KU Boot Camps Testimonials

Student Testimonials KU Boot Camps

At KU Boot Camps, we take pride in our students and not only admire the dedication they display throughout our programs, but their achievements after graduation.

Learning a new trade is an intensive journey, so we know that choosing the program or boot camp that will deliver your education is an incredibly important decision.

Explore how our programs can make a lasting impact in your life by reading the below testimonials and reviews from the University of Kansas Coding, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity Boot Camp students.

“My experience was wonderful and I’m proud to confidently call myself a full stack developer.”
Dustin Watkins
Dustin Watkins
  • Part Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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.

“I am now on a career path that I never imagined I could actually do.”
Addie Schmitz
Addie Schmitz
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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!

“The bootcamp has greatly impacted my life this year. I’m so much happier in my new role as a web designer.”
Perla Ordonez
Perla Ordonez
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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!

“The course was very well structured, from planning to execution, and the instructional staff was extremely knowledgeable and eager to help the students.”
Joshua Bradley
Joshua Bradley
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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.

“I was able to move from a stagnant, underpaid career to an elevated world of opportunity.”
Alex Krumins
Alex Krumins
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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.

“It gave me valuable connections and experiences that led me to getting my current position.”
Peter Tan
Peter Tan
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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.

“It turned out to be the best decision I could have ever hoped for.”
Collin Crossland
Collin Crossland
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Data Analytics
  • Campus: KU Edwards

I needed a crash course in where my industry’s tech was heading and I needed it to be fast. KU has an advertisement that intrigued me the more I did research. It turned out to be the best decision I could have ever hoped for. The teachers and T.A.’s were what made it all worthwhile. There was never a class that didn’t feature something relevant that I would use in my everyday work life.

“The Data Analytics Boot Camp helped me gain confidence in my ability to use programming to perform more efficient and more complex data analytics.”
Andrew Skinner
Andrew Skinner
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Data Analytics
  • Campus: KU Edwards

The Data Analytics Boot Camp helped me gain confidence in my ability to use programming to perform more efficient and more complex data analytics. In concert with my work experience, the program allowed me to get past entry level jobs and find a role in which I will use some SQL and Python.

“I can say is it was a very life-changing program.”
Fekade Sophia
Fekade Sophia
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Data Analytics
  • Campus: KU Edwards

I jumped to a very brand new career which I didn’t have any background but the only thing I can say is it was a very life-changing program. It was very hard but challenged me in a good way. It made me to know more and more. I want to give a credit to my instructor, friends, TA, student success [team] and also my tutor. I will continue growing and updating myself. I want to give a big THANKS to my career coach Amber.

“My favorite aspect of the boot camp is not only the applicable knowledge we gain in six months, but also the support we receive from career services who helps me to become employer competitive.”
Giovanni Rigters
Giovanni Rigters
  • Part-Time
  • 2019 Student
  • Course: Data Analytics
  • Campus: KU Edwards

Having a couple of years of experience in digital marketing, I see how being able to analyze and visualize data is becoming increasingly more important. Many aspects of digital marketing are also becoming more automated, which frees up time to actually perform more data analysis tasks.

That being said, I have friends in IT and others that went through a data science bootcamp who I talk to and they advised me to try it out and gain some additional skills which will make me stand out.

The boot camp is challenging, but also very fun. It’s fast-paced and every class I learn something new. I also like the fact that we have a teacher and TA’s who are in the industry, so we are getting first-hand knowledge of what the current business world is looking for.

My favorite aspect of the boot camp is not only the applicable knowledge we gain in six months, but also the support we receive from career services who helps me to become employer competitive, by giving much-needed advice on resumes, updating LinkedIn profiles, mock-up interviews, and more.

Advice to anyone thinking about taking the boot camp is to get prepared that the program will be programming heavy for the first half and to do the bare minimum of Googling the topics covered in the curriculum.

“The value of the skills learned vastly outweighs the cost to learn, and the experience is satisfying on its own.”
Rhia Dixon
Rhia Dixon
  • Part-Time
  • 2017 Graduate
  • Course: Coding
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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.

“Applying for this program was a chance for me to get real, definable skills that would let me sell myself to employers.”
Michael Hoppenrath
Michael Hoppenrath
  • Part-Time
  • 2017 Graduate
  • Course: Coding
  • Campus: KU Edwards

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.

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