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Codesmith

Online, NYC
Best Bootcamp

 Ranked 2023 Best Bootcamp

About Codesmith

Location: Online, NYC

Codesmith’s Software Engineering Immersive program is an advanced residency designed to help individuals launch a meaningful, high-level career in Software Engineering. Codesmith offers full-time (13-week) and part-time (38-week) remote software engineering... Read More

Courses

Full-Time Remote Software Engineering Immersive

Cost: $20,925
Duration: 13 weeks
Locations: Online
Course Description:

The 13-week Full-Time Remote Software Engineering Immersive Program (offered in Pacific, Central, and Eastern time) is an advanced residency designed to help individuals launch a meaningful, high-level career in software engineering. The expertly designed curriculum teaches full-stack JavaScript and computer science, and is immersed in modern web technologies, such as React and Node.js. The rigorous curriculum is continuously adapted to focus on the most relevant and in-demand technologies. Codesmith offers an extensive career support program that guides students through the hiring process, including interview strategies, portfolio development, and post-graduation check-ins. Plus, the supportive Codesmith community encourages learners to tackle unique and unfamiliar problems, important when preparing for the ever-changing tech landscape. By the end of the 13-week Immersive, you will be an autonomous engineer, ready to make an impact on innovative tech companies worldwide.

Subjects:
CSS, HTML, jQuery, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Docker, Scrum, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Python, Machine Learning, React.js, Algorithms, Node.js, Express.js, JavaScript, AWS, Data Structures, Web Development

Subjects:
CSS, HTML, jQuery, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Docker, Scrum, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Python, Machine Learning, React.js, Algorithms, Node.js, Express.js, JavaScript, AWS, Data Structures, Web Development

Part-Time Software Engineering Immersive

Cost: $20,925
Duration: 38 weeks
Locations: Online
Course Description:

The 38-week Part-Time Remote Software Engineering Immersive Program (offered in Pacific time) is an advanced residency designed to help individuals launch a meaningful, high-level career in software engineering. While the Full-Time Immersive is an excellent option for someone looking to start a new career on an accelerated timeline, to better accommodate future engineers with different professional commitments or personal responsibilities, Codesmith offers the Part-Time Remote Immersive. The expertly designed curriculum teaches full stack JavaScript and computer science, and is immersed in modern web technologies, such as React and Node.js. The rigorous curriculum is the same as the full-time program, and is continuously adapted to focus on the most relevant and in-demand technologies. Codesmith offers an extensive career support program that guides students through the hiring process, including interview strategies, portfolio development, and post-graduation check-ins. Plus, the supportive Codesmith community encourages learners to tackle unique and unfamiliar problems, important when preparing for the ever-changing tech landscape. By the end of the program, you will be an autonomous engineer, ready to make an impact on innovative tech companies worldwide.

Subjects:
CSS, HTML, jQuery, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Docker, Scrum, Python, Machine Learning, React.js, Algorithms, Node.js, Express.js, JavaScript, AWS, Data Structures, Front-End Web Development

Subjects:
CSS, HTML, jQuery, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Docker, Scrum, Python, Machine Learning, React.js, Algorithms, Node.js, Express.js, JavaScript, AWS, Data Structures, Front-End Web Development

CS Prep

Cost: $925
Duration: 2 weeks
Locations: Online
Course Description:

CS Prep is a 2-week live-online part-time program that builds your core JavaScript knowledge, improves your technical communication, and develops your engineering toolkit so you can solve real-world problems. The program includes daily problem-solving workshops and a passionate coding community to help you prepare for top coding bootcamps, such as Codesmith's selective Software Engineering Immersive programs.

Subjects:
JavaScript

Subjects:
JavaScript

JavaScript for Beginners

Cost: $350
Duration: 2 weeks
Locations: Online
Course Description:

JavaScript for Beginners is a part-time, remote program consisting of two consecutive Saturday sessions. The program is designed to be your introduction to coding, so no prior experience is required. The curriculum for JavaScript for Beginners is carefully constructed to give both a broad introduction to 'what programming is' as well as cover important JavaScript concepts so you'll be able to solve challenges and build projects with confidence. The program offers learners a launching point to continue their JavaScript studies, prepare for CS Prep, and build a future in software engineering.

Subjects:
JavaScript

Subjects:
JavaScript

NYC Onsite Immersive

Cost: $20,925
Duration: 13 weeks
Locations: NYC
In-person Only
Course Description:

The 13-week Full-Time NYC Onsite Software Engineering Immersive Program is an advanced residency designed to help individuals launch a meaningful, high-level career in software engineering. The expertly designed curriculum teaches full stack JavaScript and computer science, and is immersed in modern web technologies, such as React and Node.js. The rigorous curriculum is continuously adapted to focus on the most relevant and in-demand technologies. Codesmith offers an extensive career support program that guides students through the hiring process, including interview strategies, portfolio development, and post-graduation check-ins. Plus, the supportive Codesmith community encourages learners to tackle unique and unfamiliar problems, important when preparing for the ever-changing tech landscape. By the end of the 13-week Immersive, you will be an autonomous engineer, ready to make an impact on innovative tech companies worldwide.

Subjects:
CSS, HTML, jQuery, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Docker, Scrum, Python, Machine Learning, React.js, Algorithms, Node.js, Express.js, JavaScript, AWS, Data Structures, Front-End Web Development

Subjects:
React.js, Node.js, JavaScript

Codesmith Reviews

Average Ratings (All Programs)

Codesmith logo

4.92/5 (309 reviews)

Anonymous
Software Engineer | Graduated: 2020

2/12/2021

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Changed my life!"

Codesmith is a great program for those who are ready to put in the work to become a software engineer. Codesmith's way of instruction can feel rough at times, but because they push their students out of their comfort zone, that's why Codesmith is so successful.... Read More

Garrett Lee
Senior Software Engineer | Graduated: 2020

2/3/2021

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Exceptional Culture and Results"

Codesmith's immersive program was an unforgettable experience. Not being given the answers to everything is quite uncomfortable, and can be quite overwhelming at times, but couldn't think of a better group of people to go through it with. The level of... Read More

Anonymous
Software Engineer, Engineering Fellow | Graduated: 2020

2/3/2021

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Incredible Growth Experience"

Codesmith teaches its residents how to take on any new software technologies quickly and efficiently - not through memorizing syntax, but understanding the logic and how the code works under the hood. Its curriculum facilitates deep dives into central... Read More

Anonymous
Software Engineer | Graduated: 2020

2/2/2021

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"By far your best choice"

Summary: its most likely going to be the hardest thing you've done in your life. None of it is easy. Getting in to Codesmith is hard, graduating Codesmith is hard (the 75+ hour weeks are no joke). Getting HIRED after Codesmith is going to be even HARDER.... Read More

Alex S.
Software Engineer (Front End) | Graduated: 2020

2/2/2021

Course
Full-time Remote Software Engineering Immersive

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Exclusive, expensive, and worth every penny"

Best bootcamp out there IMO, but I don’t think there’s anything particularly special about the curriculum. It is mostly taught by (extremely capable) recent grads, and all the stuff that is taught can just as well be self-learned (for a much lower price... Read More

Brian Hayashi
Software Engineer | Graduated: 2020

2/2/2021

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Packs a 4 year CS degree in 12 weeks"

The hiring curriculum after the main coding course was arguably half the value of CodeSmith. Not only does CodeSmith go over the fundamentals like time complexity and data structures - they push you to build countless projects week after week. In an industry... Read More

Rea
student | Graduated: 2021

2/2/2021

Course
CS Prep

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"CS Prep"

I just finished up CS prep with Sophie N. as our teacher for our cohort. I have gained lots of knowledge, developed lots of skills, stretched my limits and surprised to learn that I could do more because the way they have designed the program. ultimately,... Read More

Kailee
Graduated: 2021

2/2/2021

Course
CS Prep

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Really enjoyed CS Prep!"

I enrolled in CS Prep with the intention of preparing for one of the immersives at Codesmith later this year. I wasn't sure what to expect going in but it was a great experience overall. The whole class (~30 people) was super supportive and encouraging... Read More

Midori Yang
Software Engineer | Graduated: 2020

12/18/2020

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Codesmith helped me land a job when college didn't"

I'm writing this review about one week into my first full-time job ever as a mid-level SWE, where I've been learning something new basically every hour but without feeling overwhelmed or lost. I am comfortable asking questions to my boss and senior software... Read More

Why + how Codesmith is able to accomplish its immersive program outcomes:

You basically have to do the equivalent of a college-level introductory class before entering. I graduated with a computer science degree and Codesmith not only makes you learn valuable computer science fundamentals in order to pass their technical interviews, but also specific JavaScript concepts that I never learned throughout college. Remember this when you feel like the material is too hard and that you're not smart enough to understand it. You feel that way because the material is hard, and you're trying to teach yourself a new skill in the span of a few months instead of four years! You're attempting a huge challenge and you should feel proud of that choice instead.

Codesmith prioritizes cultural fit and learning potential over technical knowledge. I know this because as someone who stayed on as an engineering fellow, I conducted technical interviews for applicants. Here are some important things to understand about the interview process:
When Codesmith rejects you, it is not because you aren't good enough to do the program. Codesmith's curriculum is extremely rigorous and fast-paced, and we don't want residents regretting their decision to spend $18k on a program where they feel completely overwhelmed. In asking applicants to re-interview, we are asking you them reinforce your knowledge and fully prepare themselves for the program, as mentioned in the first point.

What I cared about most in interviews was determining if the person would flourish in the program and would contribute to the supportive + collaborative community that Codesmith works hard to maintain, as opposed to their technical ability. This is also true when interviewing for SWE positions at actual companies (at least ones that would be pleasant to work at): they care more about hiring a competent engineer with good cultural fit and a baseline level of knowledge over hiring a genius that can't work on a team or doesn't care about the work outside of writing code, and this is reflected in Codesmith's interview process.

Codesmith spends time teaching computer science fundamentals, which means data structures, algorithms, and time complexity. In order to progress as an engineer, you need a foundation to stand on and to understand what your code is doing when it is executed instead of just memorizing syntax that can become outdated on a whim. If the bootcamp you are considering does not touch on foundational CS concepts and seems to only be concerned with teaching you some specific "modern" technologies, it is a BIG red flag for the quality of education.

Expanding on the previous point, Codesmith ultimately wants you to become an autonomous, opinionated engineer rather than an expert in some specific tech stack. Especially in web development, frameworks, libraries, and technologies go in and out of style on yearly basis and anything you learn at a bootcamp may be obsolete 2-5 years from now. What really matters is creating a solid foundation in computer science, code design patterns, and system design concepts that allow you to jump off a cliff into learning any new technology with a really sturdy parachute. This is why Codesmith's curriculum places a lot of emphasis on the WHY of what you are doing: why would you use React over Angular or Vue? How does Node.js handle asynchronous JS and why does that make it a good choice for applications that needs non-blocking event processing? These under-the-hood concepts and informed opinions are what makes Codesmith grads stand out and why they can aim for mid-level positions.
The hiring program is almost worth the tuition by itself (I'll get to what really makes the tuition worth it next), as my new salary would easily cover it. The CIRR outcomes really speak for themselves so I won't talk about it too much, but the difference in comfort and confidence I felt when interviewing for junior positions right after college and when interviewing for mid and senior-level positions after finishing Codesmith was hundreds of miles apart. Codesmith gives you a very detailed and specific guide for handling every aspect of the SWE interview, as well as lasting career support post-graduation.

Everything I've listed so far in terms of academic material is stuff that could be found online with some creative Googling (which Codesmith also emphasizes as an important skill). But if I could do this kind of studying on my own, I wouldn't have spent a year unemployed before doing the program. What I really paid for was the incredible community created by the staff and the careful interview process that chooses good engineers that are also good people. In the pressure cooker that is a three-month immersive program, you will need an emotional support system to lift you up when you're doubting your abilities and I definitely found that in my cohortmates and the instructors. When I became a fellow and stayed on another three months to teach, I saw three more cohorts repeat the process of leaning on each other for support and guidance, and shedding tears at final shoutouts when the process ended. The supportive community continues even after the cohort is over as you go into the job search, as all the alums I contacted for advice were friendly and encouraging.

Ultimately, even though I was initially skeptical of Codesmith and it's weirdly high outcomes, I now understand how it is able to accomplish them after having done the program myself. The remote setting did not diminish the value of the experience in any way. If Codesmith doesn't seem like the right fit for you, I would still strongly advise that any bootcamp you pick meets the criteria described above.

Anonymous
Software Engineer | Graduated: 2020

12/17/2020

Course
Full Stack Software Engineering Immersive Program

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Unforgettable experience"

I'm writing this review as a newly hired software engineer at an amazing startup 5 months after graduating. At the end of 2019 after I graduated with a non-technical degree, I wouldn't have thought this was possible. Codesmith played the biggest factor... Read More

Related News

Q&A with Codesmith student Isaac Durand
The SwitchUp Team - 3/21/2016
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