Origin Code Academy

I just finished my first week as a full-stack .NET developer, and that would not have happened without Origin Code Academy! The technology that is used at my job is very similar to what I learned at Origin Code Academy, with a few small differences to make it interesting. 

I went to college a while back and got a B.S. in Computer Science-Mathematics, and worked as a developer before Web development existed, but then stuff happened and I ended up in other jobs. When I heard about coding bootcamps, I realized this could be my way back to development. I was nervous realizing I would be older than the average bootcamp student, but felt it would be worth it to try, and that some employers might value workplace experience.

I had recently returned from living overseas and was staying with a relative, so attending Origin Code Academy would mean paying my own living expenses in addition to the tuition. The job guarantee made me feel more confident in my decision, as a guarantee means the bootcamp is motivated to offer a curriculum that teaches the necessary skills, and is motivated to have contacts with employers. 

From the first day, I was sure that I'd made the right decision. Cameron is a great instructor, and knows how to present topics in a way that shows how they are relevant to industry usage, and how to use them in applications. When there was something I didn't understand, he was always available to help. I liked that he assigned basic features and extras for homework, so that I could challenge myself to try to get the extras done.

Be prepared to work hard; after all you have only 12 weeks so you need to put in the time. I usually worked until 8-9pm, and worked on the weekends too, probably 70-80 hours a week, even more towards the end. I loved every minute of it, it was so fun to learn all these new concepts and write code and see my applications running on the Web! I had some challenges with my final project, and was not sure that I would be able to get it done, but I managed to complete it, and I was able to put a link to my final project on my resume!

If you are trying to decide whether to attend a coding bootcamp, then do some online coding courses to see if you like coding. If you have decided to go to a coding bootcamp, investigate the various curriculum offerings and compare them to job listings in the area where you want to work. The more prework you do, the better. Another student did a lot of Team Treehouse projects before the cohort, and I could really see that he had a very good grasp of CSS/HTML/Javascript.

The curriculum: The curriculum simulates your typical software dev environment - they provide you the necessary materials that you'll need to go through the lesson plans, then you go about your day solving the practice problems at your pace, and the instructors will be available throughout the day to provide assistance as needed. The main takeaway from this learning style was that it helped us build good habits, develop help-accountability in owning up to our work, and over time build our confidence in independently solving problems.

The instructors: The instructors are amazing! They provide all the technical assistance that you'll need, as well as the humor, and the enthusiasm to keep you motivated to keep grinding. Their support system has helped me extensively--from the day that I first made my very own website, to the point where I already graduated and needed to prepare for my technical interviews in my search for a new job.   

Job assistance: They are very much aware that for most of us, this is a career change, and so finding a job is of utmost importance. In addition to hosting monthly networking events at the office for recent grads/alumni to attend, they also help out in building your resume, and refining your interviewing skills by holding practice interviews and whiteboarding sessions.

Overall thoughts: Origin provides you the necessary tools to succeed, and depending on the talent and (more importantly) the amount of hard work put in by the candidate, all graduates are guaranteed to come out with a hollistic perspective on the tech space, and will be armed with the base tech skills that are in demand. Expect to work a ton, go above and beyond on your deliverables, and you will be handsomely rewarded by landing a fulfilling career!

I decided to take on a career change, and ended up deciding on software development. After looking through several different code schools, I landed on Origin Code Academy. Everything about the course was awesome. The teacher, Cameron Wilby, is an awesome dude and excellent teacher. Their curriculum is relevent to the job market and they encourage you to go out and learn as much as you can on your own as well as with the class. 

With NO prior experience in anything relevent, I was able to land a job in software development within 3 months of graduation, and received constant assistance in my job hunt the entire time. 

Highly recommended.

Not to be over the top, but this course truly changed my life. I was able to change careers without spending years in other, more traditional programs and spent a fraction of what it would have cost to attend a more traditional multi-year program. The curriculum is more up-to-date than when you would find in your average college, and was highly applicable to the job market I was in.

The teachers are incredible and are constantly tweaking the curriculum to keep ahead of the curve (not a small task when new hot tech is coming out every day!). Not only are they incredibly talented, but they genuinely care about their students and will go the extra mile for you.

I was in a new job within a month of graduation, which I competed head-to-head with computer science majors for. The practical skills I learned at Origin were exactly what the market was looking for!

Origin has changed my life immensely. Within months following graduation I started out as a developer intern, was then hired at a start-up, and then landed in my current role, tripling my salary from my last job. I could not be happier with my decision to start a tech career in San Diego. For those prospective students considering attending Origin, the student-to-instructor ratio is perfect to allow maximum individualized attention from the best teachers in the business, while also receiving constructive peer feedback and support. The day-to-day practical projects help immensely after following up with the morning learning topics, and the interview prep covers  a number of scenarios to help build confidence when the student is eventually placed in front of a hiring manager or dev team. Origin will give you every resource and opportunity to be a skilled full-stack developer, but it is up to the student to put in the discipline and the hours required.