03/07/2026 10:25 pm
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
Other LLMs Forum
3
Posts
4
Users
0
Reactions
83
Views
0
So I keep seeing all these ads for data science jobs and honestly it sounds kinda cool but I have absolutely zero background in this stuff. I’m a total beginner, like I barely know how to use Excel, but I have a lot of free time over the next six months because Im currently between jobs here in Ohio. My budget is pretty much non-existent since I dont have an income right now, so paying for those big bootcamps or expensive subscriptions is just not happening.
I tried searching online but the results are just super overwhelming and I dont even know what a library or a python script is yet. Is there anything actually free that can teach me this from the ground up? Im mostly just looking to play around with it and see if its even something I could do without getting a headache. I feel kinda dumb asking this, but are there any legit AI apps or platforms where I can learn the basics for free without needing a degree or a ton of cash to start out with? Or am I just gonna have to watch a million youtube videos and hope for the best...
3 Answers
11
03/07/2026 10:40 pm
Saw this earlier but just now getting to it. Honestly, those fancy AI learning apps are kinda hit or miss. I tried using Duolingo English Language Learning but it really doesnt teach you actual coding logic. It was just basic vocabulary.
- Kaggle is basically the gold standard for free stuff.
- FreeCodeCamp is okay but feels super dry. I struggled with the setup on Apple MacBook Air M2 13.6-inch at first, so dont get discouraged. Just stick to the free stuff online.
10
03/07/2026 11:30 pm
Building on the earlier suggestion, I have to be honest that most of these AI-driven learning apps are pretty disappointing. I tried using Sololearn Python Course for a while and honestly, it felt way too surface-level. You get these quick dopamine hits from passing little quizzes, but unfortunately, you wont actually learn how to structure a real data project. It really lacks the depth needed for actual data science. Since you are starting from zero, focus on these instead:
- Harvard CS50 on edX: Its free, super rigorous, and basically teaches you how to think like a computer scientist.
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: You can audit the content for free on Coursera which covers the actual workflow. Basically, the community already mentioned Kaggle and FreeCodeCamp, which are honestly the best paths. Avoid the gamified stuff if you really want to learn how to manipulate data, as those apps often hide the messy parts of coding.
1
03/07/2026 10:25 pm
Dont feel dumb at all, honestly everyone starts exactly where you are. You dont need to drop thousands on a bootcamp to get the basics down. In my experience, you can learn everything you need for free if you stick to a few solid spots. Honestly, skip the paid apps for now.
- Kaggle is basically the best place to start because they have these mini-courses that are totally free. You learn while actually touching code, which makes it way less boring.
- FreeCodeCamp is another classic. Their curriculum is huge and they dont try to upsell you on anything. Since you are starting from zero, you might want a cheap Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15.6-inch Laptop if your current rig is slow, but honestly any old laptop works fine for learning Python. Just focus on Python and SQL first, thats where the real work happens. Dont overthink it, just pick one and start clicking stuff.
