Which Machine Learning Bootcamp is Best?

Thanks to the tremendous growth in artificial intelligence over the past decade, there is a rising interest in those who want to join a career or field in machine learning. Machine learning refers specifically to those programmers who help build algorithms that allow a machine to learn from itself. Bootcamps are immersive learning opportunities that provide you with a comprehensive look at the subject, while also offering you unique resources that can be highly useful in professional settings. With the growing popularity of machine learning, many institutions now offer Bootcamps, but finding the right one can be difficult or overwhelming. This article reviews the different types of bootcamps, like part-time or full-time, in-person or online, and even career-focused, skills-focused, project-based, or professional level-camps, and which might be the best for you.

What are the Most Important Criteria to Evaluate in Machine Learning Bootcamps?

The first step to considering which machine learning bootcamp might work for you includes evaluating a few things, starting with the curriculum. It’s important to ensure that the Bootcamp comprehensively covers machine learning concepts and tools that are relevant to your interests and your goals, as well as applicable in the field at large. There’s also whether or not career and other professional services are offered. Joining a bootcamp with job placement assistance, resume building, and interview preparation can be vital in helping you secure a job after your program has finished. 

The cost is another big factor. Comparing and contrasting different programs can help ease the financial burden by helping you find one that is affordable to you. In this case, each class will provide its own resources and amenities that might impact the overall price. There’s also the matter of format. Whether the class is in person, online, full time, part time, or otherwise all play a role in how much it will cost. When evaluating these things, consider how they align with your personal learning style, career goals, or schedule. Looking up reviews of the bootcamp ahead of time can give you more context so that you can make an informed decision with these factors in mind.

What are the Top Machine Learning Bootcamps?

For those looking to attend a Machine Learning Bootcamp, Noble Desktop has a highly recommended Python Machine Learning Bootcamp that reviews the fundamentals of machine learning. It covers important concepts like linear and logistic regression, K-nearest neighbors, and decision trees. Python is a valuable programming language that touches not only artificial intelligence, but a wide variety of other industries. It’s useful in any career that regularly uses technology, and is highly transferable to non-tech fields. 

Fullstack academy offers an online AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp that goes over programming basics, data science essentials, and generative AI and prompt engineering. A portion of this class is dedicated to deep learning, or teaching machines how to think more human-like by introducing them to more complex data and data processing. This is an overall great course for those who want to learn computing and engineering concepts. As this course also works with Python, you’ll have transferable programming skills upon graduation.

There are other available machine learning courses that can be found via the Classes Near Me tool. Online AI & Machine Learning bootcamp opportunities are available at a variety of colleges, universities, and training institutes. When looking for the one that best suits your needs, consider several key factors to ensure that the program aligns with your goals. Even highly rated programs may not offer exactly what you’re looking for, in which case glancing at their curriculum, amenities, and resources may provide you with a better understanding of if they are right for you.

Enrolling in a Machine Learning Bootcamp Part-Time or Full-Time

Choosing between part-time of full-time options for machine learning bootcamps is heavily dependent on individual circumstances. Full-time boot camps generally offer weekday classes at 8-10 hours a day, whereas part-time bootcamps offer evening and weekend classes 3-4 hours a day. Though both are considered immersive opportunities, there are advantages to both depending on your circumstances. 

Part-time bootcamps are geared toward individuals who have other commitments. This may be family and friends, a career, other classes, or private obligations. Because the classes are typically held in the evening or the weekends, they are ideal for those who don’t have a traditional schedule. They go longer than full-time programs, and last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, but often cover the same machine learning topics. Taking a part-time bootcamp can help you absorb the content more slowly as you have more time to work with it. The work is less intense, but students may experience burnout due to the longer period of time. Part-time bootcamps are a viable option for those who overall want to work with the materials at a more digestible pace.

Full-time bootcamps are intensive and immerse. They are more focused on the rapid development of skills, whether personal or professional. The classes are typically held during work hours so are great for those who have more time to dedicate to their studies. The duration is shorter than part-time, lasting approximately 3-6 months, and thanks to the intensive learning environment, students can leave with a deeper understanding of the material. These courses do require a full-time dedication to the content, and can be overwhelming for those who have distractions or other obligations, but they are completed more quickly, and are great for those who can manage a higher educational workload over a shorter period of time.

Enrolling in a Machine Learning Bootcamp In-Person or Online

Another big consideration for choosing a machine learning bootcamp is the format. Whether in-person or online, there are benefits to both types of courses. In-person classes are held in a physical environment and offer immediate access to facilities and resources that might not be available online, such as labs and textbooks. The advantages of an in-person class begin with the social component. There is a lot of face-to-face interaction with an instructor, peers, and other industry professionals that might impact your experience. In-person courses are held at a specific time in an environment that has been outfitted to encourage learning. While this doesn’t leave a lot of flexibility in terms of scheduling, it can certainly help with maintaining focus and discipline. 

Online courses are another option. They can happen synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous classes, sometimes referred to as live online, are classes where instructors and students coordinate a schedule to engage with course content in real-time. These courses allow you to ask questions and get immediate answers. These sessions can also be recorded for later viewing, and may offer downloadable resources and exclusive online content. Online courses are more accessible than in-person courses, and this is true of both online formats, though asynchronous courses offer the ultimate flexibility in terms of time and travel. 

Asynchronous courses are ones that are taken whenever the student is comfortable. They are done via modules and other downloadable resources and the student has full control over their schedule and their speed of learning. Online courses are ultimately more flexible in terms of where you learn, and sometimes even when you learn, but they do lack the structured physical environment of a classroom, and not having the opportunity to be in a learning space with your peers can be a distraction. There is more self-discipline required, especially if the learning environment you choose is busy, or not as conducive for learning.

Do You Want to Start a New Career Using Your Machine Learning Training?

If you’re looking to start a professional career following your bootcamp, it’s important to check which support services your institute offers. Though a majority of bootcamps do offer a curriculum that is highly valuable in the working world, they each vary in their focus on job placement or career services. When you find a career-focused bootcamp, you may notice that there’s much more emphasis on in-class career support, and that can be anything from resume and portfolio review, to guest lectures and networking events. There are sometimes career support options that take place outside of the classroom. That might look like career coaches or professional mentors who can assist you with job hunting and interview feedback. Though it’s less common, some bootcamps may offer post-graduation services that can support you from graduation until finding a job.

Other bootcamps are skills-focused bootcamps. They have less emphasis on job placement, and instead focus on deepening technical experience. Even in these courses you are likely to receive basic career guidance and resources. There are also fewer career workshops, networking events, and other career-focused activities. Instead, it’s likely that the bootcamp is focused on providing you with plenty of hands-on activities and projects, so that you can quickly grow your skills and become confident in your machine learning knowledge. The certificate or certification you earn from either bootcamp is a highly valuable addition to your portfolio or resume no matter the course type.

Which Machine Learning Bootcamp is Best For Me?

Determining which machine learning bootcamp is best for you is a highly personal decision that is guided by several important factors. Even in cases where the classes are highly rated and recommended, the details may not align with a student's specific needs and circumstances. When considering a bootcamp, it’s important to check how the curriculum, learning format, finances, schedule, and resources align with what you need to be successful post-graduation. By carefully assessing this information, you can find which machine learning bootcamp is best for you. 

The first things you want to look at when searching for a bootcamp are the curriculum and the learning format. What is the class teaching, and how is it offered? Having a good idea of what you want to do with your certificate when the class is over can help you better decide whether the class is for you. For instance, if you have a full-time job already, and are looking to expand your portfolio or your resume, a part-time bootcamp may be enough to enhance your current skills. If you’re unable to take this in-person because of other obligations, searching for an online bootcamp would be ideal. Because part-time classes are typically offered in the evening or on the weekends, they shouldn’t interrupt your other schedules. If you are leaving one career and looking to join another, then taking a full-time bootcamp and fully dedicating yourself to the more intensive schedule can be highly valuable in saving on time and quickly transitioning to something new.

Educational goals should also play a major role in your decision. Are you looking to start a new career? Grow in a career you’re already in? Do you just want to enhance your technical skills? Are you looking to learn a new hobby? The answer to each of these questions will impact which bootcamp is ideal. For those who are just hobby learners or looking to enhance their technical skills, checking the curriculum to make sure it has all of the subjects you’re interested in will be important, whereas those who are looking to start or grow a new career will need to make sure that the bootcamp curriculum covers what the field requires, and perhaps offers job-placement or career services as a part of their resources. Once the curriculum has been confirmed appropriate for your educational goals, you can then confirm whether the cost and schedule align with your availability and your financial resources. 

While bootcamps can be highly effective, it’s important to point out that they are not the only option. Students who are already in higher education may choose to go for a full degree in machine learning or artificial intelligence, in which case they may save time and money by weaving their classes into an established schedule with an institute they are already attending. Similarly, bootcamps can be quite a financial and time commitment. For those that aren’t prepared to fully immerse themselves in that environment, short courses, one day classes, seminars, and workshops are available. They are a great alternative to bootcamps for those that would like an introductory look at machine learning, or who are unable to fully commit to a bootcamp full or part time. No matter which course you choose, assessing your unique situation is the best way to make sure that you choice is the best for you.