Frequently Asked Questions

Full-time Web Development Bootcamp

START DATES AND LENGTH
How often do you start a full-time web development bootcamp?: Currently, we start a full-time web development cohort eight times a year (January, mid-February, April, mid-May, July, mid-August, October, mid-November).
When are applications open?: Applications open 5-6 months prior to the start of class. Applications close 8-10 weeks prior to the start of class to allow time for pre-work. These dates may change at our discretion without notice.
How will I know if you have received my application?: You will receive a confirmation email with next steps shortly after submitting your application. (Make sure admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com is added to your list of safe senders.)
How long does the program last?: The program is six months in duration. This bootcamp is divided into two twelve-week courses with a week off of classroom lecture between the first and second courses.
Why is your bootcamp six months long? It seems like most web development bootcamps are 3 months long.: We created our curriculum in partnership with a number of local tech companies. One of the factors that drove us to create programs longer than most programs in the country was their answer to: What makes someone “job-ready” for a junior developer position at your company? Once we got the input to that question, it was clear that, at least in our job market, employers want junior developers to be full-stack knowledgeable, i.e. trained in both front-end development, language(s), stack and patterns as well as a server-side language, stack and patterns. We explore all of our reasons in more detail in this blog post.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
How much experience should I have before applying?: No prior technical training or web development experience is required for our web development bootcamps. We do believe that doing some amount of self-study on code is a good practice - not only because we require it as a learning prerequisite, but because it is really the only way that you can explore your own aptitude, comfort-level, and enjoyment in doing this type of work. We will explore this with you when you interview for the program. There are a myriad of excellent self-study resources, including learning sites like treehouse, Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and khanacademy.org. You can also look into taking our Web Development Jumpstart class, which is intended for specifically this purpose.
I have no programming experience, is that okay?: See the question above about prior experience and for a few ways to give coding a try to see if it’s something you enjoy.
I have a strong background in programming, is this for me?: Yes! Our web development bootcamps can help you to transition into web application development if that is your goal.
What are the backgrounds of previous students?: Our students have come from a wide range of backgrounds. A small sampling of backgrounds include a stocker at Walmart, award-winning journalist, recording engineer, bartender, graphic designer, mechanical engineer, biochemist, photographer, school teacher, and more. Oh, and also bass player, guitar player, drummer, keyboard player, saxophone player, audio engineer etc. - it is Nashville after all.
What are some learning resources you recommend using before starting class?: We often refer potential students to HTML Dog, freeCodeCamp, Codecademy, treehouse, and khanacademy.org.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
What happens after you apply?: Applicants will be invited to schedule an interview with one or two of our team members. Interviews are conducted by a mix of our instructors and operations team and typically last about one hour. The admissions committee meets weekly to discuss applications for the next cohort. Decisions are rolled out in batches. If you are not accepted, you will receive an email about the next steps.
Can I update my application to apply to a different cohort or change my tuition options?: Yes. Please contact us at admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
How competitive is the admissions process?: For our web development bootcamp, we currently see 2-3 applications for every open seat. Seats for Opportunity Tuition are even more competitive.
What happens if I don’t get in?: You will receive an email with our recommendations. We aim to have each web development bootcamp filled 6 weeks before class starts. If you have not heard from us by then, please follow up with admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
LEARNING
What language(s) will we be learning?: Our full-time web development bootcamps all share the same front-end development foundations course. We are currently teaching two server-side options, C#/.NET and Python/Django. Both of these languages and their associated libraries & frameworks are popular in the Nashville job market as well as nationally. Both server-side options will also give you experience using SQL, the standard language for accessing data stored in relational databases.
Why don’t you offer classes in Node.js, Ruby, PHP, or (insert another language here)?: Our decision on what languages and frameworks we teach is based on the needs of local employers. Currently, the language in most demand is C#, which is why so many of our bootcamps teach this server-side language. There is also plenty of demand for Python developers. Additionally, we focus on teaching you how you learn new programming languages best. After learning two languages and frameworks (front-end and back-end) in our bootcamp, you’ll find it easier to pick up your next language or framework. Many of our graduates (approximately 40%) are hired to use a language or framework other than the ones they learned at NSS.
Is there pre-work? How much should I study before class starts or is their pre-work for this program.: There is required pre-work for this program. We provide a Foundations Course that utilizes high-quality, free online learning resources that introduce the basic skills, mindset, and vocabulary needed to be prepared for the web development course. Our pre-work is intended for the four to six weeks prior to the start of your bootcamp and is designed to be able to be completed part-time if you are still working a full-time job prior to the start of class.
What is the homework load?: There is no assigned homework for our full-time web development bootcamp. However, most students spend anywhere from 5 to 20 hours a week outside of class working on exercises and studying the concepts they learned in class.
Are the instructors accessible outside of class hours?: Instructors and Teaching Assistants are often available outside of class hours, however, that is not guaranteed. Support outside of class is also available from other students and alumni by means of online forums/discussion tools.
How much group vs. independent study takes place in class?: You will spend the majority of your time working with a small group of peers, usually 3-5 other people, who are learning the same material as you. Group projects are designed to simulate how you will work as professional developers to solve complex problems on the job. As such, you will also spend time with your peers doing collaborative project work alongside a member of the instruction team as a mentor. Your instructors will run interactive workshops open to the entire class to attend, as needed, but there are no traditional lectures. Nashville Software School prizes hands-on, experiential learning, so you will be “doing” all the time.
What type of laptop do I need?: There are a lot of options for laptops for our web development bootcamps. See our full post on hardware requirements on our blog.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
What support do you offer to help me get a job?: All of our bootcamps have a career development track as part of the program. We will help you understand the tech jobs that are in the Middle Tennessee job market and prepare for your job search. Our career development team will give you the tools and make introductions to create your personal network, share best practices and give feedback on your LinkedIn profile and resume, coordinate mock interviews so you can practice your interviewing skills with real hiring managers, recruiters, and/or senior developers, and provide workshops and guest speakers to learn what to expect at your first job. Plus, our job doesn’t end at graduation. We are here to support you until you get your first job in tech using the skills from NSS.
Do you guarantee a job?: No. But we have dedicated career development and placement staff who will help you during bootcamp and after graduation until you land your first job in tech. As long as you’re putting in the work, our team will support you as long as needed. (See question above for more details.)
POST GRADUATION
What is the starting salary range for graduates of this program?: In 2021, the median starting salary for our full stack web development graduates was $60,000. Salaries ranged from $37,500 to over $100, 000. Salaries at the low end of this range are most commonly from start-ups/early stage companies or smaller agencies. Salaries above $65,000 typically are driven by both a combination of the training received at NSS and the graduate’s prior education and work experience.
What is the placement rate after graduation?: Our placement rates are published annually by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). For THEC’s FY 2020-2021, the placement rate for our full-time web development bootcamp was 89.4%. This reflects students who graduated between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. In addition to a strong placement rate, we are seeing the shortest average job search time in our history due to Nashville’s continued growth in tech. You can view all of THEC’s reports for NSS, which includes completion and placement rates for our bootcamps, here.
Am I required to work for a company in Nashville after graduation?: If you are a regular tuition student, no. If you are accepted under the terms of our Nashville Opportunity Tuition program you will agree to pursue a job in the Nashville area after graduation.

Part-Time Web Development Bootcamp

START DATES AND LENGTH
How often do you start a part-time web development bootcamp?: We offer four part-time web development bootcamps - starting the beginning of January, April, July, and October.
When are applications open?: Applications open 5-6 months prior to the start of class. Applications close 8-10 weeks prior to the start of class to allow time for pre-work. These dates may change at our discretion without notice.
How will I know if you have received my application?: You will receive a confirmation email with next steps shortly after submitting your application. (Make sure admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com is added to your list of safe senders.)
How long does the part-time web development bootcamp last?: The part-time web development bootcamp lasts one year. There are four 12 week quarters with a one-week intersession break between each quarter.
Why is your bootcamp twelve months long? It seems like most part-time web development bootcamps are 6 months long.: We created our curriculum in partnership with a number of local companies. One of the factors that drove us to create programs longer than most programs in the country was their answer to: What makes someone “job ready” for a junior developer position at your company? Once we got the input to that question it was clear that, at least in our job market, employers want junior developers to be full-stack knowledgeable, i.e. trained in both front-end development, language(s), stack and patterns as well as a server-side language, stack and patterns. Balancing those requirements, and allowing for sufficient time to actually get practice using newly acquired skills through repetition in projects, along with the limited amount of time part-time students have available, resulted in a twelve-month curriculum. We explore all of our reasons in more detail in this blog post.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
How much experience should I have before applying?: No prior technical training or web development experience is required for our web development bootcamps. We do believe that doing some amount of self-study on code is a good practice - not only because we require it as a learning prerequisite, but because it is really the only way that you can explore your own aptitude, comfort-level, and enjoyment in doing this type of work. We will explore this with you when you interview for the program. There are a myriad of excellent self-study resources, including learning sites like treehouse, Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and khanacademy.org. You can also look into taking our Web Development Jumpstart class, which is intended for specifically this purpose.
I have no programming experience, is that okay?: See the question above about prior experience and for a few ways to give coding a try to see if it’s something you enjoy.
I have a strong background in programming, is this for me?: Yes! Our web development bootcamps can help you to transition into web application development if that is your goal.
What are the backgrounds of previous students?: Our students have come from a wide range of backgrounds. A small sampling of backgrounds include a stocker at Walmart, award-winning journalist, recording engineer, bartender, graphic designer, mechanical engineer, biochemist, photographer, school teacher, and more. Oh, and also bass player, guitar player, drummer, keyboard player, saxophone player, etc. - it is Nashville after all.
What are some learning resources you recommend using before starting class?: We often refer potential students to HTML Dog, freeCodeCamp, Codecademy, treehouse, and khanacademy.org.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
What happens after you apply?: Applicants will be invited to schedule an interview with one or two of our team members. Interviews are conducted by a mix of our instructors and operations team. The admissions committee meets weekly to discuss applications for the next cohort. Decisions are rolled out in batches. If you are not accepted, you will receive an email about next steps.
Can I update my application to apply to a different cohort or change my tuition options?: Yes. Please contact us at admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
How competitive is the process?: For our web development bootcamp, we currently see 2-3 applications for every open seat. Seats in our Opportunity Tuition program are even more competitive.
What happens if I don’t get in?: You will receive an email with our recommendations. We aim to have each web development bootcamp filled 6 weeks before class starts. If you have not heard from us by then, please follow up with admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
LEARNING
What languages will we be learning?: Our part-time web development bootcamps cover the same curriculum as our full-time web development bootcamp, but in a format more conducive to a part-time schedule. All of our part-time web development bootcamps share the same front-end development foundations course. We are currently teaching two server-side options, C#/.NET and Python/Django. Both of these languages and their associated libraries & frameworks are popular in the Nashville job market as well as nationally. Both server-side options will also give you experience using SQL, the standard language for accessing data stored in relational databases.
Why don’t you offer classes in Node.js, Ruby, PHP, or (insert another language here)?: Our decision on what languages and frameworks we teach is based on the needs of local employers. Currently, the language in most demand is C#, which is why so many of our bootcamps teach this server-side language. There is also plenty of demand for Python developers. Additionally, we focus on teaching you how you learn new programming languages best. After learning two languages and frameworks (front-end and back-end) in our bootcamp, you’ll find it easier to pick up your next language or framework. Many of our graduates (approximately 40%) are hired to use a language or framework other than the ones they learned at NSS.
Is there pre-work? How much should I study before class starts or is their pre-work for this program.: There is required pre-work for this program. We provide a Foundations Course that utilizes high-quality, free online learning resources that introduce the basic skills, mindset, and vocabulary needed to be prepared for the web development course. Our pre-work is intended for the four to six weeks prior to the start of your bootcamp and is designed to be able to be completed part-time if you are still working a full-time job prior to the start of class.
Is the study group mandatory?: Yes. Our part-time web development bootcamp has a mandatory study group that meets once a week for 3.5 hours. Groups typically meet Wednesday or Thursday evenings.
What is the homework load?: On average, evening students should expect to spend 25 hours per week learning divided in the following ways: Class Time - 12 hours/week, Study Group - 3 hours/week, and Planned Learning Time (independent work outside of class/homework) - 10 hours/week
Are the teachers accessible outside of class hours?: Teachers and Teaching Assistants are often available outside of class hours, however, that is not guaranteed. Support outside of class is also available from other students and alumni by means of online forums/discussion tools.
How much group vs. individual work takes place in class?: All class time is considered group time. Instructors introduce topics to the group in an interactive way, but there are no traditional lectures. Students work in small groups with classmates to dig deeper into the curriculum concepts with the support of each other and the instructional team. Nashville Software School prizes hands-on, experiential learning, so you will be “doing” all the time.
What type of laptop do I need?: There are a lot of options for laptops for our web development bootcamps. See our full post on hardware requirements on our blog.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
What support do you offer to help me get a job?: All of our bootcamps have a career development track as part of the program. We will help you understand the tech jobs that are in the Middle Tennessee job market and prepare for your job search. Our career development team will give you the tools and make introductions to create your personal network, share best practices and give feedback on your LinkedIn profile and resume, coordinate mock interviews so you can practice your interviewing skills with real hiring managers, recruiters, and/or senior developers, and provide workshops and guest speakers to learn what to expect at your first job. Plus, our job doesn’t end at graduation. We are here to support you until you get your first job in tech using the skills from NSS.
Do you guarantee a job?: No. But we have dedicated career development and placement staff who will help you during bootcamp and after graduation until you land your first job in tech. As long as you’re putting in the work, our team will support you as long as needed. (See question above for more details.)
POST GRADUATION
What is the starting salary range for graduates of this program?: In 2021, the median starting salary for our full stack web development graduates was $60,000. Salaries ranged from $37,500 to over $100, 000. Salaries at the low end of this range are most commonly from start-ups/early stage companies or smaller agencies. Salaries above $65,000 typically are driven by both a combination of the training received at NSS and the graduate’s prior education and work experience.
What is the placement rate after graduation?: Our placement rates are published annually by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). For THEC’s FY 2020-2021, the placement rate for our part-time web development bootcamp was 91.1%. This reflects students who graduated between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. In addition to a strong placement rate, we are seeing the shortest average job search time in our history due to Nashville’s continued growth in tech. You can view all of THEC’s reports for NSS, which includes completion and placement rates for our bootcamps, here.
Am I required to work for a company in Nashville after graduation?: If you are a regular tuition student, no. If you are accepted under the terms of our Nashville Opportunity Tuition program you will agree to pursue a job in the Nashville area after graduation.

Full-time Data Analytics Bootcamp

START DATES AND LENGTH
How often do you start a full-time data analytics bootcamp?: Currently, we start a full-time data analytics cohort three times per year, with start dates in January, May and September.
When are applications open?: Applications open 5-6 months prior to the start of class. Applications close approximately 5-6 weeks prior to the start of class to allow time for pre-work. These dates may change at our discretion with no notice.
How will I know if you have received my application?: You will receive a confirmation email with next steps shortly after submitting your application.
How long does the full-time data analytics bootcamp last?: The full-time data analytics bootcamp lasts 15 weeks.
Why is your bootcamp 15 weeks long?: We created our curriculum in partnership with a number of tech companies in Nashville by focusing on one question. What makes someone “job ready” for a junior data analyst position at your company? Once we got the input to that question it was clear that, at least in our job market, employers want data analysts to be trained to think analytically and use a range of tools. Given that our mission is to help our graduates accelerate the launch of a professional analytics career, it was clear that we needed a fifteen-week, full-time curriculum.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
How much experience should I have before applying?: No prior technical training or analytics experience is required for our data analytics bootcamps.
I have no programming or analytics experience, is that okay?: Of course! Our data analytics bootcamps would be perfect for you! We do recommend that you spend some time studying analytics and trying a bit of coding on your own or with our Analytics Jumpstart class so that you can get a sense of whether you’ll enjoy this line of work. This exploratory stage of learning is often very helpful in deciding if you want to pursue an analytics bootcamp program. Self-study options include online sites such as Data Camp.
I have been doing some analytics on the job or I have been using spreadsheets for years, is this for me?: Yes! If you want to transition from a position that occasionally uses analytics to a data analyst or grow your analytics skills beyond spreadsheets, our data analytics bootcamps can help you make that transition and upskill with current analytics tools.
What are the backgrounds of previous students?: Our students have come from a wide range of backgrounds. A small sampling of backgrounds include administrative assistant at a tax company, US Navy veteran, cell phone tech support representative, supply chain manager, a tobacco farmer, and a few musicians.
What are some learning resources you recommend using before starting class?: We often refer potential students to Data Camp.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
What happens after you apply?: Applicants will be invited to schedule an interview with one or two of our team members. Interviews are conducted by our data instructors. The admissions committee meets weekly to discuss applications for the next cohort. Decisions are rolled out in batches. If you are not accepted, you will receive an email about possible next steps and how you might strengthen your application.
Can I update my application to apply to a different cohort or change my tuition options?: Yes. Please contact us at admission@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
How competitive is the process?: For our Analytics Bootcamps, we typically have 2 applicants for every open seat so everyone doesn’t get to start when they want. We are also seeing greater competition for Opportunity Tuition seats then regular tuition seats. But we try to accommodate financial circumstances, scheduling issues, and other priorities. If we can’t get you into the first class you applied for, we will work with you to get you into the next available class.
What happens if I don’t get in?: You will receive an email with our recommendations to help you strengthen your application. We aim to have each analytics bootcamp filled 4 weeks before class starts. If you have not heard from us by then, please follow up with admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
LEARNING
What will we be learning?: Students learn how to apply analytical reasoning through hands-on training in the most widely-used tools, including Excel, Python, SQL, Tableau, and Power BI. Using real data from local companies in a variety of problem domains, such as healthcare, financial services, digital marketing, supply chain, and retail, students will gain practical experience in all stages of the analytics workflow. You will also learn to present your findings via presentations and storytelling, building reports, and creating dashboards.
Is the study group mandatory?: No. Not for the full-time program.
Is there pre-work? How much should I study before class starts or is there pre-work for this program.: Yes. There is a small amount of pre-work for this bootcamp. It usually takes students about 8 to 12 hours to complete.
What is the homework load?: Our goal is for you to spend a minimal amount of time outside of class on your coursework.mSome Friday afternoons are dedicated to lab hours – generally DataCamp assignments that are meant to complement the classroom instruction. Any lab assignments that are not finished by the end of class will need to be completed as homework.
Are the instructors accessible outside of class hours?: Instructors and Teaching Assistants are often available outside of class hours, however, that is not guaranteed.
How much group vs. individual work takes place in class?: The first project when beginning to learn a new technology in class is typically a solo project. After that, the majority of work is in team projects. We aim for a good mix of discovery on your own and collaborative learning.
What type of laptop do I need?: There are a lot of options for laptops for our data analytics bootcamps. See our full post on hardware requirements on our blog.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
What support do you offer to help me get a job?: All of our bootcamps have a career development track as part of the program. We will help you understand the tech jobs that are in the Middle Tennessee job market and prepare for your job search. Our career development team will give you the tools and make introductions to create your personal network, share best practices and give feedback on your LinkedIn profile and resume, coordinate mock interviews so you can practice your interviewing skills with real hiring managers, recruiters, and/or senior developers, and provide workshops and guest speakers to learn what to expect at your first job. Plus, our job doesn’t end at graduation. We are here to support you until you get your first job in tech using the skills from NSS.
Do you guarantee a job?: No. But we have dedicated career development and placement staff who will help you during bootcamp and after graduation until you land your first job in tech. As long as you’re putting in the work, our team will support you as long as needed. (See question above for more details.)
POST GRADUATION
What is the starting salary range for graduates of this program?: We graduated our first data analytics bootcamp in January 2020. Since then we have seen graduates offered salaries in the range of $38,000 to over $100,000 for their first position. Salaries above the median ($65,000 for 2021) were typically driven by a combination of the training received at NSS and the graduate’s prior education and work experience.
What is the placement rate after graduation?: Our placement rates are published by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) annually. For THEC’s FY 2020-2021, the placement rate for our full-time data analytics bootcamp was 88.9%. This reflects students who graduated between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. In addition to a strong placement rate, we are seeing the shortest average job search time in our history due to Nashville’s continued growth in tech. You can view all of THEC’s reports for NSS, which includes completion and placement rates for our bootcamps, here.
Am I required to work for a company in Nashville after graduation?: If you are a regular tuition student, no. If you are accepted under the terms of our Nashville Opportunity Tuition program you will agree to actively pursue a job in the Nashville area or a remote job that enables you to stay in the area after graduation.

Part-time Data Analytics Bootcamp

START DATES AND LENGTH
How often do you start a part-time data analytics bootcamp?: Currently, we start a part-time data analytics cohort every six months (January and July).
When are applications open?: Applications open 5-6 months prior to the start of class. Applications close approximately 5-6 weeks prior to the start of class to allow time for pre-work. These dates may change at our discretion with no notice.
How will I know if you have received my application?: You will receive a confirmation email with next steps shortly after submitting your application.
How long does the part-time data analytics bootcamp last?: The part-time data analytics bootcamp lasts six months. There are two 12 week quarters with a one-week intersession break.
Why is your bootcamp six months long?: We created our curriculum in partnership with a number of tech companies in Nashville by focusing on one question. What makes someone “job ready” for a junior data analyst position at your company? Once we got the input to that question it was clear that, at least in our job market, employers want data analysts to be trained to think analytically and use a range of tools. Given that our mission is to help our graduates accelerate the launch of a professional analytics career, it was clear that we needed a six-month, part-time curriculum.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
How much experience should I have before applying?: No prior technical training or analytics experience is required for our data analytics bootcamps.
I have no programming or analytics experience, is that okay?: Of course! Our data analytics bootcamps would be perfect for you! We do recommend that you spend some time studying analytics and trying a bit of coding on your own or with our Analytics Jumpstart class so that you can get a sense of whether you’ll enjoy this line of work. This exploratory stage of learning is often very helpful in deciding if you want to pursue an analytics bootcamp program. Self-study options include online sites such as Data Camp.
I have been doing some analytics on the job or I have been using spreadsheets for years, is this for me?: Yes! If you want to transition from a position that occasionally uses analytics to a data analyst or grow your analytics skills beyond spreadsheets, our data analytics bootcamps can help you make that transition and upskill with current analytics tools.
What are the backgrounds of previous students?: Our students have come from a wide range of backgrounds. A small sampling of backgrounds include administrative assistant at a tax company, US Navy veteran, cell phone tech support representative, supply chain manager, a tobacco farmer, and a few musicians.
What are some learning resources you recommend using before starting class?: We often refer potential students to Data Camp.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
What happens after you apply?: Applicants will be invited to schedule an interview with one or two of our team members. Interviews are conducted by our data instructors. The admissions committee meets weekly to discuss applications for the next cohort. Decisions are rolled out in batches. If you are not accepted, you will receive an email about possible next steps and how you might strengthen your application.
Can I update my application to apply to a different cohort or change my tuition options?: Yes. Please contact us at admission@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
How competitive is the process?: For our Analytics Bootcamps, we typically have 2 applicants for every open seat so everyone doesn’t get to start when they want. We are also seeing greater competition for Opportunity Tuition seats then regular tuition seats. But we try to accommodate financial circumstances, scheduling issues, and other priorities. If we can’t get you into the first class you applied for, we will work with you to get you into the next available class.
What happens if I don’t get in?: You will receive an email with our recommendations to help you strengthen your application. We aim to have each analytics bootcamp filled 4 weeks before class starts. If you have not heard from us by then, please follow up with admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
LEARNING
What will we be learning?: Students learn how to apply analytical reasoning through hands-on training in the most widely-used tools, including Excel, Python, SQL, Tableau, and Power BI. Using real data from local companies in a variety of problem domains, such as healthcare, financial services, digital marketing, supply chain, and retail, students will gain practical experience in all stages of the analytics workflow. You will also learn to present your findings via presentations and storytelling, building reports, and creating dashboards.
Is the study group mandatory?: Yes. Our Part-time Data Analytics Bootcamp has a mandatory study group that meets once a week when teams are working on group projects.
Is there pre-work? How much should I study before class starts or is there pre-work for this program.: Yes. There is a small amount of pre-work for this bootcamp. It usually takes students about 8 to 12 hours to complete.
What is the homework load?: Our Part-time Data Analytics Bootcamp is set up as a flipped classroom. This means the bulk of your lectures will come from sources like Data Camp and classroom hours will be used primarily for project work and presentations. The amount of time required outside of class will vary from week to week, however, in general, you should be prepared to spend 12 to 15 hours a week preparing for class by completing Data Camp courses and working on projects.
Are the instructors accessible outside of class hours?: Instructors and Teaching Assistants are often available outside of class hours, however, that is not guaranteed.
How much group vs. individual work takes place in class?: The first project when beginning to learn a new technology in class is typically a solo project. After that, the majority of work is in team projects. We aim for a good mix of discovery on your own and collaborative learning.
What type of laptop do I need?: There are a lot of options for laptops for our data analytics bootcamps. See our full post on hardware requirements on our blog.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
What support do you offer to help me get a job?: All of our bootcamps have a career development track as part of the program. We will help you understand the tech jobs that are in the Middle Tennessee job market and prepare for your job search. Our career development team will give you the tools and make introductions to create your personal network, share best practices and give feedback on your LinkedIn profile and resume, coordinate mock interviews so you can practice your interviewing skills with real hiring managers, recruiters, and/or senior developers, and provide workshops and guest speakers to learn what to expect at your first job. Plus, our job doesn’t end at graduation. We are here to support you until you get your first job in tech using the skills from NSS.
Do you guarantee a job?: No. But we have dedicated career development and placement staff who will help you during bootcamp and after graduation until you land your first job in tech. As long as you’re putting in the work, our team will support you as long as needed. (See question above for more details.)
POST GRADUATION
What is the starting salary range for graduates of this program?: We graduated our first data analytics bootcamp in January 2020. Since then we have seen graduates offered salaries in the range of $38,000 to over $100,000 for their first position. Salaries above the median ($65,000 for 2021) were typically driven by a combination of the training received at NSS and the graduate’s prior education and work experience.
What is the placement rate after graduation?: Our placement rates are published by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) annually. For THEC’s FY 2020-2021, the placement rate for our part-time data analytics bootcamp was 61.8%. This reflects the two part-time classes that graduated between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. One in January 2021 and the other in June 2021. The June cohort was limited to a 3 month job search before THEC’s reporting deadline. Since the reporting deadline, the combined placement rate for both part-time cohorts has risen to 82.4%. You can view all of THEC’s reports for NSS, which includes completion and placement rates for our bootcamps, here.

Part-time Data Science Bootcamp

START DATES AND LENGTH
How often do you start a part-time data science bootcamp?: Currently, we start a part-time data science cohort once a year (September).
When are applications open?: Applications open 5-6 months prior to the start of class. Applications close approximately 5-6 weeks prior to the start of class to allow time for pre-work. These dates may change at our discretion with no notice.
How long does the part-time data science bootcamp last?: The part-time data science bootcamp lasts nine months. There are three 12 week quarters with two one-week intersession breaks.
Why is your bootcamp nine months long?: We created our curriculum in partnership with a number of companies in Nashville by focusing on one question: what makes someone “job ready” for a junior data scientist position at your company? Once we got the input to that question it was clear that, at least in our job market, employers want data scientists to be trained to think analytically, use a range of tools, and be familiar with the full range of skills associated with a typical data science project. Giving students sufficient time to experience all the required tools and skills on a part-time basis requires nine months.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
How much experience should I have before applying?: Ideal applicants will have experience in quantitative science or programming. Students will be expected to demonstrate prior training in and/or experience applying the math skills relevant to data science. In particular, we will be looking for students with training in statistics/probability. This prior knowledge can be gained through classes, research project experience, work experience, and/or our Statistics For Data Science class.
I have no programming experience, is that okay?: Of course! Our data science bootcamp would be perfect for you! We do recommend that you spend some time studying programming on your own or with our Analytics Jumpstart class so that you can get a sense of whether you enjoy analyzing things with code. This exploratory stage of learning is often very helpful in deciding if you want to pursue a data science bootcamp program. Self-study options include online sites such as Data Camp.
I have a strong background in data analytics, is this for me?: Yes! Our data science bootcamp can help you to transition from data analytics to data science if that is your goal.
I have a strong background in programming, is this for me?: Yes. We have had several software engineers successfully complete this bootcamp and transition to roles as data scientists.
What are the backgrounds of previous students?: Our students have come from a wide range of backgrounds. A small sampling of backgrounds include a mechanical engineer, government relations specialist, biomedical engineer, software developers, and postdocs.
What are some learning resources you recommend using before starting class?: We often refer potential students to Data Camp.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
What happens after you apply?: Applicants will be invited to schedule an interview with one or two of our team members. Interviews are conducted by our data instructors. The admissions committee meets weekly to discuss applications for the next cohort. Decisions are rolled out in batches. If you are not accepted, you will receive an email about possible next steps and how you might strengthen your application.
Can I update my application to apply to a different cohort or change my tuition options?: Yes. Please contact us at admission@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
How competitive is the process?: For our data science bootcamp, we currently see 2 applications for every open seat. Seats in our Opportunity Tuition program are even more competitive. If you can afford regular tuition, or qualify for a loan, you may be able to start earlier.
What happens if I don’t get in?: You will receive an email with our recommendations to help you strengthen your application. We aim to have each data science bootcamp filled 4 weeks before class starts. If you have not heard from us by then, please follow up with admissions@nashvillesoftwareschool.com.
LEARNING
What will we be learning?: Students gain hands-on experience in applying data engineering skills to sourcing, cleaning, and aggregating data with R and Python. These skills will be applied to real-world data science problems drawn from a wide range of problem domains, including digital marketing, supply chain, healthcare, retail, and financial services. You will learn to build, evaluate, and explain machine learning models and extract meaning from textual data using Natural Language Processing (NLP). You will also learn to present your findings via presentations and storytelling.
Is there pre-work? How much should I study before class starts or is there pre-work for this program.: Yes. You will have approximately 20 hours of pre-work assigned – a combination of statistics and introductory Python for Data Analysis.
Is the study group mandatory?: Yes. Our Part-time Data Science Bootcamp has a mandatory study group that meets once a week when teams are working on group projects.
What is the homework load?: Our Data Science Bootcamp is set up as a flipped classroom. This means the bulk of your lectures will come from sources like Data Camp and classroom hours will be used for project work and presentations. The amount of time required outside of class will vary from week to week, however, in general, you should be prepared to spend 12 to 15 hours a week preparing for class and working on projects.
Are the instructors accessible outside of class hours?: Instructors and Teaching Assistants are often available outside of class hours, however, that is not guaranteed.
How much group vs. individual work takes place in class?: The first project when beginning to learn a new technology in class is typically a solo project. After that, the majority of work is in team projects. We aim for a good mix of discovery on your own and collaborative learning.
What type of laptop do I need?: There are a lot of options for laptops for our web development bootcamps. See our full post on hardware requirements on our blog.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
What support do you offer to help me get a job?: All of our bootcamps have a career development track as part of the program. We will help you understand the tech jobs that are in the Middle Tennessee job market and prepare for your job search. Our career development team will give you the tools and make introductions to create your personal network, share best practices and give feedback on your LinkedIn profile and resume, coordinate mock interviews so you can practice your interviewing skills with real hiring managers, recruiters, and/or senior developers, and provide workshops and guest speakers to learn what to expect at your first job. Plus, our job doesn’t end at graduation. We are here to support you until you get your first job in tech using the skills from NSS.
Do you guarantee a job?: No. But we have dedicated career development and placement staff who will help you during bootcamp and after graduation until you land your first job in tech. As long as you’re putting in the work, our team will support you as long as needed. (See question above for more details.)
POST GRADUATION
What is the starting salary range for graduates of this program?: We graduated our first Data Science bootcamp in 2018 and have seen graduates offered salaries in the range of $50,000 to $160,000 for their first position. Salaries above the median ($80,000 for 2021) were typically driven by a combination of the training received at NSS and the graduate’s prior education and work experience.
What is the placement rate after graduation?: Our placement rates are published by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) annually. For THEC’s FY 2020-2021, the placement rate for our data science bootcamp was 58.8%. This reflects students who graduated between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Since we graduate one class a year, and based on their graduation date, this cohort was limited to a 3 month job search before THEC’s reporting deadline. Since the reporting deadline, the placement rate for this cohort has risen to 88%. You can view all of THEC’s reports for NSS, which includes completion and placement rates for our bootcamps, here.
Am I required to work for a company in Nashville after graduation?: If you are a regular tuition student, no. If you are accepted under the terms of our Nashville Opportunity Tuition program you will agree to actively pursue a job in the Nashville area or a remote job that enables you to stay in the area after graduation.

Finances

How much is this going to cost?: Cost varies depending on the program. Please see the program page for the specific program you are interested in joining for complete details.
Where can I get a loan to attend a bootcamp?: We have a partnership with Ascent Funding and Climb Credit for our Web Development, Data Analytics, and Data Science bootcamps to provide student loans to our regular tuition students. We have partnership with Climb Credit and Sallie Mae for our Software Engineering program. Loans are only available for our bootcamps and career launch programs.
Will I be able to defer my existing federal student loan payments while I attend NSS?: Not at this time.
Does NSS offer any payment plans?: We do have payment plans available. Our payment plans require that students pay their tuition prior to graduation from bootcamp. If you need to finance your training over a longer period of time then you may need a third-party financing option, such as is offered by our loan partners (listed above) or other third parties. Payments plans are also available for some of our Professional Development classes. Please see the program page for the specific program you are interested in joining for complete details.
Will I incur any additional expenses while in class?: There may be some additional expenses while in class. For example, purchasing a personal domain name and hosting for your portfolio projects. For students using a Macbook Pro for our C#/.NET bootcamp, you may be required to purchase additional software for the server-side portion (2nd half) of the bootcamp. You may also choose to acquire supplementary technical books or reference material. However, we do strive to keep the amount of required outside spending to a minimum. The details of any outside spending required for your particular class are outlined in our offer package.
Is it realistic to have a job while attending full-time classes?: We have certainly had successful students that worked evenings and weekends. However, for the average student, having an outside job does tend to limit their learning. If a student must work then part-time work is preferable.
Do you provide housing assistance?: No
Is NSS tax deductible, eligible for federal student loans, or financial aid?: No. Eligibility for school tuition to be tax deductible, or for students to have access to federal student loans or other forms of government financial aid, is dependent upon a school being formally accredited. While NSS is an approved post-secondary school by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, that is not the same as accreditation. In general, coding bootcamps, even those offered through colleges and universities, are not accredited and hence not able to offer students federal financial aid options or tax deductibility. NSS does offer other forms of financial aid and student loan options.

General

What is the most important thing I can come to class with?: A good attitude, a full night’s sleep, and a working computer.
Where is the school located?: NSS is 100% remote. We maintain a mailing address at 844 Hillwood Blvd., Nashville, TN 37209. This office is not open to the public.
Is the school certified?: Nashville Software School is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility. We are not pursuing accreditation at this time.
What hours is NSS open?: Our team is available from 9:00AM - 5:00pm CT Monday through Friday.
What is the tech scene like in Nashville?: In a word: Fantastic! It’s a wonderful, supportive community with technical meetups every night of the week.

Still have questions?

Can I make an appointment to talk to someone on the phone?: Yes. We want to help you make the best decision for you! We do our best to get back to you as quickly as possible, no matter how you reach out. If you have not attended an info session, we recommend you visit our events page to see the next available dates. If the dates of our info session do not work for you or you need information prior to that, we would be glad to schedule a call.

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