Meet our Alumni, Sarah B., a graduate of the CAD/BIM Certificate Program. Here’s her student success story on why she chose VDCI and how she’s been able to utilize the skills she’s learned.

The Road to VDCI

Sarah Barker is an alumni here at VDCI, graduating from the CAD/BIM Certificate Program! She has served for the United States Air Force since 2003 in the Space and Missile Operations career field. Sarah explained her past experience with the software as her “first passion” that she never found time to take action on. With hopes of finally taking the step towards furthering her education, Sarah enrolled in our CAD/BIM Certificate Program. 

While her career at the time of training did not align with the CAD world, she came to realize that learning about it helped her understand some of the technical aspects that were used in the military. As for her future career, the program provided her with ‘very valuable skills and attention to detail’ preparing her for a job in drafting and design. Sarah not only honed in on her CAD skills, but also discovered a newfound appreciation and enjoyment from learning software that was new to her such as Revit and Navisworks. To no surprise, her recommended courses were the BIM courses, which she grew to greatly enjoy.

Reflecting on her experience, Sarah attests that her time at VDCI was nothing short of transformative. Even saying she ‘could not have asked for a better experience communicating with the staff and faculty.’ The program’s flexibility proved instrumental, allowing her to seamlessly integrate her studies into her busy schedule. While Sarah encountered occasional challenges, particularly with technical issues, she embraced them as learning opportunities. Through perseverance and resilience, she emerged with a wealth of knowledge and a profound understanding of the importance of effective time management—a lesson she is eager to share with others embarking on similar paths.

In summary, Sarah’s success story exemplifies the power of determination, continuous learning, and adaptability. Her journey from military service to mastering CAD and BIM technologies stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth. As she embarks on the next chapter of her career, Sarah’s experience serves as an inspiration to aspiring professionals in the field.

Alumni Capstone Project

Explore Sarah’s final captsone portfolio project to get an idea of the work one will be able to create by the end of a Certificate Program.

Single Family Residence – Sarah B.

Explore some of the other capstone projects from our Student Portfolio Submissions. Capstone project examples are categorized by Certificate Programs offered at VDCI.

Alumni Advice

What courses would you recommend?

I recommend ALL courses provided by VDCI!  My favorite courses were the BIM courses.  Using Revit Architecture surprised me and I grew to enjoy its functionality.  

What training path do you recommend for incoming students?

Sign up for the whole certificate upfront.  This will keep you on track to complete the program. Also, time management is very important as you go through each course. Don’t rush through the assignments. Trying to complete a drawing at the last minute only takes away from what you could get out of each course.