Is AppAcademy the Best Coding Bootcamp? Read This Honest Review!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Choosing the Right Bootcamp 2.1. Researching Bootcamps 2.2. Pros and Cons of Joining a Bootcamp 2.3. Is a Bootcamp Worth It?
3. My Experience at App Academy 3.1. Curriculum 3.1.1. Pros of the Curriculum 3.1.2. Cons of the Curriculum 3.2. Instructors 3.2.1. Pros of the Instructors 3.2.2. Cons of the Instructors 3.3. TAs and Coaching 3.3.1. Pros of TAs and Coaching 3.3.2. Cons of TAs and Coaching 3.4. General Experience 3.4.1. Pros of the General Experience 3.4.2. Cons of the General Experience
4. Conclusion

Article

Should You Join a Coding Bootcamp? My Experience at App Academy

Introduction

Welcome back to the Holistic Developer Channel! In this video, I want to share my personal experience and insights about attending a coding bootcamp. If You're considering joining a bootcamp to learn coding or embark on a new tech career, this information could be invaluable to you. I enrolled in App Academy's online bootcamp about a year ago, and today, I'll be candidly discussing the pros and cons of my experience.

Choosing the Right Bootcamp

Before diving into my personal experience, it's essential to understand the process of choosing the right bootcamp. Researching different bootcamps is crucial, as it will help you make an informed decision. Consider factors such as curriculum, instructors, TAs, coaching, and the general environment of the bootcamp. Here are some key points to consider:

Researching Bootcamps

When researching bootcamps, it's crucial to Gather as much information as possible. Look for reviews, check the curriculum, and gather insights from past students. This will help you gauge the quality of education and support provided by the bootcamp.

Pros and Cons of Joining a Bootcamp

Joining a bootcamp has its pros and cons. On one HAND, bootcamps often offer marketable tech stacks and programming languages that are in-demand by employers. This can increase your job prospects. On the other hand, there may be errors in the curriculum or outsourced materials, which can hinder your learning experience.

Is a Bootcamp Worth It?

Deciding whether a bootcamp is worth it depends on your individual goals, expectations, and learning style. While bootcamps can provide a structured learning environment and networking opportunities, it's important to weigh the cost and time commitment against the potential benefits.

My Experience at App Academy

Now, let's Delve into my experience at App Academy. I enrolled in their online bootcamp, and if I had a choice, I would have preferred an in-person experience. However, due to the pandemic, online learning was the only safe option available.

Curriculum

The curriculum at App Academy had its strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, it focused on tech stacks and programming languages that are highly in-demand in the job market. These skills are valuable for landing tech jobs. However, the curriculum had a fair share of errors, especially since I was part of one of the early cohorts of a new curriculum. In the next video, I will provide specific examples of these errors.

Instructors

App Academy's instructors were generally pleasant individuals to Interact with. However, one major drawback I experienced was that while they were skilled coders, they lacked the ability to effectively teach complex concepts. Teaching is a distinct skill that requires the ability to explain concepts clearly, especially to beginners. Sadly, this was not the case during my tenure. Additionally, there were instances where instructors themselves did not fully grasp the material they were teaching, which further impacted the learning experience.

TAs and Coaching

One positive aspect of App Academy was the availability of TAs and coaching Sessions. Having a dedicated person to discuss progress and challenges on a weekly basis was beneficial. However, the downside was that the allotted time for these sessions was not always fully utilized. Sometimes, meetings were cut short or rescheduled due to a heavy workload on the part of the TAs. This lack of availability during critical moments, such as negotiating job offers, was disappointing.

General Experience

App Academy attempted to provide extra support through various events and activities. However, it was evident that they were understaffed and lacked the necessary skills and resources. Additionally, there were instances of favoritism within my cohort, where some individuals were given leniency in meeting deadlines while others faced stricter consequences. Another aspect that affected our learning experience was the weekly testing regime. Every week, a test or quiz was conducted to assess our grasp of the material. While regular assessments are necessary for growth, the pass rate was set at 80%, favoring App Academy rather than the students.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my overall experience at App Academy left me disappointed. While I did learn valuable skills during my time there, the majority of my progress can be attributed to my own self-study and effort. My expectations for expert guidance and effective teaching were not met, and I found myself frequently more confused after seeking clarification from instructors. It is important to consider these factors when deciding whether to join a coding bootcamp. Stay tuned for my next video, where I will provide specific examples and delve deeper into the shortcomings I encountered at App Academy.

Highlights

• Choosing the right bootcamp requires thorough research and consideration of curriculum, instructors, TAs, coaching, and general experience.
• Pros of joining a bootcamp include learning in-demand skills, networking opportunities, and a structured learning environment.
• Cons of bootcamps include errors in curriculum, outsourced materials, and potential mismatch between instructors' coding skills and teaching abilities.
• My experience at App Academy revealed weaknesses in the curriculum, instructors lacking teaching skills, limited availability of TAs, and instances of favoritism.
• Despite the disappointments, self-study and personal effort played a significant role in my learning progress.

FAQ

Q: Can I trust bootcamp reviews found on the internet? A: It's advisable to take bootcamp reviews with a grain of salt. While they can provide useful insights, it's better to gather information from multiple sources and consider individual experiences.

Q: How important is it for instructors to have teaching skills in a bootcamp? A: Teaching skills are crucial in a bootcamp as they determine how effectively learners can grasp and apply the concepts taught. Skilled instructors can help students navigate complex topics and provide guidance when needed.

Q: What are the potential drawbacks of online bootcamps? A: Online bootcamps may lack the face-to-face interaction and immediate support that an in-person bootcamp can provide. Technical difficulties and limited availability of instructors and TAs can also hamper the learning experience.