It’s important for those who work in technology or are looking to change careers to learn how to upskill on their own in today’s data-driven world. While some bootcamps are designed to fill in knowledge gaps, others teach fundamentals and advanced topics. This guide will help you compare data science bootcamps, potential careers, and salaries. It will also help you decide if a data science bootcamp is worth the effort.
Frequently Asked Questions about Data Science Bootcamps
What are Data Science Bootcamps?
Data Science bootcamps offer intensive education programs that combine critical data science skills with the latest technologies in a short time span. These programs are designed for students, professionals and those who want to change careers.
How do I find a Data Science Bootcamp that fits my schedule?
Bootcamps can be held in person, online or a combination of both. Some offer an online learning experience, while others offer on-campus learning. Many schools can work around your schedule, or offer part-time programs. While part-time data science bootcamps can take longer to complete, some courses can be completed in the evenings and/or weekends. This is a great option for students who have full-time jobs.
Are there Data Science Bootcamps available for advanced learners?
Yes! Yes! For PhD or MD graduates who are looking to transition to big data jobs in top healthcare organizations, the Insight Health Data Science Fellows Program is available for free. Other bootcamps offer programs that cater to all skill levels.
Can a Data Science Bootcamp help me get a job?
A data science bootcamp could be a good option if you are interested in a career change to data science. You should assess your skills and research the bootcamp results. Ask for advice from former students to find out how many students successfully complete the program and how long it takes to land a job. Check with bootcamps to see if they offer career services, such as mock interviews or if their alumni have access to companies that will hire them.
Are Data Science Bootcamps worth it?
Bootcamps in data science are an effective way to quickly learn skills and techniques, as opposed to a four year degree. Bootcamps are designed to help you quickly land a job as a data scientist. While you are exploring your options, it is important to consider the cost and structure of data science bootcamps.
Although a four-year degree can be useful, it is usually more expensive than a bootcamp. According to the National Center for Education Statistics data, the cost of a four year degree was $28,123 in 2018-2019. Online data science bootcamps can cost as high as $18,000. To lower your costs, make sure you look into scholarships and financial aid. Some bootcamps offer income-share agreements, which means there are no upfront fees. You only pay for the program when you get a job as a data analyst or data scientist.
When evaluating bootcamps, it is important to take into account your career goals as well as other factors. Are you interested in becoming a machine-learning (ML) engineer? Look for bootcamps that have instructors who are experienced in machine learning, and programs that teach ML techniques. Ask admissions staff about the career paths of their graduates. This program might be worthwhile if they are primarily working as ML engineers.
Another question to consider is how much time you can commit to the program. Part-time learning is an option at some bootcamps so that students can complete their studies while still working full-time. You will likely finish your four-year degree even if you choose to do a part-time bootcamp. This allows you to explore other career options and earn promotions in your current job.
How to choose a Data Science Bootcamp
Consider the program’s mentor and instructor quality, cohort composition, curriculum, portfolio work, support rates, and outcomes before you commit to it. Data science is a skill-based field. You should look for instructors with real-world experience in your chosen fields. Bootcamps that emphasize group learning and accept students from diverse backgrounds may be worth your consideration.
You should also decide the amount of structure you desire. Do you prefer self-paced learning or do you prefer structured learning? Do you prefer assignments, deadlines and homework? For those who are new to data science, the beginner and intermediate levels often offer lectures and projects in Python fundamentals. Advanced fellowships will give you more freedom to choose what you want to do and what your originality is. The ASI Data Fellowship gives you the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners and solve real-world problems. Strong bootcamps will help you create a portfolio that is both relevant to the needs of employers and geared towards what they are looking for in candidates.
Many boot camps are talent pipelines that funnel data scientists into eager partners. Look for programs that offer a lot of career training if you want to get a job as soon as you graduate. Some programs offer mock interviews, company visits, and consulting projects. Some programs offer an in-house career coach as well as instruction on salary negotiation. A bootcamp may offer post-graduation support. This can include alumni networking and emails with job opportunities for recent graduates.
Many bootcamps boast high job placement rates, some as high as 100%. However, these numbers are just one part of the story. It is possible to only get job offers from bootcamp partner companies. You might not be offered a data scientist position, or you may have to wait three months before being offered a job. You might also find that the starting salary is less than you expected. You should carefully examine the job placements available and ensure that the career they prepare you for is the one you desire.
7 Steps to Select a Data Science Bootcamp
1. Establish Your Career Goals
What do you see yourself as in five years’ time? Are you looking for a job in data science straight out of bootcamp? Or do you simply want to have the skills to be able to work on your own projects? Your goals will help narrow down your options. You might consider exploring the use of data science in other industries.
2. Get in touch with Data Scientists in your chosen field
LinkedIn and Twitter are great places to start. Ask them about their day. Ask for recommendations about skill sets (e.g. R or Python). Discuss your options for education with them. To get a job, you don’t necessarily need to go through a bootcamp. You could get a job by spending a few months on Coursera, or any other MOOCs, and using a good textbook.
3. Search Requirements for Job Listings
However, don’t let them get too attached to you. Sometimes HR departments will create a long list of skills requirements and hope for the best. Ask your mentors for the knowledge that is essential.
4. Evaluate your Skill Levels –
This will assist you in deciding whether a three-month immersion in data science technologies, a crash course or part-time Python course is right for you. Also, think about soft skills. Are you able to develop your own projects or speak in public? Are you able to lead a team?
5. Bootcamp graduates for an honest opinion
You can search LinkedIn or Twitter for alumni of many bootcamps. Ask for inside information about instructors, career preparation, and job support after graduation.
6. Make a budget
The program fee is only the beginning. You’ll need to consider food, transportation, and accommodation. Housing can be expensive in cities like San Francisco and New York City. Some bootcamps offer scholarships for women, merit-based and need-based, so make sure you ask about these options.
7. Make a shortlist
Our List of Data Science Bootcamps can be used as a starting point, but it is also possible to conduct your own research. What reputations does the instructor have? Are you able to commit to full-time employment? Bootcamps can be very selective. What are your realistic chances to get in?
Bootcamps vs. Graduate Degrees
Let’s suppose you have a bachelor’s in quantitative science or a related field and are interested in becoming a data scientist. You might have taken a few online courses, such as Udemy or Coursera. You may have taken a few online courses (e.g., Coursera, Udemy) and now you are ready to make an investment in further education. There are four options available to you: a data science bootcamp; a bachelor’s degree; a master’s; or a PhD data science. Which one should you choose?
The definitive answer is not available. There is no one way to make a career out of data science, unlike in medicine. While some data scientists have a PhD in statistics, and have developed a number of data tools, others have a B.S. An impressive portfolio of projects. Many entrepreneurs started their own businesses after completing a minimal amount of time in an academic environment.
Data Science Jobs
Data science is a broad field that includes many roles. You may learn these skills in a bootcamp for data science. O*NET OnLine projects a job growth rate of at least 8.8% for data scientists between 2019 and 2029. This is higher than the average for all occupations. In 2020, the median salary for data scientists was $98,230 annually. Here are some similar job titles:
Data architect
Data architects create the framework for data management systems. They develop a vision of how data will flow through the company, establish standards and work with multiple stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
Data Manager
Data engineers design, test, and maintain databases and data reservoirs. Pipelines are designed to make it easier for their company to access raw data. This ensures optimized retrieval. Data engineers may be more interested in databases, while others work within data warehouses to create table schemas.
Data Analyst
Data analysts use large data sets to uncover business insights and solve problems. Data analysts, like data scientists, often use programming languages such R and SQL to retrieve or manipulate data. Data analysts also use statistical tools to interpret data, and uncover trends.
Business Intelligence Analyst
Business intelligence is a combination of data analytics and business acumen. Business intelligence analysts typically use data from past performance of the company to assist management in making informed decisions. They can use many tools and techniques to collect data, identify trends, and create reports that will help the company’s strategy.
Quantitative Analyser
Quantitative analysts (quants), who are mathematically skilled, create complex models for financial companies that they can use to make their decisions. While some quants are generalists, others have expertise in a particular area. Quants can research and analyze market trends in order to make modeling decisions and test new products, models, and analytics programs. They might also work with stakeholders to improve trading strategies, market dynamics, and the performance of trading systems.
