BrainStation Reviews
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Anonymous
A Second to Objective and Honest Review
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I have been thinking about and preparing to post an honest and objective review for the past few days now. Then I saw what someone kindly wrote 4/21/16 and I realized I couldn't have said it better myself.
Be thankfully for their detailed and lengthy review because it gives you a very good idea of how the program is in its entirety. I am glad I did Wyncode overall, the miami beach location and people were great but do I think it is worth 10,000? No. The "wyncode fam" is warm and welcoming and I really enjoy some of the friendships I made there, but in the nicest way possible, I joined wyncode to learn to code.. not to make friends. They need to have proprietary corriculum to work off of in class.. not some external resources they "suggest"
But I will stop there because below it is stated perfectly.
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Anonymous
An Objective & Honest Review
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If you’re considering to pay $10,000 to invest in your education and change careers, you might as well know what you are actually getting with that money. My goal in this review is to be as thorough and objective as possible, so as to give you, oh prospective student, a clear understanding of what you are honestly signing up for. I do not think emotionally charged reviews like “this is the best decision of my life” or “this totally isn’t worth it” really answer your doubts or questions or help you in your decision process. I’ll write this in an advice format, giving you 10 pieces of advice. 1. CourseReport reviews are skewed First off, I’d like to mention how I joined. I joined Wyncode as opposed to any other bootcamp in the country (yes I looked at and considered over 60 different ones, either online or local) because of the CourseReport Reviews. Looking back, the hype of the reviews here was not a true representative of the actual bootcamp experience. What disappointed me more was the politics that are being played on wyncode’s coursereport. Politics? What? Really? What do you mean? I know you’d ask. You see, some of the rave reviews that wyncode has are by wyncode employees(TA’s or campus director, etc.) themselves. Alberto, Henry, Kyra, Tim, Diego are all names you can see down here that are employees. Besides Diego, I didn’t see anyone else mention that they have actually been PAID by wyncode for some services. That’s not an authentic student review then. In any other company or review, that is a condition for integrity. The other part of the politics is that if a negative review is left, if it has any negative words, it is automatically flagged for deletion. In terms of statistics, that means you are deleting all the negatively skewed reviews and thus giving a greater impression of how much greater you really are. This in statistics is shunned upon and makes ratings like 4.7/5 utterly unreliable. You want more? I’ve noticed after negative reviews are left on here for Wyncode, usually I see another wyncode employee posting another positive review so that’s the last thing that people see on the page and probably also to bring back up the rating. Why else would Kyra Fillmore, a Wyncode TA (who’s pretty awesome but nevertheless did not put the disclosure) write a review on 3/9/2016 (Link Here: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/wyncode#/reviews/review/2938), almost 9 FULL months after she finished with her Wyncode bootcamp? Why is Diego and Tim’s review (both who are wyncode employees) right before hers? Yup look at the review right before the one Tim posted and you’ll see why: there is a negative review that needs to be balanced. Exactly. I don’t appreciate that. I want students. I want integrity. 2. 90% job rate, really now? Even if an education or experience isn’t as good as it seemed at least on paper or based on reviews, if they can give you a job within few months, it is still a good decision as you can pay off the $10,000 very soon and get your money back and upgrade your career. Unfortunately, Wyncode can’t deliver on this rate. First, let’s talk about the rate. I wish I knew before that 90% isn’t 90% of all students, it’s 90% of those finishing 80% of their homework (plus I believe those who are actually job-hunting). Some people survive through the 9 weeks, not able to finish the homework except with survival skills, and come out convinced they don’t want to be developers. I don’t think anyone feels competent to use the term full-stack web developer for themselves when they are out. On top of that, I actually did the math for Cohort 7 of Miami. After 3 months, 22 out of 30 were hired, some it seems just as part-time employees at Wyncode or elsewhere so even that number needs to be more thoroughly answered. 22/30 is around a 73% placement rate, definitely not a 90% rate. The issue with these placement rates in any bootcamp is that right now they are not thoroughly regulated, so anyone can make up their own criteria and use it as a marketing ploy. On top of that, from the 3 cohorts that have graduated in March 2016, only around 10 out of around 65 students have been hired (part-time or full-time or as interns) after a month. I personally only know of 1 that got a solid full-time position that was announced at Wyncode. It seems the Miami market is saturating with developers and there is not enough jobs to go for everyone. I’m interested to see how their rate is adapted based on that in this next upcoming year, the slope seems to get steeper and steeper. 3. Wyncode’s Strength: Team & Culture Wyncode’s team is pretty awesome, they are all very nonjudgemental and all-embracing. That adds to the pressure of why no one wants to mention the other things I have mentioned in a review, they as well as I and everyone still know the team for being awesome, caring, and a big huge family. Jo and Juha are the founders and are very down to earth, and usually they hire campus directors that also have good energy. Rita is the hiring director and also someone willing to go out of her way to help you or advise you in whatever you need. The team is solid and culture is great. And for soft skills, you'll learn things on how to present and salary negotiate and meet other great developers or CEO's and all that will help get your feet more wet in getting more successful in the industry. The soft-skill and people exposure is also a great plus. 4. Wyncode’s Weaknesses is its core fucntions: Job Placement and Curriculum People join wyncode not for the soft skills but to learn to code and get a job. And unfortunately those are wyncode's weaknesses. I have already mentioned the issue with job placement above. The only way Wyncode will able to reconcile is if Miami’s market gets hotter or if they start getting connections for hiring outside of south florida. The job assistance you get is basically you having to email and call everyone that you can and hustle desperately to try to find someone to finally consider you and hire you. It's not an easy or enjoyable or streamlined process. It's bootstrapped just like how Wyncode started. Hustle your way to the top. Curriculum-wise, remember, you are paying the same 10,000 for 9 weeks instead of the standard 12 weeks of education, so you already are getting less education. If I did the due diligence of reading 3 books, one on ruby, one on rails, and one on front-end development (html css javascript) I would have learnt more than what I did at wyncode. But wyncode gave me the confidence to see that I can build useful things and can actually hang and use those books. Bootcamps are helpful to start your programming journey, especially for those ready to spend their life in the code. For me personally, the curriculum was what I was most disappointed in. I paid to learn to code, but constantly felt out of pace with the teaching. Sometimes I would learn something in class and the homework would ask questions completely different from what we were taught. The frustration kept adding and I considered quitting many times. The curriculum isn’t well thought out. It’s not polished. It’s not like that college class that gets 10/10 reviews every single time for being so clear and so well-designed. It’s the standard bootcamp education of lecture presentations and then disconnected homework that people have to google to keep up to understand. As one student said, “Did I really just pay $10,000 to use external resources to learn the material I’m supposed to be learning?” Yes, you did. The sad part for me was that this was one element in wyncode that could be so much better if they actually put more thought into it, but they need an educational designer for that. The job hunting part is also them trying to play with market trends and is harder to navigate. After some complaining and after some drop-outs in our class and after 6 weeks of being behind and admitting that I can’t learn these things except after the cohort finishes, the main curriculum was finally over, so then worked with my team on our final project as best I could. In terms of the promises, the main mastery you get at wyncode if you can keep up is Ruby on Rails. Javascript is only briefly touched on, so if you’re into website making and more the external user experience, you’re better off with another front-end specific bootcamp. I didn’t realize how big the distinction was and that I could even do that till after I joined. The ending and the pitch day is always a high and a memorable experience, you are on the spotlight and everyone is cheering you on. Part of the gimmick I didn't appreciate and that was used is a false promise that you’re going to go out and have so much fun in the 9 weeks. Like when you read Wyncode’s description saying "expect weekly activities like yoga, cross fit, sailing and go-karting”? Or that miami beach’s cohort will actually go to the beach? Lie. Beyond eating out twice, they have one go-karting event somewhere in the 9 weeks and that’s it. And you can ask the Miami Beach cohort if they actually went. This for me is also important for integrity. If you are only going out once, just say it and stick to your word, nothing wrong with that! But don’t make things seem so much greater than they actually are. 5. Conclusion: Wyncode is still the best option in Florida so if you must stay in Florida, and you have already decided on a bootcamp, then I should say that Wyncode culture and education wise is still in my opinion, the best option out there. There is IronHack, 4geeks, and now NYDCA in the area too, but Wyncode is the dominant force and rightfully so. But you may end up hating development or not getting a job at all in development, and hate the education for the first 6 weeks especially, and then forget everything by the time you keep job hunting in the months after you graduate rendering your money useless, so be prepared for those disappointments. Also don’t consider online options. I’ve come to terms with local and physical bootcamps being the best way. Wyncode’s curriculum is much better than bloc.io’s curriculum, that I have personally compared. But when an ex-Wyncoder said that after he graduated then he considered joining App Academy to actually feel more like he can feel like he is a coder, that raises some questions. So anyhow, now time for my last paragraph of advice. If you must join wyncode, only join the wynwood campus, otherwise prepare to be disappointed and sell your education short. Wynwood, the Miami campus, is the original campus. The main teacher who designed the curriculum for wyncode, Ed Toro is there. Ft. Lauderdale (Alvaro) is famous for having a teacher that made simple mistakes while teaching. I’ve heard Auston is good as a teacher but also goes at his own pace and is not a teacher as much as a great programmer. Plus, I’ve seen that when employees are rated really high, they are stolen to the main Wynwood campus. For me, I’m still happy I joined, I don’t have a job, but the experience was good, although it wasn’t the rosy Disney movie that CourseReport reviews may have made it seem. For those who kept up and got jobs, you’ll get great reviews you see here. Then there is a great number that are just trying to find a job and disheartened and don’t want to write a review. And then there are those who had high expectations because of coursereport but got shocked when they came and so wrote the negative reviews you see on here. Hope this review helped, good luck on your career journey!Matt Campbell of BrainStation
Director of Admissions
Apr 28, 2016
Hi Anonymous,
We appreciate your review of Wyncode and the time you spent to provide what you felt was an objective and honest assessment of the Wyncode curriculum and experience. I wanted to take the time to address some of the points you made in your post.
As far as the positive reviews and when they are posted, many of our alumni are passionate about the program and want to rush to our defense when they feel that the organization's reputation is at stake. We have no control over that. When we ask for a review after students have completed the program and started the job search, we don't ask for a positive review.
Some of our graduates work as part-time TAs, but all of those mentioned are also working in full-time positions. Their roles as TAs with Wyncode is a way for them to give back, and not their sole means of income. As far as placement statistics, we take our integrity seriously and will be auditing and releasing all of our placement stats within the next couple of months. We are currently working with NESTA and we plan to join the other coding bootcamp in the country with audited stats. Our published rates may drop substantially, but our definition of job placement will be clear and vetted by an independent third party. You are welcome to view those transparent metrics once the audit is complete.
At Wyncode, we stress the importance of students leaning into the discomfort that comes with learning a new skill. More comfort comes with time and experience, but even then, learning how to code is a lifelong journey, and there is always room to grow at every level in the industry. Wyncode provides a foundation to land an entry level job and a focus on the skills and mindset necessary to continue learning and achieve success afterward.
As far as activities during the course, we’re very clear about expectations at our orientation. Although we are about an inclusive and fun environment, we’re straightforward about the demands of the curriculum. Activities outside of the classroom vary depending on cohort makeup and location. At Wyncode, we stress that you get out of the program what you put into it. We provide the resources necessary to navigate the curriculum successfully and ensure that students are provided with a solid foundation to start their careers as developers.
At Wyncode, we are advocates for student outcomes. We pride ourselves on being supportive and providing guidance. Currently, there is no way to hack and make the job hunt process streamlined in the current market. Wyncode Academy does not control the hiring practices of our hiring partners. The job hunt is also normally a very lonely process with little to no feedback; besides the support we offer through weekly sessions with our Director of Hiring Partnerships and other graduates seeking work, Wyncode also has Wynterviews we hold at the end of the curriculum for companies interested in hiring Wyncode students and networking events that we promote throughout the Wyncode experience. Many of our competitors don't provide job placement support to the extent that we do. We're committed to influencing the factors that are under our control, but are also honest and realistic about our locus of control.
Wyncode has always framed itself as a portal of opportunity, and we strive to empower our students to harness opportunities to build their careers as developers. We work to continually iterate and innovate our curriculum and processes. We appreciate your feedback and we continue to take steps towards improving the Wyncode experience and broadening our impact in the South Florida tech scene. Thank you for providing your feedback, and hopefully, we'll be able to support you in the future.
Best,
Matt Campbell, Director of Admissions at Wyncode Academy -
Anonymous
Best decision of my life!
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I had heard a lot of great news about Wyncode before signing up, and I'm really glad I made the leap of faith! The tremendous amount of support provided is incredible. The instructors are very knowledgeable, helpful, and approachable. I always felt like I had a village supporting me. On top of that Wyncode introduced me to the fast growing Miami tech community. I've met CEO's, CTO's, entrepreneurs, developers, VC's, angel investors, Facebook executives, Google executives, the head of the eMerge America's conference, and the list goes on. I really feel like I'm a part of something bigger. Not only do I know several members of the community by name, but Wyncode also did a great job of putting me in front several great companies through their interview process. The director of hiring partnerships, Rita, is amazing! She really hustles! She helped me get several interviews as well as helped me negotiate my salary. Every step of the way you can tell Wyncode cares.
I come from a traditional education backgroud and having graduated from one of the top universities in the country (with loads of debt)- the results from 9 weeks, compared to 4 years are astonishing. My first job after Wyncode gave me a higher salary than I could attain with my college degree.
Now all that being said-Straight up-Wyncode is really hard, no one is going to put in the work for you. No one is going to spend the endless hours staying up late coding for you. No one is going to fill out dozens and dozens of applications for you. No one is going to make phone calls, or drag you out of bed to go to networking events. No one, not Wyncode, not Harvard, no one but YOU. That's the key difference between successful people and people who make excuses- If you expect a hand out, then reconsider Wyncode, in fact, reconsider your approach to success.
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Anonymous
don't be fooled
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Honestly not worth it. Teaching yourself will save you money and emotional distress. the program is underdeveloped. There are great resources online you can use that are equivalent, if not better, to the wyncode program. Wyncode is very misleading in how they portray themselves. Job assistance is sitting around and talking about what you did that week. Basically a group therapy session about unemployment. The job search is daunting and the best advice we get is to HUSTLE. There are not many connections you can make through wyncode. The cohort i participated in had wynterviews with companies that are not even hiring... best advice is to go somewhere else or self teach.
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Anonymous
Not what was promised
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Did you ever watch The Truman Show? Well, that's Wyncode. They will promise you everything and anything you want to hear, a starting salary of $60,000-$70,000, endless demand, ect ect. They will promise you 93% employment rate after graduation, these are their numbers, good luck! Btw, if you can't find a job they will hire you as a Teaching Assistant, for 4 hours a few times a week, and pay you a little more than minimum wage. But hey, you are employed and in the 93%!
Oh, and forget about the yoga, kayaking, jogging outings they promise. These are plain and simple LIES.
The founders Juha and Johanna Mikkola will buy you with fist bumps, smiles, endless "your're awesome, you hustled, you're amazing" and a whole lot of one on one PR (and they're good at it!) and whoops, you coughed up $10,000, with if your lucky, 15% interest rate or more. I wasn't so lucky. One more thing, their online ratings are good because very often they raffle a free iWatch for whomever gives them good ratings.
Rita Rovira, the Director of Hiring Partnerships is also not innocent. She will sweet talk the hell out of you. She can certainly talk the talk, walking the walk? That's a different story... Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those bitter individuals who wants to take revenge. I did have a good time, made great friends, and the teaching staff are awesome. I just want you to make an educated decision and know what to expect because everything you learn there can be learned online for $30 or even free.Matt Campbell of BrainStation
Director of Admissions
Apr 11, 2016
Hi Anonymous,
We’re sorry to hear that your Wyncode experience wasn’t what you had expected. Wyncode is committed to student outcomes and I wanted to make sure we addressed the concerns raised in your review.
Wyncode does not promise a starting salary of $60,000-$70,000 upon leaving the program. Those numbers are national averages for the industry. Our website or marketing materials do not guarantee jobs due to the fact that we are licensed by the Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education which forbids us from doing so. What we do offer is an experience that serves as a foundation to work as a junior developer after the program. With many opportunities to grow and gain experience in your career afterward, the likelihood of earning these numbers within a few years after graduating from Wyncode is high.
In terms of employment rate, we currently maintain a 90% job placement rate for graduates within three months of completing the program. Wyncode promises to support students in the planning, strategizing and execution when it comes to the job search and we’re very transparent about the level of work it takes not only during the program but after the program to succeed. Wyncode does not promise jobs, but the technical acumen, focus on soft skills and support necessary to land a job. Ultimately, the onus is on each individual to put in the effort necessary to land a job after the program. Assuming you were in one of our most recent cohorts, you still have an opportunity to be considered within the 3-month window that we measure placement.
Team building activities vary from cohort to cohort and you certainly experienced that during your time in the program, with go-karting, a social event at a nearby restaurant, and the post-Pitch Day celebration. We do stress a positive culture based on community and collaboration, but a student’s number one responsibility is gaining the technical acumen necessary to work as a junior developer at the conclusion of the program. Activities outside of this purpose are extra and variable depending on the cohort makeup, and individuals present in each group.
Working as a teaching assistant is not considered within our job placement rates if that is their only role. Currently, Wyncode is connecting with a third party to audit our job placement rates from the very beginning and we want to be completely transparent about graduate outcomes. In fact, there is a vetting process to work as a TA at Wyncode that includes a rigorous technical assessment that ensures only the best are brought on for the role. Out of our 250 graduates, we currently have five individuals on our full-time staff. We focus on hiring only the best individuals for our team. Hiring graduates to boost our overall job placement rate is not a viable business or financial strategy. The majority of those who TA with Wyncode have already attained full-time roles.
The interest rates for the loans offered to Wyncode’s students are determined by our financing partners. Wyncode offers loans through the top companies in our industry and they determine rates on a number of factors. For example, the financing partner utilized the most by our students, Climb, offers fixed monthly interest rates starting at 5% with an average of 9% and a cap at 15%. Climb also offers the option to apply with a cosigner to lower that rate. Besides Climb, we also have the option for students to apply to Pave or Skills Fund to finance the cost of their education.
The Apple Watch raffle was an initiative by Course Report, Wyncode was not involved. Furthermore, Wyncode does not ask graduates to complete a good review on Course Report, we simply ask that graduates complete a review period. Whether that review is good or not is out of our control, we simply value the feedback and appreciate the insight offered by past students to inform prospective students of Wyncode about the experience.
In terms of Rita’s support as Director of Hiring Partnerships, her role is as a liaison for our hiring partners. Her job is to keep them engaged and interacting with Wyncode students while bringing on more hiring partners. Based on the fact that to date we have had 26 companies hire multiple Wyncode graduates, 69 companies hire at least one Wyncode graduate, and four companies hiring 5 or more graduates, Rita is certainly walking the walk. Rita’s role is one of support, she’s a coach and an emotional pillar for graduates of Wyncode, but ultimately the only person who can secure a role is the graduate themselves.
I understand the frustration that might come with the job search, but it’s clear that you had a good time, made good friends, and thought the teaching staff was awesome. If that was the case, your ratings should have reflected that. Wyncode is a project-based learning environment that offers much more than the free tutorials one could find online. Our curriculum is continually improved based on not only student feedback, but also suggestions from hiring partners. With that in mind, we would love to speak about some of your concerns personally, and are open to offering the support necessary to secure your first role after the program.
Best,
Matt Campbell, Director of Admissions at Wyncode Academy -
Anonymous
Great Choice
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Like most people I spent a long time looking up reviews and trying to find out if going to a coding bootcamp was the right choice for me. After months of deliberating on where to go and if I could afford it, I decided to attend Wyncode. One of biggest factors in my decision was the positive reviews the school had. This was a great decision! Between instructors and TAs, I was able to be challenged while receiving the right balance of help and being pushed to struggle on my own. The atmosphere is fantastic and everyone is motivated and encouraging. Overall this was the right choice for me and allowing me to break into a field I enjoy every day.
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Sara Hincapie
Amazing Experience
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Wyncode has been one of the best experiences of my life. I attended cohort 8 in Wynwood.
The classes are held in the Lab Miami. The place is outstanding. A lot of tech startups and businesses and also like minded people interested in tech, development and entrepreneurship. There are daily events in the lab, most of them which you can attend for free. Another thing I want to point out is free coffee/tea/energy drinks and kind bars 24/7.
The Lead Instructor is Ed Toro. He is amazing. He is kind and friendly and as a developer ninja, he knows EVERYTHINg. His lessons are the best. He makes it easier to understand difficult topics and complex problems and he makes sure everyone gets what he is saying. I will be forever thankful for everything I learnt from him.
Ed is not the only instructor, we had two other instructors (The amazing Tim and Joe) that went above and beyond to help us understand topics and hard homework. We also had Bryce as a guest lecturer, he is another developer Ninja and his lectures were also fun and helpful. It didn't stop there. We had an average of two T.A.s a day including Saturdays and Sundays. They were mostly Wyncode alums and several senior developers. The T.As were especially helpful with homework. They never give you the answer but they guide you on the right direction and they give great advice on the Miami Tech ecosystem and what to expect after pitch day.
Matt and Sean were also a great help for me. Matt is in charge of the campus and he is amazing at it. Everything is organized and ready for us. I reached out to Matt several times to ask him questions and he always had an answer or a solution. I don't know how he does it!
Sean A.K.A Superman was not as often at the Lab but he was a slack away, always giving suggestions and was always open to questions from us.
The Curriculum is very good, roughly two weeks of Ruby, one week on CSS & HTML , one of javascript, three weeks on rails and two on the final project.
The lessons start at 10.a.m. We have a morning and an afternoon lesson. Sometimes we have hacking sessions or live coding. Two or three times a week we have guest speakers and on Fridays, we have a soft skill workshop with Rita Rovira.
The job assistance is very good. Rita is on top of things and after a lot of interviews and Wynterviews got hired two weeks after graduating.
I came to Wyncode without knowing what a command line was. 9 weeks later I have all the skills that I need to start my journey as a developer.
Thank you Jo and Juha, you are great and have an amazing thing going on. You are not only building the future of tech in South Florida, you are building the most supportive and amazing community that I have ever been
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Jake
Following my passion!
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Wyncode helped me change life paths and get back to following my passion of computers and development! The whole experience was great! From the TAs to our teacher (Damon, the man!) to the supporting staff to General Provision (our space) it really made my Wyncode experience unforgettable. I did have a background in tech but decided to take on Wyncode because I wanted a kick-start into the tech world (mainly just a job). We had "wyn"terviews throughout the cohort and that's where I met my current employer, Modernizing Medicine. I absolutely LOVE it here and I would have never had the chance without the valuable information and skills I learned at Wyncode. Thank you!
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Pat
Amazing Course with Amazing People
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Wyncode was fundamental in my growth as a programmer. By commiting to the course and following through with that commitment, I was given the opportunity to build a programming foundation that has helped me land a job that I love.
Wyncode has grown and changed for the better through each cohort, mainly due to its ability to take students feedback through retrospectives each week. This allows students to feel like they are able to constructively criticize certain aspects in the course they don't feel are working and provide insight as to how Wyncode could improve. You get out of Wyncode what you put into it, and you are given the opportunity to get A LOT out of it. The instructors and TAs are there for you and are consistently willing to lend an ear to help if needed. I have made many lasting friendships as well as great connections through Wyncode.
If you are interested in learning to code, Wyncode is the perfect place to start your programming journey!
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Santiago Quintana
Transformative experience
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First the obvious:
Wyncode is a wonderful team with great support. There was never a time (say, 3 am) when I couldn't jump into Slack, contact a TA or Instructor, and get my doubts resolved. The lectures were fantastic, the content broad and well thought out, and the team receptive. The program provides enough content to begin knowing next to nothing and finish with enough skills to launch a career in web development. But more importantly, they have well thought out pointers to go off-road and learn on your own. The content they provide in the space of nine weeks is astounding, but the program's greatest virtue is the number of resources they make available to students to learn to learn. Their career support after the nine weeks was a major part of me getting hired by a major SoFlo tech company one week after classes ended—a company that I came into contact with through the Wynterviews they set up for the students. Wyncode is a group of motivated, driven developers and developers-to-be—but more than that they are a fantastic network to be a part of.
Which leads me to the less obvious part:
Wyncode was more than a transformation in my professional life; it was nine weeks of intense personal growth. Being surrounded by talented, intelligent, fun, and supportive people for 12 hours every day (including weekends) not only honed my skills as a developer but as a human being. Knowing RoR and JS is important, but knowing how to be part of a team, how to interact in the professional space, how to approach independent learning, and how to get involved and make a change in the local community is just as critical both for getting a job as for being a successful developer. The friends I made at Wyncode will stay with me for the rest of my career; I know we will grow as developers together. Furthermore, there are hundreds of wyncoders already working in SoFlo tech that I know I can reach out to for help and advice.
I graduated Wyncode and now I know to value my work, to recognize my intelligence and skill, to reach out to the WynFam, to try hard and to ask for help, to think through problems and implement solutions—software-wise and life-wise.
Wyncode is an amazing experience for those willing to take a plunge into a new career and trust their own capacity to learn and create.
10/10 would recommend ;)
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No
Deserve some money back
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Basically our cohort did not receive the same education Miami did. With the amount of time wasted in lectures to our learning space ( very small and dusty and the bathrooms are quite unsanitary) I feel that wyncode should give those at ft.lauderdale some of our money back. A lot of us are very angry about this but its hard to say this in our retro. I have talked to staff individually and expressed my concerns and still there was no change in the lectures. Our instructor Alvaro is a very intelligent and caring guy. He would however get thrown off during the session and then spend almost an hour trying to fix an error. Sometimes we would still have troubles in the second lecture of the day. This is definitely the #1 complaint from most of us.
I did make some great friendships and I enjoyed going out with my teammates and working in my group. It was a lot of hard work but All in all I do not recommend wyncode from my experience.
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West
Miami
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Wyncode is a terrific program for facilitating and accelerating a career transition into coding. You come out of the program with enough knowledge and ability to create static websites and web apps, and enough projects on your github to sit for job interviews with confidence. After leaving Wyncode, I felt like I had a foundation for learning how to code, and I was able to get a job offer coding within a few months of completing the program.
The career placement service after Wyncode is very useful as well. Wyncode's network in South Florida is vast, and their head of placement, Rita, does a magnificant job facilitating and assisting with your job hunt when you've completed your program.
I personally found the curriculum challenging to master while I was in the program and it was a very intense 9 weeks. I observed that the people who got the most out of the program 1) put the most into it, and 2) had come into the program with the most experience coding beforehand.
That being said, it is possible to begin Wyncode with very little knoweldge of coding before starting, and come out with the skills you need to get a job. So, don't let a lack of knowledge dissuade you, but do know that doing as much learning about code as you can before starting Wyncode will definitely be an asset once you start.
Finally, the people who work at Wyncode are very much so invested in your success. Everyone who works there is upbeat, positive, and dedicated to helping facilitate your transformation into a successful programmer.
I couldn't recommend Wyncode more.
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Keith Tang
It is totally worth it.
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I am a graduate from the last Wyncode Cohort. I am not an employee of Wyncode and I am not a TA.
I had struggle though the course like all of the students. I have also questioned the value of the $10,000 investment like everyone else.
But I can honestly say that it was the best investment I have made for myself. There is just Nooooo way for me to acquire that much of updated and market relevant knowledge in that short period of time and in that kind of supportive environment.
How do you justify the value when beside the basic lettures, you have..
Top quality instructors, the supportive staff, the guided curriculum, the space, the guest speakers, the soft skill, lean management, agile approach, etc. plus
- All the extra information provided to you for tech meetups, hackathons, (there'll be at least a few activities a week); the immersion to the tech scene of south Florida. The entire process of arranged hiring partners for interviews. They arrange hiring managers, CTO's, CEO's looking to hire students straight out of the cohort, these hiring partners are already sold about who you are, you don't have to prove to them how hard working you are or how much of a fast learner you are, or the awkward fact that 9 weeks ago, you did not know anything about programming and now you want to be a develop. The school already helped you overcome that hurdle and that is a huge one. That alone is worth massive amount of time for job applications, and self marketing and blind luck.
And the most valuable part of all is the like minded, hard driven individuals just like you that you would meet and work together. They will be someone you can count on far into the future.
This course is designed to be intimidating, and overload your capacity. It is up to you to retain as much as you can by working as hard as you can. There is no way you can learn all the thing they have expose you to. It can get extremely frustrating at times and many of us find that we were not given enough hand holding. But it is knowledge that you can only gain by doing and coding. No amount of lecture can make you a coder if you don't code or go through a few build from scratch processes.
My advise is, if you have 2-4 years of time, you can take the college computer science route, and pay at least $23K for Miami Dade College or a lot more in any other Florida University. You'd come out with more solid understand of computer language but still lack relevant skills, relevant knowledge like Ruby, Rails, Git, Heroku deployment, building api's, hackng fackbook Oauth, they just don't teach you those in class. It takes months and years of exposure to the coding world to learn all these everyday tricks and tools.
Or you can spend god knows how long in front of a computer taking online courses or watching youtube, but definitely not able to get a job because you are just an hobbist.
Or go to Wyncode, pour your heart and soul to learning as much as you can, where you can stand a good chance of getting a coding job. And in 2-4 years, you will a full fled senior developer and earning a very respectable income.
Just remember, it is no a guarantee, but it is definitely not a pie -in-sky lie. The tech job future is very real and it is entirely up to you to achieve it
I would also advise not write a review here if you are current student, on your last day of rushing to finish your project. I am sure you are highly stressed and lack of sleep. You did a great job tonight showing the app that you have built, be proud of how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go. But don't forget to enjoy the journey.
I can spend twice the time and money and still wouldn't be able to be where I am today.
I am now working as a full time developer now and there is just no way I am get this job without Wyncode.
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Anonymous
Curriculum not worth it
Curriculum is not worth it. Most of the reviews here are from people that are currently or have been employed by Wyncode. You'll be better of learning by yourself. Dont waste your money.
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Anonymous
Some good some bad
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The good : awesome instructors, all the lessons before week 6 are fantastic. The homework is challenging and makes you think like a programmer . Meeting 25 other people with no experience and no background in coding while also growing your skills with them is an experience that is unmatched. The bad: week 6 and onward had many technical problems during the lesson, and it took a while to get on track. Much of the learning on the weekend is done on code school instead of customized curriculum. It's also hard to give bad feedback on Friday retrospectives because everyone you are giving feedback to is employed by wyncode. Most honest feedback is talked about amongst your peers. Overall I did like Wyncode, and I definitely feel I have the skills to get employed. That's what makes it worth it to me -
Turk
What a great experience!!
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What a great experience! TAs are always available, 24 hour access to the LAB, projects every week that really drive the knowledge you learn in class, great instructors, networking events in Miami to really become a part of the tech scene, and so much more!!
I am proud to say at my new job, hired a week after pitch night, I have been leading front-end focused projects that utilized what I learned in HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT...
CHEER! from c7
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Kyra
Happy I made the leap!
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At the time I made the leap into Wyncode I had been a stay-at-home-mom for 4 years. Before that, I had minimal work experience as a social worker. I knew that at some point I would have to level-up my education to make myself relevant and employable again.
I had dabbled in html and css while blogging about motherhood, and had started trying to learn javascript through sites like Team Treehouse and CodeSchool. I kept losing motivation and getting stuck.
I tried an in-person Intro to Development class at the LAB where Wyncode is located. The teacher of that class, Walter, was also one of the instructors of Wyncode at the time. He would tell us about the Wyncode experience and I saw many of the students working hard at all hours. The culmination of our Intro class coincided with the culmination of Wyncode’s 4th cohort.
Walter invited me to pitch day and told me I should consider enrolling in the course. I wasn’t biting. $10k and 9 weeks away from my babies? No way!
At pitch day, I could not ignore the energy of Wyncode’s founders, Jo and Juha. The event was buzzing with interesting ideas. It had been years since I had been in a professional setting with so many other adults, and I had never been part of something that people were so excited about. After the pitches, I had a chance to meet some of the women from the 4th cohort. I talked to a couple of the teaching assistants, and Diego- the campus director at the time. Everyone was so welcoming and enthusiastic. When I left the event, I knew I wanted to join Wyncode.
I struggled with the decision for a couple of days, but after talking to Diego, who convinced me that the people who put the most on the line tend to excel, I decided to make the leap.
By the time I enrolled, the start of the 5th cohort was just days away. I was so nervous and emotional about leaving my kids, but I knew tech was where I wanted to be. Development has a good job outlook, often flexible schedules, and location-independent- all those things fit well with my lifestyle.
My time at Wyncode was intense (as it should be). I was constantly learning and building. I was surprised by how much emphasis there was on business and teamwork. I spent long days at the LAB fixing bugs, and asking for help from the Wyncode staff. When I wasn’t coding, I was attending various Miami Tech events. There is something almost every night. I pushed myself really hard, and I still had to go home each day and be a mom.
Upon graduating, I wasn’t sure I wanted to take a full-time job right away, but I met a company at Pitch Day and decided to interview. They offered me a full-time, work from home position and would send me to Jacksonville to train with their team of consultants at Hashrocket! I happily accepted!
I have since left that job to start a non-profit with some of my Wyncode classmates. I also do freelance development and am a part-time teaching assistant at Wyncode. I have not stopped learning and just got back from a React.js conference hosted by Facebook in San Francisco. I get offers to come in to interview for companies all the time and I’m lucky to be in a position where I can be choosy about what I take. It’s a great schedule with my two small kids.
Besides feeling professionally relevant again, the number one thing Wyncode has provided is an AMAZING network of people. Between the alumni, the hiring partners, and the Wyncode team, I have built so many relationships that wouldn’t have been possible without Wyncode. It truly is my second family.
I am so glad I decided to join Wyncode. It has been life-changing. It feels like the sky is the limit!
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Diego
A life changing experience
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I have experienced Wyncode Academy from the inside and the outside, I have seen every part of the organization, as an employee and a student. Someone might see this as a kind of bias for this review. But as I sit here on my desk at a billion dollar Silicon Valley startup, thinking of how I got here I can confidently say, without the worry of bias, that being a part Wyncode Academy is the best decision I have ever made.
My experience with Wyncode is a bit unique. My journey began as an intern for Wyncode in the summer of 2014. I was a middle school science teacher before my internship, I arrived two days before the end of the first cohort. I met Jo and Juha, the founders as well as Ed, the instructor and the students. What struck me within the first day was a couple of things, how hard the staff was working to ensure the students were succeeding and how brave the students were to take this course, untested and brand new.
I was entranced by the positivity and relentless attitude of everyone around me, something hard to find in a traditional institution and near impossible to find in the public school system. So great was this internship experience that I decided to leave my job as a teacher and work for Wyncode as the first campus director. For a year and a half I worked as campus director and as admissions director. Over the course of this time I was able to see first-hand, the lives of over 100 students change radically. As admissions director I would speak with people every day, disillusioned with their previous jobs, in need of a change. Nine weeks later, a developer, with passion for technology and a great paying job.
I cannot say I wasn't a skeptic of the value or the efficacy of this program at first. You see for me, as a Wyncode employee, it was not about money or the growing popularity of the Miami tech scene. The sole reason I arrived in Miami (I am a California native, raised in Mexico) was to teach, to change the lives of people in tough situations. That is what my job as a teacher in a public school could not do. That is what Wyncode Academy could do. The Saturday after the end of every nine week course I would find myself staring out, thinking of the graduates and how their lives were transformed, all with the sincere satisfaction for the work I did to help. I was doing what I had set out to do. This continued throughout my development at Wyncode.
Wyncode secured a partnership with The Knight Foundation to create a scholarship for low income residents of Miami. I had the honor of leading the charge in developing this scholarship from start to finish and all the while in awe of the true impact that Wyncode has on the Miami community. I had a job where people’s lives were changing, there was no doubt of the value any longer. As I helped in the expansion of the Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach locations I began to realize why I had ended up at Wyncode, it was because of my passion for education and technology.
I have always been around computers and technology, an early adopter, but I did not code until I got to college. I studied Cognitive Science at UC Berkeley and took two computer science courses there. I loved them and hoped I had done more. When I was a teacher, I taught myself a tiny bit of JavaScript to motivate my students to learn to code. I had arrived at Wyncode because I wanted to be closer to technology and continue my duty to education.
When I had this realization I decided that my next step was to take the Wyncode course myself, and begin to make my way back to California, to be closer to my family. I was a student of the third Fort Lauderdale cohort. I learned more in those 9 weeks than in two semesters of computer science courses at Berkeley. I made incredible friends and was supported along the way by the teaching and operations staff. My goal after was to find a job in Silicon Valley.
A student and friend from the first cohort, Walter, who was recruited by Udacity after he graduated and who I had met on my first day as an intern heard about this and connected me to the right people and encouraged me to apply there as a content developer, where I would be writing Ruby on Rails curriculum for thousands of students worldwide. It was the perfect combination of education and technology, the right job for me. Wyncode helped me throughout the entire process, from professional development, education, application, salary negotiations all the way to the day I signed my offer letter.
Wyncode has now changed the lives of over 150 people, myself included. The program is intense on purpose. Challenging consistently, and ever-evolving. The staff relentless in their purpose to change lives. The leadership insanely hard-working. The students motivated, dynamic and diverse. If you choose to take this course, know that it will be difficult and motivating, exhausting and inspiring. It will open opportunities at a speed you could only imagine. I have seen it and experienced it first-hand. Wyncode is the real future of education.
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Tim R.
Best Educational Experience of My Life
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Wyncode has truly been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Full disclosure, I came here as a student in September and after the course I was hired by Wyncode to be an Instructor at the Wynwood campus. Before coming to Wyncode I was a high school math teacher. I loved my job and loved the students, but felt my impact could be greater through technology. Wyncode has given me the opportunity to do this, and for that am forever grateful. I spent a lot of time trying to learn on my own through online resourcse with little success, and with in the first week of Wyncode I felt I learned more than a years worth of online resources. Ed Toro is not only a gifted programmer, but also an incredible teacher(As a former teacher I am super critical). The best part of the Wyncode experience though is the culture. I made life long friends, high level connections in Miami, and attained a network of developers that are some of the best in the industry( an invaluable resource). For anybody considering a bootcamp, I highly recommend the Wyncode experience. It's the type of life changing decision you will wish you made sooner.
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Jessica
Product Management - Winter 2016
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I'm currently taking the part-time Product Management course at BrainStation and can't say enough good things about my experience so far! I was looking to learn new professional skills to help me progress in my career, but I wanted to learn something completely new. I work in Marketing and thought learning about Product Management/Development would help me have a better understanding of the products that I'm "selling" every day. Not only has all of the course material been completely applicable to my current role and company, but it will also be helpful for any future opportunities. The staff is ALL helpful and friendly, and the instructors and teaching assistants are current experts in their fields, so they can provide insight and advice based on relevant information. Two thumbs up!!
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Anonymous
Not worth it
The curriculum is not worth $10,000. Most of the time you are using code school to learn. The hiring rates are inflated by unpaid internships. You pay $10,000 and can't get your money back so basically have to make the best of it. During project weekends there are not enough TAs. Also they give out projects before material needed to do the project is even introduced.
Carlos Vazquez of BrainStation
Admissions Director
Mar 04, 2016
Dear Anonymous,
Thanks for the feedback. We'd love to talk more about what is included in the cost of attending our program (workshops, events, 24-hour access to coworking space, resume reviews, etc). We value feedback, which is why we get together every Friday to allow students the opportunity to share their concerns and what we could do to improve the experience. We are fortunate to have instructors available around the clock, and if there was a weekend where that didn't happen we'd love to know. We understand the value of supplemental material and our Instructors encourage students to use various platforms (code school included) to learn. They are experts in the craft and have had roles as CTO's, startup founders, and teachers. We have some pretty awesome systems to keep the lines of communication wide open (Slack, 1 on 1's, GoodMeasure etc.). We understand it is an investment and totally agree that the experience is what you make of it. Our current 4.9/5 star rating can attest to our commitment to a high-quality experience. As you'll find in the majority of reviews here, students recognize the life-changing impact attending Wyncode provides. I'm sorry you had some challenges with some of the material - we'd love to support you and invite you to a conversation about how to set you up for success.
Thanks,
Carlos Vazquez (Admissions Director @ Wyncode) -
Anonymous
iOS Development Review
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I am currently on week seven of the iOS Development course at BrainStation. This course continues to impress me with the challenges we face every week. I was looking for a challenge and was definitely able to find it.
I've been programming in Java for nearly two years and was excited to try an experience with a new language. I was expecting the transition would be tough at first, but overall logic is logic and I will pick it up quite quickly. I have been continuously suprised with the difference between the two languages and have been able to set a few goals for the outcome of this course. It excites me to have a challenge after programming comfortably in Java for so long.
We are using Swift and I love it. Programming in Xcode is a beautiful experience, it's visually appealing more than anything, but the ease of dragging and dropping makes app creation almost like a game. You feel more like a designer than anything and are able to see what you are doing while it's happening. The simulator is very cool, as it takes the form of an iPhone screen as you load your projects and it switches between realistic app icons on the screen. Great experience.
Up until about two weeks ago, we have been using playgrounds over projects, getting right into programming fundamentals and transitioning into Object-Oriented Programming Swift style. We started making basic apps, including a calculator, a weather app and are currently working on creating a user creation and login/logout application. The current project is something fundamental for many applications, so I'm excited to see how this goes.
The instructors are very helpful and I have been enjoying the type of work we've been going through. I definitely encourage external resource hunting, as one day a week for three hours is not enough time to expect to gain all of the knowledge it takes to become an iOS Developer. It's very much a course that you need to help yourself while the very knowledgable instructors will teach you all the latest concepts and basics to lift you off into a new language to potentially master.
So far, it's a pretty cool experience and I am very happy to have a few projects to add to my portfolio.
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Oscar V.
iOS cohort 2
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The iOS cohort was a curiousity due to the lack of reviews for it found here. I applied to take the course and received a phone call from then admissions and campus director, Diego Lugo as well as then head TA, Walter Latimer. I was asked questions regarding some basic programming topics in order to vet my programming knowledge and received an email outlining my acceptance within the next few hours.
I participated in the 2nd ever cohort for iOS in the summer of 2015. It was a 6 week part-time (3 hour sessions, 3 sessions a week) course that featured instruction from an established and well respected member of the Wynwood Community- Karl Goodhew of YellowPepper. Karl has extensive experience in developing iOS apps, and the insights he provided (along with TA Derek Miller, also of YellowPepper) were invaluable with regards to my job search. Karl even set up my first ever interview for a software development position at YellowPepper, something that boosted the confidence I had in my abilities. My only criticism of Karl's instruction would be that the curriculum seemed to be piecemeal for various parts of a functional app. I would like to see this curriculum change to a sort of kitchen sink app that grows over the course of the six weeks, rather than implement the learned features of an app across various micro projects that dont add much to a portfolio. Another criticism I would like to add was that at some points, Karl seemed to have little patience for students and I got the idea that the course wasn't progressing as intended. Instead of attempting to get the cohort back on track, he seemed content to let us go about our own devices(and argue), pursuing our collectively agreed upon portfolio project, wasting an inordinate amount of time that may have been better utilized following a structured curriculum.
I was employed within 2 months of completing the course, thanks to the AMAZING Rita Rovira who is the director of hiring partnerships at Wyncode. Her advice on presentation and branding was precisely the information i required to become employable. It's safe to say that had I utilized this amazing resource available to me immediately following the completion of the cohort (I actually began seeking her advice one month after the cohort was completed) I would be employed that much sooner. Since working with Rita on my job search, I was employed within 3 weeks as a mobile developer.
I would recommend this course to any experienced programmer who is missing a social aspect to their career development. If you're looking to find a way to "get in" to the mobile realm coming from a differing discipline (they recommend having participated in their main ruby cohort prior to participating in this cohort, but if you can prove that you are a competent programmer you are welcome to join the iOS cohort... This is due to the fact that there simply isnt enough time in the cohort to introduce programming concepts from no starting point and then having to deal with platform specific programming techniques and industry best practices) then this course is for you!
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Brendan Gamble
BrainStation's Intro to Web Development 2016
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I am currently enrolled in BrainStation's Intro to Web Development course and wow, I can't find enough great things to say about my experience thus far. BrainStation's staff are highly knowledgeable and the instructors are experts in their field. The material is easy to follow and builds beautifully on what was taught in each previous class. I highly recommend this class for anyone interested in educating themselves in this the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Bootstrap.
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Brendan Gamble
BrainStation's Intro to Web Development 2016
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I am currently enrolled in BrainStation's Intro to Web Development course and wow, I can't find enough great things to say about my experience thus far. BrainStation's staff are highly knowledgeable and the instructors are experts in their field. The material is easy to follow and builds beautifully on what was taught in each previous class. I highly recommend this class for anyone interested in educating themselves in this the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Bootstrap.
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Anupriya Gupta
Product Management
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The Product Management course offered by BrainStation is one of its kind. The course compresses a few months of MBA content into a few weeks. The course instructor comes with a great amount of experience. He was one of the key members in the launch of the famous BlackBerry Messenger. He has been in the industry for over 2 decades working with a wide variety of companies. Learning from an industry expert gives you the hands on knowledge and exposure that employers in today's age are looking for. The TA in class also comes from a Product Management background. The advantage is that you have best of both worlds - You learn the theoretical part of it along with the skills that are required to make you a successful Product Manager. The students in class come from a wide variety of backgrounds. We have people with a science background who are looking to develop their own product and want to learn how to take a product from its inception to launching it in the market. The class size is small, with approximately 30 students in class. Everyone has a grand project that they work towards from day one. At the end of it, each student has a tangible outcome, which can used later to show to employers for future jobs.
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Henry Arbolaez
Wyncode, one of my best decision.
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My Journey at Wyncode
First of all, I want to thanks Juha(Wyncode co-founders), Jo(Wyncode co-founders) and Matt Haggman(Knight Foundation) on the chance of the scholarship to attend Wyncode.
MY OVERALL EXPERIENCE:
First of all, attending WYNCODE was one of the best decisions I have ever made. When I started I just knew the basic of HTML5, CSS3, and just basic of JavaScript. Since week one, I had to work hard because I was learning something new everyday. It was intensive, but I told myself I must dedicated and commit to it, because is going to sky the limit on what I can learn and this is going to be a life long learning path! There wasn't a day since I started that I wasn't going to bed around 2am and waking up around 8am. What I realize is that the best students and developers are the one that puts the extra hours and putting the effort on solving the problems at any circumstance. I really love been surrounded by those kinda people because is motivated me and push me even more to learn.
STAFF & TEACHERS:
The staff at Wyncode is phenomenon, I loved their style of teaching in which they teach a several concepts a day and then put you to practice on building small project and homeworks. Some are hard and make you like quitting but it just take pushing through the stress and overcoming the hard moments because at the end is all rewarding. The lead instructor Ed Toro is a great teacher, he is very calm and love to teach and see the students learn and succeed. As well as the assistant teachers they are really good programmers to. I really liked the opportunity of been able to learn from top quality programmers.
CURRICULUM:
Wyncode curriculum is amazing, like I mentioned it was base on learning new concepts and putting them into practice by small projects and homeworks on a daily basis. On the weekends there were bigger project, that consist of what we have been taught through out the week. The projects are relevant to what most of the top industry are programming in todays world. Last but not least, Wyncode have a great curriculum to become a Ruby on Rails Full-Stack Web Developer, as well as a Front End Developer which is what I like.
Job Assistant:
Job assistant is amazing with Rita and Wyncode because they want you to succed. Today, I got hired for Front-End Developer at Coply System, is an amazing company and a great company culture.
I will deinfitly recomend Wyncode 100%, is a Family environemnt end very supportive. -
Anonymous
Great course, incredible atmosphere
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I am currently enrolled in a part-time course with Brainstation and have been thoroughly impressed with the experience.
The location is perfect for people living downtown, and the learning environment is beautiful & modern.
I also have two great instructors who really understand how to educate informatively while still having fun.
Highly recommend for people looking to enroll in cutting edge classes. -
Ana D.
Wyncode Is For Wynners!
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When I realized I wasn’t happy at the company I worked for I decided no amount of money or title can make me stay in a role that was not rewarding and kept me away from my family for long days at a time. At that point I decided to take a leap into the unknown and I resigned. Figured I'd take some time off and go back to work in 6 months but only in a role that was flexible and offered great work-life balance. However, 2 weeks after quitting I found out I was 1 month pregnant. Oops!
Fast-forward 6 months, I did the next logical thing any pregnant women with a 1 year old at home would do: Sign up for an intense all-encompassing web development course. But of course!
That’s where Wyncode comes in. Even though I have been in a Project/Product management role for 10 years I knew I needed an edge if I was going to compete with the top talent in the US for full-time remote positions or top companies in FL. After completing the curriculum at Wyncode I was transformed into a triple-threat project managing product guru web developer.
The experience at Wyncode not only taught me the practical tools to be a great web developer, it also gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams because I know that if I can make it in Wyncode I can make it anywhere. It taught me that I am tougher than I thought through sheer determination, teamwork and an outstanding staff that has been nothing but supportive and attentive the entire time I was in the course, through my job search and beyond.
Today I am currently employed at a local start-up with a great team of other Wyncoders and a great company culture. Six months ago I set out to find fulfilling work that allowed me to be closer to my family and along the way I picked up a second family.
Take the Leap. Become Family. Join Wyncode.
Ana
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Anthony Tamayo
Wyncode Sets You Up for Success
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Most people are looking for a coding bootcamp to help them find a career in tech and that was my case. Coming from a public education background and looking to change careers, I knew that I needed to retrain and the emerging tech industry in Miami looked to be a great place to get in on the ground floor. While I was comfortable and proficient with technolgy being a trainer and leader for integrating technology into the classroom to facilitate classroom instruction, coding was a whole different endevour.
I came to Wyncode with little to no coding background. After Wyncode, I was employed in a developemt position within 3 months of finishing the program. That is no code to employed in 6 months.
I waited to write this until after I was employed, to have a better perspective on what was taught at Wyncode and what I use and need at my new position. There are three other amazing developers, also Wyncode grads, that I work with and we discuss Wyncode often. My easy explanation is that we use everything we were taught at Wyncode. There is no aspect of this job that I can’t look back and say, “Yeah, Ed [Toro, Head Instructor, Wyncode] taught that.”
Look at the curriculum. Code to non-code, we use nearly everything, every day.
Most important for me, as a person looking to change careers after 15 years in education, was the job placement. In my experience, Wyncode did an amazing job of guiding me and preparing me for the difficult job seach process. Wyncode put me in the interview room with three hiring partners before I even finished, as well as four right after. Wyncode teaches people like me who’ve never had to network how to write emails and follow-up emails, they provide resume writing guidance and critique (from numerous experts), and they help you to practice your interview skills. There are literally hundreds of campanies that are hiring partners of Wyncode that conatct Wyncode about positions they need to fill. Wynocde posts job openings daily for compaines in their network. They set up interviews for you. Rita Rovira even met with hiring partners after I interviewed to help discuss my placement. Part of their curriculum is dedicated to helping you maximize your potential to land the right job for you in tech.
In my opinion, If you aren’t working in tech after Wyncode, it’s because you don’t want to work in tech.
There is also something to be said for the community at Wyncode. So many alums come in and are still involved with Wyncode. The network helps you reach out, to what is now, 50 differnet companies that have hired Wyncoders. Business partnerships have flourished out of Wyncode and lasting friendships were created at Wyncode between people who otherwise never would’ve met. The founders, Jo and Juha, are in the building, involved with each Cohort, helping guide each student along, meeting individually with each student numerous times throughout the nine weeks.
Jo, Juha, Ed, as well as the rest of the team, tell you staight up how its going to be. They do not sugar coat any aspect. They tell you that you will wotk hard, and you will. They tell you that it is not easy, and it is not. They tell you that they will give you all the tools that you need to acheive your dreams, and they do.
I invested in Wyncode to help me change my life, and I changed my life.
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Chris Morse
A Great Experience
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My time at Wyncode was well spent. I was able to quickly overcome the obstacles that prevented me from internalizing certain concepts on my own. Like everyone else, I learned a lot during my time in that classroom. My class had some really excellent people with great ideas and the motivation to reach their goals. The human element is real.
The Fort Lauderdale campus was pretty good. Comfortable chairs, good beers, and snacks. GP next door is nice, too, but the chairs aren't so good. Although the campus is very close to Las Olas and lots of other nice beers, it is on the outskirts and is instead bordered by several sketchy neighborhoods.
The TAs were great because they were once students themselves and were better equipped to break down certain concepts that we were struggling with. The lessons were good, although there was a lot of content and they went through it all very fast. It was difficult at times to try and follow along with what was going on in the class. In the end it was more efficient and less stressful just to sit there and take in the lesson itself. Reading the notes before/after can help with comprehension.
Overall I'm very satisfied with the program. I'm impressed with the way student feedback was incorporated for current and future cohorts. Wyncode ultimately taught me the skills needed to transition into a Junior Development role, and for that I'm pretty satisfied.
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Prahasi Kacham
Best Summer Ever
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Being a college student, I always spent my summers taking it easy and travelling. I never thought I would end up going through a coding bootcamp.. I didn't even know coding camps exsisted. My dad (through a family friend) found out about Wyncode and researched into it, and told me I should apply. At first, I was like "I don't know...." but then I reseached into, saw pictures, read reviews and realised "huh, actually looks kind of cool". So I gave it a shot and applied...and I got in. Today, here I am, a senior about to graduate next semester and all I want to do is code. Funny how things change in a matter of 9 weeks. Going through a course with the smartest teachers and TA's, awesome staff, new friends and a supporting tech community, you learn a few things.
I am currently an Information Technology major and have taken programming classes before the course, but I was never into programming as much as I am now. The classes I took in college were good but you didn't sit there and code all day like you do in Wyncode, so I never became immersed in it. Your teacher and TA's at Wyncode will help you solve any coding problem you have, and will make sure you are understanding the concept. You are also surronded by this amazing tech community that's growing every day. ANYONE can code, if they just learn from the right people and have the right help and guidance. Trust me, you will not regret doing this.
Wyncode has improved their cirrculum since I went through it and every cohort it only gets better! They know what skills you need become a full stack developer and land an awesome programming job! Don't get scared about the course...YOU can do it! I encourage you to apply or at least go to an open house and learn about it. And coding isn't the only thing you learn. You learn about stand-ups and how much they actually help you. You meet CEO's and go to offices and see what the start up life is like. You have the chance to get advice from the tech community through guest speakers and networking events (like Waffle Wedensday). You have not only a community but a new family to lean on. You also make amazing friends. I will never forget the things we did as a cohort and how close we got. Getting excited when someone ordered pizza or that there were kind bars in the kitchen, becoming addicted to dark dogs and coffee, staying up all night at the lab (and coding!), sitting around sharing stories, going to wood and drinking after a long day of coding, pitch day and the after party, MelTreats... list goes on.
Now is the time to get into tech, more than ever. I dare you to take the first step. ARE you ready to learn how to code?
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Keith Tang
Sit tight and brace yourself. Wyncode will change your life.
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I was definitely a skeptic, how could 9 weeks make that much of difference? Well it did, and much more than I expected. The course does not only teach you how to code, it gives you access to a pandora box of insider knowledge of programming world, it also steers you through a direct and clear path to become a professional developer where you can sustain interest and living, as a developer. The coding is only one part of the course, the whole package includes the soft skills, the business acumen, the agile process, public speaking, presentation skills, and a whole lot more. Not to mention the dedicated staff that’ll guide you along the way, and help you find a job to work as a developer after the course.
But most importantly, it is the life long friendships and invaluable connections that you’ll make during the course. South Florida Tech Scene is finally becoming a reality. People you meet in the course will become the foundations of Florida Tech Industry tomorrow, they are all smart and talented individuals, not unlike you already, you all will be working toward a common goal, cheering on each other for success and tapping on each other for support. Even the alumni are your extended family here, they are super helpful and readily guide you and provide continued support long after the course is finished. I have not attended any other bootcamps, so there isn’t much I can compare to. However, I really cannot imagine any other bootcamp can be run better than Wyncode Academy. I truly believe that. Other school may have better classrooms, locations, facilities, lower cost, more staff or any other advantages. But I don’t know if anyone can put more care to the students and about their success like Wyncode. I can attest to the fact that I get emails, text msg supports from TA’s in the middle of the night. I can also attest to the quality of the lead instructors. But here is an example of how much they care. This last Christmas Eve, the Wyncode founder - Juha, while taking time off back to his hometown, at around dinner time when he should be with his family, he was engaging with me in a long detailed discussion to help me analyze my career choices and options. You don’t do that if you don’t genuinely care about the students. Wyncode is not in a business to just pass knowledge to you, Wyncode is in a business to groom and craft the next generation of professional developers. You could be one too! -
Anonymous
Great staff and leaders, intense learning, worth every penny
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I joined Wyncode to expand my horizons and learned more about what I love which is product development. By the time I finished I had adquired two new passions front-end and back-end development. if you are not sure what you want to do but love technology and are curious about coding you should take this course. The staff is great and they will support you in every step. Wyncode is a family!
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Madelene Campos
100% worth it!
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When I started Wyncode, I thought I would learn to code. Little did I know I would learn soft skills, life skills, a bit of history, how hardware works, and many other things. I feel like I came out of the course with a well-rounded knowledge of the possibilities out there. We can not learn it all in 9 weeks (time is limited), but I feel like Wyncode put me on the right path to move forward confidently!
The staff is incredible; they were responsive and always available to help!! I am so happy to be a part of the Wyncode "family" moving forward.
I'd recommend Wyncode to anyone interested in learning the "Art of Code". Having changed my entire life (I used to be a professional musician) and moving across the country (from Chicago to Miami), I can confidently say it was absolutely worth it.
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Mary Gualtieri
Best experience of my life.
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After searching for a right place in my career, I felt very bored and unfufilled. But Wyncode changed that. Wyncode stretched me and challenged me to grow a skill that I was frustrated with.
The curriculum is forever evolving and geared towards your learning style. There is always someone who is there to help you when you get stuck.
Besides the curriculum, you have an amazing network of past alumni that you have to support you in the 9 weeks of learning. Plus, you get a new big family.
I am forever grateful for my time at Wyncode. It is a life changing experience that you won't regret.
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Adrian Knapp
My Bootcamp Experience
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I completely believe anyone can learn to code! However, in my opinion bootcamps are not for everyone! Was all the material provided? Yes, absolutely! Was there adequate staff to answer the questions that arose? Of course!! Was the instructor knowledgeable? Without a doubt! Is there a support team provided? The Wyncode family (past graduates and instructors) are some of the friendliest and most helpful people that I have ever encountered and I have lived all over the world. But no matter how much support you are provided, if YOU don't put in the time and work hard then YOU will have let yourself down. But it's not easy by any means! It takes long hours, a drive to push through any failure and the passion to continue after. This is not a easy course, not anyone can do it. Not because you need prior knowledge going in - no all of that will be provided, don't worry. You need a strong drive, a passion for hard work, and the willingness to keep pushing through no matter how hard it gets; and for 9 weeks you need to live, breath, sleep code. If you are a driven, passionate person that can put the rest of your life on hold so you can be dedicated to learning code and have new doors open for you, then go for it! I highly suggest Wyncode! However, if you can't put your life on hold or you're not willing to work hard then solely in my opinion this is not for you. I would go as far as saying bootcamps in general are not for you. You get whatever you put into it, and the harder you work the more you will get.
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Alberto Galvez
If you're reading this review then Wyncode is for you.
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If you're reading this review then Wyncode is for you, and I'll tell you why. You know how to google, you have a passion for software development, and you know that the path less travelled by may be the path for you.
Short review
Wyncode is amazing because believe it or not they actually undersell themselves. I went to Wyncode expecting to leave knowing how to make a basic web application and get a steady job. What I actually got was, a network of peers and hiring partners, life long friendships, an amazing experience, a person who dedicates their entire day and night to getting you a job once your 9 weeks are over, connections with people all over the Miami tech scene and so much more. I went in skeptical and worried like most. I left confident, educated, well connected, and most importantly, after only 1 interview, hired. Wyncode did everything they promised me and more. I am Alberto Galvez, Pitchday winner, full-stack web developer and currently working at CareCloud.
Long review
My name is Alberto Galvez, I was born in the island of Cuba which I immigrated from when I was 4 years old. I've always loved computers and computer programming. I like probably most people who share my passion have read all the tutorials, seen all the videos and still didn't know how to connect the dots between writing code for the sake of writing code or writing code to actually build something. So being 19 years old and wanted a career in development, I had a choice on my hand, go to college like all my friends, spend 4 years of my life learning information I'll never use and spending tens of thousands of dollars just to get a pretty piece of paper that a lot of employers in the tech space don't really care for or go to Wyncode, spend just 9 weeks of my time and only a fraction of the money for REAL education. The type you can us to start a company, create an application, or join a software development company with. The choice for me was easy, and to help make yours just as easy, I'll tell you how my 9 weeks went.
My experience started once I finally made the jump and talked with admittance over the phone. It was an amazingly pleasant interview, so much so that I actually became friends with the person that interviewed me over the 9 weeks. Once my financials were in order, as I opted for the 1 thousand up front fee and a 9 thousand dollar loan, I was given access to pre-work. This is one of those times when they undersell themselves, they gave me a weeks worth of work for free. It had me do everything from setting up my computer, to actually getting a jump on the class. Then once the course actually started we didn't just get stuffed with information right from the start. They hold your hand into it. Ed, the head instructor, starts off the program by teaching the history of programming and other information that will slowly but surely help you understand and get into the flow of the class before he start actually teaching the core subjects. This is also the week they take everyone out to eat on Friday, so that you can reflect on the first week as well as meet other Wyncode alum. The fun doesn't end there you get a calendar full of social tech event you can go to as well as Wyncode events (like go-carting).
From that point on you'll learn object orientated programming and as well as syntax and build a few applications. By week 5, you'll be tired, maybe discouraged, and a little unsure if you're actually learning. This is the time that family and friends night comes around and they give you the seemingly impossible task of creating an application with 2 other people. At which point people start coming in extra early and leaving extra late, but as you work on this project you realize you've learned so much more than you thought you did. It's an amazing experience when you walk on the stage and show all your skeptical parents and friends that you actually do have something to show for those past 5 weeks. Once that's over you'll start learning more advanced things, like how to use params and databases. Soon, without your realizing it. Pitchday comes around.
At the start of week 7, everyone gets a chance to stand in front of the class and pitch their best idea to everyone. Everyone votes individually on who's idea they like and with that info the Wyncode staff sets you up in a team of 3. At this point you have 2 weeks to design, build and prepare a presentation for your app idea. This is really fun because every team gives it their all to make the best app they can and claim the 1 thousand dollar prize and the title of 'Pitchday winner'. At the actual event you have a chance to meet and mingle with hiring partners, local business leaders, and other developers. Once everyone has presented their app to the panel of judges made up of very important business leaders and/or developers then they decide who wins based on several criteria, such as innovation, difficulty and quality of pitch.
My pitch was called 'Logoit', my team and I were the first to create a fully native android app that connected with a web server. We were also the first w]Wyncoders to implement augmented reality and image recognition seamlessly in real time. Our app helped businesses make their printed media interactive. We were able to accomplish our seemingly impossible app with the tools and technologies learned at Wyncode. We proved that with only 9 weeks of experience you can make something that can change the world. We won Pitchday, and I was hired almost immediately by one of the judges on the panel. My teammates and I also get a 1000 dollar cash prize.
Once Pitchday is over and you have finished your 9 weeks, they don't just throw you out on the street. Now you have about 2 weeks of pre-prepared interviews (they call then wynterviews) with local hiring partners that have, in most cases, hired other Wyncoders in the past. If those companies aren't to your liking you also have access to a huge network of past Wyncoders some who have become business leaders or influential people in their companies and can help get you hired. They give you almost unlimited support until you find your first job and Rita, the hiring director, will help you with everything from setting up your resume to how to wear a tie (she actually tied my tie once).
My experience at Wyncode wasn't unique, I shared it with all of my fellow Wyncoders and continue to go back and talk to the staff and program with friends I made throughout the course. I left Wyncode with a strong foundation in web development, lasting friendships, and I am currently employed and soon to have the title software engineer without having stepped a foot a inside a college classroom. If you want to look at it in numbers i spent 10 thousand dollars and got the same monetary result if I would have gone to college and spent 40 thousand dollars. If you want to look at it as a learning experience, I learned how to use current industry standard technologies, like Ruby On Rails, JavaScript, and GIT, in a real world setting as well as learning methodologies currently used in todays modern companies, such as Agile and Lean.
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Mikel Aizpurua
Wyncode: #1 Choice for Miami
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If you are serious about being part of the growing Miami tech scene, then Wyncode is your best choice for the following reasons:
- Great curriculum (content), constantly changing: The program is built with a full stack approach, meaning that by the time you leave you have enough knowledge and practice to create working web applications. The languages taught (Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, HTML, CSS) are extremely popular and hence your skills are very marketable. After every cohort, Wyncode staff gather feedback and improves the content and format for the next cohort, so you are jumping on an evolving curriculum updated to the latest trends and needs.
- Students own their program: Every week, Wyncode staff listen to students’ suggestions on what to improve for next week. Nothing is set on stone, the students own their bootcamp and adapt it as it goes on. Obviously, everything is done democratically and suggestions need to be reasonable.
- Super savvy instructors and TAs: The lead teacher, Ed Toro, is an MIT-grad who knows just about everything there is to know in development and tech. He is a wealth of knowledge and an incredible storyteller as he integrates historical and philosophical remarks throughout the course. He is supported by a number of TAs, all of them very smart and eager to help out. You will never feel like you are all alone in this.
- Vast, Growing Alumni Network: The Wyncode family is extremely supportive and open to helping out other Wyncoders. After graduation and after hiring, you will still be connected on a daily-basis, be it via Slack channels, alumni events, or happy hour, with this ever-growing community of bright individuals spread throughout the Miami startup scene.
- Strongest Hiring Partner Network: Where Wyncode truly shines is in helping students get hired! The school keeps strong ties in the startup community and tech scene with both matured corporations and startups as well as key organizations like the Knight Foundation. In the last weeks of your bootcamp and all the way after graduation and until you get hired, Wyncode will set you up in “Wynterviews” with hiring partners where you can meet and show your skills and projects. These usually turned into 2nd and 3rd interviews, sometimes with technical challenges. It does not matter if you get your first, second, or third Wynterview, just keep at it! Wyncode will make sure to keep putting you in front of potential employers.
Thanks to Wyncode and hard work, I’m currently working as a Developer at LiveNinja, a Miami-based startup disrupting the customer service industry. I joined Wyncode after deciding to switch from a career in pharma and logistics. Before that I worked in Finance and Wealth Management for many years, and hold a B.S. in Economics and Entrepreneurship. Wyncode was a game-changer for me and a platform to chase my tech dreams.
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Bianca Padilla
Wyncode is the only option for Coding Schools
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I graduated from a good university with an Economics and Business degree, having done multiple internships in Private Equity. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled in the internship when they offered me to join full-time, I hated the hours, and I didn’t feel like I was really contributing as much as I could have. So I took a leap of faith, moved back to Miami, and joined Wyncode September after my college graduation and I can say that without a doubt it was the BEST decision I have ever made.
Thanks to Wyncode, I wake up every morning feeling so lucky that I found my passion for coding. At my job, I get to work with people who are crazy awesome, super smart, and really care about the work they’re producing and the people they’re working with.
- Instructor: Our instructor, Ed, was incredible (MIT Grad, knows his stuff really well). His lectures feel like your listening to a story, and he provides lots of context and history to make the lectures stick (and fun to listen to, too!) One of the best teachers I’ve ever had, both in high school and undergraduate. He also fills his lectures with things to pay attention to that hiring partners may be looking for, or advice for negotiating your first offer. He’s an all around great guy and I feel lucky and proud to have had him as a teacher everyday for 9 weeks.
- TA’s: Sean was beyond incredible. I would wait lines to talk to Sean because he was just so thorough at explaining concepts and helping track down bugs (and teaching you what to look for when tracking them down). We also have about 12 other TA’s that rotate (~3/day) that come from 3:30-9pm every day (even on weekdends) which helps immensely.
- Program Length: 9 weeks is enough given that you will learn everything on the job. You get a great foundation on HOW to learn, as well as the fundamental understanding of how programming languages and technologies work and fit together. Don’t worry about the languages your going to learn or not learn because in the end each company does things so differently it won’t matter. What matters is the ability to learn new technologies and the more you learn the easier it comes. Also, languages all go by the same logic, syntax changes, so you will be able to pick up new languages fairly easily with a bit of practice. (I got hired to develop in Go and Dart)
- Job Hunt: Over 10 Wynterviews on campus, where hiring partners COME TO YOU for interviews. Literally, does not get better than this. I got hired as a Developer for a startup just a few days after my graduation and starting working one week later. Rita, the Director of Hiring Partnerships, really cares about finding jobs that fits each students individual needs and pushes for what is best for Wyncode grads. She has a huge reach in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Tech community and is constantly looking and attempting to gain more hiring partners for Wyncode.
- Community: Wyncode is the power house of South Florida’s coding school communities. We have such an active Slack Channel (internal messaging application) where hundreds of current students, graduates, and TA’s post tons of help, information, and gifs to motivate each other and push each other to grow daily. The alumni at Wyncode was surprisingly the most helpful I’ve ever encountered. Because they are working at so many different firms, they have opened doors for prospective and current students like never before! Take advantage and meet as many as you can! There will be plenty of opportunities like BBQ’s, Go-kart racing, at the LAB, etc.
- Growing: Wyncode is built as an agile company, meaning they do weekly retrospectives and daily standups to review how the school is doing (lectures, community engagement, student needs, etc.) and respond rapidly to requests and feedback. I have never been in an environment that really change in response to feedback which is a huge plus and gives students a huge advantage when it comes to learning. The school is growing and opening their third branch in Miami Beach, a testament to their success. They were also the first coding school to be licensed by the Department of Education! The school is only getting better.
- The truth: If you don’t bust your ass everyday coding (even weekends) you will be doing yourself a huge disfavor. It is only 9 weeks, so you do not have time to slack off. Cancel your life for 9 weeks, don’t bring problems or issues into the program because you will not do well. Wyncode is not easy, coding is not easy, life is not easy. So if you don’t bring passion, sweat, and tears with a positive attitude, don’t join. If you can, don’t think twice. The only option is Wyncode.