BrainStation

I had been thinking about attending a bootcamp for a year before I started, and to be honest, I was skeptical of doing so.  I didn’t see the value in quitting my job and spending over $10K to learn something I could teach myself via the internet.

Eventually the frustration of only being able to set aside a few hours per week to learn got to me and I decided to attend Wyncode.  I immediately recognized the fast pace of the program, which was a plus for me.  You can’t really expect to learn a substantial amount in 10 weeks otherwise.  It was a sign that Wyncode was legitimate, and not just one of the scammy bootcamps you hear about sometimes.

I had Auston Bunsen as an instructor, and in my opinion he is perfect for his role.  He does a great job keeping the class engaged and he keeps the lectures interesting. First thing in the morning he would often share interesting/important news from the tech world.  He also made it a point to tie in real-world examples to the things we learned in lecture.  He worked with me outside class to guide me on a path towards my personal goals and I also saw him working with others in my cohort in a similar way.

The rest of the staff is great as well.  If you’re talking to someone who works there, you know you’re talking to someone who believes in what they are doing.  Everyone there is willing to put in time to help you personally succeed.

Another thing I value from Wyncode is their transparency, especially in terms of their hiring support.  So far they’ve released a jobs report conducted by a third party agency for the past two years (I think they’re only one of four bootcamps in the US that do so).  Miguel, the hiring director, is also very upfront about his expectations from you in your job search.  He will do everything in his power to help you get a job, but he makes sure you know you have to put in the work as well.  That’s something you should look for in a bootcamp, as you should never expect to be “guaranteed” a job.

As for me, my plan was to teach myself to code until I felt like I was ready, and then get whatever developer job I possibly could on my own.  I have an engineering background and am a good self-learner, so I think I would have been able to do it, eventually.  But with Wyncode, not only did I get a salary 25%-30% higher than I was expecting, but it was also at a great company working on a really interesting project.  I even had a job lined up before I finished the program, as did two others in my cohort.  If I had continued with the self-taught route, I would probably still be working at my old job with no end in sight.

If you’re thinking about attending Wyncode, first try to teach yourself online through codecademy, edX, coursera, etc.  If you find that you still like programming after a few weeks, and you know that you can put in the work (I’d say 60+ hours a week to really get the most out of the program), Wyncode is a great choice for you.

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This is a 10 week course designd for novice to intermediate data scientists. Each week is dedicated to a specific tool or theory. There is a lot of material to cover and quite frequently we ended up not being able to cover everything, whether it was the material itself or the in class exercises.

In terms of the material though, it was very informative for me, especially learning about the Tableau tool. I wish there was more than one class to learn how to use it as we only had a brief overview of what it could do. We also touched upon Excel and SQL. At the end of the course, each student either on their own or with a group does a presentation on a set of data that they found interesting, using the tools and theories learned in the previous 9 weeks. 

I think the course is a bit expensive. I've taken continuing education courses at various colleges and universities, and while this one has more of a cool startup environment, it's also more than twice the price of any of the 10 week courses that I've taken in the past.

I would recommend this course to anyone that has an interest in data science. There is actually a data science course at Brainstation that builds on the material from here.

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I took the iOS development course at Brainstation and it was a very interesting and informative experience. We covered the fundamentals of swift and also worked in Xcode. It’s was pretty content heavy and it was easy to fall behind especially with such a condensed schedule and as a result some content felt a bit rushed. But the instructors were always there to help out along the way when complications arose. 

In the end I was able to take away a newfound knowledge of swift basics in addition to the process behind how iOS apps are built.

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I took the part time Product Management course to learn how agile teams really thrive. Having previously completed the full time UX program at BS I found quite a bit of overlap in curriculum. This is great to confirm my understanding of the material or for new students to get their feet wet. However I was looking for more in depth content. I can appreciate this is a 10 week 3h/week course and they can only go so far in depth for these areas. I suggest this course to anyone looking to peek inside the world of product management before pursuing a career in it. Also if you have a product you would like to pitch to VCs this course will prepare you to execute a proper delivery.

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This is a great introduction course for those who have a guenuine interest in product management. This course sets the stage well to differentiate between product and project management, and introduces real work experience into the curriculum to give students a peek into a 'day in the life' of a product manager. Would definitley recommend to anyone looking to pursue produt management as a career, or who has an entrepreneurial spirit. 

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Taking the UI Design Program at BrainStation is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. User Interface is a great way to get started in the digital design industry. In the beginning, I had very little to no knowledge about designing websites, but by the end of it all, I have come to putting together robust, high-fidelity webpages and prototypes from scratch. A few classes into the cohort, I learned how to use applications like ‘Sketch’ professionally and efficiently, which by the way, is a heaven-sent application used by web designers all over the world! I also learned a handful of techniques to effectively create wire frames, which is one of many processes to starting digital projects!    The User Interface educator, Kelsey Bowman, is nothing short of amazing. Kelsey engages all of her students, she puts everyone in first hand industry situations and demonstrates effective ways to tackle different circumstances. We were constantly challenged with suggestions and constructive critique which would essentially prepare us for the industry. She is a great educator.   My first impression of the campus was delightful, I was there for one of the workshops they were hosting and I thought that the space was so simple in such a beautiful way. So don’t get me started with BrainStation’s campus… It is the definition of aesthetic. The vibe that the space resonates is simply inspiring, it makes me want to do what I’m doing! Not only that, but getting to BrainStation is super convenient! It is a huge plus for me that the location is only a short walk right off the Granville and Waterfront Stations.   The student community at BrainStation is very well knit. I mostly got to know and work with the students in my cohort, but there are more than enough opportunities to meet and connect with all the students of the other courses. In addition, BrainStation encourages everyone to communicate at all times, in the beginning of my cohort, I was invited to an awesome group chat via Slack App along with all the other students of BrainStation.   Hands down, I would recommend this institute to anyone that is looking to improve their digital skills. Everything from the educators, the campus, to the student community boils down to a perfect score in my opinion. So if you are an individual looking to improve your digital skills, BrainStation is for YOU! Read less

I have been working in the marketing industry for a few years and took this course to bring my skills up to speed in digital - it was a great experience!

I was impressed by the organization of the school, the atmosphere and the classroom learning portal. Brainstation has really nailed student communication + has an incredible student portal where all of the class content lives, acing as a great rescource to continue learning outside of the classroom.

The instructors and staff were very welcoming, and it's clear they are dedicated to providing a great student experience both in and out of the classroom.

We were aware of the full course curriculum from day 1, and each week we dove more into each area of digital marketing along with students who had similar interests. It was great to learn from industry professionals and learn about the work in action on the job.

I would highly recommend this class for someone brand new to the industry who is looking to get an understanding and then make a plan to dive in deeper into the areas that really caught their attention. If you're already in the industry, you might be best suited to some networking or workshop events offered at this school - they've got a lot of great options and are truly connected in the industry. 

 

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The part-time Web Development course has been a great introduction to the world of .html, .css, and bootstrap. I joined with no previous knowledge and now feel confident reading and writing code. The instructors are there to help and, within reason, the students pick the pace of the class. If you have an interest in learning basic coding skills, this course could be your ticket. 

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As long as you have the mindset coming in that you will have to work hard and then work even harder you will be fine. The lecturers, TA's, and staff combined make this a fantastic environment for learning and growth. The academy wants you to succeed because when you do they do. They take a very hands on role when it comes to your progress and success, because they care.

Yes, parking is a little messy, however they are a number of easy solutions that the school has provided.

Yes, there is a gym next door and the sound leaks through the walls. It’s not that bad and honestly it makes you a better learner. If you feel like it might be an issue just check out the sound for yourself. Come take a tour and see the space. I’m telling you it’s pretty AWESOME!

If I haven’t stressed this enough I will again, every person that works here is WONDERFUL!!

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I completed the course of User Interface Design a couple of weeks ago and I can truly say it was a terrific experience. This not only taught me fundamental design principles and best practices but also how to use some of the best tools of the industry.

I particularly liked the educator who had a user-centered design thinking as well as a results-minded focus. Great campus located very conveniently in Vancouver, and some very interesting folks met as part of the student community.

Would definitely recommend this course to get knowledgeable and hands-on digital design wise.

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I took the Digital Marketing course in Vancouver and it was an excellent crash course in digital marketing.  A lot of content was covered in the 10 weeks, so if you don’t keep up you will miss out on some valuable information.  The entire course is group project based and evaluated on a final presentation.  A lot of work is put in by every member and a lot of higher level learning/application will take place outside of class, so be prepared for the commitment.

The educators and guest speakers are really great, and are available to answer questions on Slack outside of class.  The students all come from diverse backgrounds, which offers a range of experience to the projects.  The campus is a great setting, but it would be nice to have more flexible hours to work on projects without having to book a room.

Having had no marketing experience myself, it was a great course to provide widespread knowledge of all aspects of digital marketing.  It was also really great to see what it takes to put together a marketing plan from start to finish.  All-in-all, it was a great course.

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this course was really well laid out and defintely covered every aspect of UX development. I ahd a little bit of experience in UX before entering the course, however I did throughly enjoy learning form the basics and then more complicated programs and such. The student community was really invovled and interested in the course which contributed to a great learning envrionment. 

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I am just now coming up to the conclusion of my 10 week Intro to Web Development course, where I've been introduced to several topics including HTML and CSS. 

Coming into the course with 0 coding knowledge and a layman's understanding of navigating my own computer, I faced a bit more difficulty than I expected, and have at times felt quite discouraged. While the course would be excellent for individuals with coding experiece, I have found the course to be moving too quickly for myself as a true beginner. 

The instructors are extremely knowledgable, and are without a doubt excellent coders. They are available over Slack and leave breaks in class to go over tricky parts with students. As industry professionals, they offer interesting bits of advice stemming from their own experiences with the material they are presenting.

The course has been thorough and the progression intuitive, but I would recommend introducing take-home assignments of some sort to keep the practice up between classes. For someone with -literally- no coding experience and an average knowledge of computers, I have found it hard to feel up-to-date and confident in my coding abilities. 

I would completely recommend this course to anyone who is wanting to hone pre-existing skills in web development. For those like myself, who are coming to the class with 0 experience, I would recommend first testing out online resources before committing to a course. 

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Overall I have had an amazing experience with BrainStation. Right from the first info session all the way to selecting the appropriate course that suited my goals, the team was accommodating from the beginning. After nine-weeks into the course, my educators have done an excellent job of teaching us with real life experiences and a very useful content for me was their step by step guidance on launching a product from concept to completion. The student community was very welcoming, and the campus has everything you would expect from a modern, top of the line tech environment.

I would certainly recommend this course to a friend or anyone reading this review!

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I considered attending BrainStation for months until I came to a point in my career where I knew that amping up my skills was not a choice anymore if I wanted to remain competitive. I ended up deciding for the SEM course, which is great if you want to dive straight into SEO and PPC. My background in digital marketing was very light before the course, but because it allows you to get hands-on experience, after a couple of months I felt more confident as a digital marketer.

My class was small too (about 10 of us), which allowed me to interact frequently with the teachers.Having instructors that are well-known in the industry and pack years of experience was a huge plus for me. The course was particularly great for networking and it open doors immediately. Not even before the course was over, I had attractive job opportunities knocking on my door. I loved connecting with other digital marketers and entrepreneurs and learning about their different professional backgrounds. 

Plus, Brainstation just moved to a beautiful brand new campus right in the heart of downtown, which was great as I could walk to class straight from work. 

I would highly recommend this course, especially if you need a structured, interactive way to learn new skills. 

 

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This course gave provides an awesome overview of the digital marketing world and spends a lot of quality time on the important aspects of digital marketing. Each week had an engaging lesson which included many resources that we can take with us into our roles outside of the class. We had the opportunity to work in small groups and disect a brand throughout the 10 weeks, while implementing the things we were learning each week. I found the course to be fairly hands-on and thought it was helpful to relate the learning material to the company we were studying each week. 

Would definitely recommend the course to anyone looking to learn more about digital marketing.

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I loved the UXD course at BrainStation. My instructors (Irina and Kenan) were informative, funny and supportive and they really knew their stuff. We also were the first cohort to get to use the new BrainStation building in Vancouver. It is beautiful!!!! This is my second class with BrainStation. I find the classes refreshing compared to traditional educational institutions. They are casual but the course content is refined and always relatively fresh. Would recommend this class to anyone who wants to get a high-level understanding of the tools and methods that User Experience Designers use.

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I just finished my Data Analytics course at Brainstation and found it immensely valuable for my career. The educators were enthusiastic, and helped to make a somewhat dry course more exciting. Working at a tech company on the marketing team, it was hard for me to understand some of the logic that went into databases, pulling queries and our reporting documents. Now, I have noticed that I'm able to engage deeper in conversations with the developers at my company and can "speak their language" more or less. I can say without a doubt that I have learned what I was hoping to by taking the Data Analytics course and have made myself way more valuable within my company!

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First of all, I want to say I've "graduated" about 3~ months ago(Around March 2017).

Before even signing up for Wyncode I can say this is one of the first places I checked to get more information about them and I was skeptical.How could they have so many good reviews, I thought they were fake.Now that I see my classmates reviews here and other names I also recognize and having gone through the process I understand them.

THE IMPORTANT STUFF.

-The environment is amazing and this is important because you're going to be here probably 5-7 days a week the whole day.All of the Wyncode staff are some of the most caring and positive people you'll find in Miami.The teachers are amazing, knowledgeable and genuinely care.

-The teachers are amazing, and I had no problem paying full attention in every class because they made it interesting, had amazing explanations and truly enjoyed teaching the subjects given.

-You're going to be surrounded by a bunch of individuals who are passionate about the tech scene and will help you as much as they can.You also constantly have TA's around willing to help you and clear out things so you can move on and not get blocked.

-Getting a job isn't easy for most people and isn't a fun process.However, if you keep learning and pushing yourself after your course ends you will find a job within the 3 month period most likely.Some of my classmates got hired right out the gate, others didn't and this is exactly what you would expect.

So yea, if you can afford it comfortably and want to get your foot into the coding world there's really no better way in my opinion than doing it through a Bootcamp.

 

 

TLDR: If I had 0 coding experience and wanted to start all over.Going through a coding Bootcamp would be my choice

 

 

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