Codesmith

I chose Codesmith because I perceived it to be the most rigorous program out there with regards to curriculum, portfolio, and job support, and it absolutely delivered on these promises. Here's a breakdown of how each manifested:

– Curriculum: the first part of the program is built around hard learning, challenges, and pair programming. Most units are taught over the course of a few days, which start with lectures and then continue with challenges meant to push you to learn and develop as an engineer. You do these challenges with a pair programming partner and also engage in other common practices like code reviews and collaborative coding. Not only are you developing your coding skills, but you are also learning how to interact with other engineers and problem solve through tough technical challenges. You're killing two birds with one stone.
– Portfolio: I believe Codesmith stands out the most from other bootcamps in this area. During my program, I worked on a variety of projects across the full stack (frontend, backend, DevOps, etc.), and this is where you get to put your skills to the test. You learn what it takes to break down complex applications to their component pieces, plan out how to approach the implementation, and then work through bugs and issues. The cornerstone of the program, the Open Source Product, pushes you to solve complicated engineering challenges by finding and solving pain points in the developer community. During this phase, you explore new tech, face challenges you can't just Google away, and gain a deeper understanding of the ambiguous problems professional engineers face.
– Job support: you receive career support from the Codesmith team for life which is a fantastic perk. If you feel like you need more resume help, they'll do as many iterations as you need. If you want more mock interviews, they have that covered too. If you just want to talk about the emotional struggle of job searching, you can talk to the staff or you can lean on your cohortmates or post-grad hiring group. They have all the bases covered and will continue to support you as long as you need or want it.

For anyone wanting to take the leap into the world of software engineering, this is a rigorous program that delivers on its results and is there to support you in your journey.

I got into Codesmith with 2 months of studying while working full-time, pulling 80+ hour 7-day weeks & attending every Hard Parts workshop they had. At one point I stood outside a packed workshop room with my ear against the glass just to catch bits and pieces of what was being taught. I got in. It wasn't an easy full-time immersive experience - a lot of personal mistakes & challenges, but I came out on top. I slept on the couch just to dedicate the 1.5 hour commute time into the city on studying (I wasn't the only one). I graduated with an offer thanks to Codesmith's Hiring Day, started working a different job the week after graduating, then finally landed on a consulting gig for the Google Cloud Platform a month and a half after graduating. I doubled my salary in 6 months.

Fast forward 4 years and I'm now a tech lead at a start-up. So far in my career, I've worked alongside Google engineers, built cutting edge AI multi-platform apps for Point72, co-founded a software development agency where I hired engineers, and have mentored other aspiring engineers into their first roles. 

It hasn't been without its challenges but looking back I know that life happens for me, not to me, and that change is an opportunity to reach higher to become more. I'm grateful.

Pros
- The best 0-to-bootcamp trajectory on the market
- Unique community focused on excellence in an "in it together" culture you won't find at other bootcamps
- Rigorous full-stack JS course focusing on the capacities that make you an engineer, not just a developer
- Multi-disciplinary curriculum spanning design, AI, dev-ops, security, etc.
- Paid post-graduate opportunities
- Post-graduate support is lifelong, consistent & growing
- They see potential in you - sometimes before you see it in yourself. They take a chance on you.

Cons
- Can be cult-like, but the best companies & cultures usually are. 
- Post-graduate support isn't industry-leading yet (emphasis on "yet" - they're the type of people to make it happen)
- Their taking a chance on you can sometimes lead to prematurely entering into a full-time immersive program which can lead to a rough during-Codesmith & post-Codesmith experience. Mental health can take a toll, but last I heard Codesmith offers support throughout. This applies to SOME non-technical aspiring engineers, not all, and is rarely the case with residents with some past technical experience or those who've spent more time studying

Prior to joining Codesmith's LA Immersive Program, I'd had some experience with programming, having taken a few intro computer science courses in college and tinkered around with JavaScript and Python through youtube tutorials. As coding became a passion of mine, I decided to try and apply for a software engineer role, but found it immensely difficult as I found the technical assessments to be out of my range of skill and a lot of companies were hesitant to hire a person without a technical background i.e. I'd recently graduated with a B.A. in linguistics.

Then I decided to join Codesmith's Full-time Immersive Program. Codesmith's curriculum consists of all the basics of JavaScript which sets you up for learning and working with modern web technologies like React, Node, Express, and Redux. Not to mention they also go through data structures and algorithms as well as testing and technologies associated with DevOps, i.e. Docker and AWS. In general, Codesmith technical curriculum emphasizes collaboration, which is crucial for being able to technically communicate in interviews.  

The instructors for the technical lectures were passionate, empathetic, and always willing to offer any guidance. Many of them were great mentors as well; they were instrumental in managing the course of an open source product I eventually worked on. The phase of the immersive where you're asked to create an open source product with your fellow bootcamp attendees plays a very significant role in the technical experience you end up talking about in interviews. This is huge. Prior to Codesmith, the only things I was able to talk about to recruiters were intro computer science classes and amateurish web projects.

In addition to equipping me with the necessary technical skills and experience, Codesmith's Immersive also guided me with how to actually get hired. Their comprehensive hiring program was excellent in making sure that I knew how to conduct myself in phone screens, technical screens, and onsites. It was obvious that the people running the hiring program had industry experience and really knew what they were doing. 

All the instructors and lecturers at Codesmith were not only exceptional at what they do, but also deeply empathetic and a pleasure to work with. And in particular those that really stood out to me were Michael O'Halloran, for his superb teaching ability and technical knowledge, and Eric Kirsten, for his outstanding advice on how to negotiate salary and unrelenting willingness to make sure Codesmith graduates find the jobs of their dreams. 

Two years ago, I went to a very well known bootcamp right before the pandemic hit. The experience was ok as far as learning about coding, but to be honest the way in which they prepared us to actually get a job was extremely lackluster, to put it kindly. I struggled greatly and felt totally rudderless and not sure how I was ever going to crack into the industry.  Fall of 2021, I ran into a friend who had recently finished Codesmith and got an amazing job only a few months after graduating. After telling her I had been struggling for about 1.5 years to get any traction, she was able to sell me on going to Codesmith.

At first I thought I was going to coast, because of my previous experience, but I couldn’t be more wrong. The students that they accept have to pass an entrance exam that frankly not many people from my bootcamp would have been able to pass even after graduating. So people were prepared to hit the ground running. And that is exactly what happened. Codesmith is not for everyone, because they really force you to struggle and embrace not knowing something and using your resources to figure it out. While Codesmith is not for everyone, I really believe that anyone who embraces their methodology can succeed. I believe that because I’ve seen it. Most of my cohort that graduated have jobs and it’s only been 3 months as of this writing. The average base salary offered to those grads is roughly 150k, and only a few - and I really mean a few - had any experience with programming prior to preparing for the exam.

The program is hard. Like, extremely hard. Don’t think you can just show up and coast and get an amazing job in a few months. But if you really want this and are dedicated to working your butt off, it will work. It’s an incredible program and almost unfair that it gets lumped in with other bootcamps, because it really is just far and away the best I’ve experienced and seen. Plus the hiring portion of the program itself is worth the cost alone. 10/10 could not recommend highly enough to those who are serious about this.

2019 I knew I wanted to make a career change. I remember reading this reddit post calling codesmith a scam. It deterred me away but my curiosity had me investigate their free hard parts workshop and finding alumni to get their take. Their CSX platform was excellent, hard parts was fun and mostly importantly majority of the alumni I talked to has great things to say about the program. No one said the program was perfect and had issues with some parts of the program but never the whole program. 
I decided to trust the people I've reached out to and take the dive to sign up for the full time immersive.(RIP my wallet) 

After finished the program 2 weeks ago I already cannot believe I already got one offer from a start up for 100k. The program was tough, some of the program in my opinion needed a tiny bit more hand holding. Overall I had an amazing experience, I walk away with REAL skillsets and knowledge to tackle finding and performing software development jobs. Like any program if you don't take advantage of the community, instructors and resources you might as well of thrown your money in penny stocks or SPY puts. If you're scared that codesmith is a scam, feel free to reach out to me and ask any questions. I do not work for codesmith and don't get any benefits from reviewing them. It's a program that has changed my life and I hope it can change yours too.

I'm a pandemic career-changer in my early 40s and I left a good, stable job to pursue software engineering. This may have been the most significant decision and the most challenging project of my life. Before I was fully committed to this monumental life change I launched a deep research project to determine which boot camp was going to set me up for the greatest success. My research led me to Codesmith.

Every reputable coding boot camp offers some kind of free live workshops and online resources to get you started, get you involved in the community, and help measure and improve your skills. Most offer some kind of "boot camp prep" course. Tuition tends to be pretty similar across the board. So how can you really know which one is "best" or which one is right for you?

My approach was to try them all. In addition to reading reviews and articles and checking out their YouTube channels, I used the free online resources from ten different schools, and I attended the prep courses for three different schools. I figured this would give me the greatest insight into how each school operates and whether I should trust the outcomes I saw published on their own websites as well as in the reports from the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR). My experiences led me to Codesmith.

Codesmith's free workshops curriculum is incredibly robust. It includes sessions targeting everyone from Day 1 beginners to employed engineers seeking a deeper understanding of advanced concepts, and many sessions occur more than once per week. When I attended my first "JavaScript: The Hard Parts" session I immediately felt like I was witnessing something of real value. The instructor was a total pro. The approach and the method were thoughtfully constructed. The attendees were engaged and participating. The quality of this experience was in stark contrast to what I had seen from all of the other schools. I was mostly sold on Codesmith.

The thing that sealed the deal for me was the challenge of getting admitted to Codesmith. At one point I had failed two attempts at the Codesmith technical admissions interview, and I had already been accepted to two other top coding boot camps. It would have been easy to throw in the towel and get started with one of the alternatives but my thinking was if I'm going to quit my job and take out a big loan at the same time, run through my meager savings, and risk everything for a chance at a great new career then I want to make sure it's the greatest new career possible. I couldn't be satisfied with a junior-level position that paid about the same as I was making before; I wanted to go into job interviews with the confidence derived from knowing that I had been through, by far, the most challenging software engineering boot camp available. Codesmith sets the highest barrier to entry and teaches the most advanced curriculum. They're able to do that because they have the best approach and retain the best staff. The formula is working.

In a few days, I'll be starting my first job as a software engineer. I'm going to work at a large financial institution in a mid-level position with a team working on an exciting product. I've acquired all the skills I need to succeed in this industry, I've made a bunch of new friends-for-life, and I've built up a formidable professional network. I would recommend Codesmith to friends and family (and I do, frequently) and to anyone who is serious about getting started in the software industry.

Codesmith was an excellent experience and for me it was definitely worth it. I attended the full time immersive and it was a lot of long hours and tough work, but ultimately absolutely worth it and truly rewarding. I had already done some self studying when I enrolled and it really took my engineering skills to the next level. The most valuable parts of the program for me were the community and network you find, the project focus, and the hiring portion. I chose Codesmith because of the CIRR outcomes and the sense of community. I highly recommend checking out one of their free workshops if you want to get a sense of the teaching style. 

I got a job fairly quickly and have been extremely happy with my choice to make a career change. I'm able to do more satisfying work for more pay, and Codesmith really helped me get there. 

Two things make Codesmith stand out: the open source product and the community. 

The OSP grants a critical advantage in the job search that is unattainable through self study alone or by writing CRUD toy apps. Codesmith's curriculum doesn't teach GraphQL, Electron, TypeScript, microservices architectures etc., but depending on the OSP you choose (and the work you put in both during and after Codesmith), you'll come away with the ability to a) talk knowledgeably about a selection of such highly marketable skill-sets at a level of understanding that will make seasoned engineers see you as prospective peers rather than blank slates, and b) acquire genuine narratives about technical/organizational/interpersonal challenges, breakthroughs, milestones, failures, lessons learned that will demonstrate a level of experience clearly beyond that of entry-level candidates who have only worked on course assignments and scratch projects in small groups. Grinding leetcode will only get you so far in prepping for mid-level big tech interviews, because they will also delve deep into your experiences in engineering, collaboration, and leadership. While there's no replacement there for real world work experience, the Codesmith OSP provides a close approximation. 

As for community, Codesmith doesn't kick you out for falling behind. On the contrary, if you fail assessments you get supplementary sessions. I've also personally never heard of anyone dropping out of the program. On the other hand, decisive action is taken against rare cases of egregiously problematic behavior. Time is set aside every week for shoutouts, game nights, and mingling. All this sets the tone for a safe and warm environment where everyone is "in it together," and residents see each other as collaborators and friends rather than competitors or rivals. Codesmith sets a grueling pace and the material is demanding, so it's helpful and motivating beyond words to have a group of highly competent, driven, and caring people with whom to exchange assistance and emotional support and to unwind. This atmosphere of goodwill extends to the alumni community as well, where I've received extraordinary help and advice freely and readily given from so many awesome people already. I'd gone the self-study route for a while and made good progress before joining Codesmith, but I can say with certainty that it would have taken me years to get to the point I am now had I not sought out a community of like-minded people. 

After months on the job search, I've signed on with an exciting early-stage startup for a senior-level base salary far outside the max range shown in the CIRR reports, and favorable compensation compared to a competing big N L4 offer. While I've been particularly fortunate, there is also no shortage of alumni I know who are now working in highly desirable positions and earning above the reported median wage. Some of them had prior academic or professional experience in STEM, but many more, including me, hail from a completely unrelated background. In short, if you're ready to put in the work for a career in tech, you'll be in the best possible company at Codesmith. 

# Curriculum
I loved that the "JS Hard Parts" approach of deep-diving into the fundamentals of any given concept very much carried over into the immersive. Some subjective nitpicks:

- React unit: Fully switch to functional components and hooks and maybe discuss strategies for avoiding unnecessary re-renders. Should better equip residents to tackle common React takehomes/onsites using up-to-date practices. 
- Node unit: More detail on REST API design constraints and conventions, as well as practical differences between Node.js vs. browser environments.
- Database unit: More practice for composing SQL queries (with CTEs, parameterization), drawing out ER diagrams, and especially avoiding common pitfalls when designing relational data models (i.e. general rules-of-thumb for normalization, enforcing referential integrity).
- Pick a responsive CSS framework and use in every module so the code examples can serve as reference material. 

# Instructors
Michael and Caitlin gave clear, tightly-paced, and engaging lectures, and were always able to provide more in-depth context, detail, and direction as necessary. Codesmith's picks for fellowship in my cohort sandwich also made it clear that they choose the best. 

# Job Support
- Somehow spacing out the OSP and hiring portions would be great so that residents aren't completely burnt out for the latter, the pace isn't so hectic, and residents can get some supervised practice in more areas e.g. sending out a Codesmith-style app, optimizing resumes for ATS while still following Codesmith guidelines, countering negotiation tactics employed by recruiters from the very first email/call, understanding perks and equity packages etc.
- Post-grad hiring and negotiation support quite literally pays for the tuition. Shoutout to Eric and Cassandra and the team for being wonderful. 

# Overall: 
Lifechanging experience. 10/10 would do again.

I joined the Codesmith community through CSX, then CSPrep, then the full-time LA immersive, attending virtually from NY.  It was evident from the beginning that Codesmith's secret to success was their built-in community.  By the time I was done with CSPrep I had a community to struggle through the technical interview process with which was key to my ability to pass the technical interview.  I'd agree with other Course Report reviews that say "persistence is key."  Once I started the full-time immersive it was incredibly helpful to be a part of a nobody-left-behind mentality in such a rigorous program.

One of the things I, personally, wasn't excited about was still how little experience I had with CSS after the immersive, as someone who came in with zero prior experience.  Be sure to get into that because it will likely prove important during the interview process for frontend roles.

The hiring portion gives you the opportunity to ask any and all the questions you need and an answer is always close by.  You'll continue to feel fully supported like this until you land your first job!  Shout out to the hiring team and Eric for helping me navigate my way to a well-paid internship in 3 months, and a full-time role in 6 months.

Very similar experiences with other reviews. I had a great experience here. People are very nice and supportive. Please don't come in expecting you'll get a job without working very hard. It requires a lot of dedication but if you're determined, you'll pull it through.

I got a job 3 weeks after I graduated without the CS degree, but I do have an engineering degree from UC Berkeley though, and I'm not sure that'd be relevant in my job search. It's a very rewarding career.

Good luck and I wish you all the best!

I considered many other bootcamps like fullstack academy, general assembly, etc. but then codesmith hiring outcome came to my attention as codesmith's hiring outcome was the best among bootcamps out there. After going through 12-weeks of program and now getting a job, I can see why codesmith has the best hiring outcome and I am really glad that I decided to go with codesmith. It provides the best curriculum for people who want to be engineers and how to think and code like mid to senior-level software engineers. I got a job offer that is well above the median of codesmith graduate outcomes, so I can say that it actually works!

And the best part for this program is open-source product and how it helps you with job search!