KU Boot Camps Testimonials

I chose to attend because I was struggling to develop my own full stack application. It has impacted me by unveiling my desire to be a full time developer. My experience was wonderful and I’m proud to confidently call myself a full stack developer.

The Bootcamp program brought me an incredible amount of opportunity – both directly with my career as well as through networking and socially. I am now on a career path that I never imagined I could actually do!

I chose to attend because it seemed like a quick way to switch my career without having to get a degree. I wanted to learn all the basics with out the hassle of taking like an English course or biology course as a pre-requisite at a 4 year institution.

It gave me the skills necessary to start working in the tech field almost immediately after graduation. First with a couple of freelance projects, then an internship and finally a full time offer with the company I interned for.

The bootcamp has greatly impacted my life this year. I’m so much happier in my new role as a web designer. I was honestly so hesitant in the beginning and I had no idea what to expect but I’m glad I took that leap!

I wanted to know how to code to have the ability to act on problem-solving ideas. The course was very well structured, from planning to execution, and the instructional staff was extremely knowledgeable and eager to help the students. I originally planned on returning to the medical field once I completed my studies, but the experience was so positive that it lead me to make a career jump.

One year ago, I didn’t know a single line of code. I worked for a company in the service industry for nine years and had a new supervisor … Through the affordable and fast-tracked Coding Boot Camp, I was able to move from a stagnant, underpaid career to an elevated world of opportunity. Byron Ferguson is the best instructor possible. He brought a passion and excitement to every class. He clearly has a love for both coding and teaching. Amber Vaughan is the best career director possible. She made me believe in myself every week even as I was turned away during numerous job applications. I cannot say enough good things about her. If I can recommend anything to other students as they go through the program: Meet with your career director. Listen to your career director. Do everything your career director says and you WILL be employed before you know it.
The TA’s rock. The Admins roll. The fellow cohorts are in control. The Coding Bootcamp has changed my life.

I chose to attend in order to switch into the software field. The program offered me fantastic chances to get hands on experience with coding and jumpstart my learning with Web development. It gave me valuable connections and experiences that led me to getting my current position.

I had a very positive experience. I asked a lot of questions, I gave my all to each assignment, and I met some really great people. I am particularly close to two members of my cohort and continue to collaborate with them on projects and mentoring opportunities. I also have a great relationship with my career services advisor (she is truly an awesome person and she was instrumental in preparing me for my interviews). I have a beautiful portfolio of projects that I continue to proudly show off. And my teachers and TA’s were also great people to learn from. They really emphasized seeking out answers, staying on top of new tech, and networking.

What inspired you to learn to code at the coding boot camp?

I have always been drawn to STEM. I have a degree in Physics, several hours of Aerospace Engineering coursework, and I provided tutoring for math and science. I saw an ad for this bootcamp on Facebook and decided it was the perfect opportunity for me. In a previous job, I worked on a team to create a web application that is heavily used by the company. I absolutely loved that project and I wished I could spend all my time doing things like that. This course gave me a way to get to where I wanted to be.

What did you find most challenging about the program and what were your key takeaways?

The most challenging part of this course was the pace. I took the 6-month, part-time route, and even that was very rigorous. My key takeaways were:

• Documentation is everything — you need to be able to go back to your code and easily understand what you did.
• Use your resources — it is super important to know how look for the things you don’t know how to do and there are an abundance of opportunities for assistance online and in person.
• Just keep coding — the only way to stay sharp in an ever-changing environment is to keep practicing.

How has attending the coding boot camp change your life so far?

Oh my gosh…it has changed my whole quality of life! I have a job that I love, the challenge is what makes me super excited to go to work. I am in a very happy place mentally and financially. I can go to work and do amazing things, I can use my skills as a great side-hustle, and I can also share what I know with others by volunteering to mentor people.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is considering attending the program?

I would tell them to document everything and really utilize the resources. It is important to attack every assignment as if it was going to be the prize project in your portfolio, even if you don’t include it. I would also tell them to really put effort into the career services assignments because that will help to translate your past experiences to the new position you’re looking for.

If you were talking to someone who were on the fence about taking the class, what would you say to them?

I would advise this person to really consider taking the leap. This course is offered as either 6 month, part-time or 3 month, full-time, and it is completely worth it. It’s like learning a trade, in that you have a skill that makes you a highly marketable employee, or a highly sought-after entrepreneur. The value of the skills learned vastly outweighs the cost to learn, and the experience is satisfying on its own.

I choose to attend because, in my previous career path, I couldn’t find a full-time job, and when I did, I was utterly miserable. Applying for this program was a chance for me to get real, definable skills that would let me sell myself to employers. This program was something I could do while I still had a job. For the first time, I enjoy my job and don’t feel financially insecure.