The Software Guild - CLOSED

Pros: knowledgeable staff, great curriculum, active learning environment, great exposure to relevant technologies.
Cons: Class seemed to become overly burnt out, the time commitment was so large that some students weren't able to commit to 60+ hr work... Read More weeks and they struggled because of that (when they could be solid developers if they could put the time in), not enough staff to support class after hours.

I leaned everything I needed to know and be successful in my field. I went from having a job before the Software Guild, and now I have a career I am proud of! I couldn't have done it without the instructors and staff who really care about the students... Read More and help push the student to strive for success!

I did the 3 month bootcamp with The Software Guild (OOP- Java track). The company I work for paid for a group of us to go through this bootcamp. The program was fast paced and time consuming. We were often working nights and weekends along with the required... Read More 8 hour classroom time mon-fri. I loved the class, I learned a lot and the overall experience was great. I knew going into it that it would be a lot of work but in the end it would pay off. I now feel very comfortable with the work I am doing and would recommend this bootcamp to anyone interested in making a career shift.

I am a graduate of the second .Net cohort in Minneapolis. Attending the class was the best decision I have ever made. I am employed as a Web Programmer and continue to expand my knowledge development daily. My experience at the Guild not only gave me... Read More a great base understanding of coding, it provided me tools for continued learning.
The aptitude test ensures that candidates are capable of absorbing this type of intense learning. The course pre-work is imperative and so beneficial. It absolutely set the pace for the rest of the course. The course material covers a broad enough range that one's ability to get through the course says a lot to potential employers.
Pros:
My instructor was AMAZING. Alec had a way of making the most intense, stressful times doable. His demeanor was vital to the wonderful atmosphere of my cohort. He took time to review any lesson we asked, either in a group basis or one on one. He was so committed to our success it pushed us to work harder.
The rest of the staff! Everyone was encouraging, enthusiastic and supportive. The Program Manager, Johanna, went way above and beyond to help us in every way she could. From treats on Fridays to keep us going to calling personal favors. Jo made personal calls to many friends she has in the industry to work with us. We had offers for references, mentorship, career counseling, etc.
The COURSE. The work is fascinating, the pace is intense, by the time you grasp a topic you're on to the next. The material is relevant, and laid out to be absorbed.
Cons:
I don't think enough emphasis was placed by the recruitment people on the time and energy it may take us to land interviews and jobs. It wasn't until later in the course, when the staff at our location talked with us, that we realized we needed to prepare for the possibility of not having a job right after the class was over. Being that the participants are all adults, presumably with financial responsibilities, families, etc., the recruitment staff seemed more concerned with enrolling us than with making sure we understood we'd need the time and resources to commit to full-time job searching after the program finished. Enrollment also could have done more to explain the intensity of the course.
There was confusion (as should be expected in a program this new) about requirements for pre-coursework. Potential students need to have access to appropriate software for those assignments.
All in all, the program is great and getting better. I would (and have!) highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in coding. I am in an amazing field with awesome career opportunities. My time at the Guild was sometimes a blur, but worth every moment. I am now a Hiring Manager at my company and Software Guild graduates are always among our top picks. I am so grateful I had the opportunity.

This place is the most enjoyable 12-week kick in the ass that one can receive. It's difficult. and it gets more difficult as it goes on. The pace is very fast, but once you accustom yourself to it, you start to enjoy it. You will live, breathe, and bleed... Read More code for 3 months, and by week three, you will be dreaming about code too. It is very much like drinking from a firehose, but you learn to love it. and when it's over and someone gives you a glass of water, you can't help but miss the hose. Patrick Toner is an absolutely wonderful teacher, and I'm super happy with the fact that I went so far out of my way to learn from him. The Software Guild was the greatest experience of my life, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who thinks they have what it takes.

The Software Guild is the best decision I've ever made for my professional development and marketability. I first thought about coding in February of 2016, attended the Guild from May to August, and had my first well-paying job ever by the middle of November... Read More 2016. And I was one of the last ones from my cohort to start work (everyone that I know of was offered a job within two months or so from graduation, and many even before graduation).
So it is far more than worth the expense. Best investment I ever made. The teachers are competent and the material is exactly what you need to land a junior level developer position. On top of that, they specifically help you with your resume, train you for interviews, and even bring employers and recruiters to you physically at the Guild.
Java and .Net/C# are very similar languages, and you can get a junior level position in one even if you are trained in the other, so my advice is to pick the instructor who teaches more to your style (I attended in Louisville). The Guild hosts events from time to time where prospective students can meet the instructors and ask them questions as well.
Part-time online is also an option but it takes at least 9 months last I checked. I recommend doing the 12 week course locally if you can afford it. There are education loans available. The 12 week course is very intense though, so you need to be prepared to give up to 60 hours a week to it. You may not end up actually needing that much time, but that is what you should be prepared for.
The only thing I wish that I could have learned more about before starting my job was the theory and structure of the language. Given the limited time of the course though it is just not feasible, and I am glad that they prioritize what they do. But if you can read up on it a little before the course starts it will definitely help you. Fortunately as part of my job I was given the opportunity to study for and obtain a Java certification, but not every employer is like that.
The first thing you need to do is figure out whether or not you like coding. Go to codecademy and do the tutorials on HTML, JavaScript, and Java or .Net/C#. If they make any kind of sense to you and you enjoy them, then you can start on the Software Guild pre-work. I believe they started giving free access to the pre-work for anyone.
If you want a decent wage, great job security(as an industry), and to be pestered by recruiters on LinkedIn, The Software Guild can get you there no matter where you're coming from.

The Software Guild came to my attention during a local NPR segment on WKSU. I knew immediately that I had to do it, since I had been a self-taught front-end programmer of educational websites. I had wanted to move full time into programming, but with... Read More years invested in formal education (a Ph.D. in French), I did not want to go back to school to potentially be trained in obsolete technologies! The program is practical, up-to-date, hands-on, with an introduction to concepts of Object-Oriented Programming. The cost at $10K was reasonable.

I am working in the field, so the pros were many. The only cons I will describe are a caution to let you know what you need to bring to the process. Expect to work your ass off. You will not have a life outside of the bootcamp. Expect to doubt yourself and dig deep to overcome it. This is part of the work, since I have to push my skills to the next level all the time in order to produce custom software solutions for the company I work for. Know what "impostor syndrome" is and make sure you can handle your emotions. A more liesurely learning experience may be easier to get through, but if you enjoy and thrive in a program like The Software Guild, you will be prepared to step into a job that you will love. And that gives you room to grow.

Went right out of high school with no job or programming experience. Less than two months after graduating I was able to land a Software Engineering role that I absolutely love. The Software Guild taught me how to learn and laid a sturdy foundation to... Read More grow from. I highly recommend this boot camp to anyone looking to get into the software industry.

It's a good learning experience. From knowing nothing to knowing something. Before I attended, there is a month and a half worth of pre-work on HTML, CSS, minor JavaScript, and basic computer stuff. As I am writing this review, I only have one day left... Read More of class. Now I can say I am a full-stack developer. I will be always be tightening up my skills. I would attend this if you are a quick learner and highly motivated to get a job in the software industry. It's not for everyone, so think about it closely before investing time and money into this. No hand holding and be sure to ask a lot of good questions. For any software programmer, you must always be learning!!! Learning doesn't stop after this program!!! I think I have learned alot, and it was good for me.