devCodeCamp

I began devCodeCamp in March 2020 originally planning on an in-person experience. Given the climate of the pandemic, operations were switched to remote learning for the duration of the 3-month program. While this was initially disappointing, I felt the instructors and staff of devCode did a great job of quickly adapting and creating an awesome experience. They continued to be heavily involved and I always felt they were truly invested in my learning and growth while in the program. As it turns out, my first job will also be remote so looking back, it wound up being great preparation for me.

Their project-based approach to learning is the best way to acquire new skills such as these and cover as much content as they do in such a short time. Having started with 0 coding background, by the end of the program, I was amazed at the level of projects I was working on and how self-sufficient I was becoming. I will say this was definitely a uniquely challenging experience and while I gained a great deal from it, you absolutely get out what you put in so get ready to WORK.  

Lastly, I would like to speak on the career assistance as that was a major reason for my choosing this program. As you may guess, graduating in June 2020 in the midst of a major recession with many companies on hiring freezes, etc was not the green pasture of employment I anticipated. I want to tip my cap to Paul and Erik who continued to be involved beyond my graduation and in fact, helped facilitate opportunities for interviews which led to landing my first job (~2.5 months after graduating). I can't say enough how grateful I am for their help and am so excited to embark on this new career! Read less

Before starting at devCodeCamp I did year and a half of college and I hated every second. I felt like colleges only wanted to take my money and once they got it they would dump me off with this piece of paper with no Idea how to start my career. devCodeCamp gave me the individual learning experience I needed. The instructors actually care about your success and take as much time as you need to understand something. You can tell the entire staff is behind you. Now that I've graduated they've helped me prepare for interviews by showing me what to expect and by conducting mock interviews. This is the best there is folks.  
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When I first made the decision to attend devcodecamp, I left doubting myself if I have made the right choice. Now, I am certain it was the best decision I have ever made for my future. I have no prior college degree and was working at PF Chang’s ( a Chinese restaurant) for 13 yrs. I also had never had any interest or thought of working with computers. But I’m glad that I’ve made the plunge to enroll at devcodecamp. 

Devcodecamp was not a walk in the park. It was stressful, overwhelming, and had long hours. There were times I didn’t think I could finish but that’s where I found support in my instructors, friends, family, and upper classmates.

Upon graduating, I’ve acquired the skills necessary to find a job as a developer. The most important skill that devcodecamp taught me was not just the programming languages but to be able to learn quickly and adapt. Although I have completed the course, I haven’t been able to find a job right away (mostly due to COVID) but Paul still kept in touch and reached out to see how I’m doing or show me some new job opportunities. After months of searching, I was given an opportunity for an interview to a company that was looking for candidates through devcodecamp and because of that, I have landed my first job as a web developer. Without the support and assistance from devcodecamp, I’m not sure how successful I would have been. So that’s my story and hopefully that helps you out.

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 First and foremost, devCodeCamp offers an incredible opportunity to change the course of your life in a few short months. It sounds a little unbelievable at first, but the process actually works. I will admit that it was tougher than I expected, but that's what it feels like when you learn to code in 12 weeks! The curriculum is carefully crafted to continually build your skill set, and the instructors really care about your success. The time flies by, and you will not believe what you are able to accomplish by the end of your final project. There are two things about devCodeCamp that really stood out to me. 

Number one, they make it very easy to start as soon as you can. Once you reach out for more information, the director Paul instantly starts working for you. He set up my interview for the very next day. Two days later he scheduled another with Mike the lead instructor and some current students. I was sold, and I started classes two weeks later. Now that I see how super busy Mike is, I am humbled on how much time he gave me as a prospective student. 

And lastly, the instructors are real life talented programmers. They could be working any where they wanted, but they choose to be at devCodeCamp because it is important to them to make YOU a better programmer. I once had a project due on Monday, and I hit a snag around 4pm on Friday. Knowing that my deadline would be in jeopardy without clearing this hurdle, my Senior Dev David helped me troubleshoot until I got it fixed at 7pm that night. It was brutal, but we worked it out. That is commitment, and they will put in as much effort as you do. Read less

I came into to devCode with virtually no coding experience, had a great time, did better than I thought I could in the class, and got a job within a month of graduating. It may turn out to be the best investment I have made in my life.

 

In short …and I know everyone says this… you WILL get out of it what you put in to it. 

 

The claims of devCodeCamp really seem too good to be true. It’s hard not to be skeptical of something that promises so much reward from just 12 weeks. With the negative reviews floating around from the past, I remember being very cautious when I signed up and wrote that check and thinking how big of a mistake it would be to hand over that much money and come out with no return on investment… but I took a huge leap of faith and made an investment in myself.

 

My advice to anyone signing up is not to wait to start coding until the class starts, devCode has some online pre-class resources and there are loads of other free tutorials and whatnot to start with. ANYTHING you can do NOW will make the class more helpful for you, yes you can come in with little to no experience, but even the 2-3 weeks I spent messing around helped me massively in regards to retaining information and keeping up with the classes.

 

If you want to do well and you are not the most confident person, don’t make failure an option. Stay late, ask questions, show up early, make success your number one priority for the 3 months and don’t let yourself down. None of the traditional education additude really has a place here, everyone is at devCode because they WANT to be there and they WANT to learn.

 

You might not graduate as a genius, (there is an infinite amount more to know and only 12 weeks to prepare!) but you will have the skills to get a job in a new career in just 3 months. 

 

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My only exposure to coding prior to attending devCodeCamp was some college classes a decade prior (which did help, but I hadn't touched Visual Studio since then).

The course itself is project based, and a big part of it is learning how to learn to code. You get 12 weeks of intense class with instructors who want you to succeed in the real world. The instructors teach the lectures (which accounts for roughly 10 percent of course time overall), but more importantly, are there to support you when you get stuck on a problem.

In addition to coding, you'll learn and practice Agile development. I struggled with this at the beginning, but became comfortable in the stand up meetings before the end of the course. There are also two capstone projects (group and individual), which will add to your resume and brings us to the last part of this review: career services.

One you complete the course, you will have a decent idea of what you want to be doing (probably some form of software development). You will receive guidance on setting up your resume to get companies to notice you. In addition, there are many local connections which can land you a position with a great company.

All in all, devCodeCamp is a worthy investment, and an all in one solution for someone interested in software development.

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I was at devCodeCamp this summer 2019 from a Science Teacher background. For people who want to learn to code and switch careers, this is the place for them in Milwaukee. The instructors are very friendly and knowledgeable, they are always willing to help. The atmosphere is inviting, collaborative, and encourages to go above and beyond. You learn a lot with the variety of projects you're given including both solo and group projects. devCodeCamp teaches students real business processes including how to work using the Agile methodology. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to pursue a career in programming.

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I came into devCodeCamp looking to make a career change quickly and had zero background experience in coding. Its called a bootcamp for a reason, they teach you how to think like a full-stack developer and give you the tools to succeed (without the yelling and screaming). The learning environment is very hands on from day one until you're done. Instructors are available to help you outside of the standard hours as well. 

The key to success: have an open mind and the willingness to re-learn how to solve problems.

Job support is fantastic. Their network is growing month after month and will only continue to get bigger and better.

10/10 
Would recommend.

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I attended devCodeCamp in the Full Stack program. It seemed cool at first, and I felt like I was learning new things. Plus, it felt neat studying in a historic building overlooking downtown. Things kind of started unraveling the further I got into it, though.

When we would bounce things off of each other, trying to familiarize ourselves with (for many of us) these completely new concepts, we were told that we needed to work independently so that we could figure things out on our own. Then when we worked on our own, we were told that we weren't working together enough and that we needed to collaborate. It also ended up being pretty bro-centric and I had a hard time concentrating with the antics going on around me. I was reined back in when I literally walked down the hall to work in a co-working space with other grown adults who knew how to share space, because I was told that the instructors needed to keep an eye on me.

I didn't really get a sense of how everything fit together. We jumped from one thing to the next without a clear idea of how things related to each other. I ended up cutting my losses half way through and getting a partial refund while I still could.

I chose to do the bootcamp because I thought it would be a little more organic and free-range, but it ended up feeling more restrictive and less satisfying than when I attended the university. Some people clearly succeed at devCodeCamp, and you can read their reviews. If I had it to do over, I would take the money I'm still paying on my loan and put it towards books, online self-paced programs (so much more affordable!), and then attend meetups, hackathons, and other events where I could self-educate and network - especially with other under-represented demographics.

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If you're serious about joining a coding bootcamp, and willing to work hard, you can't go wrong with dCC.  The instructors are hands down the best teachers I've ever had, you'll be amazed at how much they can teach you in 3 months.  After graduation, Paul provided tons opportunities for me to show what I've accomplished to different companies, and I ended up getting a position with the first company I applied for!  I worked hard but also had fun and made many lifelong friends, I will always look back on my time spent at dCC with nothing but positive memories.

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devCodeCamp has a great team of instructors that are very passionate about coding. I still can’t believe how much I learned from this program in such a short period of time. Before devCodeCamp I took a couple of computer science courses at UW-Milwaukee. Everything I learned between those almost 40 weeks was eclipsed after our first lecture day. The curriculum at devCodeCamp focuses on how to actually create something useful without spending so much time on theory. Being a 12 week course, It is fast paced; If you have zero experience expect to be putting in over 50 hours a week.

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Incredibly happy to have taken this course. I got out of the marine corps in 2018 and felt lost. After talking with Paul and Wendy I was instantly sure this was the right path for me. Now that I am a graduate, I know for a fact that I am able to learn any language that I choose to because of the skills that devCodeCamp gave me! Read less

I will forever be grateful to devCodeCamp. What started out feeling like a leap of faith, turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Before devCodeCamp, I had a four-year degree in a totally unrelated area, and overtime I began feeling trapped in that field. I had absolutely zero coding experience, but knew I needed a change. After taking a tour of devCodeCamp and meeting with Paul and other very passionate and driven individuals, I knew this was where I needed and wanted to be.

devCodeCamp is the real deal—it’s intense, it’s fast-paced, and to be honest, it’s mentally and emotionally draining at times. But that’s because it works. Nothing of value comes easy. You have to want it and work for it, but you’re also not left to fend for yourself. The instructors are some of the most impressive, intelligent, and kind people I’ve ever worked with. They want you to succeed and are there to support you every step of the way, all the way through to employment.

Quite frankly I got way more out of devCodeCamp in 12-weeks than I did attending a four-year university. You jump right in and get hands-on immediately. I came in with zero, I mean zero, coding experience, but I’m leaving confident and excited to apply my skills in the field. The learning doesn’t stop after devCodeCamp, but that’s the beauty of it all—you develop the tools for lifelong problem-solving and creating. If you’re curious and looking for something more, I urge you to checkout devCodeCamp. It may be the first step in changing your life!

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Attending devCodeCamp was the best decision to help me reach my goals. As a graduate from a 4-year university looking to change careers, I was struggling to learn programming languages on my own. After hearing about devCodeCamp from my friends, I was initially skeptical due to my belief in the traditional school system. However, my first week in the program taught me that devCodeCamp is a legitimate organization that strives to bring their students success. The staff proved to be extremely knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile. 

The course can wear on you, as it is an intense 12-week program that constantly presents new information and challenges. However, the students and staff are incredibly supportive. Staff members are available 24/7 and are open to giving extra tutoring sessions if students are struggling on certain topics.

The job assistance is outstanding. The staff helps you build a resume, write cover letters, offer additional interview practices, and even sets up presentations/interviews with businesses. They're with you every step of the way. 

Ultimately, devCodeCamp gave me the tools I needed to land a job at my dream company. I highly recommend devCodeCamp for those that are willing to put everything they have towards entering the field of software development.

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Now if you're reading this I'm sure you have doubts in your mind about if a boot camp is really worth it and does it work. I'm here to tell you it that it's more than worth it. Coming into devCodeCamp I had no prior knowledge about how to code and I was worried that I wouldn't understand concepts. Day by day though I kept at it, strengthening my knowledge of how to code. Don't get it wrong though this class isn't a walk in the park, it's a boot camp, challenging but in a great way. If you continue to put forth the effort you will see the results in a tremendous way. The instructors at dCC are always right there along your side to help you understand and push you in the right direction. The environment is perfect for a learning atmosphere, you build relationships with your fellow classmates right from the beginning by working on group projects that put you in a job like situation. I 100% believe in the curriculum that they teach at devCodeCamp because it works, they told me right from the beginning that what I put in is what I will get out and they were totally right. 3 months later and I have a great understanding of C#, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while making a fully functional website, amazing! Just make sure you're working extra hard not only just in class but outside in free time too, it's only for 3 months and that 3 months goes by super fast. If you like problem solving while using some thought logic this is the perfect route for you.

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Instructors are friendly and helpful, willing to help you with any problems. It's a big commitment as they tell because they call it a bootcamp for a reason. Having some some basic programming experience beforehand helped make the first couple weeks easier but there is always extra things to learn and practice that they will give to you if you finish early. You spend most of your time working on projects and less sitting in lectures. After graduating I feel confident continuing to learn as the program teaches you to problem solve and you get used to picking things up quickly and doing something cool with it. If software development is what you want to do and you are willing to put in hard work then I highly recommend the program.

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I had no programming experience but wanted a career change, so I looked into software development.  I spoke to Paul at DevCodeCamp and it was a sombering conversation.  He stressed that this is a boot camp and you really have to work hard at it to succeed,  Looking back at the course now that I've finished it, Paul was absolutely right.  At 50 hrs/week for 12 weeks, you're putting in as much time as 2 yrs in college! The curriculum is fast paced, but the instructors are always there to encourage and help you. As an estimate, the course consists of about 20% lectures and 80% individual and group projects. It took me a while to get used to the non-traditional nature of the program. Given the limited amount of time to cover so many subjects, it might be the best way or only way.  You'll learn by doing and researching on your own, with the help from very knowledgeable instructors.  When I first applied to DevCodeCamp, the program director Paul T. told me that in this course, they're teaching me how to learn.  I didn't quite get that.  Now I do. I recommend this bootcamp for those who want to get into rapidly growing field with high job demand, but you really have to want it and work hard because it'll be one of the toughest 12 weeks of your life. 

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