Code Fellows

My experience with Code Fellows was awesome. Their developers program provides you with the necessary skills and experience to find your ideal career. Classes are small in size which lends to more 1-on-1 time with teachers and TA's. The curriculum is... Read More constantly being changed depending on what languages and frameworks are being used in the industry, so you're consistently up to speed with the latest technologies. Other perks include talks from industry insiders and leaders, resume/interview/whiteboard prep classes, post-graduation job search support, and more!

I have mixed feelings when it comes to my time at Code Fellows. I mean overall my life has completely changed for the better since getting into computer science and the single greatest thing that has ever happened to me was being hired on at my current... Read More company as a software engineer. Computer science isn't easy, in fact most people are scared of it which is great job security for the rest of us! Now on to my time at Code Fellows.

Here is my pros and cons and then I'll explain after.
PROS:
- Its very challenging and challenges build character and prove what you're capable of. They get you out of your comfort zone which is great for personal growth.
- Going through the bootcamp with peers that are in the same position as you with the same interests as you is an amazing experience. You challenge each other and help each other out when the going gets tough.
- Coding bootcamps are expensive and when there's money on the line you work harder and push yourself more. Going through an educational program as an adult (when it is your independent decision) is a very unique and worth while experience.
- In my current position we are using a lot of the things I learned at Code Fellows. In other words, these schools are teaching you what you need to know to get a job quickly.

CONS:
- Some of the educators in my program weren't the best. A lot of them didn't have years of practice as a software engineers (or if they did they weren't the best educators) and when you wanted to ask really tough questions it sometimes stood out.
- These schools aren't accredited which means the curriculum is constantly changing, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad.
- You will not learn true object oriented concepts (computer science fundamentals) and what you get in a bootcamp program isn't the same as what you get in a computer science degree program.
- These schools are businesses and they want to make money. After finishing it is %100 on the individual to push themselves to continue learning and find a job. The job support after finishing isn't great so you must remain disciplined and not slow down until you're employed.
- I thought the first two courses I took, code 201 and code 301 were extremely overpriced. $5000 for a 4 week course is a lot of money but like I said above, it really does help to motivate. With that said, for what I learned in the 201 course, it should have been at least $2000 cheaper.

Overall my experience at Code Fellows was pretty good, I made new friends that I'll probably remain friends with forever and as I grow in my career, they will to, which gives me a very strong network. You really do feel like part of a big family when you go through a bootcamp and finishing/getting a job is extremely rewarding. I suggest that if anyone decided to do a program such as this that you give it everything you got and DO NOT slow down until you're employed. Don't take more than a few days off, especially after finishing, until you have an offer. Remember that the less you know going in, the harder you'll have to work. This means if you haven't went through job interviews, created resumes, written cover letters, aren't experienced with all things related to professional development, you'll have to work harder. The best advice I can give is try not to compare yourself to others, communicate with your classmates and always ask a ton of questions. Read everything you can be prepared to put in 10 -12 hours a day 6 days a week during and after the program. If you do the above I promise you that you will get a job! All you need to do is get that first job. After that it will get easier and easier to grow your career. At the moment computer science is unlike any other career. You don't need some fancy degree to get a job and the money you will make as a developer is BIG! If it has been on your mind, GO FOR IT.

This is a very fast paced program. I started having very little computer knowledge but everyone is extremely helpful! The teachers seem to really care about your learning and want to make sure that you understand what is happening. Due to the fast paced... Read More program, I would recommend not working while going to school (at least for the day courses).
I will warn that if you are a slower learner, you may be struggling through the courses.

I learned a lot from the iOS accelerator program, now it's called 401 course.
It was a 8 week program (now it's 10 weeks long). 9am~5pm. Usually we'd have lectures in the morning and lab in the afternoon.
Each week, we'd have an assignment/project and... Read More pop quiz. We learned both Objective-C and Swift, which I thought was really cool because a lot of companies still use Objective-C. And it's always good to know both.
​Each week, the instructor would cover some data structures​/algorithms​ to help us prepare for​ the​ technical interviews. (white boarding)

After completing​ CF​ course​, I spent 3~4 months working on​ several​ side projects with friends. I thought it would be nice​​ to have a complete app on the App Store before applying jobs.
​Luckily, ​I eventually got a job offer from a startup company.

Code Fellows didn't get me ​a​ job. I did.
People shouldn't come to Code Fellows expecting to get a job right after graduating.
They do help us to get a job by hosting career fair, reviewing resume and doing mock interviews.
But you still have to have the drive to keep writing code and looking for jobs after graduating.
CF helps us get to where we want to be. ​

I always feel grateful thinking about how much my life has changed.

I took CodeFellow's Code 201 course and it was the most challenging thing I have ever done. Expectations and standards are high to push you outside your comfort zone.

I had no prior coding experience before taking the 201 course. On day one, I hardly... Read More knew what a variable was and by day thirty I was presenting a project that my team had created. It felt surreal to look back at the code I made and understand each and every line, when it had all looked like an alien language on the first day of class.

During lecture from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., our instructor showed us some demo code and introduced new concepts, but the real learning happened during lab in the afternoon, and ultimately it was up to us to learn by doing through lab and homework assignments (with TAs and our instructor on hand when we got stuck). Anyone can copy and paste code, but to use my brain and find the solution myself cemented the new concepts I learned that day.

Although normal school hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., many students, including myself, often arrived early and stayed late. Ten to 12 hours of coding per day is incredibly exhausting, but incredibly rewarding at the same time. I learned more than I ever imagined by being in such a rich and immersive coding environment. The campus felt like my second home (and during the class it’s common to spend more time with your classmates than your loved ones).

On weekends I reviewed what I learned and previewed next week’s material. By my second week I had my first dream where I was writing code (which was a good sign—they say you don’t really understand a new language until you dream in it).

Although the 201 course was a foundational course, the scope of the material is broad and stretches across many different subjects and fundamentals. If you’re a prideful person, swallow it and get ready to ask for help because you will need it.

There will be a lot of material to absorb in such a short amount of time. I spent many hours feeling lost, frustrated and confused. I even took an IQ test to make sure I wasn’t at room temperature levels because there were certainly many moments where I felt I was. One night I’d walk home feeling down and hopeless because I didn’t fully understand the material I learned that day, and the next I’d walk home glowing in confidence when I was able to complete my assignments with ease. I definitely took an emotional roller coaster ride during my time at Code Fellows, but I loved every minute of it.

Ultimately, everyone’s experience will be different. The amount of energy and passion you invest into a code school will equal in returns. I had a wonderful and rewarding experience, and it will always be a memorable first step into my life long journey of code learning.

For the millennial snowflakes crying about no job support, it is ultimately up to you to find a job. If you attend a dating camp, they probably won't find a job for you either. CodeFellows will teach you the skills you need but it is up to you to find one.

Let's start with the cons.

You will be tired if you attend a bootcamp.
Your brain will hurt.
You will feel stupid at times.
You will want to quit at times because you're afraid of failure.
All other activities that you fill your time with will be completely... Read More irrelevant while attending a bootcamp.
They're not cheap.

...and now for the pros

All of your sleepless nights will be worth it in the end.
Your brain hurts because it's absorbing new information.
Don't worry, you're supposed to feel stupid. The material is hard, but so is everything else worth achieving.
If you give it your all, you won't fail. There is a great network of people who are willing to help and support you in your journey.
The price is worth it, absolutely worth it.

I'm in the middle of the Code Fellows bootcamp and have learned a crazy amount about coding in just 8 weeks. My friends with traditional computer science degrees can't believe how much I learn in a single week. Like any bootcamp, the pace is fast and... Read More the content is challenging, but the harder you work, the more you'll gain. I knew going into this program that it would be tough and I would put in long days. What I didn't expect was to meet so many supportive faculty and TAs who genuinely want to see you do well and will celebrate your victories with you.

This program is literally changing my life and I have no regrets :)

Code Fellows rocks. I'm an Air Force veteran, four years in active duty, building jet engines. After deciding I didn't want the smell of jet fuel on me at all times, and after graduating from college and deciding not to pursue a law degree, I found myself... Read More at Code Fellows. I took Scott's night-time 201 course (Scott is an awesome instructor), and with Gi Bill funds and a Code Fellows Diversity Scholarship was ultimately able to quit my job to take Duncan's 401 (Duncan is also a fantastic instructor, and I had an exceptional TA to help me too, Judy). I had a great experience. It was very hard, but I excelled. I think the combination of the discipline I learned from sports (I'm a powerlifter) and the military, the self-learning I did through Coursera prior to starting the 201, combined with my willingness to ask for help when getting stuck, and to work with anyone in collaboration (I enjoy pair programming) all helped me excel. Now I'm ready for a coding job! I highly recommend the school, but be prepared to work hard, collaboratively with other students, if you decide to enroll. Also, any amount of pre-course self-learning will help you immensely. Learning how to use Git and work at the command line ahead of time will help dramatically in your success.