Codesmith

CS Prep was a great way to get familiar with the teaching style, meet your cohortmates and prepare for the immersive interviews. The wonderful instructors provided a lot of clarity to approaching coding challenges that I didn't even know that I didn't... Read More know how to do.

Hey! A little over a year ago, I finished Codesmith and got my first fulltime software engineering job. In general, I felt like the process is probably not for everyone, but if you can be empathetic, work hard, and push your limits, you can pretty much... Read More go as far as you want. That opinion still stands. What I'd like to add on to it, though, is what my experience has been like since leaving. The friends I made at Codesmith have continued to be incredible resources for learning, for job referrals, for professional advice, and are genuinely really great people whose perspectives and presence in my life have really continued to transform me long after the 3mo was over. We've helped each other out with algorithms, jobhunting, architecture questions, interpersonal office conflicts, and everything between. I'd also be remiss not to mention that the reason I'm writing today, over a full year since leaving Codesmith, is that the staff has continued to help me even now. I recently found a new job, and received an excellent offer- one that exceeded my expectations and that I would have been thrilled to accept right off the bat. Before taking action, though, I contacted Codesmith's hiring support, and was coached through the process of negotiating for an even better package. It wasn't magic, but it certainly felt like it was, especially since that session got me $15,000 more in compensation than what had been initially offered to me. Since getting into the field, several of my friends and family have asked me about bootcamps, and my advice to all of them is the same- take your time, study independently, and work on your own projects. If/when you get to the point where that's not enough, you should seriously vet the available options- go to free workshops, meet students, talk to the instructors, etc. After you've done your due diligence, pick the one that's right for you. If you're like me, though, Codesmith will find its place firmly at the top of your list.

I spent nearly a year researching various bootcamps before deciding to go with Codesmith and I don't regret it at all. What first attracted my attention were the noticeably higher admissions standards and graduate salaries than all of the other options... Read More I found. My main hang-ups were the cost and the fact that I was going to have to quit my (decent IT) job to attend. Eventually I just decided I didn't want to compromise and wanted to completely go for it if this was what I wanted to do. I left my job in January making $70k/yr and just got hired as a software engineer at a major company 2 weeks ago (July) making $120k/yr, and my results aren't even exceptional (which you can see for yourself on their site). I had to take out a loan to attend, but the upgrade in salary just within the first year will easily cover the cost of the program.

This was truly a life-changing program for me and my cohort mates would say the same. We still talk daily about news in the web development community, how things are going at our new jobs for those who have been hired, and job search advice for those who are up next. The network you'll build and the support you'll receive are really incredible here. It might have been the most challenging thing I've ever done, and the end of the program as well as the job search were a real grind (especially during COVID), but I'm also so proud of myself for setting this goal last year and now accomplishing everything I set out to do. I could nitpick certain parts of the curriculum and how some things were organized, but in the end it doesn't really matter because the learning style emphasized at Codesmith forces you to get comfortable diving into the unknown and figuring things out with minimal hand-holding.

You will absolutely feel like you're not getting enough time covering, well, almost any of the material. But that's okay because you're setting a foundation for yourself by learning the things that will have the most impact, and then moving on so you can cover as much material as possible. If I tried to learn these things on my own I'd easily take over a year, maybe even two, to cover just as much ground because I know I'd waste time diving into every rabbit hole thinking it would make a difference when it really wouldn't. They give you the tools to continue to grow beyond the end of the 12-week program so you'll have the mindset of a real software engineer and not just another 'bootcamp grad.' They also now offer part time remote programs that take longer to complete but provide the same curriculum for people who aren't able to leave their current jobs to attend the in-person programs in LA or NY. All programs are currently remote due to COVID anyway.

Just a little blurb about bootcamps and bootcamp reviews in general: No review or seminar you attend will give you a full and accurate understanding of how great a bootcamp actually is. When I did my own extensive research when choosing a bootcamp, I... Read More attended many info sessions, looked at many webpages, and read many a review.

What Codesmith does differently, and what pulled me in, was attending one of their many free, public weekly workshops. Meant for just anyone interested in learning programming, this truly showed me what Codesmith is all about. I saw how they emphasized core engineering values: community, culture, and strong interpersonal skills - not just technology and the knowledge to build things. Because of Codesmith's popularity and strong outcomes (look at the CIRR report!), you will be in an environment of 30+ people (cohort sizes being around 20-30, but that doesn't account for your mentors, your instructors, and all the support staff), all of which are a resource for you to improve your chances of succeeding. Codesmith believes in hard-learning. There's no hand-holding and the curriculum is not easy, but what you get is a strong community and support system that exists even after graduating (job searching is as hard and time-consuming as the bootcamp itself!).

Before Codesmith, I was a college-educated minimum, wage worker. Within a year of starting my programming journey, I have gotten two fix-figure salary offers, and relationships with people that will last a lifetime.

Program is definitely tough. If you are prepared to work hard, long hours, and then commit to submitting applications how they advise. After some job hunting, you will most likely get a great job. The networking alone is worth the money, but some people... Read More have some crazy outcomes post codesmith.

I enjoyed the program. It was intense but fun at the same time. I easily spent 12 hrs a day at Codesmith for 6 days straight. I learned a lot, but the hardest part is after the program when trying to find the job.

The best part of Codesmith are the friends... Read More and connections you gain.

I am a recent graduate and I can confidently say that Codesmith is an amazing immersive program that teaches you how to become an amazing engineer.

The immersive program itself is a combination of hard computer science, pragmatism, and an empathetic community.... Read More It teaches you to be patient with yourself, to cuddle with the struggle, and to power through hurdles so that you can gain a deeper understanding of what Codesmith calls "the Hard Parts." It's a blend of pair programming and project-building using modern technology stacks. The instructors themselves are passionate, accessible, and empathetic, which are exactly what students need when learning these difficult-to-grasp topics. You'll get a lot out of this program, but keep in mind that you also have to be able to put work in as well.

At the end of the day, this bootcamp itself is more like an immersive program. You'll feel like you've been learning for a year, but in reality, it's only been a few months. You'll also come out quadruple times more wiser in the engineering world and ready to tackle most engineering problems that you'll face.

Thank you again Codesmith, it's been a wild ride. Happy to say that I've enjoyed the experience and to start a new chapter in my life!

Codesmith is the cutting edge of what education ought to be. Prior to this, I had a Computer Engineering and Economics background, though in reality at University I had very little idea of what I really wanted to do, with both an entrepreneurial spirit... Read More and also liking the technical side and hands-on work. I needed a way to master and apply these goals. I soon realized that Codesmith was my proof of concept; it gave me drive and focus and you will learn how to embark specialization in the engineering field to acquire the strongest competitive advantage in a constantly tidal industry.

The first time I attended one of Codesmith’s free workshops was in NYC, prior to permanently moving to LA and entering the Venice chapter. It was one of Will’s lectures on the hard parts and examining industry trends. Aside from having the ability to clearly explain complex concepts to many non-traditional crowds with backgrounds ranging from Ex-Finance, Ex-Law to Ex-Biology and applying them to modern applications, Will is also extremely energetic and inspiring; in a way he is much like a motivational tech speaker as well as an entertaining and informative lecturer who advocates for dynamic learning. After attending the free events and preparing for a month and a half, I applied and got into the Venice cohort for Autumn.

The entire Codesmith team and existing students were extremely warm and welcoming and ensured we had access to the best resources and mentorship. The daily programming had a fluid and well thought out schedule and the team is extremely approachable when any trepidations arise. Unlike my past encounters in engineering classes or even engineering sororities/frats, I did not feel excluded or minute anymore. I felt that I had a voice and a true impact. I felt level on the playing field if not leveraged, and I felt empowered.

The culture at Codesmith is what every tech firm’s culture aspires to be like; it is hosted by a community of intelligent, enlightened, tolerant people which allows you to diversify your network outlook. The culture there will become your greatest advocate as you make the advance through pair programming and project based learning. You realize that there are many different methods to the same goal, the same problem, but raining on new ideas, constant brainstorming, feedback and examination is what will make you quick to adapt and highly performant to the environment. You also acquire an ability to skillfully embed creativity into the applications and systems you build, to ideate as well as decide on the key trade-offs behind design choice. Pursuing this is what will cultivate the depth of knowledge and leadership skills to thrive with any company.

Codesmith is not just a Software Engineering training program and its experience extends beyond the bounds of the 3 month immersive. It teaches you micro and macro career planning, careful decision making, and how to design and implement scalable, efficient systems in computers and in life. We learn to constantly pivot and to feed into our curiosity to grow in the direction of personal and professional development.

The hiring support is exceptional. The team consists of former alumni from Ivy Leagues, successful Entrepreneurs, Angel Investors and a range of well versed backgrounds both in and out of the field who were committed to my success every step of the way. Amid the rise of the global pandemic, Annie from the alumni support team remained just as resourceful, available, and was extremely adept at checking up on us in our job exploration and interview process. The team gave us the roadmap to success using industry knowledge and best practices to achieve our highest potential and held us at very high standards.

After I received offers from different companies, Eric gave me advice and key insights on negotiation strategies for salary, benefits, equity and pushed me to have the courage and confidence to do so. As a woman and minority in STEM, I have always felt the very present stigma of imposter syndrome and the victim mentality. I’ve felt discouraged from negotiating a contract at times, that I should just willfully accept the best offer presented to me as many women who have been conditioned to feel this way can relate. However, this time was different. After having the guidance from Eric and the entire hiring support team as well as many CS(CodeSmith) Alumni who have been at the exact same position, I was able to finally realize the value of having a different background than the majority and to see that as an asset. I ended up successfully negotiating an extra $10K on an offer and accepting a Software Engineer position at my dream company!

I have to say, I am equally as proud to be an Alumni of Codesmith as I am of my Alma Mater, and in many ways I have grown more professionally and industrially from Codesmith’s impact than I have from any other traditional schooling, organization or institution. This program outlines an extraordinary blueprint for modernizing education and the way it impacts career viability, professional progression, and is an archetype of education for the future. With that being said, I think it’s time to change your future now and let no time go to waste.

I come from a completely non-technical background, and started my coding journey with Codesmith from the very beginning--attending workshops, JSB, CS Prep, then the immersive program. The tuition for these programs all roll over to the immersive, and... Read More they also offer scholarship opportunities to those who are minorities in the tech industry. It's a great place to learn and grow as a self-driven, empathetic engineer, but it's also a lot of work, probably more than you would expect. Codesmith will offer you the structure, community, content, and guidance you need, but ultimately it'll be up to how much you invest and believe in yourself! Ultimately I'm glad I took this journey and thankful for everyone I met along the way.

The experience going through the Software Engineering Immersive program is extremely difficult. The hours are long, you're being pushed to grow in so many more ways than just coding and technical ability. But that's what makes it a unique bootcamp amongst... Read More all the others. Of course, Codesmith teaches all the technical stuff, but its true value comes in teaching you how to learn on your own. The course is structured so that you run into blocks, and learn as you push through them. There's plenty of help and support along the way, making sure that when you leave Codesmith you have the confidence and ability to tackle any problem.