Prepping for the Bootcamp: What to Do Before & During Your Program

Hey there, future bootcamp grads! 🎉

First off, let me just say, congratulations! You've taken a bold step of registering for a bootcamp program, whether it's a self-paced online program, a classroom-like in-person program, or even a college bootcamp program. Kudos to you for embarking on this adventure, especially during these wild times!

So, you're about to start a bootcamp program... Exciting, but also challenging! I'm here to give you some tips on how to prepare for the journey ahead and what to expect over the next few months, broken down into four categories: Mindset, Activities, Schedule, and Technology. Let's get it!

Mindset

Entering a bootcamp with the right mindset is key. You're going to be pushed out of your comfort zone—whether it's meeting new people, speaking up, or being open to receiving loads of feedback. Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow, and adopt an iterative, feedback-hungry mindset. Remember, this is the perfect place to make mistakes. You'll be asked to do things you've never done before, present your work, collaborate with others, and be uniquely resourceful. Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about learning and growing.

With that said, be patient with yourself and stay motivated by setting goals and celebrating small wins. Bootcamp programs are intensive and as exciting as they can be, they can also be quite challenging to navigate. Don't forget, it's okay to ask for help. You're not alone on this journey. Especially if you're a part of a bootcamp program, you're not alone. Take advantage of the support you're quite literally paying for by attending a bootcamp program.

To be honest, especially if you haven't started your program yet, many of you may not resonate with much of this advice. Bookmark this post and come back to these words. You got this!

Activities

Bootcamp programs are intensive and filled with different activities, tasks, to dos, and things to keep up with. It can be tricky to navigate everything that will come at you, but you can make it easier on yourself by staying organized.

First and foremorel, take care of yourself throughout the program! Especially if you're doing the program on top of a full time job or other personal responsibilities, you'll get more out of the program if you're well rested. So sleep well, eat right, and do what you need to do to stay energized and focused. Reach out to your instructors, mentors, tutors, or fellow program attendees if you need any support. The support is there! Again, you're quite literally paying for this support by attending a bootcamp program.

Second, don't forget to document your process. In other words, take pictures of everything! And I mean everything! Similar to what I said above, this advice may not make much sense to you right now. At the end of your program, you'll be putting together a portfolio made up of case studies that represent your work. I've seen many of my former students and mentees wish they had saved their work more efficiently. You'll want to document as much as possible so you have more materials and assets to build your case studies with. You might even consider vlogging your journey! Sharing your progress can be both motivating and rewarding.

Lastly, stay organized with tools like Google Drive or Notion. You'll get a lot of content and materials from your program, but you may not get how to organize everything. I personally recommend Notion to keep everything nice and organized.

Schedule

We've discussed the mindset, we've discussed some key activities to keep in mind, but how does all of this fit into a schedule? Straight up, clear your schedule as much as possible prior to starting the program. To be honest, bootcamp programsrequire a significant time commitment. Whether a full time program or a part time program, you'll want to be as immersed in the experience as possible. Organize your life before the program starts: create a schedule, take detailed notes, and make sure you have everything you need to stay on top of assignments and deadlines.

I've seen some of my former students and mentees use tools like Notion to not only document their journey and stay organize, but also to keep track of due dates, deadlines, and assignments. Consider doing the same. The more you go into the program with the intention of staying on top of your schedule and deadlines, the more success you'll have navigating the work.

Technology

And with all of the tsaid, make sure you have the right tech. Check your bootcamp's hardware and software requirements and make sure everything's in working order. Don't let technical difficulties hold you back!

As someone who grew up with limited resources in Brooklyn and couldn't afford a solid laptop, I completely understand that it's difficult for some to get to a place where they have the right tech setup. I say the following with this in mind: consider setting yourself up with the right machine. Throughout the program, you'll be using programs that may be heavy on your computer. If anyone needs help thinking about how to make this happen, I got you! Send me a message on Instagram, @michaelmakesco.

Specific Bonus Tips for Different Bootcamp Types

Instructor-Led / Classroom-Based Bootcamps

• Get to know your classmates! I totally get that meeting others may be difficult for some. I totally get it. However, you'll want to find 2-3 people you can lean on throughout the program.
• Complete any content modules BEFORE class if possible. If your program gives you access to the content modules prior to the start of class, take advantage of that and review the content.
• Speak up in class, participate, ask questions, and stay engaged. You're paying for the ability to do this. Get as much bang for your buck!

Self-Paced / Online Bootcamps

• Set personal goals. When do you want to finish the program by? When will you get your work done? How often will you meet with your mentor? Think through these things so you have as many accountability mechanisms as possible!
• Connect with other students via Slack or whatever communication tool the program uses. Most self-paced / online programs are not classroom-based, so you're navigating the program on your own when it comes to other students.
• Meet with your mentor OFTEN. The students who took the time to meet with me often were the students I noticed had the most success throughout the program.

Lastly

Don't be too hard on yourself. Keep iterating, and above all, get excited!

Starting a bootcamp program is both a thrilling and demanding experience. Prepare mentally, stay organized, set goals, take care of yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Enjoy the journey and keep pushing yourself to learn and grow. You got this! 🚀