Student Testimonials & Reviews

Student Testimonials & Reviews Cover

Our students are amazing. From their long hours of hard work and dedication to their life-changing success stories, we could not be more proud of everything they have achieved on their journey. The curricula at Vanderbilt University Boot Camps is rigorous and designed to help aspiring developers, data analysts, cybersecurity professionals reach their professional goals.

We know that choosing a boot camp is a big decision that can change the course of your life, so who better to get advice from than students who have been right where you are? Read the reviews and testimonials below to hear directly from a few Vanderbilt University Boot Camps students and alumni.

Review: “The Bootcamp timeline was perfect for my lifestyle and made it easy for me to complete while still doing everything I needed to do every day.”
Alison Hardison
Alison Hardison
  • Part-Time
  • 2020
  • Course: Full Stack Flex Online
  • Campus: Online

I choose to enroll in the program because I wanted to learn more about programming. The Bootcamp timeline was perfect for my lifestyle and made it easy for me to complete while still doing everything I needed to do every day. I loved the sense of accomplishment I gained working through the program. I now have a portfolio full of work that I’m proud of and honestly can’t believe I achieved in such a short amount of time.

Review: “This boot camp solidified that cyber security was what I wanted to do for a career.”
Taylor Boyles
Taylor Boyles
  • Part-Time
  • 2020
  • Course: Cybersecurity
  • Campus: Nashville

The program taught me many valuable skills that really helped me learn the basis of cyber security and set me up for the career path I wanted. I chose to attend to not only try to fast track my way into a job but out of curiosity about the cyber security field. This boot camp solidified that cyber security was what I wanted to do for a career.

Review: “The program enabled me to earn a $40,000 increase in my annual base salary within 5 weeks of our final presentation, and before we’ve even had our graduation ceremony.”
Charles Glover
Charles Glover
  • Part-Time
  • 2020
  • Course: Data Analytics
  • Campus: Nashville

I chose to attend so I could make a career change from sales into data. Now I’ve found a perfect role that combines the two. The program enabled me to earn a $40,000 increase in my annual base salary within 5 weeks of our final presentation, and before we’ve even had our graduation ceremony.

Review: “I am grateful for the experience and networking that it gave me.”
Brittney Carrington
Brittney Carrington
  • Part-Time
  • 2020
  • Course: Cybersecurity
  • Campus: Nashville

I have been working in Information Security for a few years, mostly with GRC but wanted to learn more about the technical side which is what the course provided. I am grateful for the experience and networking that it gave me.

Review: “I highly recommend this program if you have a true passion to learn how to code.”
Stephen Webb
Stephen Webb
  • Part-Time
  • April 2020
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

Learning how to code can be daunting. Where do I start? All of this content online is overwhelming. 

Coming from a background in retail these are the things I would ask myself when I was going the self-taught route. I tried to teach myself how to code for a few months and when something got hard or I didn’t understand a topic I would constantly change up tutorials and never make any progress.

Then I came across the Vanderbilt Boot Camp on a Google ad and it piqued my interest. I read tons of reviews, forums,  and watched many videos trying to get insight into what a bootcamp is like.  So I took a gamble and signed up. I can honestly say have no regrets about that decision.

From the get-go, the Student Success Manager makes you feel welcome and keeps you well informed of the logistics of the program. Everything is laid out for you. You must put in the work in and outside of class. 

This program is great at starting you with the basics of programming and working in the full-stack. There is a lot of content in the world being utilized so they have to go over so many different techs that’s why you must do your part and take it further outside of class. Don’t sign up if you just want a certificate. Do sign up if you have a passion for this field and want to make a career change.

The biggest difference “to me” with being self-taught and taking this course is the constant onslaught of homework and projects. The best way to learn how to code is to build projects!  This course kept me accountable week after week with implementing new technologies into projects with a due date. Having classmates struggle with me and succeed with me was also worth every dollar I spent. I feel our cohort who went through tornadoes and coronavirus obstacles have become life long friends. 

The instructors and the teacher assistant’s want to see you succeed in this program, and I continue to seek their advice now outside of graduation.  That is invaluable to me. So now after 6 months, I have no reservations about applying to a job with the title web developer. I now feel confident in my abilities to begin a new life in this industry. I highly recommend this program if you have a true passion to learn how to code.

Review: “Thanks to this program I have been able to double my salary and I am currently working at my dream job.”
Thomas Stokes
Thomas Stokes
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Data Analytics
  • Campus: Nashville

The program provided me with every tool I needed for the next step in my career. I chose the data analytics program to gain the training needed to become more competitive in the workforce. Thanks to this program I have been able to double my salary and I am currently working [at] my dream job.

Review: “Instructors were fantastic and I got a job in my desired field within a few weeks of completing the bootcamp.”
Christopher Bistline
Christopher Bistline
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

I chose to attend the coding bootcamp because I was not happy in my previous career and field of study. The bootcamp has opened new doors for me and I absolutely enjoy every moment of learning about programming. I now have a contact job and am very excited for the future.

Review: “The bootcamp has opened new doors for me and I absolutely enjoy every moment of learning about programming.”
Lisa Vo
Lisa Vo
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

Instructors were fantastic and I got a job in my desired field within a few weeks of completing the bootcamp.

Review: “The bootcamp allowed me to go from a musician with no degree, and grocery store associate making $12 an hour to a full time software salary position in a matter of months.”
Weslley Braga
Weslley Braga
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

The program was geared in the right direction, the exercises and projects really pushed my learning as well as additional resources and the teaching staff assistance. I wanted to land a job in the field using cutting edge technologies and being able to compete against CS grads. Now I feel very confident in my current skill set and I have fundamental knowledge to keep myself engaged in self teaching and facing new challenges. The bootcamp allowed me to go from a musician with no degree, and grocery store associate making $12 an hour to a full time software salary position in a matter of months. I can finally give my family a better quality of life and invest in hobbies. I’m very thankful for the program and I look forward to its future improvements.

Review: “Thanks to the Bootcamp I feel like my life is on a new trajectory.”
Robert Grant
Robert Grant
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

I chose the bootcamp because I was ready and in need of a career change. Thanks to [the] Bootcamp I feel like my life is on a new trajectory.

Review: “I have had an excellent experience in the program. I found the curriculum, instructional staff, and career services personnel to be outstanding. Without this program, I am confident it would have taken me much longer to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to move into a profitable new career in development.”
Tim Edwards
Tim Edwards
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

I found the curriculum, instructional staff, and career services personnel to be outstanding.

Review: “Even with only 6 months of study, I found a great job within months.”
Tyler Porter
Tyler Porter
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex Online
  • Campus: Online

I chose to attend because I completed my undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University. I knew that anything they attached their name to was worth doing. When employers hear that you work full time, you’ve been spending 20 to 25 hours per week studying web development, and the curriculum is supported by Vanderbilt, you grab their attention. Even with only 6 months of study, I found a great job within months [of] applying mostly via job boards. What set me ahead is that employers can clearly see that I am invested in this career, not only because I built applications through the bootcamp, but also applications I built because of personal interests and encouragement from my mentor. Because of what I learned through the course and the great support from mentorship, I built exciting and creative apps that set me apart even from developers with years of experience and formal degrees.

Review: “It is a great course with great curriculum. I did not really know what to expect but it exceeded everything that I could have imagined.”
Wilson Horrell
Wilson Horrell
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex Online
  • Campus: Online

It is a great course with great curriculum. I did not really know what to expect but it exceeded everything that I could have imagined.

Review: “It has impacted my life by giving me a skill that is valuable in the workforce.”
Barbara Jean Sanders
Barbara Jean Sanders
  • Part-Time
  • 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex Online
  • Campus: Online

I attended the Bootcamp in order to transition into a new career. It has impacted my life by giving me a skill that is valuable in the workforce.

Review: “Overall, I would highly recommend this program to anyone considering making a career change or wanting to plant themselves into the developer realm.”
Terrence Mahnken
Terrence Mahnken
  • Part-Time
  • October 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex – Online
  • Campus: Remote

Since entering the IT field as my second career, I had been struggling to find a path to pursue. After a couple of years of using free materials and tutorials, I decided to set my course on development and make the investment of participating in a structured boot camp.

For me, the structure, in-person collaboration, and guidance from experienced developers were very appealing. The Vanderbilt University Coding Boot Camp proved to be the right decision.

The instructors and TAs were very supportive and encouraging. The curriculum was challenging yet attainable, and the career services staff provided valuable insight into the hiring process and what recruiters and technical hiring managers are looking for.

My cohort in particular was extremely diverse in terms of age, ethnicity, background, and technical experience. Throughout the course, we learned, grew, and sometimes struggled together. Along the way, I ended up fostering some great relationships.

In terms of the instruction, my teachers not only taught the provided curriculum with clarity and detail but also provided their personal anecdotes and interactions with the technology. On many occasions, my instructors would teach the class extra concepts and technologies if there was interest and if time allowed.

Overall, I would highly recommend this program to anyone considering making a career change or wanting to plant themselves into the developer realm.

Review: “…employers can clearly see that I am invested in this career, not only because I built applications through the boot camp, but also applications I built because of personal interests and encouragement from my mentor.”
Tyler Porter
Tyler Porter
  • Part-Time
  • August 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex – Online
  • Campus: Remote

I chose to attend because I completed my undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University. I knew that anything they attached their name to was worth doing.

When employers hear that you work full-time, you’ve been spending 20 to 25 hours per week studying web development, and the curriculum is supported by Vanderbilt, you grab their attention.

Even with only 6 months of study, I found a great job within months applying mostly via job boards. What set me ahead is that employers can clearly see that I am invested in this career, not only because I built applications through the boot camp, but also applications I built because of personal interests and encouragement from my mentor.

Because of what I learned through the course and the great support from mentorship, I built exciting and creative apps that set me apart even from developers with years of experience and formal degrees.

Review: “The boot camp has opened new doors for me and I absolutely enjoyed every moment of learning about programming.”
Lisa Vo
Lisa Vo
  • Part-Time
  • July 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

I chose to attend the Coding Boot Camp because I was not happy in my previous career and field of study.

The boot camp has opened new doors for me and I absolutely enjoyed every moment of learning about programming. I now have a contract job and am very excited for the future.

Review: “I am extremely pleased with what I gained in the program and know that it has changed the trajectory of my family’s life.”
Rob Suttles
Rob Suttles
  • Part-Time
  • July 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

I came into the program with some significant development experience in SQL, Tableau, and database management, but lacked the confidence and true programming language background skillsets needed to really get into a development role.

The Vanderbilt Coding Boot Camp propelled me into a new career path with significantly higher upward mobility.

I am extremely pleased with what I gained in the program and know that it has changed the trajectory of my family’s life.

Review: “The instructors were fantastic and I got a job in my desired field within a few weeks of completing the boot camp.”
Christopher Bistline
Christopher Bistline
  • Part-Time
  • July 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

I wanted to make a career change and modernize my skillset. The [Vanderbilt Univeristy Coding Boot Camp] program fit into my schedule, was affordable, and taught all the skills I wanted.

It was a life-changer for me. The instructors were fantastic and I got a job in my desired field within a few weeks of completing the boot camp.

Review: “I can finally give my family a better quality of life and invest in hobbies.”
Weslley Braga
Weslley Braga
  • Part-Time
  • July 2019
  • Course: Full Stack Flex
  • Campus: Nashville

The program was geared in the right direction; the exercises and projects really pushed my learning as well as additional resources and the teaching staff assistance.

I wanted to land a job in the field using cutting-edge technologies and compete against CS grads. Now I feel very confident in my current skillset and I have fundamental knowledge to keep myself engaged in self-teaching and facing new challenges.

The boot camp allowed me to go from a musician with no degree, and grocery store associate making $12 an hour to a full-time software salary position in a matter of months.

I can finally give my family a better quality of life and invest in hobbies. I’m very thankful for the program and I look forward to its future improvements.