A to Z of How to Prepare for ALX Software Engineering Training and Ace It
Published: 2022-12-17 11:26:48

_**Disclaimer: This is personal opinion. Post not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned.**_

If you are here, I believe you understood what ALX Software Engineering Training is about. It is one of the finest SE on planet earth, currently available for free to people of African extraction.

The Software Engineering training is the most expensive and the most challenging of all ALX programs demanding that applicants be willing to spend at least 70hrs per week to the training for 12 months or more.

Ideally, I like to get straight to the point when I write, however I beg to take an exception today. Before I proceed to how you should prepare to ace the training, let us take look at what must be involved in a good software engineering training. Here are some of them key qualities to expect from a good software engineering program:

**1. Comprehensive curriculum:** A great software engineering training program should cover all the key concepts and skills needed to become a proficient software engineer. This includes topics like algorithms and data structures, software design and architecture, testing and debugging, and software development processes.

 
**2. Practical experience:** A great software engineering training program should provide hands-on experience through projects and exercises. ALX SE program is big on exercise. This allows students to apply what they have learned and build real-world experience. 

 
**3. Professional development:** A great software engineering training program should also focus on the soft skills needed for professional development, such as communication skills, teamwork, and project management. These skills are essential for success in the software engineering field, especially a large team.
 

**4. Industry relevance:** A great software engineering training program should stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and industry trends. This ensures that students are learning the skills that are most relevant and in demand in the job market.
 

**5. Quality instruction:** A great software engineering training program should have experienced and knowledgeable instructors who can effectively teach the material and provide guidance and support to students.
 

**6. Flexibility:** A great software engineering training program should offer flexible options, such as online or in-person classes, part-time or full-time schedules, and self-paced learning. This allows students to tailor their learning experience to their needs and schedule.

ALX Software Engineering training is all of this and more. Now back to the main deal.


How do you prepare?

Wait! Hollup! Why do you need preparation? You need preparation because 70hrs per week is about 10hrs daily. 10hrs daily! This means it may be impossible to do any other thing while the training runs. You may even need to resign from your job when push reaches shove. 

* If you have no coding background, you will need to give that required 70+ hours unless you are an exceptional genius. Many of us are not. If you are reading this, my bet is you are no genius - that is why you are already looking for heads-on.

* That said, as you are applying, start learning coding right away using the ALX curriculum as your compass. Get a hold of git, bash, C(pointers, strings, etc), HTML, and CSS.

* This will eventually reduce your overhead time investment when the program begins, buying you some 10-30hrs per week to engage in any other necessary activity like partime work. Even if it doesn't reduce your time investment, it will surely do one thing for you - it will make it possible for you to assimilate or understand topics and concepts faster. This will help you to meet project or task deadlines and earn more marks.


* If you have coding or development experience, you will be fine though your grit will still be necessary.


* That said let's talk about your financial life - you need to do a careful analysis of your finances or income. What is the worst that can happen? What are your contingency plans? You need to have as many as you can. You will need them all. You may want to call one or two people and brief them that you may call time to time and ask for their assistance - explain the kind of assistance you will be needing though.


* Arrange for your electricity. If you depend solely on national grid around most African nations, you will surely miss many project deadline. Personally I am using MTN Lumos Prime which is N10600 per month currently.


* If you are in a relationship, let them know you are getting into an intensive 12 months training and likely to be less available. Lols 


#### How to Proceed While in The Training

ALX is not your regular Bootcamp. By that I mean, they teaching beyond coding and building things, in ALX Software Engineering training you learn the theory behind things - the fundamentals. In fact, the program when it started at Holberton School of Software Engineering was started as alternative to University degree in computer science. 

For each project or topic being treated you get learning materials and tasks to accomplish within a defined period of time. So what do you do?

* Read the whole material at least more than once. 


* Before reading the material, reading the tasks you are to do.


* After reading the material the first time, you may want to read the tasks again. 


* The materials are mostly official documentations and sometimes may not give you precise clue to answer real questions. That said, dont hesitate to consult other tech contents like youtube videos and tech blogs.


* Take the mindset sessions of the training very serious. You will need those concepts to make it through ALX. Implement the concepts in your daily life.


**I am Vincent Ikechukwu, Full Stack Web Developer and Software Engineer.** Connect with me on social media via links below.

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