Getting into a coding bootcamp is one of the most straightforward ways to learn how to code, especially for students without previous experience. Whether you want to learn a specific programming language or prepare for a particular career, numerous bootcamps help you achieve that goal.
With so many coding bootcamps to choose from, picking the right bootcamp requires careful research and reading coding bootcamp reviews. Most coding bootcamp reviews are listed on tech websites and use their criteria to rank and evaluate the different bootcamps. Students who want to learn about a course's expected investment and returns can consult the myriad coding bootcamp reviews online.
Where to Find Coding Bootcamp Reviews
Knowing where to find coding bootcamp reviews is as simple as knowing where to find any information: look to the internet. A cursory keyword search for coding bootcamps will return thousands of websites and platforms that focus on coding bootcamp reviews from students and industry professionals. These reviews provide information about specific training schools or bootcamps, making it easier to decide which program is right for you by ranking the schools compared to similar programs.
Although not as objective as other options, training schools like Thinkful also offer coding bootcamp reviews and rankings. Bootcamp finders on a training school website allow prospective students to compare in-person and virtual coding bootcamps from one school with another similarly ranked school. By offering an open comparison with their competitors, these rankings try to avoid steering students towards themselves. They are helpful by offering easy-to-read charts and listicles that compare similar schools.
In addition, most popular tech blogs offer their reviews and annual synopses on the most popular coding bootcamps in the industry. For example, TechCrunch and HackReactor are websites that include blogs where students can learn more about the latest news in the technology industry and the best ways to learn to code. Online communities and internet forums are another place to find coding bootcamp reviews from industry professionals and beginner students.
For example, the Stack Overflow website includes thousands of questions and tags with reviews and feedback from current and former coding bootcamp participants. Business journals and magazines offer similar resources for aspiring coding bootcamp participants. Students looking for a coding bootcamp should also keep an eye on industry standards through publications like Business Insider, TechTarget, and even WIRED. These often publish regular profiles and updates on popular coding bootcamps and training schools.
What to Look for In a Bootcamp Review Site
Once you find a website that offers information about coding classes and training schools, a few things to look for in a bootcamp review site are bootcamp matching, course comparison, and a ranking system.
Bootcamp Matching
A good coding bootcamp review site will offer some form of bootcamp matching. Bootcamp matching is a built-in recommendation system that makes finding a bootcamp that interests you more manageable. These matching systems allow users to put in information about what they want out of a bootcamp, such as the programming language they want to learn or the career they want to get post-bootcamp. Then, the bootcamp matching system returns multiple coding bootcamps that match the student's interests and intentions. Bootcamp matching can help narrow your search by only returning bootcamps that match your interests and introducing you to bootcamps that are similar enough to be compared.
Course Comparison
Once you are matched to some bootcamps by the site's recommendation system, most coding bootcamp review sites offer some form of course comparison. After matching, this looks like presenting different courses similar to each other for the student to make their comparisons between the two. However, some coding bootcamp review sites also make comparisons between training schools and bootcamps. While some sites offer specific criteria for comparison, such as differences in price or course duration, other sites create their unique system of comparing and ranking courses.
Ranking System
Course ranking systems are another staple of an excellent coding bootcamp review site. The ranking system is another comparison method that gives a simplified review of individual coding bootcamps. Like other review sites, rankings allow site users to give a numerical score or grade to different coding bootcamps when writing a review or instead of a review. By creating a ranking system, these sites also make it easier to sort through reviews based on a selection criterion. For example, you can only view courses with a high average or high ranking in a specific category.
Top Sites for Coding Bootcamp Reviews
Course Report
Course Report is a website that specializes in helping students find the right bootcamp for them. After entering the site, users are directed to a bootcamp matching form that includes multiple criteria to find the perfect bootcamp match. Instead of complicating the bootcamp matching form, students can also search for bootcamps based on the type of career. Once selected, users receive a list of coding bootcamps and schools that match their interests and are ranked on a five-star rating scale. Written reviews accompany ratings that prospective students can read to learn more about the bootcamp. Course Report also includes a blog and annual reports that rank and review the most popular bootcamps for aspiring data scientists, developers, and designers.
Career Karma
Career Karma is another website that offers tools and information to help students find their ideal coding bootcamp. Like Course Report, this site also includes a bootcamp matching pop-up that asks users a series of questions about their interests and expectations from a bootcamp. Users have multiple options to choose from and compare courses by listing some of the top careers and coding skills in data and technology. Compared to similar coding bootcamp review sites, Career Karma sets itself apart by offering career coaches and building a community of students and industry professionals. Through the discussion group, users can share reviews and make connections. Career Karma is an excellent option for anyone looking for a coding bootcamp or searching for a job.
Best Colleges
Best Colleges is geared toward students that want to advance in their careers affordably. Upon entering the site, users are met with a bootcamp matching system. The site asks users to select a discipline and a time commitment through this system. Then, this information is used to return a list of coding bootcamps that meet the needs of prospective students. In addition to bootcamp matching, Best Colleges offers an Ultimate Guide to Coding Bootcamps and other resources to compare training schools and data-driven careers. In contrast to some of the other coding bootcamp review sites, Best Colleges compares training schools instead of coding bootcamps. This unique format is handy for students that plan on taking multiple coding classes or a certificate program.
SwitchUp
SwitchUp is another website with a system for ranking and reviewing coding bootcamps for prospective students. By focusing on data collected from verified bootcamp students and alumni, SwitchUp produces an annual ranking list of the Best Coding Bootcamps and institutions. With thousands of student reviews and feedback, this site includes in-person and virtual training schools from across the globe. The coding bootcamp blog and resources advise prospective students from experts and industry professionals. The blog covers coding bootcamp reviews, offers career advice, and shares the latest news on data and technology industry trends.
Looking for a Coding Bootcamp?
Consulting coding bootcamp reviews is only the first step in looking for a coding bootcamp. Students interested in learning how to code can also consult Noble Desktop's coding bootcamps for various bootcamps. These bootcamps are not only categorized by topic and tool but also by participation. Additionally, most courses and certificates are offered as in-person coding bootcamps taken at a training school and live online coding bootcamps offered in a virtual environment. You can also visit the course websites for each coding bootcamp to read reviews and feedback from former students, instructors, and industry professionals.