Wyncode

Wyncode was a life changing experience in so many ways. I intended to change my career and do something I'm passionate about and love (coding).

Wyncode was supportive from the start. Allowing me to apply for a scholoarship, giving me a great option to... Read More pay and supporting me throughout my time there academically and emotionally.

It was a hard journey learning and evolving but well worth it. I obtained a job two weeks after graduation.

The co-founders, teachers, and staff are the BEST!

Joy

Wyncode equips you with the theoretics and application of Wed Development, while also providing you with the necessary skills need to secure and sustain employment. In addition to this, Wyncode has something that seems few and far nowadays, that is a... Read More family-oriented support system.

Have you tried teaching yourself coding? It's not easy at all. Especially on your own. Technology progresses at such a high rate that you can't possibly know every single thing. However, there are some basics that remain constant. The one thing they want... Read More to imprint onto you is knowing how to learn.

The full-time course is difficult. They don't just mean 9-5 Monday to Friday, it also means nights and weekends. Trust me though, it is incredibly worth it. I've changed my life for the better and I can't even begin to imagine how my life would have been without it. The future you want won't be handed to you, you will need to strive for it.

The other thing they really push onto you is to NEVER STOP LEARNING. It is such a big point that they even have the saying emblazoned on the wall. Once your time at Wyncode ends, it is important not just to keep learning, but to keep applying and having some faith in yourself that you are deserving of these jobs. Thankfully to their large network of employers and alumni, I was able to find my first job.

I don't know what else could be said about Wyncode that hasn't been said already. It is definitely the best educational investment I've ever made.

If you are someone who has been considering software development as either a new career track or as a valuable skill to add to your portfolio, Wyncode Academy is the best school to go to in South Florida. As someone who has paid for a college education... Read More as well as non-traditional programs, Wyncode reigns as the best financial and educational investment I have made.

Here is a breakdown of what Wyncode does and what you should know signing up:

- Dynamic Curriculum; With AGILE practices, your education is tailored to what best suits you and your cohort.
- Qualified teaching staff
- Extensive Project/Homework Support;
- Integration of practical and paramount skills (Public Speaking, Dev Teamwork, Networking Opportunities)
- Employment Support with Hiring Network Support; Wyncode doesn't forget about you once you graduate. The team assists you in getting noticed by hiring partners and other South Florida tech companies. The school takes pride in their employment stats after students graduate.
- Lot of coffee! (Trust me, you'll need it)

This 10 Week Program will be INTENSE and will require your FULL-TIME Dedication. What you get out from Wyncode is what you put into it. I highly recommend you take some weeks before starting to prepare; do the pre-work, get extra practice, look for tutorials online. The ones who excel aren't the "geniuses". The ones who do are those who choose to be patient and believe in themselves. Coding is never easy the first time around. Be persistent, stay curious, and you'll thrive! :)

Wyncode is an amazing place. Going there was an absolutely life changing experience for me and it allowed me to learn a skill that has led me to find a job that I love. One of the best things that Wyncode provides is the community and life long support... Read More that are imperative to succeeding in such a tough industry.

My instructor Ed is one of the reasons Wyncode changed my life. He is an absolute genius! He is a wealth of knowledge and patience and he will teach you a concept until he is blue in the face and then keep going until you understand. Once you graduate, he will become your friend and offer endless help and support for any question or problem you encounter. He is the definition of a mentor; I have never met someone who loves helping others succeed as much as he does.

He is probably one of the best parts of Wyncode and I am a better person for having been a part of his class. #edisawesome

I spent two years planning my jump into the tech industry and the fact that I remained here in South Florida is somewhat remarkable, considering I have been yearning to head back to the West Coast ever since I left, more than ten years ago. It also speaks... Read More to the fact that South Florida has a budding tech scene where you can really make an impact and a name for yourself.

While I considered several bootcamps back on the West Coast and overseas, I ultimately settled on Wyncode because of the value of their program. Obviously I'm referring to the tuition fee, but you get much more than other schools offer; specifically I'm talking about their network of tech companies whom they utilize for job placement of their graduates. That industry network alone is worth the tuition price, without instruction. You get much more bang for your money here in South Florida than NYC or the West Coast, certainly. The programs I considered elsewhere had no network to help with employment after graduation. Wyncode actually has staff who work with students from day one until the very day students get their first tech job.

The instruction is very much hands-on; our head instructor (professor Auston Bunsen) engages every student and everyone is expected to code along during lectures. The bottomline is that you simply do not learn this stuff by listening or reading, you learn coding by coding. The curiculum is constantly being improved and built upon each day and you can really tell, as a student. The Wynfam (alum and industry supporters) are also a great resource during and, more importantly, after graduation. Have an emergency? They're there for you.

This was likely the smartest decision I have yet made in my 31 years on this planet. I only wish I had done it sooner. There is such a demand for tech professionals everywhere. You can literally guarantee your job security for a lifetime.

I will warn you - be prepared to give 110%. Give whatever program you decide on your all and expect that it will be hard. You will cry. You will gain or lose an unhealthy amount of weight. But it will be worth every sacrifice.

I had been teaching myself to code online using Code Avengers, Team Treehouse etc. for a over a year when I came to Wyncode. Studying online was going too slow and I hit a barrier trying to learn Rails. I just could not teach myself. I researched a lot... Read More of coding bootcamps and this seemed to be the best decision. I spoke with Carlos Vasquez who was very transparent with the fact that students graduate with a basic knowledge of Rails.

I did graduate with a basic knowledge of Rails and have several web apps under my belt. After graduating and looking for work, I do wish the curriculum was more robust on JavaScript and included some of the more modern JS Frameworks. This course is primarily a Back-End Course meaning the most of the time is spent on Ruby and the Ruby on Rails Framework. I feel very confident with Ruby.

The TAs and teaching staff are awesome! Special shout out to Ed, Jose, Jon, Henry, Albert & Joe. The quality of the TAs makes the course as that is a big thing I didn't have studying on my own - someone I could ask questions to and not feel like an idiot.

So all in all:

PROS:
- Fantastic teaching staff
- You will learn RoR
- Very inclusive WynFam

CONS:
- 9 weeks is a very short time to learn software development (I also think 12 weeks is short)
- This may be a problem with the co-working space and not the school, but the Lab sometimes (on the weekend) had a pot smell in the vents that made it hard to concentrate for me
- No modern JS Framework are taught e.g. React or Angular
- The CSS portion of the course is too short, I don't think it should be extended but more robust pre-work added i.e. the Team Treehouse CSS courses
- There is not a whole lot of support for getting a job if you don't live in Miami. Which is fine as the whole purpose of this school is to create a tech scene in South Florida, I just thought I would mention it.

TIPS (these could go for any coding bootcamp):
- DO the pre-work that is assigned before you get there.
- The course is only 9 weeks, so if you get happen to get ahead don't be lazy. Continue studying, do exercises on codewars.com, read blog posts, create little projects. You have to hustle to get a job so take full advantage of the time you have carved out of your life to do this.
- Do all the homework. The school only enforces about 70%-80% so you have to put discipline in. I learned the most from doing the homework and doing the projects.
- Follow along if you can during the lectures
- Write down any questions you have or any term or thing you don't understand during a lecture and get it resolved afterwards. The teaching staff are very open to questions (also if your question meets the criteria for questions that are ok to ask during a lecture, have at it)
- Practice, Practice, Practice

I went to Wyncode because like many other students, I'm an entrepreneur, and had an idea. I saw Wyncode as an outlet to develop my idea. Man was I naive, not to say Wyncode didn't give me the skills that I needed to create my idea. Instead, it opened... Read More my eyes to many other things. It was a transformative process, and I am only better because of it. I created a strong network that has enabled me to start my own business, it taught how to think technically and find answers on my own. It has been enabling to say the least.

Pros:
Strong Curriculum and Education Staff
Great Management Team
Network
Miami

Cons:
Serious Mental & Time Commitment (As in you need to quit your job to go)

Thank you Wyncode, I wouldn't be heading in the direction I am without you.

I first learned about Wyncode through a friend when I told him I was ready to really commit to learning programming, and I still haven't thanked him enough for recommending me this amazing place. For my research, I actually read all the CourseReport reviews... Read More that were available at the time, and one in particular really caught my attention. My writing this review after completing the cohort is one of the many ways where I've come full circle.

I just finished the cohort last night (March 12th, 2015), and I can already tell you it was an experience that changed my life. Wyncode is aimed at taking you from zero knowledge to junior developer, and although they cannot guarantee a job, they will do everything in their power to get you there. There are interviews, guest speakers, networking events, and workshops. Two other classmates and myself actually had signed our employment letters the Wednesday before finishing the program, and two others had job offers as well.

For those still on the job market, Wyncode has prepared great resources and a contact list to help them get jobs as soon as possible. They keep partnering with more and more hiring partners, and they are looking at it from all angles. They really want graduates to succeed.

Regarding the education, Ed Toro is simply amazing. He is very passionate about what he does and is a great eduactor. He is so knowlegeable and smart, you learn every single day. There is no day where you are not learning. There are projects and homework from day one, there's prework to be completed, there's always extra reading. You really need to be committed to making it work.

As for myself, I play soccer for a semi-pro team so I had four hours less than everybody else to work so I had to get up earlier, and really spend most of my day working, but it paid off, if you come in with the attitude of hustling at all times, you will succeed and do amazing. Honestly, it's amazing how much I've learned in what seems like such a short period of time.

Regarding the TA's, I can't say enough good things about them. They are very knowledgeable as well, and they are usually alumns from previous cohorts who really know what new students are going through. They really care about our future and it shows. Walter, Frank, Auston, Damon, Sean, Ray, they are always there to help.

And who could forget about the amazing Diego Lugo, the operations manager. He works non-stop and is always giving his one-hundred percent. He wants to have everything ready all the time and is super friendly, I have never seen him on a bad day.

Lastly, the final project is a true learning experience. We learned so much not only about coding, but about working in teams, managing time, coming up with ideas. I can say that I am ready to start working right away after Wyncode as I have a great understanding not only about the technical aspect, but the business aspect as well.

The last full-circle point is that I said to the staff on the first day that I was going to win Pitch Day and they said they'd hold me to that. They really push students to give their best and that's what I am truly thankful for. In this type of program, you really have to make the most out of it, and they are going to push you to do so. They won't let you slack off because they truly care about you succeeding and doing great.

The following represents my opinion, and mines alone.

Wyncode was what may turn out to be the most important learning experience of my life.

In 9 weeks, and only with the most intense effort from myself, and the support of the staff and admin, I was taught... Read More what I would consider a second to none foundation to beginining a career as a web developer.

The admin and staff will tell you, you will get out of this course what you put in, and I couldn't agree more.

I secured a developer position with a spectacular organization essentially the night of pitch day, and for this I give alot of credit to the social and business lessons which the course also stresses. Of course, at the end of the day, I put in the work and effort, again supporting the self investment concept Wyncode strongly pushes.

This all shows exactly what Wyncode has to offer: the tools for success for those willing to use all of the resources they provide, and also willing to fully invest in their own success.

In sum, I would strongly recommend Wyncode to anyone, and at the same time advise that those interested do their independent research to see if this course is for them, because it could end up being the most intense learning experience they have yet encountered.