Learn Git at These 389 Git Bootcamps

The application process can be daunting and intimidating, however, each step has its reasons. This makes each cohort learn and progress in a homogeneous pace, which is key to a successful completion of the TDI. 

I was part of the D.C 2017 winter cohort and the 8 weeks were key to position myself as a Data Scientist in the industry. You share and work collaboratively with the rest of the cohort, making it invaluable because you are not only learning from the diverse curriculum but also from your peers. At the end of the day, Data Science is both a Science and an Art, so different perspectives and approaches to problem-solving definitely enhance your skillset. 

Additionally, there is a focus on soft skills, from getting your resume up to speed to effective communication. Each week there are dedicated sessions on how to tackle interview questions, how to sell yourself, and how to navigate opportunely the recruiting process, complementing TDI's rigorous technical curriculum. 

Going to the TDI was not only enriching but also enjoyable. You come out of the program with a powerful network of top-notch data scientist, a second to none skillset and the right toolkit to navigate the corporate world.

The Instructor, Jason, was so helpful and patient with all of my questions. He made sure I understood everything clearly and made the course fun and interesting. He provided helpful tools for me to use to practice my skills. I would definitely recommend. 

• Learning Process: I was in a small online class of 12 students all near the Dallas area so we were able to meet in person for group projects. Since the classes were so small the teacher and teacher's aid were able to help answer any questions we had and walk us through important concepts.
  • The lessons are very detailed, guiding you through basic to more advanced programming concepts, and at the end of the lessons, you code an assignment that you can add to your GitHub Portfolio. 
  • We had a virtual class two times per week for 2hrs where the teacher would go over the material in the modules, then an optional study session with the TA once a week which, I highly recommend going to. 
  • The teacher was very well educated and did an excellent job at helping you understand every concept in the syllabus.
• Projects: The projects are probably my favorite aspect of the class. You decide with your group what project you want to work on and everyone contributes to the project's Github similar to how you would do it in the professional environment.
  • If your group decided to make a Crytpo portfolio analyzer in the first project, in the following project you could build onto that and make an Algorithmic trading bot or whatever you want.
• Advice: My advice to people who want to get into coding or just want to learn Fintech, is to take this boot camp and put in what you want to get out, you won't regret it.
  • The more you study/practice the better your coding skills will be, make a schedule with plenty of study time and stick to it.
  • For studying, I found I learned best by working on the end of the lesson assignment as I learned the concepts, using Stackoverflow as needed, then using the optional TA study session to ask any questions I had; or fix errors I encountered in my code (which were many early on).
• Job Assistance: Of the career services I have used from other boot camps, this has been the best by far. 
  • At the end of the lessons, there is a career connection page that tells you how to add the new skills you learned to your resume, what jobs use these skills, questions jobs might ask based on what you just learned, and upcoming career events.
  • There are tons of webinars that you get access to! Coding interview prep workshops, Google recruiting webinars, and way more. I highly recommend signing up for every webinar you are interested in, even while you are still going through the boot camp.
  • A career material advisor gives you continuous feedback on your resume until you are satisfied with it, then you get paired with a career coach who, essentially coaches you through getting hired (technical interview questions, etc).
• OVERALL VERDICT: I went to school at a top-ranked university, and previously completed a Veteran Technology cybersecurity course, and I learned more in SMU's Fintech boot camp that actually applies to jobs than I did anywhere else. I would recommend this boot camp to anyone who is interested, if you have any questions feel free to reach out to me on Linkedin.

"Process over python" was a quote that the instructor Jeff reinforced throughout the course. Yes we learned the technical knowledge of python for building ETL pipelines from scratch, but Jigsaw also teaches you how to think like a programmer and approach problems using data engineering logic. You stop worrying about if you can solve something, and start breaking down a coding challenge piece by piece using the Jigsaw curriculum's methodology and principles that utilize python's incredible programming logic of data type transformations, functions, inheritance, etc. so you're prepared for any data engineering position. The course materials are 100% dedicated to data engineering, and Jeff is supported by incredible TAs that circulate rooms so that you're never stuck. Finally, the externship finishes off the immersive and the hands on experience was invaluable and tied everything together. The job support continues indefinitely beyond the course as well. Finally, my cohort was wonderful and we all learned as a team and I look forward to maintaining those genuine connections.