DigitalCrafts

I did a lot of research on different schools and coding bootcamps, I'm glad I settled with digitalcrafts. They are fully committed to assisting you along the journey of becoming a full stack developer and they do this in 16 weeks of coursework. The instructor... Read More is world-class the developers in residence wer wonderful and all the staff outside of the classroom we're beyond helpful. the amount of networking I have been able to do because of this school in such a short amount of time is unbelievable. I truly believe if you are around a campus you should definitely apply to go to the school, even if you aren't they offer it digitally. When I signed up it was for in-person Monday through Friday 9 to 5 however we all know the events going on in the world so that changed. With that said I am utterly amazed at their ability to structure a digital course out of what has always been in person with little to no notice at all. They pulled it off and I'm sure they had no planning for this I head of Time. Any school that can still deliver on their commitments after being thrown a blocker like that is a school worth going to.

That is all I can really say, everything about it was positive I don't have a complaint

If you are reading this review, I think you are ready to become a software engineer.
get ready for the hard work, long hour days nights and weekends - in return, a new career - software engineer.
time invested in the program is definitely worth it!
ask... Read More a lot of questions, don't be afraid of asking questions, your classmates are probably and most likely stuck on the same thing you just asked.
practice, practice, and more practice.
start networking early, find the teammates early, and do a lot of pair programming.

Good luck with your journey!

Prior to attending Digital Crafts, I had very little programming experience. You get what you put into it but for me it was worth every penny. I attended the from March until July 2020. 16 weeks is not a long time and I find that a bootcamp is best for... Read More structure, networking, building projects that will ultimately help you in landing a job.
This program is not for thoroughly understanding algorithms, data structures or OOP concepts. It’s more hands-on getting you to build code rather than learning Computer Science concepts.
Honestly, the material I learn at DC was not unique, I was told many times by different people that I could learn everything I learned at the cohort at home, which ironically due to the COVID-19 pandemic I did but through remote learning at Digital Crafts.
The difference between self-learning online and attending Digital Crafts was structure, accountability and my fellow builders in the cohort. Assignments and projects have due dates, you must work in teams for projects and there is a sense of camaraderie. All these things kept me on track and responsible, an element that is missing from self-learning (depending on the person).
Boot camps take a lot of commitment. If you’re thinking Digital Crafts does everything, they don’t. They give you tools to be successful; they offer you all the help you could want and more. Class starts at 9am but class does not end at 4pm. You must commit to reading, practicing and watch videos. Take other tutorials to find a way to understand what you have learned. Otherwise, you’re cheating yourself.
Class is fast paced; you get 1-2 days on a topic and then you move on to the next. To be successful I would suggest using google and stack overflow, these will be invaluable as you go along in the cohort.
The Instructor (Azam) was very personable and full of knowledge but he was also a real person. He let us know as developers you won't know everything; it's almost impossible to. You will experience Imposter Syndrome, and eventually you'll get over it. It's normal.
Even today I'm still googling, still asking questions on Stack overflow and I'm researching new technologies.
Digital Crafts will teach you how to code, how to interact with other developers and most importantly network. Something learning online for free can’t provide to you.

Pros:
- Small class size
- Great one on one support
- Personally known

Cons:
- A little more expensive (but longer and more comprehensive than other bootcamps)
- A little less structured (general blocks and topics are set, but what and how are not: cant do... Read More a lot of prep in advance)

My cohort had an instructor change in the middle of the group which was unfortunate, but the owners personally called in the dev who co-founded the bootcamp and he finished our cohort out. Tips for success: prepare well. Long before the bootcamp, learn the basics of coding. You will get so much more out of your time. They will teach you how to build applications, but if you know how to use the tools (CSS, HTML, Javascript) in advance, you will walk away so much further ahead. Its like learning how to drive in the Indy 500. They will teach you, but it helps if you know how what a car is first.

I spent a lot of time debating on if a coding bootcamp was worth it before joining DigitalCrafts. I had doubts and wondered if they could actually make a novice into a junior software engineer in such a short span of time. Short version, absolutely, IF... Read More you are committed before and after your cohort.

I went through many reviews and it was clear that DigitalCrafts was one of the top rated programs. I went further though, and found some current students and alumni from the program in hopes of hearing about their experience firsthand. I was surprised that everyone I reached out to not only responded, but raved about the program. At that point, I was sold and started the program in September 2019.

Ultimately, I'm so glad that I took that jump. Mandatory in-person classes foster strong relationships within the cohort, and, most importantly, accountability. Attendance is strict and expectations are high. While instructors are always available for help (before, during and after class) no one holds your hand. You are expected to keep up and ask questions when you're feeling lost. For me, tis meant dedicating at least 15 hours outside of class time per week to fully grasp the material. This is not the program for those who are not able and/or willing to put in the effort and time to succeed. For me, it was the perfect environment.

In the past, I tried to self-teach and stick with it. However, I never gained much with the "tutorial" type lessons and step by step boilerplate projects that websites like Treehouse offer. The only way to truly learn how to code is to build something on your own from the ground up without the crutch of a ready-made project provided by tutorial-based services.

After joining the program, we were building things (mostly breaking, rebuilding and re-breaking) within two weeks. My amazing instructors and DIRs (Developer-in-Residence) were there to put me back on track and provide support when needed. That teaching methodology gave me superhuman confidence once I finally built my first functioning project. I found myself chasing that feeling throughout my time in the program and can see myself continuing to chase it for the rest of my development career. Once you actually build something and can make it work, the feeling of personal achievement is unreal.

Personally, I needed more time after my cohort ended to go over past materials and focus on some of my weaker points. The program is face-paced, so making a note on topics to revisit after the cohort ends is smart. You have access to your cohort's materials (class recordings, assignments, etc.) indefinitely after the program ends, so having access to past material in order for me to improve certain skills before entering the job market was a huge bonus.

Lastly, I've never felt more a part of a community than I did/do with DigitalCrafts. The team is supportive before, during and after the program. The alumni network is extensive and we all root for each other. Entering the tech world is daunting, so that support is crucial. There are also career advisors who have been very present and helpful.

As you've read, there are no job guarantees (I question any bootcamp that makes these promises) but there is ample opportunity. Everyday, their career advisors reach out with new opportunities and are always willing to aid with your current or future job search. I have seen numerous success stories and have yet to see someone unable to enter the tech field at a junior level.

Lastly, it will take a lot of time and work (two key concepts for this entire journey) to be complete this rigorous program but for me it was more than worth it.

DigitalCrafts is an excellent bootcamp, from the first day to the last. If you're someone like me you can go from having zero coding experience to being able to build websites and applications. It's not a walk in the park but if you stay focused and work... Read More hard you'll be amazed at how much you can learn. How I view websites and applications has changed into the perspective of a developer. They have taught me not only how to code but also how to teach myself and find the right resources.

The curriculum broke down the path to become a full stack web developer neatly, allowing me to learn at a tenable pace. Even with the current issues going on in the world, the class kept on, still providing quality instruction via Zoom. The instructors... Read More are competent and are really helpful when reviewing code or just giving advice about the greater development world outside the classroom. The job search assistance is a great bonus as their suggestions on ways to improve my resume and portfolio gave me a better look at how best to present myself to employers.

Was nervous when i started but once class started, DC was great in helping and assist me when going through challenging instances through out the class. At the end, i felt confident in my skills and it felt great to be able to have an idea and be able... Read More to make it happen. Instructors and DiRs (Developers in residence) were very helpful through out. You won't be be able to learn EVERYTHING in software development but you'll gain the skills and techniques needed to learn it all. A little steep of a learning curve for me initially but once i caught up, i felt more comfortable.

I'm very happy with what I learned and I enjoyed the time I spent enrolled in DigitalCrafts.
A typical day went like this: when class starts, we continued working on whatever we started the day before. Then there was a code-along, lunch, and finally exercises... Read More based on that day's topics. That was most days except when we were doing projects--then the whole day was spent on the project.
My instructor was Chris. He and his assistants did an excellent job. Where they really shined was making things that may be unintuitive make sense.
The staff and instructors were really great, and they will go above and beyond to make sure you're getting what you need (Chris, if you're reading this, I still have the thumb drive you lent me and I'll give it back as soon as I find it).
It was great overall and I'd choose them again.

I highly recommend attending the DigitalCrafts fulls stack immersive bootcamp for anyone, thinking about doing a career change or like me to just simply get the full understanding of software development. I prior worked in project / product management... Read More and digital marketing and my goal, to fill the knowledge gap between product / project managers and developers was more than accomplished after graduating from DC. Our instructor, Chris was amazing, understanding, patient, fun and really knew how to explain everything from scratch while keeping everyone focused and entertained! The DIR's were a big help and made sure, every single student got the help they needed.