Codesmith Reviews
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Anonymous
Codesmith's Part-Time Immersive Program
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I chose Codesmith for a number of reasons. I was coding as a hobby for a year prior and decided I wanted to "up my game" and attend the best coding boot camp-style program I could find. Codesmith seemed to have the highest ratings (but highest tuition), but I believe that one generally gets what they pay for. And I was very, very right. The tuition is $20k, but I just landed a job that pays $130k. If you look at Codesmith's independent ratings on CIRR.org, you'll see that I'm not really an outlier.
Codesmith's program is broken down into three semesters (or, as they call them, "portions"), which are just thirds. The first semester is all lecture. Each week or so, you learn popular frameworks and tools in the following manner: Lecture, pair-programming with a new partner each time, and usually some kind of review lecture (or recitation, to use college terms). There are tons of smaller events and lectures sprinkled in, including coding challenges, approach lectures, code reviews and more. You are given many different types of multifaceted opportunities to continue building and bolstering your coding skills, including hackathons and "hack hours," which are just basically LeetCode challenges; mentorship/menteeship opportunities; tech talks (10+ minute presentations in which you select and present upon a technology/framework/language of your choice), and more. There are social opportunities to make friends and get to better know one another, which builds support and rapport.
The second semester is project-based work. You build a few different types of applications on preference-selected teammates. This includes a Solo project (a project you design and build from the ground up, yet you are the only developer); a Scratch project (a project you literally build from the ground up with a team), and an Iteration project (a project you inherit and iterate on, again with a team). Collectively, these projects steadily build skills you'll need in the field. This was my favorite semester because some of the projects I got involved with really gave me memorable experiences I could proudly speak to in interviews following graduation.
The third and final semester is a mixed bag. You work on a project called an Open Source Product, or OSP, which is supposed to be your flagship project that you will eventually publicly release and show off on your resume (above your other projects, presumably). This project is supposed to instill skills that mimic the real world as much as possible. Here, you're forced to build a "developer tool" (rather than some random cool idea you might have), so you look extra smart and altruistic building a tool that directly helps the developer community. You're also encouraged to build it using tools and frameworks that haven't been taught in the program thus far, so it's a great opportunity to explore and, essentially, run wild and have fun. Towards the end (and, luckily, after the release of your OSP), you'll build a Reinforcement Project, which is your (and your team's) opportunity to explore more technologies that you either love or wish to explore further. You'll also have a bunch of super fascinating lectures on other tools and such that I found very fun to learn (build tools, TypeScript, CI/CD pipelines, etc). You may or may not have heard of those things, but I will tell you this: If you want a job in this field, you'll have to know what those things are, and Codesmith does a greatjob of preparing you.
While this program was incredible and very worth my money/time, I only have two criticisms of it: (1) There is somewhat of a lack of real-world preparation. Sure, Codesmith gives you valuable experiences that help you in the real world, but there are many aspects of being a software engineer that Codesmith simply doesn't teach you about. This includes Agile methodology, scrum meetings, tickets, backlogs, sprints, etc. While you may or may not have heard of these terms, they are absolute backbones to this field, and Codesmith never really spoke about any of them. (2) The other criticism I had is that several of the people delivering "career advice" on software engineer job interviewing and salary negotiation, or who offered career support, weren't even in the field of software engineering. Like, really? While the staff who offered advice on this stuff were helpful -- how can I take advice on software engineering interview best practices and salary negotiation from some 24-year-old who's never had a software engineering role in their lives, and is far less knowledgeable than myself? Not to sound ageist or snobby, but I'd much rather take that kind of advice from someone who not only works in the field, but has for a long time. This is surely not unreasonable, especially considering I'm shelling out $20k, the price of a college degree. And I've noticed that, at least in my cohort, this lack of experienced staff was a bit of a pattern I started to notice towards the end (the guy offering weekly salary negotiation lectures in software engineering never worked a software engineering role in his life and was simply giving "general advice" ... no thanks!).
Criticisms aside, this program is the way to go. I've met plenty of people who've come from different programs, and based on what they've all said, this is the best one. You're well-prepared, immersed deeply, and will have a ton of fun becoming an analytical, efficient and empathetic engineer. I wouldn't have done it any other way. Having landed a job after 2 months post-graduation, I can say that the skills I used to interview almost entirely came from my experience at Codesmith. -
Anonymous
Life changing - highly recommend if you're ready
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The results speak for themselves, and luckily it did for me too.
I was not hired by Codesmith at any point so I hope my perspective can offer meaningful insight. I’ll be as honest as possible, including the parts I thought were challenging. Nothing is ever perfect, but rest assured - I highly recommend Codesmith, and I’m glad I chose Codesmith over other programs.
Like with any learning institution, simply completing it will not itself guarantee a job. Instead, Codesmith gives you every tool, resource and support you need to push yourself to the place you want - which is no small feat. I’d also give a fair warning that you have to be in a physically and mentally prepared place to complete the program. I couldn't have done this without my partner and family's support.
A little background: I started the career transition process a little over a year ago. My path is completely non-traditional (although I was on a STEM/engineering track for a while until I decided against it mid-undergrad... but now, I am at a different point in life). Last June, I started taking some informal computer science classes and tutorials, attending Codesmith's free workshops and their JavaScript for Beginners course. I really liked the teaching style and was impressed by their strong outcomes, so I began preparing to get into Codesmith. I took CS Prep, and completed their online resource CSX which dived deeper into JavaScript. Passed the interview, and was excited to finally begin.
A lot of prep work - but necessary! This review will be long, so bear with me.
CURRICULUM Codesmith's curriculum uses a modern technology stack and teaches you basically everything you need to get the foot in the door for many mid-senior level places.- There is zero handholding not only in the curriculum, but throughout the duration of the program. This is both a good and bad thing, but mostly good. Bad because it’s hard, and good because it prepares you to navigate ambiguity in the real world. In other words, Codesmith's teaching style encourages you to learn by doing, which in my opinion allows for the course material to actually stay with you.
- Each lesson, you are provided with a short, higher-level overview and demo of a specific topic before being thrown right in. The demo only gives you a taste of what’s to come - the assignments (which you pair program on) is where you struggle the most, but also learn the most.
- After you work through as much as you can with your partner, the instructors hold a session where they walk everyone through the solution, and suddenly things start making a lot more sense. I really liked this approach and I thought it was extremely effective.
PROJECT PHASE (OPEN SOURCE PRODUCT)The second part of the program (project phase) may require you to put in even more hours, but at the same time is way more fun. You finally get to build things you can be proud of and put on your resume.- Most projects are team-based (4-5 people per team), and only one (the first one) is solo. The final one - the Open Source Product (OSP) - is an excellent, unique chance to gain some real experience on how to develop and release something that everyday developers will use in a practical sense.
- For the OSP, you can really prioritize software design, infrastructure and best engineering practices here (pipelines, version control, testing, code architecture and system design, Agile methodology, etc.) and learn some additional highly marketable technologies quite deeply to bolster your resume and talk about during your interview.
- I personally poured my heart and soul into the OSP. The results were fruitful and helped plenty down the line during my job search.
COMMUNITYBesides the curriculum and projects, Codesmith really centers itself around ego-less and empathetic engineering.- The instructors and staff are extremely kind and truly care about your learning experience and growth as an engineer.
- There were optional fun activities, socials and even a women/non-binary space throughout the program! Codesmith genuinely tries to foster a safe and supportive environment, and I've made wonderful friends through this experience.
- You also get access to the alumni space after you graduate.
HIRING SUPPORTThe hiring portion is good, but I struggled with this the most.- What I really loved was the actual resume reviews/edits, hiring support engineers who help you 1-1, negotiation strategies, designing your narrative and practicing it, and the larger alumni network. All incredibly valuable and sealed the deal for me.
- While Codesmith offers you the knowledge you need to build practical engineering skills and have relevant items to list in your resume and talk about in your interviews (which is impressive), it does not provide you the loads of practice you might need to actually get through interviews. I'm emphasizing this because I personally wanted structured practice during the program. In my ideal world, I think Codesmith's hiring portion could have been less “trust the process,” at least a month total with continued structure. But I will say everyone’s experiences vary, so what’s true for me may not be true for someone else.
POST-GRADUATIONAfter the hiring program, you graduate. Now, you have your cohort support group and access to the entire alumni network. You can ask for resources, advice, networking and emotional support.- I thought I’d put in effort during the program, but it was nowhere as difficult as the job search. This isn't to scare anyone - but it's the reality, especially for those with non-traditional backgrounds.
- I was ready for it, though. At the end of the day, this was a 180 degree career transition for me and I know it could have been so much more difficult otherwise. I was willing to put up with anything. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard and mentally draining!
- For me, the "practice" I mentioned earlier spanned across months, unstructured because it was 100% dependent on how many mock interviews I could schedule + how many real phone screens and technicals I could get. The no-handholding part was brutal for me until hire.
- You have to seek it all out and learn on your own, especially in areas you're not too confident about (thankfully, your peers and other grads will be on a similar timeline, so you’ll be able to support each other). For instance, for me the data structures and algorithms curriculum was nowhere near enough to be prepared for Leetcode-style interview questions.
Things you’ll have to do on your own time until you land a job, with resources but without any of Codesmith's programmatic structure:- Grinding Leetcode, diving deeper into system design, or doing code reviews / pair programming / mock interviews with other grads. (My advice: Locate where you're hitting a wall, isolate the issue and learn/practice what to do next time. Debugging in real life.)
- Outside of technical prep, I had to edit my narrative many times, which I only knew how by putting myself out there. This meant diving head-first into the phone screenings, failing them and/or realizing "oh I should have said this, not that," debriefing and getting feedback from other grads about my answers, and so on.
- The interviews you do become new sources of learning, iteration and continuous improvement. This is especially relevant for those like me, who may not be the most natural at interviewing. The more you do, the more at ease you become and the better it gets.
OVERALL - YES, GO FOR ITAll in all, Codesmith’s approach works. What stood out to me was:- Learning, but also learning how to learn new technologies
- Pair programming, ego-less and empathetic engineering
- Sincerely supportive staff who care about your growth during the program, and after you graduate
- Adapting, wearing multiple hats, making tough decisions in the face of ambiguity and using best engineering practices while working in teams on a product - reflecting a real engineering work environment
- Thorough resume/LinkedIn reviews and job search resources
- Designing your narrative for interviews and tips on how to talk about your past projects (especially something as impressive as the OSP)
- Alumni network and the option to have 1-1 support from engineers who have hiring experience
Eventually, about five months after graduating the program - after hundreds of applications, countless rejections, and a lot of learning - I was able to land a pretty sweet role that I'm excited about.
Looking back, I’m glad to have chosen Codesmith based on the positive experience I had - plus personally experiencing the result it boasts of. It will be HARD but certainly worth it if you're ready to take the leap. Without hesitation, I'd recommend Codesmith to anyone serious about a career change. -
Anonymous
Worth the time and money
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I went through Codesmith from a non-technical background and it was a great experience and definitely set me up for success in getting a job as a software engineer. I would not have learned even a fraction of the skills if I had tried to do it on my own. The Codesmith community is no joke either -- everyone is helpful and encouraging, and it makes the experience that much better. Definitely worth the time and money spent to change careers and enter an industry I would have had no chance of being a part of.
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Anonymous
Codesmith Changed My Life
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After going through the full-time immersive program, I can confidently say that Codesmith was the best choice of bootcamps and it absolutely changed my life.
I come from an engineering background and like many others, I shopped around quite a bit before deciding on the right program. Codesmith caught my eye because of its high bar for entry, its curriculum and tech stack, its resources including CSX and hard-parts lectures, and its amazing outcomes from testimonials and CIRR reports. However, what really sold me on Codesmith above all other reasons was its community. I became part of such a welcoming, friendly, and smart community that all had an interest in bettering themselves and everyone around them from my first day of joining the CSX Slack channel. And that community was present throughout my first hard-parts lectures, my CSPrep class, my immersive program graduation, my hiring support, and into today. The community remains a huge part of my life and I have made wonderful connections and friends throughout my time.
So much could be said of why Codesmith is so successful, but I truly believe that they have captured lightning in a bottle. The community that I mentioned is the first part of that. The curriculum is intense and focused on modern tech stacks, in-depth topics of learning, and hands-off approaches that force the students to learn to learn. The program also focuses on building passion projects and involving the students in open source work that is both challenging and teaching moments for the students, but also marketable in the job search as proof of problem-solving at the forefront of the current developer environment. The last piece that brings it all together is the amazing hiring support that Codesmith provides for its alumni. It is for life, on-demand, informed, and invested in the graduates' success. I personally had connections I made through the program willing to help me make connections to secure referrals and get me noticed.
Codesmith made me a software engineer. I would not change anything about my experience and would recommend Codesmith to anyone looking to follow the same path. -
Anonymous
Not helpful
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This course did not prep me for the technical interview. I dislike that it was advertised by codesmith that it will aid you in the technical interview. The instructor was good but the material wasn't that helpful. You do have pair programming but the first week was about 15mins and the final week was ~45mins. Its not helpful if a lot of your other classates are beginners.
1. Skip this class if you are unsure if you want to join codesmith
2. Do csx, freecodecamp and leetcode if you want to do well on technical interview -
Anonymous
Great
Was a great program, got a lead software engineering role after the program. Honestly, Eric's awesome and worth the price of admission. -
Anonymous
NY Cohort 25
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Overall a fantastic experience. Curriculum was very thoughtfully constructed.
Algorithm approaches could have had a bit more structure in terms of introducing specific techniques with which to solve certain types of problems. Deployment / testing was not a focus, which I think occasionaly makes it quite easy for recruiters to filter graduates as coming from a bootcamp paradigm.
But, coming from a non-technical background, I now earn $180k TC, having graduated a couple of months ago. I was pretty cynical going in, but if you’re not scared of hard work, the process delivers solid results. -
Anonymous
Excellent choice not just for your first engineering job but for the rest of your career
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I graduated from Codesmith last May. Having now worked as an engineer for a full year, I can unequivocally say that Codesmith is not just a program that will get you your first job, but a solid platform for the rest of your career.
- Even though I've already graduated from the program, every Codesmith instructor / advisor / coordinator have all been extremely open to providing great guidance and resources whenever I reached out, even though they really didn't have to (special thanks to Eric & Annie!). They really view the program as a community, and it shows.
- The alumni network is phenomenal. Whenever I need any career-related advice, contacts at certain companies or how to navigate a work situation, I know I can reach out to the alumni slack/discord and there will always be multiple alums eager to help me out or share insights. Codesmith has a way of getting together people who are genuine, collaborative & kind. As a career switcher w/o a lot of school friends in the industry, the alumni network has been invaluable.
- Codesmith's emphasis on communication & collaboration truly sets you up for long-term success as an engineer. I know many cohortmates & alums who are extremely successful in their engineering careers, be it getting promoted in their respective companies and/or getting great offers for their second/third roles. I attribute a lot of it to how Codesmith provides the correct perspective on what being an effective engineer actually means. This also goes back to the value of the alumni network -- though the program is not very old, many alums are already very senior engineers, and are fantastic contacts & resource for everyone.
I would absolutely recommend Codesmith to anyone who wants a solid platform for the rest of the engineering career. Yes it will get you your first engineering job, but it will continue to pay dividends long after you graduate. -
Anonymous
Software Engineer
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I'm usually wary of reviews that have only positive things to say, but it's difficult for me to denote anything intrinsically wrong with Codesmith.
In essence, you don't need a bootcamp to get a job, all the information necessary to get a job exist if you're driven to find it. But what Codesmith offers, which I don't believe you can find anywhere else (except, perhaps, another exceptional bootcamp. This is my only experience so it's all I can speak to) is the community. I was wary of joining an online immersive, but I developed strong bonds with the other residents, we all struggled and succeeded together. From the core curriculum to the hiring process, we stuck together and looked out for each other. That community is largely responsible for my success, and Codesmith is intentional about building that community, my experience wasn't an anomoly.
In terms of the hiring process, the hiring-support team were worth the 20K price tag alone. Eric Kirsten heads the salary negotiation and job search strategy lectures, and that lecture alone got me a 10K signing bonus. In every stage of the process, they were present and helpful, at no point did I feel abandoned or alone in the search. -
Anonymous
More than enough to get a job
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I came to Codesmith from a career in law, without any real experience building web applications. Within six weeks of completing the immersive, I accepted a job as a software engineer at a company I'm excited for work for. Codesmith's curriculum provided more than sufficient preparation not only for the hiring process but for the actual work of a software engineer - and, most critically, Codesmith's approach taught me how to learn new languages and utilities rapidly. I would recommend Codesmith for anyone looking to switch tracks into software engineering. -
Anonymous
CS Prep
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As someone who has only been coding for a little over a month, this course was very challenging. I was overwhelmed at times, but the support I got from the instructor and classmates were extraordinary. My instructor Sophie was incredibly responsive and supportive. She made sure I understood everything I had questions on. I have learned so much in these short two weeks that i never thought I could achieve. After this course I am 100% positive that Codesmith is the way to go. I've applied for the immersive program and I will continue my education here in Codesmith. I highly recommend this course! -
Anonymous
Changed my life... Exceptional instructors and mentors - Does not compare to other bootcamps
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Codesmith accelerated my career by several years.
Before getting into Codesmith, I had been accepted by two other bootcamps (that I won't mention here). I ultimately decided to go with Codesmith because an alumni from both my university and Codesmith could not recommend it more to me. It was the best decision I could have made for my career.
I noticed that other bootcamps were using dated materials from over a few years ago. In the tech industry this is a very long time and it's especially important to know if you're going to be learning in an industry where every edge counts.
Codesmith by far exceeded my expectations in terms of how well it prepared me for the future and for the job market.
The instructors, fellows, and residents were by far some of the most supportive, creative, and ambitious people I've ever met.
Eric was especially helpful as a mentor. His advice helped me avoid mistakes that would cost thousands of dollars and years of headache down the line. His perspective could really help anybody still uncertain about their coding career going forward or even people who have many options and are trying to decide the best one.
My recommendation is that if you are undecided about what bootcamp you want to attend, I would go to some of Codesmith's free javascript lectures or to speak to an alumni or advisor. Overall, I feel Codesmith prepared me for the job market more than I could have done on my own. Best of luck! -
Anonymous
New York Cohort 22
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My experience at Codesmith was invaluable, and I was able to land a senior role less than two months after finishing the program. The codesmith community is one of a kind. The outcomes are a result of dedicated engineers and community which develops thinkers instead of technicians. With special credit to Eric who taught me how to negotiate for a salary I could write home about. Codesmith is one of a kind.
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Anonymous
Codesmith is Awesome
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I attended Codesmith a couple years ago, graduated in Jan 2019. Prior software experience before attending Codesmith - part-time JS / CSS / HTML / bash self-study for about 6 months => some JS The Hard Parts sessions => CS Prep. Upon graduating, I landed a role as a Senior Full Stack Engineer at a large company that has been a great experience for me over the past couple years.
I felt compelled to write this review because I wanted to bring some attention to the excellent continued career services support that Codesmith provides (s/o Eric 🤙). Even a couple years after graduating, when it came time to negotiate a salary increase/promotion to tech lead in my current company, Eric was there to provide top notch feedback on how to negotiate effectively. (He also helped me negotiate a $130k base offer with $10k signing bonus back when I first started in the role).
The program is challenging (in a good way), and well-worth the time and effort. After working as a sr. dev for the past couple years, I can say that Codesmith does a great job of getting you in the mindset of what it's like working as an engineer, being faced with new challenges every day, and figuring out how to solve them, step-by-step.
Big shouts to the Codesmith community, would highly recommend 🚀 -
Anonymous
Incredible Program that delivers on its promises
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Codesmith is an incredible program that delivers on its promises. The below points are in no particular order but all incredibly valid.
1) The hours are long. You are truly immersed in code.
2) They want you to fail (but they will help you overcome those failures). The point is to learn by doing and understanding the process and then overcoming the frustrations.
3) They emphasize an empathetic engineer. The goal is to be not only a knowledgeable engineer but also one that knows how to communicate about the code. That helps in life - but also in interviews after the program.
4) As others have said, I did not believe the CIRR reports when I joined. But after hearing the results of some of my peers, I am surprised that the results are not higher even.
5) They don't create a cookie cutter bootcamp graduate. They teach you to be a 'T' shaped developer that excels in a category that you focus on for your production project. The beauty of that is each person has a different strength from everyone else by the program's end.
6) The hiring portion is top-notch. They teach you how to sell yourself - and that is worth the price of admission alone.
7) The post-codesmith job search is tough - particularly mentally. They do prepare you for that, but just going to codesmith alone doesnt get you the jobs. You really have to put in the work.
8) I graduated in December 2020 and it took me 2.5 months to find a job. -
Anonymous
Full Stack Immersive Program
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Codesmith is a great program for those who are ready to put in the work to become a software engineer. Codesmith's way of instruction can feel rough at times, but because they push their students out of their comfort zone, that's why Codesmith is so successful. Their approach to the job hunt is amazing and I encourage you to go through the program and see it for yourself.
A lot of what you're paying for at codesmith is invaluable. Personally, I loved that they put me in a mindset to succeed and to go after what I deserve and nothing less. -
Anonymous
Incredible Growth Experience
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Codesmith teaches its residents how to take on any new software technologies quickly and efficiently - not through memorizing syntax, but understanding the logic and how the code works under the hood. Its curriculum facilitates deep dives into central techs, eloquent communication, empathy, and engineering mature products. Its emphasis on collaborative workflows allows residents to work effectively as teammates, ideate exciting, marketable applications, iterate on features, bridge different engineering approaches, and troubleshoot through code reviews. The staff and support community is superb from teaching to hiring. A life-altering growth experience. -
Anonymous
Not Perfect, But Worth It
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At the beginning of 2020, I had never written a line of code in my life and could not tell you the difference between Java and Javascript. A little under a year later, I'm at $170k annual base comp for my first software engineering job.
Long story short, I was let go from my non-programming job at the beginning of COVID and started looking into a career pivot into software engineering. From dipping my toes into the space and attempting to self-teach, I quickly realized what a great resource CSX (which introduces you to the "hard learning" philosophy that others have spoken so much about in other reviews; e.g. for most of the problems, they do not spoon-feed you the answers a la FreeCodeCamp) was and was quickly introduced to the broader Codesmith community.
Anyway, I went through CSX and enjoyed it enough to sign up for CSPrep. If I were to be brutally honest, I did not find CSPrep worth it. You'll get just as much value from going through CSX, deeply understanding all the exercises there at a fundamental level, and attending the free Hard Parts lectures. I found nothing new in the CSPrep curriculum. However, it was helpful that the tuition rolled over to the immersive program though, so I can't complain too much.
The immersive itself was a blast to go through. While I would say that the curriculum is again nothing special - you spend a lot of time being taught by fellows (aka former students who literally just graduated from the program) and they can be hit or miss. Unfortunately, there's no way for prospective students to really screen who the fellows will be in their cohort (as half of your fellows will literally be hired a week or two before your cohort's start date); you can at least vet the lead instructors through their Hard Parts lectures (they are overall very solid). It's just that you won't necessarily be any better off at Codesmith vs. if you just rely on the abundance of free or cheaper resources online to learn the core technologies that are taught.
That being said, the real value of the program comes from the project portion and the focused multi-week job hunt strategy curriculum. The smaller projects are mostly your standard CRUD apps that any bootcamp will have you make; you are encouraged and should explore new technologies / libraries with these projects - e.g. GraphQL, OAuth, D3, Typescript etc. The highest profile project you'll create is the production project (which Codesmith itself markets quite heavily). You'll be granted the choice of either iterating on an existing project from a previous cohort or creating a new project from scratch - from my experience, most choose the former. Granted, most projects, especially if you are starting from scratch are of dubious usability / quality but the real value comes from diving deep into a particular technology and tackling tough challenges that comes with building a developer tool to help fellow devs overcome their tough challenges. When on the job hunt, I was able to consistently pass non-coding screens with recruiters or hiring managers by being able to talk shop about my chosen technology's pros, cons / tradeoffs as well as having pointed examples about interesting technical challenges I had faced (I got this question on almost all my interviews), all gained from working on the production project.
The point is that it'll always be a tougher job market for bootcamp grads, but Codesmith solves for this by providing you the tools to job hunt effectively and craft a cohesive and credible (sounding) narrative around the skills that you have hopefully picked up from attending the program. And that's where most if not all of the value from the almost $20k tuition comes in. Again - the curriculum is nothing special, but you can't really enter the job market at the salaries that Codesmith grads do without a robust portfolio of projects that you have been forced to create, a well-written resume (Codesmith is very strict about how they want grads to craft their resumes and will force a few rounds of edits until students get it right), and the technical communication skills to back all that up.
Special shoutout to Eric, who is the resident salary negotiation expert. He's a great hypeman but more importantly, provides a solid framework and strategy for students to lean on during negotiations, which are often really damn awkward. He's available on-call post-grad as a resource once you're able to secure an offer. Using his script, I was able to confidently and successfully negotiate a material bump to my total package. -
Anonymous
It pays back your hard work.
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A little about my background:
- Unfinished BS degree
- I moved to the US and worked in an unrelated field for 5 years
- 0 prior coding experience, I simply watched a YouTube video about bootcamps and decided to give it a shot.
Fast forward to one month after the graduation: Mid-level role at an amazing company, with the salary higher than Codesmith' advertised average. It took exactly one year from my first line of code(to see if I even like it) following some silly tutorial to accepting the offer. (I spent 6 months at Codesmith, stayed as an engineering fellow for 3 months after the program).
Curriculum:
It covers all the topics you need to know to get hired, provides you with a very solid foundation, but also relies on you diving deeper and learning a lot of things by yourself. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Codesmith doesn't teach you everything. It encourages you to dive into the weeds and figure out things an average "newbie" would never worry about and those cannot be taught.
The "vibe":
I was the first fully remote cohort and oh boy did I consider not going. To those worried about the "spirit" and "fun" and "emotional attachment" to people - its all there! Happy hours, talent shows, casual drinks, late-night study sessions, random chats. You are literally never alone, you're either working in pair or in a group. You become good friends with your teammates and make a lot of great memories!
Hiring portion:
One of the lead instructors at CS said "our hiring program is already worth the price", and I think he is damn right. You will have a group of people whose job is to get you a job, you will have a network of hundreds of grads sharing their experience and practicing algos/interviews. It's still on your shoulders to practice and apply daily, looking for a job is a job after all, but at least you are well supported during this process! (Though I have to admit it was still stressful af)
VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember:
There is no magic. You wont go in and suddenly become an engineer. You wont "do your time" and then end up knowing React/JS/Node. You want 100k+? You will have to work your a** off for it. You will probably have to stay after hours to finish up something and read/research more. Its 1000 hours in 90 days.
A lot of instructors say "Trust the process" when you are feeling like you are falling behind. Dont let that fool you into "I should blindly trust it". Slight modification: "Trust the process, but remember that process involves hard work and dedication".
10/10 would recommend:)
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Anonymous
Life Changing
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Summary: its most likely going to be the hardest thing you've done in your life. None of it is easy. Getting in to Codesmith is hard, graduating Codesmith is hard (the 75+ hour weeks are no joke). Getting HIRED after Codesmith is going to be even HARDER. Seriously, getting a mid-level engineering role is hard. Don't expect to graduate and easily get hired. That said, I did get hired 10 weeks after graduation with a mid-level engineering role (but that was 10 weeks of 100% effort). If you're serious about moving into engineering, Codesmith should be your top choice. It will be much harder than you're imagining, but it can be done (even in a pandemic..!). Outcome: 10 weeks after graduation, a base salary very close to Codesmith median + equity. My Background: Non-technical major from top 50 public college. 'Prestigious', but non-technical work experience before Codesmith, so I just left it off resume. If youre making a switch to engineering, pretty much nothing you did previously really matters. Don't expect it to help you, it may actually hurt you if its on resume. I had written a little code before prepping to interview at Codesmith, but not much. Took 3 months of prep and 2 interviews to get in. Then had 1 month to prep before immersive. So 4 months pre-Codesmith, 3 months at Codesmith, 2 month job hunt, turns me from zero (pretty much) to mid-level engineer in 9 months. Granted thats prop an average of 45-55hr weeks working towards it.
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Anonymous
A smart investment
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Quick summary: I have no technical background, I studied about 500 hours before being accepted into Codesmith, and 4 months after graduating I landed a full time role with a great company, with a 150% higher salary than my previous job, and high career satisfaction.
Fiscally speaking, investing in Codesmith's immersive engineering program is worthwhile just for the guidance on salary negotiation, but it's a lot more than that.
The immersive program environment reflects the actual workplace for engineers, establishing professional expectations and building teamwork skills and confidence in technical communication. I knew that I wanted to apply to Codesmith after attending a Hard Parts workshop in NYC, where attendees are expected to technically communicate in a group. It gave me instant confidence in what I had been previously studying entirely on my own with minor interest in participating in any kind of bootcamp situation.
I spent at least 90% of my time at Codesmith working collaboratively with others. These team activities included: reporting regularly to stand-ups, preforming code reviews, mentoring newer engineers as well as receiving mentorship, using git collaboratively, preparing tech talks, and pairing - so I felt completely prepared to step into the professional engineering work environment.
Codesmith's curriculum is progressive and up-to-date. If you're like me and have no technical background, you may have to put in a lot of extra effort before, during, and after the program. I don't think I would have landed a job by doing the bare minimum. However, if you're ready to work hard and keep pushing to learn more and more, this is the best program to support you in your journey to professional Software Engineer.
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Anonymous
Front end developer
It's what you make it. I only went to Codesmith, so I don't have any other bootcamps to compare it to. But I had no technical background and I started coding in January 2020, did the bootcamp June - August 2020, and had a job by the end of the year. If you do what they say (which isn't easy because it's hard work) the experience and outcome that I had should be achievable. -
Anonymous
Great
Codesmith was great. I graduated in August and accepted a job offer for well above the advertised average salary in October. -
Anonymous
Software Engineer
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Coming from a non-technical background, I did my fair share of research of what bootcamps were out there before finally selecting Codesmith. I had heard great things about its community and how they really emphasize empathetic engineering as a culture and this couldn't have been more true. I truly felt welcomed and never once did I feel judged if I started to feel like I was falling behind. Another great thing about Codesmith is their hiring program. They don't just teach you the skills and knowledge to become a developer but how to become a developer, aka the hiring process after you graduate. It's really detailed and they even have someone that helps you negotiate your offer when it/they come in. It's definitely an all-encompassing program and I'm so grateful I got to experience it! -
Anonymous
CSPrep
A preparatory program for the main boot camp that Codesmith offers; mainly to help those attending to pass the technical interview portion of the application process for the main boot camp (passing the technical interview is not guaranteed). -
Anonymous
Life changing, massive growth!
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I took a while to enroll because I was skeptical about the outcomes. Let me tell you, it’s real. When I had no choice but to change my life, I took the leap and it was the best decision yet. Everything, from the admissions process, curriculum, to the job search has been dissected at every detail to provide the best results. There’s a lot of science behind this, so it’s not magic. It would take forever to explain how, but just trust the process and you will find yourself like a new born. If you keep applying what you’ve learned here at Codesmith, you’ll surely reach high places in all areas of life, not just software engineering. -
Anonymous
Good Luck!
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TL;DR - I am glad I went to Codesmith. When I decided to go to a coding bootcamp, I didn’t know which one to pick from these two: Hack Reactor and Codesmith. They seemed equally good in different ways. HR has been around longer than CS, so I had a good number of engineer friends vouching for HR. (I actually almost went to Hack Reactor, and I’m so glad I did not!) At that time, I simply chose Codesmith because I had a more pleasant interaction with the CS admission team than the HR admission team. I could see why so many people mentioned Codesmith culture on their reviews. Everybody in your cohort will have different backgrounds and skill levels. You might or might not find the immersive program to be an intense/challenging experience. Either case, I think it’s important to set clear expectations for yourself. What you put in is what you get out - Are you dedicated? And what do you hope to gain from this experience? Codesmith is great, but there is only so much Codesmith can do for you. Having clear expectations will make your Codesmith experience much more enjoyable and meaningful :) Based on my experience, here is what I can guess you will get to experience when you decide to join Codesmith:- Dave/Phil will put so much energy into every single lecture you get.
- Eric and Annie will make sure you get the support you need during your job search.
- You will have awesome cohort mates throughout your journey.
- You will be part of the Codesmith community - full of supportive, empathetic engineers.
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Anonymous
Codesmith Software Engineering Immersive
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Probably like you, I did extensive research when reviewing the options for coding programs in LA, including Hack Reactor and GA. I considered a lot of things, and made endless Pros and Cons lists, so the review is separated in sections that might be of interest to you.
Community and SupportThis was my number one reason for attending Codesmith. From attending the weekly lectures open to the public and reaching out to Codesmith alumni, it's easy to see how strong Codesmith keeps its community. From how approachable the instructors are and how helpful and supportive the staff/fellows have been, Codesmith has all other coding programs beat. They make it fully apparent that they are there for you and want you to succeed, which plays a huge role in anyone's journey. The support is there throughout the program and especially during the hiring phase, which is arguably one of the best things about Codesmith. Even though I've graduated, I can honestly say that the people that I've met there will continue to be a part of my journey for years to come.
CurriculumThe curriculum has space for improvement, but nonetheless, it gives potential software engineers the tools they need to get started as a mid-senior level engineer. There are endless things to learn in the technical industry, but what Codesmith does an amazing job at is teaching you how to learn and how to struggle. This becomes especially helpful on the actual job since, like I mentioned, you may be faced with the task of using a new technology. The struggle and unfamiliarity won't be a stranger to you by then!
ProjectsCodesmith enforces its curriculum through the projects. Projects are an important part of landing your first software engineering gig. You'll learn things like git flow, agile methodology, working with others, and facing challenges with tech (ie React, Redux, Node). The experience working with other engineers for a similar goal really helps candidates speak about behavioral challenges in actual interviews. Personally, many of the things that I talked about in my behavioral interviews came from Codesmith which really paid off.
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What could have been improved...To be fair, some lectures could have definitely been shortened. A lot of the learning is done through working with others and the actual units/assessments. More time spent on that would have improved the experience. Additionally, Data Structures and Algorithms in the first week is a lot of content to take in and it's quite a challenge (from an instructor's Point of View) to teach someone. These concepts are difficult and will require you to study them on your own time. -
Anonymous
Worth every penny
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I spent nearly a year researching various bootcamps before deciding to go with Codesmith and I don't regret it at all. What first attracted my attention were the noticeably higher admissions standards and graduate salaries than all of the other options I found. My main hang-ups were the cost and the fact that I was going to have to quit my (decent IT) job to attend. Eventually I just decided I didn't want to compromise and wanted to completely go for it if this was what I wanted to do. I left my job in January making $70k/yr and just got hired as a software engineer at a major company 2 weeks ago (July) making $120k/yr, and my results aren't even exceptional (which you can see for yourself on their site). I had to take out a loan to attend, but the upgrade in salary just within the first year will easily cover the cost of the program.
This was truly a life-changing program for me and my cohort mates would say the same. We still talk daily about news in the web development community, how things are going at our new jobs for those who have been hired, and job search advice for those who are up next. The network you'll build and the support you'll receive are really incredible here. It might have been the most challenging thing I've ever done, and the end of the program as well as the job search were a real grind (especially during COVID), but I'm also so proud of myself for setting this goal last year and now accomplishing everything I set out to do. I could nitpick certain parts of the curriculum and how some things were organized, but in the end it doesn't really matter because the learning style emphasized at Codesmith forces you to get comfortable diving into the unknown and figuring things out with minimal hand-holding.
You will absolutely feel like you're not getting enough time covering, well, almost any of the material. But that's okay because you're setting a foundation for yourself by learning the things that will have the most impact, and then moving on so you can cover as much material as possible. If I tried to learn these things on my own I'd easily take over a year, maybe even two, to cover just as much ground because I know I'd waste time diving into every rabbit hole thinking it would make a difference when it really wouldn't. They give you the tools to continue to grow beyond the end of the 12-week program so you'll have the mindset of a real software engineer and not just another 'bootcamp grad.' They also now offer part time remote programs that take longer to complete but provide the same curriculum for people who aren't able to leave their current jobs to attend the in-person programs in LA or NY. All programs are currently remote due to COVID anyway. -
Anonymous
Best bootcamp out there
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PROS- The tech stack. All of the technologies the program focuses on are the major ones you'll encounter in the job search.- Your cohort mates. Everyone goes through the same interview process to get in, so there's a bar that's already established when you start. Definitely different skill levels, but I was very satisfied with the skill level of my mates.- The learning style. At CS we didn't just watch tutorials and build small apps. You were always working on a level were things felt just slightly too hard for where you were at, and that was a perfect spot to be in. - Amazing hiring program. It's really hard to make someone interview ready for jobs that pay six figures after a 3 month program, but CS really takes it as far as they can. They check in with you as you're applying, helping you tweak anything that needs to change and you'll know what you need to focus on in order to get a great job.- The overall vibe. Very hardworking community and awesome environment. I was nervous when I started the program, thinking I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull those crazy hours for such a long time. But it was great, and not as exhausting as I thought it would be, because the energy and the community was so great.
CONS- A lot of time is spent being taught by fellows (people who attended the program recently). Some of them are amazing but unfortunately some of them are not as great, and it can really affect what you get out of the program. I wish CS was a bit more upfront about this. -
Anonymous
Worth it
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I wasn't too sure what to expect when it came to attending a coding bootcamp. However after coming through the program, Codesmith was well worth it. You can talk about the constantly kept up to date curriculum or the high quality of instructors, but the main strength of Codesmith isn't captured in the numerical value of a review. They teach what it means to be a better engineer, which hinges largely on learning how to work well with others ( because at the end of the day, no one wants to work with someone they don't like ). A majority of the time at Codesmith is spent practicing pair-programming in which you work with another engineer as you face unfamiliar challenges. It's an intense experience, but an important lesson to learn. The focus on block driven development helps you learn how to learn to solve problems. As a software engineer, it is your job to solve problems, and Codesmith makes sure that you are prepared to do so. -
Anonymous
Thank you for helping me get into Google
Codesmith was an amazing place to learn and grow as an software engineer. Everyone was as hopeful as they could be. The real learning though happens when you search for the job. The best part of the program is the friends and connections you make within the program.Phillip Troutman of Codesmith
Director of Instruction and Curriculum
Aug 13, 2020
Hey! So glad to read this review and to hear about your positive experience transitioning into software engineering especially from a structural engineering background. As you said, the job search requires a lot of work and learning, so congrats again on landing your new role at Google a few weeks back! Feel free to Slack me back if you think there’s anything we can do to better help students successfully land software engineering roles as you did.
-Phil -
Anonymous
Pair programming workshops
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Based on my own experience with the pair programming workshops that are offered to the public:
Issues:
-Mis-pairing (i.e. two programmers may be looking for help with different topics, yet be assigned together, and, on top of that, be assigned to a topic that neither of them knows how to approach).
-How we are assigned to topics to practice
Background: To determine how we are paired, we are shown a list of tech skills, and then each programmer is supposed to give himself/herself a point for each skill that he/she is comfortable with. Afterward, each programmer would add up his/her own points to get his/her total point. Our total points would then determine who we are paired with and with what topic.
From what I recalled: There are skills listed that may not have bearing on a programmer's understanding with JS. For instance, one of the skills listed was HTML and CSS, but do HTML and CSS have bearing on how skilled a programmer is with JS? Or, if a programmer is comfortable with callbacks, does that mean that the programmer is comfortable with for-loops and would not benefit from doing the Intro to JS's challenge questions?
-Lack of guidance on HOW to technically communicate (i.e. how the navigator should read the question out loud first, how to communicate line by line (i.e. not assuming that the driver knows what you want to do next), how to verbally declare a variable, etc.)
Suggestion: Ask each participant ahead of time which topic he/she wants to practice. We have to rsvp to the event, so, why not send out a survey link a day or two before the event, asking each participant which topic he/she wants to practice, so pairings could be decided BEFORE the event. You can find out how many participants want to study a certain topic and have an idea of which topic would have extra or no participants. If a particular pair programming workshop does not have enough programmers wanting to practice a particular topic, a participant looking to practice that particular topic could know ahead and decide whether to still participate in that workshop or rsvp for another workshop. In the case of no-shows, last-minute participants, or participants changing their minds - we should be told who we are paired with when we at the workshops, just when we are about to split into pairs (i.e. so the hosts would have enough time to rearrange the pairings if needed). Using this suggestion would allow the time that would have been spent on calculating points to instead be spent on demonstrating HOW to effectively communicate a code. -
Anonymous
Expensive but successful
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Attending Codesmith helped me successfully transition my career in software engineering within two months of graduation. However, the bootcamp emphasizes a "teach yourself" approach, where the 1st half of the program contains very high level lectures on PRN and MRN tech stack and hands-on units that are meant to help you learn the tech stack. However, there is very little guidance on how to actually implement the different technologies and framework and many of us ended up resorting to additional tutorials. When I was interviewing at companies, I felt I was truly lacking in terms of my foundational understanding of various coding concepts and therefore, had to largely teach myself upon graduation. The valuable thing this bootcamp offers is the networking opportunity with other aspiring engineers, opportunity to build your own projects with your classmates which are essential for your resume, and a structure to help you successfully transition into a new career path. -
Anonymous
Amazing program and hiring support!
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My time at Codesmith gave me a great skill set with relevant and exciting technology, but most importantly helped me develop a process to continue learning while on the job, which in my opinion is one of the most important skills to have as a software engineer. Because of the rigor and method of learning at Codesmith, I have been able to accelerate my career development and become a valued member of my team.
The hiring support is an absolutely amazing part of the program. They were able to help me negotiate great terms for my first position after the program, as well as give great advice during negotiations for a raise over a year after my graduation.
Special shout out to Uncle Eric! -
Anonymous
Software Engineering Immersive
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If you are looking for a coding program this is by far the best choice you can make -- I landed the job I wanted within a month after graduation. Obviously Codesmith is a great technical program, but I was especially impressed by how well Codesmith focused on non-obvious things that actually make a huge difference:- The program deliberately schedules catch-ups & sessions to help you overcome mental blocks in job search (for me this is 90% of the fight). I've done job searches before, and this by far was the most efficient/least-stressful job search period I went through and I believe it's because of the hiring program.
- Codesmith actually has a successful serial entrepreneur as an advisor who's hired engineers himself & advises you on how to talk to potential employers. For anyone looking for a career transition you can't get a more qualified advisor than this. He held various workshops on narratives & job negotiations (even one on how to start a startup, which he didn't have to but did for residents/alums anyway). Honestly everything I learned from him was probably worth the entire tuition.
- The entire curriculum is focused on technical communication & pair programming, sometimes even more so than learning the technology. I was honestly skeptical but in the real engineering world this is what sets apart engineers people want to work with & able to be productive in team settings from those that are not. After 3 months of continually "talking-while-coding", I felt very comfortable doing live coding interviews and I wouldn't have gotten there w/o Codesmith.
- The curriculum does not hand hold at all - they teach you fundamentals but you are left to figure out the rest with your partners. This can be frustrating at times but after a while I realized that I now somehow know how to teach myself new technologies with little to no guidance. Honestly this is the core competency of an adaptable/versatile engineer and they teach you this even without you knowing.
- The amount of decent/kind people in the cohort, alumni & staff is off the charts here and this is one of the best communities I've been in. Alums are not only extremely knowledgeable but also very generous with their time and always willing to give back. My cohort was awesome and I made some lifelong friends here.
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Anonymous
Satisified
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Going to Codesmith has definitely paid off - it's second to none when it comes to the success rate (nearly 80% of my cohort are employed as SWEs after 5 months, NOT counting those who went on to become fellows). I'm not going to talk too much about the actually education quality as everyone seems to have already touched on it - all I will say is, you are not going to learn any less than you would in any other program. However, the difference imo really all comes down to the hiring formula that their staff has curated - this alone has definitely helped me and my cohortmates seen way more success during the job hunt.
To whoever is reading this, I was in your shoes exactly a year ago - do your research thoroughly and good luck! -
Anonymous
Excellent Experience with JavaScript for Beginners
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I came upon Codesmith during my months-long search for the most suitable bootcamp in NYC. What impressed me about CS, right off the bat at their open house, was the detail and clarity of their curriculum. While they also have the numbers to show for it, their presentation alone really painted a solidly structured picture of how students will learn during their 12-week intensive. I decided to take the JS for Beginners online course partially because I wanted a solid foundation to JavaScript, and learn better by interaction, but also because I wanted to get a sense of how Codesmith teaches: its language, its approach, etc.
I had a tremendously rewarding learning experience with JS for Beginners. Our instructor, Michelle, was patient, communicative, and receptive to our questions. The best part, in my opinion, was the amount of technical communication the short prep course taught me. It gave me a morsel of confidence to speak my code, literally, and feel comfortable with the syntax. This is a fantastic opportunity for those wanting to begin their coding journey. I cannot recommend JS For Beginners enough. -
Anonymous
Truly unique and rewarding experience
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Switching careers (or starting one) is scary. Switching into tech? Even scarier. The reality is that anyone can do it with enough determination and grit; however, most people lack the resources, fundamentals and community support to build the confidence needed to take the right step to changing their life. Codesmith is able to provide all of these things, but it does come at a cost. You will be challenged a lot and pushed to your limits, both mentally and emotionally. For three months, you'll find yourself sprinting head first into massive walls, but somehow still find yourself coming out on the other side (with bumps and bruises). This might seem a little crazy, but there's a method to this madness, and the method works. I know because I experienced it first hand and had the privilege of watching so many people struggle, grow and eventually turn their distant dreams into tangible realities, including myself.
Go to Codesmith. Endure the suck and trust the process. You won't regret it.
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Anonymous
Changed my entire life!
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I wrote my first line of code in March 2019. I was offered a role as a Senior Software Engineer at a leading FinTech company in October 2019.
Some may say BS but it's hard to explain this to someone that hasn't gone through Codesmith's Immersive Software Engineering Program. To sum up the how the program works in a real life example, quoted by Phillip Troutman (executive instructor at NYC), "Here's a car, go build a carburetor."
How is that possible? That's where you become a mature engineer.
The amazing community and culture is just the cherry on top. If you want to change your life, try to get into Codesmith...if you can!