devCodeCamp

I used course report to help me make my decision on what bootcamp to attend, and chose devCodeCamp because of its positive reviews and the fact that it was based out of Milwaukee where I live. The instructors are great and really are invested in your success. They push but are there for any questions or to go over concepts you need help with. The curriculum is top notch. It is challenging, but delivered in an easy to understand way. The best part is the project based. The deadlines are difficult, and a lot of pressure, but if you just break everything down you can be successful. I'm so excited to have finished this program and begin my new career.

I came to devCodeCamp looking to make a career change after 10 years as a musician and music educator. Having lived the nightmare that can occur when utilizing adjunct faculty, I very much appreciate that devCodeCamp's instructors are employed full-time and are constantly available to assist their students. This allows each instructor to really get to know their students and offer tailored advice and guidance every step of the way, as well as ensures that each student is truly maximizing their unique potential throughout the course. The teaching and projects are thoughtful and well-planned, and it is clear that the instructors are always pushing their students and themselves to be better.

I came to devCodeCamp with no prior experience in coding, and I wasn't really sure what to expect at first.  I'd recently lost my job, and with COVID-19 impacting my former career field in nonprofit, I was looking for a change in career paths.  I'd found devCodeCamp on the recommendation of a friend and decided to take a risk on it and dive into the world of coding.  They really hit the ground running with the course work, and give you plenty of hands-on time to practice coding through projects and assignments from day 1!  Even with the class being entirely remote, they paired each of us with a senior developer we could meet with daily for feedback and support, and the whole team of instructors was on call to assist if we ran into any issues.  I will say that the course is fast paced, and it's up to you as a student to put in the extra time when you struggle with a concept.  That being said, it is 100% worth it in my book!  Even as a recent graduate of the course, I've already found a position in the field of Software Engineering, and am beyond thrilled to put my experience and new skills to good work!  If you're in the same position I was and looking for a fresh start to the world of coding, I cannot recommend devCodeCamp enough.  It's an investment in your future that is 100% worth it!

I began devCodeCamp in March 2020 originally planning on an in-person experience. Given the climate of the pandemic, operations were switched to remote learning for the duration of the 3-month program. While this was initially disappointing, I felt the instructors and staff of devCode did a great job of quickly adapting and creating an awesome experience. They continued to be heavily involved and I always felt they were truly invested in my learning and growth while in the program. As it turns out, my first job will also be remote so looking back, it wound up being great preparation for me.

Their project-based approach to learning is the best way to acquire new skills such as these and cover as much content as they do in such a short time. Having started with 0 coding background, by the end of the program, I was amazed at the level of projects I was working on and how self-sufficient I was becoming. I will say this was definitely a uniquely challenging experience and while I gained a great deal from it, you absolutely get out what you put in so get ready to WORK.  

Lastly, I would like to speak on the career assistance as that was a major reason for my choosing this program. As you may guess, graduating in June 2020 in the midst of a major recession with many companies on hiring freezes, etc was not the green pasture of employment I anticipated. I want to tip my cap to Paul and Erik who continued to be involved beyond my graduation and in fact, helped facilitate opportunities for interviews which led to landing my first job (~2.5 months after graduating). I can't say enough how grateful I am for their help and am so excited to embark on this new career!

Before starting at devCodeCamp I did year and a half of college and I hated every second. I felt like colleges only wanted to take my money and once they got it they would dump me off with this piece of paper with no Idea how to start my career. devCodeCamp gave me the individual learning experience I needed. The instructors actually care about your success and take as much time as you need to understand something. You can tell the entire staff is behind you. Now that I've graduated they've helped me prepare for interviews by showing me what to expect and by conducting mock interviews. This is the best there is folks.  
 

When I first made the decision to attend devcodecamp, I left doubting myself if I have made the right choice. Now, I am certain it was the best decision I have ever made for my future. I have no prior college degree and was working at PF Chang’s ( a Chinese restaurant) for 13 yrs. I also had never had any interest or thought of working with computers. But I’m glad that I’ve made the plunge to enroll at devcodecamp. 

Devcodecamp was not a walk in the park. It was stressful, overwhelming, and had long hours. There were times I didn’t think I could finish but that’s where I found support in my instructors, friends, family, and upper classmates.

Upon graduating, I’ve acquired the skills necessary to find a job as a developer. The most important skill that devcodecamp taught me was not just the programming languages but to be able to learn quickly and adapt. Although I have completed the course, I haven’t been able to find a job right away (mostly due to COVID) but Paul still kept in touch and reached out to see how I’m doing or show me some new job opportunities. After months of searching, I was given an opportunity for an interview to a company that was looking for candidates through devcodecamp and because of that, I have landed my first job as a web developer. Without the support and assistance from devcodecamp, I’m not sure how successful I would have been. So that’s my story and hopefully that helps you out.

 First and foremost, devCodeCamp offers an incredible opportunity to change the course of your life in a few short months. It sounds a little unbelievable at first, but the process actually works. I will admit that it was tougher than I expected, but that's what it feels like when you learn to code in 12 weeks! The curriculum is carefully crafted to continually build your skill set, and the instructors really care about your success. The time flies by, and you will not believe what you are able to accomplish by the end of your final project. There are two things about devCodeCamp that really stood out to me. 

Number one, they make it very easy to start as soon as you can. Once you reach out for more information, the director Paul instantly starts working for you. He set up my interview for the very next day. Two days later he scheduled another with Mike the lead instructor and some current students. I was sold, and I started classes two weeks later. Now that I see how super busy Mike is, I am humbled on how much time he gave me as a prospective student. 

And lastly, the instructors are real life talented programmers. They could be working any where they wanted, but they choose to be at devCodeCamp because it is important to them to make YOU a better programmer. I once had a project due on Monday, and I hit a snag around 4pm on Friday. Knowing that my deadline would be in jeopardy without clearing this hurdle, my Senior Dev David helped me troubleshoot until I got it fixed at 7pm that night. It was brutal, but we worked it out. That is commitment, and they will put in as much effort as you do.

I came into to devCode with virtually no coding experience, had a great time, did better than I thought I could in the class, and got a job within a month of graduating. It may turn out to be the best investment I have made in my life.

 

In short …and I know everyone says this… you WILL get out of it what you put in to it. 

 

The claims of devCodeCamp really seem too good to be true. It’s hard not to be skeptical of something that promises so much reward from just 12 weeks. With the negative reviews floating around from the past, I remember being very cautious when I signed up and wrote that check and thinking how big of a mistake it would be to hand over that much money and come out with no return on investment… but I took a huge leap of faith and made an investment in myself.

 

My advice to anyone signing up is not to wait to start coding until the class starts, devCode has some online pre-class resources and there are loads of other free tutorials and whatnot to start with. ANYTHING you can do NOW will make the class more helpful for you, yes you can come in with little to no experience, but even the 2-3 weeks I spent messing around helped me massively in regards to retaining information and keeping up with the classes.

 

If you want to do well and you are not the most confident person, don’t make failure an option. Stay late, ask questions, show up early, make success your number one priority for the 3 months and don’t let yourself down. None of the traditional education additude really has a place here, everyone is at devCode because they WANT to be there and they WANT to learn.

 

You might not graduate as a genius, (there is an infinite amount more to know and only 12 weeks to prepare!) but you will have the skills to get a job in a new career in just 3 months. 

 

My only exposure to coding prior to attending devCodeCamp was some college classes a decade prior (which did help, but I hadn't touched Visual Studio since then).

The course itself is project based, and a big part of it is learning how to learn to code. You get 12 weeks of intense class with instructors who want you to succeed in the real world. The instructors teach the lectures (which accounts for roughly 10 percent of course time overall), but more importantly, are there to support you when you get stuck on a problem.

In addition to coding, you'll learn and practice Agile development. I struggled with this at the beginning, but became comfortable in the stand up meetings before the end of the course. There are also two capstone projects (group and individual), which will add to your resume and brings us to the last part of this review: career services.

One you complete the course, you will have a decent idea of what you want to be doing (probably some form of software development). You will receive guidance on setting up your resume to get companies to notice you. In addition, there are many local connections which can land you a position with a great company.

All in all, devCodeCamp is a worthy investment, and an all in one solution for someone interested in software development.