Alchemy Code Lab

Enrolling at Alchemy was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The coursework is extremely rigorous, with built-in support systems to help students succeed. It’s pretty amazing that in less than half a year, students can gain a very solid foundation... Read More in both the fundamentals and cutting-edge technologies. The curriculum is updated for every cohort to reflect the most sought-after technical proficiencies.

More than anything else, what sets Alchemy apart from other schools is their stellar career services. They have spent years forging relationships with companies, and have built up a strong reputation for graduating students who are ready to hit the ground running and be contributing members of engineering teams. They go above and beyond to make sure students are prepared not just technically, but also ready to translate their existing skills for a new tech career. I graduated Alchemy feeling 100% ready to interview successfully and thrive in a technical career.

Alchemy Code Lab is by no means your average code bootcamp experience. While many code school graduates might feel like they're ready to enter into the tech industry, I think few of them really are. As an Alchemy grad, I felt like I had a huge leg up... Read More over other code school graduates. Alchemy doesn't just cover foundational web dev concepts. The curriculum changes to reflect the rapidly evolving landscape of modern frameworks. Another incredibly important facet of this program is that on day one they are honest with you in that most of what you learn will eventually be obsolete. The most valuable asset you take away from this course is an understanding of how to learn new code concepts. For a 6 month course, I'm still shocked at the amount of hard and soft skills students acquire here. If you're worried about the cost, google "average full stack web dev salary".

I, like most people, was in an unfulfilling dead-end boring monotonous career living paycheck to paycheck. My long time girlfriend and I were talking about getting married and I knew it was time for a career change if I was to support a growing family.... Read More I had interests in engineering and software development but didn't want to wait the 3-4 years for a degree, so eventually I settled on going to a code school/bootcamp. Between in-person (prior COVID) to remote, there are a ton to choose from. After months of reading reviews and blogs, talking to industry professionals, attending lectures, and touring different places...there really was no competition. Given the curriculum and resources available Alchemy Code Lab was going to give me best shot I could have for making my dreams a reality. There is no easy way to put it, the course is tough. You will drink from a firehose of knowledge and information. There will be times you want to quit cause you feel you can't do it. Just remember why you're there, reach out to your peers who are struggling just as much as you, and ask for help from the staff (They Will Always Help). Alchemy Code Lab doesn't just teach you how to code (don't worry, they do a great job at that); they teach you how to learn and grow in the tech world, how to research a problem effectively, how to find new technologies to implement, how to bug fix, how to test, how to learn new languages, how to ask the right questions, how to network, how to interview in the tech world (much different than the trades)...they show you how to take anything imaginable, and make it real (week long team sprints are a game changer). I started the program in January and completed it in June. Since graduating I have participated in two major hackathons (Techlandia working with BLE relays and AWS where my team took 3rd place) working with languages and frameworks I never learned in Alchemy, but regardless I was able to pick up things up pretty quick; and I accredit it all to Alchemy. If you're considering going to Alchemy Code Lab, just do it. It's worth it.

Prior to my enrollment at Alchemy Code Lab, transitioning to a career in software development was something I had been considering for quite some time. Having spent over a decade as a working musician provided very little stability, both in terms of income... Read More and time, for my family and I was ready for a new direction in life. Following a lengthy discussion with the Director of Development for a successful local business and spending some time evaluating a number of schools across the country, I made the decision to attend Alchemy Code Lab and I am so glad I did.

The curriculum is centered around the programming language, JavaScript, and the current frameworks, libraries, and practices that are used with it. The courses are as tough as they should be, but the instructors and teaching assistants do a phenomenal job of ensuring that you understand the material and the ways in which you can use it. They also make sure you are well prepared to independently continue your education, a necessary skill in the continuously evolving world of technology.

Alchemy’s incredibly personable staff ensure that you’re confident and ready to begin your new career, not only as a programmer but also as a tech professional thanks to the provision of career services that start right as your studies begin and continue well after you’ve completed the program.

If you are considering making the transition to a career in software development, I can assure you there is no better choice for making the change than Alchemy.

I have dreamed of becoming a software engineer for a long time. Over the years, I've tried numerous ways of making that happen - video tutorials, self-paced online courses, part-time in-person classes, etc. Ultimately, I decided what I needed in order... Read More to be successful was a full-time program that could provide both structure and accountability. While researching programs based in Portland, it was pretty obvious that Alchemy was the superior option, but the cost was initially hard for me to accept. Alchemy's message of turning out higher-quality developers that are able to earn a higher starting salary than graduates from other schools helped me to get over that initial shock, helped along further by their supporting documentation. This was enough to get me to schedule an in-person meeting with the admissions director, Megan. I was immediately impressed when walking into the school by the lively and collaborative environment, and Megan is easily one of the kindest individuals I've ever met. I decided to take a leap of faith, and applied right after my meeting.

My time in the program was challenging, fun, and pushed me to grow every single day. The curriculum is centered around popular JavaScript-based frameworks that are used by a lot of companies, so you're very likely to find job roles that use at least some of the same. Alchemy's instructors and teaching assistants were engaging, friendly, and willing to help whenever I needed it. The remote/virtual format that we moved to in March due to COVID-19 actually benefitted us in being able to use our time more efficiently, and get support faster. I really appreciated that when I sought help, I wasn't always just handed an answer, but rather helped along in the direction of a solution that I could arrive at on my own. Labs, readings, and code challenges helped me to get familiar with high level concepts, continue to practice writing code every day, and build onto my growing knowledge base. The week-long team projects completed at the end of each section of the curriculum were invaluable in teaching us how to work as part of a team, plan out a project, communicate and collaborate, research and experiment with new libraries/frameworks, and actually talk about technology to an audience. There is also a career services aspect to the overall curriculum that was crucial to helping me learn and get comfortable with talking about myself as a developer, building a network, and preparing for interviews post-program.

Six weeks after graduating, I am now employed full-time as a full-stack software engineer, working with a lot of the same frameworks we were taught in the Alchemy curriculum, and also using some of the same libraries that my teams chose to use during some of the larger projects we had to complete. I owe the opportunity to interview for my role to Alchemy's career services director who is an incredible asset to the program, but also recognize that I made it through the interviews because of what I personally learned during my time as an Alchemy student. On my very first days on the job, I was able to meet with career developers, understand what they were working on, and participate in real dialogues about how things worked, what could be changed, and what still needed to be done. Alchemy has more than prepared me to be successful out in the real world, and I will be forever grateful to the community for helping me make my dreams come true.

I attended a local community college a few years prior to attending Alchemy Code Lab. The curriculum at the community college was behind what was being used out in the 'real world' and it was a pretty boring experience. Once I heard about Alchemy I did... Read More my research and met with the staff, after meeting Megan and Shannon I went home and immediately filled out my application. The program has great instructional staff with years of industry experience who are able to explain difficult concepts in an a way that will make sense to anyone just starting out. Shannon, the career services director, is a huge asset to this school and is always hustling to ensure students feel ready to land their first engineering roles. She is available for students during the program and will continue to work with you after completing the program. Alchemy Code Lab is truly a full stack bootcamp that will prepare you for your first developer role. You will learn some of the latest tech being used in the industry, make great connections, and have some amazing portfolio pieces to show off.

Alchemy Code Lab is an incredible Code Bootcamp. It took me from near zero code experience to a professional coding job in 6 months. The teachers are incredibly knowledgable and gifted. The career support for after the Bootcamp ends is also top notch!... Read More The ethics of the organization is incredible. Alchemy no only teaches you how to code, but they are also teaching how to be a good human in the world of tech. This is really important as diversity and inclusion is a foundation of a great work experience and innovation in the world. I highly recommend Alchemy Code Lab.

Attending this school was the best decision of my life. I had just gotten back from a 7 month bike tour through Europe and had been working in Ohio for a few months before making the decision to apply to Alchemy. I moved here about a week before the course... Read More began and didn't know anybody in Portland, but the program changed that quickly. I made some great friends! My cohort was filled with exceptional people from diverse backgrounds. One of the best parts of the experience for me was to be able to see how my classmates would approach a particular problem completely differently than me, but with the end result being the same. This really helped with my understanding of coding in general. Also, the staff at this school genuinely cares about the students. The owners are some of the best people you'll meet and not only care about your career success, but also make a huge effort to be sure everyone feels as comfortable and happy as possible while going through one the most hectic times they'll face. Career services is also amazing! You are really given direction that will help you succeed not only throughout the program, but afterwards as well. One thing that really stands out was when I thought I had created a good resume. I was told to give it another go and I'm happy I was told that because it looks soooo much better :)

Beyond the people, the curriculum at this school is wonderful. Everything you learn will be what is in the highest demand at the time you attend. I feel that the knowledge we received at Alchemy is greater than that of other schools. My roommate attended a different bootcamp and said that he was impressed by all that we had learned and that he felt I was at an advantage for having chosen Alchemy.

As for the cons, they are hard to come by. All I can really say is that if you choose this program, be prepared because it is definitely not easy, but if you're ready to put the work in then I don't think you can make a better choice.

The program at Alchemy is fantastic. It's intense and fast-paced but super worth the effort. Folks come into the program from all walks and life (some with coding experiences and others with none) and within about 5 days the playing field completely levels... Read More out. The instructors are amazing and helpful and kind and treat all the students with respect. I can't say enough good things about them. Alchemy is set apart from other programs since there's a career services department that was quintessential in me landing a role a few months after graduating (in a pandemic no less). Other programs are cheaper and shorter, but I think Alchemy really gives students a better and deeper understanding of the foundational elements of javascript compared to folks I've met coming out of programs. You'll work hard, but the reward is worth it!

I am so grateful for my time at Alchemy Code Lab. Make no mistake, this program is hard. It will push you in ways that you are not expecting. You will have to work very hard. But, in the end, you will come out having learned more than you ever though... Read More you could in 6 months. You will not only learn the course material, but you will learn how to learn code, making you an incredible asset to any team. I got hired on to a team as a Software Engineer within a month of graduating from the program.

I can't say enough amazing things about the staff at ACL. The instructors are so dang smart and the TA's are incredible helpful. I never felt like I was doing this by myself, I always felt like I had the entire staff on my team.