Coding Bootcamp Preparation: Getting Ready to Code
Everything you need to prepare for a coding bootcamp, from researching programs and building prerequisite skills to financial planning and setting yourself up for post-bootcamp success.
Last updated:
0 of 21 completed0%
Copied!
Program Research and Selection
Compare 5-8 bootcamps by curriculum, duration, format, and job placement rates
Ask each bootcamp for their verified job placement rate and median starting salary. Reputable programs place 70-85% of graduates within 6 months. Be skeptical of any program claiming 95%+ placement.
Read reviews from 10+ graduates on independent review sites
Focus on reviews from graduates who finished 6-12 months ago, not recent grads still in the honeymoon phase. Ask about the quality of career support after graduation, which varies dramatically between programs.
Decide between full-time (12-16 weeks) and part-time (24-36 weeks) format
Full-time bootcamps require 60-80 hours per week of total commitment. Part-time programs need 20-30 hours per week and let you keep your job. Part-time has lower financial risk but requires sustained discipline over 6-9 months.
Verify the tech stack taught matches current job market demand in your area
Search local job postings for junior developer roles and note which languages and frameworks appear most often. If 60%+ of postings require a specific stack, choose a bootcamp that teaches it.
Prerequisite Skills Building
Complete the bootcamp's official pre-work or prerequisite curriculum
Most bootcamps require 40-100 hours of pre-work covering basics like HTML, CSS, and introductory programming. Students who complete pre-work thoroughly are 3x more likely to graduate on time.
Learn basic command line operations and Git version control
Spend 5-10 hours practicing terminal commands and Git workflows before bootcamp starts. These tools are used daily in every bootcamp and every developer job. Struggling with them during class steals time from learning code.
Build 2-3 small practice projects to solidify your foundation
Build a personal webpage, a simple calculator, and a to-do list app using your pre-work knowledge. Completing projects from scratch builds confidence and reveals gaps that tutorials hide.
Practice typing speed to at least 40 words per minute
Slow typing creates a bottleneck during pair programming and timed exercises. Most professional developers type 50-80 WPM. Even reaching 40 WPM eliminates typing as a frustration during bootcamp.
Financial Planning
Calculate total cost including tuition, living expenses, and lost income
Tuition ranges from $10,000-20,000 for reputable programs. Full-time students should budget 4-6 months of living expenses (bootcamp duration plus 2-3 months of job searching). Total cost is often $25,000-40,000.
Research financing options including ISAs, loans, scholarships, and payment plans
Income Share Agreements (ISAs) require no upfront payment but cost 15-25% more total than paying upfront. Many bootcamps offer $500-2,000 scholarships for underrepresented groups. Always compare total cost across options.
Build a financial buffer for 3 months of job searching after graduation
The average bootcamp graduate takes 1-3 months to land their first role. Having 3 months of expenses saved prevents desperation that leads to accepting a bad first job or undercutting your salary.
Reduce non-essential spending 2 months before bootcamp starts
Cut subscriptions, dining out, and discretionary spending to build your buffer faster. Even saving $500-800 per month for 2 months gives you meaningful additional runway for the job search phase.
Equipment and Workspace Setup
Ensure your laptop meets the bootcamp's minimum hardware requirements
Most bootcamps require a laptop with at least 8GB RAM, a modern processor, and 256GB storage. A used laptop meeting these specs costs $400-700. Underpowered machines create constant frustration with slow build times.
Set up your development environment with required software and tools
Install your code editor, terminal, and programming language runtime 1-2 weeks before class starts. Troubleshooting installation issues during the first class wastes valuable instruction time.
Create a dedicated, distraction-free study space
You will spend 8-14 hours per day coding during a full-time bootcamp. A dedicated workspace with a comfortable chair, good lighting, and a second monitor (even a $100 used one) significantly reduces fatigue.
Portfolio and Career Preparation
Set up a GitHub profile and start making regular commits
Employers check GitHub activity during hiring. Start committing your pre-work projects now so your profile shows 3-4 months of consistent activity by the time you start job searching.
Plan 2-3 portfolio projects you want to build during bootcamp
Projects that solve a real problem you personally experience are more compelling to employers than generic tutorial projects. Start a list of project ideas now and refine them during bootcamp.
Create or update your LinkedIn profile with a tech-career focus
Add a headline like 'Software Developer | Currently at [Bootcamp Name]' from day one. Connect with 20-30 developers in your area before bootcamp starts to begin building your tech network early.
Career Services Evaluation
Ask about the bootcamp's career support services and duration of access
Top programs offer 6-12 months of career support including resume reviews, mock interviews, and employer introductions. Programs that cut off support at graduation leave you on your own during the hardest part.
Ask for introductions to 3-5 hiring partners or employer connections
Bootcamps with strong hiring partnerships place graduates 40-60% faster than those without. Ask specifically how many employers actively recruit from the program and what roles they typically hire for.
Confirm the program includes mock technical interviews and whiteboarding practice
Technical interviews are the biggest hurdle for bootcamp grads. Programs that include 5+ mock interviews produce graduates who pass technical screens at 2x the rate of those with minimal interview prep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are coding bootcamps worth the cost in 2026?
The average coding bootcamp costs $12,000-$20,000 and graduates report median starting salaries of $65,000-$85,000 within six months. Job placement rates vary wildly — reputable programs report 70-85% employment in-field, while lower-quality programs inflate numbers by counting unrelated jobs. Check CIRR-certified outcomes reports and alumni LinkedIn profiles rather than trusting school-reported statistics.
How much coding should I know before starting a bootcamp?
Complete 40-80 hours of pre-work before day one: HTML/CSS basics, JavaScript fundamentals (variables, loops, functions, arrays), and command line navigation. Free resources like freeCodeCamp and The Odin Project cover this material in 3-4 weeks of daily practice. Students who skip pre-work are 2-3x more likely to fall behind in the first two weeks, when the pace accelerates sharply.
What is the difference between full-time and part-time bootcamps?
Full-time bootcamps run 12-16 weeks at 60-80 hours per week, demanding complete schedule dedication. Part-time programs span 24-36 weeks at 20-25 hours per week, allowing you to maintain employment. Full-time graduates report faster job placement (average 3 months vs. 5 months for part-time), but part-time students retain income during training, reducing financial risk by $15,000-$30,000 in lost wages.
Which programming language should I learn first for a bootcamp?
JavaScript is the most commonly taught bootcamp language because it powers both frontend and backend development (via Node.js), maximizing job opportunities from a single language. Python-focused bootcamps are stronger for data science and machine learning career paths. Avoid bootcamps teaching niche or declining languages — check the language's ranking on Stack Overflow's annual survey and GitHub's Octoverse report.
Can I get a tech job after a bootcamp without a computer science degree?
Yes — 48% of professional developers do not have a CS degree, according to Stack Overflow's 2025 survey. Bootcamp graduates compete most effectively for frontend, full-stack, and DevOps roles at startups and mid-size companies. FAANG companies hire bootcamp graduates at lower rates (estimated 5-10% of junior hires), though this is increasing. A strong GitHub portfolio with 3-5 deployed projects matters more than educational credentials for initial interviews.