I started in video and digital media, a career that I loved, but I struggled to make ends meet. So I looked at other career options and found that I had some skill with computers and programming. I took a few programming classes at a community college, and during that time I heard about Tech Elevator through family. Since it seemed like a solid career path which had some synergy with my old path, I decided this was a great way to advance.
I decided to take the .Net track, because I am more familiar with Microsoft software and because I have some previous experience with C++, a predecessor to C#. This was extremely helpful in the early stages which focused on C#. In the later stages, which involved more specialized languages like SQL and CSS, I did not have this head start because I was not experienced with these languages. The instructors were extremely patient and helpful; never at any point did I feel that I was asking a stupid question or being inconvenient, and they were always available to help. And we really needed it sometimes. We were also able to ask for help on side projects, or to discuss things like interviews we’ve had.
The thing that really appealed to me with Tech Elevator was the Pathway program, the career prep side of the school. This was very important to me, considering that my previous career struggled because I didn’t know how to develop it. I would go so far as to say that if it weren’t for the Pathway program, I might not have wanted to go to Tech Elevator at all. And I was very impressed with the results. I feel like I learned more about career development in these 14 weeks than I have learned since I started undergrad in 2010. Interview practice was invaluable, since interviews are (for me at least) the hardest and least enjoyable part of the process. Resume and LinkedIn advice was also extremely helpful.
The Cleveland Campus was excellent, with a kitchen and study area, and the garage space for big meetings and presentations was perfect. The campus was very clean and conveniently located, with some good lunch options only a few blocks from campus (good for me because I sometimes forgot to pack lunch). We also continue to be welcome there after completion of the course, so we can continue to get help looking for jobs after completion of the course and even just for events like game night.
I got my first offer about eight weeks after graduation, an excellent role for a junior developer that I don’t think I would have landed without the help of Tech Elevator. The 14 weeks you will spend here are pretty intense, and you won’t have a lot of free time and certainly won’t be able to work a job at the same time. But if you need the kind of career boost that I got, you can’t go wrong here.

January 13, 2020

Once you get to Tech Elevator you have to stop and look down to your fallen comrade (your past self), and say “It’s over Anakin, I have the high ground!” And it’s true. From day 1 to the last day of week 14, you will become a fullstack developer jedi knight that is equipped with the tools to become a master. They give you missions like calculating whether a squirrel cigar party was a success or not, or you know, making full on websites and web applications. The journey is real and worth it. I’m going to post my review from another website below this because it’s applicable and explains how I feel accurately. Tech Elevator not only made me a full stack developer but it changed my life. My carreer was on a track to nothing beforehand, and now I’m a successful developer in the field. Class is long and class is hard, but when you put in 110% you get 200% back. The staff is present and invested in your success the entire journey. I can’t explain how many people I’ve been recommending it to by word of mouth, it really is as great as they say. Which yeah totally sounds phishy right? But there is no greater joy for me than praising Tech Elevator every day. I preach it and I live it everyday. Through the course of 14 weeks you learn a bunch, but what you really learn in the long run is the patterns and ways of thinking. In the end you will be thinking like a developer and ready to learn newer and more advanced concepts. That is the most valuable part I would argue. Every single day I go into work and I’m confronted with new concepts and technologies, but Tech Elevator taught me to learn them, tackle them, appreciate them, and truly Tech Elevator fueled my hunger for knowledge. The Pathway program is another huge aspect of Tech Elevator. I don’t think anyone would begin to think about Tech Elevator without thinking of the Pathway program. My Pathway staff was incredible, Jessica, thank you. You’re walked through the do’s and don’t’s of the IT world, what to expect, how to achieve it, and again back to those patterns, ways to continue to do so. If Tech Elevator had a 2nd course for advanced level concepts I’d be there in a minute because I know it would be worth my time. May the force be with you!

February 21, 2020

I’m just wrapping up my time at the Columbus Tech Elevator and I’m so grateful. This has been an amazing experience. I’ve learned so much and it’s really stepped up my tech abilities. The instructors are fantastic and the curriculum is challenging, thorough, and very relevant. The job assistance (called the Pathway Program) really helped me transition from my previous career to where I’m off to, aiding in job searching and professional identity. It helped connect me with recruiters, tech acquisition managers, and others in the tech field. Tech Elevator ultimately helped to get me to my next job at an amazing company, which I was just offered and accepted.

April 2, 2020

The number one benefit is job placement (and prep for placement). Unparalleled in the industry from everything I have read, heard and seen.

Also, the homework is one of the real strengths of the program.

Finally, the teachers and staff are great.

This programming evolves and adapts quickly to the needs of employers. What someone learned a year ago in the program may be totally different from what students are learning now. Tech Elevator definitely is in touch with the heart beat of industry.

This program is very selective (less that 10% of applicants are admitted), so the quality of people in the program is amazing. I am sure many of my classmates will be friends for life (and perhaps co-workers for life too).

I am a little old-school, so I would have liked some printed material to take with me into my jobs to use as reference. A few more diagrams would have been nice as well, but these are minor issues compared to everything else.

You will not be disappointed with the results.

June 19, 2020

Yep. Got chapters and everything. Pages held together by glue (At least I hope that’s glue).

That was just a book review from an assignment! This program was great. Our instructors were personable and stayed almost as late as we did each day. The team’s commitment to our success was obvious, both on the technical and behavioral skill sets. I can say that I have developed skills in all of the technologies they mentioned, aside from the Selenium Tool Suite, and I have tools they have provided to continue to develop my skills for fun ( Seriously, I mean fun!). As someone with no development experience beforehand, nearly all my unstructured time from Monday to Saturday was spent working with code. They call it a bootcamp for a reason. I was not able to hold a job in the meantime and the few people who were quit to focus on our material. I do recommend that all students do the same and focus on learning skills for their new career path.

Our cohort was a bit of an outlier, but I did have a job before finishing the program. Take that as you may, but you should attend Tech Elevator if you want to become a full stack web dev.

.NET!

August 3, 2020

Short and simple, Tech Elevator starts slow, but then sprints through so much technical information, it can seem overwhelming. You will be drinking from the proverbial fire hose. That said, they cover a wide enough base to give you a strong start on your path to becoming a successful programmer.

What really sets TE apart is the Pathway Program where the Instructors do their best to prepare you for the real world job market and give you the help that you need to succeed in your job search.

September 9, 2020

My experience with Tech Elevator was absolutely incredible, and I am excited to explain why this was the best personal and professional decision of my life.

My background: I spent the last 5-6 years out of college working at good companies, but I knew that I wanted more and I wanted to follow my love of technology and find a career that would allow me to focus my time on learning about tech. I received a non-stem degree in college and I tinkered with hardware as well as taught myself SQL, HTML, and CSS on my own throughout the years. After getting into tech elevator, I got started on the prework and tried to absorb as much as possible before the program started. This was a great decision and I recommend future students take advantage of this time as well. My advice for people coming into TE is to really understand that you will have to block off much of the 3.5 months that this program requires. I didn’t see a lot of friends for a while, but they understood and encouraged me nevertheless. It was common for me to come in on Saturdays and I reviewed topics on Sundays as well.

The beginning of the cohort: The first few days weren’t bad at all! By the end of the week, I felt the most stressed than I did the entire cohort, as I was adjusting to just how demanding this program was going to be. After I got past that week, the rest was challenging, but I felt like I knew how to approach it and what to expect. Tech can be a stressful world, and Tech Elevator helps to prepare you for that through the workload (in addition to providing an unbelievable variety of valuable topics).

Throughout the cohort: The material is go-go-go, but you will keep up. Find the best means of studying for you. There were times that I felt more productive at school, and there were times I preferred to work at home. Do what works for you. The mental and emotional hurdles of this program are greater than the work itself, and it’s important to know that everyone feels like they are barely hanging on. Trust the process and get “comfortable with being uncomfortable”.

End of the cohort: From midway on, we focused a lot on the job-hunt as well as our regular studies, which could get overwhelming. Staying organized and pushing through the stress will help you find that job. Get a few nice interview outfits, and know your vocabulary. 🙂 Matchmaking was a blast, and I prepared constantly for those as well as the on site interviews. I was lucky enough to have a few job offers before the end of the cohort, and well over half of the cohort had secured jobs as well.

Verdict: Again, this program was THE best decision of my life. My income doubled, and I managed to find an incredible company to work for. As I learned about my new department’s tech stack, I felt relieved that 99% of it had been covered at some point in my TE classroom. The instructors are the most heartfelt and encouraging people, and the same can be said for Katie, Ben, Laura, and Maddi (the pathway folks). Don’t be afraid to communicate with them, ask questions, and express what would help you learn or get through this program. THANK YOU, Tech Elevator, and good luck to future TEers out there!! 🙂

October 22, 2020

Tech Elevator was the best risk I took. I was very skeptical at first. There have been so many for profit school scams that have left people broke. When I learned about Tech Elevator I did a lot of research. I was trying to find the disgruntled mutterings of a scam. I could not find it. The fact that Tech Elevator voluntarily reports to a third party watchdog agency that monitors for profit schools was instrumental in making me realize it’s legit.

Unlike other boot camps that train you up in the latest fad Tech Elevator gives you a core education in languages that have been part of the tech industry for decades. They give you a taste of all the components of a web based program. Learning Front end, back end, databases, and javascript gives you the ability to be a confident coder with a wide variety of job prospects.

There are no catches with this education. You don’t owe them a percentage of your salary, no one is forcing me to write this as a condition of graduation. I won’t lie it’s hard work. You get what you put in. If you follow the process do the work, not just the coding but the career prep too, you’ll have a job by graduation.

The student to teacher ratio was about 13 to one. There were instructors available after class for one on one tutoring. The instructors are not graduates of the boot camp, they have had long successful careers in coding before choosing to pay it forward and train the next generation. The investment and compassion of the teachers and career counselors was apparent. They care deeply that their students succeed. Nothing I’ve had experience with in colleges and universities comes close to the kind of career counselling you get here.

As someone with a master’s degree in music I didn’t think going back to school to re-skill myself was possible. The length of the boot camp and the success of student job placement made it seem possible that I could improve my life. I’ve never been in the position to consider several job offers and pick a career I want. I’m excited to start my new job just weeks after graduation.

November 24, 2020