Alchemy

This is one of the scariest decisions I have ever made. I left a well paying, safe, secure, and long term government job to "do this thing". It turned out to be one of the better decisions I have made. I took this leap to provide a different life for me and my husband (and growing family one day). I wanted to expand our life and I needed to find something remote and flexible that paid more. I had my interview with Alchemy, was encouraged to apply for a scholarship and to my surprise-- got it! It felt like a sign that it was the right path and how could I say, "No". The community has been nothing but welcoming and supportive ever since I made my first introduction in the slack channel. The instruction is top notch as far as technical skill BUT most importantly, they care-- they really do. Career services is top notch and always gave me everything I asked for-- mock interviews, connections, time, numerous resume reviews. This is a program that will make you work for what you want but it's worth every penny, hard moment, and eventually reject that leads you to your first gig. I wanted to share my story because truly, if I can do it-- YOU CAN DO IT! Alchemy is a life long thing. You make the choice to join the community and learn the skill but then you get to be apart of it all. If you're looking for a full-time bootcamp, this is it. Happy coding and good luck!

Alchemy Code Lab was the best decision I ever made.  The teachers were incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and approachable.  The only thing difficult was the curriculum change halfway through my experience.  It was a one time, major change for the school, and our cohort was one of the first "test" cohorts to check out the new curriculum.  They worked out a lot of bugs after us, and the new curriculum offers some things that I wish we had the opportunity to learn.  But other than that, the school was incredible. the cohort was incredible, and the experience was top notch.  I believe that the school really put the proper emphasis on what to teach to make us all marketable for employment in the field.  I don't believe I would have done it any differently, or gone to any other school if given the chance to go again.

If you're looking for full stack web dev sort of bootcamp, Alchemy Code Lab is a great choice. I signed an offer for a software engineer position about 4 weeks after graduating. Before Alchemy, I was working nights loading trucks at UPS trying to put myself through college, which was miserable and destroying my health.  I had a solid background in math and technical problem solving at this point, and had begun to take programming seriously, as well as starting to self teach data structures and algorithms. Still, the timeline to being employable as a software engineer was unacceptably long for me, and I saw quitting my job to commit to self teaching full time as unacceptably risky. I decided doing a bootcamp was my best option, and ultimately went with Alchemy because of their community ties to the Portland area and good reputation there. 

I had a great experience at Alchemy. The community is friendly and helpful. The instruction staff is competent and cares about the students, and daily labs are well thought out and designed to push the limits of what you can do without being demoralizing. The curriculum touches on programming and computer science fundamentals, but there simply isn't time to cover these more than superficially while also learning to build apps with the kind of modern tools and frameworks that are in-demand practical job skills. That being said, bootcamps were never meant to be a replacement for a computer science education and the Alchemy Code Lab curriculum is surprisingly demanding and thorough given the time frame they are working with. It is genuinely hard, but the staff is supportive and if you are determined to succeed, you will.

There was a higher rate of staff turnover than I would have liked to see, and occasional quality control issues with curriculum, but these minor problems didn't detract from my overall experience. No organization is perfect, but I can confidently say that Alchemy Code Lab is operated in good faith and consistently produces great outcomes for most of its students.

A common complaint against bootcamps is they hire their own alumni as teaching assistants to boost their job placement numbers. While Alchemy does hire alums as teaching assistants, I'm pretty sure it's not for this reason, as they were often scrambling to find TAs because the TAs kept finding jobs! My TAs were kind, competent, professional and helpful, and it always felt like they were an integral part of the instructional staff, not a placeholder or a numbers booster.

Coming from a math background, I found that my logic and problem solving skills were readily applicable to software development. Being able to formalize your thoughts and communicate them precisely, reason symbolically, prove things, etc. along with the soft skills, tool and framework knowledge, and teamwork experience of a bootcamp, will push you to the top of the non-traditional candidate pool, so I highly recommend Alchemy to people with a similar background.

What I got the most out of at Alchemy was experience working on software as a team and strong connections with the developer community in the Portland area. Alchemy provided me with an immersive environment where coding together with a wonderful and diverse group of people was my daily life for six months, and ultimately that is what got me ready to work as a software engineer. 

It's a huge decision to stop working and put your life on hold for 6 months, but attending Alchemy was definitely the right decision for me. It is HARD, and you will struggle at times, but it's because you are learning so much in such a small amount of time. I did a lot of research before landing on Alchemy(I am not from Oregon), including looking at how they come by the numbers in their success rate statistics. What really sold me was the promise of pre and post-graduation career services, and they have lived up to expectations. How to socialize with industry professionals and actually going out to do it are part of the curriculum, and the career services people will go out of their way to help you. If you put in the effort, they will absolutely match it and go above and beyond for you. 

The education is top notch, I am leaps and bounds ahead of most recent graduates I've met from other bootcamps, but what really sticks out to me is that each and every person at Alchemy wants you to succeed. I've had TA's and instructors from other classes come help me, staff reach out when I was having a hard time but hadn't said anything, and never have I been turned away when I asked anyone for help, both staff and alumni. You can go to any bootcamp and learn to code to some extent, but the high standards and compassion at Alchemy set it apart. The community it fosters is unmatched, and when you're stressed and crying the staff will not hesitate to take time one on one with you to either help you through the problem, or just to listen and sympathize with you. (I say staff and not instructors because every employee I have interacted with has been kind and eager to help me with whatever was going on).

If you're going to take the plunge in to a new career you have exactly 0 experience in, I wholeheartedly recommend Alchemy. 

Like many folks, I lost my job when the pandemic hit. I started researching programming boot camps on the advice of some friends who had found success in tech after participating in similar programs. My background wasn't in this field, I had to do some light programming for various things in college but I never had any real grasp on what I was doing. I shopped around, I attended a few free intro courses that many boot camps offer to feel things out. They were fine, but things felt impersonal, most of the teaching was done by recent grads and the classes were huge. Everything changed when I found Alchemy. Every single person I met through this school made me feel like a capable and worthy human being. I deserved to be here. The classes are small and personal with plenty of TA's (who are truly amazing) to help anyone in need. The lectures are engaging, the exercises are relevant to what you might be doing on the job. Most importantly, you are supported by the staff, they really want you to succeed in this endeavor. You need to embrace that support network, this program is hard, it requires a lot (A LOT) of dedication to what you are doing and if you can't do that, you might be held back or asked to leave. But the help is there, the resources are there, you can do it. This program has a great reputation for a good reason, and if you put in the work, you'll come out of it a very capable engineer. Some of the things taught to my cohort were vanilla javascript (a deep dive), React (with hooks and the context API), NodeJS, Express, PostgreSQL, and how to make the best use of Github. They also have events called "hack days" which are workshops for you to pick up other skills. I got to mess with typescript and tailwind CSS. I still can't believe all of the things they taught me in 6 months! On top of the programming skills, Alchemy provides you with a talented and motivating career services team (as I said, they want you to succeed) who will help you nail down a proper resume, and give you realistic interview practice. Don't underestimate the value of those things, I was getting interviews right out of school because my resume and portfolio looked professional. Not everyone needs a boot camp and not everyone can handle that kind of workload. If you are the type of person who thrives in a community setting and you don't mind hard work, Alchemy could be a great fit. I highly recommend you give them a chance. 

I'd first heard of Alchemy through a friend who went through the program in 2016. During the early pandemic I lost my job and decided it was time to take my future career more into my hands. I saw coding as an increasingly in demand field and with pay that would lead to financial security for myself and my family. 

I looked at programs around the Portland area and surveyed friends in the tech world to see what they knew about local code school options. One friend told me not even to bother with a boot camp and to just teach myself. When I mentioned I was considering Alchemy they immediately stopped and said, well I have actually only ever heard good things about that program. Between that and my friend who had gone through the program previously my mind was made up. My informational interview with Megan was purely a formality (but I will admit it made me even more eager to start ASAP). 

Megan was very honest about time commitments, academic rigor, and job search following the program. If I wanted to make this transition, it was not going to be easy or brief. That was exactly what I wanted to hear. 6 months of coding and a portfolio with at least 4 projects to show to prospective employers gave me full confidence in the program.

The program itself lived up to the hype. I won't lie and tell you it was always fun, or that I even felt like I was progressing each day. However, each week I felt like I was a stronger coder, reader of code, and critical thinker than the week before. Alchemy blended solo work and group work to create a nice measure of personal progress and learning to code and manage group dynamics. 

They also incorporated career services assignments throughout the course. This gave students dedicated time to work on things like resumes and researching both technical and behavioral interview questions. It also provided time to work with colleagues on our answers to those interview questions. My personal favorite during all of this was 1 on 1 meetings with the career service staff to tighten up my resume, craft my narrative of becoming a software developer, and gain confidence in talking professionally about my skills.

Overall, I would highly recommend the program to those ready to make the leap. It has given me the tools to succeed in the tech world and enhance my ability to contribute to companies and provide me and my family financial security going forward. 

Alchemy Code Lab was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. Prior to this, coding was something I was interested in but never really planned on pursuing. That was until one of my best friends took the program. Before coming to Alchemy, I already had a good impression because my friend had been trying to convince me to take it from when he was in the program up until the point when I finally said yes. I gained confidence in Alchemy’s ability to prepare people for tech careers when my friend got his first job where he was referred to by another Alchemy graduate, and after talking to Megan, my decision was made.
If your only interest is to learn web development, then I would suggest much cheaper alternative resources like Khan Academy, Udemy, Codecademy, YouTube, etc. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of other resources that are much cheaper than Alchemy Code Lab that you can use to learn web development. Alchemy Code Lab isn’t just about teaching you web development, it’s about preparing you for a career in tech starting with web development. You’ll get tech industry-related experience with teamwork and communication, project planning and management, and best practices as well as career-related experience with networking, resume writing, interviewing, and salary negotiation. When you join Alchemy Code Lab, you won’t just be enrolling in a class, you’ll be joining a positive and supportive community that will support you during your time at Alchemy and will continue to do so long after you’re done with the program.
While the cost of doing Alchemy Code Lab is obviously higher compared to other programs in the Portland area and keeping in mind that I can’t really compare the Alchemy program to other programs (because I didn’t have to take other programs), I would say that it’s totally worth it for the experience and the amount and quality of support you get from the staff. I would dare say that you can get your money’s worth just from having access to Shannon in Career Services but that wouldn’t be fair or right to Megan, Marty, Ryan, and the other staff members (I haven’t met the others) because they are all amazing and supportive. Shannon will help you with networking, interviewing, and negotiating salary. She will give you advice on your resume and even set you up with recruiters for positions that she thinks would be a good fit for you. Her goal isn’t just for you to get a job, it’s for you to get a job that you’re happy with and pays well. Marty and Ryan are veterans in the tech industry and are very up to date on the latest and most popular technologies. They always make sure that the curriculum they teach you is reflective of the demand in the job market. Megan is basically Alchemy’s mom. She’ll support you emotionally if you ever feel down, and she’ll also work with you to get financial aid. Before the pandemic when the classes were in-person, she made sure that the class environment was comfortable and gave out snacks everyday.
I want to be clear, just doing the program isn’t going to guarantee you a job nor will it guarantee that you will be an amazing developer. You’ll have to put in the work to get results. However the work you put in at Alchemy will have amplified results with their support.

At the time I joined Alchemy, I had past experience coding, but I wanted to bring my skills current with an in-demand tech stack. I was fully prepared to go out of state to get the best bootcamp education. Alchemy, being a smaller school, didn't happen to cross my radar until the very last minute. Thankfully, it did, and I was able to join a cohort that had just completed their prep week.

I found the coursework to be very challenging and I really appreciated the strength of the Alchemy community in supporting each other through it. I really feel like I made some true friends in the coding crucible there. I was able to continue on with a small study group after the program ended in order to keep up and build on my skills.

Six months later, I've accepted an offer for a great job with a startup after receiving a great deal of interest from several potential employers.

So wait, why only 4 stars for curriculum? As a cohort, we expressed some concerns about the timing and methods for the introduction of React.JS into the coursework. To Alchemy's credit, they listened and adjusted things for the very next cohort. This wasn't a huge deal and curriculum in a good bootcamp should always be evolving to fit the needs of the market and the students. If I could give 4.5 stars I would, it's just difficult to be perfect in this area.

One thing that I've heard from other bootcamp grads in town is that they are a little jealous with the career support that Alchemy offers. Job hunting can be very emotionally challenging and it was nice to know that I could always reach out and get help when I needed it. I frequently reviewed materials we'd been provided with prior to interviews in order to be well prepared. And, as an alumnus, there were fireside chats and other events to keep me in touch with developer life and the job market in a more direct way.

tl;dr
Challenging (and fun!) program with really strong network/community. Unparalleled instruction quality and career support. Went from having virtually no programming knowledge to being a confident software engineer in about 5 months. Found first role within seven weeks of graduating despite having completely unrelated professional background and seeking work in the midst of a global pandemic. Couldn’t be more grateful for decision to attend Alchemy.

Instruction and Curriculum
Depth
What drew me most to this program was the depth of the instruction — learning one language from front to back through hands-on experience. Bootcamp timelines are short; by spending that time diving deeper into JavaScript instead of scraping the surfaces of several languages, Alchemy students develop a strong foundation in the engineering processes and practices that make us successful finding jobs and in the field. We have a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts, are able to write better quality code and can adapt to new languages and tools quickly.

Process
During the technical interview for my current role, I was asked to architect an app based on product requirements from imaginary project managers, wireframe it, and build it out on the spot. For an Alchemy grad, this is a breeze; I did a version of this every day for months and really deepened my skills during project sprints. What really sets Alchemy students apart is our ability to break down a process and execute each step from start to finish. The language itself could be learned through online courses; it would take longer, and the lack of accountability would limited the format’s effectiveness for me personally, but it would be possible. But becoming really comfortable with processes — through demos in iterative practices, projects and many hours of hands-on experience every day — is not an ability I think I could have learned through other means.

Staying up to date
Alchemy’s curriculum is always changing to keep up with the industry. My current software engineering role is with an established retail company that is transitioning its model to focus more heavily on software. At my job, we use the most popular library for building UI components and the most up-to-date syntax. The fact that my current role is using a similar tools to what I learned at Alchemy — and is using them the same way that I learned — highlights Alchemy’s strengths. When the latest JS version was nearing release, we knew what to expect and were able to implement some of its features immediately.

Instructor quality and support
I felt so supported throughout the program by Alchemy’s primary instructors, Dani and Ryan. They are skilled at finding ways to present information that can be absorbed by different learning styles. Several TAs were also available to offer assistance, and one was officially designated to review my work. When I needed assistance, I was always be able to connect with a member of the instruction staff — both while the program was in person and after the pandemic abruptly shifted us to remote learning. This is a huge asset compared to other programs, where you may find yourself beating your head against the wall for hours.

Projects
Among the greatest strengths of this program are the one-week sprints on small teams. During each of these four sprints, you will collaborate with your peers to design, build and deploy an impressively professional app. These experiences prepare you for working on teams at software companies: You pair- and mob-program to build features and squash bugs; put test-driven development principles into practice; learn how to implement effective project management strategies; navigate snags in a high-pressure environment; learn new technologies really quickly; and develop approaches for working with colleagues who don’t always share your style or perspective.

These projects become professional portfolio pieces and provide real-world experiences to discuss during interviews. But even more, they prepare you for your future job. In my opinion, they put Alchemy head and shoulders above other bootcamps.


Career Services
Shannon is an impassioned advocate for grads in the network that she is diligently growing. (I have her to thank for my acquiring the interview that led to my current role.) But she also teaches you how to advocate for yourself as a software developer. She provides you materials to consider your strengths and weaknesses and how you’ll fit in the tech community. This helps you grow your confidence about what you have to offer, which in turn allows you to converse comfortably at both networking events and interviews.


Community
The Alchemy community believes in you when you have doubts. Megan and Shannon will always remind you of just how uniquely awesome you are. That sort of personalized attention simply doesn’t exist at most bootcamps and figured prominently into my decision to attend Alchemy. The community of grads is also ridiculously supportive of current students. (That includes me! Please reach out if you have any questions. I did the same before choosing a program.)


Remote Learning
My cohort transitioned to remote learning almost halfway through our program due to COVID-19. I could not have been more impressed with how seamlessly and professionally Alchemy handled the pivot at a really ambiguous moment. Communication channels were completely open with students to ensure that we were well supported, and staff were quick to heed our suggestions. Our actual schedule was unchanged; we simply switched to Zoom lectures in the mornings and worked on labs from home in the afternoons. “Zoom rooms” were available during lab time for students who wished to simulate the in-person experience, when we would often work independently at the same table.

As someone who had to commute at least an hour each way to reach Alchemy’s physical location, I found that I had more time to complete labs and maintain work-life balance. I also found it easier to focus than I did when we were in person. That said, those of you with families at home may have a different experience.


So is it worth it?
Alchemy is more expensive than many bootcamps. Given the depth I wanted from a program and the networking that I considered imperative, that expense was well worth it. The tuition was a big chunk of change that I didn’t have, and as someone with a master’s degree that was already going unused, I wasn’t willing to increase my debt unless I was really confident that I would 1) enjoy the work, 2) be trained adequately to actually do the work, and 3) find a job after graduating.

Through my time at Alchemy, I developed not only the technical skills to be a competent software engineer, but also the ability to collaborate effectively on software teams and confidence in myself as a woman in this male-dominated field.

I was offered a job within two months of graduating that almost tripled my previous salary — and I was actively interviewing for other positions at the time of the offer. I expect to pay off the loan I took out for this program in six months.

So yes! Alchemy was so, so worth it. If you are confident that software development is the right fit for you, then look into Alchemy.

I came into the program with no prior programming experience. You quickly pick up how to use vanilla JavaScript and HTML as well as CSS before moving into working with databases and libraries such as React. It's a very fast paced program where you learn a ton in a short amount of time. The instructional staff are top tier and the TA's are super helpful in answering any questions you have an providing feedback for your assignments. The career services are also top tier. I would highly recommend this program to anyone - in fact I recommended it to my brother and he completed the course as well!

Enrolling at Alchemy was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The coursework is extremely rigorous, with built-in support systems to help students succeed. It’s pretty amazing that in less than half a year, students can gain a very solid found­­ation in both the fundamentals and cutting-edge technologies. The curriculum is updated for every cohort to reflect the most sought-after technical proficiencies.

More than anything else, what sets Alchemy apart from other schools is their stellar career services. They have spent years forging relationships with companies, and have built up a strong reputation for graduating students who are ready to hit the ground running and be contributing members of engineering teams. They go above and beyond to make sure students are prepared not just technically, but also ready to translate their existing skills for a new tech career. I graduated Alchemy feeling 100% ready to interview successfully and thrive in a technical career. 

Alchemy Code Lab is by no means your average code bootcamp experience. While many code school graduates might feel like they're ready to enter into the tech industry, I think few of them really are. As an Alchemy grad, I felt like I had a huge leg up over other code school graduates. Alchemy doesn't just cover foundational web dev concepts. The curriculum changes to reflect the rapidly evolving landscape of modern frameworks. Another incredibly important facet of this program is that on day one they are honest with you in that most of what you learn will eventually be obsolete. The most valuable asset you take away from this course is an understanding of how to learn new code concepts. For a 6 month course, I'm still shocked at the amount of hard and soft skills students acquire here. If you're worried about the cost, google "average full stack web dev salary". 

Prior to my enrollment at Alchemy Code Lab, transitioning to a career in software development was something I had been considering for quite some time. Having spent over a decade as a working musician provided very little stability, both in terms of income and time, for my family and I was ready for a new direction in life. Following a lengthy discussion with the Director of Development for a successful local business and spending some time evaluating a number of schools across the country, I made the decision to attend Alchemy Code Lab and I am so glad I did.

The curriculum is centered around the programming language, JavaScript, and the current frameworks, libraries, and practices that are used with it. The courses are as tough as they should be, but the instructors and teaching assistants do a phenomenal job of ensuring that you understand the material and the ways in which you can use it. They also make sure you are well prepared to independently continue your education, a necessary skill in the continuously evolving world of technology.

Alchemy’s incredibly personable staff ensure that you’re confident and ready to begin your new career, not only as a programmer but also as a tech professional thanks to the provision of career services that start right as your studies begin and continue well after you’ve completed the program.

If you are considering making the transition to a career in software development, I can assure you there is no better choice for making the change than Alchemy.

I couldn't recommend Alchemy more.  
I came in with zero coding experience and I had a rough, but rewarding time. It's a very challenging course that really encourages the students to grow as much as they are able to. It was scary and overwhelming for me to risk so much on an unknown, but the tightly knit crew of faculty were always willing to hold space, offer support, and help keep my head above water. With their help, and that of the greater Alchemy community, I was able to emerge after 6 months as a competent developer with a relevant tech stack in my toolbox. Then, with help from their amazing Career Services Director, Shannon Rasimas, I was able to land an internship and then a fantastic fulltime role as a Software Engineer.
The teaching staff is extremely knowledgable, compassionate, and up to date with the modern state of development. Alchemy truly cares about the success of their students and they work very hard to cultivate a strong community that helps connect all students and alumni into a network of mutual support.
Again, I couldn't recommend Alchemy more.

Attending this school was the best decision of my life.  I had just gotten back from a 7 month bike tour through Europe and had been working in Ohio for a few months before making the decision to apply to Alchemy.  I moved here about a week before the course began and didn't know anybody in Portland, but the program changed that quickly.  I made some great friends!  My cohort was filled with exceptional people from diverse backgrounds. One of the best parts of the experience for me was to be able to see how my classmates would approach a particular problem completely differently than me, but with the end result being the same.  This really helped with my understanding of coding in general. Also, the staff at this school genuinely cares about the students.  The owners are some of the best people you'll meet and not only care about your career success, but also make a huge effort to be sure everyone feels as comfortable and happy as possible while going through one the most hectic times they'll face.  Career services is also amazing!  You are really given direction that will help you succeed not only throughout the program, but afterwards as well.  One thing that really stands out was when I thought I had created a good resume.  I was told to give it another go and I'm happy I was told that because it looks soooo much better :).  The TAs are great as well and will always have your back when you're struggling.  Lastly, the instructors are extremely knowledgeable and really patient, kind people.  I'm gonna miss them!

Beyond the people, the curriculum at this school is wonderful.  Everything you learn will be what is in the highest demand at the time you attend.  I feel that the knowledge we received at Alchemy is greater than that of other schools.  My roommate attended a different bootcamp and said that he was impressed by all that we had learned and that he felt I was at an advantage for having chosen Alchemy.

As for the cons, they are hard to come by.  All I can really say is that if you choose this program, be prepared because it is definitely not easy, but if you're ready to put the work in then I don't think you can make a better choice.

Prior to starting at Alchemy Code Lab, I investigated many bootcamps in LA and then in Portland after moving here. None felt right until I stepped into Alchemy and had an interview. One of the main reasons I chose Alchemy was the length of the course (6 months compared to a lot of 3 month programs) which I believe allowed for a much broader range of concepts to be taught that would enable me to quickly jump in to a job after graduation. The other was that from stepping through Alchemy's doors, you can tell that it's a community of inclusion. Everyone is incredible and wants to see you succeed in the tech world, and that's priceless. From incredible instructors, to career coaching and resume building—you truly get the full experience at Alchemy. After graduation, I joined Alchemy as a TA for the next cohort where I continued to build more confidence in talking about code, debugging code, and helping transition to virtual education through COVID. This experience was so meaningful and integral to me pursuing job opportunities post TAing. I was able to sign a job offer one month after finishing TAing at Alchemy. 

I researched very diligently when I decided to make this career change, and Alchemy was at the top of my list not only for their in depth program and their ability to remain agile and add to the curriculum as trends in technology change, but also for the diversity. They had the most diversity of  methods (pair programming, mob programming, TA assistance, teachers, singular study, reading, lab projects, sprint projects, etc), but as a gay woman of color they were able to cultivate the most diverse room of humans to learn along side of. They also made the program more accessible to me through their offering of scholarships. On top of that, they allowed plenty of room for me to advocate for what I needed and took the time to get to know me individually and what my goals were so they could push me toward them and tailor their support of me. 
After completing their full-stack program, (with ZERO technical or computer knowledge previously), I was able to land a dream job as a software developer just two months after my graduation. 
Alchemy gave me such a gift and I enjoyed my time there so much that I frequently return to catch up with teachers, talk with new students, and make myself available to meet with students who are considering the program or wanting some support while in the program. And I am only one alum that is part of a larger network who does the same. If that doesn't speak to the lasting community they are building, I don't know what does.

I joined Alchemy Code Lab with no prior programming experience and no undergraduate. I was sort of the free spirit type who travelled and held various types of jobs. I mention this because it does not matter what your background is - if you commit and dedicate yourself to this program it will provide the knowledge and skillset needed to obtain a fulfilling career in software development in a relatively short period of time. I've done it and have watched several others do the same. 

The school provides an excellent learning environment and an amazing community. It's open, bright, filled with plants, offers a variety of sitting arrangements, and located in a cool location. Beyond the facility you'll be surrounded with an amazing team that is passionate, knowledgable, kind, and there to provide the education and resources needed to reach your goal of becoming a software developer. Within the six months you'll go from not knowing how to open your terminal to writing full-fledged full-stack web applications that incorporate frameworks, component architecture, testing, servers, databases, and APIs. I can personally state that you'll leave with the skillset to contribute day one on the job, and have a solid foundation to continually build upon. Not only will you leave with the ability to build web applications, but you'll receive invaluable insight and resources on how to market yourself, network, and interview. 

Lastly - I'll mention, for your success, it's important you are in a situation you can fully commit to the time obligations and are mentally in a place where you want to change your life, be challenged, continuously learn, and solve puzzles. The program moves quick and you'll most likely experience highs and lows. That being said - it's DOABLE and well worth the grind. Alchemy Code Lab has helped many lives (mine included) accelerate in obtaining rewarding careers in tech - now it's time they help accelerate yours. Best of luck! 

My experience might be a bit different from some others who traditionally come through Alchemy Code Lab’s program. I had recently graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science when I had to take some time off from programming in order to focus on a health issue. Once I had gotten that sorted out, I decided I wanted to move out West in order to expand my job prospects in the tech industry. I found out about Alchemy after doing some research on programs in the area where I could take some time to refresh my skills as well as learn some things I had never been exposed to in college. I really liked how Alchemy structured their curriculum by focusing on full-stack JavaScript and a lot of project work. After interviewing with Alchemy and doing some more research I decided that they were going to be the best fit for me.

Even with a programming background, I was encouraged to start from the beginning with Alchemy’s curriculum and I’m glad I listened. Within the first week of the program I was already being introduced to test driven development, which was something that hadn’t been touched on in college and ended up being really valuable to use and talk about during interviews. Trying to pick up concepts like that while being introduced to something like Node or React would have been quite a bit more difficult than while we were learning the basics of JS. The instructional staff is really great. Alchemy has some very experienced industry professionals teaching, who are super passionate about the students. One of the most valuable parts about Alchemy Code Lab was the amount of time spent working on projects with your peers. Building projects is one of the best ways I learn things and I was often able to draw on my experiences working with my peers during interviews.

Alchemy also provides a lot of non technical opportunities and education as well. During the Career Track, there is a Career Week where the students learn all about the job hunt from industry professionals who are often graduates of the program. From the beginning students are heavily encouraged to explore the tech meetups in Portland to grow their network. Alchemy does a lot to help with this by hosting tech meetups in their space after class is over. They also host monthly socials for current students, graduates and employers in the area. Talking with other engineers about their experience was really valuable for me and only made the job search and interview process easier. Alchemy was able to do a lot for me during my job hunt from scheduling mock interviews, to introducing me to hiring managers or recent graduates to network with.

I just recently accepted an offer as an Associate Software Engineer a few months after graduating and if I could go back in time, I would still make the same decision to attend Alchemy Code Lab. I learned a lot of really valuable things and made great connections with some wonderful people.

When I transitioned into software development I evaluated several code schools available in Portland, and chose Alchemy. It was definitely the right choice for me, and the best thing I've done for my career satisfaction.

I talked with people at Alchemy (Code Fellows PDX at the time) early on, and had a really good feeling about it. But I wanted to understand what I would get for the somewhat higher cost than other options. I already had a strong technical background and programming experience, but no web development. Self-study was not a problem for me, but the field was so wide open that deciding what to focus on was problematic. Here's why I feel Alchemy stood out above the rest:

First, Alchemy provides instruction (in addition to lab and project work) from industry-experienced developers. While self-study and learning from peers are great things to do, experienced developers have valuable knowledge to share. For example, one thing prospective employers are often concerned about is the ability to write not just code that works, but code that's suitable for production in a large-scale application. It's very beneficial to have coaching from someone who's been on enough projects to impart that knowledge and wisdom.

Second, Alchemy focuses on full-stack JavaScript development, not a broad overview of technologies. While most developers will learn multiple stacks in their careers, they can learn best by getting a good foundation with the whole process in one stack and then later applying that knowledge to others. The focus on Node, React, etc. enabled me to be immediately productive in both jobs I've had since graduating, even though I've learned other stacks since then.

Third, your time at Alchemy will be split between classroom instruction, lab work, and group projects. The labs and projects are great opportunities to work collaboratively on a codebase, and the skills (technical as well as interpersonal) to do that are critical on real software development teams.

Finally, Alchemy provides guidance and assistance not just with technical education, but also with the whole process of finding opportunities and managing your development career. The decent-sized cohorts provide a great "starter network" of people who are or will be working in the software community in Portland. And Alchemy provides guidance on interview preparation, the tools for the job search, and how to deal with the offers you receive.

While the job search is always a potentially stressful experience, I can attest to Alchemy's placement track record. This is a field with very high demand, and graduates are certainly finding work that pays quite well. I've continued to be involved with Alchemy's students - networking, mock interviewing, mentoring - and they are certainly well-prepared to venture out into the industry and make their valuable contributions.

I decided to pursue programming as a career because I lacked mental stimulation and the ability to make an impact in my day to day job. I researched all the bootcamps in the Portland area and it took one conversation with Megan, the school director to make my decision. The questions that were asked were so different than other schools and were focused around me and my learning style-- I knew this place was special. Alchemy's commitment to diversity and inclusion in making everyone feel welcomed despite your background was a huge indicator to me that this was the right place for me.

The curriculum was difficult and challenging, but no one's ever built a six pack by sitting on the couch. And this is the secret to Alchemy's success. The program does an excellent job by forcing you to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's a bootcamp in every facet of the word, constantly pushing you to learn and overcome. You have support available to you at every step of the way-- instructors, TAs, fellow classmates, adorable doggies, school director, and career services. 

Oh yeah, career services. Shannon is a magician behind the scenes pulling strings to get you in the door and nail the interview. I've had two jobs post-graduation, and both interviews were secured because of-- you guessed it, Shannon. 

If you have the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful family, don't hesitate. It was truly a special experience, one I only wish I could go through again. 

Coming from a microbiology background in academia and transitioning to coding, I learned a ton of things at Alchemy that I didn’t learn in a traditional school setting or coding by myself online. For example, I learned how to code using agile practices with a variety of people in creative group projects with deadlines. I learned how to talk about code, not just to do it. I learned about the Portland tech scene and got a much better idea of how I fit into it. I learned to expand my network and push myself out of my comfort zone to make meaningful connections. Finally, I learned a ton about the job application process. Mock interviews and a week of career prep wasn’t easy or fun for me as an introvert, but it really helped prepare me for the job hunt.

Alchemy gave me the knowledge and confidence to get and perform well in job interviews. My Alchemy experience allowed me to have a much better idea of the salary I could ask for. Shannon was such a positive support throughout the process that I always felt someone had my back. Both Megan and Marty also provided invaluable support and advice even after I completed the program.

A huge plus was the Alchemy community. My fellow cohort (19 people total) was such an interesting and wonderful group of people from all different backgrounds and ages. A highlight of my experience was mob programming with them, in groups of 3-5. The TAs were graduates of the program and also provided emotional as well as instructional support.

It is a big money investment and there are times when you feel the collective struggles of the group and individuals. There are times when you may struggle a lot yourself. It’s not easy, and outsiders (like your friends and family) may not understand what you are going through. However, I found it to be a huge personal growth experience that has paid off. I just accepted a job offer (with higher salary than I have ever made before) this past week, and I am so excited to continue to code because I feel like I can actually contribute and excel at it.

This wasn't an easy ride, let me tell you! I had never set foot in a school before and Alchemy kicked my butt! It was really worthwhile, they supported me through my most difficult days and my "I don't understand, aaahhh!!!" moments, always pushing me to be the best I could be while understanding that sometimes I just needed a few words of encouragement to get me through to the other side of competency. I left with a community of peers, mentors, and friends, excellent technical competency, and the confidence to take on any challenges that come my way.

I attended Alchemy Code Lab from April 2018 to September 2018, taking the full course - Bootcamp Part 1, Bootcamp Part 2, and the fullstack JavaScript Career Track. We learned the basics of vanilla HTML/CSS/JavaScript, the fundamentals of component architecture, modern web application design patterns, and so much more. By the end of it, I could spin up a full-fledged web app (both frontend and backend), as well as be able to explain coding principles and what every line of code I'd written was doing.

The course itself is extremely rigorous and intense - more than fulltime, Monday thru Friday from 9am-6pm, and I often found myself doing additional work or studying after I came home. However, I can't imagine it working as well any other way, since you're learning an enormous amount of specialized and complicated skills in an extremely condensed timeframe. Knowing your own limits and taking care of yourself when you need to are key to succeeding in the program.

The people are wonderful. I was lucky enough to be in an amazing cohort and my peers were all extremely supportive of each other. Marty and Ryan were both great instructors, patient and helpful and able to explain the more difficult concepts well. Shannon, the career services director at the school, was vital in helping us stay connected to the larger tech community in town and make the connections necessary to get our foot in the door for job interviews. I was able to land a job at a software development firm roughly three months after I'd finished Alchemy, and I apply what I've learned from the program on a daily basis. I genuinely don't believe that I'd be where I am today without having attended Alchemy. The price is high (in terms of money, time, and work required) but I found it to be absolutely worth it.

This school has been amazing. The instructors know what they are doing, and they really put in 100% for each student. The school space is cozy and welcoming, the location is right in downtown, close to transportation and there are so many tech companies just within blocks of the school. The education you receive is indispensable and how fast they teach almost seems impossible, but it isn't! You learn the MERN stack as well as much more! When I talk with recruiters and hiring managers, they are so shocked at how much I have learned and know from a boot camp! They really care about the welfare of each student, and they want you to succeed. They have an amazing support system even after you graduate from the program. Megan and Shannon (school director and career services) are truly fantastic! Shannon is really connected in the area and is such a great coach/champion for you! Schedule a tour or go into their weekly open house and you will see for yourself how fantastic this program is! Marty and Ryan (CEO and lead instructors) are so talented and more than equipped to teach you what you need and more. Both of them have worked in the industry for decades so you know you are in good hands. If you are considering a school in the PDX area, you need to come here. I was able to get a job within 4 weeks of graduating and I cannot be happier with the outcome!

The curriculum is created and updated to reflect the demands of the job market. The instructional staff is carefully selected by Marty, the CEO, who himself is a seasoned developer and an exceptional teacher. The facilities are world class, with plenty of monitors, bottomless coffee, tea, quality snacks and comfy couches. Megan (my favorite person there) does a wonderful job of making the place a pleasant work environment and supports your development throughout your whole time there. You also get all the support you need to land your first job from career services with Shannon who is truly dedicated to your success.

I enrolled in ACL straight from Puerto Rico without visiting the place first, which I now know was a really risky thing to do, but I feel extremely lucky to have chosen them. Having worked as a TA on another boot camp after graduating, visiting other boot camps and meeting graduates from various coding schools, I've learned that not all schools are created equal and I can confidently say that ACL is simply the best choice

(TL;DR at bottom)

Backstory: I have a degree in business, approximately a decade of work experience in an unrelated industry, and I made a personal choice to switch to something I've always been very interested in: software development.

Prior development experience: None, really. A lifetime ago I dabbled in HTML, Adobe's creative suite, Flash, and Dreamweaver (while it was still under Macromedia, if you're old enough to remember that). I maintained a few basic web sites but it was hobby stuff at best. I should note this was long before Wordpress, CMS, YouTube, the abundance of online tutorials, etc. and while the passion was real, this prior experience didn't impact my success in the program.

How I found it: Like you, I ended up here (e.g. CourseReport, SwitchUp) among other sites reviewing different bootcamp programs. I came across Code Fellows in the Seattle market while I was actually searching for online bootcamps. That led me to Alchemy as they were once affiliated with Code Fellows (ACL is fully separate now and running it's own thing here in PDX).

The reviews were encouraging and I quickly realized that for my preferred learning style and desired timeframe, I would need to commit full-time to an in-person program. I did not tour any of the other code schools in Portland (I only reviewed their online materials and/or reviews) but I've heard plenty of great things and met awesome people that attended other schools. In the end though, Alchemy was clearly the choice for me once I was introduced to the owners and the space.

The experience: Marty and Megan (ACL owners) put their heart and soul in to this school. The right attitudes, levels of support needed, staffing, and relevance of the material is constantly evaluated when making changes to the school or curriculum. On the career and networking side of things, Shannon has been an amazing addition to ACL--she started when my cohort began last year--and she has also been instrumental in the success of grads getting hired at awesome companies around PDX, time and time again.

Like the industry in general, the program is not necessarily meant for everyone. Marty and Megan do their best in advance to ask the right questions of interested candidates and ensure the rigorous nature of 'bootcamp-style learning' is clear to all prospects. They are fair-minded in all that they do and as someone who has spent almost a year with them, I can say they value people, diversity, and student outcomes above all else; if you think about it, their success quite literally depends on your success.

The other side of things: Programming is hard. Technology moves fast. Bootcamps are not a slower-paced program like University. While candidates with 'non-traditional backgrounds' will at times struggle with the material, it is incredibly rewarding watching your ideas and code come to life. Even after the program, what you learn today will likely be going 'out of style' or become obselete tomorrow (or a few months, a few years, whatever) and you will likely need to continue learning while managing a career, a personal life, and all the other things that require your attention. That's true of most developers, regardless of how they got their start.

In terms of what you learn, how you learn it, etc. I'll just encourage you to set up a call or visit to the school. The material and methods of delivery are constantly evolving (in a positive way!) so your cohort will learn differently than mine did. Marty is an incredibly talented developer with years of experience as a software architect so he's always aiming to improve the program. Ryan, Lead Instructor has been amazing to work with and he's an amazing developer as well so you're in good hands.

TL;DR: Alchemy was exactly the program I was looking for. I went through the program and five months later had two offers, one of which was my top choice for entering the market here in PDX (title of Software Engineer).

Full disclosure: As I write this I am currently a TA at Alchemy Code Lab for the remainder of the week. I completed the program around October 2018 and spent the following months TAing the next cohort to help reinforce concepts, mentor, and keep 'close to the code' during the slow holiday season while applying for jobs. I have no doubt that you could be employed in less than 5 months with the right dedication to the job application process (Shannon can share other student success stories with you so feel free to ask her!).

If you're ready for a change and willing to give it all that you have, make the call. Good luck!

I did a lot of research before choosing my code school, comparing every factor under the sun.  I chose Alchemy Code School because of its reputation, size, and networking capabilities. After starting with Bootcamp Part 1, I followed the curricula all the way until graduating from their Career Track: Full Stack JavaScript course in July of 2018.  I happily tell everyone how they followed through on every aspect I had considered, and many more I had never thought of.

Alchemy's main assets are its co-founders, Marty and Megan, who remain incredibly dedicated to the school's mission and advancement.  Marty is constantly improving the curriculum to remain cutting edge in tech's fast-paced environment, and either personally teaches each course or has carefully vetted the instructor.  Megan helms the school's culture, constantly steering towards more inclusion, diversity, and productive professionalism, and personally helped me find extra funding to pay my tuition.  The result is a really cozy and productive environment, where you are constantly being pushed further as a developer, but equally surrounded by resources to support and encourage you.

I had the great fortune to work with Shannon, the career counselor, who works overtime spreading Alchemy's reputation and making networking connections for each student, personally.  She helped me get multiple contracting positions after graduation, and eventually my full-time position.  

But really, the reason to go to choose Alchemy Code Lab is its curriculum.  You will not find a more intensive or competitive code school in Portland.  I have been told many times since graduating how impressive my skills are, and how myself and other Alchemy grads are consistently exceptional.  I am a huge advocate for the school and my classmates, who are impressive, diverse and growing into a wonderful community in the Portland area.  I highly recommend the program to anyone invested in changing Tech culture, and who is willing to work hard.

 When I started, I knew nothing about coding, I came from a non-tech industry. This program, from fundamentals to career tract was what I needed to get a solid understanding of web development. This is a rigorous coarse that requires a dedication to learning. 

All of the Instructors at Alchemy Code Labs have years of web development experience and it shows in their passion for code and teaching. The TA's have a deep understanding of the coarse work and are dedicated to helping students. The career service staff helped me with a resume, LinkdIn account and a game plan on my job search.

The number one priority of Alchemy staff,  from school director to TA's, is your success. With that said, be prepaired to work very hard. Everything you need to become a highly developed web designer is available to you, but you have to do the work.

 If you want to get a job and willing to work for it, you will love this place.

They really push you. There was close supervision during entire program. we had 2 TAs and an experienced instructor for 11 students at the final 2 months of the program. TAs and instructors change from course to course. I had 2 instructors: Marty Nelson and Sera Joy and they were phenomenal. I would strongly recommend checking out the instructors at any school before applying there. Some of the TA's where amazing, but even if they aren't brilliant they will still be helpful and work through problems and documentation with you.

Since Graduating i met a lot of graduates from other code schools like Epicodus and The Tech Academy. Both are shorter in duration and they have much looser and less intense schedule. They also cover a lot of different Techs and languages. You'll do a a little of everything there. In contrast ACL is more specialized and indepth. Cant speak for Python course but JS track was very advanced compared to others. You will learn a lot of cutting edge tech in modern web: React, Redux, MongoDB, end to end testing and so on. You will be expected to be proficient at latest version of JS (ES6) and things like async-await. The result is that you will know these JS and especially React well enough to contribute to companies right after graduation which I think is the main point of trade schools.
Most importantly their job search support is awesome! they have two full time employees to help you search for work and introduce you to potential employers. Its also a nice community, Im still in touch from fellow students and staff from Alchemy code, and come in to the office to work with fellow graduates weekly. 

On a side note I would really recomend doing your reaserch on job placement and starting salleries before aplying to code school. Statistics can be tricky and what each code school considers employment is different. so dont be afraid to ask concrete questions. like "how much do they earn, how quickly did they find a job, do you caunt short term contracts or minimally paid internships as a "job". My reaserch lead me to ACL but do your own, you are programmer now independent reaserch is part of the job! 
P.S they have cavalier King Charles as a code school pet!!!!

Alchemy was the best decision I could have made for myself and my career. Through my time at Alchemy, I never felt like I was just another student they were trying to get through. I felt like I was seen as a whole person with a desire to become a software engineer and a life outside of bootcamp.
There is so much support available, you just have to decide who you are the most comfortable talking to - from instructors to TA's to the founders, to the career services team, there are never a shortage of people who will go out of their way to show up so that you can learn and grow as a dev and a person. This is a small business, not a massive bootcamp company!
This is definitely a path for those who want to invest in themselves - you get out what you put in, but you're never alone on that journey if don't want to be.
The alumni network is pretty extensive as well and continues to be a community even after you graduate.

A more personal note...
As a trans person, I started this journey quite skeptical of all bootcamps. Understanding the cis, white, maleness that dominates the tech industry, I wasn't sure how welcoming any portion of tech would be for me.
But when I looked at the Alchemy website,  I was initially impressed with the scholarships available. It is obvious that the goal is to diversify the tech industry and show support where they can, so I took that as a good sign. When I spoke with the co-founder, Megan, in an information session, she continued the notion of welcoming BIPOC, trans, & gnc folks at Alchemy. I figured over time, this wouldn't hold. I'm quite skeptical about how welcoming and informed a place actually is, but that never actually happened here. I was impressed repeatedly and any small bump along the road was always addressed thoughtfully and with an emphasis on equity. My experience was that ruptures are few and far between and repairs are approached with the consideration they actually warrant.

In terms of the bootcamp's first module being called Dev 102 and requiring you to be familiar with the concepts covered in Dev 101, it's potentially quite easy to be prepared for the bootcamp without taking Dev 101 - but it's still the best way to determine if Alchemy is right for you.  And if you're not already thoroughly prepared for Dev 102, while you have almost infinite ways to prepare yourself, Alchemy's Dev 101 is perhaps the best way.
Anyway, all of Alchemy's propaganda about: Taking Dev 101 to see if their teaching style is right for you; Getting up to speed for Dev 102; Asking questions in Dev 101 about the bootcamp, career outcomes, and how the "career services" part is integrated throughout the bootcamp - I don't usually trust an organization's "why we're great" verbiage, and initially I tried to get as much info as possible about coding bootcamps from third parties rather than their own websites and ads, but go ahead and read Alchemy's.  The process so far has been what they say, and everything I've seen leads me to believe the full bootcamp will be as excellent as they say.
Dev 101 lacked some of the structure and stuff I want from the bootcamp (i.e. we didn't turn in any assignments), but that would have been less appropriate for what Dev 101 is, and the bootcamp will have perhaps exactly the right structure (certainly actual assignments to submit).

Honestly? I was so worried about going into the tech field and I felt overwhelmed about starting with Alchemy. But, it was one of the better decisions I've ever made. The professors are amazing and supportive, my TA's became my friends and hyped up my projects, the community is very loving and welcoming to everyone. I've made some of my greatest friends by going through Alchemy. So, I encourage anyone who reads the reviews, take a leap and you'll find something wonderful in Alchemy. 

Alchemy turned out to be a great experience. The instructional staff was top notch and continually demonstrated their vast  experience as coders and teachers. They approached each day with professionalism, they were dependable, invested, and considerate. They provided one-on-one time with students and engaged with the Alchemy student community at school networking events. 
Educational excellence and a superior learning experience is clearly on Alchemy's agenda, as each cohort is staffed with 1 TA per 7-9 students, plus a Lead TA. TA's are well trained Alchemy grads, and any tough debugging can be escalated to the Lead TA or even the instructor. It really did not feel like we were left alone when we hit roadblocks.
Alchemy's Career Development department digs in to provide students with crucial advice about networking, job searching, resume drafting, interview prep, and more. They really felt like they were in my corner each step of the way. On top of that, they will stay in contact after graduation to help you with the job search. The Alchemy alumni network is another great resource for job searching. I attribute Alchemy's career dev for turning my resume and interviewing skills around. 
Outside guests speak regularly at the school, lecturing and presenting on current tech topics, job searching, and career advice. 
The school's curriculum is homemade, top notch, and strategically planned out. Hitting up databases in your first weeks gets you in the swing of things quickly, and their emphasis on test driven development is huge. Alchemy's TDD is something that sets their students apart from other junior devs, and even mid-level devs.
All in all, the staff as a whole really embodies a Portland vibe, cares about their students, and brings their best to the table every week. 
What you're paying for with Alchemy is the best instructors, curriculum, career development, community, 1,000+ hours of learning, and the edge you need to get a job. It was worth it.

Alchemy is unlike anything I've ever done before. From day one, the admissions team and instructors are just so welcoming and downright excited to get you started on your code learning journey. You not only get a extensive technical education in FullStack Javascript, you learn how to learn. Alchemy promotes how to learn new things, and how to adapt and use what you know with what you don't in order to be a successful Software Developer. The staff, the students, the alumni, they are all so supportive and welcoming.  It's a challenging program, be forewarned that you need to put in a lot of effort and devote the time.  My advice to those enrolling or starting (advice I'm sure you will hear from fellow alumni should you reach out and ask): take notes, ask all the questions, and try and make friends/connections within your cohort.  I made some very dear friends in my cohort, and it really does make the program better when you can talk out problems and work through challenges together rather than tough it out alone (that's why you go to a bootcamp rather than teach yourself right?).

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Alchemy Code Labs! I ended up attending for a bit under two months (I left because I ended up getting a job offer due to a previous job search pre-Alchemy) but can attest to their high quality instructors, commitment on good coding best practices, and impressive depth and speed of topics they cover. . . by 4 weeks you're making a shopping cart checkout-flow using localStorage and TDD!

My instructor Dani was super helpful and knowledgable. The additional staff, Marty, Megan, and Shannon were incredibly supportive as I weighed my decision to take my job opportunity, or continue with ACL. Even though I decided to leave, I still stay in active touch with my old classmates and the ACL staff. One of the best decisions I made in my software engineering career!

Alchemy is a fast paced learning environment but definitely will give you the skills you need to break into tech. Of course you will need to put in the work, stick to coding and market yourself, but Alchemy does a great job at providing you with a network and support system in which you can acquire professional connections that can possibly expand into getting that job, it is all on how you decide to use those resources. If you are coming in with zero coding knowledge it could be very rough at first since there is so much to learn but eventually you start getting more comfortable with the basics and the information starts to sink in. A great thing about Alchemy is that they ensure that the people they have attending their school are diverse, from all sorts of backgrounds and open to differences, they provide a healthy social environment which makes it easier for it to be a more collaborative, supportive and judgement free zone. I attended when it was in person so I cannot speak on how the distance learning would be, but I definitely recommend the program, they teach what is being used the most in the industry for web development and what you more likely will end up using once you get your first tech job, all I learned from Alchemy is what I use every day at work. The instructors are very knowledgeable and the team projects assigned are a great way to get prepared on how collaborating in a professional setting will be.

 My experience at Alchemy Code Lab was definitely not worth the time, and especially not worth the money I spent. They put more time and effort into convincing you that you will get a job in tech than actually helping you get a job in tech. The job assistance is a joke and consists mostly of their career person telling you to "be positive", "go to networking events", and having special guest lecturers, who are friends of theirs or previous students, who tell you similar obvious job placement advice. The teachers, while knowledgeable in the subject matter do not really know how to teach others unless they already have a background in computer science. The most hands on teaching you will get is from previous students that just finished the program and are being paid minimum wage. If you have any history of workplace trauma, personal trauma, or lack confidence in yourself, you will not do well in this program. This program is mostly for white men who already think highly of themselves and who won't have a hard time getting a job in tech regardless of their abilities. In my opinion, Alchemy Code Lab is a predatory school that preys upon people who are in bad work situations. They spend a lot of energy and time on convincing you that anyone can code and anyone can get a job in tech making $85000 a year with unlimited vacation time and the best benefits in the world. They do very little to help with the job search or helping you make the connections they insist will help you get a job. If you are having a hard time in the classes they tell you you're doing fine and that everybody has a hard time. They tell you just keep moving forward and eventually it will all make sense. When you finally get wise and ask for help, they will just keep gaslighting you until you break. When you finally do crack from the pressure they blame you and tell you that you are unprofessional and won't ever be able to get a job in tech. That last part didn't happen to me personally, it happened to a friend of mine in the cohort ahead of mine. I had a similar experience but mine was more just being gaslighted over and over and told me experience wasn't what others were experiencing. After talking to other students I found that many were also having the same problems with the program. Another thing that they do is lie about how many of their students get placed in jobs in the tech industry. They count any job in the tech industry not coding jobs, even if you're job doesn't have anything to do with coding. I got a job at a tech company doing remote sensing and lidar processing due to my previous career in geospatial science. They count that as me getting a job in the tech industry. Even though I don't do anything tech related that I learned at Alchemy. Also my job pays a little more than half of what I made before I started Alchemy.  Do yourself a favor and don't waste your money here. Go take some coding classes online for free at freecodecamp or somewhere else. Try taking a computer science course at a community college. Don't waste your money on predatory schooling.   

Alchemy is hands-down the best coding boot camp option in Portland. The owner and instructors are all seasoned and experienced software developers, and the TAs are prior students. This is awesome because the instructors are able to answer any questions you have, and the TAs have been through what you're going through so can relate and help you with the specific work as you need. The owner regularly meets with companies around Portland to learn about what technologies are currently in the highest demand, and adapts the curriculum accordingly, meaning that when you graduated you are equipped with the highest likelihood of getting hired. The program is in-person and full-time, so be sure you are ready for the intensity of it. It's a lot of work, but that's what you should be looking for if you want to attend a boot camp. The career services is the best around. Any boot camp that says they'll place you in a job after graduation is a sham. Alchemy doesn't guarantee you anything, that's on you, but what they do guarantee you is training in how to best help yourself get work through training in how to network, how to negotiate salaries, etc., which are the skills you'll be using for the rest of your life.

PROS: In-person, full-time, unbeatable community and career services, modern curriculum based on what is in demand.
CONS: Most expensive boot camp option (though you get what you pay for)