When I first started looking into Boot camps I was a huge skeptic. It’s a HUGE investment of not just money but time. After doing some research and speaking to a few industry professionals, I made the decision to take a leap of faith with Code Fellows. Going into it, I knew very little about programming and extremely nervous. All I did know is from what I had research online and it certainly held true. In order to succeed in an accelerated learning environment, you need to invest 110% of yourself. A concept that you learn today you may not grasp until tomorrow or the next day but perseverance is key to learning. Thankfully, Code Fellows provided a supportive environment where my instructors and TA’s were always willing to lend a hand or even just an ear to bounce ideas off of. Ultimately, I’m happy I made the decision to pursue a career in Software Development and am grateful that I chose Code Fellows to help launch my career.

Pros:
– Collaborative and open learning environment
– Supportive staff
– Career and industry focused learning
– Fun campus with monthly happy hours

Cons:
– Long nights (you get what you put in)

February 20, 2019

After almost ten years of working a series of unfulfilling jobs I decided it was time for a career change. From the years I spent as a technical recruiter I knew that software development is a growing field, pays well and would allow me to affect meaningful change on a large scale. I spent ten month studying on my own and started applying to jobs but was told over and over again that I lacked the skills and experience necessary to be a developer. I was ready to give up when a friend of mine, who had successfully transitioned from a career in music to software development, told me about his experience at Code Fellows. After learning about the curriculum and speaking with the Code Fellow’s recruitment team I took the leap.

Pros:
– The instructional staff consists of top-notch educators who are also experienced developers
– The curriculum is constantly updated to ensure the latest and most in-demand technologies are being taught
– There is a big focus on learning to write software with other developers (something that you can’t do on your own)
– Code Fellows is well known in the Seattle Area and being a Code Fellows graduate carries some weight
– You get to network with many other soon-to-be developers

Cons
– Code Fellows is a big investment (both in time and money) and there is always the concern that you won’t get a job afterwards

I cannot recommend Code Fellows enough! I learned vastly more in the 4.5 months I was a student at Code Fellows than I did in the ten months I studied on my own. Having a team of instructors/mentors walk you through a world-class curriculum means that the entire experience is tailored toward gaining the skills necessary to become a professional software developer. Of the 20 or so people I went through Code Fellows with, almost all of us have jobs as developers (some in big companies like Amazon, AT&T and Uber) and I’m confident those who don’t will soon be employed. I truly believe that investing in yourself is ALWAYS a good idea and that is exactly what Code Fellows is, an investment in your future.

April 13, 2019

I came to Code Fellows with absolutely zero experience coding. Code Fellows provided me with a foundation to think like a developer and approach complex problems with confidence. Learning to code is not easy, but the challenge is so rewarding! Throughout my time at CF, I felt encouraged and supported by my instructors and peers. As a woman of color, it was important for me to immerse myself in a program that embraces diversity and inclusion and that’s what I found at CF. They take pride in creating a safe learning space for everyone, regardless of race, gender, or background.

April 14, 2019

When I decided to make a career change and after being on the self-taught coding route for a while, Code Fellows came highly recommended by a friend who had gone through the program and had landed herself a new career as a software engineer. I thought about it for a bit, as it’s a big decision and commitment, but ultimately I decided it was a good decision for myself and my family. Turns out it paid off.

Code Fellows proved to be an incredible place to learn not only software development skills, but also other skills needed to be successful in the industry; from career coaching to learning how to work collaboratively in groups/one-on-one. As an added bonus, I had some amazing classmates in my cohort and friendships developed while there have lasted outside of school.

Pros:
– Knowledgeable and dedicated staff (both instructional and support).
– Thoughtful and evolving curriculum.
– Supportive and inclusive environment.
– School staff is open to, and encourages, feedback.
– Great location.
– Networking opportunities available weekly.

Cons:
– Expense, but it’s worth it. Plus, scholarships are available to those who qualify.
– Time commitment. Again, it’s worth it. The curriculum is fast-paced, so you’ll need to be committed if you want to be successful.

April 15, 2019

I didn’t realize how great the curriculum was until I had done a couple interviews after the class was over. Everything I was up against in the interview was covered in detail during the class. The class moves quickly, so you might feel like you aren’t grasping everything at times, but you will be surprised at how much you learned in such a short amount of time. The instructor is great and speaks from experience. The class is challenging, but you grow to be a better developer from it. By the end of the class, you get to say that you’ve built an API that anyone can consume, and a full-stack C# application that is deployed in the cloud as well as a learning a number of data structures problems that are covered daily. The only con I would include is that the speed of the class can be an issue and it can be difficult to complete assignments on time.

September 25, 2019

I had a good experience learning Python. There was a good amount of support during the expected working hours, and for the most part, the desired outcomes were clear. We covered many useful things about the language, and when I graduated I felt comfortable continuing my learning process. The career coaching section of the program was very useful, and I graduated feeling prepared to take on interviews. A month and a half out, I still do not have work in the industry.

October 1, 2019

The Fellow Program in DataScience was a great opportunity to change careers for me
In terms of knowledge, teachers are very technical, lessons and workshops very organized and job oriented
Tech companies visit the campus on a regular basis, explain what they do and you have a direct access to apply
Last but not least, we’re now a real alumni community from different nationalities and working in many tech sectors

January 18, 2020

Learning to be a programmer is like learning to be an artist. It’s something that builds up day by day – the more you push yourself towards doing it, the more it opens different paths for you.

I am here to speak for my story with this boot camp, and let me tell you: If you really are passionate about tech and think that it’s where you see yourself in the future then Code Fellows will never fail you!

I finished my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and worked in the telecommunication sector for a tiny bit but never felt that I belong to that world. I wanted to nourish my outdated and conventional programming knowledge with an intense education that introduces me to a new set of modern tools/skills in the programming realm and that’s where I started the search.

I ditched two CS/Computer Engineering Masters programs that I was admitted to from two of the top 20 universities in the world to start with Code Fellows – Having been through a 4 years program in the past that was very slow for me, I didn’t know if I really want to go through that agonizing experience all over again.

I started in December 2016 and left Code Fellows completely by April 2018. Of course, it started with the 101 course where I had all my questions answered about this Bootcamp. Then for 102, 201, 301 where JavaScript was the dominant subject. Those courses are short but they were more than enough to push me move forward and believe that I want to learn more!

In the second quarter of 2017, I decided I want to master Swift since I had passion for building iOS mobile apps. I was lucky a 401 was offered at the time to teach that. It was pretty amazing curriculum that I wouldn’t be able to put together in 10 years from now. I built apps, made friends, enjoyed the feeling of pride that I built something from scratch entirely by myself!

All classes at Code Fellows have a max number of seats per course which really helps keeping the focus on every student to get the most out of the respective curriculum. Also, there’s a Teacher assistant for every batch of students who has been the same curriculum and same doubts that every new students come across. Learning by yourself is never fun and having TA’s as well as other driven students really makes all the difference!

I finished my first 401 and was very happy with what I learned but tired a tad bit because of how intense the course was. I took some time off celebrating my accomplishment then decided it’s the time to learn on my own. I spent a couple months going through different programming books and preparing for interviews all between my house and the campus where I am welcomed anytime after graduation. It’s very easy to tell that I was able to pick up new things on my own more than ever before! I had the chance to also TA for students and experience how amazing it is to teach students how to get through hard concepts and finish assignments. The repetitive experience is what made the best out of me.

Didn’t take more than 3 months until I decided I wanna learn more, so I joined another 401 cohort to learn ASP.NET Core! It was again another intense but awesome learning experience!

Some students might consider me insane since not everyone can bare the intensity of one year of education in a bootcamp environment especially at the Code Fellows. But it’s my passion after all and I looked at the progress I went through rather the instantaneous outcomes. I landed a job of my dreams and I can’t thank Code Fellows enough! 🙂

Anyone who ever criticizes or leaves a negative feedback on this school is probably because they are living in a world of fantasy, where they think finishing a 6 months program will make you reach the moon without any additional efforts. Patience, motivation and compassion is much needed for anyone to get into the tech industry, otherwise it’s hard to believe you can make a progress in this field.

PS: There’s no perfect curriculum nor the best school in the world. There’s a school that pushes you and teaches you how to succeed; My 5 stars goes to Code Fellows for that reason.

January 20, 2020