CodeCore Bootcamp

There are a lot of options for learning web development in Vancouver, first I’ll list the reasons why I chose CodeCore over other options in the beginning, then I’ll give a summary of my experience.

Why I picked CodeCore initially:

In the summer of 2015 I went through the admissions process and was accepted into two Vancouver dev bootcamps and had also looked into some university programs and classes.

• My decision as to which program to choose was very much up in the air until I met the founder and lead instructor Tam in person. Tam is one of the most warm, kind individuals you will ever meet. When I talked to him it became immediately obvious how much he cares about CodeCore and that extends to each and every student that applies, let alone attends the program. He talked through all my concerns and questions with me and our interview alone was enough to sell me on the program. He’s also an incredibly impressive web developer and can give fantastic advice on almost any facet of that.
• Extending from that, I had read on a Reddit thread that CodeCore was a developer program run by developers, whereas the other program I was accepted into was a developer program run by marketers. I did very much get that feel from the interview process where I was able to get much clearer answers to my technical questions from Tam as well as a more detailed understanding of what I specifically would be learning and why.
• I also read on a Quora thread that CodeCore had in the past seemed to produce technically stronger students. I think it is somewhat dependent on a given cohort but I can’t say I disagree having attended demo days from both schools.
• CodeCore was the only fully accredited program
• I could start earlier for CodeCore and there was only one full cohort going through the program at one time. The latter made it feel less like I was jumping onto an assembly line.
• I talked to a former student who told me that the TA quality was apparently better at CodeCore as they only hired developers who had been working in the field for several years where as the alternative program was hiring past graduates immediately. I have no idea what the TA quality is like now at the other program, but the TAs are incredible at CodeCore as I’ll mention below

My Experience:

I think the first thing anyone who goes through a bootcamp program needs to understand is that what you get out of it will be proportional to the time and effort you put in. If you’re willing to throw yourself into this full-time, 10-14+ hours a day for 2/3 months you’re going to gain real tangible skills no matter what bootcamp you go through. If you aren’t fully committed, you’ll still learn some cool stuff but you’ll be wasting an amazing opportunity to blitz learn some really valuable skills.

• First of all the entire bootcamp was a whirlwind. It didn’t feel like it while it was happening but by the time the 9 weeks were over it felt like it had barely started, only I could suddenly build web applications and use a ton of really cool tools that I previously hadn't even heard of. It went by fast but I’ve never learned so much so quickly and part of that is how effective the teaching was.
• Tam is an incredible instructor. For as fast as he can rip through a complicated lecture he is also extremely patient and will answer all your questions, often explaining things in several different ways to make sure everyone understands. He has a great sense of humor and is good at reading a group to see when people need breaks.
• The TA support is also excellent and you will become very friendly with the TAs by the end of the program. They are an amazing resource and even now, 5 months after I completed the program some of those TAs are my best resources for solving tricky problems with the startup I’m now working on. As a side note to that, past CodeCore students are also a great resource both in person at CodeCore and on the Slack group. And if you’re still stuck and you need to talk to an expert in some particular tool/framework/programming language Tam will always introduce you to someone who can help.
• The support for finding a job is also very strong. Almost everyone who wanted a job out of our cohort has found one, and at the very least have gotten contract work. I wanted to work on my own startup out of the program but Tam still helped me and another cohort member get some contract work on the side to help pay the bills and keep learning new stuff that also related to my own project.
• While you do plenty of group work at CodeCore they also let you build your final projects solo as opposed to in groups, which I think forces you to become a more complete developer as well as letting you dive pretty deeply into whatever unique tools you use to build your final project.
• Speaking of group work, the hackathon style group project weekend just over half way into the program was one of the coolest experiences of the bootcamp for me. It was the point where I suddenly realized I could actually build real websites that people would want. It is also a great introduction to the previously confusing idea of how developers collaborate on projects and really brought our cohort closer together.
• Post graduation you’ll still have so much to gain from CodeCore. It has been an extremely valuable resource for me since I graduated. Once you go through the program you have access to the work space indefinitely into the future. I work there often, as having access to the TAs, and especially Tam is just ridiculously valuable for a relative beginner finding his way in the world of web development. It’s also nice to be able to go back and sit in on a lecture when it aligns with something I’m having problems with.

Other Stuff:

• Since I graduated the bootcamp has been extended from a 9 week to a 12 week program, I believe so as to allow student loan coverage and to cover some of the foundational and/or trickier topics in more detail. The core of the program seems relatively similar but if you meet with Tam it might be worth talking to him about the changes. 
• Tam was also the only instructor I had during my cohort so I can't comment on any of the others who now appear to run some lectures. 

Overall I couldn’t be happier with my decision to attend CodeCore. Just make sure you’re ready to fully commit yourself when you decide to do it. If you’re open to it they will make you into a quality developer no matter what your background is. 

My education from Codecore was not relevant to the job market. The school passes many students who are not qualified for the positions available. They set the bar very low. Although some instructors are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, the vast majority of the education is insufficient to prepare a student for the real world. They market themselves very well but they under deliver. They also offer nearly no post-graduation support to find employment. If I could go back, I would learn it on my own for thousands of dollars less.

I may have come in with large expectations. I may not be the typical case. For me, viewing  across-the-board, 5 star reviews doesn't really tell the full story. The T.A's in the class can potentially be helpful when you can acquire help. That isn't always often enough. I did go in with some computer skills, minor coding previously and an intention to learn. Come the exam at the end, I wasn't prepared for the material. Neither was about 75% of the class I would assume, who didn't show up to write the exam. I had windows, and a prerequisite of the course should be having a Mac. I was unable to do the final due to my operating system, as well as almost a full class I sat in for.

From my personal CodeCore experience, I can strongly say that CodeCore has changed my life. Would I recommend CodeCore to other people? OF COURSE!, BUT to those who are willing to put in extra hours and grind like there is no tomorrow.   From the get-go it was super challenging. I still remember spending extra 2 hours at waves coffee with my classmate just trying to understand the daily taught material. And 12 weeks later? Nothing's changed. I still worked really hard, and spent most of my hours at CodeCore.   I feel like there is a misconception with getting a job after the bootcamp and and here is my thought. Nothing is handed to you in life, you have work for it. Even after all your hard work, there is a chance that you might not get what you expected. With that in mind, If you think that you deserve to get a job after 12 weeks of programming you are mistaken. Only thing that will help you to get a job is your perseverance, hard work and luck (your coding skills are given). Upon graduation, CodeCore will help you as much as they can to provide with leads and help to prepare for the job interviews but after that, it’s all on your own!   All things said and done, the most important value this 12 weeks program gave me was the opportunity to start my career as a developer. It provided me the first stepping stone towards a career that I am really passionate about. I still have so much to learn but I am very glad that I took the course. Taking the CodeCore Bootcamp was a huge investment but it turned out to be one of the best investments I’ve ever made. 

After you graduate you'll have a buddy (usually a codecore staff) to help you find a job. At first I was told there will be contracts and connections that will help me enter the tech field. However as I continued coming in every morning and applying for jobs online, I realized that both Tam and Bronwyn never truly cared about my progress. Some other grads were treated better and were offered either a contract or TA position. Sometimes even both. I had to get a job myself and never received any help. Staff are nice but at that time there weren't enough for the buddy system. 

Not worth your money if I could go back, I'd choose Lighthouse labs. 

CodeCore helped me transform my career. I was working a dead end job in a small town before moving to Vancouver specifically for the bootcamp they offer. Now I am working at a job I love that I was able to get after graduating.

I found the course to be challenging and engaging. For those willing to put in the work and can afford it CodeCore is a great experience that can greatly acclerate the initial part of developing web development skills.

As long as you understand that web development is a difficult skill to develop, and that it will take a lot of determination and effort on your part before you are job ready I would reccomend CodeCore.

As much as you will learn over the bootcamp, its is only 3 months long. You will need to continue pushing yourself and honing your skills for many years to come if you want to pursue a career in tech.

CodeCore is a great way to acclerate your learning giving you strong foundational skills that you can build on to keep up with the every changing demands of technology.

Besides the technical aspects of CodeCore you will also become part of a vibrant community of people involved in the Vancouver tech scene. You will get exposed to people working in the industry and will leave with a respectable network if you take part in the community events that happen regularly at the campus.

If you are serious about becoming a developer CodeCore is well worth the time and money. They give you the nessesary skills in the least amount of time to get started in the field.

If you are interested in reading more about the bootcamp I wrote weekly blog posts while I was attending that can be found here

After longing to go to a codeing bootcamp for years I was finaly able to line up both the time and money to attend CodeCore. It was quite honestly the time of my life, I loved every moment of it. If they offered another with a different focus I would try to find the time and money for it as well.

This is an intense experience with 12 hour days 5 days a week. During the weekend team project I was awake for over 30 hours trying to get it done in time. When I say its not for the feint of heart I am not kidding. You REALLY need to stay the full day. Finish the homework on campus and USE the TA's whenever you get truly stuck. 

This is a course where you get what you put in to it.

The excellent instructors and TA's are there when you need them and are willing to answer questions outside the current plan if you have them. Shout out to Steve for giving me each_with_object.

We had a great deal of job prep; From interview question practice to polishing our resumes. They honestly want us to succeed. Codecore lined up a good number of interviews for me and I landed a job!

Coming to Codecore was the best career decision I have made in my life and I can't thank them enough. I couldn't be happier.

One last shoutout... To the DotP community: without you guys I could never have attended CodeCore thank you so much.

I graduated from the bootcamp in October 2015. Two years ago I would have reserved for coding bootcamps the same sort of rabid cynicism reserved for multi-level marketing schemes. Yet--with great relief--here I am, gainfully employed and writing a glowing review.

If you are reading this review you are probably wondering why I chose Codecore over Lighthouse. The main reason I let my guard down for Codecore is their policy of infinite retakes--having talked with Tam and getting a good feeling about his character, having the safety net of retakes convinced me that this wasn't going to be a cash-grab. 

General advice:

1. Read/research/code/review for 12 hours a day. I did not have any prior coding experience outside of making a Blink-182 fan page on geocities when I was 11 and it worked out for me. If you're falling behind, you probably have to work harder--this is not a program you should do while working or having any other commitments to get the best result. Put in the work to get work.
2. Remember that the school is also a professional network. Treat your TAs and fellow students with respect. 
3. Use the TAs. They won't do your project for you but they will improve you if can leverage their brainpower. Narrow your questions down to specifics about the frameworks you are using and general design patterns/principles w/r/t your code. I was reading the other reviews and there was a complaint about TA time--I still stop by Codecore occasionally and they've increased TA coverage. Also, let me iterate, the TAs aren't going to write the code for you so think twice when you ask questions whether the question is worth asking.(shoutout 2 gabe n mike)
4. The curriculum of the bootcamp is reflective of the industry but I recommend challenging yourself and learning beyond the constraints of the course to increase your chances of employment. I don't see it as a fault of the curriculum though--if your skill set is spoonfed then anybody can do it. 
5. From what I hear the one place where Lighthouse wins out on Codecore for me are job placements. The lead instructor Tam served my first contract on a plate for me and everything's been smooth sailing for me so the job search has been great. For what it's worth, everybody in my grad class is gainfully employed and if they aren't, they're doing a start up or something. 
6. Use a mac--it's easier. 
7. Have fun!

If you're reading this, you are probably considering attending a bootcamp and in all likelihood you have a few questions/reservations. That's very good! So did I. Below are some of the questions I had, along with what I've learned from attending CodeCore's Developer Bootcamp as well as working my first months as a developer. I hope they can help you reach an informed decision.

Can you really learn to code in 12 weeks?

Short answer: not really; but you can learn enough to be useful as a Junior Developer. Life as a developer is going to require you to keep learning. Not just 12 weeks and not just the first year(s). You'll probably be learning until you retire. There already is so much to learn, that no human being is ever going to learn it all and new coding languages / frameworks / libraries / updates are almost a daily thing. If you want to be successful, it will help if you find the tech sector and most importantly coding itself interesting and fun. From someone who used to make plenty of money in the oil industry I can tell you that money alone will not keep you motivated. You are going to have to enjoy the actual day to day activities of a developer. If you (think you) do, then YES, you can learn to become a useful developer in approximately 12 weeks, although it will help if you spend some time preparing for it. The more time you spend learning, the better your chances will be.

Will they teach me marketable skills?

Sure! Will you learn coding languages that you will require in your first job? Maybe. There are too many languages and stack combinations out there for any bootcamp to be able to teach you. You will learn the foundations of coding in 2 or so programming languages though, and you will be able to say that you learned these in a short amount of time. Most / all programming languages have similar features. They all have (variations of) variables, arrays, objects, conditional statement, loops, etc. Once you know a couple of languages, picking up a new language/syntax becomes easier.

Besides the actual coding, you've demonstrated that you will invest in yourself and that you are willing to learn. You will learn how to develop software as a team and you will learn about development strategies. All very useful things to know. You won't be leaving empty handed.

Can't I learn all this online for free?

Yes. Yes, you can. That is, if you don't account for the cost of living. Everything you need to know is online. The problem is finding the right things to learn, in the right order, without spending too much time on subjects that don't really matter. The other major thing is getting the support you need, when you need it. Of course there are free programs online that try to provide structure and even support. So yes, it can be done. It takes determination though. It is much harder to get out of bed every morning and then code all day if you are doing it all by yourself. At least for me it would have been. The other big thing for me was recognition. CodeCore does not just provide a certificate, they also provide you a network and references. If you go it alone, you're going to have to work harder to demonstrate your new skills and build up your network.

So, is it worth it?

That really depends on you. CodeCore will provide you structure. They'll provide you a reason to get out of bed and a place to go to every day. They'll provide you a room full of people working towards the same goal. They'll provide knowledgeable teaching assistents and instructors who will look at your code with you and answer your questions. Something which can significantly speed up your learning curve. They'll provide plenty of guidance on how to go about finding your first job and they will help you where they can. In my specific case, CodeCore pretty much handed me my first job on a silver platter, something for which I'm very grateful. You'll find as well that CodeCore has a lively community with alumni, TA's and instructors all sharing information and helping each other out where they can. The community / network aspect of attending a bootcamp is something which in my opinion generally isn't highlighted or valued enough. If you're looking to break into the Vancouver tech scene, then having that local network is almost worth the price of admission anyway.

Overall though, for any bootcamp, CodeCore included, you get out what you put in. You are going to have to put in the hours learning to code. You are going to have to put in days, weeks, maybe months building on your portfolio and applying for jobs daily. If you have the opportunity and the determination to go down this path, I highly recommend attending CodeCore as they will do their best to help you get where you want to be. 

Why I picked CodeCore

I was accepted to two of the prominent bootcamps in Vancouver. Ultimately I choose to go with CodeCore for the following reasons:

1. CodeCore is a 3 months program - I didn’t have a strong programming background, so I thought the extra month would help me better internalize the material.
2. Better environment - larger space, plenty of study area, and leather chairs!
3. I read on reddit that CodeCore produces better technical students. 
4. Scholarship for female students.

My Experience at CodeCore

I’m extremely proud to say that I’m a CodeCore Alumni. The caliber of my fellow classmates, the quality of teaching, and the helpfulness of the TAs. Those are experiences you can’t get from any online programs (and I took many including Code School, Codecademy…etc)

They spend the first month drilling in the fundamental and building up your foundation. In hindsight this is the most important part because I did my final project in a completely different framework that wasn’t taught in class. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” — That’s the primary difference of CodeCore from all the other bootcamps. They don’t want you to just get a job, they want to make sure you can do the job. 

My Advice

Build depth in your network. This includes your TA, the staff at CodeCore, and your classmates. This is your most valuable takeaway. Go to networking events and invite the people you meet to your demo day. The demo day is the best way to show potential employers your skills and what you can do for them. Help others. Don’t hoard your connections and be generous with your network. In turn, they will also be generous with you. 

I attended the Jan 2016 bootcamp after quitting my first full time job since graduation, it was not the easiest decision but I am so glad that I trusted my gut and went for it. I actually studied computer science in school, however because I lacked personal projects and was probably weak on the fundamentals, I never really felt confident for a web developer's role eventhough it was something I was very interested in doing.

 I met Tam a few years back when i was still in school (~2013 i think) when he and a few other codecore instructors gave a free ruby lecture in downtown over a weekend. I was very impressed by Tam's knowledge on the latest technology and his teaching, he is able to convey all the information effectively making everything very simple to understand. so I subscribed to the codecore email and moved on. Until around 2015 when codecore announced that it became accredited, I was getting no where close to becoming a developer and was not able to find a job that I could learn the skills, so I went in and chatted with Tam, and finally made the decision to quit my job attend the bootcamp. I remember just before the course start, Tam sent me an email that had this line: "2016 is going to be a transformational year for you, and we are so excited to be a part of it". Right now I must say that he was right. I now have landed on my dream job with a higher than average starting salary, I have gained a LOT of skills and I'm confident with what I do, and I have a big portfolio with lots projects that I can show case in interviews.

The bootcamp is 12 weeks, it used to last only 8 weeks, but they cover more curiculum now and I felt quite intense already with the 12 weeks experience. We learned Ruby, Sinatra, ruby on rails, Javascript, JQuery, Ajax, React, NodeJS, html5/css, and so on, we built so many personal and group projects including a major final project that everyone can present on the last day to a floor of people including recruiters, company founders, peer developers, etc. all the instructors and TA were extremely knowledgeable, they are all devs who work in local tech companies, so while learning technical skills from them, you are also building your network in the vancouver tech community right there.

In terms of admission requirement, this bootcamp can help anyone who wants to work or start a business in web development. There is an admission test you have to take, so If you have absolutely no computer science or engineering related background, like if you have never heard of "loop" or "variable" or "string", it is probably easier for you to start with the part time fundamentals course and go from there; however if you have a little bit of knowledge or is willing to challenge yourself, codecore provides prep material including the online course such as codeacademy which you can go over before the bootcamp, which I believe is pretty helpful and is enough to get started. My class had people from a lot of different occupational background, everyone who attended all the classes and stayed until the end all did very well. Codecore also helps you to prepare interviews, connecting you with companies that are hiring, providing information and invitiation for recruiting events, open houses, meetups, etc, so you can have as many resource as you need to find a job. They also offer free retake if you are not getting what you want. I felt pretty nice having this as an insurance in case I failed.

People kept asking me why codecore, why not lighthouse, the answer is easy: I have seen Tam's teaching before and I loved it, I knew that I didn't have to look around. The 3 month's experience definitely proved that I was right. I also went to Lighthouse's demo day, learned about their culture -- it's qutie different, i'm not saying it's bad, but I still prefer codecore if I were to choose again. Lighthouse is still 8 weeks, so if you looking for a quicker timeline, you can choose lighthouse. Codecore felt more homie, and codecore encourage building more independent projects so you are forced to implement everything by yourself instead of relying on group memeber, this ensures that everyone has the chance to practise the technology we learned in class and conduct individual research. Codecore also did group project since working in a group is a crucial skill, but the last project was all done individually, and we were all very amazed what we were all able to do in just 3 months. When I attended the lighthouse demo, I noticed that the projects were done in a group of 2~4. Just some comparison for your info. 

As many others in my age bracket and possibly reading this, I was stuck in a job that I didn't like, feeling I was going nowhere and even worse, getting paid horribly for it. I wanted to change my situation, but it wasn't easy because studying is expensive and "slow". I couldn't afford to take some years off to go study full time and the pace of part time studying didn't seem to be worth it for me.

I have always had a passion for computers, and internet overall. I always had a deep interest on development and web design as well, but I only went as far as making a few basic static websites here and there. Development was scary and unreachable for me... why? Well because of "Computer Science", the hairy monster.

I grew up understanding that CS was a hostile world, ridiculously hard with a huge emphasis on MATH, and PHYSICS and ALGORITHMS and incredibly complicated abstractness that just seemed unreachable unless you resolve sudokus on hardmode for breakfast. In other words, I always perceived it as a career simply not for me.

Even though this was in my mind, for some reason, I took a “risk” and went check out the CodeCore academy. I thought I would talk with someone there, and see if there was hope for me in the web development world… what's the worse that could happen right? They might say yes!

I was greeted by Tam, who listened my sob story, and organized a meeting with Bronwyn and himself, to assess if I would be a good candidate for the course, but first and most importantly, for the career. And this last part, is exactly why I chose CodeCore over any other option. They care to identify if this is a relationship that can work in the long run.  

I learnt that CS is not the only path into this profession, and had a better understanding of which skills are the most relevant for modern web development.

I signed up for the bootcamp starting the following week, and after incredibly intense 12 weeks, with outstanding mentorship, support and care to explain even the most ridiculous questions, I finished up with an extraordinary foundation to firmly commence my new path into web development.

Now I am happy to say I am working at a great company, loving my job, feeling challenged and engaged every day!

One thing that I believe is important for everyone to understand though is that CodeCore is just the beginning. You get a massive boost and level up, enough to fulfill the requirements of the market and get your foot on the door, but it’s in your hands to go to the next level after that. The good news is that with the core elements you get taught, and continuous support from the CodeCore community, that journey is much much easier.