Coding Dojo

By far the most valuable thing that I got out of this bootcamp was removing my own personal doubts about my ability to transition into this field.

[My background]
I had a little bit of coding experience before coming to Coding Dojo. I minored in CS in... Read More University and I took a few courses (both in person and online) over the years. Before the bootcamp I also tried applying to a few software related jobs but of course heard nothing back or was rejected. Due to my lack of CS major and lack of any real experience besides a few university/online classes, I've never had confidence in my ability to get into the software industry.

[Review]
Part 1:
Coding Dojo REALLY changed everything. As I was going through the program, I gained more confidence and of course, more practical skills. At the time, I could not see my progress but looking back, it was remarkable how much stuff the program taught and how much stuff I managed to learn in such a short amount of time.

Part 2: Time commitment
I truly dedicated all my time for 14 weeks to this bootcamp. Through the first 2 stacks of the program( 8 weeks), I was spending up to 16 hours per day at the bootcamp (from 7AM to 11PM), from Monday to Friday. I also went to the bootcamp on Saturday for about 5 hours and studied at home on Sunday for another 5 hours. In total, I spent around 80-90 hours per week dedicated to learning programming. During my last stack(the last 4 weeks), I dialed back the hours I dedicated to learning programming and focused a little bit more on the job hunt process, which mainly consisted of practicing algorithms and working on my online presence and reviewing past stacks.

Part3: My approach/mentality while attending the bootcamp
Your success at this bootcamp and in your job hunt depends on how much work you put in. My mindset throughout the bootcamp was that I was going to no-life the 14 weeks and completely dedicate my life to this program. I told myself, if I don't get a job after this experience, it won't be because lack of effort on my part and that I would not quit or give up half way like my previous attempts at landing a job in this industry.

Part4: The bootcamp environment
The environment at Coding Dojo was a tremendous help for keeping my mindset and not burning out. Almost everyone was focused on not only learning, but also helping each other. I loved every second of it. I highly recommend the on site program because there's so many resources you can take advantage of, especially the other students. The instructors were very knowledgeable as well and offered some great advice for my job search. After graduation, I went back every single day for about 10-12 hours per day until I landed my first job about 1 month after graduating. Talking with other alumni and being in such a focused environment allowed me to much more productive than trying to do the job hunt from home.

Part 5: Career Services
As for career services, overall they are very helpful. I got a job 1 month out of the bootcamp because career services connected me with my current employer. They also helped me polish my resume and LinkedIn. Without their help, I would not have a job right now. I'm very grateful for their help.

[Final thoughts]
I think you should not choose a bootcamp based on what technologies they teach because I think every reputable bootcamp will teach relevant technologies. What sets this bootcamp apart from others is they teach you how to learn. They give you the confidence that if you ever meet an unfamiliar technology, you know you can learn it in a short amount of time.

I would like to share my experience at coding dojo. While I was there I had quite the ride. Expect to wake up an hour before school, shower and eat, then head to class. During class you typically start with algorithms for an hour in which a leader will... Read More take the driver role and others in the cohort will help figure out the solution. After algorithms you will learn a new subject for the day and work on it for a few hours. Hopefully you don't have a shy cohort because sometimes you will get stuck and need assistance. After lunchtime you come back and meet again with your instructor to recoup, check previous code out, and learn another lesson. You will then work until you're done with the work for the day. It took me twelve hours of paying my fullest attention everyday to complete the journey. Sometimes I was able to take a Sunday off but usually I fell behind so I needed it to catch up. You will need to put aside any side distractions and let your girlfriend or spouse know you won't have free time for four months. In my experience I merged with two different classes during my time in the online full-time program. This made it more pleasant as I met great cohort mates and will keep up with them. There are some gaps in the learning platform and they will say it is to make you better at googling etc for programming. However, sometimes it's a pain in the rear to not have solutions and cohort mates unwilling to help. I think it's better to reverse engineer the code with the solution at that point. The exams are hard and are timed, so study tough. All of the teachers I had were cool and helpful, some were more social and knowledgeable than others but none the less every single one of them would reach out to offer help. Thank you to Devon, Jason, Todd, Claire, and everyone who attended the ceremony. All in all, a good place to learn CRUD applications and start your web development journey. Most likely if you pay attention you will have a job two to six months after the program.

I started learning programming at the beginning of this year, March 2019
I graduated Coding Dojo Sept 2019, and started my first job as a software engineer Oct 2019

I would say, that Coding Dojo is perfect for anyone who was like me, who is tired of what... Read More they are doing now.
If you are willing to put in the time and do whatever it takes to succeed then Coding Dojo is great

I had looked at other bootcamps, and tried to go it alone in learning.
I ultimately chose Coding Dojo because of their curriculum.
That being the 3 full stacks in 3 months, instead of say Ruby or something for the same time or longer.
But, my goal was to be the best all round programmer I could be in a short amount of time, not necessarily an expert at anyone language.

That did help me in the job search having so much breadth of knowledge.

I also did some Android w/ Java and C++ on my own for project week, which helped a bit
I will note, these were after 2 stacks, so I felt more confident in my ability to explore a new language or framework given that

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at the Seattle campus, which I chose because they take the GI bill
It felt better knowing I wasn't the only one struggling with learning something new.

If you enjoy learning, and/or enjoy a challenge Coding Dojo is pretty great place to get a foundation

Before enrolling in coding dojo, I was unemployed having just left a sales job. I’ve always wanted to learn how to create apps and websites because I believed I had a lot of ideas but had no way of turning them into something real. That’s when a friend... Read More of mine advised me to investigate coding bootcamps so I could learn coding in a concentrated curriculum so I could land a better job than what I was doing before, and I could also learn how to create apps. That’s when I came across coding dojo and having gone through the program I am able to say that I now know that I have the tools to create what I put my mind to and that if I have any trouble with anything, the instructors here are always up to helping you work out anything that you may be having trouble with your code. If you’re looking for something to change your career/life I’d highly recommend learning how to code and Coding Dojo is amongst the best at teaching you how to do that.

During my time at the Dojo I heard several people badmouth the place because it wasn't giving them what they wanted or it was inconveniencing them in some way. And in general I found that these people who spoke ill of the Dojo were expecting things to... Read More be given to them, rather than having to work for themselves or put in more effort than they wanted. And that's not what this program is about. This program is about literally immersing yourself in code. It's about putting aside all the other things in your life for 14 weeks so that you can create a better future for yourself. And if you're not ready to work, and if you're not ready to put off playing that video game or miss out on some nights out with friends or lose sleep trying to get ready for the belt exam tomorrow, then this place is not for you. That said, when you DO give it your all, when you do spend your nights mulling over why that bug is happening in your code, and you go home and you whiteboard out that algorithm you weren't getting in the morning, and you find yourself saying "I'm sorry, I can't go to the movies tonight, I really have to work on this project," then you'll be surprised at the end when you look back and see the sheer mountain of knowledge you've just accumulated over a short amount of time. I won't sugarcoat it. It's tough. Especially if you're walking in with zero experience. Day one thrusts you right into so much information your head will spin. But just keep going. Next thing you know it'll be 8 weeks later and you'll be looking at the newest cohort starting web fundamentals and think "God, I wish things were still as easy as web fund." The truly great thing about Coding Dojo is the fact that you learn 3 full stack languages. It sounds daunting, and it sounds like you can't possibly learn everything you need in such a short amount of time, but just be patient. By the time you hit stack 3 you'll have noticed how similarly each language is built, and now it's less about learning the WHY it works and more about remembering "is it console.log in this language or Console.WriteLine?" I walked in with some prior knowledge of code, but that prior knowledge was a drop in the bucket compared to what I learned in 14 weeks at the Dojo. It truly prepares you to not only be able to say "yeah, I can code in that language," but to be able to say "yeah, I understand the basic principles languages are built upon, so I can learn ANY language." And that, to me, is more valuable than just saying "I'm really good at one language." Because as I've experienced in the job hunt, people aren't looking for the guy who only knows one language, they want the guy who's got a broad range of experience, and that's what the Coding Dojo offers. All of that said, I'll be realistic. One, this is not for everyone. Expose yourself to a bit of coding before you start this, and if it makes any amount of sense on your own, then you'll probably do even better with an actual teacher helping you out and a platform to work from. Two, the platform is NOT a spoon-feeding system. Some people complain after getting in that they get lost in the material. And yes, I will concede that sometimes something just isn't explained properly or there's too big a leap in logic, but Coding Dojo has set up tons of ways for you to voice when something isn't being communicated right and the staff will actively do their part to make sure the information is coming across well. But you have to understand that there are some things purposefully omitted in order to encourage critical thinking, which is a proven way to make people learn over just giving them some knowledge to regurgitate for a test like everyone remembers doing to pass history or science. Coding Dojo wants you to learn, not recite. Three, Google is your friend. Let's be realistic here, our instructors are humans. They cannot have all the answers to life's coding questions, and they cannot always be there to help you. (They do need to sleep.) And while some people may think this is a failing on the instructor's part, it's really not. In the real world you'll be faced with these situations, and you're not always going to have someone there to hold your hand. So developing your skills in finding answers on the internet now will save you a lot of time and grief later. (And unwarranted anger towards your instructors.) In short, how well this program serves you is all up to you. If you're not ready to commit, you're not ready for this program. If you're not willing to engage during group algorithm sessions (which, I and my classmates can attest, the questions the Dojo gives you during these sessions ARE asked during technical interviews. So morning algorithms are the absolute best time to try and fail at these things and prepare you for interviews), then you're not ready for this program. If you're ready to commit, if you're ready to work as hard as you need to succeed, and if you're ready to learn something that will potentially change your whole life, then come to the Coding Dojo.

Earlier this year I was in need of a career change after spending the past 8 years working as a real estate agent. Although I had been applying to several jobs outside my industry, I was having a difficult time landing a job, and it became clear that... Read More my current skills were just not bringing in the types of opportunities, salaries, or job locations that I desired. I came to the realization that I needed to go back to school.

Following the advice of a career coach, I decided on attending a bootcamp versus going back for a masters degree. I always had an interest in web development, and learning how to code sounded like a great way to break into the tech industry and learn some marketable, in-demand skills that would help me build a solid foundation for a new career. I began researching coding bootcamps on CourseReport, and decided on Coding Dojo due to the 3-full stack curriculum (at this location, Python, C#, and MEAN), phenomenal reviews, course schedule (14 weeks) and location (previously Tysons Corner, now Arlington, VA). I also learn best in an in-classroom, hands-on, immersive style program, so this course suits my learning style well.

Prior to starting this program, I had no experience in coding, but ended up earning 3 blackbelts (highest honors) in each stack's final exam. However, that's not to say it was easy - quite the opposite! What makes this program challenging overall is the pace of how quickly it moves. So much material is covered each day, with all of the lessons, assignments, and projects, and it is difficult to complete everything in time. When the program says the most successful students put in 70-90 hours per week, they aren't kidding! Many students spend late nights and weekends working on assignments and projects, and may need to sacrifice something in their schedule, but in the end, it's so worth it.

The program starts each day with algorithms, where students are tasked to solve complex coding challenges along with their cohort-mates, followed by a morning lecture covering programming concepts and code walk-throughs, and the rest of the day is spent working on assignments with sometimes an afternoon lecture. Each stack is 3 weeks long, followed by a final exam and project week where students get to dig deeper into languages, technologies, and topics they are passionate about. The program encourages creativity, and fosters an awesome community of peers who are all there to learn and grow. The connections you form at the school are invaluable and I can say many of my cohort-mates have become friends, and we plan to stay connected after graduation.

The whole instruction and leadership team at the Arlington Campus is fantastic! William Goode is a talented and versatile teacher who always takes time to help students, and truly has a desire to see everyone succeed. He is able to break down complex concepts on a variety of programming languages, and his love for teaching and dedication to his students really shows. Rob Dahal is also a wonderful, hands-on instructor who has passion to see his students succeed and makes sure no one is left behind. Nina Ramiscal was my instructor for the Python stack, and she had a great ability to explain algorithms and walk through coding assignments with ease. All of the instructors are passionate about programming, and it's evident in the way they teach the material, and care about students.

Overall, I cant speak highly enough about my experience at Coding Dojo! From the instructors and the rigorous course schedule, to the learning platform and the awesome community, this experience has been truly transformative! I highly recommend it if you're looking to change careers like I did, increase your skillset, or just starting out. If you enjoy hands-on learning, being challenged daily, and have a desire to grow professionally and personally through learning how to code, then you should definitely checkout Coding Dojo!

If your like me you probably could learn it all on your own, but really would you? I was trying to teach my self for quite awhile but I lacked the resolve to complete any of my goals. At Coding Dojo: Dallas, you learn things fast, the environment is great,... Read More plus they provide you with snacks and coffee. Its also a great place to meet like minded people from many different backgrounds and sectors.

I graduated from Coding Dojo since July. Their tuition is very reasonable comparing to other bootcamps, and they offer plenty of options for scholarship too. According to my classmates, for people who apply for it, we all got the scholarship(I got $1000... Read More off and some classmates got $3000).

Besides the tuition, the content they taught there is what I care about the most. The courses are well designed in the way of their materials and the learning platform. As for the materials, Coding Dojo makes sure the content that we learn is what job market demands most at the time for Web Development. During my study there, I saw how they make effort on improving their curriculum through meetings and students reviews. The platform is very well built by their team and easy to learn materials through videos and text, although the text sometimes is written in a not very explicit way. The materials are categorized by what you’re learning and it will automatically record where you’re currently at. That’s also where you upload your everyday assignment. Good tool for reviewing for exam.

The course is very compact, and you need to be ready to commit your time in it. At least 70 hours per week. No kidding. But it will pay off at the end, and you will be surprised by how much you learned. Never had I learned so much through such short period of time(except exam week in college, lol). Believe that you’re capable of completing if you commit.

The ambience of the studying is good too. Teachers and TAs are nice and from about the same generation as me(am 24). There was not much student-teacher hierarchy. There will always be someone answering your question. I used to teach myself programming at home and I always wasted time struggling with bugs.

I had ten cohorts to start the program with me and they’re very nice people. We helped each other out. At the same time, competition was there to push us moving forward faster together. It has been 3 months that I graduated, and we still keep in touch. I know one of them is already starting a career at a cloud service company now. I think the skills your learn here is sufficient enough to get a job! As long as you keep it through(practice interview questions, build clickable project, practice algos, build a presentable portfolio, etc.).

The career service there is what’s valuable too. You will get a one-day career training from their career coach to learn about tech interview and preparation. They will also have a mock interview set up for you from real tech company. My cohort actually get a interview-offer from people who mock-interviewed her.

Overall it is a good program. I am thankful for the things I learned here and people I’ve met :). It’s not like it doesn’t have any cons, but the pros override all :)

The pros were that the teacher was nice the cons were that sometimes he/she got mad and yelled at us but she/was funny and she/he had a lot of hard time with us because we kept talking a lot but he/she got over it, but sometimes he/she got really really... Read More upset

I attended Coding Dojo starting in June of 2019. Right away I noticed that I was putting together the dots that I was missing trying to learn this on my own. The course was very demanding, but in a good way. I was very interested in the curriculum, they... Read More made it fun with real life applications, and small games. I started off in the Tech industry as a Graphic Designer, and felt like I wanted to do a little more. Coding Dojo made this dream a little more visual and I seen that I could anything if I put my mind to it , it I persevere. After the Camp they helped me reshape my resume, and apply my skills to the job search. Im currently looking but I learned that the Journey isn't over until you reach your goals.