James Zimmermann had a suspicion that learning to code would be similar to learning a musical instrument. Both involve dedication, intense practice, and technique — three things he was well-acquainted with after a decade-long clarinet career in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Like countless other industries, classical music was devastated by the onset of COVID-19. Without…
Going The Extra Mile: How Nickolas Strong Went from Listening to Lectures in His Truck to Completing a Cybersecurity Boot Camp
When Nickolas Strong was six years old, his father left the picture. As his mother worked three jobs to provide for their family, Nickolas was brought up by his grandmother, a strong woman who had been involved in the creation of the first atomic bomb. Her love of science inspired Nickolas to have a better…
Network Until You Get Work: How Clayton Seastrand Landed His Job in Data Modeling
Remodeling. Insurance sales. Production analysis. After graduating from college, Clayton Seastrand tried numerous careers on for size — but nothing totally clicked. While working at a manufacturing plant in 2018, he started collaborating with IT engineers on the floor — and quickly discovered an interest in data. “We would gather all this information, but no…
Top 18 Tips From Insiders to Help You Land That Dream Job
How Bianca Hodges is Merging New Cybersecurity Boot Camp Skills With Her Clinical Mental Health Experience
Before enrolling in Vanderbilt Cybersecurity Boot Camp, Bianca Hodges acquired a wealth of experience in the mental health field. After earning a Master’s degree in clinical psychology, she worked as a quality assurance and utilization review specialist at several residential facilities in Nashville, Tennessee. Over time, Bianca became curious about emerging technology within the mental health field. She…
The Beginner’s Guide to Cybersecurity
What is Cybersecurity? Cybersecurity refers to the practice of safeguarding systems, computers and data from digital attacks. These attacks often involve attempts to breach, modify, or damage the target’s computer system, resulting in interruption or downtime for services, theft of confidential or proprietary data and exposure of personal information. The field of cybersecurity is ever…
Your Top 15 Online Boot Camp Questions Answered
You’re interested in an online boot camp—but you first want to know how it actually works. What can you expect from the online format? If you’re just discovering our boot camps, you likely have many questions that you’d like the answers to before taking the next step. It is important to make an informed decision…
Why Employers Are Drawn to Online Boot Camp Learners
Many of today’s leading employers are beginning to embrace new models of education, including online learning. As a result, we see a number of employers hiring online boot camp s due to their work ethic and combination of hard skills (technical knowledge) and soft skills (adaptability, collaboration, creativity, etc.). Because of the fast-paced nature of…
7 Characteristics of a High-Quality Online Boot Camp
As the unprecedented shift towards online learning continues to grow, more s are seeking out the combination of skills development and flexibility offered through an online boot camp education. Today it is more possible than ever to break into fields such as web development, financial technology, UX/UI, cybersecurity, and digital marketing through the help of…
COVID-19 Update: Transitioning to Virtual Class Sessions
Updated as of April 2, 2020 For the health and safety of our students, in cooperation and in accordance with Vanderbilt University, current face-to-face Vanderbilt University Boot Camp classes will move to virtual class sessions. To ensure a seamless transition, we’re providing extra training to all active instructional staff on how to effectively lead classes…