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Codesmith

Average Rating4.89
529 Reviews
5 Courses

Codesmith is a coding school redefining the way software engineering is taught. Codesmith offers full-time (13-week) and part-time (38-week) remote software engineering immersive programs as well as a full-time NYC Onsite program. Codesmith focuses on concepts and technologies such as full-stack JavaScript, computer science, machine learning, Dev Ops, React, and more. The immersives are advanced residencies designed to help individuals launch meaningful, high-level...

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  • Anonymous
    Senior Consultant • Graduate • New York City
    Jun 25, 2018
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    Codesmith student review

    As someone who attended a bootcamp prior to attending codesmith, I found the difference was tremendous. Easily one of the best programs out there, when they say "our graduates get mid-senior level positions" they really mean it. I know, its pretty crazy, I remember reading that and thinking: theres no way thats possible, yet here I am 2 months from graduating, accepting a senior level position. They will tell you to trust the process, and I know, we're not really programmed to just blindly...

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  • Anonymous
    Software Engineer • Graduate • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Jun 24, 2018
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    Life Changing Experience

    I had heard about coding camps prior to Codesmith but I never really had the intention of signing up for one. I figured I could learn web development on my own and apply to junior positions with that knowledge. I didn’t realize how difficult the industry was to break into though, even for a junior developer. It was near impossible to even get an interview.

     

    Then I attended a Hard Parts class Will was teaching. I was impressed with his...

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  • Anonymous
    Graduate • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Apr 06, 2018
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    Software Engineer

    I’m very happy with joining the Codesmith community. The skills I have developed during my time as a resident are incredibly invaluable, not just in the sense that you learn the latest technology stacks, but also for the fact that the pedagogy this program incorporates instills a refreshing approach to solving challenging problems. Residents traditionally put in between 80 to 100 hours worth of studying to synchronize with the rapid pace of the curriculum. It is advisable to enter the prog...

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  • Anonymous
    Graduate • Los Angeles
    Feb 21, 2018
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    Transformative experience

    CodeSmith is remarkable. It transforms experienced (and less experienced) developers to senior engineers who are able to architect complex applications that scale. Perhaps its secret is teaching the ability to learn itself – engineers are taught how rapidly to pick-up new technologies and swiftly become experts.

    After reading the positive reviews here before taking the course, I was skeptical since it sounded too good to be true, but it simply isn’t.  I’m beyond glad that I took ...

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  • Anonymous
    Student • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Feb 19, 2018
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    Unhealthy culture and environment

    We were there 11hours a day and then once every two weeks they had "optional" hackathons after. I never stayed because I was tired and at the end they didn't let me graduate because as they told me I wasn't passionate enough. It was more like "we did a poor job teaching you by leaning on the Socratic method as an excuse to force you to figure out 95% yourself, and we aren't prepared to share the responsibility of failing you so well just blame you for not staying at our hackathons". They k...

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    Will Sentance of Codesmith

    CEO

    Apr 10, 2018

    I know it was tough during the first full cohort in LA back in 2015. We were definitely finding out feet and there was a lot of experimentation to get the program right over that cohort - although grads from that first cohort went on to do excellent work at Ticketmaster, The Bouqs, Swoop and other companies

    The goal of the program even then was to instill the ability to push through blocks and that struggle is often tough - but it’s what gives you the ability to learn any new technology for the rest of your career - and that’s always been the goal.

    3% of graduates (10 out of 300) have not graduated from the program - and 3 of those that didn’t graduate were in that early cohort (out of a cohort of ~14)
  • Anonymous
    Student • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Jan 04, 2018
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    Solid Program for Experienced Developers, Not for New Developers

    Codesmith is a program for experienced developers in Playa Del Rey, Los Angeles. It is NOT for folks new to the software engineering space. If you have no background with programming, this school will NOT hold your hand and help you through the basics. On their website, they used to advertise that they were a school for 'experienced programmers' now they refrain from mentioning the type of student they accept instead focusing on what you'll get out of the program. This is left ambiguous fo...

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    Will Sentance of Codesmith

    CEO

    Sep 10, 2018

    It’s a real shame you had a tough time with the approach of the program. The goal of Codesmith is to create engineers who can handle any new challenge they face - for the rest of their career as a software engineer. This can be tough as it involves going through challenges and hitting roadblocks and then using those moments to improve as a problem solver. 

    It would be much easier to do traditional lecturing/tutoring through the program but it wouldn’t work. The ‘secret’ of Codesmith student outcomes (they’re all individually logged here http://bit.ly/codesmith-outcomes) is that grads have learned how to problem solve and communicate complex technical concepts autonomously - so they’re able to handle any new framework/language/feature for the rest of their careers - not just the exact process they learned in a class. And it works - the average outcomes in LA and NY is $100k+ http://bit.ly/codesmith-outcomes

    For some people this may not be their preferred learning style - it isn’t ideal for everyone. When someone has discovered that it’s not a good fit while in the program we’ve worked with that person to go above and beyond with one-on-one mentorship - getting you off the ground on a new concept with the help of an engineer on the team.

    It can be stressful but if you have a super supportive community of fellow learners around you, it can be really powerful. Around 2/3rds of Codesmith students join without without prior professional software engineering experience. Around 1/3rd have attended a coding bootcamp, been a software engineer or have a computer science degree.

    That’s why I teach the weekly JS Hard Parts workshops still - to help people who are new get up to the level where they can get into Codesmith.

    It’s also why in the program itself there has to be an ecosystem around you for the tough times. On the curriculum side, lectures that go under-the-hood of the JavaScript language, code reviews and lectures on the core aspects of web development and computer science: DOM manipulation, Ajax, React/Redux, Node/Express, SQL/NoSQL, Computer science (data structures, algorithms, big O notation), programming fundamentals (OOP, functional programming) and many more areas. As you work through challenges in pairs Help Desk acts as the means to train you on building autonomy as a problem solver. 

    But also on the side of wellbeing - Circles each week to talk through the non-coding side of the program, Thursday evenings, relay race, beach days and the support of the team.

    The projects you build at Codesmith are designed to impress the companies you interview with at Hiring day and beyond - to give you the best leg up in the job search process. The best way to do that is to build things in the core web technology stack and even better to do so in a way that solves the problems of other developers - this gets your interviewers excited by the level you’re working at.

    The instruction team at Codesmith has 40+ years experience between it and speak at conferences and to audiences around the world. But codesmith is much more than teaching - for that I’d recommend the best youtube videos. Instead it’s about a community of people going above and beyond to learn and to build things together so they can do so for the rest of their careers.

  • Anonymous
    Student • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Nov 22, 2017
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    Codesmith helped me immensely

    I have a unique situation. When I applied to Codesmith, I had taken some online courses and applied to jobs, but wasn't getting results.

    The first few weeks of Codesmith, we reviewed a lot of JavaScript fundamentals. During that time, 2 companies reached out to interview me. During my lunch, I went to the interviews.

    I did so well that many of the interviewers said they've interviewed developers with 5 or 6 years of experience, but never seen them get so many of the que...

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  • Anonymous
    Fullstack Engineer • Graduate • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Aug 18, 2017
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    Trust the process!

    At times, you'll feel like you want to give up. You think you're not good enough. Codesmith is not those "feels good" bootcamps that's all over the place. The first part of the program teaches the fundamentals of JavaScript. Coming from a PHP background, little did I know that JavaScript has such differences! It's a language with so many twists, and Codesmith explained it thoroughly and clearly.

    The most intense part about the program, IMO, is the brainstorming week to come up wi...

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  • Anonymous
    Graduate • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Dec 05, 2016
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    Programmer

    I made a huge gamble to choose Codesmith over other coding programs in the Bay Area. Roughly 9 months later after "graduating", I'm in massive and crippling debt with very little to show for it. My portfolio can't even make it past any recruiter.  I'm no longer even looking for a developer job and I'm working minimum wage to make ends meet.  

    The curriculum may have changed since I finished but at the time Redux was not taught; you absolutely c...

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    Will Sentance of Codesmith

    CEO

    Jan 31, 2017

    I'm sorry it’s been so tough for you in the job search - we all are. I know you and I have been on the phone together and with Eric and Hira on the team many times - and we will all continue to do so

    In addition to our conversations together, keep talking to other Codesmith graduates working in SF to get their thoughts on strategy - I know they would be very happy to talk with you too.

    The purpose of Codesmith is to be a community of people not only learning technical knowledge but growing as problem solvers and exceptional communicators. Redux is part of the curriculum for sure but the real purpose is to develop your capacity to pick up any new technology fast through the challenges, whiteboarding practice and under-the-hood lectures

    I am truly confident in your ability. You have great projects and a strong computer science mindset. We’re here for you and will keep pushing with you until you get there.

    Keep up the hard work and I’m looking forward to hearing back from you to my email

    Will
  • Blessing Ebowe
    Software Engineer • Student • NYC Onsite Software Engineering Immersive • Los Angeles
    Oct 23, 2018
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    The Ultimate learning environment

    Codesmith to me was a very important learning experience, it doesn't just build you up as a tech-savvy Engineer it takes you into the rudiments of problem-solving, technical communication and project management. Most importantly handling new challenges without giving up, I was challenged to do more every day of the programme and the more challenges I overcame the more I knew and the more confidence I had in my understanding.

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  • Joshua Wright
    Graduate • NYC Onsite Software Engineering Immersive • Los Angeles
    Oct 19, 2018
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    I went to Codesmith out of High School, and I'm so glad I did

    Codesmith has a relatively wide range of individuals coming through the program. They range in age everywhere from twentysomethings to fifty or older, it's a really diverse program. I came when I was 18, straight out of high school, in lieu of going to college. When I was first considering going to Codesmith, I never thought I would leave with such a strong emotional connection to the people I met there, and such a feeling of community and connection that Codesmith has given me. Codesmith ...

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  • Ben Gummelt
    Full Stack Developer • Graduate • Software Engineering Immersive Program • Los Angeles
    Jul 19, 2018
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    Life Changing Approach

    What set Codesmith out from the other similiar programs is that you had to be at least a junior level engineer before you entered the program.  This process made sure you were prepared for the intense 12 week program that changes the way you approach coding and empowers you to be a mid to senior level engineer.  The focus on communication was the missing block in my approach to becoming  a great engineer and Codesmith fostered that approach in a very effective way.

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Codesmith Alumni Outcomes

83%
Employment Rate
95%
Graduation Rate
$116,500
Median Salary
cirr-logo
100% of students intended to seek in-field employment within 180 days of graduating. 0% of students did not intend to seek in-field employment. Below is the 180 Day Employment Breakdown for 92 graduates included in report:
180 Day employment breakdown
Employed in-field83.1%
Full-time employee82.0%
Full-time apprenticeship, internship or contract position0.0%
Short-term contract, part-time, or freelance1.1%
Started a new company or venture after graduation0.0%
Not seeking in-field employment0.0%
Employed out-of-field0.0%
Continuing to higher education0.0%
Not seeking a job for health, family, or personal reasons0.0%
Still seeking job in-field16.9%
Could not contact0.0%
salary breakdown

Recent Codesmith News

Jess Feldman
Updated March 09, 2023
While Li enjoyed the clinical side of her career as a dietician, she was burned out from managing the underpaid and overworked lifestyle of working in a hospital. Answering her lifelong interest in tech, Li sought an immersive, online coding school to prepare her to successfully change careers. Li shares her tips about how to prepare for Codesmith and what she wishes she knew before her first day of the immersive program. Plus, find out how Li has adapted to her new life as a remote ...
Jess Feldman
Updated January 03, 2023
Course Report 2022 The Year in Review for Coding Bootcamp News We re looking back at a very eventful 2022, and rounding up the most impactful news we saw in the coding bootcamp space. Follow along as we call out the top trends in 2022 and break down this year s biggest coding bootcamp acquisitions and fundraises. Plus, we re sharing our predictions for 2023 from transparency in ISAs to Web3 bootcamps! 2022 Course Report in Numbers We added 121 schools to our directory 15 of those in ...
Jess Feldman
Updated November 10, 2022
Cam studied accounting in college but decided to make a career shift during the pandemic. Following his interest in tech, Cam chose Codesmith to future-proof his career and learn software engineering. After graduating from Codesmith in 2020 and working as a Software Engineer at Google, Cam and one of his classmates launched their own decentralized audio-visual curation community called heds . Cam shares how he pivoted from accounting to software engineering to tech entrepreneurship ...
Jess Feldman
Updated October 19, 2022
Learning to think like a software engineer is only the first step in becoming a software engineer; landing that first job after a coding bootcamp is a feat all its own! Not only does Codesmith boast a dedicated Career Support Team, but they also bring their alumni back as Career Support Engineers to help existing students navigate their job search. Watch Annie and Cara as they weigh in on how bootcamp graduates should decide which software engineering role is best for them. Meet ...
Jess Feldman
Updated August 01, 2022
Course Report July 2022 Coding Bootcamp News Roundup This July, the coding bootcamp industry heated up with a 10M fundraise, an acquisition, and a 2B rumor. Drama about OPM regulation continued, and there s still a lot of back-and-forth about whether the Pell Grant expansion will include online programs. Skills-based hiring continues to be a top trend in 2022, including how to diversify tech teams with women technologists and formerly incarcerated individuals. We saw more ...
Jess Feldman
Updated July 13, 2022
What is it actually like to be a Software Engineer at MongoDB? Codesmith alum and remote Software Engineer, Cris Newsome, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at types of projects and teams they work on at MongoDB. As a career changer in their 40s who copes with chronic illness, learn how Codesmith s full-tuition Black Engineers in Tech Scholarship gave Cris the rock solid foundation of curriculum and career support they needed to switch from blue collar to new collar career in 2021. ...
Nat Davis
Updated January 19, 2023
Coding bootcamps are certainly the most efficient way to quickly make a successful career pivot. But what is a coding bootcamp actually like ? Since 2014, we ve spoken with hundreds of alumni about their in-person, online, full-time, part-time, and self-paced bootcamp experiences and now we re sharing their insights with you! Let s break down a typical day at a bootcamp, teaching styles, and exactly what to expect in a bootcamp classroom. What is a Coding Bootcamp Like? Here ...
Jess Feldman
Updated February 21, 2022
Over 1,200 tech bootcamp graduates wrote a Verified review for their school on Course Report and went into the draw to win a 500 Amazon gift card! Jordan, a graduate of Codesmith , wrote a Verified review of his bootcamp experience and won our latest sweepstakes! Jordan shares his advice for future bootcampers and how Codesmith helped him land a job as a Software Engineer at NPR! Want to win 500 in our next Reviews Sweepstakes? Write a Verified review of your coding bootcamp experience ...
Liz Eggleston
Updated February 24, 2022
In this Live Alumni Q&A, the panel answered real questions from the audience like How these 6 bootcamp grads did their research and why they chose bootcamps like General Assembly, Tech Elevator, Springboard, NYC Data Science Academy, Code Fellows, and Codesmith. What were your favorite free resources to prep for a bootcamp? Any tips that you can give future bootcampers about where to look for scholarships and funding ? Having gone through the tech interview process, any ...
Jess Feldman
Updated December 08, 2021
When software engineer Minchan immigrated to the United States, he enlisted in the US Army and spent four years working in logistics and software management. After leaving the service, he realized he needed an immersive bootcamp like Codesmith to ratchet up his software engineering career. Here s how the supportive community, hands-on learning, and job-relevant curriculum gave Minchan the technical skills he needed to land a job as a Software Engineer just one month after ...

Frequently Asked Questions

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How much does Codesmith cost?

Codesmith costs around $20,925. On the lower end, some Codesmith courses like JavaScript for Beginners cost $350.

Where does Codesmith have campuses?

Codesmith has in-person campuses in Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle. Codesmith also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.

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Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
Licensing
Codesmith is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. For more information visit: https://codesmith.io/regulatory-information
Is Codesmith worth it?
82%
Employment Rate
-
Graduation Rate
$133,281
Median Salary

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