Skillcrush

I am currently in my second month of the Web Designer Blue print through Skillcrush and am thoroughly enjoying it.

I was hesitant for a long while to sign up due to some of the poor reviews but since they have a 30 day money back guarantee, I went ahead and finally took the chance. I am glad I did. I have already done some HTML/CSS and Javascript through Codecademy, so I am not entirely new to coding and this is my reasoning for breezing through so far. The Designer course goes through User Interface/User Experience,Typography, Photoshop, HTML/CSS, Starting a Site, and then a Capstone course of sorts where you have to create a web page for a client for $100 as your last course. I have not gotten to the capstone portion yet. For those that have already done some HTML/CSS, as I've said, you will breeze through most of this but I took this blueprint mostly for the capstone type class so I can gain confidence and advice on how to pitch myself to a client and get started with freelance so I hope that portion is worth it as the rest of it has been so far.

I see a lot of reviews about it not being enough to really do anything and that you can get the content online for free. Yes, this is true and nothing in this blueprint is new or earth shattering, but this is not the point . I think the point of the blueprint is for you to get your feet wet and learn the very basics in an online class setting. I needed structure and the daily lessons and postings on the class forum (mightybell) did that for me. When I was using Codecademy I felt it was not progressing toward anything and I felt I was just "playing" and not really learning since I was just recreating what I was told. Skillcrush does this as well, but at the end of the HTML/CSS portion you start to create your own website so you can really let your creative juices flow instead of just regurgitating instructions and matching the example site that is given. During the daily lessons you also can create little bits of code on your own, using the theory and coding you've learned and I think this cements what you've learned a lot more than just "follow these code instructions and make your code look like the example." Using your own examples makes you really think about what you're doing vs a "cut and paste" mentality.

I've also seen complaints on mightybell. In my opinion, mightybell is one of the best things about the courses because it allows you to talk with instructors and other classmates so you can post your work and get feedback. My class is very active on mightybell so I am thankful for that, however, Skillcrush isn't at fault if you happen to have classmates that are not very active on mightybell so I would not dock Skillcrush for that if that is what you have experienced.

I also had issues with not receiving emails at the beginning of class. I did receive responses from my instructor and the help staff promptly. Yes it was frustrating and it took a few days but they did get it all fixed for me and I had no further issues. I am happy with the response time of the stuff and instructor so far.

Another thing I've seen that I wanted to address is the issue of having to Google things in order to solve an issue or get a grasp on a concept. I have had to do this too since it's been a while since I've used Codecademy. I do not think that is a complaint about the class to have to use Google to solve issues because doing that is preparing you for the real working world as a freelance or junior web designer. There will not always been someone to ask or to help you so learning now how to search for answers and learn on your own is an extremely critical skill to have when working in tech. It is better to be in a course like Skillcrush and learn to find answers on your own as well as bounce ideas off colleagues (classmates) now rather than be in your first position in web design or have your fist client and be lost.

Over all, would I take another Skillcrush course? YES I would and I plan to do just that. I have enjoyed the whole experience of having a class type structure along with classmates to give feedback to and get feedback from and I have learned things that I did not know before. Skillcrush won't teach you everything you need to know and the creator, Adda, has said this. I haven't learned a ton that I did not know about HTML/CSS, but I've gained value from the UI/UX lessons that I haven't experienced before and having the master class videos with tips and how-tos on how to get started in web design have been valuable.

Will this Web Designer Blueprint get you a job? Ahhh, on its own, no I don't think so. I think you need to take your skills that you've gained and practice more and gain exp on creating web pages and sites from scratch. This blueprint is supposed to let you leave it with a portfolio but I'm not sure if it will be substantial enough to get hired somewhere. The pages you will be making after you've went though the HTML/CSS portion are going to be very basic so don't expect to make flashy sites right off the bat. I would just tell everyone thinking of it and reading reviews to know what you are getting. Do not expect to be able to create fancy websites with interactive portions and drop down menus because that is way to advanced. This class is truly for the beginner and if you really have not experience any type of HTML/CSS or coding before it may require some Googling to wrap your head around it at first and I think that is ok. Use this blueprint to guide you through the learning, not as a be all end all...it's a stepping stone. I am hoping I will be able to get at least some freelance work with what I've gained and learned from the last class that I will take. I'm hoping it will give me confidence to start small and to remember that no one knows everything and everyone has to start somewhere. :)

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This review is for skillcrush's Freelance Developer Blueprint. I am currently taking this blueprint and have about a month left in the course. Taking this course has been one of the best decisions I have made.    I have over 15 years of experience in Java, C, C++ programming. I wanted to learn web development and self hosted wordpress development. I was not only looking to learn but also be part of an active, supportive community. And that's exactly what skillcrush offers.      The blueprint is split into different modules and some of the modules were a refresher for me and I liked that I got to relearn and absorb the concepts even more thoroughly. It was when something broke while doing a project that I realized that even though I had learnt those concepts, there were things I had to relearn in order to fix the issues. I'm a big fan of breaking code now to see how to solve it.    My favorite module in this blueprint is the one I am completing which is 203 and is challenging with intermediate to advanced concepts. This course was worth its weight in gold for just that module. I have been supplementing my web development and wordpress learning with other free and paid resources and realized the combination of theory with practical knowledge would not have been achieved as fast if I had not taken this course. I wish they had  one more month of module similar to 203. I would pay extra for that.   What makes skillcrush unique for me is their office hours and how fast the instructors respond to questions on the mightybell forum. I like how organized the forums are for each lesson of the day. I learnt a lot during the office hours and also got to interact with students and the instructors. That's the part I don't like about online courses where the forums posts can get overwhelming or there is very little interaction. Having that group interaction during office hours made learning fun.   I could have asked for a refund or given up when I found the first month easy and I am so glad I did not. What I know now about wordpress compared to 2 months ago is exponential. I know I keep repeating module 203, but that module brought it all together for me.    You get what you put into anything in life and that includes learning. It took me a while to become active on the mightybell platform. And once I did, I realized that by asking questions or helping other students, I was learning a lot too.  I also loved the fact that each day, there is a separate post on the mightybell forum for the lesson and project of the day where students and instructors interact. So if I am behind or if I want to go back to that lesson weeks later, I don't have to search for specific keywords, I just go to the lesson page. Mightybell platform did take some getting used to and I am told they might be transitioning to another platform.    I also love the fact that each day's lesson is manageable and there is a video portion to the lesson in addition to the written portion. And there are downloadable cheatsheets for most of the concepts learnt. Being a visual learner, this is really helpful. I can't wait to take another course with them. I do wish they had more advanced course offerings. If I was just looking to learn a specific topic deeply, I could go elsewhere but the combination of learning and amazing instructors who respond so quickly to questions is what will keep me with skillcrush.    And finally, it is a women friendly environment. I am not sure if women learn differently but I never felt more at home taking an online course than with skillcrush.    Read less

I wanted to start my own business but didn't really know what I could do. I did a lot of research and coding and design kept coming up. I did more research and found a review about Skillcrush and decided to find out more. I opted for the Wordpress Blueprint but also did a couple of standalone classes. I really like the course materials and style of teaching and it's all really relevant. I really recommend Skillcrush.

 

 

 

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I realized I needed to make a wholesale career change, and found myself really attracted to web development. After quite a bit of research, I enrolled in this blueprint as a launching pad. It was easily the best decision I've made in the last 3 years. I learned real skills, coupled with real direction for my new career. I still have many more things I want to learn, and I'm already considering another blueprint. I wholeheartedly recommend Skillcrush.

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I recently completed the Skillcrush Freelance WordPess Developer Blueprint and I can't say enough good things about it! The content was superb and I really enjoyed the videos that were part of the course. They were entertaining and very educational and it helps that I can back it up to hear something again. The course progression was just right, the TA was incedible, and everyone involved in developing the course, being there for office hours, and making the videos were top notch. I left being able to create a WordPress site (which is more than I can say for a previous course in a different language I took elsewhere, I promise you).

Career content was included beginning on the very first week, which was impressive. There were so many resources via emails, the blog, and master class materials that I learned a great deal about related topics and am continue to learn. The lifetime access is top notch (I just went back and watched one video this week as I prepared to do something I haven’t used since then). I got more than my money out of it and highly recommend it. Well done, Skillcrush, well done!

I suppose you want some feedback though - ok - if I think very hard, I would say to include the video and info that Ann posted for PC users in the January course. Both were very helpful at that time for PC Users. And personally I would have loved to learn the responsive portion a little earlier so I could have incorporated it initially instead of re-doing now. But I'm frankly just happy it was included on a very helpful video. Neither issue changed how great I feel the course was - just suggestions. And as I get a little more money going in the household with my new skills, I will be back for the Ruby course!

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I originally signed up for the Web Design Blueprint to maintain design skills I learned from another school, and I absolutely loved my experience with SkillCrush! I loved it so much that I decided to enroll in their Freelance Wordpress Blueprint as well. What I loved most was how design and coding concepts were broken down to easily understood material. I have taken courses from other online schools, and so far, I feel SkillCrush has done the best in making learning easy, fun, and interactive. Best of all, very affordable! They provide an excellent combination of reading materials, videos, visual examples, exercises, coupled with helpful weekly office hours where you can interact live with an instructor and other students for an hour to go over any questions you may have or get feedback on your work.

When you finish your program, they also provide webinars and career resources on how to network, how to put together a portfolio, how to put together a resume, how to update your linkedin profile, how to look for work, and even how to land your first freelance client. Recently they had a career summit where they had speakers from different organizations talk about additional resources in finding work and how to better market yourself if you are a freelancer. 

The schedule is also flexible and you can complete work at your own pace and your own time. That being said, If you are not a self-accountable person, this may not be the right program for you. Everything is done online. It is not a classroom where attendance is taken everyday. You have to hold yourself accountable in completing the assignments. No one will reach out to you if you fall behind or remind you if you didn't get something done. Its important to be proactive in this course. But just like the real world, if you dont show up and you dont take action, you wont get results, and you wont succeed. 

SkillCrush provides so many resources and is constantly updating their curriculum, that failure is impossible if you put into action what you learn and use the tools provided. They helped me build confidence in reaching out to my network which led me to land my first freelance clients. As a graduate, I still reach out for feedback on other projects I work on, and I usually get a response within 24-48 hours. I also get lifetime access to my courses, and even updates on new materials. I am amazed at what they do and for such an affordable cost compared to other bootcamps. If you are thinking about transitioning careers into tech and want to save money, start here. I wish I had found SkillCrush sooner!

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I've finished the first part of my Blueprint and have been very impressed so far. While I love the amount of free resources that are available online to learn programming languages, I have found that the class-like structure with assignments, grades, and feedback is critical. 

This course has been exceptional so far, both in the teaching and the customer service. The instructors go into the history and rationale of the languages, which is useful and interesting; the videos are fun and filled with visual analogies, and are followed by both text recaps and real-time practice opportunities; and I've set up a personal website and started making a website for a coworker. I'm pretty stoked to be starting web projects that are applicable in my life, only 1 course into the program! 

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I just finished the first in the series of course within the blueprint program, and I am really digging it.  They do a good job of taking an absolute beginner and showing them how to code in a clear and straightforward way.  If you were already pretty knowledgeable, it might be too beginner, but they have other programs for more advanced students.  

I had looked at lot of other bootcamps and courses, but this one was recommended by a friend.  I like that it is affordable but was a little worried that it might not be as thorough or in-depth as pricier options.  However, I feel like I am learning a LOT.  Have no idea how it compares to other programs since I haven't taken others, but Skillcrush seems like the real deal.  

I was also concerned that an online course could be another one of those situations where you sign up and then it's hard to stay motivated and work through the modules or whatever. But the way they have it set up really works for me.  They give you chunks of info and challenges to complete each days.  And they are manageable chunks.  You CAN go at your own pace, but I find that having it all laid out on a weekly and daily basis keeps me focused and consistent.  

Also, you get to interact with other students and instructors through Mightybell.  It helps immensely that you can get help on trouble spots this way.  Additionally, Skillcrush offers a lot of office hours/hangouts where you can ask questions or get help or whatever.  Then they also have lots of extras they send...webinars and links to information that's useful and help on how to get a job etc. 

Their customer service is outstanding as well.  The couple times I've had to email someone, they've responded promptly and been super helpful and easy to work with.  For instance, initially I goofed and signed up for the wrong class.  It was a painless process for them to un-enroll me and then get me in the right program.   

Anyway...it's a great program as far as I can tell.  I haven't yet made use of the job help stuff but plan to. I've just been focused on learning the material so far.  But, it seems like they are always sending info about job skills and finding work.  I just didn't rate them on job assistance because I don't know much about that part of the program yet.  

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WOW!  I am just finishing the WordPress Developer Blueprint and I learned so much!! (I also took the Web Designer Blueprint which was awesome as a total beginner!)  The instructors are AMAZING and always there to help!  I'm not sure I could have finished the course without the help of my crazy awesome TA who promptly answered my never ending questions! 

I've landed my first client and I'm starting work on the project soon. (Yikes!)  It's a little scary but I do feel as though Skillcrush prepared me well and I'm super grateful to have ongoing access to all the class materials just in case I need to go back and look something up.  Thanks Skillcrush!

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I am taking the Web Development Blueprint right now & loving this new world of coding! I definately plan on taking more courses once finished with this one. 

I am learning and will be learning code to launch an entirely new career from what I graduated college with and can't wait to land a job with my new skills! 

This site has been a blessing!

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Part way through the Skillcrush Ruby on Rails blueprint and would give a huge thumbs up!!

The course material is excellent and Skillcrush provide prompt, friendly support / advice to help you along! It's easy to engage with fellow students in the online forums and there are weekly live chats with tutors and students.

The blueprint is amazing value for money, not only do you get lifetime access to the course material but the Skillcrush team will always look to help you out if you fall behind for any reason.

The course seems to cater well for both novices and more experienced learners; if you're thinking about taking this (or any of the other Skillcrush) courses, I recommend you go for it!

 

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I am extremely pleased with having decided to take this blueprint. As someone who is (was) not terribly tech saavy, I wanted to have more of a toehold in the world of web development and could not be more pleased. Skillcrush does a great job of laying out the big picture before diving into the details. Everyone is extremely freindly, and more than eager to help out. 

I am excited to take more blueprints now that I got my feet wet, and am excited to explore their other offerings!

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Skillcrush’s WordPress Blueprint gave me the professional skills I needed to launch my new career. I chose Skillcrush over other free online resources chiefly because it offered an organized curriculum with real support. I was pleasantly surprised with the fun way in which the lessons were presented, with lots of beautiful supportive material - so that even if the course covered a lot of ground, it never felt overwhelming (or painfully dry!!). I came to appreciate the professional development aspect of the course as I developed a clearer vision of what freelance work consists of. The blueprint left me with a toolkit full of code I could use in real-world projects, as well as new pieces for my portfolio!

I was really impressed with the support I received during the course. I also collaborated with many fellow students, some of whom became regular study-buddies and then lasting friends. I was able to build a network of contacts, and feel confident and empowered as a woman who codes. Thanks in part to some great carreer tools and advice, I was able to promptly secure contracts towards the end of the blueprint and have been working as a freelancer ever since.

When the opportunity presented itself, I started working as a T.A., and now I can carry on promoting the peer-to-peer empowering culture that Skillcrush fosters. I continue to learn and grow my skillset in providing some of the support I had so appreciated when taking the class. I recommend Skillcrush to anyone looking for a foundation to transition towards a new code related career.

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Okay, so I am not completely done with my first Skillcrush Web Design Blueprint but I this is my last week and I have to say, I am absolutely impressed with how easy it was to learn everything in such a way that was far from boring, hard or expensive.  

This course is not only cost efficient but in the last month of the blueprint, it begins to pay itself off with your first job.  Did I mention this first job you take is done as a part of the last course and all while you have your classmates and instructor walking you through it, in case you have questions, concerns or need the confidence of having someone available in case the need arises.  

Additionally, I am so impressed with the courses that I am signing up for the next blueprint and plan on taking them all.  The classes are so fun, user friendly and easy to learn that I am seriously debating taking 2  blueprints simultaneously!  This is really not bad for someone that has ADHD and has had serious trouble completing projects.

I love the programs so much that I have recommended many friends and even asked them about a referral fee (they don't do this)!  This is a great opportunity for full time employees that need additional ways to make ends meet, just want extra cash or simply need to get out of their current daily grind.  

I was in an accident last year and had to go on disability and decided to take the course while I sat at home but will use this as a method of paying back all the credit card debt I incurred while on disability but I am not worried because I already have my first client and have a few more lined up waiting for me to get to them.  Yes, a waiting list before I finished the first blueprint!!!

You can work from home anytime of the day, get a part time job, better paying full time job, freelance opportunities via one time jobs -- you would be surprised how much people pay hourly or for one time projects.

I recommend this opportunity to everyone but especially the following:

1. Single parents 

2. Unemployed 

3. Underpaid

4. High school students and graduates

5. Stay at home parents

6. Anyone living paycheck to paycheck

7. Anyone that has a lot of debt 

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I have done the Web Designer, Web Developer and Wordpress Blueprints and all have been great investments. Just a couple weeks after completing these blueprints I was able confidently land my dream remote job as a Creative Director for a startup in South America.

The lessons are very clear and easy to follow and understand. All the resources and webinars helped to boost my confidence and believe that I was able to make this career chance. I feel more prepared and confident in this career that I have been persuing for just over 6 months than in the I.T job I had been doing for over 12 years.

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Skillcrush helped me gain confidence in starting my journey to web development. I took the Web Development WordPress Freelance course and my eyes became open to a whole other world. They helped me realize where I can go with this and using my current skillset. I plan on going back for everything I need to learn going forward. It is worth every dime and the online environment is on point and equivalent to today's high tech scene. 

I love Skillcrush!

Lee

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I love Skillcrush. I have taken the Web Developer blueprint and Wordpress blueprint, and I am now working full-time as a full stack web developer at a startup! Adda does a great job making complex subjects simple and easy to understand (seriously!). I was a complete beginner with absolutely no background in programming when I took the web dev blueprint, so it was a great introduction that made me feel more confident about tackling this career.

Also, the resources Skillcrush provides for you (cheat sheets, access to the lessons forever, charts, diagrams, etc.) is awesome. I'm a visual learner, so I found them really helpful. 

I did do additional schooling elsewhere to really enhance my knowledge, so I do recommend this class just for beginners - although it would be awesome if Skillcrush introduced higher-level classes for students curious about more advanced topics.

My only suggestions are to use a different chat application. I never really got into using Mightybell, but something like Slack would have been great. Also, since I was working full-time during the course, it was harder to keep up, so I never took advantage of instructor help. It would be cool if they did a half-way checkin with each student to help personalize the experience.

Programming is a huge skill to have, so get started with Skillcrush! I recommend these blueprints to all of my friends.  

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I'm enjoying this class and learning a lot. I would, and already have, recommend this course to others learning to code. The only struggle in having is the instructor is using a Mac and I'm working on a PC. So, some of the codes that are being presented, won't work on my PC. Everything else is great and, again I'm really having fun with this class......especially considering I'm attending classes in my pajamas LOL. Please, keep up the great work and I do plan on taking more courses in the future. Read less

I'm currently taking the Web Designer blueprint with Skillcrush, and can honestly say I am beyond pleased with the course. In particular, I am pleased with the fact that this blueprint allows you learn about design and also a little bit of development - enough to allow you to be able to build a website on your own, which is really great if you're like me, and you struggled to decide between design and development in the first place! 

The instructors are also so friendly and helpful - whenever I've had a question, be it course-related, or slightly more general, they have alway got back to me so quickly even despite the different time zones!

The lessons are completely comprehensive and engaging, and when you find yourself wondering what something means, or how to code/design something, you tend to get your answer as soon as you progress to the next lesson. Also the daily emails are really helpful as they give you a brief idea of what you'll be learning for the day, and of course, remind you to keep on track.

I love this course so much that I am already signed up to begin the WordPress course as soon as this one finishes, and I plan to continue my learning with Skillcrush even after that, so I can become a freelance designer/developer - something which now feels entirely achievable with Skillcrush's help, and I've not even finished my first course yet!

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