University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Boot Camps

Joined the Cybersecurity boot camp back in May 2019. Having a full time job and personal responsibilities made the fast-paced course quite challenging. Having said that I found instructor, teacher assistant and Learner Success Manager extremely helpful to keep me focused on the course. 

The course syllabus has covered the majority of 8 Cybersecurity domains. The part of the course that I enjoyed the most was penetration testing, home works with bonus questions, and hands-on labs. 

In my opinion, cloud and wireless security was missing from the course; however, overall I am happy that I took the course.

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I joined Coding Boot Camp after finishing my undergraduate studies in Mathematics (statistics). By the time I graduated from this full-stack program, I have learned a lot regards for the full scope of web dev. I really like the instructor(Ed) that bring knowledge patient and passionate all the time. Also, the Ed 1-to-1 discussion make me feel that he actually caring his students. In the middle of the program, I started my full-time job (software deveopment related) and feel that under so much pressure. Great thanks to my instructor and Admin for helping me release the stress. Also, I am easily to get comfused while doing in-class exercise but finishing weekly assignments and group projects push me understanding the material better.

 

If I have to be picky, I would suggest there will be more assignmnet supports for group project to assure I am able to deliver the best. Another future suggestions is that I hope there will be more time for introducing tech/tools (popular in the trend nowadays). We did some angular, react, java (basic syntax but not spring MVC as backend) but I look forward to seeing those materials a bit more since I am really interested in using spring framwork. But that is just a minor critque. 

 

At the very last I would like to thanks again for this program not only for what I have learned but also I had some precious friendship. The learning environment is positive and supportive. I would also recommend my friends for the coding boot camp if they want to learn web development from scratch. 

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I am a senior IT professional with over 20 years of experience in enterprise environments.   One of the challenges that I faced was the trend of IT digital transformation, emerging and disruptive technologies.  As open source tools became more popular and innovative it provided the flexible platform on creating applications and services.  As a result, I needed to learn these various software tools.  My challenge is that I didn't want to take single courses for each software tool which would be incredibly time intensive.  I was really looking for the training that a boot camp environment would provide to allow me to simultaneously learn all these tools.  As I was doing my research I came across this program and once I reviewed the syllabus I realized that this is what I needed to give me what I wanted in order to excel my career in this new digital age.  I evaluated how the scheduling would impact my current lifestyle and found that the hours and commitment was manageable.  This is why I chose this boot camp.

 

I started this program in January 2019 and I was full of excitement! As I knew that once I acquired these skill sets, it would elevate my career. I quickly found that the program was quite intense.  In addition, the instructors were extremely knowledgeable.  My favourite part of this program is that everything we do is hands-on!  We don't learn just from theory but work on things as we go.  We did a lot of group projects that mimic real-life business cases, which made the program very relevant.  I really enjoyed the facilities and environment of the learning space that we were situated in as students.  It was very conducive to group learning--everyone was from diverse employment backgrounds, which made our skills really unique.  

I truly recommend this program for any senior IT person like myself that are looking for a refresher, skill updates and those who are looking at data analytics.  This program provides you that one stop shop and the price is very fair!  My advice is to commit the time, attend every class, review the assignments as much as possible, and look for YouTube videos for additional learning on each topic, as this will help a lot!  If you put the time, your success would be unparalleled.  

 

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Six months ago I started a ‘Boot Camp’ program in data analytics. The past six months have presented me with some of the greatest challenges I have faced in my academic career. My brain often hurt as I struggled to process complex coding algorithms completely unfamiliar to me. On many occasions I asked myself, “What am I doing here?” and “Why am I doing this?” but I only had to turn to the incredible support network provided by the course administrator, the instructor, the team of assistant instructors and my fellow course mates, and in every instance I was given all of the support and encouragement I needed to continue on.

It’s truly incredible how much information was packed into six months. Every week there was a new program or language or library or module to tackle. The course began with work in Excel and moved to VBA. From there we delved straight into the python programming language and its various libraries, including primarily pandas and matplotlib. We developed APIs and went on to SQL. Our second term brought us to HTML and CSS. With front-end development completing our program’s journey we learned to code in javascript, d3 and visualize data using plotly. The entire process wrapped up with additional lectures, covering topics in big data, intelligent algorithms and machine learning, working with programs like PowerBI, Hadoop, and NLP.

The course moved at an incredibly fast pace, and our regular meetings three times a week eventually began to merge into one seemingly long dataframe as we worked through our projects to reach our final day of presentations. At times I had to put my life on hold, and it will take me another six months to process everything more fully, but the tools are with me now, the foundation is laid, and I am prepared to take these skills with me on my journey going forward. I am now well-equipped to enter to the field with a complete set of analytics skills in my arsenal, armed with a Certificate in Data Analytics from the University of Toronto. It was a hard-earned effort, and I have no doubt in my mind that it will be well-worth the time and money I have invested into it. Thank you! 

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I'm currently a month away from completing the first Data Analytics Boot camp cohort in Canada. It's been a wonderful experience, meeting and getting to know so many people in our closely knit class. Our instructor (Piro) goes above and beyond, delivering extra hour long sessions that demo the hottest tools on the market. It's also helped me land a job at my dream company and given me the environment to build lasting connections with fellow BootCampers. The curriculum is very well designed to make the learning experience positive and fun. A+ Read less

Like many people, I felt stuck in my job. I was understimulated, felt underutilized, and not challenged. I knew I wanted to switch my career before I got further type casted. And I knew that I wanted to find a career that was in-demand and challenging. I enrolled in the Data Analytics Bootcamp at SCS because the curriculum was appealing and the class schedule worked with my work schedule. 

I should preffice by saying that I had no idea how to code prior to entering this bootcamp; I had no idea what a for loop was, or how computing logic worked. I am currently 1 month from graduating and it is crazy how much I have learned from this bootcamp. So much so, that I can confidently apply for data positions because of how much this bootcamp has taught me and exposed me to. It not only taught me different syntaxes and how to use various libraries, but more importantly, it taught me how to learn (i.e. look up documentation and stack overflow). Between the super helpful TAs, the amazing classrooms, great instructor (shout out to Piro!), and approachable admin, this bottcamp was definitely one of the best decisions I have made in terms of my career. 

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I have joined the course with a change of role in my career.The curriculum as well as the course starting from Pre-work are very well thought of. I thoroughly enjoy each topic.Though we know buys and pieces of the technical jargon being in the industry, understanding the connection to get the big picture how various tools and technologies work is very very important.This course provided me a new found confidence if web technologies and helped me see internet in a new perceptive.Instructors and TAs are awesome helping students but to feel low because of the pace and complexity of topics.I would definitely recommend this bootcamp for anyone who wants to understand where the future is(APPS is everything and APPS for everything) as I see.😊 Read less

So you think it’s an expensive course?.. it is! But you will get the knowledge, experience, resources and -most of all- guidance worth! I have been looking for a way to finally jump into developing, this course is the best tool.

Long hours, late nights, challenging new concepts, huge economic commitment... if you like a challenge and want to start learning web developing DO IT. But beware it’s on YOU what you take out :-)

I’m taking the live on-line course and the pace is a little fast so you better take it serious. The teacher is amazing, the TA team is knowledgeable and the supporting staff is great. You can tell they really care for the students success, not only for the payment. Career services have been good, I still need to complete this part tho’.

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If you are in the industry and have the means, I couldn't recommend this course enough. I am a highschool graduate and have been working in enterprise software support for about 15 years. I've had a piece meal knowledge of the topics at hand but was missing a lot of fundamental knowledge. 

The pace of the course is agressive but not overwhelming and the instructor and TAs are phenomenal. I am just over 50% through the program and am already very confident in the professional level web applications I am now capable of creating.

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I would recommend this bootcamp for beginners looking to gain skills in web development as the cirriculum covers a lot of material. Coming from strictly an analytics background, I had a fear of web technologies mostly because I have never explored them before. I had started the web dev course on udemy by colt steele which gave me alot of prior knowledge and made the course easier for me. Six months is ample time to become familar with writting javascript at a comfortable level. More time should be allocated to teaching React (and maybe other frameworks) as these skills are what employers are looking for.

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Yes! This program is tough, if you are not willing to put the effort into studying like any other university program you will not succeed, it is not called a boot camp for no reason. But, with saying that, if you are willing to put in the effort for this course the instructional staff and everyone involved with this program is completely hands-on and willing to help you succeed! Not only are the instructors knowledgeable (about way more then just what is taught in this course), the TA's and the tutors genuinely want you to succeed! If you are looking to transition into this field they also have a career services team that helps you get into tip-top shape for the job market! I am currently only half way through this program and I have already received multiple job offers! I would recommend this program to anyone who is serious about making a change in their life, it is truly life changing! 

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I am part of the first group of students to attend this bootcamp. Our cohort got off to a rough start with an instructor who was less than ideal. I found that Trilogy listened to our concerns and dealt with them professionally. We ended up with an amazing instructor, four TA’s instead of two, weekly review sessions and access to private tutors.  I feel that they are absolutely committed to see us succeed.  The career services part of the course is kicking into high gear and I find the staff tremendous. They offer detailed comments on our resumes, portfolios and github and are putting on career seminars weekly. This bootcamp is composed of working professionals and the students are from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds.  We are already planning to continue working together once we graduate in October.  

 

 

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Investing in this program is indeed high-risk, but incredibly high reward. I have learned and applied so many different skills in such a short time that I look back on my own progress in disbelief. This program is NOT for everyone though - it’s called a bootcamp for a reason. Specifically, computer science is a unique area of study where you must rely on self-teaching in order to succeed. If you can’t find the drive to solve advanced problems and understand the way complex machines think on your own, do not waste your money or time. This is a decision about making a commitment to complete concentration. But if you do choose to commit to becoming a software developer, this program becomes a remarkable journey. As you rapidly pickup tougher and tougher skills every week, your understanding of software becomes stronger, and you can carry out larger tasks both inside and outside of school. When I write code and project plans for the employers I have met so far, they are baffled at how I’ve picked up such a clear and broad understanding of project development in only three months. In addition to the academic support, the career support is so motivating and helpful in guiding this change in lifestyle from non-developer to Full Stack developer.

I want to thank everyone at Trilogy and UofT SCS for enabling me to enter the richest and most exciting job market and granting me difficult but rewarding challenges to refine my skills.

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Hello Course Seeker!

I am currently enrolled in the UofT program.  Unlike some of the anonymous posters on this board, my overall experiences-to-date have been rather positive.  Sure, there are little hiccups here and there.  However, one has to keep in mind that there is absolutely no program (that is delivered in real-time) in the marketplace that is without flaws.  It is not 100% scripted and edited like the online courses.  You are receiving live instruction from multiple instructors -- in other words, you have the opportunity to gain multiple perspectives on course topics/real-life scenarios from people who are living, breathing, and working in the same biodome.  

I love online courses myself, and have used them to supplement my learning... ...BUT! online courses (including those that may offer real-time chat instruction) cannot replicate the in-person classroom atmosphere that is key to learning.  After all, isn't this the reason why you are reading this?

If you are looking for the PERFECT program, you will be looking and procrastinating for a long, long time.... ....because there is no perfect program.  Programming itself is an ever-evolving discipine that demands a flexible and solutions-driven mindset.  The old adage applies here: "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem".

The problems/issues that have been noted by previous posters are relatively minor in nature.  I say "minor in nature" because problems/challenges are what drive the real learning experience and growth.  The positive experiences far outweigh the negative ones.  I would much rather learn from my mistakes (and the mistakes of others) in a safe learning environment, as opposed to making the same mistakes in a live job setting.

Here are a few of my takeways for your consideration:

• Mistakes can and will occur with any learning institution.  As for myself, my concerns have always been addressed in a timely manner.  The most important thing from my point of view is that the individuals who deliver this learning program own up to the issues identified, and make good on them.  In other words, they do their best to rectify the issue at hand and improve the program for those who follow.  They have a structured quality assurance program in place to address/prevent issues, AND the resources to fix problem areas.  Does the program you are considering have a QA program in place? -- What if one or more of the key instructors in your program are no longer able to teach?  Can alternates be set up quickly? .... 
• Do your homework before signing up for the program.  If you are undisciplined with your time, a procrastinator, or someone who wants everything served up on a silver platter, then this is not the program for you.  You will need to make some sacrifices if you want your dream to come true.
• Many folks in this program have demanding careers and mouths to feed -- time is money.  This program delivers a good balance of formal lecture material, group exercises, and self-driven learning.  Team/pair programming is nice -- however, unless you have a lot of extra time on your hands, your time is probably better invested in reviewing the course material taught and supplementing your knowledge with perspectives from other sources (e.g. online courses).
• The curriculum is comprehensive, market relevant, and the exercises are well-documented (e.g. there is a GitLab repository that you can pull from and review prior to the next lecture, videos, etc.).  This is a battle-tested program with more material and support than you can shake a fist at -- Trilogy is not a small organization -- in fact, I am glad that they are the ones managing the program instead of UofT.  The instructors will not and cannot possibly cover every aspect of the course material provided -- there simply are not enough hours in the day to do this.  One can only learn so fast, even with full-time immersion learning.  I view the program as a curated guided tour.  How much you learn, how far you go, and the quality of the experiences is up to you.  These factors are entirely within your control.
• You get out of the program what you put into it.  If self-paced learning is your cup of tea, then online course programming may be better for you.  However, if your learning style is more structured with deadlines to keep you honest, then a program like this is a no-brainer.  If you don't feel at least a wee bit uncomfortable with the pace or overwhelmed with the material, then you aren't pushing yourself hard enough.  
• Do your due diligence and read the fine print.  Contracts are not always bad, as they confirm each party's obligations/responsibilities.  If you are considering signing up for a program that does not have a contract in place, how do you know what you are getting into?  If you didn't actually read the contract before signing up for the program, and now have "buyer's remorse", you will be in for a big surprise when your computer program doesn't work because you missed a "semi-colon" or forgot to use brackets.
• This is a premium product with moderate pricing.  In fact, I think this program is worth more than $10k.  You are not paying for couches, coffee stations, and unnecessary frills.
• This program will not get you a computer science degree.  If this is what you are expecting, then enroll in one or take the MIT open lecture series to learn more.  Future employers may ask you where you got your training from, but I highly doubt if even a small percentage of them will ask you to yank out a certificate or proof of completion.  Your personal portfolio and your ability to articulate solutions to real-world problems will tell all.
• If you have concerns about this program not being "tax deductible", here is a simple solution:  (1) Think like an entrepreneur and set-up your own company during the course; (2) Challenge yourself to build a revenue-generating commercial product before the end of the program.  You will soon discover that $10k is really not that big a deal.  Worst-case scenario, you deduct the tuition and tax expenditures against your company, and carry them foward to use in a future year.  
• The program I am currently in has three co-horts.  To me, this means that I have access to three times the instructors (the Saturday classes are taught on a rotating-basis), three times the number of colleagues to learn from, and three times the number of TAs that I can learn from.  Given the diversity of students and teaching talent, it would be my own fault if I do not engage others to maximize my learning experience during my time here.
• Not all instructors are created alike, and learning is a two-way street.  If you have concerns/issues with your instructor (or substitute with "boss" in a workplace settting), it is your responsibility to help them grow.  Give people a chance to learn/improve, and you will be forever grateful when you yourself become an instructor or boss one day (i.e. when you are at the other end of the stick).
• With regards to job assistance, the program has many resources to prepare you for future prospecting.  However, no teaching institution or individual will deliver a job with a six-figure salary to you just because you think it.  Putting too much emphasis on an institution's ability to hunt down job leads for you can be crippling on the mind.
• Bottom line:  This is a very respectable program and I would not hesitate to enroll in it again.  If you are highly motivated, self-disciplined, and driven to learn and apply the material, you will go far with this experience.  I am getting great value for my money.  You really can't go wrong with this program -- action is better than no action.  Just do it!

Hope this helps!

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This boot camp has been a transformative experience, presenting both personal and professional challenges. It encourages participants to move beyond the basics and conventional approaches, delving into areas where they may not have prior expertise. The program is comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics that are highly relevant in the workplace. It provides practical knowledge and skills that can be immediately applied, opening up new possibilities for professional growth. Personally, I have already implemented many of the new concepts in my work, which has significantly enhanced my productivity. I am completely satisfied with the knowledge I have gained and the quality of the modules offered. Read less

Deciding to pursue a career in data analytics was driven by my deep curiosity about the power of data, and propelled by the cannon event of getting laid off from my previous job where I worked for almost 7 years. The UofT SCS Data Analytics Boot Camp caught my attention with its comprehensive curriculum, offering hands-on experience in Python, SQL, NoSQL, data visualization, data scraping, and more. The program seemed committed to a practical and immersive learning experience, which convinced me to take the leap. I'm happy to say they delivered. 

My journey with the UofT SCS Data Analytics Boot Camp has been an emotional rollercoaster of "Eureka!" and "WTF's?" (read: Fudge) moments, but as my instructor reminded us to celebrate every small victory, the first always overshadows the second. The program's structure enabled me to explore a range of topics, from mastering coding languages to understanding data visualization intricacies and automating functions. The challenges presented were both stimulating and rewarding, pushing me to apply theoretical knowledge in case study scenarios. A standout aspect of the program is its emphasis on practical skills. 

While the boot camp provides an excellent foundation, it's important to acknowledge that it serves as a launchpad. The fast-paced curriculum requires absorbing a large amount of information, and the real learning journey extends beyond the classroom. To excel (is there a pun with Excel here? Let me know!), I found it helpful to dedicate additional time to personal research and studying supplementary resources. This commitment to extend your learning is key to your success in the program. 

I highly recommend the UofT SCS Data Analytics Boot Camp to anyone interested in getting started with data analytics. I am still new to the field of Data Analytics but going through this program has given me launchpad I needed to get started, not to mention the incredible instructors and support staff that are always available to help. The program equips you with essential field skills and fosters a dynamic learning environment that encourages growth and collaboration. I am grateful for the opportunities this program has presented, and I look forward to leveraging the skills gained in my future endeavors. Read less

I had the privilege of participating in the Digital Marketing Bootcamp course at the University of Toronto, and it was an exceptional experience. The program was an intensive dive into the world of digital marketing, spanning various aspects, from SEO and content marketing to social media advertising and data analytics.The course was led by industry experts who brought real-world experience into the classroom, making the content both practical and insightful. The curriculum was up-to-date with the latest digital marketing trends, ensuring that students gained relevant knowledge. The interactive nature of the course allowed for hands-on experience, which was crucial for applying the concepts learned.One aspect that truly stood out was the level of engagement and collaboration among fellow participants. The course fostered a strong sense of community, where students actively shared their experiences and insights, enriching the learning process.Furthermore, the University of Toronto provided excellent resources and support, from a well-structured online platform to access to helpful materials and tools. The instructors were responsive, and their feedback was instrumental in refining our skills.


In conclusion, the Digital Marketing Bootcamp at UofT was a fruitful learning experience. It not only equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of digital marketing but also provided me with the practical knowledge and networking opportunities to excel in this field. It was an investment in my career that I value greatly Read less

An amazing program that gives you skills to succeed in the field. Each module feel like a puzzle piece and once everything is completed, the whole big picture along with the little details becomes visible and you realize that you have transformed. The things, the lingo, the software which made no sense prior to the start of the program suddenly become the skills you acquired in the matter of 6 months. This power-packed course is demanding, exciting, and enriching all at the same time. 2 years worth of schooling  packed in a six month capsule. Kudos to the people who designed it. And equal amount of appreciation goes to the instructors and TA’s who despite of having a full-time career take education very seriously and care a lot about their students.  Read less

I recently completed the Full Stack Bootcamp at the University of Toronto, and I can confidently say it was an invaluable experience. The comprehensive curriculum equipped me with the technical skills and knowledge needed to excel as a web developer.The instructors were top-notch, providing excellent guidance and support throughout the program. Their expertise and passion for teaching made the learning process engaging and enjoyable.The hands-on projects allowed me to apply what I learned and build a strong portfolio of work. By the end of the bootcamp, I felt confident in my abilities and ready to take on real-world challenges. Read less