Codeup

   I want to preface this by saying I had ZERO coding experience prior to Codeup. I was a perpetual student, going to college for a degree I didn't really have any interest in but was too far into my schooling to go back on. After beginning my Master's program in special education, I realized how miserable I was and couldn't take it anymore but I felt like I was in too deep to turn back. After researching some other career options, a friend of mine told me to look into coding and that I could teach myself; I really didn't know what 'coding' entailed, but I was desperate for a career change at that point. After attempting to teach myself with Youtube courses and online coding academies, I found myself getting pretty overwhelmed with all the different languages and paths I could take. It wasn't until I researched deeper that I found Codeup, an IN-PERSON coding BootCamp. Going in person was a huge necessity for me because it was hard for me to focus on online courses - I needed structure. So after talking it over with my advisor, who was extremely helpful, I decided to take the plunge and go for it. 
   The vetting process was thorough - I thought, "Well, if I can't do this pre-work, then I'm not cut out for the program." I found it pretty simple and knew that I had made the right decision for myself. After getting accepted, I had to pack all of my things and move to a different city. I also had to take out a loan to pay for it. Unfortunately, because of all of my college credits, I was unable to qualify for any financial aid for the program- this would probably be one of my complaints about the program, which was how expensive it is - around 27k. 
   Once the program started, it was almost as if I blinked my eyes and it was over. I guess time flies when you're having fun. At no point throughout the program did I doubt the decision I made to switch careers. Never in my life had I felt excited to go to class the next day or passionate about what I was learning. A big part of this was being taught by extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and passionate instructors who you can tell genuinely have a love for what they were teaching. 
  A big thing I noticed was how few women there are in each class. I was one of the three women in my class of over 20. Despite this, at no point did I feel uncomfortable around so many men - everyone was very respectful. I do wish more women knew about this career path even though it is a 'male-dominated' field. Coming from a small town in Texas, it would have been nice to know about Codeup as an alternative to college.
   After graduation, things do get a little scary. If you're really lucky, a job will just come to you. But realistically, the job market is like the wild-west and you're basically competing with your classmates for jobs. My biggest advice is to really focus on what you're good at and try to showcase the hell out of it. Code EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. after graduating, especially on projects that will build your portfolio and make you stand out. If you're good at the backend, make a functional, deployed application showcasing the features. If you're good at the front end start designing some beautiful websites. Getting discouraged, and frankly, even a little depressed, after applying to jobs every single day and not ever hearing back is natural. It happens. It does take some mental fortitude to get past this hurdle and keep going forward. But, now here I am, two months after graduating with a full-time job that would be paying the same, if not way more, as my 6-year degree. I credit this to having a good foundation, provided to me by Codeup, and a strong will to keep pushing to get a job.

I found out about Codeup while I was a public school ESL teacher nearing twenty years in the industry and looking to transition into tech; I'll be honest that I was not so much passionate about data science when I began my search as I was desperate to find a career where I could make decent money and be treated like a professional adult. I went through the application process for both the Web Dev and Data Science programs at Codeup and through that process fell in love with the school and admissions staff. As I've seen other alums mention in their reviews here, the admissions process is built in such a way that you are learning new skills every step of the way; I spent weeks teaching myself basic python and brushing up on college algebra using the application materials. As a long-time educator, this process and my learning throughout it impressed me so much, I knew at that point Codeup was the one. I ended up choosing the Data Science program after attending both the HTML and Python "Learn to Code" Saturday workshops they offer; they had me at storytelling with data!

I started classes in August 2019 and graduated from Bayes, the second Data Science cohort, in January 2020. It was the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. As someone going in with a non-traditional background, I knew that I would be stretched on every topic we covered; I hadn't taken a math class in twenty years, never had stats or higher maths, and my degrees were in Liberal Arts. What I didn't expect was the transformation as a human being that came along with this process. When you go the traditional route in university classrooms, no matter the program, you often find yourself in classes filled with students who have similar backgrounds to yours, all math and science majors or English Lit enthusiasts. The first day of class was all about getting to know every member of our cohort, their journeys leading up to that day and "Why Codeup?". I was shocked and delighted to find that my cohort was more diverse than any classroom I'd ever sat in before, from math and science professionals to professional ballerinas and philosophers, all looking to change their lives and learn how to practice a new set of skills in the world. For me, this is the true magic of Codeup.

The material was not easy for anyone in my cohort, but as we struggled and learned to swim together, helping each other and supported by the most amazing and talented instructors, we bonded in the most organic way I've ever experienced. I quickly realized that half the value of the program was going to be this network of amazing colleagues going out into the local tech scene along with me. We worked together for 8+ hours a day over five and a half months; I learned best practices for asking for help, how to lean on others when I needed to, and that non-technical backgrounds bring unique and valuable skills to any tech team. With each project, I strengthened my Python and expanded my visualization and presentation skills, but I also had conversations that expanded my mind and made friendships that will last the rest of my life. It's not easy to transition careers, ever, but even less when you have had success and reached the top in a former field. For me, this is a big difference between many coding bootcamps and Codeup; I had help building the bridge from one field to another, but now that I'm in field, I STILL have help from the Codeup family I got to know throughout my program. 

This program is not for everyone, but if you are passionate about learning, about changing your own life with the support of others, about working harder than you ever have before and seeing results beyond what you thought possible, there is a place for you with Codeup.

Going to Codeup has been the best decision I have made for not only my career but for my life and wellbeing. I spent years in a dead end job that was paying me next to nothing and was completely unsatisfied with my career prospects. Codeup’s data science curriculum taught me all the necessary skills to begin working in the field, with no prior knowledge in any of the subjects beforehand. The instructors were really knowledgeable about the subjects they were teaching and showed a genuine interest in making sure that we thoroughly understood the material. The support staff was amazing in helping us with the admissions process and making sure we took advantage of any scholarships or programs that were available to lower the cost of tuition. The best service Codeup provides, beyond the amazing education, is the dedication to getting each student placed in a job after graduation or a money back guarantee. Going to Codeup allowed me to transition into a career where I feel significantly more job satisfaction with the work that I do on a daily basis. This new career has also provided me with a significantly better source of income which has drastically improved my life and wellbeing. I wholeheartedly recommend Codeup to everyone I meet who is contemplating transitioning into a new career field.   

I am from the Voyagers cohort class of 2018. The program was a challenge for myself being 45 yrs old making a career change. 

I am grateful for for Codeup giving me an opportunity to attend the full stack program. 
It is a very challenging and demanding program. But if you apply yourself and utilize all the tools and resources available to you you will be successful. 
Cohorts that came before us were always in touch with the next group of students and offered to help tutor us for little or to no extra cost. 
Be prepared to ask questions and be very transparent, and work on your collaboration skills that will go a long way.
Become a strong tight cohort really get to know each other and to see understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses that way in the future you can understand how to fit in on a new team when your done at Codeup!

Best of luck to all incoming students!

Armando Sifuentes 

This boot camp is not your typical run-of-the-mill program, and that's precisely why it's worth considering. While it may be a challenging and intense journey that tests your limits 24/7, the rewards you reap upon completion are priceless. I didn't just acquire technical coding skills, but I also gained valuable life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Codeup taught me how to tackle daunting problems, take necessary breaks, collaborate effectively, and never give up, all while optimizing my technical skills to their fullest potential.
Codeup was the ultimate challenge that allowed me to explore and conquer areas of myself that I never knew existed. It served as a powerful paradigm shift that set me on the path to a flourishing career. It's not for everyone, but if you're willing to put in the effort and dedication, it could be the key to unlocking a lifetime of success.

I enrolled at Codeup in one of their 2022 Data Science cohorts. It is the best academic decision I’ve ever made. My experience was fantastic from start to finish. Every single person who works at Codeup, from their instructors to their placement staff are exceptional human beings. They care deeply about your success and have the knowledge and expertise to get you where you want to go. I came into this program with zero knowledge of how to code or perform data analysis. I left with both the knowledge and the confidence to do both. If you dedicate yourself and put in the work, you can rest assured that the curriculum and instruction at Codeup will get you a job in this field. 
Before enrolling and graduating, working as a consultant at my dream company was essentially a pipe dream. After graduating, I was their top candidate and received an offer in short order. 
I looked at several different boot camps and it quickly became apparent that Codeup was the most professional and curated experience. To my knowledge, it is also the only current accredited program on the market!! 
The saying “you get what you pay for” certainly applies in this case.
If you are serious about breaking into data science and are ready to dedicate yourself to the process, Codeup is the way to go. 

Attending Codeup itself was a great experience. I met great people and felt supported in learning material that was very unfamiliar to me. To be completely honest, it gave me a platform to be in front of the right people and be in the right community. I was called right after our Demo Day by multiple recruiters and that certainly would not have happened if I hadn’t attended Codeup. While I personally couldn’t see myself having a career in coding, attending Codeup allowed me obtain an amazing career in technology that was right for me. If you’re looking to begin a career in development or other tech roles, I highly recommend going to Codeup!

I graduated back in 2018 from the full-stack program after getting out of the Army. My experience while I was attending was nothing but positive, the instructors were very knowledge-able and always ready to help if I needed it. Codeup's course content is structured to be beginner friendly and is also project driven so I always felt like I actually working on the skills I was learning rather than just reading about it. Codeup's instructors and job placement team helped prepare me for my first job a week after graduating and I've just been growing since then thanks to the skills I learned there. A few years later and I'm still recommending people to Codeup if they are looking to get into software development as a first choice. 

I was stuck between choosing a CS degree and a coding bootcamp after I got out of the Army and took the chance on Codeup. I can say that choosing Codeup has been the best decision I've made for my career in the software industry. I don't believe I would be in my current position had I not chose Codeup then, it really launched me into my career. If your in the San Antonio/Dallas area and looking to get into software development, Codeup really is one of the best options.