DigitalCrafts

For those of you who haven’t heard, Digital Crafts hosts intensive 16-week immersive coding boot camps both in Houston and Atlanta. Earlier this year I decided that it was time for a change, so I sold my business and began coding full-time in the hopes... Read More that I would be able to find a rewarding career as a web developer.

I had very little real coding experience to speak of staring out. Sure, I had written several blogs using Wordpress and I had played around with some rudimentary HTML, but I hadn't really done any real coding . So I picked up some instructional books and got to coding! I could immediately tell that I was meant to be a coder, and before I knew it, I was practicing coding eight hours a day, working on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python.

I started strong, but after a certain point I hit a wall, and I realized that I could do one of two things: I could continue plowing away and gaining ground little by little on my own, or I could get help. After fighting my stubborn instinct to do things on my own, I decided to turn to help. So I started exploring my options, and after spending time researching all of the local boot camps, all of my research kept pointing to Digital Crafts as the best of the best.

A few months later, I found myself joining the September 2017 cohort at Digital Crafts Houston. Our instructor was Paul Bailey, a former aerospace engineer at NASA, developer extraordinaire and all-around awesome guy! Even with all of my preparation, I quickly found that I had my work cut out for me! But Paul was there for me every step of the way. The way he explained complex concepts made them more approachable for us students. He was also very patient with us(and I know I must have put that patience to the test with my endless barrage of questions!).

We covered a lot of material over the course of the 16-weeks, including but not limited to: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Node, Python, React.js, Redux and Django to name a few, but oh so much more! I can honestly say that I have retained the majority of what I have learned and that I am fully confident that I will achieve my goal of becoming a professional web developer…and I couldn’t have done it without Paul!

So, to whoever is reading this, get off the fence and invest your time and money in Digital Crafts, you won’t regret it!

After years as an academic, I decided it was time for a career change. So in September 2017, I began DigitalCrafts 16 week full stack immersive bootcamp in Houston, TX. By any measure, I was an absolute beginner when I started the program. Nevertheless,... Read More DigitalCrafts comprehensive curriculum, excellent instructor (Paul Bailey), and top-notch job-support team provided everything I needed to gain the necessary skills to land a full time job as a JavaScript/Node.js developer before the course ended.

If you're considering enrolling in a coding bootcamp. Look no further than DigitalCrafts.

So, if you don't know already, DC is the coding school in the Atlanta area. I'm sure you all have been searching around for schools like general assembly, iron yard, tech talent south, and thinkful. At DigitalCrafts, its not just about a business, they... Read More actually care about the students here and wants them to be successful. They have all the resources for a student's success. I don't regret my money here at all, learned more than i could ever would by myself.

I can't rave enough about my experience at DigitalCrafts! Chris is one of the absolute best instructors I've ever had. His explanations are not only super thorough, but also very entertaining. He never hesitates exploring new topics if students are curious.... Read More He is also the most patient and non-judgmental person I've met. Even if you have the most basic question or issue in your code, he is more than happy to walk you through it and is never patronizing. Chris is also very encouraging if you're interested in branching off and learning technologies for your projects outside the React, Node, Express, PostgreSQL stack they teach during the program. He is extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of technologies and is always eager to help you research any in the rare case he is unfamiliar with it.

The admin team is super personable, supportive, and on top of everything. They get to know, and care about each of their students personally and are always happy to connect you with employers and potential opportunities. They provide resume and portfolio reviews, invite guest speakers to recruit for their companies, organize field trips, and set you up with real client-facing work with local nonprofits for group projects.

If the program offers any elective courses (after the main 9-5 sessions), I recommend taking those as well. I took the computer science fundamentals class with Tamby and it was very beneficial not only for interview prep, but also increasing my sense of confidence in my CS skills.

I am so grateful to have learned all that I did during the past 4 months, and to have made lifelong friends. If you get the opportunity to study at DigitalCrafts, I highly recommend doing it. It's a lot of hard work but it will change your life for the better.

I think there were several times during the program where I felt a little split between priorities such as

1) Writing job application materials and applying to jobs.

2) Staying afloat the current curriculum in the class. After week three, we started learning... Read More two (if not more?) technologies every week.

3) Cementing understanding of concepts from previous weeks.

4) Going to tech events around Atlanta (shout out to Women Who Code ATL and Girl Develop It)

We started out with eighteen people in our cohort and ended with fourteen. I think six of us out of the fourteen ended the cohort with jobs. I think it might be helpful for prospective students to know that the students who ended up dropping out of our cohort were older than the majority of the cohort (mid-to-late 20s), and left to take care of family or health. The bootcamp experience itself requires a lot of dedicated time outside class-- of which prospective students should definitely be aware. For example, in the evenings after class, especially during project periods, it wasn’t uncommon for me to be at Atlanta Tech Village from 9am to 8pm. I think my cohort also had a collectively competitive, go-getter-y attitude, which I think is why so many of us found employment before the end.

I was also enrolled in the Computer Science Fundamentals Elective covering algorithms and data structures-- important content and Tamby was a great instructor, but I think the timing from 5:30pm to 7:30pm (after a full day at DigitalCrafts from 9am to 4pm)-- was a little too much for me. I was always really tired by the time the elective rolled around, and didn't absorb as much of the content that I wanted to.

I personally felt that I learned most when I was writing code with other students for our group projects than I did when following along with lecture on my own. But having access to Chris Aquino, our super helpful and super-experienced lead instructor, for questions about structure/what to do next/or troubleshooting— was 100% worth the tuition. While it would be possible to learn the same things we learned at DigitalCrafts using a Udemy course or free online resources, it would be much slower going without awesome real live humans around to help troubleshoot. Certain bugs in my code that could take me hours to work through alone could take just fifteen minutes working with Chris.

I’m super glad that I chose DigitalCrafts and I can’t wait to start my role as a junior software engineer next week!

I am an incredibly indecisive person. Before attending DigitalCrafts, I had a solid job with the federal government, where I could have potentially stayed for the rest of my career. Even though I really enjoyed the software development courses I was completing... Read More after work, it was difficult for me to take that leap, quit my job, and start a coding bootcamp. Given the option to go back in time, I wouldn't change a thing. For any of you in a similar situation, know that DigitalCrafts is the real deal. You will truly learn how to program. Be aware that it is not easy. You will not magically become a programmer just by attending class. You will have to sacrifice much of your free time, come in early, stay late, ask questions, and, above all else, code.

We were the first cohort taught by our instructor, Chris Aquino. Chris is incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, and endlessly patient. I was always amazed by the time he took to answer all students' questions. He was very thorough, often researching topics on his own time when he didn't know the answers. Most importantly, he allowed us to explore. He never told us directly what code to write, always giving us just enough information so we could figure it out on our own.

I also took the CS elective taught by Tamby Kojak. It is admittedly taxing to be in class Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm (we often arrived earlier and stayed later) and take an additional course for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday nights, but it is worth it if you think you can absorb the information. Like Chris, Tamby is also a very knowledgeable, patient instructor. Oftentimes the elective class is smaller than the general cohort, so it is nice to have more one-on-one time with the instructor and learn coding principles from the perspective of a different experienced developer. However, if you know you'll be exhausted after class, it might be best just to study algorithms and data structures on your own time.

DigitalCrafts does as much as they can to assist you in your job search. There is a dedicated staff member who reviews resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and LinkedIn pages even after graduation. Jake from DigitalCrafts often posts hot job leads and will sometimes even send out resumes directly to potential employers with whom he has connected. Students are given time to work on their portfolios, resumes, etc. during the 16 weeks. There are also various guest speakers, like HR reps from companies and other software developers, throughout the program.

If you've begun exploring software development and think it is the right path for you, don't hesitate, DigitalCrafts will help you make that transformation.

As someone who was in the middle of getting a CS degree, I decided to take the leap and join DigitalCrafts to jump-start my development career. At first, I was a bit wary of taking the leap and putting my degree progression on hold, however after finishing... Read More the program I can happily say it was a move I do not regret at all. The amount you learn in the 16 weeks is almost incompressible, but the way everything is arranged makes the flow of learning very smooth. Everyone there is ready and willing to help and Chris, our instructor, was great. Made the material fun and gave us enough freedom to learn the way we wanted to. Very few things in life can change your life for the positive in just 4 months, If me, 4-months ago, saw me, now, I wouldn't believe the things I know to do. If anyone is even interested, I would say schedule a walk around the campus with DigitalCrafts and see for your self. It is an experience I am more than happy have taken. Also, the Atlanta Tech Villiage is a great area to have school, the environment feels great and you really get a vibe for the start-up industry.

DigitalCrafts' has exceeded my expectations, I couldn't have asked for a better coding bootcamp experience. As a true beginner, the amount of knowledge that I have aquired over the past 16 weeks is astounding. It has allowed me to secure a full-time job... Read More as a Software Developer before graduation. So far, 50% of my cohort has secured jobs before Demo Day!

I chose DC due to their local, down-to-earth business model. The founders, Jake and Max, are very involved in the day to day. This lends a more personal feel to the program, and after 16 weeks, everyone here feels like family. In addition, the school is located at Atlanta Tech Village, which provides a great environment for learning and networking.

In regards to the curriculum, the only thing that I didn't enjoy was Python. This is strictly due to a lack of interest in learning how to code in that language. However, the CS elective uses Python for coding algorithims, so the skill did end up being handy. I am front-end JavaScript focused, and this program provided more than enough opportunity to sharpen my skills.

Choosing a software development program is a very involved decision, but the team at DC makes it easy. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, and a program that will be highly involved, DigitalCrafts would be perfect for you. You get out what you put in, so work hard and have fun!

As testimonials go, I'd like to share how I came to this juncture and the helpful hints I learned along the way. Before I commited to DigitalCrafts, I researched dozens of coding bootcamps. My reccomendation is for you to do the same. Pick up the phone... Read More and call them. That's was the beginning of my relationship with DigitalCrafts. From there, I met to discuss my goals and reservations. DigitalCrafts answered candidly and supportively. I was actually interested in attending a earlier cohort but reached a mutual understanding that the cohort I ended up joining was the best financial decision for me.

Another huge decision was the location. The Atlanta Tech Village is the fourth largest tech hub in the country and constantly connecting students with the heart of tech culture and opportunities in Atlanta. It's a creative space for entrepreneurs and business to come together to create amazing things. Rooftop lounges, nap rooms, a gym, free coffee and beer certainly don't hurt either!

If you're like me, that's not why you're paying for the in-person experience though. You benefit from lecture, one on one explanations and working on teams to achieve ambitious goals. Hands down, this has been my favorite part of my DigitalCrafts experience. You will come to appreciate the vast amounts of knowledge you have to learn from your instructor and may be surprised to discover what you can learn from your peers as well.

Knowing the team as well as I do, this speaks to their core values and philosophy. It's Mom-and-Pop style bootcamp experience. The key to doing well in this or any bootcamp is understanding that you get out of the experience what you put into it. DigitalCrafts can't magically turn you into a software engineer but they can give you every necessary tool and instruction needed to become one.

If you decide you're interested and get accepted, I can't emphasize enough how imperative the preliminary course-work is. Do not make the mistake of blowing these assignments off. They are necessary preparation and a good indicator of what you can expect in the first weeks of the course. When you're in the thick of it, remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. If you're up for the challenge, DigitalCrafts may be for you!

After leaving my finance job to transition into tech I was nervous about which coding school to attend. I have to honestly say in hindsight choosing DigitalCrafts was by far and large the best decision of the bunch. My instructor Chris was one of the... Read More best teachers I have ever had across any discipline. He is incredibly smart, thoughtful, and helpful.

The sixteen week program was also a huge benefit. Given that I was starting from only a self-study programming background, with no formal education, the extra time spent working with Chris and my fellow classmates was crucial. I can honestly say I learned a ton during my time here. I was also fortunate to receive a job offer to be a Software Engineer in week 14 of the 16 week program., to cap off an overall excellent experience.