Codesmith

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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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. Read less

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! Read less

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.  Read less

 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.

 Lastly, what I think Codesmith can do better: More careful and transparent fellows selection process. One’s satisfaction level with Codesmith can vary widely depending on who the fellows are. (Most fellows I interacted with were awesome.) Read less

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. Read less

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. Read less

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.
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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. Read less

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. Read less

 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.  Read less

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. Read less

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!  Read less

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. 

I can't speak to other programs, but based on my experience I don't think an engineering program can get much better than this. Before this I considered getting a Master's in CS but I am so happy I didn't because Codesmith was exactly what I needed. Read less

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! Read less

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.  Read less

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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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!

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