Zip Code Wilmington

As a graduate from the most recent Java Bootcamp cohort, I can absolutely say that Zip Code Wilmington helped change my career and life. Not only did the program help me find a job in software development, but it also gave me the confidence to succeed in it. Although I still have much to learn (over many years I hope!), Zip Code Wilmington gave me a great foundation.

Curriculum:

ZCW teaches the fundamentals of programming clean, testable code in several technologies including Java and JS, with introduction and exposure to frameworks like Angular, and middle-tier development with Spring. Simply put, this was the only bootcamp I could find online that focused on Java and gave a solid foundation of Spring. Why is it important? Most employers are looking for experience in both! My only comment for improvement? More labs!

Instructors:

The instructors were phenomenal. They are there all the time, ready and willing to help. They put in incredible amounts of prep work. But they will not spoon feed you! It is up to you to work hard, and ask for help! I only remark here that some instructors may not be as used to teaching in a classroom setting as others. But when I came to ask for one-one-one help, not only did their incredible knowledge and experience shine, they very quickly resolved my issues and bettered my understanding of material. Tariq has done a fantastic job organizing a team of instructors and developing a curriculum that will help graduates succeed in their careers.

Job Assistance:

Melanie is awesome. Full-stop. Not only did she cover important and subtle details about applying for jobs and interviewing. She helped organize weekly speakers, provided MANY networking opportunities, and put in an incredible amount of work to help us. Again, she can't get a job for you, but she will provide you every opportunity!

One more note: Yes you will be working 85+ hrs/week, at least. Yes you will feel stupid at times. Yes you it is hard. But if you put in the work, you WILL succeed.

This course is hard. I enjoyed the community and the resources that were available to me while in the program. Being a visual learner, I would have liked to start with design patterns and then learn the technologies. The instructors do not hold your hand through this course so to be successful and truly retain all that you will learn over the 12 weeks you must be very vocal. Ask a lot of questions. If you clam up when you feel stumped then you'll get left behind quickly. This isn't for the light-hearted, this is a real boot camp. It will prepare you for the work force but it is meant to break you down and then build you back up. Some people don't recover from the break down. This will challenge you to the core of your being. You may question life itself. If you persist you will succeed. What are you waiting for?

If I had to pick one area that Zip Code has some room to improve, it would be the lectures. While they do provide tons of very practical and well-designed hands-on training, a few of the lectures were poorly delivered. In other words, although the instructors are highly qualified technically, and are wonderful to work with one-on-one, I sometimes had great difficulty paying attention during lecture. Don't let that detail deter you though. The overall experience was incredible.

I will admit when I first heard about Zip Code, I had a hard time believing the claims. I was told that in addition to the instruction, each student was paired with a developer already in the industry to receive tutoring and mentorship. I had spent months looking for jobs without any success, and I was desperately looking for somebody to help me and give me advice. 

It turns out that the above claim was a bit off -- each student is actually given access to not one, but a great number of both school alumni and industry leaders. The team at Zip Code does an incredible job of maintaining contact with their alumni. I really feel like part of a family here. 

It's all true. Zip Code not only teaches you how to code, but everything you need to know in order to join the workforce. This includes training on everything from how to shake hands to multiple full length mock interviews (both personal and technical). At the end, dozens of hiring managers came to Zip Code, eager to hire us. Isn't that crazy? Four weeks into my new job, I still have a hard time believing that it happened. I am so grateful for Zip Code, and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who is interested in becoming a software developer. 

Zip Code Wilimington was an amazing experience for me. The program gave me a chance to reinvent myself. I did not have any previous coding experience before the bootcamp, infact my background was in professional soccer and I was able to successfully land a job. The environemnt at Zip Code is very conducive for learning, you are able to be your true self and you become a family. The teachers, mentors and all of the students want you to do well and are willing to help you whenver you need it. I would recommend Zip Code to anyone who loves problem solving and has the willingness to learn regardless of your current career or background. 

I am a parent of a ZIPCODE Wilmington student who is starting the final month of the 3 month program.   Once a software engineer myself I can see the transformation my son is going through and the excitement he exudes on a daily basis.   We talk extensively on his in-school experiences at length almost daily and there is no doubt in my mind that he will be successful after graduation.   What zipcode is teaching them goes beyond what a normal four year curriculum would provide and in a shorter time frame, truly amazing.    ZIPCODE Wilmington is a life altering experience and I am truly thankful for all those involved that makes this happen.   Thanks and keep up the good work.

I have been working full time for the last 5 years.  I was concerned that I would not be able to keep up with the quick pace of a bootcamp.

Every day has been engaging and challenging, but the instructors have always found a way to focus on the important concepts and give every student the attention they need to grasp those concepts.

I am very happy with my decision to join this bootcamp.  I am not able to rate the job assistance aspect yet, but I will update this review later.

DISCLAIMER: this review will be updated in 2 months' time.

To the point: 8 weeks in and I've loved to hate every week. A large number of Zip code alumni live and work in Wilmington DE. From day one, students are aware that Zip code's placement statistics are not mythical. Each day at least 5 unique alumni are in the building mentoring current students. Each week, we get at leat 3 hourlong talks from senior devs at Zip code's hiring partners. One of the hiring partners actually conducts lessons each Friday where they teach us some interesting part their technology stack.

In the midst of applying to thousands of dead-end jobs, a friend of mine mentioned a nonprofit coding bootcamp. I wasn't thrilled about the idea (Programming? I'm no good at that!), but I was desperate for work. One month later my entire life was upside down and backwards. Zip Code was that push I always needed to get ahead. The teachers and staff are incredibly dedicated to helping us grow as students and employees, from resume building to cutting edge technology to the much needed emotional support. And the students are all equally dedicated to learning.

But perhaps the most impressive thing about the program is the networking opportunity. Hiring managers and executives from Fortune 500 companies come to Zip Code to give morning lectures, attend networking events, and even stay to help us with our projects. At the end of the program they conduct first round interviews in house, right inside our own classroom, and everyone gets a chance to shine.

Two weeks after I graduated I signed the paperwork for my first ever job in IT, earning more money than either of my parents at more than double my previous salary. I love the company and my team, and am finding opportunities each day to advance my career. In just three months I went from starving artist to valued computer scientist. For anyone who needs a direction, a change of pace or just that final push, I strongly encourage you to apply. These could become the most important three months of your life.

Zip Code Wilmington developed, and continually improves their curriculum by talking with companies throughout the area to find out what their exact needs are.  What these companies need is someone who knows the fundamentals of object-oriented programming, can implement those fundamentals in a programming language (Zip Code teaches Java), understands clean coding principles, is eager to learn, excited about technology and is a problem solver.  If you are eager to learn, excited about what technology can do and a problem solver, Zip Code gives you the rest of the pieces of the puzzle and helps you put the puzzle together enough to be able to figure out the rest and sends you on your way.  

There is no substitute for hard work, and there is no such thing as an overnight success.  What Zip Code does is find people that have the ability within themselves already but just need a little direction to unlock their potential and matches them up with employers that want to hire these exact type of people.  Although, I should add..."a little direction" is an understatement.  Zip Code arms you with the highest quality of software development knowledge to become the best possble developer you can be. Your future success from this point is a byproduct of your attitude and hard work.  The 12 weeks of bootcamp is just the beginning of a long road.  If this is the direction you know you want to go, Zip Code will put you on the correct path.  As a former student I’m thankful everyday, because I certainly know I would not be able to find that path so quickly by myself, and feel the same confidence as I started my journey as a software developer.