Code Fellows

I attended Code Fellows coming in with a background in science, and with previously coding as a hobby in other languages. I took the 201, 301, 401 (Python), and the 501 (Data Analysis/Visualization). I had a great time and learned a ton. For me 201/301,... Read More the courses were not what I would call really difficult, but I learned a TON, since the material(web development with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL) was pretty much completely new to me. In 401, I had a little experience with Python before, but the difficulty was ramped up immensely. I was there pretty much from 9am to 9pm most nights. The other 401 classes are usually finished a bit earlier (5-6 pm), but the Python class is not the same. I learned an immense amount, and I learned how to code quickly and professionally in order to get work in on-time (or as close to on-time as I could). The Python class is not for the feint of heart, but if you really want to challenge yourself to do one of the hardest things you will do in your life, this course is for you. After the course was over, I was invited to become a teaching assistant, which was a great experience as well. I am currently interviewing at several companies, and I feel well prepared for what lies ahead.

Pros
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- Great learning experience!
- Lots of networking events happen there
- Great instructors all around!
- The company partnerships are starting to increase. When I was a student, there was a transition going on with the person in charge of professional development. That has now been revamped, and it is incredibly helpful.
- Code Fellows strives to be inclusive and a place where students feel safe regardless of their backgrounds/sexuality/ethnicity, etc. Of course, from time to time there have been issues with trouble-making students, but Code Fellows will expel them if necessary.

Cons
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- Costly if you do not get a scholarship
- Will take up all of your time, especially if you do Python (but this is actually a GOOD thing, because you are learning so much)

We're in the middle of our last project week for 401 JS so I'll keep this short and sweet! I was living in Alaska, trying to figure out how to launch a new career, when I found out about Code Fellows. After testing into the 301 intermediate course, I... Read More packed up and moved to Seattle - and haven't looked back! One of the most helpful aspects is Career Development where we learn how to polish our online brand, market ourselves to potential employers, and figure out the 'why' that drives our decision making. I've already got an apprenticeship position lined up, where I'll be using the skills I picked up at Code Fellows after I graduate. Weekly guest speakers and invitations to industry meetups are invaluable opportunities I wish I took more advantage of. Even after earning a computer engineering degree, the amount of work is staggering with 6-8 hours a day of lecture/lab plus the hours at home putting finishing touches, poring over docs and reading assignments. The teachers and TAs are more approachable than a few of my college professors ever were; they genuinely care and want to help you succeed. It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it. The instruction is very high-quality, the campus has a friendly and collaborative atmosphere, and the team made me feel at home. The days of being a college grad with no direction are behind me, Code Fellows has helped me recognize my 'why', provided a network of friends I can rely on who just happen to be talented developers, and armed me with a laser focus that will carry me through the highs and lows of my career. So much for short and sweet, but seriously, if you're on the edge of enrolling at Code Fellows and you have the time and money to invest, do it.

At Code Fellows in Seattle I've taken the 301:Intermediate Software Development and 401: Advanced Software Development in Python classes.

301: The course focuses on intermediate JavaScript (APIS, AJAX, and some best practices, etc.). I was definitely glad... Read More that I learned this material in a structured way, rather than trying to teach it to myself. It would have taken a lot longer. The class was not as tough as I was expecting, though some people struggled. The instructors are great and help a lot. If you're curious and work hard, there's opportunity to learn a lot more than whats in the curriculum, and the instructors support that.

401 Python: This class is tough. I didn't believe them when they said we'd all feel like we're drowning, but they were right. Code Fellows doesn't have any lower level Python classes, so they have to cram everything in to only 10 weeks. Stress is high, you have to work very hard, long days, no weekends, but you seriously learn a lot in a short amount of time. We learn Django in the class, which a lot of web jobs are looking for right now. At the end of the class, you wont be a master at Python, or any of the topics, but you'll likely be in a position to fill in the gaps with some more self study, work on some projects (maybe with your classmates) , and prove that you can be a solid developer and get a job.

I was not happy where I was career-wise before Code Fellows, and felt like I wasn't using my skills or abilities. I am now confident that I'll be closer to where I want to be when this is done.

Code Fellows is a great program for taking you from a person interested in software development to a Full Stack developer with the learning skills necessary to pick up any coding language. They focus on the Growth Mindset and showing students how not... Read More to give up when confronted by difficult problems and fulfill this by implementing a stacked learning environment. Stacked learning is a front loaded continuous challenge of learning something quickly and continually applying it to a set of problems as you continue to learn more on top of it. You are constantly absorbing information and using it immediately to help you solve the projects you complete. Think doing while learning. Additionally, Code Fellows provides a bounty of resources at the student's disposal including T.A.'s, Instructors, students in the classes ahead of you, and great and little-known online resources. As you progress through the program, you work on group projects for your final class assignment and these group projects are so robust you would be proud to display them in your professional portfolio. Code Fellows is a fantastic opportunity and helps you quickly jump into an ever growing employment field. They welcome people from all backgrounds and constantly celebrate diversity throughout the campus as diversity helps us grow, learn more, think outside our own perspective, and brings our world closer together.

I was a barista for 15 year, I have a degree in digital media animation, and I am finally a full Stack developer thanks to Code Fellows!
I started Code Fellows because I wanted a more stable and dynamic career but still without much knowledge of what... Read More I was getting into. And it was a wild ride!
I started not knowing a semicolon From a curried function, spent the first 4 days of the 301 working from a hospital bed and 9 months later, finished the full Stack JavaScript program.
All of the staff are amazing and helpful and want only to see the success of everyone around them.
I would highly recommend this program to anyone with an open mind and the willingness to work their ass off.

I attended Code Fellows Foundation II course in iOS when it was structured that way; and recently I have completed their 201 course and am about to attended the 301 course. The new course curriculum focuses on web-development, originally with basic HTML,... Read More CSS and Javascript, and advancing toward full-stack development. I loved the course. The instructors were always willing to ask questions about help push you out of your comfort zone to help you develop. It defintely requires hard work and focus but it is completely attainable if you push yourself! The last two classes I have attended have been the nights and weekend course which allows me to continue working in my industry while I learn a new skillset.

I've been involved with a few different code bootcamps, and this one was by far the best, for 3 reasons:

- Instruction staff. Their teachers are incredible. Our lead instructor was extremely attentive to each student's experience and comfort level. He... Read More listened to feedback and was extremely responsive in tailoring lectures or scheduling impromptu review sessions of topics that were taking longer for us to sink in. He was very good about setting expectations about where we should be when, and did a good job of pushing us when we needed to be pushed and comforting the class when we were struggling.

- The emphasis on QUALITY code. I had been doing a bunch of self-taught coding before enrolling, and I had to unlearn a lot of what I learned on Stack Overflow... which I was very happy to do, because the instructors were really good about explaining the WHY behind all current best practices. Now when I look up answers to questions I'm able to identify good and bad patterns.. it really feels like I have a stronger grasp than most FS devs out there. Also, Test-driven development! I thought I would hate this, but we were introduced to it in such a way that we saw how incredibly value it was for both Quality Control and thinking through design challenges.

- The environment. CF values diversity and it shows. The atmosphere feels very warm.. hard to pin down what, but everyone's friendly, and it has a 'homey' (non-institutional feel). Very refreshing coming from a huge college campus where you feel like a cog.

Overall, CF was really an incredible experience. I learned more in 2 months than I probably would in 1 year of self-teaching. Well worth it and highly recommended.

My year long journey at Code Fellows was nothing shy of amazing. I’m 36 and was looking for a career change. Information Security has always been a passion of mine, I’m the IT guy at work but in information security the tools you use will only get you... Read More so far. I needed to learn how to code.

Code Fellows was my savior. The atmosphere there is amazing; being surrounded by like minded people that want to see you succeed is priceless. The teachers and T.A’s are very knowledgeable and make you feel like the priority. The work was definitely challenging; you’re going to be coding a lot, like at least 20 hours a week a lot and that is just for the night classes.
In the end, my experience at Code Fellows was unforgettable. They provided me with the confidence to start my own cyber security consulting firm; Semtex Security Inc. and now I know if I have any questions I’d always be welcome back with open arms. If you’re thinking about a career change and getting into programming I highly recommend Code Fellows.

You can check Semtex Security out at http://www.semtexsecurity.com and look for our first security app [tattle] coming to Android early 2018.