Protect your data
We use cookies to provide our services, improve the user experience, for analysis and marketing purposes. By giving your consent, you also agree that your data may be transferred to the USA by the use of cookies. You can revoke your consent at any time. You can find further information in our privacy policy and cookie policy.
Bloc is now Thinkful
As of 2/4/21, Bloc is now Thinkful; the curriculum and community will not change.
If you graduated from Bloc prior to Feb 4, 2021, please leave your review for Bloc. Otherwise, please leave your review for Thinkful.
To view updated and accurate information, please visit the Thinkful Course Report page.
Bloc is an online coding bootcamp that incorporates 1-on-1 mentorship to prepare each student for a career as a professional software engineer or UX/UI designer. Bloc's apprenticeship approach is tailored specifically to each student's learning needs. In the Web Developer Bootcamp, the curriculum is centered around frontend JavaScript and students can choose whether to learn Ruby on Rails or server-side JavaScript with Node. Bloc’s project-based curriculum is written by expert curriculum developers and vetted by their advisory board comprised of hiring managers. Students work with mentors 1-on-1 to clarify concepts, pair program, and build a portfolio of sites that will demonstrate job readiness as a professional software engineer. Not everyone can quit their job or move to a new city for a bootcamp, so Bloc has designed a comprehensive bootcamp with this in mind. Students can enroll full-time, or complete the program at a part-time pace. Bloc also offers 80 hours per week of real-time access to an experienced developer to answer any questions students may have.
No prior development experience is required to enroll in Bloc, but a strong desire to learn and take on challenges will be important in each student's success! Bloc has a 100% acceptance rate, but is looking for students who are driven, hard-working, and ready to learn.
Career readiness is important to Bloc- their flagship Track programs include job preparation material and career prep workshops. Mentors will help students put together a portfolio and prepare technical interview questions. When ready, students work with the Career Support team to navigate the job search process with an individualized game plan and exposure to Bloc's Employer Network.
I really wanted to like Bloc program. I liked having a mentor, but some of the program material was confusing / not clearly explained for a beginner.
I took the 18 week aprenticeship. I loved it. Specially because I had a mentor with me along the way.
I enrolled late January for the 12-week course in Rails Development (back then known as Full Stack Development, not to be confused with the similarly-named "Track" offered now). Over 24 weeks later, twice as long as I planned, I still hadn't finished my enrollment and would have required months more to finish.
I signed up right as the curriculum was changing from version 3.0 Rails to 4.0, and it felt like I was right in the middle of a construction site. Checkpoints...
I enrolled late January for the 12-week course in Rails Development (back then known as Full Stack Development, not to be confused with the similarly-named "Track" offered now). Over 24 weeks later, twice as long as I planned, I still hadn't finished my enrollment and would have required months more to finish.
I signed up right as the curriculum was changing from version 3.0 Rails to 4.0, and it felt like I was right in the middle of a construction site. Checkpoints were extremely wordy and hard to understand for someone like me who learns visually, the very antithesis of my learning style. Assignments at the end of checkpoints were either broken, incomplete, or so poorly worded that my mentor eventually told me to skip them and just submit the checkpoints. This backfired however as checkpoints began integrating these assignments further on, to the point where my foundation app had too many "workarounds" that the instructions basically no longer matched what I was doing anymore. I was told to abandon the foundation app in favor of pursuing projects, but by then the damage had been done. What should have taken one month by their estimates and my initial enrollment dictated, took me four, and it was never completed. It honestly felt like I was paying to beta test their new curriculum to ultimately fail.
Out of six projects to do, I finished one and nearly a second before withdrawing. My struggle with the foundation made it too apparent that I couldn't yet write code sufficient enough to do anything on my own, and the mentor(s) were just dragging me through it all. Nobody would hire me for what I barely know and any work I have to show after six months is either incomplete or basically not my own work.
Program coordinator was hard to get a hold of. Many times they said they'd call next week, and wouldn't. My concerns of falling behind were just dismissed. What should take one or two days to settle something took up to two weeks. Their own website says they hold students accountable, but what about vice versa? Poor communication and curriculum, guess who ultimately suffers? The student.
Thankfully the head coordinator talked to me (they had no plans to extend my mentorship when I was told otherwise) and my complaints were finally listened to. My refund would have been nullified if I hadn't withdrawn. It's left me pretty bitter that I went this long and put so much time and effort into it and things never seemed to get better with Bloc. Just excuses and apologies. They did admit that they didn't live up to their own standards or mine (to graduate and find employment), which effectively meant they knew they were wasting my time.
I can assume by now that the curriculum is in better shape and fully Rails 4.0+ now, but there's no way in hell I'd go through it again nor could I recommend it to anyone. My mentor tried their best but with Bloc's online "book" having so many problems and sometimes being just wrong, the outcome was pretty clear. I was later told that I shouldn't have skipped the assignments - Duh, but I couldn't do them, either.
I sent my foundation app to the curriculum's designer to see if there was any hope of fixing it, but never got a reply. A second mentor was added at one point, but he dropped me from his schedule.
In summary: I learned a lot, but not enough to be hired by anyone or much of anything to show for it. I don't have a good understanding of the core concepts because of the poor foundation. I have to spend more months and more money elsewhere to continue my education.
Pros I liked my 2nd mentor since my 1st was so horrible I had to switch.
Cons the program is way over priced for what they offer and give you. Mentor meeting aren't enough and the teaching method used are very confusing. Majority of the work is done by yourself and nothing is really tought by the mentors, they are just there for questions. There multiple options when it comes other schools that offer same material for less then half of what BLOC charges. If I coul...
Pros I liked my 2nd mentor since my 1st was so horrible I had to switch.
Cons the program is way over priced for what they offer and give you. Mentor meeting aren't enough and the teaching method used are very confusing. Majority of the work is done by yourself and nothing is really tought by the mentors, they are just there for questions. There multiple options when it comes other schools that offer same material for less then half of what BLOC charges. If I could go back I would NEVER go with Bloc. I wish someone told me what I know now. I just hope somone else dosnt make the same mistake of choosing bloc.
Prachi Singh of Bloc
Alumni Relations
Apr 01, 2016
I'm currently a student about two months into the Software Engineering track. I've limited prior knowledge of the material. BASIC and Codeacademy was mainly the past experience. I picked this program after reading many reviews of all the new boot camp schools. Doing the 3 month, 100 hours a week program was not for me. Plus, most of those are only in the big cities around the country. Online suits me better as I live about an hour away from NYC. This does cost more and takes more time but...
I'm currently a student about two months into the Software Engineering track. I've limited prior knowledge of the material. BASIC and Codeacademy was mainly the past experience. I picked this program after reading many reviews of all the new boot camp schools. Doing the 3 month, 100 hours a week program was not for me. Plus, most of those are only in the big cities around the country. Online suits me better as I live about an hour away from NYC. This does cost more and takes more time but it dives deeper into the ever changing demands in the workplace of software enginnering. The advisor is there to help but not to do your work. He will help you, motivate you and show you ways of solving complex problems. You must have self discipline and great time management skills to be successful. The program is designed from scratch, not pulled from another site. The satisfaction comes and confidence builds slowly but the progress is definately visible only after a short time. This is not easy and not for everybody. It will get frustrating but debugging is part of life. Too early to rate the Job Assistance part. Time to code.
I am currently enrolled in the Software Engineering track and loving it. I was skeptical when I first enrolled because I usually stay away from any online courses or classes; I don't usually do so well in them. I chose the Software Engineering track because I wanted to have a well rounded knowledge so, when I do go out and find a job I am well versed in all things tech.
I went into this program with little to no knowledge in this subject and now when I hear myself conversing wi...
I am currently enrolled in the Software Engineering track and loving it. I was skeptical when I first enrolled because I usually stay away from any online courses or classes; I don't usually do so well in them. I chose the Software Engineering track because I wanted to have a well rounded knowledge so, when I do go out and find a job I am well versed in all things tech.
I went into this program with little to no knowledge in this subject and now when I hear myself conversing with other people and using the jargon I realize just how much I have learned in only three and a half months.
Like I said in the beginning, I am not one to take online courses but, because I have a mentor to reiterate what I had just learned in the checkpoint, I am learning a lot. My mentor really helps me understand. He draws out diagrams with me and quizzes me sporatically to reinforce what I learned and make sure I know what I am doing.
I have been very lucky to have picked a mentor that works for me but, if one does end up with a mentor you don't like, you have the opportunity to switch mentors discretely.
The cirriculum is set up in checkpoints and assignments. They both range in difficulty, some are harder then others and some are easier.
With that said, I would recommend Bloc to everyone wanting to learn how to code and later get a tech job. Honestly, I love writing something and then being able to see what I did and how it works. I am really happy with what I have learned and excited to learn more!
I honestly feel like Bloc has the potential to change your life. In many ways it has changed mine and the best part is that it will continue to.
If I wanted to find a job as a developer I'm confident I could find one - especially if I'm willing to relocate. I am an entrepreneur and wanted to learn enough to be able to create my business ideas. What I learned in Bloc has given me power to make my ideas become a reality.
I chose Bloc for three reasons.
I honestly feel like Bloc has the potential to change your life. In many ways it has changed mine and the best part is that it will continue to.
If I wanted to find a job as a developer I'm confident I could find one - especially if I'm willing to relocate. I am an entrepreneur and wanted to learn enough to be able to create my business ideas. What I learned in Bloc has given me power to make my ideas become a reality.
I chose Bloc for three reasons.
I now have skills and knowledge I didn't have before. I am better. I have more potential. I couldn't put a price tag on this. Invest in yourself. But, that's just my opinion.
Bloc is an amazing program and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to delve deeper into the world of coding.
I became interested in development because I have an entreprenuerial streak and wanted to learn how to build out some of my own ideas. Bloc has provided me with the skills to do just that.
Furthermore - I am going through the job-prep phase now and I am confident that this will further prepare me for finding work as a developer.
The recommend Blo...
Bloc is an amazing program and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to delve deeper into the world of coding.
I became interested in development because I have an entreprenuerial streak and wanted to learn how to build out some of my own ideas. Bloc has provided me with the skills to do just that.
Furthermore - I am going through the job-prep phase now and I am confident that this will further prepare me for finding work as a developer.
The recommend Bloc for the following reasons -
1. Mentors - Bloc has amazing mentors - and I absolutely loved working with mine. The fact that you are assigned a single mentor - and they work with you one-on-one really allows them to cater to your learning style and customize the material so that it is presented in a way that is clear for you. Their mentors are very high quality, and my Mentor, Chris, was beyond helpful.
Furthermore - for anyone who has learned on their own and spent copious amounts of time banging their head against the wall - the mentor is there to make sure you do not get stuck and can progress forward. Having this help and not having to waste time was invaluable to me.
2. Curriculum - The curriculum itself is great and I liked the way it was strucutred. It allowed for more hand holding at the beginning and then worked its way to more freedom towards the end. The fact that you are able to build several applications by yourself throughout the course - allows you to see the progression of your own skills as you move thorugh the curriculum.
3. Cost and accountabtiliy - I wanted a program that would hold me accountable and push me - but also one I could afford. Bloc is much less expensive than the other bootcamps so I could actually afford it. Furthermore - it created a framework where between the curriculum and the Mentor - I was able to hold myself accountable and push myself.
Again, I would highly recommend Bloc - it is a great investment in ones' skillset -but like anything else - you get out of it what you put into it. So if you are willing to work hard, Bloc will help you leverage that effort to get you to where you want to go.
I enrolled in Bloc's UX/UI Design course a little less than 2 years ago. I was formerly a teacher with no technical or design skills whatsoever. The curriculum was thoroughly written and as a former teacher, this was greatly appreciated. I love even more that it has been updated and I now have access to the new curriculum. The relationship I gained with my mentor is priceless. He walked me through each checkpoint with such grace and encouragement. My mentor also provided honest feedback in...
I enrolled in Bloc's UX/UI Design course a little less than 2 years ago. I was formerly a teacher with no technical or design skills whatsoever. The curriculum was thoroughly written and as a former teacher, this was greatly appreciated. I love even more that it has been updated and I now have access to the new curriculum. The relationship I gained with my mentor is priceless. He walked me through each checkpoint with such grace and encouragement. My mentor also provided honest feedback in order for me to grow as a designer. He asked open-ended questions that would cause critical thinking. I believe this course prepared me for what is expected in the "real" design world. Upon completion, I have been able to freelance consistently from home, which is exactly what I wanted to do. I have recently obtained a full-time contract position with a well-known software company. I am still able to work from home, but I get to interact with an incredible design team and get experience with working within a corporate setting. I owe all my skills and knowledge to Bloc.
I am currently a student enrolled in Bloc's 48-week, full-time Software Engineering track and 8 weeks in at the time of this review.
When I decided to pursue a career shift into software development I did extensive research on both local and online bootcamps before deciding to enroll with Bloc and have been more than pleased with my selection.
The Bloc experience has been exactly what I hoped and expected it would be. The curriculum starts out quick and introduces you t...
I am currently a student enrolled in Bloc's 48-week, full-time Software Engineering track and 8 weeks in at the time of this review.
When I decided to pursue a career shift into software development I did extensive research on both local and online bootcamps before deciding to enroll with Bloc and have been more than pleased with my selection.
The Bloc experience has been exactly what I hoped and expected it would be. The curriculum starts out quick and introduces you to tons of awesome information which initially I found overwhelming, but by week 3 I started to feel some comfort. Assignments are fun and challenging.
My favorite part about Bloc is having a mentor to guide me through the progam. Bloc has an amazing group of mentors that you get to choose from. My mentor and I have three scheduled calls a week where we discuss current course work, industry related topics and sometimes just life in general. Between calls my mentor is always there for me should I feel stuck or overwhelmed and we comminucate frequently via email, IM and screen sharing.
Employed in-field | 75.0% |
Full-time employee | 52.5% |
Full-time apprenticeship, internship or contract position | 22.5% |
Short-term contract, part-time, or freelance | 0.0% |
Started a new company or venture after graduation | 0.0% |
Not seeking in-field employment | 0.0% |
Employed out-of-field | 0.0% |
Continuing to higher education | 0.0% |
Not seeking a job for health, family, or personal reasons | 0.0% |
Still seeking job in-field | 25.0% |
Could not contact | 0.0% |
How much does Bloc cost?
Bloc costs around $9,600. On the lower end, some Bloc courses like Web Developer Track cost $8,500.
What courses does Bloc teach?
Bloc offers courses like Design Track, Web Developer Track.
Where does Bloc have campuses?
Bloc teaches students Online in a remote classroom.
Is Bloc worth it?
The data says yes! In 2019, Bloc reported a 0% graduation rate, a median salary of $62,400, and 75% of Bloc alumni are employed. The data says yes! In 2016, Bloc reported a 41% graduation rate, a median salary of $65,411, and 80% of Bloc alumni are employed.
Is Bloc legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 477 Bloc alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Bloc and rate their overall experience a 4.61 out of 5.
Does Bloc offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like Bloc offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.
Can I read Bloc reviews?
You can read 477 reviews of Bloc on Course Report! Bloc alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Bloc and rate their overall experience a 4.61 out of 5.
Is Bloc accredited?
While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Bloc doesn't yet share information about their accreditation status.
Just tell us who you are and what you’re searching for, we’ll handle the rest.