Nucamp Full-Stack Bootcamp Review 2021
Hello I am CS (Charles Shepherd) and this is my honest review of the Nucamp Bootstrap. I even left notes of the class for you all to look at too!
My Background:
I have degree in multimedia from San Jose State. I produced an educational CD-ROM for “The Oakland Zoo,” which took the viewer on a virtual tour of zoo. I have worked at the prestigious firm “CKS” in Cupertino, CA; where I was involved in the development of in-store demos and sales CD-ROM’s for such clients as Apple, HP, and Compaq. As a freelance contractor for Color Vu I produced an exceptional sales CD-ROM that won “an honor of distinction” in the annual publication The Communicator Award (2000). I am also a published author, product photographer and 360 photographer. You can visit my portfolio site here.
Why I took the Nucamp bootcamp:
After I found the Nucamp ad on Facebook. I took this Nucamp bootcamp to increase my skills and knowledge about web development. I was out of work because of my health so I had time on my hands. Also my wife and best friend encouraged me to do the class. Also, Covid was a good excuse too to take the class since I wanted to minimize my contact with people too. The cost of the class was also a factor. Heck it was cheaper then a lot of those other bootcamps!
What you should do to prepare for this Nucamp bootcamp:
- Start learning Javascript from w3schools
- Take the Web Development Fundamentals class before Front-End development
- Maybe get a tutor lined up on wyzant
- Get a good screen capture software for the Saturday class workshops
What you should really have for this class:
- Duel screen setup minimum. Three screens is better.
- A fast computer based on Nucamp’s recommendations
- A blogging site like blogger for taking notes.
What should you do during the Nucamp bootcamp to succeed:
- Take notes as you learn by starting a blog like I did on this site.
- Create a schedule and stick to it
- Start early on your class assignments and portfolio project
- Don’t wait until the last minute to do the assignments!
- Use Google Search to find answers!
- Watch Youtube videos on JavaScript, React, React Native
- See a tutor once a week to cover the things you do not understand from the lessons.
- When you get to Bootstrap, make sure to use Git and save all your work!
What you will have difficulty with:
- React
- React Native
- Github
- Redux
- Intermediate JavaScript
- Design (If you don’t have any background in this)
- Portfolio Project for React, React Native, and Back End
- Backend Node.js Server (Is very hard!)
What you will find easy:
- HTML
- CSS
- Bootstrap
- Beginning Javascript
- Using Visual Studio Code
- Multiple choice tests
- Portfolio Project using HTML and Bootstrap
- Multiple choice tests are short and you can take again if you fail
Very useful sites:
- HTML to JSX Compiler for React (Life saver for converting your bootstrap project over to React)
- W3SCHOOLS (Use this over and over again)
- Logomaker
- Free stock photos
- Free stock photos by Pixaboy
- CodewithMosh
- FontAwesome
- CodePen (Practice coding)
- Github
- Breakdown of Website Structure
- NuCamp Student Work Examples
- Netlify (Use this to host and test React Builds)
What is great about NuCamp:
- Slack channel support from students and staff
- Instructors are very friendly and work in the field
- Lessons are pretty well done
- Cost is very affordable
- You can pause your class if something comes up
- You can retake a class for cheap
What I wish they would do:
- Increase the number of test questions!
- Have one class on Javascript for 4 weeks after Bootstrap before React. Cover more on the basics!
- Have more on Redux
Good tips for passing:
- Get ahead as soon as you can on assignments so you can have Friday’s off from school.
- On the day of class make sure to volunteer to share your code screen in the breakout rooms. That way you will have working code and can turn in the assignment early!
- Take notes on a blog like I did! Helps you to remember stuff and helps your classmates too!
- If you get stuck, take a breather and walk away. Come back and try again. Use slack and ask students for help.
- If you are pretty computer savvy, for the most part you can just barely pass this bootcamp with just copying and pasting code, but you won’t learn as much. By the time you get to the Back End you will be pretty tired. By this time, you will know if you love or hate web development!
- Students also post their classwork on Github if you get stuck on code.
Beware:
- Many students tend to drop off around the 2nd or 3rd week of React. This is when the hard stuff hits the fan!
Difficultly Scale for comprehending the material:
- Web Development Fundamentals (Easy)
- Bootstrap (Easy)
- React (Week 1 and 2 Easy, Week 3 and after Hard)
- React Native (Very Hard)
- Backend with Node JS (Extremely Hard)
My personal notes for each class (They will help you but are not a substitute for the class. I have left out the tests/quizzes, NuCamp Videos and Saturday workshop assignments, Nucamp needs to make their money.) (Beware that code can change a little over time because of updates. This is current as of 5/26/2021. Should be good for another 6 months after that.)
My Completed Bootstrap Portfolio Project – AquaFlow Plumbing
My Completed React Portfolio Project – AquaFlow Plumbing
My React Site on YouTube:
How my React site was built:
Conclusion:
Was this NuCamp bootcamp worth it? It depends on your needs and what you put into it. Do some students find web work after this bootcamp? Yes! Will I find work myself? Hopefully! Basically, what you put in is what you get out. I believe this is a great bootcamp for those who want to get their foot wet before really diving into web development. The price is very affordable and the class schedule is great for those who are currently working. If you end up loving this class, then you may need to consider a more advanced bootcamp afterwords like codingdojo to get really good! Of course you will spend big bucks with them! The good thing about this bootcamp is you will know by the end, if you really want to do web development as a career, without having to spend a lot of money! I did learn a lot which I can use in my life as a multimedia artist. I also made some new friends along the way! I also wish NuCamp would have one class just on JavaScript that was 4 weeks long. That class should be right after Bootstap! I think overall NuCamp is a pretty good deal! Out of 10 stars, I give it 8!
