Online C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp (full-time)

The Tech Academy is the best place to start your career if you are planning to change your field or if you are already in software development field and would like to enhance your skills, they have a complete curriculum and it is self paced which helps tremendously, you can take as much time you need with a topic. The instructors are very helpful and always reachable, I have seen some boot camps where they have one instructor and 50 students and it can take hours to get an answer but with this boot camp that is not the case. You will not regret your decision if you choose to start with this boot camp.

If I could just summarize my experience with one word it will be WOW! Training at The Tech Academy was a good experience, as a remote student at the time, I was exposed to a lot of things from nearly a dictionary worth of definitions to the amazing internship experience. Communication is definitely one of their strongest suites and it will be yours. One of the core reasons why I decided to go with the Bootcamp is because of the array of languages you will learn that makes it easier for you to learn others outside what you will learn and it looks good on your toolbelt. Andd...... the job assistance which is another intriguing component. Most boot camps that I looked into didn't have that for remote students which is thorough and meaningful, meaning they give you the tools to effectively find the entryway into that amazing career.

The Tech Academy is very good at giving you a general overview of the information you sign up for. Like they say throughout the course they can't teach you everything but you do learn a lot in a short period of time which of course you will forget some of. Basically know what level of education you want before you sign up and do some research. Besides that, the staff are very helpful and listen to most problems you have. Some parts required me to look for outside help to finish but, that's something most people in tech careers will go though. Basically, know what you're signing up for and putting a lot of time and effort into it and you get what you want in the end.

Forget everything you've ever known about resumes, cover letters, and interviews. The Tech Academy will show you - in precise detail - EXACTLY what you need to do to get a job in tech. Every step of the process is covered, and they will tell you how to manage your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile. You will learn how to interview in tech, just what to do, what to say, and how to act. Moreover, you will be personally assigned a member of their fantastic job placement team. This person will teach you, motivate you, and hold your hand throughout the entire search process until you land your first job. I cannot overstate the value of this.But don't think that's all there is to the Tech Academy. By the time you make it to the Job Placement Course, you will be equipped with all the necessary tools to perform your job as a junior developer. The entire program is geared toward just that end. It will supply you with a full battery of computer languages, front end to back , along with the necessary skills of version control and program management, without which your language skills are useless in a real programming job. But most importantly, the Tech Academy will teach you how to think like a programmer. 

Going into this bootcamp I was a bit skeptical as to how anyone with no experience writing code could become a full stack software developer in 15 weeks. However, I decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did. The bootcamp is designed with the idea in mind that anyone with no computer experience could come in and easily learn the material. With that being said, the bootcamp is still rigorous and challenges you to think like a programmer so you can function independently in the industry. The curriculum is second to none. Every section is carefully thought out with an increasing level of difficulty. You start out the camp learning the basics of IT and you gradually move on to more difficult topics. I liked that because it gives you a chance to “get your feet wet” instead of overwhelming you with difficult material early on. I also like how they set the curriculum up in a way that in each new section you always build upon what you learned in the last section so it’s never a good idea to skip around. I also liked that at the end of some sections there was an encouragement video that congratulated you for finishing the section and motivated you to continue on. Some sections are kinda hard and those words of encouragement gets you through. The instructors are awesome. They respond super fast and most importantly, they make you feel like no question is a dumb question. I’ll admit I asked Jordan and Ben so many questions and they were never irritated and they were always there. There was a time where I got stuck on a section for a period of time and was unsure of myself and capabilities and they were there to encourage me to keep going. I didn’t get a chance to thank them and I hope they see this review. The Job Assistance department is also great. Angelo is a very good mentor who will consistently push you to bring out the best in you. He gave me a lot of good advice on how to set my resume up. I posted my resume up on a couple job boards and got a handful of calls before I even started filling out job applications which was really exciting. He’s really great at finding job leads and he always checks in on you to see how things are going. In conclusion, my overall experience was great. However, I wanna say that you get what you put into this bootcamp. My BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE for anyone considering The Tech Academy is that if you cannot commit at least 40hrs a week to your studies, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you pick the PART TIME camp. The full time camp was created with the expectation that you will dedicate 8hrs a day. It is very easy to fall behind. Also, if you have any questions don’t be afraid to reach out to an instructor. They are around to help.

A comprehensive, self-paced course covering a wide scope of topics: technology/programming basics, version control, HTML/CSS, SQL, and C# (including some of the more widely used .NET design paradigms). Even as a remote student living in a different time zone, I found communications from instructors consistently excellent and helpful.The last part of the boot camp was particularly useful: the Live Project (a team project on a full-scale web application), led by excellent instructors, gave me a chance to integrate all of the knowledge I'd acquired over the past few months, and provided me with some vital real-world experience prior to the start of my job search. 

With all the coding bootcamps to consider, there is only one that you should consider, and that is the Tech Academy.  If you are reading this review, then you are already considering changing your career, or getting into software development for your own personal reasons.  Maybe you are tired of your career, maybe you want to have a trade of skill which allows you create things of value, or maybe you just want to learn software development and computer programming.  In this review, I want to provide you insight into why I chose the Tech Academy, and just how much of a positive effect going through the C#/.NET coding boot camp at the Tech Academy had on my life.  I must forewarn you, this review of the Tech Academy is detailed, extensive, and probably a little verbose…okay, maybe a lot.

But implore you, to read this entire review, because if you have any doubts about going through coding school, or if you need or want assurance on why the Tech Academy is the best choice for enrolling in coding boot camp amongst a swarm of choices in today’s world, then you really must read this review in its entirety.  Let me be frank, everything that I have written in this review is truthful, candid, and to the point.  I am an actual Tech Academy graduate who landed a full-stack web developer job after completing the boot camp.  I really do feel that the Tech Academy is the best coding school that you can choose to either start or reboot your career and become a software developer.  So, read on, and you will see why I am so content with my choice of the Tech Academy.  Have patience, and perseverance, trust me, it is worth reading this entire review!

Why I chose the Tech Academy:

I chose the Tech Academy for many reasons.  The first reason is because a very good friend of mine had gone through the C#/.NET bootcamp that I was considering.  My friend told me about his experience, and how the coding bootcamp at the Tech Academy changed his life and allowed him to start a new career as a Full-Stack Web Developer.  Second, when I was speaking to Rick Ramsey, one of the instructors and Admissions directors of the Tech Academy, I never felt like I was just a customer.  Rick took the time to answer my questions and concerns and provide me insight into the rigors that I must be prepared for when taking on such an endeavor that coding bootcamp is.  To be frank, I did research and consider other coding boot camps before I finally decided on the Tech Academy, and from my research, these are the reasons why the Tech Academy is the best choice if you are considering coding bootcamp:

A licensed private career school:

The Tech Academy is a licensed private career school through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission of the State of Oregon. This means that the Tech Academy is licensed by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission of Oregon to provide students with specialized training and certificates for students with specific career focuses such as computer technology. Knowing that the Tech Academy is a licensed professional technical career school gave me much more confidence in commuting my tuition, time, and hard work towards earning a certificate in software development with the Tech Academy.

The Cost:

There is no way around this fact, but cost is an important factor when deciding almost anything in life, and it applies to coding bootcamp as well. From the coding bootcamps that I was considering, the Tech Academy is the most affordable option for the quality of instruction and price. Most of all, the Tech Academy is very clear and transparent of exactly why you are paying the rate that you are paying for.It is completely broken down from an estimated amount of time that it would take you to complete the coding bootcamp either full-time or part-time.You are charged a specific rate for a specific amount of time. If you run over that block of time, you have the option of extending, and just need to pay a predetermined amount per week.

The Passion of the Co - Founder, and the Tech Academy’s Instructors:

Erik Gross is one of the co-founders of the Tech Academy.He is an excellent instructor and is clearly passionate about coding and teaching and inspiring new software developers into the field.While in the course, I watched many videos taught my Erik Gross, and he clearly explains very high-level concepts in a very clear, approachable, and understandable way.If I had any teacher like Erik Gross in my high school and college careers, I would have been a much better student! However, the other instructors of the Tech Academy are also very committed to making sure that you succeed, and that you can understand, apply, and master the concepts in the coding bootcamp.The instructors will never just give you answers, but they will guide you, and help you go in the right direction. Best of all, whether you are in-person, or studying online, the instructors are never that far away. I did the majority of the C#/.NET boot camp in Saudi Arabia while teaching overseas. Even though I dealt with a huge time difference, I was able to email, call, and video-chat with the instructors of the Tech Academy.I never felt like I was 100% on my own, but also, I was never spoon-fed information or just given the answers.The instructors of the Tech Academy scaffolded my learning to enable me to become an independent software developer.

The Live Project:

A good friend of mine put it very simply when I was considering different coding boot camps before I finalized my decision of choosing the Tech Academy.He said it very simply and elegantly:

“Well, if I were you, I would go with the one that gives me the opportunity to gain actual practical experience while in the program. Practical experience speaks volumes”

And the Tech Academy is a coding school that does just that.At the end of the coding bootcamp, you will have the opportunity of doing a live project.This live project is an opportunity of a lifetime.You are working on a live project for a real client.Most of all, this is when you must apply what you have learned in the boot camp and solve real problems.This is what will make you into a software developer.

What I learned at the Tech Academy:

I enrolled in the C#/.NET boot camp. The primary focus of this boot camp is to be able to be a full-stack web developer building web applications in the C#/.NET MVC Framework.  However, this is not only thing that you will learn in this coding boot camp.  While in the boot camp, I learned how to think like a software developer, and how to break problems down to solve them.  The coding bootcamp gave me strong fundamentals of being software developer.  From the boot camp, I learned how programming languages are structured.  This aided me in learning HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, SQL, and finally C#.  Further, I learned how applications are built.  This helped me understand the overall picture when developing programs as a software developer.  Finally, I learned about project management and working on an Agile/Scrum methodology.  But most of all, I learned that being able to communicate technical concepts and ideas in a clear and digestible manner.  When you are working as a software developer, you may be speaking to clients who don’t have the same technical vocabulary or understanding that you do.  So, it is important to be able to express these concepts in a clear and understandable manner. 

How the Tech Academy prepared me for a new career in software development:

Let me be frank about this point.  The Tech Academy is the best decision that I have made in both my professional and academic career.  The Tech Academy prepared me for the challenges ahead when starting a new career in the software development field.  Everything you learn at the Tech Academy is related to the software development field, and you will most probably use all of it on your first job!  Whether it is front-end development, back-end development, or database development and maintenance, the Tech Academy curriculum will prepare you for the new challenges waiting for you in your future job.  But most of all, the Tech Academy prepares you to be independent and shows you how to address software development hurdles.  Without a doubt, the Tech Academy prepared me for a new career in software development.  Finally, academically, completing the Tech Academy is an impressive feat, and not for the faint-hearted.  I am considering graduate school, and when I speak about my experience at the Tech Academy to admission recruiters, they are quite impressed with the fact that I went through a coding bootcamp with such a coding school like the Tech Academy.

What I would do differently with the Tech Academy if I had the chance:

While I am very content with my decision to do coding bootcamp with the Tech Academy, there are a few things that I would have done differently if I had the chance.  Here are some of things that I would have done differently if I could.

Do the Software Developer Boot Camp:

While I learned a lot through the C#/.NET bootcamp, if I could go back, I would have done the most comprehensive course at the Tech Academy, the Software Developer Boot Camp.  The reason being, the Software Developer Boot Camp covers all aspects in software development that are in demand right now, and you do two live projects. It was not until I finished the Tech Academy and started applying for jobs, did I realize just how important those live projects are.  The live project is your chance to apply what you have learned from the Tech Academy on a live project for a real client.  You will be working on real software development user stories, resolving real bugs, and solving real client needs.  On a job interview, the more examples of what you did regarding software development that was not learned in school or at boot camp, the better. Most of all, especially in today’s software developer market, it is important to diversify your programming languages.  In the Software Developer Boot Camp, you will learn both C# and Python.  Having coding examples, two live projects, and exposure to two different programming languages makes you a more diverse and well-rounded software developer and allows you to apply for more jobs.

Do a live project in Portland, or attend a Tech Talk in Portland:

One of the great things about the Tech Academy, is that the Tech Academy has actual brick and mortar buildings in which the programs run out of!You know that it is not a fly-by-night establishment when the Tech Academy has a campus in Portland, Denver, and Utah. If I could have had the chance, I would have loved to do a live project in Portland, one of the fastest growing tech hubs in the U.S. Another aspect about the Tech Academy is the fact that the Tech Academy really fosters community. Once you are enrolled in the Tech Academy, you will be notified about events and Tech Talks that take place in the Portland campus. I am sure that these are great ways to not only learn something new in the technical field, but also meet up with individuals with the same like-mindedness.

3.)  Started Sooner:

The biggest thing that I would change if I could, I would have started the Tech Academy sooner than I did.  Before the Tech Academy, I struggled to learn coding on my own.  I even tried enrolling in community college classes online to learn computer programming.  While both ways provided me with knowledge of programming, there was a lack in guidance and support.  I never got the same level of support and guidance, nor sheer plethora of materials and substance as I did at the Tech Academy from any of my previous learning experiences with software development and coding.  From day one, it was clear to me that the Tech Academy was determined to make me a self-sufficient software developer ready for the first entry-level developer position.  And the Tech Academy succeeded in that mission.  If I had known of the quality training and experience that I would gain from the Tech Academy, I would have done it much, much sooner.  It is worth the financial investment, time commitment, and personal sacrifice that you will make to become a graduate of the Tech Academy.  Completing a Tech Academy boot camp is no simplistic task.  But you will emerge from it changed, and you will know that you have accomplished something that proves your ability to be software developer and prepare for a fruitful career or open new opportunities that were not there before.

Conclusion:

So, there you have it.  While this review of my experience of the Tech Academy is long, and probably a little verbose…okay a lot.  I hope that you can see, that I write this review as genuine and sincere as possible. I am actual Tech Academy graduate, who has gone through what you are considering before, and I have completed boot camp, and have lived to find a job, and start a new career in software development. The Tech Academy really did change my life, and I am still in contact with instructors from the Tech Academy, because they showed me that I am capable of much more than I have ever realized through my experiences in the Tech Academy.  If you are really considering  making a change, and you want to do software development, then I sincerely hope that you will see why the Tech Academy is the best choice for enrolling in coding school amongst the sea of coding boot camps out there.  I would not be working as a full-stack web developer today if I did not go through coding boot camp through the Tech Academy.  Further, I would not even be able to dream about pursuing a graduate degree in programming without having enrolled the Tech Academy. The Tech Academy did much more than just prepare me for an entry-level software developer job.  It made me realize, that yes, I can be a software developer, and I can develop web pages, games, databases, and even web applications! My experience at the Tech Academy made this all possible, and for that, I can never thank the Tech Academy enough.  If you are considering coding boot camp, and you are tired of your current career like I was, and you are tired of not being in charge of your own destiny, then you really must consider the Tech Academy, and enroll in one of their coding boot camps.  You will not regret your decision.  The Tech Academy will make a positive impact on your life that you can only begin to imagine.

Even with a large background on mainframe development, the Boot Camp provide me with a better understanding for lot of concepts needed to navigate on modern technologies. The curriculum is extended, easy to follow and instructors are always available when needed as well as everyone from The Tech Academy. You could think that 15 weeks is not enough, but the foundations you acquire will be the starting point for a career in development, you could be studding for years but knowledge must be apply to the daily work and grow up with the experience.

The online web works perfect to follow the training, the software used do not add any cost and it will be the software used on most of the companies. I would like to repeat the experience on the future.