Wyncode

After nearly 20 years of working in the POS industry, I decided to finally follow my true calling, which is to be a computer programmer. Deciding to leave my area of deep expertise was tough. However, figuring out HOW to become a programmer seemed even... Read More harder. This all changed when I found Wyncode.

In 9 weeks, this intensive coding bootcamp taught me how to become a programmer, how to network and contribute within the tech community, and how to get employed!

I love what I do now. Working as a Ruby programmer is exactly what I wanted. Had it not been for Wyncode, I still might be wondering how to get here.

My most sincere thanks to everyone at Wyncode.

First and foremost Wyncode is a school with a startup spirit. Not only you learn how to code but also learn business/products/salesmanship side of tech startups. The community is amazing, their pitch night is a sick night for networking and to celebrate... Read More the victory of the newly alumni. Me personally I learned several stuff during those great 9 weeks, how to sale, how to be a better team player, how to be a better communicator, how to be a problem solver, how to be build killer products that WOW people and best of all learn the art of code. Code not just can get you a job as developer (60k+ salary), but also the skills so I can freelance on the side and eventually build a startup as soon as I find that problem that at least 10 million people are having and build it. Wyncode is great a way to learn how to code its really fun, the teaching team are awesome people they want you to kill it. Wyncode does not teach you how to code just to make a buck, they want you to succeed not matter what(you will feel it, no need to believe me). The hard truth is this you have to put a lot of hours of hard and smart work but Wyncode makes that fun. So if you are really up against the challenge to change your career and gain the skills to change the world then you are ready start. Good luck on the journey I had so much fun that I would do it all over again. Cheers!!

Attending Wyncode was definitely the right decision for me. I have always wanted to code but had a lot of trouble learning it on my own. I tried tutorials, I tried reading books, and never felt like I fully grasped the core concepts, and never would have... Read More been able to build something I was truly proud of. I was very skeptical about coding bootcamps when I first heard of them. I spent years trying to learn to code with little success, how could I possibly do it in 9 weeks? I did my research and saw that Wyncode had a great reputation and seemed to really stick by their students. I gave it a lot of thought and decided to go for it. I left my job, moved down to Miami, and invested all my time and effort into this program. During the 9 weeks I learned Ruby, HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, AJAX, SQL, Rails, Object Oriented Programming, TDD, command line, web hosting, and that's just the technologies we learned. What sets Wyncode apart from the rest is the business acumen lessons. I learned how to properly structure my resume, how to prepare my LinkedIn, how to network, how to prepare for an interview, and so much more. Since finishing Wyncode just a week and a half ago I have already had several interviews. These include interviews that Wyncode helped to set up, and interviews I set up on my own. I feel very confident in my new skills and can finally call myself a developer. Wyncode has truly been a life changing experience for me, and I am so thankful for all that they have helped me to accomplish!

I entered Wyncode hoping to learn to code, and got so much more than that. I left feeling empowered and able to not only build whatever I wanted, but to take myself seriously as a leader and entrepreneur. Located at the LAB, Wyncode is in the heart of... Read More Miami's startup scene and there were always exciting events happening around us. The program is quick to adapt to student feedback, and it is all driven by a fantastic core leadership team. Jo and Juha are personally invested in each student, and Ed can teach like it's nobody's business. In the nine months since i've graduated, I've watched my peers get amazing positions and pursue really cool opportunities. For a solid education in coding, a crash course in entrepreneurship, and a vehicle for integrating yourself into the Miami Tech community, there is no option other than Wyncode.

Miami tech is for real. Start-ups and established companies have an appetite for new developers in South Florida and Wyncode is the best way to get involved.

I am a member of Wyncode's inaugural cohort and the value of my experience has continued to grow... Read More beyond the course content.

Here are the ways in which Wyncode has enriched my life and why Wyncode is the best place for anyone with the ambition and ability to achieve greatness:

(1) technical foundation // Wyncode provides a foundation in technical skills for web development. Course content is comprehensive for what is necessary to start a career as a developer. The instructors are proven professionals in their fields and are devoted to providing the necessary attention to each student.

(2) business fundamentals and product development // Writing code is powerful, but is only one aspect of what makes a business prosper. Wyncode supplements their technical instruction with teaching business fundamentals, particularly in the scope of rapid product cycles that are relevent in fast-growing companies. "Lean startup" and "agile product management" are given just attention to ensure that Wyncode graduates can relate their work in the context of a business strategy. These elements are important to understand as a job candidate and offer a way to gain an edge when entering the tech work force.

(3) relationships in the tech community // Wyncode has a powerful network of technology professionals who are influential, inspirational, and impactful. Students have privileged access to members of that network, which is a meaningful feature of the experience that is beyond the scope of a curriculum and cannot be replicated by an online course.

(4) post-graduate coaching and support // Experience and benefits provided by Wyncode does not end after the course is complete. Wyncode's leadership team, instructors, and alumni collectively ensure that all of its members get the coaching and support they need to fluorish.

I just finished Wyncode’s second cohort, and I am happy to say that the quality of my instructors and the curriculum exceeded my expectations! Ed Toro, the lead instructor, is one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry. I am thankful to have... Read More been supported by such a knowledgeable and helpful group of Teaching Assistants, especially Frank. I graduated with a business degree from Florida International University with no coding experience. I recognized the need, however, for the skills taught by Wyncode in the Miami market and took the leap of faith with an open mind. I spent countless hours of hard work in the LAB, and the Wyncode staff was with me every step of the way. Upon graduation, I secured a full time position as a junior developer at an exciting, forward thinking company, and I am forever grateful to Wyncode for making it possible.

Quiting my job and joining Wyncode is the best career decision I have made. Everyone thought I was crazy because I had a stable job in a not-so-stable economy, but it is because of Wyncode that I found a better job and a career path I am satisfied with.... Read More

Learning to code is not an easy task, and it is not for everyone, but Wyncode's teaching staff were a fantastic resource and were available at all hours during the program. They bring a ton of knowledge and experience and are by your side willing to put in the time with you.

They also provide access to the tech community in South Florida, and put you in front of hiring partners who you wouldn't otherwise have access to. There are always events and networking opportunities available, and they push you to get out there and participate.

Now that I am working as a developer I realize there is still a lot to learn after Wyncode, but they gave me the foundation to move forward learning on my own and enough knowledge to go through an interview and start a career as a junior developer.

For anyone considering Wyncode, you should ask yourself:

1. "Am I willing to work harder than I ever have?"

2. "Am I motivated to learn in class AND on my own time?"

3. "Do I enjoy problem solving?"

If you answered yes to all of these then you should definitely join Wyncode!

I was fortunate enough to be part of Wyncode’s first cohort, from May to July 2014.

I had virtually zero experience coding before I joined (I had just a base knowledge of HTML and CSS) but I knew that rather than spending 6 months struggling to learn by... Read More myself, I’d advance much faster learning from experts.

Wyncode’s program is absolutely authentic in the value it delivers to its students, and I personally attribute this to its team. Head instructor Ed Toro is extremely knowledgeable with years of experience in the tech field. But more importantly, he’s able to relay complex information patiently and logically to students. In my opinion, his teaching style was essential to this program. Learning from an expert that enjoys the teaching process is a completely different experience than reading from a textbook or taking an online course. The access to that level of expertise is what I was looking for coming into Wyncode, and Mr. Toro definitely delivered.

The supporting staff is made up of Teaching Assistants that specialize in different areas – front end development, supporting languages (JavaScript, JQuery), etc. Their contribution is just as essential, because although Ed Toro is giving the lessons each day, your learning truly happens after the lesson, when you're working on assignments and thinking through problems.

This part of the program might be very frustrating to some students if they were to work on their own – but the Teaching Assistant staff was there every night to support and offer guidance. This level of commitment to your learning is unseen in any other environment – even at the university level, it's hard to have a full day devoted to you the way Wyncode has organized it.

The final piece that really differentiates Wyncode from anything else are the founders Johanna and Juha. They bring an energy and passion to their program that sets the tone for the rest of the organization, including the students. Their vision of the program isn't just to create a coding school – it's to build well-rounded tech professionals. In my opinion, they are succeeding at this better than most universities.

The reason why I think this is because they offer something that often gets lost in a large university environment. They offer a personalized experience. Johanna and Juha are there every day, receiving feedback from both students and teaching staff. They are constantly gauging everyone's progress to make sure no one falls behind on the course content. But more importantly, they offer mentorship where most tech professionals need it the most – in social settings like interviews with employers. Johanna and Juha have years of experience in all types of professional situations, and they freely share that knowledge with their students.

I was personally involved in several interviews with employers during the cohort, and for each meeting I prepped with Johanna and Juha. They offered guidance on how to build the employer-applicant relationship, what strengths I should promote, what weaknesses I could improve on. They networked alongside us, attending events where they could introduce us to tech professionals. I met my current employer at an event that Johanna and Juha found and attended with me.

The overall theme to Wyncode is a dynamic, well-rounded team offering you a personalized experience from start to finish. For me, that finish was landing full-time employment as a Rails developer. Wyncode's team guided me from learning the material, using it to build apps, showcasing those apps in my portfolio, and using that portfolio as an asset during networking events with employers. As straightforward as it sounds, that path takes a lot of work, and that's where the tone, energy, and motivation of the team is crucial.

Two weeks after my cohort ended, I was extended an offer letter from my employer. I'm now a Junior Rails Developer at MDLIVE. Its still mind-boggling to me that this all happened in about 10 weeks.

My experience at Wyncode was so rich and profound that I find it impossible to capture it in just a few paragraphs. I freely state that Wyncode changed the course of my career and it's easily one of the most impacting decisions of my life.

I was part of the third Wyncode cohort. I had an experience that was both educational and enjoyable. I thought the people involved were really wonderful. It's a great team. On the educational side, I learned a lot from the instructors. Ed Toro is amazing.... Read More He's a great teacher, a phenomenal coder, and a fun person to know. The TA's consistently went above and beyond to help me out when I needed it (which was often). Frank and Walter, especially, both helped me a lot. I've been coding pretty regularly since the cohort ended (a month ago), and Ed, Walter and Frank, all three--have responded to help me with things when I've gotten stuck. And this is in light of the fact that they're busy working with another cohort.

The business team is also wonderful and always available to help. What's impressive is how overwhelmingly positive they are day in and day out. Juha, Johanna and Diego approach every problem smiling. Jo and Juha regularly checked in with me during my job search to see how things were going and to offer advice. Whenever I've stopped by the lab, they've been generous with their time and interested in what I was doing.

I developed real skills at Wyncode. I worked hard. That's a big part of it. No 9 week bootcamp is going to make you an excellent developer. That takes time and experience. But it's amazing how far you can develop if you put the time in. You can learn to code on your own. I think you can do a lot of things on your own if you want it bad enough. Wyncode is a short cut via cheat code. You get a package that includes people to help teach you, people to support you and help connect you to employers, and a class full of similarly positioned people who become your friends (a nice additional perk).

Finding jobs is tough. It's competitive. But fortunately I found myself with multiple opportunities after the program ended (pretty amazing for a 9 week bootcamp, no?). I ended up accepting a job with a great company.

I'm not one of those "everyone needs to learn how to code" people. I actually don't think it's right for everyone. I happened to really fall in love with it. If you do have an interest in learning to code, I think Wyncode is a great place to do it. I'd recommend it. Good luck.

I would first mention that what I pay for learning how to code, was one of the best investments I have made in my history, why because not only you get the skills necessary for you to get a job as a developer, start your web development shop or develop... Read More that idea that you want to see happen. But also teaches you how to sell your ideas, how to develop a product and how to be a better team player. Wyncode involves you to the tech community and grants the opportunity to connect with the people you need to put your app idea out there. My result out of Wyncode was to start my own Web development shop and now I am living in Venezuela a country where developers and web development shop are scarce currently. So don't think it twice coding will change your career and open doors to an amazing and profitable industry.