BrainStation

I enrolled in Wyncode much like the majority of alumni, because I wanted a career change and I needed it fast. It completely changed my life and exposed me to a network of highly motivated, intelligent and caring individuals. The staff is extremely dedicated and believe in Wyncode as much as you want to. Given the demanding nature of a 10-week coding boot camp, they really want to ensure that you're taken care of in every sense--mentally, physically. Even after graduation, being apart of the "Wynfam" is for life, and you are granted access to a community that is rife with networking events, social functions, tech meetups, hackathons, etc. You'll make friends because everybody makes friends, and they'll be good ones at that.

Wyncode has an unbeatable network of hiring partners and the weekly Wynwork sessions are designed to get you in contact directly with companies through the Director of Hiring Partnerships. If you're struggling or anxious about finding work, consider Wyncode's dedication to connecting students to job opportunities sets them apart from other coding boot camps. I had very little work experience and was not well versed in soft skills nor how to market myself, but that was no matter. On top of learning web development, Wyncode is replete with resume writing work shops, "Wynterviews", lectures and guest speakers that help you familiarize yourself with the tech climate in South Florida, how to negotiate a salary, etc.

If you're serious about a career change in tech, this message is to reassure you to do Wyncode. You won't regret it. Probably.

My experience at Brainstation has been a truely positive one. The content is up to date, informative, and led by Vancouver's industry professionals. Brainstation offers up a very helpful community, which is really useful whenever you have some extra questions about the content or just want to meet people with a similar interest in Digital Marketing ( a great place to network)!

I had a great experience taking The Wyncode Academy's Full-Stack Web Development program. Ed Toro was an excellent instructor, not only was he extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter, but he explained a massive amount of information in a fun and understandable way. He definitely inspired me to work every day and strive for his level of skill and expertise.

The Full-Stack Web Development curriculum was a great introduction to the logic and syntax of computer programming, and learning the Ruby on Rails framework gave me the tools to quickly deploy web applications as well as a solid base of knowledge on which to learn other programming languages. I was happy that we also learned some basic computer science and statistics, components missing from many boot camp curriculums.

My classmates were also a great support network and made the learning environment that much better. As a newcomer to Miami, they made me feel at home, and I made some great friends during the course.

After graduation, Miguel Cruz was essential in helping me find a job and staying positive throughout the job application process. He works impossibly hard to build relationships with hiring partners and help student and graduates build their networking and communication skills. It's safe to say that I wouldn't have my current job without his help and Wyncode's network.

 

This review will seem biased to the jaded, the cynical, or those hunting for what makes them happy. This review will likely not be useful to the individual who looks at developing, software, and tech as simply a quick plan to 'get rich.'

I have always liked technology, I like information, and I was never the best student.  

Before Wyncode I held more jobs than I can count, trying to make ends meet while living in New York City and struggling to catch a break in the theater world. Suffice to say, while that never happened, my life was going to change in an unexpected way.

I moved back to Florida from NYC and started a job at a production company that aired content for Lifetime television. I worked on a military veteran program and spearheaded a story about getting veterans back into the workforce. The most consistent profession I saw (across the board) that didn't require going back to school full time was computer programming. I reached out over social media to some friends to see who could tell me more about this career path and had a number of friends contact me. Some spoke of C#, others .NET, and a few PHP. However one of my friends, someone I had not seen or heard from in almost ten years, told me about a language called Ruby and how it had changed his life. I liked the idea, but I thought I could do it alone...in short, I couldn't.

Remember when I said I wasn't the best student? Well teaching myself programming didn't exactly work out as easy as I had planned, and so I swallowed my pride, I signed up for a one-day intensive with Wyncode at Florida International University and I met MIT graduate Ed Toro. Flash forward two months and I've applied and completed my pre-course work, and am driving down for my first day.

Now, programming isn't for everyone. When you hear someone say 'anyone can code,' they are right, but there should be an asterisk next to 'anyone.' For some it'll come naturally, for others it will come with hard work, dedication, and long nights, and for a select few, it will come by a mixture of mad science, brain swapping, and ritualistic sacrifice. Thankfully I was somewhere in between the first two. I like computers, and I adore Google, so while I wasn't the best student I could usually finagle my way through until I find a working solution. Again, while 'anyone' can do this, it is not for everyone.

I personally liked Wyncode. I liked my class of (mostly) extroverts. I was fortunate enough to get hired within a month of graduating. My story, however, isn't everyone's. The majority of my classmates have jobs and are happy. We never expected to walk out of Wyncode as Bill Gates part 2, but no one going into a coding school should. I was fortunate enough to not be jaded by the job search and never had any sort of prejudice thrown my way for selecting a coding school over a traditional school, but I know that not everyone finds a job immediately, and some people truly do feel the dreaded 'imposter syndrome' for a while after graduating.

If you're still with me at this point, I liked Wyncode. I would recommend it to you if you can afford the price tag attached. It's less expensive than many on the West Coast, and the greatest benefit to Wyncode (in my opinion) is the job placement assistance that continues even after you're hired. As with anything in life, you get what you give, if you truly are looking for a change to your life, computer programming may not be your thing, but if it is, take a lok at Wyncode. Attend one of their free all day boot camps. Join the Miami Ruby Brigade. Do your research, don't expect it all to come to you on a silver platter, and never stop learning.

 

tl:dr; I liked Wyncode. You may, you may not. Talk to alumni, go to free events, and do your research. Be prepared to learn. 

I was enrolled in the digital marketing course at Brainstation Yaletown and I think it was definitely worth it; I am so glad I chose to take it! The content was relevant, focusing on one (out of ten) aspect per week, with real time (no useless 5-year-old examples), real life (all companies used were locally based), and applicable examples. In addition to the content itself, the space in which the classes are held is modern and clean with exposed brick and glass, while the classes were small enough that you actually felt involved. Not only was the environment warm and welcoming but the instructors are so passionate about their field that you can really get a sense of their enthusiasm for the subject. For anyone looking to expand their knowledge in the world of digital marketing, I 10/10 would recommend. 

Fantastic course for the beginner to product. You will gain a very good foundation for building the specific skill sets required to be a Product Manager. The curriculum is well thought out and taught in a strategic order. The instrutors are very knowledgeable and, most importantly, are VERY enthusiastic about the content. I took this course with NO knowledge of how products are taken from ideation to market. The goal was to help transition out of a Sales career and into product. Goal achieved. Definitely worth the investment if you can. 

Areas of Improvement: speaking more on how to make the transition into product. Take a real job posting and bring lessons back to skillsets required on a resume. Show how concepts we have learned speak to the desired skillset.

Thanks BrainStation. 

I took a chance on Wyncode after leaving my job of 2 years and it was the best thing I did. Not only did I learn new skills, I met great people, I broaden my network, and I had the guidance and preparation for job opportunities. It was definitiely a step in the right direction. I highly recommend it.

Overall, taking the web development immersive proved to be a great calculated risk.  The community/environment was very supportive of your goals and where you want to end up.  The course content was based on the most modern tech stack which is trending upwards which means that most organizations out there might not be using that stack. The educators/TA's were awesome, very approachable and explained concepts very well; & with me being a total beginner with no prior experience in developing this gave me the boost I needed.  Being surrounded with like-minded people working towards the same goal assisted in keeping me committed and interested throughout the 3 months.  

By no means does Brainstation or any Bootcamp guarantee employment after finishing, nor should they.  However, a lot more can be done for student success within Brainstation and assisting students/alumni to get pushed into their respective fields. Career advice/assistance was only given/provided the last week while this should've been a recurring aspect since the beginning.  This would undoubtedly improve the student experience and add to the value proposition for what they're providing.  With that added effort, they can market their data-driven results to continue growing and uphold student/alumni satisfaction.  Overall, great experience with this web development Bootcamp.  

 

I signed up for the UX Design Fulltime course in January. For me first time experiences are important, especially when I am laying out alot of cash. I listen carefully to how the people within the organization speak and presnet themselves. I line that up with my interactions with the staff and see if it is consistent.
 

I can honestly say that this was the case with BrainStation. From the top to the bottom the  staff was always transparent with how they deal with the students. The were always honest and upfront. My financial situation at the time was challenging and they were patient and worked with me through the program. It was very easy to talk with instructors on a one to one basis, they were all very approachable.

I appreciated that they became an acredited school. For me that was huge, it means that they are accountable for the product they deliver and I can safely say by the experience I had on the Demo Day they delivered. I was amazed at how many positive comments I got about my App. People could see what I was trying to deliver as a product. This was as a result of they content they delivered. Was the content delivred perfectly everytime, no. However they made the effort to adjust content on the fly or change delivery dates to accomodate people when they werer feeling pressured.

They also continue to develop and tweak the content. So those of you who take the next session will receive an even better experience.

I highly reccomend this course and the orginization.

 

I completed the Digital Marketing part-time program at Brainstation Vancouver, and I enjoy the program.

Our course instructors Conner Gallaway and Laura Andersen were so passionate about digital marketing industry and shared many great case studies and their experiences with everyone which is really helpful for us to understand. I particularly like Conner asked, "What's new on social media?" every week at the beginning the class.

 I can't wait to use what I've learned to apply to my own photography business and highly recommend this course to everyone, especially start-up entrepreneur!

 

 

 

I’ll start off by saying Wyncode did change my life. I am a college dropout who for 6 years was working retail and became miserable working in that industry. My friend got me into programming almost a year and a half before starting Wyncode and since then I tried to learn it on my own. The problem with that for me was that I needed some type of learning structure. I made the decision to quit my retail job and enroll in Wyncode. It was the best decision I have ever made. I now work for one of Wyncode’s main hiring partners and I have never been happier professionally in my life.

With that being said, I certainly want to put somethings into perspective. The Wyncode experience was amazing. After spending 9 weeks (now it is 10) together, you grow to be very close with your fellow classmates and the bond you build is truly something special and unique. If I could add a little side note too, it also introduced me to the love of my life. It doesn’t have anything to do with coding but I feel it  is important to state as it does have to do with the Wyncode experience. But make no mistake, it certainly is not easy. If you put the time, effort, mind, and sweat into learning, you will learn an insane amount. Obviously if you have some type of prior coding experience it will pay dividends throughout the course.

This leads me to my next point. You will be paying wyncode to teach you how to code and build web applications in ruby. However, it will be you and your efforts that will lead you to be a successful coder. Therefore I speak mainly to those who are interested in finding a job in the tech industry after Wyncode (as this was my case). Do not look at the hiring numbers. Do not use that as a measuring stick. What will get you hired is your knowledge, your hustle, and your personality. To me, the hardest part about the whole Wyncode experience was certainly the post cohort era. That structure that was there in place to teach you how to code goes away. Obviously you have access to Wyncode’s many slack channels and even their space to continue learning and solidifying what was taught during the cohort. But the onus is on you more than ever. It took me 2 months after my cohort to get hired. I saw a job posting on one of their channels and applied. My interview was actually a disaster but my current boss saw something in me and gave me a chance.

So the point of this review is to let the reader know that for me it was a very magical experience. My life literally completely changed with Wyncode. But again, make no mistake. If you are looking for a job afterwards, the struggle is very real. It will be your hustle and determination that lands you that gig in the tech industry.

Attending Wyncode Academy is definitely one of the best choices I've made.  Prior to Wyncode, I had tried teaching myself to program, but between work and school I did not have the time to remain consistent with studying on my own, preventing me from making any noticeable progress.  When  I found out about Wyncode I felt that it would provide me with perfect learning environment needed  for me to effectively learn programming.

Thanks to Wyncode’s well structured and ever improving curriculum and Auston Bunsen’s engaging teaching style, I learned more within the first 2 weeks  than I was able to teach myself in roughly a year.

I would definitely recommend Wyncode to anyone looking to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of programming. While the Immersive Web Development course will not teach you everything there is to know about programming, it will certainly give you the foundation needed to build web applications and the proper tools to comfortably continue learning new languages and technologies on your own, once you have completed the course.

When I looked into this course I wasn't sure if you could be job ready after only taking a course for 10 weeks but decided it was worth a try. The course was a lot of work and coming from a background unrelated to tech and design I had a few learning curves. You get what you put into the course and if you work hard and complete as much of the work as you can you should leave ready to persue a career in UX design.

Brainstation does a good job providing students with networking opportunies by having classes visit local start- ups and other digital companies, having speakers come in every Friday and allowing students to attend their events either free or for a discounted price. The Toronto campus is located in a beautiful building with a kitchen stocked with snacks and coffee. Overall, I had a great experience and would recommend this program.

Wyncode was a really good experience for me. I was in C7 Ft. Lauderdale and would highly recommend it. My caveats are that no matter what you learn in class it will never be enough for an entry level job. This isn't a dig against Wyncode but just the reality of learning to code. You'll immediately be given tasks in your first job that are out of your skillset and Wyncode will have taught you the necessary skills to figure it out, but not necessarily the answer.

Auston was great, he's toss you in the deep end kind of teacher. I found his teaching style be to really engaging and relatable. Before attending I sat in on classes with both Auston and Ed and found Auston to be a personality I enjoyed more.

 

I joined the Web Development Immersive course during the summer with a strong interest and hope for related career development. The course was very informative and the instructors and TAs were very helpful in every aspect. 

Learning job-ready skills in 10 weeks bootcamp can definitely be very challenging. I had to put in a lot of effort to gain the maximum out of the course even with some background in computer science. But it was very much worth it.

People without science background could find it hard to catch up with the materials at times, but the TAs were very helpful and the instructors added extra sessions to help go over the materials so that everyone's on the same page.

The syllabus was very well organized and the contents taught were very up-to-speed with the industrial standard. 

ps. They also provided snacks, energy bars and fruits. Sometimes they also had meals for special events, or left-over food from other courses, and it was soooooo good!

tl;dr: great course, fantastic people, can be challenging, need a lot of effort, and delicious food!

I completed the FT Web Immersive program this past summer in August of 2016. The program, which utilizes a flipped-classroom approach to teach modern, cutting-edge technologies, offered a unique learning opportunity to my expand technical skills as well as gain valuable industry experience through working in diverse teams under real world circumstances.

In such a program where grades are nonexistent, one really needs to put in the extra work and ask necassary questions to make the most of the entire experience. I would say if you can consistently put a strong effort in throughout the duration of the program you will confidently walk away with substantial value.

To this point the BS team and staff were exceptional, they offered us unlimited access to the workspace, discounts to BS events outside the classroom, and were always available for questions even if such questions were beyond the scope of the program.

I would say one area the BS team could improve in is to spend more 1 on 1 time with students to assess and discuss their progress in the course. My cohort of 30+ was the largest they had seen to date, we had a distinct skills gap where many students were struggling while several others were getting bored with the slowed pace. To my understanding they have begun to address this issue with recent cohorts by scaling back, increasing admissions standards, and focusing more on student experience.

The cirriculum and course content they provide is fantastic, it is still something I am referring back to even as I am now compeleting a Bsc. in computer science. They do a tremendous job of exposing you to the most essential and relevant technologies in such a short period of time. Even after the program is over they allow access to the course portal and are always available to answer any questions you may have.

I would certainly recommend BS to anyone seriously interested in attending a web dev bootcamp but only after advising them that bootcamps should not be seen as a ticket to a job as a full stack developer but rather as an extremely strong foundation and starting point from which the must continue to work hard and grow into the space.

 

 

I waited four months to write this review, because I wanted to have the benefit of hindsight. Now I can safely say that my experience at Wyncode was both intense and incredibly productive. The amount of subjects that are covered in nine weeks is mind-boggling, and the pace will push you to your limits. Make no mistake, the full time web development bootcamp is definitely what YOU make of it.

The curriculum of the program is very well designed, and improvements were made constantly from week to week. There were one or two lectures that could have been done in a different order, but other than that it was very well written and edited. They had frequent live and group coding sessions, and additional breakouts for specific subjects like CSS and JavaScript when needed. There were plenty of in-class hackathons. The one on one coding challenges were extremely helpful, and great preparation for job interviews.  The school also brought in working developers to share their experience in the field. Overall there was a great balance between lectures, additional content and live coding.   It would be hard to pull all of this off without an amazing staff, and that is exactly what Wyncode provided. The instructors, TA's, campus directors and job placement staff care deeply about your success and are there to support you the whole way through. Auston Bunsen was the lead instructor for our course and he brought years of senior development experience to the table. He was very conscious of making sure the learning pace of was right for everyone in the class, and he was calling on students constantly to answer questions and check your learning. If you are shy and a bit quiet, you will get over it quickly, because every student gets to contribute. Tim and Jose were our assistant instructors and they were amazing! Anything that needed extra coverage they took the lead. Gabe led our morning info sessions and set the pace for the day. Jo and Juha, the founders were there pretty often as well, so the staff is very hands on.

Upon graduation they have a program called Wynwork, where your resume is reviewed and you work with the job placement staff. You are encouraged to set coding goals for the week and you have access to job boards that they curate. It was from one of these boards that I got my first internship as a developer, and it was that internship that got me my current job. Any opportunity that you get to code you should consider even if it's in a different language (I currently code using PHP).

It is difficult to cover every single aspect of web development in nine weeks, and I learn new things constantly at work through daily practice, especially on the front end. The program provided me with a solid programming foundation that would have taken me years to learn on my own, and as such it was worth the monetary and time investment.

Like I said before, this bootcamp IS what you make of it, so if you're thinking of attending, come prepared to give it your all!

PS - I prepared a lot prior to coming to the course and it really allowed me to take full advantage of the program. These are the books/ courses I used:

- Ruby Essential Training with Kevin Skoglund @ Lynda.com

- Foundations of Programming: Fundamentals with Simon Allardice @ Lynda.com

- The Ruby Programming Language by Flanagan and Matsumoto

- Think Like a Programmer by V. Anton Spraul (READ THIS BOOK!)

- Daily practice on codewars.com

I can’t say enough about BrainStation. For those who are looking to learn a new skill or change careers altogether, these part-time courses are so ideal. I work full-time, so taking a full-time course isn’t an option for me, but the part-time course makes learning super flexible! 

I’ve noticed that a lot of employers are looking for basic knowledge in HTML/CSS, so having additional insight of UI Design is complementary to that.

The instructors are knowledgable and approachable. They are attentive and give great constructive feedback.

Would highly recommend!

I just finished up the part time Digital Marketing course in Toronto. I recently graduated from a Marketing and Communications university undergrad. I wanted to take this course as an alternative to a 1 or 2 year post-graduate diploma at a college, and I'm very happy I made that decision. It was an expediated alternative to bridge the gap from a common business degree into a more specialized field. I took from the course exactly what I was looking. And whether it was the course helped or not I don't know...but I landed an entry level position with Digital Marketing Agency here in Toronto very quickly.

PROS
- Course content was relevent, practical, and insightful in todays tech and marketing world. 
- The digital marketing campaign you are assigned to build out as your group project, was directly inline with course content and a great way to apply concepts into a real life setting.
- My class was taught by a Growth Hacker from Shopify and assisted by a Digital Marketing Manager from Adidas. They seemed to have a lot of industry experience and insight. 
- The Brainstation space/building is top notch, and there staff are super helpful and welcoming. I was sad when I finished up the course.

CONS
- The course does go by quick. If you don't pay attention in class or miss a class in general, you will be missing an important part.
- The classes/instructors could improve there timing/structure. Breaks and project time need to be more defined and consistent.
- The brands assigned to the RFP project should give more info with regards to their needs and direction. Also, students should not be allowed to chose which brand they work on. As a marketing professional in the real world, you don't always get to pick who your clients are right?

OVERALL
From what I gathered from my course and time there, Brainstation is leading the pack in Toronto it comes to this kinda stuff. The place seems like a hub for tech, design, and business people. Come in with an open mind, and not with a "know it all" mentality. You'll learn a lot more that way.

Like anything in life, it is what you make of it. If you put the effort to pay attention in class, interact with other students/instructors, and most importantly apply/practice the concepts you learn in class towards the project...you will take a lot from it. And the project is a big portfolio builder in my opinion. Also, as a student you get access to all the other bootcamps and events they hold on a weekly basis. I definately took advantage of that. Once I settle into my new job, I thinking I'll be taking the Product Management course. Overall experience = 4/5.

The course was detailed and practical for an aspiring PM or someone keen to learn more about developing products in startups and innovative businesses. The instructors were experienced, attentive, and engaged. I highly recommend it.