Practicum Bootcamp

I have been in Practicum's program for 4 months now.  The Data Science program I am in is a 9 month program.  The First part of the program was extremely tough.  I am coming from a no coding background; non-the-less I was expecting a challenge; as it's not easy to attain these type of skills.  I like the way the platform is set up; although it did have a few tech issues which set me behind on some things.  The lessons are just bit size enough; yet sometimes can feel overwhelming.  There have been changes since I have been in the program; and at first I could get help with tutororing fast and easy-- now it has been more challenging to get a tutor when I need help.  That is something I don't like.  For the most part I feel the program goes in order for the things we should learn; but there were a couple projects so far that I felt would have been easier or made more sense if the order of learning was better arranged.  I like that Practicum has a comaradarie of classmates.  There is a community where we can share, video and spend time with our other classmates online and not for nothing this is one of my favorite things about Practicum; is the support that I get from other classmates-- all in different parts of the program which is helpful.  The community managers are pretty helpful at being liasons and helping fix any issues.  I have witnessed a graduate get a job in the field which is a positive notion.  This program is really challenging and I hear from others in the industry it will set graduates up nicely to get a position in the work field.  I will also say; some of the reviewers who check the projects are unnecessarily challenging-- and it feels almost they are holding up the process on purpose.  That is something else I don't like.  This program states you don't need prior experience; but I recommend it, even if it's just watching youtube to gain some knowledge.  To come in and keep up with knowing nothing from scratch can be discouraging. The workshops are not as helpful as some tutorials on YouTube.  But the learning process is more to the point than to try to learn everything on your own.  Learning Data Science has also helped in overall parts of my life on a personal level.  Overall I like Practicum and I think it was a good choice for me because of the community in the program I am now connected with.  I do feel I am learning the trade. 

I am twenty years old and am trying to get my life together. My priority is to become financially stable as soon as possible. The sooner I am financially stable, the sooner I will be able to enjoy my life and pursue more personal goals. Moreover, after much research, I confidently concluded that software engineering provides not only a comfortable, enjoyable work environment, but also the kind of pay that would most definitely help me accomplish my goal of becoming financially stable. Software engineering has always peaked my interest. 

As far back as I can remember, working with computers has always been a dream. To be able to understand the magic behind technology is an interest that has never stopped lingering in the back of my head. If I am not mistaken, my first time finding myself interested in computers was in one of those movies that are similar to the “Mission Impossible” series in the scenes where there is that techie/hacker and says something like “Just one second, I am hacking my way into the mainframe… ANNDD done!” as the hacker is typing ridiculously fast! Therefore, out of high school I decided to join the US Army’s reserves as an Information Technology specialist. Throughout my time at Fort Gordon, my eyes stayed wide open as I learned more and more about how modern-day technology functions. Thereafter, I came back home and decided I will stick with information technology. For the past two years, I have worked in information technology for various companies and have honestly enjoyed every bit of it. However, now that I know the kind of lifestyle I wanted to purse, I knew it was time to make a career change…

Being as young as I am, there is so much I want to do before my health prevents or hinders me from doing so. A dream of mine has always been to travel the world. I would love to go around the world visiting different landmarks and hiking beautiful trails. I would love to go to Europe and Mexico to watch club soccer games and enjoy the local city. Also, I am planning to get married here soon and something I want to most definitely make sure of is that I have the finances to take care of my family. The pay that comes with being a software engineer assures me that I will have all the resources I need to become financially stable. 

I chose Practicum out of all the other bootcamps, because of their approach to assuring they do their end to assist you with landing a job after the bootcamp. Practicum has a program that a student can participate in after completing the instructional portion of the program. With this program, the student has all the resources the student could have ever asked for. Because of previous experience in attempting to land a job in the technology industry, I understood that I needed all the help I can get to make my transition to the software engineering industry as smooth and easy as possible. Do not get me wrong, the student still has to do his part in regards to the studying and sacrificing of time, but Practicum takes pride in their ability to assist their students in landing a job as a software engineer. I would imagine every program would have a fantastic instructional program with great tutors, but it is what is done besides the instructional portion that people should be looking out for. Admittedly, participating in a bootcamp does come with a financial sacrifice, therefore you want to always make sure you are getting the most out of every dollar you spend. In hindsight, choosing Practicum was the best decision I could have made to work my way towards my big goal: becoming a software engineer. 

When I think of software engineering, I think of those movie scenes where the hacker in one of those movies that are similar to the “Mission Impossible” series in the scenes where there is that techie/hacker and says something like “Just one second, I am hacking my way into the mainframe… ANNDD done!” as the hacker is typing ridiculously fast! I am well aware that the average day in the life of a software engineer is, for the most part, not as intense as that. Nor do most software engineers code with a black backdrop and green lettering. However, that presumption has made software engineering extremely scary for me. Thankfully, Practicum does a fantastic job of making sure that the students are taken from one lesson to another as smoothly as possible. Practicum pays close attention to how a student is processing the new information and has adjusted their curriculum with that in mind. Therefore, as I have gone through the instructional portion of the program, I have not found myself overwhelmed. To be honest, the topics explored further down the line can be a bit perplexing. However, the program is laid out to ascertain the student understands the ins and outs of the “bigger picture” of those crucial concepts. The tutors are also a huge help in the student’s understanding of what is taught here in Practicum. The tutors do their best to always make themselves to assist the students with any issues they may have. Personally, I cannot even begin to count how many times a tutor has had to take time to explain something I have had an issue wrapping my head around. Practicum delivers what you need, AND SO MUCH MORE, than what one would need to make a smooth career change over to software engineering. 

In conclusion, I greatly recommend Practicum for anyone who is seriously committed to making a career change to software engineering. The resources are plentiful, the community is encouraging, the tutors are encouraging and knowledgeable, and the program can take anyone from knowing absolutely nothing to someone who is ready to transition over to the world of software engineering. I wish you the very best in your personal software engineering journey!

As a veterinary technician transitioning into the data field, I recently completed Practicum's Data Analysis Bootcamp and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. The program provided me with the skills, support, and community I needed to successfully pivot my career.


The curriculum was well-structured and comprehensive, covering all the key aspects of data analysis, including data cleaning, exploration, visualization, and machine learning. The hands-on approach with real-world projects allowed me to apply what I learned in a practical setting, which greatly boosted my confidence and competence in data analysis. Projects are sprint based which is set similar to workplace experience. For each sprint/ project, you are given two weeks to complete the curriculum and finish the project. 


One of the standout aspects of Practicum's Data Analysis Bootcamp was the strong sense of community. The instructors and mentors were knowledgeable and approachable, always providing prompt feedback and guidance. The online learning platform was user-friendly and facilitated interaction with fellow students, creating a collaborative environment where we could learn from each other's experiences and challenges.

I was impressed with the quality and depth of the content in the bootcamp, which was constantly updated to reflect the latest industry trends. The program was also flexible, allowing me to learn at my own pace while managing my other commitments.


In conclusion, Practicum's Data Analysis Bootcamp was a game-changer for me as a veterinary technician transitioning into the data field. The comprehensive curriculum, supportive community, and career services assistance provided me with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to successfully launch my career as a data analyst. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to transition into the data field or enhance their data analysis skills.

Come prepared with the mindset to succeed. You will learn to manage your time one way or another as its the only way to succeed. 

I found the Practicum by Yandex Data Analyst program to be a phenomenal program for preparing me for the real-world work environment. I completed the program with over 12 projects utilizing real datasets and skills in Python, SQL, data visualization and analysis, as well as some familiarity with machine learning algorithms. 

The Practicum program appealed most to be me because it was the most respectful of my time. Many similar boot camps require huge time commitments and often are impractical to do along side working full time. The Practicum program was only around 20 hours a week and offered me several breaks during my study for me to still have a normal personal life. 

After the completion of the program I enrolled in the Career Prep program that is part of all Practicum boot camps. In this program I built an optimized resume, a professional and polished linkedin, a strong github repository of my projects, and a simple portfolio website. With the tools I learned in the Career Prep program I am confident putting my best foot forward in job applications.  

I started learning data analysis to change my career and came across a Practicum boot camp advertisement. 
It's great that I consulted with a real person, Mr. R, before joining the boot camp to ensure that it was not a scam. Unfortunately, there are many online scams that can take advantage of people who are looking for opportunities to learn and improve their skills. By talking with Mr. R and getting his advice and explanation about the boot camp, I was able to make an informed decision and avoid any potential scams. It's always important to do research and talk with trusted sources before investing time and money into any program or opportunity.
Starting to learn coding with zero experience can be challenging, but it's great that I was able to do so through the Practicum boot camp. The boot camp was designed to help people learn coding from scratch and develop their skills through hands-on projects and personalized tutoring. It's never too late to start learning something new, and coding is a valuable skill to have in today's job market. With the right resources and commitment, anyone can learn to code, regardless of their background or experience level.
Initially, it was hard to balance duties as a mom, wife, and student, but the boot camp helped you with one-on-one tutoring and recorded sessions. 
The program was amazing and interactive, and the projects were challenging, but passing them made me feel relieved and accomplished. 
The journey from zero to learning new things about data analysis has been helpful, and find the job very interesting, combining finance, analysis, and hypotheses.
Overall, I am very grateful for the experience and thankful to the Practicum boot camp and my manager, Miss M.

I was recommended by one of my mentors to join Practicum after looking for a couple bootcamps to attend. He told me about Practicum and I gave it shot. It was a wonderful experience to be able to join Practicum and learn from them. The community managers and tutors were very helpful when it came to my studies and progress. I was able to network with other students, I've also joined Apiary which allows you to work on real world projects on a team. It was just an amazing experience to get to learn and then showcase my skills. The program curriculum is structured in such a way you get to pick up these skills in a short amount of time. It was very flexible for me. Thanks Practicum! 

I found Practicum to be pretty good overall. They are continuously improving the platform, projects and teaching process. The content is current and projects simulate real-world developer tasks. It is easy to get help when you need it.

The best part for me has been code reviews. I have felt like getting professional reviews and tips has improved my coding skills quickly.

Generally, it took me more to finish the sprints than the hours stated on their website, so that is another thing to consider if you are working. And the main reason is that they try to cover a lot of things with some extra materials to read, practice etc besides course content.

I am now having a holiday and took a course freeze so they are pretty flexible in that sense.

Finally, I would definitely recommend Practicum. I didn't have any bad experiences with them. So far so good!

I decided that I needed to shift directions in my career as a project coordinator, the pay wasn't great and the jobs were hard to come by. Practicum was one of my options from hours of research I had put in from other bootcamp options.  What sold me on practicum initially was the smaller class sizes that were described and designated group of tutors for help. I decided to take the software engineering course, I had played around with a little of Python and decided this could be a great direction to go into. I was concerned studying online with something i've never done before and wanting to make sure I would have the support needed to do this successfully. Practicum's main line of communication is through Slack, it's all organized by what part of the course you are on. You are always aware when tutors are available or if any upgrades have been made to their program. The program itself is done on a really nice platform where you will read the theory and execute exactly what you read into code. I'm half way through the course at this point and it is definitely getting tougher. The only negative thing I will say is depending on the chapter it can feel like information overload and you might not use too much of that theory on the project. It can also be the complete opposite where I didn't feel like the information was enough or clear enough how to do the project. However, the support from the tutors has been great and they are good about making sure you understand. The study structure is broken out into sprints to replicate what it would be like on the job. Every sprint is between 2-3 weeks. I currently spend at least a few hours a day on it, my goal is to get through a chapter a day. When it comes to the projects I dedicate more time to those. Projects are always at the end of each sprint where you take your understanding in those chapters and use it on projects that will build your portfolio by the end. So far the experience has been the hardest thing I've ever done but the support makes it easier. I definitely believe I'm a slower learner when It comes to learning process, I feel like I usually will fully grasp the concept of something two sprints later.  Even as a slower learner I still believe Practicum has made it easy to get the help I need to feel more confident about what i'm studying. I'll gladly update you all as soon as I finish the program on what my overall experience was. If someone was to ask me though if I'd recommend Practicum and I'd definitely would. 

I entered into the Software Engineering program at the end of 2022 and I couldn't be more pleased with how things are going. They have built a system of learn based on learn, practice and repeat. I'm a very hands on learner so tell me how to do something I will immediately forget. Practicum will have to watch a video and read about a topic and immediately have you practice it so that you can see how it changes a website. 

With this being something brand new I find myself getting stuck on the projects, but I know that I can always go to a tutor through slack or one of the video tutoring hours to get help. I really appreciate that its not the here is the answer help, its more of a guided help so you can develop a thought process for if you encounter the same problem or something like this.

Practicum also has little break parts that will help you learn about different jobs that you could apply for after or things interviewer and jobs are looking for. 

I also find that this bootcamp is scheduled very well to work with individuals that  have a full time job. So far I haven't felt overwhelmed with working 8 hours taken an hour to relax and the jumping into learning/coding a website. 

Practicum is great. I don't think it's 100/100 but it closes in 95 or above for sure. The information gets to the heart of what software engineering is about and I think they do a fantastic time with giving yo the tools in order for you to solve every problem. They hold your hand just enough in the beginning to get your pace set us but you very much have to be self motivated because you won't finish or hit your deadlines if this isn't your endgame. The best part of Practicum aren't their lectures but the community. You get access to many skilled tutors and they host office hours and can help you with your questions and concerns, this is priceless especially when starting out because coding isn't the easiest of tasks. I would recommend practicum to anybody.

In my time in Practicum's Data Science bootcamp I have developed a good understanding of the Python pandas library and how to use it to manipulate and look into data files. The learning pace is quick, and to stay on track you must spend a good amount of time per week studying and reviewing the coursework. I am still attending the bootcamp while working a full-time job, which is certainly challenging, but if you have the desire and motivation to learn data science then you can make it happen. If you have any questions or problems with the coursework or the projects, there are tutors and instructors that are available every day throughout the week that will happily assist you. There are also learning sessions every Saturday where instructors will go in-depth into the course material and show some different examples of how to use what you've learned throughout the bootcamp. Practicum makes all the resources you need to do well available, it's up to you to use them to your advantage and help develop your learning and knowledge of the subjects. My community manager checks in with me often and makes sure that I can access what I need for learning easily and readily, and regularly offers reminders about opportunities for communication with tutors and instructors. Practicum's cost for the Data Science bootcamp was very reasonable, especially after working out a 30% discount with the recruiter. The job acceptance statistic was very attractive too, one of the major reasons why I chose Practicum for my Data Science training.