We talk to a lot of prospective students who want to learn to code. They know attending a coding bootcamp is an efficient way to learn those skills, but they’re full of misconceptions around the admissions process—especially when it comes to when they should actually apply. It makes sense: with all the free coding resources out there, it’s tough to know when to take a step back and say “now I’m ready”—especially if you don’t know how a bootcamp defines “ready.”
At Flatiron School, we’re trying to do what we can to demystify the bootcamp admissions process. It’s important to know that there’s a difference between when you’re ready to apply to a bootcamp and when you’re ready for day one of a bootcamp program.
There’s a difference between when you’re ready to apply to a bootcamp and when you’re ready for day one of a bootcamp program.
So, here is our quick guide to know when you’re ready to apply to Flatiron School’s online or in-person programs – or any coding bootcamp.
Wait until…
1. Wait until you know you want to do this for the right reasons.
You may know you’re not happy in your current job, but are you confident that you’ll like this job (a.k.a. web developer or software engineer)? Do you know you like programming? The last thing you want to do is invest a ton of time and money pursuing a career you may not love. The solution? Explore and become a part of the coding community; speak to people who have gone through the process and started jobs as developers. At the very least, start coding—there are so many free coding resources out there to get you started. “I like coding” is the right reason to apply.
Take the quiz: What Coding Course Is Right For Me?
2. Wait until you know the school is the right fit for you.
Don’t waste your time applying to a bunch of schools you don’t know are appropriate for your goals and priorities. For example, at Flatiron School, we place a huge emphasis on community. If that aligns with your learning style (you work best in a group and want to support others as you learn), definitely apply here. On the other hand, if you’re a more competitive or solitary learner, it may not be the right fit.
3. Wait until you’re ready to set aside the time to complete a coding bootcamp program, whether it’s in person or online.
If it’s online, wait until you know you’ll have time to make consistent progress, even if you’re balancing your studies with a job (spending two hours a day per week is different from spending twelve hours over one day). If you’re considering an in-person program, wait until you know you’re able to quit your job, spend 3-4 months of intense focus on learning, and then take additional time for the post-bootcamp job search.
Don’t wait until…
1. Don’t wait until you complete a free course.
We see this all the time in our applicants: people want to get through an entire free course before applying. They want to feel ready to apply without fully understanding the application process. You can wait—but you don’t need to in order to be a promising applicant. Our admissions team initially wants to see consistency in how you’re preparing. In general, the sooner you start the application process, the better. That doesn’t mean you need to enroll right away, but if it’s the fear of the technical interview holding you back, it’s important to understand that that doesn’t need to hold back your initial application, which is more a way to get to know you. If you’re invited to do a technical interview after your initial application, you’re welcome to say you want to do more studying before scheduling that assessment.
2. Don’t wait until you have your finances 100% figured out.
While finances certainly play a big part in the process, lots of coding bootcamps now offer financing and scholarships that might not be immediately apparent to you. Even if you haven’t found that information on a school’s website, that can definitely be a part of your discussion with the admissions team. Be sure to ask if there are any scholarships that match your qualifications. For example, here at Flatiron School we offer significant scholarships for women consider our online and in-person programs through our Women Take Tech initiative, and we’re always partnering with organizations to increase accessibility to our programs through scholarships.
3. Don’t wait until you know which school you’re definitely interested in attending.
Use the application and admissions process to figure that out along the way. Some people mention in their application that Flatiron School is the only coding bootcamp that they want to attend… but it’s crazy to believe that before you’ve even spoken to us. You should use the admissions process to further evaluate us before making that call. Get to know our culture and community. Definitely look at rankings and reviews, but that’s not enough. You have to emotionally connect with a school and know this place will bring the best out in me. Don’t be so certain about that until you speak to people from the school—the admissions team, certainly, but students and alums as well—and really get sense of culture and community and whether they’re right for you.
Demystifying the Interview
Some bootcamps require a technical interview. Flatiron School no longer requires a technical interview. Your first interview after applying will be a non-technical getting-to-know-you chat. It is definitely important for us to see that you’re passionate about programming, that you’re tinkering with code in some way and preparing for success.
After you finish that initial interview, you’re invited to take an admissions assessment test.
This post, originally published on November 1, 2016, has been updated for 2021.
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