Boot camp pros and consThere are many benefits associated with attending a boot camp but also traps you need to be aware of before deciding if it is for you, at this point in your IT career. While it is the fastest way to get certified and get a job, on the other hand, it is the most expensive form of study. Below I describe both the pros and cons for you, so you will be in a better position to make the right decision.
Pro - The fastest way to get certified
Pro - Everything is at your fingertips When you self study, if you are stuck on something, it's up to you to find the answers. You may go to a forum and get help or even google your question. In a boot camp, the instructor aids you every step of the way. Tutoring is also provided if you fail the exam on the first try and need help to pass it the next time. One of the major benefits that attracts people to an IT boot camp are the labs.
Pro - The full experience of classroom based training but better A boot camp is a better version of classroom base training. Student numbers are kept low so each student can benefit from the instructor's attention.
Pro - the material is structured The material of a boot camp is structured differently from classroom based training. Because it is only for a couple of weeks, its structured in a way that you learn the necessary and the most important in order to pass your test(s). Instructors don't go over redudant material.
Pro - Instructors are qualified I'm not saying that in a classroom based training the instructors are not qualified, they are. But because bootcamps charge so much, they make sure their instructors are the creme of the crop. You will find that not only they are qualified to teach but have themselves been working in the field for years. You further benefit from their real world experience.
Pro - There are no distractions For the time you are at a boot camp, there are no distractions from the outside world. You are with like minded people which addes the benefit of further motivating you.
Pro - You take the test(s) immediately I don't remember the exact percentages now, but you know this yourself. When you first learn something it's fresh in your mind and you remember it. After a few days, you lose some of what you learnt. In a boot camp, you take the test immediately after covering your subject. If your certification requires that you pass 2 - 3 - 5 tests, then after you finish one subject, you sit the exam. Then you go back to class, study, do labs and take the next test and so on.
Pro - You can retake the tests A boot camp will give you another chance to pass the test if you fail the first time. Before retaking, your instructor will tutor you, you will practice on the labs some more and then take it again.
And now for the cons....
Con - The cost is astranomical By far the largest set back preventing many people from enjoying the benefits of a boot camp is the cost. A boot camp costs thousands. It's not untypical to pay 5-10K and this at times doesn't include the additional expenses like your hotel, airfare or food. Some bootcamps will include these in their price, others will not. Always check this.
Con - not for the inexperienced
Con - not all students may be up to your level The class moves at a fast pace. If you are unlucky, you may be stuck with people in your class they are clueless about a subject. This has the misfortune that a class will go overtime and you will have less time to go back to your room and study. A 'class' in a bootcamp starts at a specific time, but doesn't necessarily finish at a specific time. It finishes when all that needs to be covered is covered.
Con - Very long hours If you are the type of person that studies a few hours in the evening and finds that even that is too much, you will find a boot camp grueling. If on the other hand you are the type of person that likes moving at a fast pace, then this con turns into a pro.
Con - There is no redudancy Redudancy is not a bad thing. It is needed. Repetition after all in the mother of success. Not in a boot camp. You can't afford that luxury there. By its nature a boot camp needs to more forward at a rate that may alarm some people. This is why it's crucial to already have experience on your subject. A boot camp class will cover everything about your certification. But it will cover it quickly.
Con - You will need to be efficient in managing your time During class and lab work, you will have the instructor and other students to keep you motivated to keep pushing far beyond what you normally think you can take. After class, you go back to your hotel room. But your day isn't finished yet. You still need to put in some hours of study to prepare for the next day. This is the time when your time management skills will come into play. Do you watch TV (so tempting) or study (my brain can't take anymore!).
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