NYC Onsite Software Engineering Immersive

Overall I can truly say that I enjoyed my experience at Codesmith. I attended every easy/hard parts workshops, JSB, CS Prep, and the Immersive. The supportive community within Codesmith is what kept me coming back for me.  In the famous words of Schno, "Research, Parse, Implement". These are the words that you will live by everyday. I love that Codesmith implemented the "hard learning" technique because it encourage me to dive deeper into the docs. On the other hand, If I had to constructively criticize the program it would probably be  towards the curriculum needing a bit of updating.  Because GraphQL is a hot topic right now I think it might be a great time for it to be additional unit. Additionally I feel like CI/CD and Testing units should be larger and more emphasized units, and maybe placed a little earlier. The hiring portion of the program was definitely a huge help in my job search. Outside of the hard learning through back to back projects, the hiring portion is the bread and butter of the entire program.  Although the program does not hold your hand during the resume iterations and job board profile creation, they provide a lot of details on how they should look.In the end your success within the program is completely up to you. Some of the keys to success: take advantage of every Hack-Hour, do not be afraid to be the only person asking a question during lectures, abuse help desk, be a collaborative/empathetic pair programming partner, and last but not least, make sure you choose a production project with technologies that you want to be apart of your narrative. The narrative part will definitely come in handy during interviews! 

 Codesmith was a transformation part of my journey to landing a job in software engineering. It's been three months since my graduation and I just landed a role as an engineer at a Fortune 500 company. I attached a blurb about my background below to give you context to my previous skills and experience before entering Codesmith.  Codesmith provided valuable engineering experiences that not only prepared me for the job, but helped me communicate with other engineers during the job search. Throughout the duration of the program, the biggest takeaway is your ability to technically communicate, which is easily one of the most valuable skills to have during a job search and in the job itself.  If your goal is to go to a bootcamp to just learn React, I'd say your better off studying the thousands of hours of free material online. The Codesmith experience is more than just learning the technologies- its about learning to think, act and work like a high quality Software Engineer while being part of an extremely supportive community.  That being said, I think it's best to attend this program having a decent idea/background in the coursework. The more prepared you are coming into the program with both the material and the Codesmith culture, the more potential you will have during your time in the program. Codesmith overall provides a great community for all levels of engineering, so definitely utilize resources provided by both the community and free online before attending the immersive.  My background- I graduated from college the same year I decided to attend Codesmith. I learned to code during my time at university, but didn't receive a degree in computer sciences. I attended Codesmith after 4 months of self teaching web-based technologies. I had no other professional experiences besides an internship and a student org positions. 

If you are looking for a coding program this is by far the best choice you can make -- I landed the job I wanted within a month after graduation. Obviously Codesmith is a great technical program, but I was especially impressed by how well Codesmith focused on non-obvious things that actually make a huge difference:
The program deliberately schedules catch-ups & sessions to help you overcome mental blocks in job search (for me this is 90% of the fight). I've done job searches before, and this by far was the most efficient/least-stressful job search period I went through and I believe it's because of the hiring program.
Codesmith actually has a successful serial entrepreneur as an advisor who's hired engineers himself & advises you on how to talk to potential employers. For anyone looking for a career transition you can't get a more qualified advisor than this. He held various workshops on narratives & job negotiations (even one on how to start a startup, which he didn't have to but did for residents/alums anyway). Honestly everything I learned from him was probably worth the entire tuition.
The entire curriculum is focused on technical communication & pair programming, sometimes even more so than learning the technology.  I was honestly skeptical but in the real engineering world this is what sets apart engineers people want to work with & able to be productive in team settings from those that are not. After 3 months of continually "talking-while-coding", I felt very comfortable doing live coding interviews and I wouldn't have gotten there w/o Codesmith.
The curriculum does not hand hold at all - they teach you fundamentals but you are left to figure out the rest with your partners. This can be frustrating at times but after a while I realized that I now somehow know how to teach myself new technologies with little to no guidance. Honestly this is the core competency of an adaptable/versatile engineer and they teach you this even without you knowing.
The amount of decent/kind people in the cohort, alumni & staff is off the charts here and this is one of the best communities I've been in. Alums are not only extremely knowledgeable but also very generous with their time and always willing to give back. My cohort was awesome and I made some lifelong friends here. 
I can't speak to other programs, but based on my experience I don't think an engineering program can get much better than this. Before this I considered getting a Master's in CS but I am so happy I didn't because Codesmith was exactly what I needed.

I was skeptical that Codesmith could deliver what it promised—the software engineering job I wanted—after only three months.  And yet two months out from graduation, I received an offer to join the front-end web team at a great company as a software engineer (where I remain happily employed).  I had practiced law for eight years prior to deciding to become a software engineer, and had never coded prior to 2019 - my background was very “non-technical”.  Codesmith distinguishes itself from coding bootcamps by its commitment to its residents—they believe that no matter your background, you can succeed in tech by learning to view the inevitable mental blocks that arise while coding as opportunities for growth and pushing through them—instead of viewing them as indications that you’re “just not a tech person”.  By pushing through those mental blocks, I gained a confidence in my own abilities as an engineer that is as valuable (or more) as the knowledge of various technologies I came away with.  If you love solving problems and are drawn to making a difference in technology, but unsure how to break into the industry, look no further than Codesmith.

I'll be honest, I wasn't fully aware what I was getting myself into when I walked away from my job to take a deeper dive into software engineering. While being WAY more exciting than my past career as a sales manager, I quickly found some of the material to be overwhelming. However, the team at Codesmith does a great job of providing guidance, and comfort during some of the more trying times when you begin to feel like you're not entirely sure what you are doing, which is an integral part of helping you push through the hard times, and allow you to come out on the other side with a greater perspective, both on what you have accomplished, but also when it comes to grasping the material. All in all, Codesmith does a great job exposing you to various technologies, though I wish there were some they went into in greater depth, but they certainly don't hold you back from pushing your own bounds of exploration. Another area I feel they could go into greater depth, knowing now that the industry views this as an important thing would be the aspect of linters, and coding format. It is something that is covered, but never really emphasized on, which has made a significant difference in my job search, and in the feedback I received following job assessments. All in all, if you are finding yourself looking for something that can challenge you more both mentally, and creatively, and software development is an area of interest that excites you, look no further than Codesmith. 

First off, the immersive program at Codesmith is not for beginners - you should already have a strong understanding of JavaScript fundamentals before starting. Codesmith then builds on that foundation with an  intense and extremely rigorous curriculum - you will learn a ton of industry-relevant technologies and skills (Codesmith continually updates its education based on what's most relevant in the field). In particular, Codesmith is selective with its students, so you end up surrounded by smart, driven residents who strive to do well, which helps motivate you to do your best, too.In particular, I want to highlight the hiring support program at Codesmith. People often say that the hiring support is worth the cost of tuition alone. Codesmith has a dedicated team of individuals to help coach you through your job search process (that you also have lifetime access to). The negotiation lessons and coaching also helped me get an extra $10k on my starting salary. The program is definitely worth the tuition.Before you decide whether or not to do the Codesmith program, you should ask yourself if you're willing to put in 60+ hours every week in a grueling program - how bad do you want to become a software engineer? If your answer is yes, then Codesmith will definitely deliver on its quality of education and value. 

Going to Codesmith has been the best decision of my entire life. I have only graduated 1 month ago and have already landed a dream job that normally requires 5 years of experience. It gives you all the necessary skills and confidence to completely change your field to software engineering regardless of what your were originally doing in life. The knowledge and overall approaches gained by attending Codesmiths 3 month immersive is, in my opinion, as good as 3 years of of experience in the field. 

Going to Codesmith has definitely paid off - it's second to none when it comes to the success rate (nearly 80% of my cohort are employed as SWEs after 5 months, NOT counting those who went on to become fellows). I'm not going to talk too much about the actually education quality as everyone seems to have already touched on it - all I will say is, you are not going to learn any less than you would in any other program. However, the difference imo really all comes down to the hiring formula that their staff has curated - this alone has definitely helped me and my cohortmates seen way more success during the job hunt.To whoever is reading this, I was in your shoes exactly a year ago - do your research thoroughly and good luck!

When I found codesmith and saw the CIRR salary numbers, I was a complete newb, having written zero lines of javascript before and felt inspired by the idea of a lucrative career switch. I started by going through their free online CSX curriculum. A couple weeks after starting on CSX I went to a javascript the easy parts meetup and left excited that I had learned a lot and had connected with driven people. I continued in the pipeline, taking CS-prep, going to Javascript the Hard Parts, and then taking the Full-Time Immersive Program in NY.Both CS-prep and the full-time program are high quality. The codesmith way is to give you a basic understanding and then give you problems that are outside your current capabilities/knowledge. So there is a lot of sifting through the unknown (READ THE DOCS!) and there is NOT a lot of hand holding. I resonate with this teaching/learning approach and think it leads to developing useful problem-solving skills and a gritty attitude of... I can figure this out if I stick with it. Leaving the program, my resume was full of technologies that I had used, but was not a master of. The advice in this post-graduation stage is where I found Codesmith to be worth it's weight in gold. They recommended I apply immediately out of the program and start interviewing, which I did. They told me to get as many offers as I can, I ended up with 2 offers within 6 weeks of the program ending. They told me to send out an email when I got the first offer to all other companies I had started the interview process with... This advice landed me a full-stack engineer position, making 6 figures, having started coding only 9 months prior.I also made some very good friends, my cohort does virtual happy-hours every couple weeks... I had never been surrounded by so many inspiring people that are willing to work hard to improve themselves.

Hi.The simplest way to convey the distance I’ve had to travel to get to where I am now would be to describe my onboarding process. After filling out the highest level of education I’ve completed with “middle school”, I finished it with my new title: Software Engineer III. Now, half a year in, I’m drowning at work under the endless influx of topics to learn and explore, I go to sleep with the last vestiges of code still lingering in my head, and I love every moment of it.But you’re reading this review to decide if Codesmith is the right choice for you, not to pat me on the back. While that’s impossible for me to ascertain, I can share why it was the best choice for me, and hopefully that will aid your decision one way or another.Prior to attending Codesmith, I spent two years as a technical recruiter, looking for strong technical talent. As a layman, it was hubris to think I could adequately gauge technical aptitude. So I relied on other companies to do it for me. I started to collate a list of reputable engineering teams in the area, reasoning that if a candidate had survived a year or more on one of those teams, I could expect that they were more than capable of fulfilling the needs of my clients. What I noticed during my search is that there were a fair amount of Codesmith graduates employed at the companies on my list. That told me that Codesmith produced strong results, and those alumni would be people in my network that I could reach out to when I eventually found myself on the job market. Being accepted into the program itself proved to be no small endeavor either, which meant that I would be struggling alongside individuals with a certain caliber of competency and conviction. I also appreciated Codesmith’s emphasis on technical communication, something I frequently witnessed cropping up as an obstacle in my role as a recruiter. Finding a solution shows you know an answer, but articulating the leaps of intuition you make while under pressure in a technical interview, shows that you understand it. I needed every advantage I could get as a high school dropout with no technical experience, so for the reasons listed above, I went with Codesmith.My time in the program is a distinct chapter that altered the trajectory of my life in more ways than just my career. The staff who run it behind the scenes are amazing people who are constantly looking for ways to iterate and improve the student experience while welcoming any feedback that will inform their efforts. The instructors are so passionate about the topics they teach that it's contagious (perhaps a poor choice of words in the current clime, but maybe it'll age well). As for my peers, following the adage, I usually strive to be the dumbest one in the room, but my cohort made that too easy. Suffice it to say, I had a lot of people to learn from and with, and I couldn’t imagine my time at Codesmith sans a single one of them.The caveat here is that Codesmith is not a panacea; it can only amplify what you bring to the table. If you lack the drive, disposition, and discipline, well, you're not going to find it there. But if you have those prerequisites, Codesmith is the crucible you're looking for.

As a person who already had a technical background, I was hesitant to join the program in the beginning. However, after finishing everything and going through the curriculum, I never regret my decision! The skills that you learn at Codesmith are what market is actually looking for, which will place you at a position where you are actually getting a lot of interview requests. They also update the curriculum every cohort to follow the fast-changing tech industry standard. What makes the Codesmith stands out from other boot camps, however,  is people. You will have a wonderful time working with excellent instructors, staff, and cohort mates who are energetic, passionate and willing to help each other. I have met so many new people who have the same passion as I do and doing projects with those people is absolutely amazing experience. Having that network and being part of Codesmith Alumni is very valuable. If you are hesitating like I was last year, I highly recommend that you don't and go for it! 

It was less than a year ago that I was on track to applying and getting into dental school, something I’ve worked so hard for all of college. But after discovering that Software Engineering was my true passion, I was so glad a program like Codesmith in LA exists. Now I’m starting my first Software Engineering job less than a year after making the decision to drop dentistry.To the best of my knowledge Codesmith is one, if not the only, bootcamp-style program a person should consider. The curriculum is amazing because it does a great job of giving you foundational knowledge but trains you to become autonomous in learning new concepts/technologies on your own. One of the things I enjoyed the most were the projects we were able to create during the program; they’re truly something to be proud of by the end of the 12 weeks. Last but definitely not least, the hiring support during and after the program is something that blew me away with constant advice, checkins, and availability for interview practice or feedback. Thank you CS LA!

Codesmith is the best coding immersive program available. Third party (CIRR) reports show that Codesmith graduates have the highest median annual base salary compared to all other coding immersive programs. The instructors, staff, and curriculum are all amazing. However, the rich career development program and hiring support are what allows Codesmith to stand out.  Prior to Codesmith, I was in the United States Marine Corps with zero experience in programming. As I was getting ready to transition out of the Marines, I started to learn JavaScript on my own in order to pass a technical interview at a “top tiered bootcamp”. I chose Codesmith because of the outcomes report and the Codesmith teaching style I experienced at the free “Hard Parts” classes they offered.  The first half of the immersive program was difficult. I remember telling my family and friends that asked me how the program was going that I felt like “I was trying to drink water from a fire hose”. Even though it felt like I was drowning and not absorbing a lot of information, the second half (the project phase) of the program is where “the magic happens”. When I started applying the knowledge I learned by building applications and projects, I was shocked at how much knowledge I obtained but also realized all that time “drowning” was actually developing my skills in tacking challenging problems, diving deep in technologies, and learning to become comfortable with the unknown.  I like to joke that there is a third part to Codesmith that isn’t officially part of their program: the “application stage”. Learning never stops and it should definitely not stop after Codesmith. Codesmith taught me many things and I loved my time there but three months is a short time. Even after I finished the program, I spent many hours/days/weeks/months learning on my own and honing my interviewing skills: white boarding and algorithms, take home projects, and fundamental computer science knowledge.  I am thankful to Codesmith not for allowing me to work full time as an engineer getting paid over six figures but because Codesmith is where I found my love for coding, learning, and struggling. 

After 10 years as a Graphic Designer I realized I had plateaued and wanted to focus more on building great products and less on minor aesthetics. Uncertain of how to begin, I found my way working through The Odin Project online for free. It was a great stepping stone for learning how to code, but I often found myself up against a road block and avoiding pushing through.Then I went to a free JS meetup (and almost talked myself out of going) at Codesmith. Their whole approach to code, from the computers perspective, is one of a kind and sold me right away. I cannot imagine being a part of a better community of such strong, interesting like minded individuals. It's simply amazing being in an environment where everyone is constantly learning and teaching one another.Here I am, just over 4 months after starting this journey with a great job paying almost 70% more than I was making before. And what's better is I now spend all my time solving complex problems.

Early in 2019 I was working in the entertainment industry and unhappy with my career. I did not enjoy my job, so I began looking at other options. I wanted to find something that I would enjoy, and could do without going back to school for a new degree, that would pay well, and allow me the income and freedom to pursue a full life outside of work. I had always enjoyed technology, so I began looking into computer programming. I was very unsure at first as my experience was limited to setting up Wordpress and SquareSpace websites. As I begin to learn Javascript from a variety of online resources, I quickly realized I would need a more immersive and guided experience if I wanted to reach my goals, so I begin looking into bootcamps. I was extremely wary of most bootcamps, as they were expensive and I wasn't sure I could trust anonymous online reviews. I had almost decided against attending one at all, when I came across the CIRR report for 2018 that listed verified employment and salary outcomes for a variety of bootcamps. From that alone, I narrowed my search down to the only two camps that had strong, verifiable results: Codesmith and Hack Reactor. So I began doing research into both of them. This research included attending a live workshop at Codesmith, Javascript: the Hard Parts, and it was there that I immediately knew this was the place for me. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, but not so much that they just gave you the answers. Instead, they explained complex concepts in easy to understand terms and then let me apply that knowledge myself to get a hands on understanding. After I had made up my mind to apply for Codesmith, I signed up for their CS Prep course. The course was difficult and gave me a taste of what was to come, but it also made me hungry to dig down deep and push forward into the unknown. Ultimately, it gave me the foundation I needed to pass the rigorous technical interview for the immersive program. The immersive program itself was one of the hardest things I've ever attempted, and also one of the things I'm most proud of completing. There were many times that I felt like I just wasn't understanding all these concepts enough, but with the help of my cohort-mates and the instructors, I was able to push through until everything started clicking for me. By the time we reached the project portion of the program, I was ready to dive in and start building applications, the last of which, a dev tool made with cutting edge tech, I am very proud of. Finally, the hiring program during the last couple weeks of the program was vitally helpful. We learned how to convey our strength in our resume, and over phone interviews. Codesmith provided instructors to not just teach us how to best apply to jobs so that we could maximize our interviews, but also made themselves available to help us post-graduation, even going so far as to advise us in negotiations. I was extremely unsure about taking out a big loan and quitting my job to pursue something I had little experience with, but Codesmith's top instructors (especially you Augustine!) and the wonderfully supportive community helped turn that into the best decision I have ever made. I would make it again in a second. 

I graduated with a degree in Graphic Design but I felt unprepared for actually finding work/ furthering a career in Design in a meaningful and stable way. For that and several other reasons I decided give programming a go. I enrolled into two other programming schools before attending Codesmith (Call me nuts). Here are somethings I have to say...1- Codesmith is one of a kind. I don't think there are any other programs out there that can help an individual improve themselves and their careers at such a high caliber. In terms of Codesmith as an educational entity, I learned more valuable and practical things here than I did in most of my undergrad. In comparison to the programming schools I attended prior, Codesmith felt more like a Graduate/Masters Program. Which leads to the next point....2- It's not easy (Seriously... its not).When I initially saw the active hours of Mon-Sat 9am-8pm I thought about the commitment I was getting into. In total you may spend +1300 hours at Codesmith. You have to be serious about this. You will be introduced to CS/ Full-Stack concepts at an unnatural rate that will be juuust uncomfortable enough that you will feel challenged throughout the program. But you aren't expected to know everything. The thing to understand is your peers are there to learn too. No one is perfect. You just need to make sure that if you do decide to enroll into Codesmith, you go in with an open mind and are serious about learning. The Codesmith community will only cultivate you and let you grow as an engineer. This is something that Codesmith does quite well. 3- The Codesmith Bag of GoodiesCodesmith equips its students with things that I noticed others schools didn't. Some examples: 
a) Being a student at the New York Campus has a likeness to working at a start up company. Both classes (Juniors and Seniors) share the same space. There is no "Classroom code along" and only a small portion of your day is devoted to lecture. Most of your time will be spent pair programming/ working at engineering problems. On top of that, your senior portion will have you working in close proximity with other engineers where you can practice things such as working in an AGILE environment, GitHub workflow, Brainstorming/Building an application from the ground up as a team. These start up elements can help grads both form opinions about these concepts AND adjust to environments of the start up companies that want to hire them.  
b) Codesmith's hiring portion is on point. Your credibility as an engineer will be boosted by Codesmith's teaching style regarding your resume writing, self advocacy, proper salary negotiation and job searching techniques. I learned a great deal in this phase of the program. 
c) The curriculum is well thought out. You are given things that will help you build a strong resume. Aside from the great amount of technologies you touch and your smaller projects, the production project you build over the course of several weeks is great experience. This larger scale project will get you though enough engineering challenges to allow you to formulate a mature engineering narrative that will help you when on the job search. And don't even get me started on the tech talk.4- I am thankfulI'm someone who has struggled quite a bit with programming. But after devoting less than a year to focus on studies I am now working as an engineer with a salary that is 4x greater than I've ever earned before. So for that I am thankful.

There are a lot of things to consider about bootcamps, but one thing that can't be challenged about Codesmith is results. Less than six months ago I was working in SEO - yes, that's kind of web development but not as much as I'd like it to be when I'm on a job interview. As of last week I was hired into a mid-level engineering role. I have a BA in journalism with a concentration in Cinema Studies - yes, really -  and a year of studying JS and other languages to my name. I owe my current position to the course at Codesmith.There are cons to the program, as there are with anything that takes up 70+ hours of your week for 13 straight weeks. It's stressful and has a throw-you-in-the-deep-end mentality, but it works. Maybe that level of stress and commitment isn't' for you, that's something to consider, but it is also what leads to a most people landing mid-level positions. Some grads even get senior level roles, though those are rare without some kind of direct tech background prior to the course. Pros:The hiring program at the end is outstanding - they work with you until you finish negotiatingThe course teaches students how to figure things out on their ownThe community is incredibly supportive, both with work and emotionallyThey create a fun environment to unwind with Thursday night drinks, ping pong tournaments, and relay racesCons:The people teaching the courses are sometimes recent grades - they know their stuff but it would be helpful to have a larger staff of experienced engineers. To be clear, there are experienced engineers on staff, it's just not everyoneThe schedule is grueling. There is a good argument that this is what makes the course so effective, but there can be a mentality that working all night is the best way to show work ethic. For some, it reduces productivity and has other negative effects.Some of the courses need to be updated for bugs. Only one caused a problem for my group, and it has likely been resolved, but it put a big delay on work.The pros out weigh the cons, it's as simple as that. I think they are easy to overlook considering the outcomes and that no program will be perfect. If you want to work very hard to fast-track yourself into a role as an engineer, likely passing over entry-level, this is the course for you. I have recommend it to friends and family who are considering career changes. It has been an amazing experience. Would highly recommend checking out their free courses in NYC, LA, and online. I went to several before joining and experienced engineers go to them along with people just getting into it. Get a feel for it for yourself. 

Five years ago, I quit my job to go to a (different) web dev bootcamp. It got me my first developer job, but that experience doesn't compare to what I got out of Codesmith. Several years and two jobs later I found myself unable to find my next opportunity. I was over-qualified for Jr roles and under-qualified for Sr ones because even after my on the job experience, my actual  core programming knowledge base was sorely lacking.Codesmith changed that and I couldn't be more grateful. After three VERY difficult months I found myself in a VERY different place - I was more confident, had recent cutting edge projects under my belt, and finally felt deserving of a Senior title. Newly empowered I ventured back into the job market that just months earlier had been rejecting me repeatedly. Codesmith kept supporting me with constant advice, and encouragement and now I have the job I've always wanted. To top it off, my salary is 81% higher than it was at my last job. I can't recommend this program highly enough.

Hey, so most of the other 300 reviews here are going to give you a great overview and tell you what it's all about. I want this review to help tell you that it's all true. I'm just a more skeptical person by nature so even taking this plunge into software engineering boot camps was a crazy idea but I felt that it was the right path for my life. 
 

I originally got into Hack Reactor SF but in final review I wanted to look over my options one last time. I came across Codesmith and I'll admit, the first thing I noticed were how amazing the outcomes were compares to everyone else. But, getting me to move across the country required a little more. I watched the free online JavaScript the Hard Parts taught by Phil and Will - who are not just figureheads and truly a major part of your codesmith experience - and I felt the passion and the energy that no other place had. I realize that may sound a little ridiculous but join one of the weekly classes and give it a shot. There is no better way to no if codesmith is right for you. 
 

Lastly, yes the curriculum is solid and if you put in the effort you will come out with everything you need and the culture really is that amazing - you'll make great friends along the way. So yeah, all those reviews under me are telling the truth.

I was lucky to get an offer so fast after graduation but the stats don't lie and it does work. 
 

I come from a non-technical background and once thought that I was just not technical and that was that. However, in coming to the Hard Parts, learning from passionate instructors, and being surrounded by a community made up of people who come from very different backgrounds, I had the courage to quit my job and dive into this full-time. I wrote my first line of code in April 2019, graduated in October 2019 and now am a Full Stack Engineer.

Codesmith changed my life. Many like to say that bootcamps are "get-rich scams", but this was never the vibe. This was an immersive experience. The instructors care about the community they've fostered, the students, and engineering as a lifestyle. The 13 weeks was one of the most challenging, yet rewarding times of my life. I never imagined of going back to school as I always thought I was just "not smart" and coudln't learn, but the community shows you by example that you simply need to dedicate the time and energy and trust the process - you really get what you put in. Codesmith teaches you how to learn - not just spoon-feeding concepts and walk-through tutorials to make you feel like you did something at the end of the day. Most days you walk away from lectures without understanding anything, but the community emphasizes pair-programming and hard learning. Every unit is set in that way purposefully and encourages struggling through problems - the same way you would/should on the job. At Codesmith, you learn to be an empathetic and thoughtful engineer and the community gives you the space to be the best that you can be. I'm grateful to have stumbled into the Hard Parts, met the passionate instructors, and struggled through 13 weeks with my cohortmates. Truly life changing.