Parsity

I was a little nervous to try a 100% online bootcamp; but my concerns were calmed shortly after starting the program. I can tell that all Parsity staff works hard and cares about the student outcomes (not just for the success rate on their site); and... Read More I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of material and opportunities to network with other software engineers. If you follow their process, you will succeed.

The part-time format of Parsity was a great fit for me while I was working full-time and expecting a new addition to our family. After a long career in music, I am now a Software Engineer for a major transportation company!

The coursework was rigorous... Read More yet accessible. The mentors were a tremendous resource throughout and the program and beyond.

The curriculum has recently been revamped (after I graduated) and it is SOLID! After graduation, Parsity maintains contact with its alumni and graduates maintain access to the curriculum and the Slack channel.

If you are looking for an affordable program that allows you to move at your own pace and prepares you to become a software engineer - stop what you are doing and sign up!

As someone who wanted to make a 180 degree career change and quickly develop marketable coding skills without breaking the bank, Parsity was the perfect bootcamp for me. From a top level perspective, it checked off a lot of the boxes I was looking for:... Read More fully remote learning environment with the flexibility to work at my own pace (and either full-time or part-time), continual mentorship and support from the staff both during and after the program, and insanely good value when comparing their price to the average cost of a coding bootcamp. The curriculum was very well structured with a natural progression of concepts. The first half focused on the Front End - We started with a review of JavaScript fundamentals and CSS/HTML before moving on to DOM manipulation, working with APIs, and then diving into the React framework. In the second half of the course, we transitioned to the Back End, learning how to build our own web servers and databases with Node, Express and MongoDB before putting everything together and developing Full Stack applications. At the end of each week, we were assigned a mini-project that covered what we had just learned. These were very challenging, but always engaging and I really felt like I was building something practical while working on them. Despite the bootcamp being fully remote, I still had great opportunities to collaborate with other students. In the middle of the course, we had a week-long paired programming hackathon, and towards the end, the entire cohort worked together on a group project simulating an Agile-style sprint in which we were tasked to develop a functioning Full Stack application in 2 weeks. I'd say this experience along with our independent final project was probably where I learned and grew the most. Everything really came together here: putting all the coding skills I'd been honing to use, working/communicating in a group setting (and dealing with the unique challenges this can present), planning out design and structure at a larger scale, using Git flow effectively, and presenting an app as if demoing to a client. These projects were easily my favorite part of the program. On top of that, I received a ton of support from Parsity in the job search after graduating. First of all, we had dedicated time spent solely on career development, including refining our resumes and LinkedIn profiles, writing effective cover letters, networking, and preparing for the interview process. I also had access to a fantastic Career Services Coach that met with me frequently and was always available when I reached out. I got a ton of helpful advice that was tailored to my own particular job search, as well as mock interviews structured for the specific companies I was focused on. The assistance I received after graduating was invaluable, and ultimately played a huge role in me landing my first developer job. All in all, if you're interested in programming and want to shift your career trajectory, I highly recommend Parsity. I never would have believed a year ago that I could learn so much in such a short timeframe and actually get hired as a programmer. But it's true - coding bootcamps are a totally viable pathway and Parsity is a great one with great value. Enrolling was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Switching from teaching into the software engineering field was a daunting prospect but joining Parsity helped me transition smoothly. Like many others have said Parsity has great hands-on practical activities and experiences. You deeply learn the principles... Read More and apply them. The program is rigorous but if you do the work you will succeed. This program really sets you up to succeed as a software engineer. I gave four stars to job assistance because they are still growing in that aspect. The job talks they set up were hit or miss but they are growing in the right direction. Overall if you are looking to change your career Parsity can help you make that change!

I was part of the first cohort to attend Project Shift, now Parsity. It was a great experience and has been one of the best decisions of my life. Even in its infancy, and with all its growing pains, which you can read in some of the other reviews, Parsity... Read More prepares an individual to be a software engineer. The small class sizes is a key part of the success of the program, as well as the one on one mentoring and feedback on course work. Parsity does a great job of balancing the amount of CS concepts that need to learned and understood, showing a history of framework development by using older ones, and actually coding realistic projects, complete with group workflow. During the last four years in the industry, I have had the chance to work with a good number of developers who learned via code schools and I found that many of the programs left their graduates with holes in their knowledge and lacking the tools to find the answers to new questions and problems they had. I am always reminded of how happy I am I found Paristy and proud of the reputation that it holds in the Raleign-Durham Triangle area. Job assistance has fluctuated depending on the current employee running that aspect, however, even 4 years after completing the program, when I have reached out for advice and suggestions about jobs or negotiating salaries, or even business ventures, the teachers have been quick to respond with invaluable insight and advice that has helped immensely in my career.

The experience at Project Shift was better than I expected & more than I could have known to ask for, and definitely set me up for success in this field. A few years out of the program, I'm still regularly leaning on fundamentals that I was taught there,... Read More and it gave me the skills and confidence to dive into new technologies beyond the JavaScript that we were taught and to think critically across the full stack of a software application. A few highlights: - The team-building aspect that having a small cohort and regular pair/group projects provides. Not only were the instructors/TA great at explaining concepts, but we were able to learn from each other and learn by discussing concepts with each other. The program does a great job of encouraging that environment. - Career services: not just a buzzword here, but a built-in part of the program that added legitimate value. There was good prep for all kinds of interview phases (technical & non-technical), and they have built a solid foundation of partners to assist their graduates with referrals and networking. - The quality curriculum: real, practical exercises & individual evaluations mixed in with group projects & lectures on fundamentals/design patterns. The instructors go to great lengths to keep the lessons up to date and to reframe concepts based on student feedback - they have a true continuous improvement mindset.

I was a member of Project Shift's (now Parsity's) first cohort and, being a former teacher, I knew the first iteration of any course was probably going to be a bumpy ride. But I did it anyway for a couple of reasons. First of all, I just really liked... Read More Aaron. Is that a dumb reason? Maybe, but it worked out. I could tell he was passionate about what he wanted to do, and I loved his enthusiasm. Secondly, I liked that the program was competitive to get into and they wouldn't just accept anyone. Another bootcamp I was 'courting' at the time that shall remain nameless made it obvious (to me) that they were just trying to fill seats. That was very off-putting to me because I wanted to be in a course with others who had similar abilities and goals since this was such a tight timeline. The actual course exceeded my expectations. As I previously said, I was expecting a ton of hiccups, and Aaron and Sean were both extremely candid about how this was the first time and they were probably gonna screw some things up. And for sure there were issues here and there, but overall, the curriculum was really well thought out. You could absolutely tell how much time and energy they put into developing the course materials. Also, I found the lessons easy to follow and, more importantly, easy to learn from. I liked working closely with the other members of the small cohort (there were only 7 of us), and I really felt like I got to know everyone and we had a ton of fun. Post-bootcamp, I got a contractor role about two weeks after the program ended from one of the local employers who attended demo night. Although my role started as a contractor, I eventually was hired into a full time role and ended up staying there for over three years! It's been over four years since I finished this program and it remains one of the best decisions I've ever made. I would highly recommend this program to just about anyone who has a love of coding. One caveat is that I did do this program in-person and so I cannot speak to the newer online only program that Parsity offers. However, the curriculum is solid and it sounds like that is still roughly the same. Honestly it's probably improved since the first iteration that I experienced!

After taking some Udemy courses and doing some 'self-learning' regarding coding, I decided to join a bootcamp to get more hands-on and practical experience. Parsity delivered that and more. From the very beginning, I was learning not just about how to... Read More build software but also how to use the skills I learned in the real world. The weekly evaluations were all enjoyable and helpful. One of my favorite things about Parsity is that it doesn't start at an absolute beginner level- one review I read before starting mentioned that instead of going from 0% to 80%, Parsity goes from 20% to 100%. Since I already had some programming experience, this meant that I didn't feel like I was being taught any wasted concepts. Within three and a half months of finishing the Full-time Remote Software Engineering Course, I accepted my first software engineer postion.

I researched a lot of different programs before deciding on Project Shift, and one of the main reasons I went with them came down to a gut instinct. They seemed really genuine and invested, and it turned out my instincts were right. Everyone was genuinely... Read More invested in our growth. I went from having no technical experience, just an interest and a drive to learn and to change my life, and I came out of it with a new career that I love. I feel like Project Shift set me up for success, and I never would have gotten to this place (especially in a matter of months) without their help and support. I learned so much and I feel like I was given good foundations to build on and good strategies to keep learning and growing. So happy I took the leap!

I attended this school from October 2018-Feb 2019, as part of their 4th cohort. To sum up my experience, I absolutely loved this program. If you are reading this review, and weighing different schools/programs, trust me, we all have been there. Here is... Read More why I chose Project Shift, and here is why I am glad I did:

Classroom experience: I learn best when physically in the classroom, interacting with instructors and other students, and this program offers just that, 2 instructors and a TA working with 9 students. I loved being able to turn next to me, and ask my fellow students or an instructor with any question I had, or even help walk another student through a concept. An often-unmentioned skill in programming is being able to communicate your code to others, and in my opinion, an in-person classroom is the best place to hone that skill.

Instructors: The instructors are incredible. Sean is an experienced developer, teacher, team leader, and provides extremely valuable insight into what managers are looking for, and how the things we learn are actually going to be valued and weighed in a professional setting. The majority of the actual instruction is done by Aaron, who is also an incredible developer, he does a good job walking through all the concepts and keeping everyone up to speed. There is a LOT (LOT) of material, and Aaron balances the need to get through it all while also slowing down to get through the more complex / challenging material. Definitely knows what he is doing in this environment.

Career Services: Not all of these programs offer career services. Project shift does, and they do it right. Throughout the course they emphasize the importance of the personal side of chaning careers. Turns out, it takes more than just code to get a job. The career services representative (Morgan) has such a talent for explaining the ins and outs of networking, crafting a resume, interviews, communicating with hiring managers, and literally any part of finding a job that has a human aspect. They continue this support well after the course finishes, along with slack channels with real developers whom you can ask questions, set up times to talk, and just get a sense of what it is like to be a developer.

My final review / advice: I cannot emphasize this enough, you will get out what you put in. There are weekly projects, they are 'graded' and if you go through this program, doing the minimum to 'pass' the weekly projects, you'll get through just fine. But remember: Its your investment, if you want to become a stellar developer, you aren't going to get there doing the minimum. This program doesn't force you to put your all into it. There is room for you to jump in 100%, there's enough material to keep yourself busy well more than the ~750 hours the course outlines. I spent ~50-60 hours a week in the class, and I wish I had spent more. It's a once in a lifetime experience, take full advantage if everything they offer, you'll kick yourself if you don't go in absolutely 100%.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Is it worth the tuition? It was for me, I dropped most things in my life for the duration of this course, and I think it was well worth the cost.

If you want to ask any other questions, feel free to drop me a line (if this is allowed?) I'm not an employee of Project Shift, just a satisfied customer
here is my linkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdevore4592/