Coding Dojo

So I waited to write this review until after I had been out looking for a job for awhile post graduation. I didn't feel comfortable really putting together my thoughts on the program until my knowledge was put in context of the broader professional world.

I graduated from the program in late November of 2019. I successfully completed all three of the stacks(C#, Python/Django, and MEAN). The coursework itself gets you up and running in each stack and as they do so you really start to understand the interconnection of the peices at a more fundamental level. The course itself will not make you a Software Engineer, it will however get you to a great place to jump into a Junior Web Developer position.

The "platform" as they call it is the meat of their program, mostly guided learning through the progressive steps of developing in each stack. The brevity of the platform topics is GENERALLY a plus but in some instances is quite frustrating as they can leave you somewhat in the dark as to the inner workings of some more abstract concepts. They also implement a style of teaching they refer to as "gap" learning. The platformw ill sometimes withold some critical information in an effort to develop the student in terms of being self sufficient. In most stakes this approach was great, but in others the gaps were a tad large. 

The onsite instructors are awesome, very knowledgable at what they are teaching and passionate about coding and web dev. Many of them are graduates of the Coding Dojo program. I had some reservations regarding this when I enrolled, but quickly came to realize that they know their shit and know how to get you thinking like a dev.

The career services in the post course period are "okay" i would not rate them as excellent though I do feel the contact I had was great. In general I got the impression they were just stretched beyond capacity. The best guidance they gave was in terms of my resumes structure/style, how I should approach my github, and what my linkedin should look like. 

In the end Coding Dojo is not without flaw but it 100% got me from 0 to employed in the industry in 6 months.

So much drama happened in my cohort, that the bootcamp changed my life in a negative way.  I now owe so much money that I am living in a shed with no electricity, barely able to pay my bills and do not wish to enter an office environment where I will be trapped in a building with mentors who show up late to work every day and that tell you, "They can't teach you everything (Obviously).  Don't blame others for your failures. (Which I didn't do.  I just started taking online courses during the bootcamp to answer the questions that they couldn't answer)". Ended up having the top 2 students doing all the teaching there. Also had demonstrations that were slapped together and failed from our backup instructor after the other 3 left during our bootcamp.  I only have internet while I visit family for the holidays to study again.  Then I go back to my shed and an old career.  Don't do this unless you already have lots of money and a contact to get you into the industry.  They were a nightmare for me even though I put in the most time in that dojo out of everyone in my cohort and was helping most of the cohort.  The only thing they did right was hire the top student from our cohort.  He actually liked teaching.

As the title would imply, this review is based on my boot camp experience. The bootcamp curriculum is intense and extensive. Your cohortmates are your team and if you try to deal with the struggle alone, you will fail or give yourself a head of grey with no sleep. It is also a crystal clear example of "you get out what you put in."  I had a great cohort and will look back on my bootcamp experience fondly. The work was hard but I worked harder and I succeeded. Plus there is free coffee and other snacks.

I am an IT professional who wanted to pivot my career a bit my getting a better foundation in programming.  After researching various schools, I felt that Coding Dojo would be the best match and I think I was right.  I had tried to learn some programming, such as Python, on my own and always struggled to get past the initial steps.  Being in a classroom environment really helped me and I feel confident with the foundation I now have.

All of my instructors were great and all willing to meet and discuss any area I was having a problem with.  I also know as an alumni I can swing by and pick their brains on any personal projects I have questions on.

I thought the curriculum was very good.  Yes, some of it was a little outdated, but this was often called out to us.  The parts that were outdated usually had to do with some installation instructions where the original source had been changed.  I know they try to keep up with this and if you mention it the instructors will help.  Also, if you find something out of date PLEASE report it.  There are ways right on the curriculum page to do that very easily.

As far as job assistance, this is an area that I think the student must take the lead on.  In my Dojo in LA the job assistance person is great and available.  However, I noticed a HUGE number of people did not schedule one-on-ones with her, which was a mistake on their part.  I have had multiple one-on-ones with her and I know her guidance has helped with improving my resume, cover letters and LinkedIn Profile.  No, getting a job is NOT automatic if you pass the course, there are multiple factors, and everyone's experience is going to be difference.  If you need guidance, CALL THEM.  They'll do what they can.  The rest HAS to be up to you.

The best part of the course was my classmates.  I am still close to them and they made it fun.  They also helped me a lot.  It is a TON of work and I might have dropped without them.

If you do this, put the hours in and grind.  It is easy to fall behind, but if you want it, put your head down and work.  And follow their 20 minute rule.  Struggle for 20 minutes on a problem, if you can't crack it, ask for help.  Do NOT fall behind over pride that you think you should figure out something yourself.  The course is too much information too fast, you have to keep it going.

I would definitely recommend this course.  It's expensive, it's hard, there is NO guarantee of a job when you're done.  But for me it was worth it and I am glad I have the skills and foundation in full stack that I now have.

Overall, I liked my experience with Coding Dojo. There are pros and cons to it, but a good place to start in the IT industry if you are a beginner.

Career Services: At the time of when I signed up, I was promised career services but we did not have a designated career service person to work with until one of my cohort mates was accepted for that position the week of graduation. I think going on Indeed and LinkedIn everyday and searching for jobs is more beneficial, but it depends on if you need help on your resume or job profiles. 

Coursework: The is tons of good information on the platform but I think some of it needs to be updated and in the beginning there are videos, but as you get into the full stacks there aren't so much which isn't helpful. Usually, there is 1 lecture a day, but sometimes you can have two depending on how fast you need to get through the material. Don't expect to complete every assignment because some of them can take a longggg time depending on your skill set. If you are a true beginner like me, you're more at a disadvantage because it is a lot of new information to take in, however I think this is a good place to start your IT career. It's fun completing a full stack project, but unfortunately due to the schedule and pace of the course you can't get in the nitty gritty of everything. Also, some of the assignments are individual and others you can do as a group which is always fun! I think there should definitely be more videos as a reference and an example of how to build something than just reading material. 

Instructors: All of my instructors were friendly and easy to get along with. They were very helpful if you were stuck on a project and willing to stay later to help students. However, with my cohort they were short-staffed and my instructor had to take on two cohorts and split his time between groups which was difficult if you were stuck. Also, the instructors have lots of meetings which could take a 2 hour chunk of their time away from helping students. But overall, they gave the attention and help I needed to make it through and they are all very knowledgeable of the material. They present it in an easy way and record the lectures to refer back to or to build along with them. 

i really did enjoy this bootcamp and learned more than i ever thought possible. If you put in the hours like they say and work long days and devote all your time to this you will be successful. I would highly recommend this bootcamp for someone with little to no experience who wants to break into the tech world. The entire time we had ta's available to us to help us with anything which was amazing to have and they really make a huge difference. They do not always have them so if you are going to sign up i would make sure that there are ta's otherwise maybe rethink it or wait until they do. the instructors are great but when theres 30-40 people and only 3 instructors who are not always going to be sitting waiting for you at their desk it can be a lot harder. so just make sure they have the ta's because they helped out so much and make things go a lot better. 

Also i would suggest that they update their platform on java. every other stack was great and i have zero complaints and really enjoyed it but their java stack they have needs a little work and i would talk to people currently in school and see what they say about it and if it has been updated before signing up or making any commitments to it because thats one thing that was a bit frustrating. besides that everything else was great and if those two things were fixed i would recomment this course to every person i know or met who is looking for a bootcamp to attend.

I decided to join Coding Dojo's onsite program at the Orange County location wanting to learn how to program. I feel that after going through the program, I was able to get solid foundation to learn more languages and frameworks after leaving Coding Dojo. At the Orange County location I learned three full-stacks: Python, C#/.Net, and MEAN. I feel that the onsite program was a better fit for my learning style. The Orange County locations instructors and teacher assistants are passionate at what they teach and go above and beyond the curriculum teaching us best practices at programming on the job. I feel that atmosphere is a great place for learning because everyone there has the same attitudes and goals and they are willing to help eachother out solving problems. I would recommend anyone to join the Coding Dojo especiially if they are willing to put the work and show up. Everyone can improve going through this program. 

Coding Dojo has been a great learning experience for me. I just graduate in Coding Dojo today and I am so glad that I meet a lot of people with same passion in learning. When I come here, I only have a little experience, but thanks to the instructors and cohost that I can complete the course and graduate. They teach so much in a short amount of time for three full stacks and make sure you really committed into learning and understanding the material. I really surprised how much I learned from this boot camps. This is better than any college in just 3 months, I learn how to seriously work on project, how to focus on the thing that we need to learn, learn to work with my cohost for group project.

Thank you Coding Dojo!
 

By far the most valuable thing that I got out of this bootcamp was removing my own personal doubts about my ability to transition into this field. 

[My background]

I had a little bit of coding experience before coming to Coding Dojo. I minored in CS in University and I took a few courses (both in person and online) over the years. Before the bootcamp I also tried applying to a few software related jobs but of course heard nothing back or was rejected. Due to my lack of CS major and lack of any real experience besides a few university/online classes, I've never had confidence in my ability to get into the software industry.

[Review]

Part1:

Coding Dojo REALLY changed everything. As I was going through the program, I gained more confidence and of course, more practical skills. At the time, I could not see my progress but looking back, it was remarkable how much stuff the program taught and how much stuff I managed to learn in such a short amount of time.

Part2: Time commitment

I truly dedicated all my time for 14 weeks to this bootcamp. Through the first 2 stacks of the program( 8 weeks), I was spending up to 16 hours per day at the bootcamp (from 7AM to 11PM),  from Monday to Friday. I also went to the bootcamp on Saturday for about 5 hours and studied at home on Sunday for another 5 hours. In total, I spent around 80-90 hours per week dedicated to learning programming. During my last stack(the last 4 weeks), I dialed back the hours I dedicated to learning programming and focused a little bit more on the job hunt process, which mainly consisted of practicing algorithms and working on my online presence and reviewing past stacks.

Part3: My approach/mentality while attending the bootcamp

Your success at this bootcamp and in your job hunt depends on how much work you put in. My mindset throughout the bootcamp was that I was going to no-life the 14 weeks and completely dedicate my life to this program. I told myself, if I don't get a job after this experience, it won't be because lack of effort on my part and that I  would not quit or give up half way like my previous attempts at landing a job in this industry.

Part4: The bootcamp environment

The environment at Coding Dojo was a tremendous help for keeping my mindset and not burning out. Almost everyone was focused on not only learning, but also helping each other. I loved every second of it. I highly recommend the on site program because there's so many resources you can take advantage of, especially the other students. The instructors were very knowledgeable as well and offered some great advice for my job search. After graduation, I went back every single day for about 10-12 hours per day until I landed my first job about 1 month after graduating. Talking with other alumni and being in such a focused environment allowed me to much more productive than trying to do the job hunt from home.

Part 5: Career Services

As for career services, overall they are very helpful. I got a job 1 month out of the bootcamp because career services connected me with my current employer. They also helped me polish my resume and LinkedIn. Without their help, I would not have a job right now. I'm very grateful for their help.

[Final thoughts]

I think you should not choose a bootcamp based on what technologies they teach because I think every reputable bootcamp will teach relevant technologies. What sets this bootcamp apart from others is they teach you how to learn. They give you the confidence that if you ever meet an unfamiliar technology, you know you can learn it in a short amount of time. 

Before enrolling in coding dojo, I was unemployed having just left a sales job. I’ve always wanted to learn how to create apps and websites because I believed I had a lot of ideas but had no way of turning them into something real. That’s when a friend of mine advised me to investigate coding bootcamps so I could learn coding in a concentrated curriculum so I could land a better job than what I was doing before, and I could also learn how to create apps. That’s when I came across coding dojo and having gone through the program I am able to say that I now know that I have the tools to create what I put my mind to and that if I have any trouble with anything, the instructors here are always up to helping you work out anything that you may be having trouble with your code. If you’re looking for something to change your career/life I’d highly recommend learning how to code and Coding Dojo is amongst the best at teaching you how to do that.

Earlier this year I was in need of a career change after spending the past 8 years working as a real estate agent. Although I had been applying to several jobs outside my industry, I was having a difficult time landing a job, and it became clear that my current skills were just not bringing in the types of opportunities, salaries, or job locations that I desired. I came to the realization that I needed to go back to school.

Following the advice of a career coach, I decided on attending a bootcamp versus going back for a masters degree. I always had an interest in web development, and learning how to code sounded like a great way to break into the tech industry and learn some marketable, in-demand skills that would help me build a solid foundation  for a new career. I began researching coding bootcamps on CourseReport, and decided on Coding Dojo due to the 3-full stack curriculum (at this location, Python, C#, and MEAN), phenomenal reviews, course schedule (14 weeks) and location (previously Tysons Corner, now Arlington, VA). I also learn best in an in-classroom, hands-on, immersive style program, so this course suits my learning style well.

Prior to starting this program, I had no experience in coding, but ended up earning 3 blackbelts (highest honors) in each stack's final exam. However, that's not to say it was easy - quite the opposite! What makes this program challenging overall is the pace of how quickly it moves. So much material is covered each day, with all of the lessons, assignments, and projects, and it is difficult to complete everything in time. When the program says the most successful students put in 70-90 hours per week, they aren't kidding! Many students spend late nights and weekends working on assignments and projects, and may need to sacrifice something in their schedule, but in the end, it's so worth it.

The program starts each day with algorithms, where students are tasked to solve complex coding challenges along with their cohort-mates, followed by a morning lecture covering programming concepts and code walk-throughs, and the rest of the day is spent working on assignments with sometimes an afternoon lecture. Each stack is 3 weeks long, followed by a final exam and project week where students get to dig deeper into languages, technologies, and topics they are passionate about. The program encourages creativity, and fosters an awesome community of peers who are all there to learn and grow. The connections you form at the school are invaluable and I can say many of my cohort-mates have become friends, and we plan to stay connected after graduation.

The whole instruction and leadership team at the Arlington Campus is fantastic! William Goode is a talented and versatile teacher who always takes time to help students, and truly has a desire to see everyone succeed. He is able to break down complex concepts on a variety of programming languages, and his love for teaching and dedication to his students really shows. Rob Dahal is also a wonderful, hands-on instructor who has passion to see his students succeed and makes sure no one is left behind. Nina Ramiscal was my instructor for the Python stack, and she had a great ability to explain algorithms and walk through coding assignments with ease. All of the instructors are passionate about programming, and it's evident in the way they teach the material, and care about students.

Overall, I cant speak highly enough about my experience at Coding Dojo! From the instructors and the rigorous course schedule, to the learning platform and the awesome community, this experience has been truly transformative! I highly recommend it if you're looking to change careers like I did, increase your skillset, or just starting out. If you enjoy hands-on learning, being challenged daily, and have a desire to grow professionally and personally through learning how to code, then you should definitely checkout Coding Dojo!

Coding Dojo has been a life changer for me. I joined the onsite program in May 2019 with little to no prior web development experience. I am leaving it now feeling more confident in my coding abilities than ever before. What you learn at coding dojo is more than just how to build a simple webpage from scratch. You learn how to grow as an individual and to work as a team with your peers. You learn to push your own boundaries and leave every day stronger than the day before.

One of the most valuable assets of the onsite program is having other students around you going through the same thing that hold you accountable. I tried to learn many of these concepts on my own before coming to Coding Dojo but struggled to get the necessary help when I got stuck and ultimately ended up frustrated or overwhelmed. Youtube tutorials and aimless google searches will only get you so far. Having someone else to bounce ideas off or to peer program with is monumental for understanding. I felt Coding Dojo was the perfect environment to get the help I needed when I needed it.

My cohort quickly became family as we spent countless hours together tackling challenge after challenge. As a bit of an introvert, this was a great opportunity for me to network and branch out and meet new people. Many of my cohort-mates are now some of my closest friends. I am so thankful to have been able to participate in this bootcamp and value every connection I made in the process. Use your classmates to your advantage and you'll be amazed at what you can all accomplish.

The daily algorithms are very useful too. Each morning starts off with a new algorithm to conquer; putting to the test concepts you may have just learned earlier that week. When it comes time to applying to jobs, there is a large probability you will see one of these algorithms again in an interview. I found the daily algorithms to be a fun and exciting way to keep us challenged while also prepping us for real world interviews. Not only do you get to put your knowledge to the test, you get an opportunity to see how others approached a problem and discover new ways to solve it efficiently. Very valuable exposure for the job search process.

As far as instructors go, I am happy to say I had some of the most remarkable instructors I could ask for. They came to work every day with a smile on their face and a clear drive to teach something they are passionate about. Even though they are scheduled to work from 9 to 5, you can often find them staying late to make sure we received the help we need. Their upbeat attitudes and wealth of knowledge makes coming in each day enjoyable. Unlike many of my college courses, these instructors are here because they are passionate about the subject matter and want to see their students succeed. At the OC Dojo I had the pleasure of learning from Neil M., Devon N., Chris B., and Prescott B. Each adding their own flavor to the material. Neil, the permanent instructor there, is sharp and charismatic. I don't think I have ever asked him a question he could not answer. Chris, Devon, and Prescott are also phenomenal instructors who are always ready to lend a helping hand without hesitation. Together, they make a solid team and the hard work they put in really shows. If you attend the OC Dojo, know you are in good hands.

This bootcamp is a serious challenge. When they say 80+ hours a week, please take that number seriously. If you come into this bootcamp expecting it to be a casual 9-5, you will have a tough time. You will get out of this camp what you put in. Realistically, three months for three stacks is a tall order to fill. Once you get the hang of the pacing, however, you might find the challenge as addicting like I did. Coding can be fun, and Coding Dojo will help you discover that. You will learn how to be self-sufficient and reach levels of understanding you may have never thought you would ever reach.

If you stick with it and persevere, you will leave this bootcamp a changed person. Not only will you have completed projects to show off in a Portfolio, you will have the skills needed to pursue any technology you desire. Quickly learning the ropes using the skills you learned at Coding Dojo. I would highly recommend this bootcamp to everyone. Regardless of your past experiences, if you put in the time, you will see results.