Do you know that, on average, only 14% of students complete online courses? The main reasons for that may be the lack of self-discipline, poor curriculum, and loss of motivation.
We decided to find out what exactly hinders our students from mastering to code. In this article, we share the results of our recent survey and give some tips on how to overcome these barriers and successfully complete the course.
![The Main Hinders on the Way to Mastering Java: What Can You Do to Avoid Them. Insights from CodeGym's Recent Survey - 1]()
Who Is Learning on a CodeGym Course?
First, let's define who took part in our survey to help you better understand what students are learning on a GodeGym course. The majority of respondents (36%) are between 31 and 37 years old, while 22% are from 38 to 45 years old. Also, people aged 23 to 30 years make up a significant part of our students.
Seeing how mature our students are, it shouldn't come as a surprise that most of them have already mastered at least one profession and now decided to switch to programming. With that, about 40% of the surveyed students answered that they had zero technical background.
When our students were asked,
"Why did you decide to master programming?", 38% of them answered that they were very interested in the world of technology, whereas only 22% mentioned a high salary as the main trigger. Another 18% of respondents said that they considered remote work opportunities quite attractive; 10% of surveyed students pursued a sought-after profession.
![The Main Hinders on the Way to Mastering Java: What Can You Do to Avoid Them. Insights from CodeGym's Recent Survey - 2]()
What's interesting, people with different types of occupations switch to IT - doctors, locksmiths, economists, military personnel, bankers, chefs, couriers, etc.
That being said, some of our students already have a technical background but would like to refresh their knowledge. Over a third of responders have been studying Java for about 2 years; 14% of surveyed students have been trying to master programming for 1-2 years; 22% replied that they have been studying to code for 6-12 months.
Top Reasons Why Students Quit Learning: Lack of Practice and Loss of Motivation
The main reason why our students can't fully master Java and complete the course is a lack of time for practice. Almost 41% of surveyed students said that they simply can't devote enough time to practical exercises. And as “
practice makes perfect”, students just couldn't progress and eventually gave up learning.
Other serious reasons that stop students from achieving their goals are the duration of the course, the complexity of the program, and the loss of motivation.
How to Overcome These Barriers?
How to deal with that? The easiest way is to create a study plan! What do you need for that? Define your ambitions!
Would you like to delve into application development, conquer mobile app creation, or move to QA automation?
Identify your passion, establish tangible end goals, pinpoint specific topics to master, and create a personal learning plan. Basically, there are two methods to plan your learning, and these methods can be mixed or used separately.
- A goal-based plan. In this case, there are no strict time limits - the plan is focused on achieving the desired outcome.
- A time-based plan. Here, you set a deadline for yourself. For example, you may want to master Java Core in 6 months.
When choosing which method to follow, consider your personality. If you know that you struggle with self-discipline, choose the second option. If you tend to miss deadlines, stick to the first one.
As a basis, you can refer to
CodeGym's step-by-step plan and further add some topics you'd like to master (according to your individual goals).
By sticking to a learning plan, you'll be able to study consistently and acquire knowledge progressively.
And wait, there's more! Even the best plan can't do without a schedule. Try to customize a learning timetable that would seamlessly align with your lifestyle and pace. But remember that “
slow and steady wins the race”. Overloading yourself with information will only lead to frustration and dwindling motivation. So, don't try to learn numerous topics simultaneously, and keep in mind that even small efforts combined with consistency lead to great achievements.
It's also a good idea to learn at the same time every day as learning will become a habit eventually.
What about Finding Motivation?
Motivation is the key thing to do when planning your studies. And, in fact, it’s the most difficult one. The success of your learning depends on your motivation.
Bear in mind that learning to code is a rewarding but challenging pursuit, and it's quite ok to face frustration sometimes. That’s why we have come up with the best strategies to stay motivated:
- Embrace small wins. Celebrate even the smallest achievements, and appreciate the progress you make, no matter how small it is.
- Join a community. Keep in touch with like-minded people who share your passion for coding. Join coding communities, forums, or social media groups where you can connect with both fellow learners like you and professionals who can give you valuable advice.
- Strike a balance between learning and personal life. Pushing yourself too hard without adequate rest and family/friend time can lead to burnout. Allow yourself time to “recharge” and return to coding with a refreshed mindset.
- Create a supportive learning environment. Make your learning environment conducive to focus and productivity, be it your favorite cafe, your bedroom, or co-working.
- Practice regularly. Again, it all comes down to practice. Take note that our course is practice-oriented but it’s not tied to any time limits. So, even if you spend just an hour each day, you’ll reinforce your learning, build momentum, and prevent stagnation.
Remember, motivation can fluctuate, and it's natural to have ups and downs. During the most challenging times when you’re about quitting, just remind yourself why you started learning Java and the long-term benefits it can bring. Stay patient, persistent, and celebrate every step forward.
Your coding skills will continue to evolve with dedication and consistency. And if you’d like to draw some motivation from our students who successfully completed our course and got a respectable job, we recommend you to read their aspiring stories:
![The Main Hinders on the Way to Mastering Java: What Can You Do to Avoid Them. Insights from CodeGym's Recent Survey - 3]()
The Outline
We hope our students' answers have shed light on the common obstacles they face while embarking on their journey to master programming. However, let these hindrances be mere stepping stones, not roadblocks, on your path to success.
CodeGym is here to provide you with the knowledge, support, and resources you need to overcome these challenges and continue your learning journey. Our comprehensive course offers a well-structured and engaging curriculum that will empower you to conquer the world of programming.
Keep in mind that every line of code you write, every concept you grasp, and every challenge you overcome brings you closer to becoming a proficient Java developer.
What's interesting, people with different types of occupations switch to IT - doctors, locksmiths, economists, military personnel, bankers, chefs, couriers, etc.
That being said, some of our students already have a technical background but would like to refresh their knowledge. Over a third of responders have been studying Java for about 2 years; 14% of surveyed students have been trying to master programming for 1-2 years; 22% replied that they have been studying to code for 6-12 months.
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