Software Engineering Certificate (Full-Time)

This year I graduated from the Flatiron School Software Engineering Self Paced Online Course and it has completely changed my life. If you love programming and want to learn the skills necessary to get a career in programming I can't recommend it enough. My advice to anyone deciding to take the leap would be to immerse yourself in the content of the course, and go above and beyond to supplement the information in the course. If something feels hard, that's how you know you need to focus on it more. All in all I graduated and 4 months later I got a job offer at an amazing company for 2x my salary at my old job.

Upon graduating I had intended to write an extremely in depth review. However, its been 3 years since Ive graduated and I dont remember all of the nitty gritty details.I can say, however, that I was one of the first in my cohort to get a job offer. I do not have a college degree, I was not the "brightest" one in my cohort, and my starting salary was on the lower end ($55k), but soft skills start to play a much more important role when it comes job-search time.Ive since moved on to another job in the suburbs making $80k using TypeScript, C#, and .NET... Im learning C++ and hardware programming in my own time which is fun.My life is in every way better after attending flatiron.My advice: All of the "behind the scenes stuff you learn in the beginning" which seems like you dont really need to know. You will be doing yourself a massive favor by taking that material very seriously when it comes to real-world dev (Sinatra, SQL, etc...).Keep your projects small. Focus your project only what its intended for. If its a command line project, try to cram everything into the project that you've learned the past 3 or 4 weeks while keep the functionality/features small. Dont fool yourself. None of your projects are going to be used ever again after your first job. Dont try to think of an amazing idea for your projects. Simply use them to re-inforce what you've learned. (Except your last project, really go all-out with that one).Lastly- I really loved flatiron. but I would now considering another school that does NOT focus on Ruby/Rails for three reasons:1) Focusing that extra attention on Javascript is going to take you way further2) Node backend is simply becoming more popular than Ruby. Ruby did not take off as initially expected3) There's less abstraction with a Node API. Ruby has a ton of abstraction (which you DO learn about, i.e. Sinatra), but using the bare bones code and never using those abstractions will help you a lot more.

Get out while you still can.  This program offers 0 support for individuals that are struggling to grasp this material. They don't support their teaching staff or their students.  They would rather offer settlements to individuals that request support then provide other avenues of access. 0 support after end of day0 support on weekendsA severe lack of structure You will be spending a ridiculous amount of money to sit online and be directed to watch YouTube videos and third party walk-throughsMany of you that get help from non flatiron staff in this prework support channel may think it will be the same in your program. This is unfortunately not the truth.  You only get support during class hours from staff.  But there will be so many of you that getting assistance will be almost impossible.  Because their time is spent focusing on fixing computer environment issues.  I was originally started 051721 and projected to complete the course 082621. Unfortunately 50% of the individuals I started with will not be completing the course on in the 15 week timeframe. Due to the lack of support.  When I reached out to advocate  for myself and other that seemed to be struggling,  I was told that was acting like a child (needing someone  to hold my hand. )This program is but a mere fraction of its former selfThey offer 0 soft skills trainings (Excuse me.... they think that learn how to google things (albeit very vital) is a soft skill) They have 0 focus on Git and Github ( Version control) They spend 0 time on focusing on the most powerful software developers (the command line) In the unfortunate event you don't pass a phase the force you to wait 3 weeks (which turns a 15 week course in 21) with 0 ability to reach out to staff to gain understanding of materials you've clearly failed to grasp.Apparently they could care less whether or not you complete the course.  They may offer you a settlement but no one will ever hear about it because the make you sign a non disparagement and confidentiality agreement.  Absolving themselves of any responsibility to actually offer a quality education. I'm not posting this to because I had a piss poor experience.  I'm only but providing a short-term temporary warning to those who will put everything  they have into a program like this to only be discouraged should similar circumstances happen.  I can't say things won't get better I sincerely hope they do but at this current time this program is having severe quality issues making the adjustment to a pure online format. And they refuse to work with student that offer very valid an easily implementable suggestions to increase the rate of success for full-time students. The confidentiality agreements allow for this organization to outright present false information about the success rate of participants because I binds those who fail to secrecy of failure and magnitude. They have removed their money back guarantee and the ability to qualify on income share agreement terms (offered pre-pandemic) which was a balance in quality assurance.  They know the quality of education has suffered and in order to protect their bottom line have removed these terms because they cannot provide the quality  this once great program could offer. I hold out hope that in the future they can provide the quality but as with most organizations at this point they are holding on for dear life to survive this current recession and the quality of this program has greatly suffered. Not to mention the horrible mistake this company made by getting into bed with WeWork. Avoid this program until the can get they can get themselves together and once again provide quality education for the ridiculous cost. They make over $600,000 per cohort and the start every 3 weeks and they can find an adequate way to provide support to students. Sounds fishy to meMy Google review was flagged by this organization https://support.google.com/maps/thread/118215416/i-m-curious-as-to-why-my-review-of-a-software-development-program-was-hidden?hl=en&msgid=118215416

Don't think of this as an college education, this is a pure form of business. The first thing you should know is that there is "no money back", engrave that to your brain. Second you need to work your butt off after finishing the course, i mean u really need to do a lot of supplement study which in my opinion make the course itself useless.   I will admit that i only got my job because one of my good friend - i would had gotten this job with or without flatiron, my friend didn't even ask for my resume-  my friend had to hold my hand when I first started because i was nowhere near ready.  Think of it this way, flatiron for few months , few months of self studying and learning, then insane amount of learning and practicing on the job.  i would said flatiron contributed the least among the three and cost some chunk changes, i can afford it but for those who can't,  shouldn't put their money on this, there is far less expensive and better choices out there.  

First thing first, if you are self paced don't bother the material on udemy is better.  if you are doing immersive which is all online now, still not worth the price, you are basically paying someone to keep you on track.  You are basically there to do some networking and hoping you can get hire.   The instructors are nice and encouraging but tats about the full extend of it, better off just learn it urself and create a profolio, it is a joke

I completed this course throughout the pandemic, and I recommend it to anyone looking to pivot their career into tech.I came from a background in advertising and Pastry cheffing, thinking that coding was the correct investment in myself for the future. I believe I made the right choice, especially opting for Flatiron over some of the other institutions I both researched and visited...when I was able to pre-pandemic!The curriculum covers a huge amount of content, starting with Object-Oriented programming all the way through to making powerful Single Page Applications using React and Redux. The coaches, both technical and career, are beneficial and competent in their field of expertise. Along with the curriculum, you will learn a whole load of lessons; most importantly, Flatiron School creates an environment where you can be completely yourself. I can't stress enough how important that has been for both my professional and personal development.

I am truly satisfied with the final decision I made to change my entire life. I'm glad I got to meet all the people I did and truly satisfied with where I ended up.

Coming from a background of dentistry, I knew absolutely nothing about coding. The Flatiron School equipped me with the tools and skills I needed to succeed in this field. Not only were the instructors and staff incredible, but the atmosphere was so wholesome and amazing! I've made incredible friends along the way, and I am forever grateful that I chose to enroll in this bootcamp!

I dedicated about 10 years to the motorcycle industry as a Mechanic and Service Advisor. The last 3 years or so, I felt the passion that I once had slip away but I just stayed doing it because I have a family to provide for.  I felt stuck in an infinite loop of misery and dissatisfaction. I had been listening to the "Learn to Code With Me" podcast by Laurence Bradford while on my way to work for about a year before I finally decided to take action on the ads that I heard for Flatiron School. At 34 years old, I signed up to attend Flatiron in October of 2019, said goodbye to the motorcycle industry and did not give myself the option to turn back. My start date was December 9, 2019 so I had a month and a half to complete the pre-work that was due before the start of my first day. It was tough for me but I was able to get everything submitted the night before my first day of school. I would like to shout out my instructor, Antonio Reid, for inviting me (and everyone else in my cohort) to the campus a week before my start date to help me get unstuck with my bugs and show me some debugging techniques. MY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS: I spent a lot of time taking extensive notes in an effort to make everything sink in. This helped a little but it got me into some serious trouble toward my start date and during the bootcamp. You don't have to memorize everything, you just need to know where to find the answers online. This is still true for me as I continue to learn new technologies. I remember the first day of class very well. There were only three of us in the cohort probably because Christmas and New Year's Day were right around the corner. I figured that it would give me more time to study during the holiday breaks. The first Code Challenge was right before the breaks and I failed. I studied over the breaks, came back and passed the second code challenge. We started the project week and I felt so far behind the other two in my cohort (who had a background in programming) that I wasn't able to contribute. I was lost in their code and my instructor recommended that I join the next cohort (in three weeks) and complete another project on my own before then to cement my understanding. I created a Ruby Command Line Interface app on my own and it was a huge confidence booster. I needed this because I was starting to have doubts. Getting over this 'hump' was the hardest part of the bootcamp for me because of the doubts. Once I saw that I could do it, I gained a bit of momentum and made more projects that I am super proud of in Javascript and React JS. YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THIS TOO! If you just keep at it and don't give up, you will get there. Getting over the hump is the hardest part but you will get there. The school feels fast paced and I was overwhelmed at times but it's supposed to be that way. I learned new things and implemented those new skills immediately. I learned how to adapt to the situation and deliver projects on time. I didn't anticipate that Flatiron would feel like a 'bootcamp' but it is. A mental bootcamp.  My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner. I made lifelong friends at Flatiron and did things that I felt were impossible for someone like me to do. Was it hard? Yes, but in the words of Teddy Roosevelt:
"The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if they fail, at least fails while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Don't wait to Change Things.

Sometimes you have this dream you want to make it become true, but you willNeed good tools , the tools usually are good at the begining and start to go bad after a while but Flatiron isnt just a school, its a Family, they will go through everthing step by stepWith you. I didnt have any experience in coding , so it was really hard 4months for me but it felt doable with Flatrion, they will provide anything you want . Just a quick suggestion for future students if you want to start any school study a little bit about coding to come in class with a background because the teachers are perfect but it will slow you down to understand some concepts and you will be behind, speaking of teachers , my Teachers were the best . I know everyone will enjoy this school because all the labs that they will provide you to learn more stuff are so fun and the topics are very useful.Thanks Flatiron

Great experience here. Flatiron has great staff and great instructors who always motivate students and care about students' feelings. Especially, I highly appreciate Flatiron materials. Very clear and persistent. 

I had an amazing experience at Flatiron School! I attended the full-time, in-person (on Zoom because of covid) Software Engineering course at the Washington DC campus. The course focused on Ruby, Rails, JavaScript and React.All instructors and coaches were very helpful and always available to clear any doubts and answer all our questions. They are very knowledgeable and always made sure everyone understood the topics correctly.Finally, the career service was very helpful! At the end of the program, Flatiron paired each of us with a career coach to guide us through the interview process. Each week I would meet my career coach for a 30min session to ask questions and discuss interviews.

I originally signed up for the in-person immersive program before covid lockdown in New York City, March 2020. Once we went into lockdown, we were completely remote and everything was done via Zoom.It didn't quite change much except for the atmosphere (i.e., being at home and afraid to go outside).I had to take a leave of absence for personal reasons and the rules were very accommodating. My point of contact, while super busy, always made sure he was able to answer my questions and/or follow up with me.The instructors ability to adapt to the now remote intensive environment was amazing. Not only did they find creative ways to help us, they also found ways to become EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE to us, probably even more so than the normal non-covid-lockdown in-person program.Shout out to Tashawn Williams for being super creative and always finding better ways to make things click for us.The Career Services part of the program was helpful with its guidance and education. However, I think they could have provided more examples of "proven resumes."Another thing I found in my own job search was that I realized (personally), I needed to find a job with little regard to position or company since I'm a parent. For me, finding a job and starting my experience right away was more important than anything else.Networking, Blogging, and continuing my education on my own are all still extremely important -- but I actually did apply to many companies. I had two different types of resumes: 1 for job scanners for online applications and 1 for "humans" which I through together and designed according to some proven examples that were passed my way. I also had a 3rd one that a designer friend of mine created that was also amazing.In all, it was a great experience.

The course experience was great. They give you the tools needed to create and design websites in 15 weeks, which is really incredible. That said, because of the time constraint, major things aren't really addressed: JavaScript Classes, Data Structures, Algorithms - things needed to pass interviews and land jobs. Can't really be too upset, given what you have under your belt when finishing the course. But ,know you'll have to put in just as much work post cohort to land a gig.

As a graduate of the Software Engineering Immersive program at  Flatiron School, I have nothing but great things to say about the school, the program, and the Chicago Campus specifically. The program is a rigorous course designed for absolute beginners to launch a career in tech. I previously studied opera performance and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Master of Music in Voice. I had completed no previous engineering or computer science coursework prior to my studies at Flatiron. They truly are there to support you every step of the way for this career change.First of all, they have a free bootcamp prep course which is designed to give you fundamental skills in Ruby, JavaScript, and programming logic in general. They have technical coaches available to answer any questions you may have during this free course. If you decide that you enjoy programming and want to apply, you will have a few different interviews before you are admitted into the program. There are numerous options for financing your education. Once you are admitted and have all of the logistics taken care of, you will be assigned pre-work prior to the course. You will have opportunities to meet your instructors, coaches, and fellow cohort mates in the pre-work office hours sessions leading up to the first day of the bootcamp.While a student in the bootcamp, you will have 5 different learning phases. After each phase, you will have a coding assessment, a blog, and a group or solo project. Throughout the entire duration of the program, you will have instructors and coaches available to answer any questions you may have, and to help guide and mentor you through the challenges of the day.You will have many opportunities for pair programming with fellow students. You will have the opportunity to attend numerous community events, where you can hear from recent graduates about their experiences with finding a job in the industry. You will have the opportunity to learn from students in other cohorts, and community events geared towards building connections across campus. After every phase, you will complete a survey where you can give your honest feedback about how to improve the curriculum and overall experience. The campus team truly goes through all the feedback and actively seeks to improve the experience for all students. It is a very inclusive and safe environment, and Flatiron takes pride in their company values.As a graduate, you are placed in the hands of the career services team, where you will have a dedicated career coach to help you reach your job search goals and get you your first software engineering job. You will also have a separate section of the curriculum dedicated to polishing your resume, job search etiquette, and technical and behavioral interview questions. I can confidently say that Flatiron School is well worth every penny, and I would recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone hoping to make a transition into a career in tech.

I was a restaurant manager with little to no coding experience before finding the Flatiron resources online.Instructors, coaches, and campus staff are there to help you, but if you don't reach out to them don't expect them to come to you. There is a lot of work and most times it can be very stressful. The school gives you lots of rope to handle the work yourself, but if you can't manage your time effectively you might struggle.The career services department was helpful only after about 4 months of job searching furiously. I was a little disappointed to see there wasn't more support outside of the general job searching advice.Overall, I landed a job just inside of 6 months after graduating which was the goal, so I would call my experience a success. However, I know a lot of people from my cohort that are still searching with no end in sight.

Flatiron School gave me the chance to learn in an environment that was very flexible to my learning style. Since the first day, I knew that I was in the right place, both my lead instructor and coach were so helpful, but didn't just throw the answer at me. They provided me with resources to find answers for myself and let me grow for myself. Now looking back on 2020, attending Flatiron is one of the few things I wouldn't change if I had the change.

I had the honor of having amazing instructors throughout my time at Flatiron. They were interactive and made sure we understood the material before moving forward. My instructors and coach went above and beyond to provide us with resources to help us better understand the material and learn beyond the curriculum. They were all approachable and were my biggest cheerleaders when I had self-doubt. They were always willing to help out when we had problems and never told us the answer but rather further cultivated our problem-solving skills and guided us toward potential answers.My only feedback would be with some of the labs in the curriculum. Some lessons we read were confusing so I think it would be good to update the online curriculum more consistently. They also recently added some Data Structures and Algorithms material for additional reading, but I think it would have helped more learning some of it during the bootcamp instead of learning stuff like Sinatra or doing group discussions for example.I'm also thankful for the Career Services team at Flatiron. A lot of the interviews I have gotten are thanks to their efforts. I think they do a good job of establishing relationships with companies. My career coach is also amazing. I have weekly meetings with her to see where I'm at in the job search process and how I can improve my process. Overall I am grateful for the experience and grateful for my instructors and the Career Services/Career Coach.

I cannot say enough great things about my Flatiron experience. The instructors and staff at Flatiron are top-notch and genuinely care about the success of their students. The curriculum consists of 5 mods (Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, React, and a Final Project). Each mod teaches very relevant skills in the Software Engineering industry. Moreover, in my job search, I found many opportunities where my new skills were often in the required or preferred skills section of job descriptions. Being a Flatiron student requires dedication and hard work, but I promise it’s absolutely worth it! Flatiron also has adapted to virtual learning exceptionally well and creates a strong community among cohorts. I developed strong connections to my cohort mates and have worked with many of them on projects post-graduation. Speaking of post-graduation, Flatiron offers individualized weekly career counseling that has been invaluable during my job search.  

I couldn't recommend Flatiron School enough! It's a big investment and it is far from easy, but you come out ready to take on the world of Software Engineering with knowledge, skills, projects,  a resume, and everything else that you could need.