way to attend this class in person.

I chose to study data analytics because of my interests and some previous work experience in marketing research. I worked for Information Resources, Inc. in Chicago, IL, more than a decade ago. I really enjoyed our testing of new food products in grocery stores and analyzing that data. For family reasons, I quit that job but always hoped to return. However, as I saw the increase in the availability of data, I realized that to work in a similar field now, it would be best to learn how to analyze this vast amount of data with new tools.

My favorite aspect of the UA Data Analytics Boot Camp are the resources available to us. Our instructor, Mark, is excellent! We have talked as classmates about the fact that we’ve never gone to him with a problem that he wasn’t able to solve, often very quickly, too. Though he uses a PC in class, I’ve been able to use my Mac for everything, and he’s able to help people with both PCs and Macs. He is very knowledgeable about the topics, but what’s even better is that he loves what he’s teaching. I can’t help but get excited about it, even after my long commute! We also have TAs in class who are willing to help, and access to online tutors, which I’ve taken advantage of. It's helpful to have other classmates to ask questions of and to learn from right there in the class. Finally, there are so many resources available through Career Services. I have participated in many helpful online webinars and have received feedback on my brand statement and resume, with more to come including LinkedIn and Github.

My advice to prospective students is to consider how much time you can commit for this 6-month boot camp. The title “boot camp” is very applicable because we cover the material very quickly. New material and new assignments are flying at us on a weekly basis, and the only way to absorb it is to spend enough time outside of class to apply what we’re learning. I have two part-time jobs while in this boot camp, but I seem to have more time to spend than some of my classmates, and that’s helped me. In addition, I’ve talked with two students separately (one from my class and one from another section) who told me, without me even asking, that the thing they regret most is not having more time outside of class to really dig in and learn this material. In one of the Career Services webinars, two previous graduates mentioned they spent about 30 hours/week outside of class. It was helpful to know that in advance.

So... check it out. I just finished the bootcamp last week. I'm like a freed hostage with Stockholm syndrome. 

Long story short, it's expensive in relative terms (IMO), super fast-paced, and is one of those things where the effort you put in determines what you get out. When you sign up, they kind of beat that into your head (EFFORT) and, of course, you think you'll be fine and then holy shit you're on the bullet train to data town. But, if nothing else, you come out not as an expert in anything but you'll know how to use a cubic ton more tools than you went in with... 

I'd taken numerous college level programming courses in the past so I understood programming concepts (OOP, etc) going in and it didn't really help. Pace is fast as fast. Like, fast. I cannot stress this enough. Fast. I also have toddler twins and a full+ time job. So I had to manage the fuck out of my schedule. My wife hates me but not because of the bootcamp but because I'm the type of dad that would commit to that kind of bootcamp. 

BUT teacher and TA were top notch. Really good. My cohort was a cool group. All kinds of skill levels and backgrounds. 

If you have a longing to like know tech stuff and you're around data or want to be around mounds of data, while expensive, I would literally be shocked if you regretted the bootcamp. Huge investment of money and time. Huge potential payoff for those of you without toddler twins and a wife who hates you for your lust for knowledge. 

Good luck. I'd say God Speed but you don't need any more fast.

I entered this course as a complete beginer. Within the first few weeks I was really wondering if I had made a mistake as I am a very slow learner when it comes to computers. I have confidence in my overall navigation of a windows or mac computer but as far as programing and reading code my only previous experience was copying and pasting code customizing my Myspace profile. Needless to say, I was very intimidated for a good portion of the course. From the first time I requested information about the school on their website to the moment I was handed my certificate was a very smooth experience. During application I was never bombarded with phone calls asking if I was ready to make a payment or felt pressured in any way. The career coaches you speak with in the begining are genuinely interested in who you are and what your goals and are there to give you a honest opinion as to whether this course would be a good fit for you or not. All in all I felt like I had real real resources and not a sales person there for me which is very important when you are about to spend a large amount of money for something you essentially have no knowledge of.

Upon starting the course the environment of the classroom was very comfortable, everyone is there to learn and you all have one thing in common, this mental obstacle course you're both about to start! I feel as though I made very valuable connections because you grow together with people when you share a common goal and along the way you get frustrated and discouraged but then theres the joy you feel when you resolve the issue! We were all very different people with a common goal and we all learned alot together. When you leave the course you have people to connect with who can endorse you, inform you of other job opportunities, give tips or simply reminisce about the program together! The point being is you leave with  a connection of people in a industry you are trying to enter, this to me is something that money cant buy and is a very valuable thing you get out of this program.

The course spans a wide range of material and is a very fast paced. This is as simple or complex as you want to make it. The time management aspect for me personally was the hardest part. You are learning at a fast pace and you have alot of resources but at the end of the day this program is teaching you how to build a website and everything behind the scenes, there is no other way to approach this than to know going in that this will not be easy, you have TA's with unlimited patience but they do not go home with you or constantly remind you to do your work, they're there if you need them but this is about you learning for yourself. Even if you show up physically but not mentally, you are doing yourself a disservice. I say this because I was there. This program is a gold mine but you have to do your part. 

Leaving the program I learned much more than coding and programming languages. This program taught me to be adaptable when it comes to learning something new, to not get stuck in my ways and that its ok to make mistakes. When you are in a certain job position for almost 10 years you become stagnant. I felt like a complete idiot at times and learned how to explain my problems in a simpler more effecient way. I learned a great sense of responsibility and accountability which is something that was missing from my life. These are all things money cant buy and I can honestly say this course is now the reason I walk a little bit taller in my job because now I knoweven though I have not mastered the material we covered in the course, if I continue to learn and learn code as if school never ended I will not be stuck at my job for forever. This is a feeling that I did not have or think I could ever have in my life. This program was worth way more than what I payed for it.

As I am now a graduate I cant comment much on the job market or career services much but I speak with a very happy and helpful career coach weekly who is encouraging and informative. I still communicate and am up to date on al the events that will be happening and still feel connected to the school. The TA's were all excellent and I aspire to be like them as they were supportive, fun and just all around great people. I am going to miss the friends I made at the U of A coding boot camp and encourage anyone who is thinking about doing this to do it. Truly a magnificent program that will forever be a turning point in my life. 

The U of Arizona Full Stack Flex Web Development Program is well worth your time and effort. There are amazing instructors, a challenging curriculum and an enormous amount of challenges. If you are committed to making a change in your life or you are redirecting your career. This is the place to be. You will be challenenged, frustrated and will at times doubt yourself. I did all of those things and still perservered. It was worth it. I feel that I created a remarkable beginning of a new chapter in my life and so can you. If you have the passion, determination and willingness to stretch this is the experience for you.

I am a recent graduate of this bootcamp, I graduated in April of 2018, and in full disclosure I am currently a teaching assistant with the bootcamp. That being said, the following review consists of personal thoughts and opinions:

Let me start off by saying this course is not easy. You will be constantly pushed and challenged, not only by the curriculum, but also by the pace. Although, it is still very doable! 

If you are willing to put in the time and effort, the instructors and TAs will work with you tirelessly to make sure you succeed. But it takes sacrifice and self-study. That cannot go understated. The bootcamp recommends putting in 20 hours of self-study a week, on top of the 10 hours of classroom time. However, I would recommend upping that number to either 30 or 40 hours per week. 

The instructor and TAs were phenomenal. I am frankly shocked how much I learned over the course of 6 months and while I certainly put in the hard work, I know it would not have been possible without such an amazing instructional team. Their ability to break down complex problems and topics into easier to understand pieces was truly top notch.

I wanted to point out that the tech job market here in Phoenix is robust and there are jobs out there for bootcampers. And everything we did in class, from homework assignments, activities and projects, are all geared towards putting together an attractive portfolio to share with potential employers. I lined up a lot of interviews (at least 10+), received multiple job offers, and accepted a software development position with a top tier consulting firm with a great salary and benefits. All of this before the bootcamp even ended. 

I had other interviews lined up that I had to cancel, and I had companies that came to our demo day urging me to reconsider the job I accepted so that I could interview for their positions. Which brings me to my next point - the student success team does an awesome job! They put on a demo day for our final projects that was very well attended by Phoenix tech companies looking to hire developers with the skills learned in this class. The job I did accept was presented to me by the career services team as well.