University of Utah Professional Education Boot Camps

My journey through the University of Utah's Code EdX program was marked by numerous peaks and valleys. With prior experience as an Associate Software Developer and over three years of coding, I was eager to further my education in software development, and this program exceeded my expectations.
The curriculum was insightful and fast-paced, supported by extensive documentation, tutoring sessions, and customized code drills designed to keep skills sharp while also imparting hidden gems of knowledge to stay ahead of the curve. The team was exceptional to work with, offering clear standards and requirements alongside passionate, gentle guidance. 
I couldn't recommend this program more highly for anyone seeking a transformative experience in software development.
Instructors and Staff:
Jerome (Main Instructor): Jerome excelled in not only delivering the necessary content but also enriching our learning with additional insights. His lectures were peppered with subtle "Easter eggs" that proved invaluable for homework and projects. His willingness to answer questions during class, coupled with his ability to simplify complex concepts through real-world analogies was particularly beneficial.
James (Teaching Assistant): James was candid about the challenges we would face with homework, offering personal insights that directed us towards solutions even before we realized we needed them. His honesty and dedication stood out.
Kyle (Teaching Assistant): Kyle's mentorship was invaluable; he was always ready to tackle any coding issue I encountered, even outside of class hours. His methodical approach to breaking down complex problems into manageable parts was crucial for my progress.
Camille (Student Services Advisor): Camille's role cannot be overstated. Her insight into even the smallest queries, combined with her eager assistance, made every interaction instructional and supportive. Her availability, clear communication, and kind yet firm approach to explaining requirements made her an exemplary advisor.
Additional Acknowledgments:
While this review highlights a few key individuals, there were many others who contributed to my learning experience - additional teaching assistants, tutors who were both personable and focused on understanding. Their collective effort was fundamental to the success of this program.
In conclusion, for anyone serious about expanding their knowledge and career in software development, I highly recommend the University of Utah Code EdX program. It's not just an educational course; it's a journey that reshapes your understanding and approach to software development.

Pursuing a Career in Coding       

My journey into the world of coding was driven by a deeply rooted passion for technology and problem-solving. After years of working in  food related fields, I realized that my true interests lay in creating and innovating through code. This epiphany led me to explore various learning avenues, eventually bringing me to The Coding Boot Camp. The program's intensive, hands-on approach and the promise of acquiring industry-relevant skills in a short period were major factors in my decision to enroll.

Experience with The Coding Boot Camp

My time in The Coding Boot Camp has been nothing short of transformative. The curriculum is rigorous and comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics from front-end development to back-end services. The instructors are knowledgeable and supportive, always ready to provide guidance and insights. My favorite aspect of the program is the collaborative environment, where teamwork and peer support were emphasized. This not only enhanced my learning experience, but also prepared me for real-world scenarios.

Advice for Prospective Students

My advice for people interested in The Coding Boot Camp is to stay persistent. Coding can be challenging, but persistence is key to overcoming obstacles and achieving success. Stay focused on your goals, and don't let setbacks discourage you.

The cybersecurity boot camp had amazing instructors and educational staff. They were professional and willing to help in any way to make sure you succeed, and are quick to provide real world applications or feedback on any topic. The curriculum does provide a good baseline of understanding within the cybersecurity field, but it doesn't cover all of the topics you'll find in the CompTIA Security+ exam, so expect to have to do more personal study outside of the boot camp to be able to successfully pass the exam. One of the biggest pitches they give when you ask about this boot camp is that there are many resources and connections to help you eventually land a job post graduation, and this is largely exaggerated. They do provide resume and LinkedIn profile reviews, but that the most involved they will get with you. There are some virtual events, but some require direct invitations from your student success manager, and after many emails I have yet to get any response from mine (and this issue happened throughout the boot camp.) The large drop in support post graduation (especially considering the cost of the program itself) was the only thing that has made me rethink my decision in doing this boot camp. At the time of this review, the "cybersecurity shortage" does not include entry level professionals, and to really have a chance to get into this field you need more support/connections than ever, making this to be a particular pain point with this program.

I began my teaching myself some programming languages but quickly realized that I didn't have a lot of direction. There is an infinite amount of information on the web and no clear path on where to begin. I chose the University of Utah Full Stack Web Development bootcamp based on the reviews and career services support offered. 

This bootcamp proved to be invaluable to my growth as a web developer. The amount of support offered is incredible, from the instructors, TA's, tutors and 24/7 Ask BCS learning assistants. You never feel like you are going at it alone. Learning how to code is hard, sometimes very hard. However, the support that the bootcamp offers, in addition to learning along with your classmates is great! 

I would recommend this bootcamp to anyone who needs structure and direction. It is rigorous so be prepared to spend 20-30+ hours per week outside of class learning. And understand that the learning doesn't stop when you graduate. 

The majority of the course is Javascript so I would recommend using Udemy or Youtube to teach yourself the basics of Javascript before the class begins. I think that doing so will greatly supplement your learning as you go through the course.

Course was very helpful and educational.  Instructors and teacher aids were always willing to help and make sure the material was understood.  When I signed up for the course I was promised assistance with a job search.  This has proven quite fruitless.  While my career counselor is awesome and very helpful......there are literally no cybersecurity jobs posted on the job board.  If there are any, which is rare, they are usually out of state.  I spent the 12k thinking I'd have a career in Cybersecurity.  While I appreciate all that was taught to me, the job search is thus far fruitless with little to go off of.  They did offer assistance and provide valuable feedback on my resume to get me employer-ready, but with no jobs posted on the board and no leads given to the career counselors, it's not very helpful at this moment.  This could change and I am hopeful it will.  You will learn much, but the Cybersecurity job board is currently non-existent.  I have stayed in contact with some of my classmates and many of them are in the same situation.  Spent 12000 and still at the same job they were at when we all started 1 year ago.  Hopefully, this changes.  You need to get some actual cybersecurity jobs posted and get your career counselors some leads.  Until that changes, I would not recommend signing up.

I thank Uou for the wonderful opportunity. We had a great learning experience.  I had a great teaching team includin  TAs who has many years of experience in web development and ux design. The fellow students were motivating and it was all like a team effort for the past 6 months. I learnt the user research methods, usability, ideation, wireframing and prototyping. Actually understood to how to consider users and stakeholders when designing a product and thus giving a successful product. 

I saw an ad for this bootcamp about 2 months after completing my military service and saw it as a perfect fit since I did not want to return to school full time but also wanted valuable experience that would help me land a good job. For any other veterans, they do also accept the GI bill which was immensely helpful. Even though the course can be rather intense at times with the fast paced learning, it was a great experience and I learned a lot more than I could have imagined at the outset. The instructional staff was absolutely incredible, they were always available to help me with any of my homework or projects and were very knowledgeable in each subject we covered. Additionally, the career services team was exceptional and attending their optional meetings really helped me develop the materials and skills that I needed to feel more prepared for the job search. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who needs a flexible schedule and wants to learn a lot while developing a solid work portfolio. 

I had a very good experience with this bootcamp. The instructor and TA were very helpful and knowledgeable, the class had a friendly learning environment. There were a lot of times that our instructor stayed after hours just to sort out the problems the classmates had. I graduated from this program feeling confident about my skills and if there are something I do not know to to approach, I now feel confident that I have the skills to find the answer. The three group projects we had during the bootcamp was also helpful in terms of working with other developers to build a larger project. The pace for this course is a bit on the faster end but therefore left me a lot of materials to learn on my own after graduation. 

This boot camp was very educational. I was brand-new to the majority of topics being taught but was still able to learn the curriculum quickly. The composition of the course is fast-paced, even for part-time students. This can make it challenging, however, the free tutoring offered is extremely beneficial to your learning experience. There is quite a lot of support offered if you need to take advantage.

The dynamic of the course was set up in such a way that accounted for almost every possible obstacle that could come up. I was not supposed to take this boot camp online but ended up having to make the switch due to extenuating circumstances (thanks, COVID 👍). Although the learning experience was altered at times, I still gained the same knowledge as I would have in the classroom. 

My primary instructor was fantastic and really made a difference to the class's success. Each class was equipped with two teaching assistants and they also worked very hard to make sure everyone was understanding the material. The class also has a personal student manager who acts as a point of contact for all students. Overall, this structure is most benefitting to students because they have multiple outlets for assistance if needed. They check in with you personally to ensure all students are having the best experience and succeeding to the fullest. 
 
I did not personally partake in the Job Assistance portion of the course but I did notice that it was highly detailed and organized. I imagine it would be helpful to anyone who wanted to use that opportunity. Even without this unique resource, you still finish the course with a profoundly better understanding of web development and plenty of other skills associated with it. I would recommend this course to anyone who wishes to gain web development skills quickly but still learn enough to complete a wide range of projects afterward. 

The title says it all. I have worked food jobs my whole life and because of this bootcamp, my salary has doubled. The instructor Jonathan is super invested in helping and encouraging everyone further thier career. After putting my heart and soul into this bootcamp, I feel confident I understand and code in JS and other web techs as well or better than someone who has a degree and years of experience.

The camp did great at introducing us to new material without sacrificing lots of time and busy work like colleges.

Not only was this course recommended by multiple people to me, but it was already in partnership with a well-respected University. I had Q as a teacher for the majority of the course and I absolutely loved his mentorship and industry experience. The same was true with all of the instructors within the course. Plus, the TA's were just as helpful and friendly. I feel like I have already gained an extremely strong network.

On top of this, having access to the entire career services team over the course and after into employment I felt like everyone always had my back. Their industry knowledge and support definitely helped me flourish.

Thank you!