Written By Jess Feldman
Edited By Liz Eggleston
Course Report strives to create the most trust-worthy content about coding bootcamps. Read more about Course Report’s Editorial Policy and How We Make Money.
Course Report strives to create the most trust-worthy content about coding bootcamps. Read more about Course Report’s Editorial Policy and How We Make Money.
Most data science bootcamps require prior knowledge – a college-level understanding of linear algebra, probability, statistics, calculus, and Python – to get accepted into their programs. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need a college degree in those subjects or that attending college is a better way to get into data science than bootcamps. You can learn these skills through online courses, and a data science bootcamp will take a fraction of the time that college would, plus lead to data science jobs shortly after. There’s never been a better time to start down this career path — Data science salaries range from $60,000-$80,000 per year after bootcamp.
If you’re a complete beginner, you can prepare for a data science bootcamp with a bootcamp prep course or with free resources (which we’ve listed at the end of this article). Those with an academic or business background may get into a data science bootcamp by brushing up on data science foundations like linear algebra, statistics, calculus, and Python. It doesn’t hurt to attend a free bootcamp prep program no matter what background you have!
While a data science prep program may not be necessary for everyone enrolling in a data science bootcamp, prep programs often give prospective students the refresher they need to nail the bootcamp interview.
You should enroll in a data science bootcamp prep program if:
If any of these apply to you, keep reading for our list of great data science bootcamp prep programs! We’ve included various in-person and online programs at different price points (including free options). Most of the programs we’ve included cover Python, basic machine learning, and math fundamentals; some offer application and interview prep. Others also guarantee participants entry into a coding bootcamp, or a money-back guarantee.
Length: Self-paced
Curriculum: Students will learn how to code in Python, receive an introduction to machine learning, and get a refresher on math fundamentals. This course covers data types, variables, and collections in Python; gradient, descent, and calculus for machine learning; and graphs and calculus. You’ll learn with two, hands-on projects using the Learn.co platform.
Guarantee: Data Science Bootcamp Prep students who apply to Flatiron School are fast-tracked through Flatiron School’s admissions process as priority applicants to the full-time Immersive Data Science Bootcamp course.
Cost: Free!
Length: 13 video lessons
Curriculum: This video prep course was created for beginners. You’ll learn how to visualize data, create a data narrative, and design a dashboard.
Guarantee: None
Cost: Free!
Length: 2 weeks, 10 hours per week (Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays)
Curriculum: You’ll learn Python foundations, intro to statistics, GitHub workflow, data science foundations, and you’ll complete a project.
Guarantee: Required to prepare for the Data Science Full-Immersion at LearningFuze.
Cost: $145, free to all Info-Session attendees and students who have been accepted in the Data Science Full-Immersion program.
Length: 4-6 weeks, 10-15 hours per week
Curriculum: This course includes six 1:1 calls with a mentor. Learn how to use Python with real-world coding exercises, foundations of probability, fundamental computer science, as well as data wrangling and visualization.
Guarantee: Preferential Data Science Career Track application review and admissions fast-tracking upon course completion.
Cost: $490
Length: 15 days
Curriculum: This bundle of courses includes: Introductory Python, Data Science with Python: Data Analysis and Visualization, and Data Science with R: Data Analysis and Visualization. These three courses can also be purchased separately, but purchasing the bundle together gets you a discount.
Guarantee: None
Cost: $5,000 (financing through Climb Credit available)
Length: 3 hours
Curriculum: This live class is great for those who aren’t sure if they even want to embark on a data science career or prep course. It covers what data science is, how it’s used, key tools and processes, and how to get started in data science to give you an idea of how a real data scientist works.
Guarantee: None
Cost: Free!
Length: 2 days - 2 weeks
Curriculum: Data Science Beach Camp offers short courses focused on Python, machine learning, data visualization, and more. These hands-on, project-based courses are held in-person in Thailand.
Guarantee: None
Cost: $150-$400
Length: 60-90 hours (self-guided)
Curriculum: The Data Science intro at Turing College is an online, self-paced course that covers Python, JSON, REST, variables, functions, data structures, expressions, networks, web-scraping, and more. Students will complete a project at the end of the course.
Guarantee: None
Cost: Free!
More free ways to prepare:
Subscription-based ways to learn data science:
Remember that before you start class, most data science bootcamps require you to complete pre-work. This list of bootcamp prep programs aims to help you apply for and get accepted to a bootcamp!
Jess Feldman is an accomplished writer and the Content Manager at Course Report, the leading platform for career changers who are exploring coding bootcamps. With a background in writing, teaching, and social media management, Jess plays a pivotal role in helping Course Report readers make informed decisions about their educational journey.
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