Coding Dojo

The teachers are extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and I was impressed with the curriculum. Being able to completely focus on learning to code and not have my time divided with work and different classes was a game changer for me. I felt so productive at the dojo and it was amazing to have the help of my cohort when I got stuck. The 12 hours a day I spent there flew by because I was enjoying what I did so much. It’s a lot of work, but extremely rewarding if you’re able to put in the hours needed. I had taken a few classes previously, and that helped not feel as overwhelmed. I recommend doing as much coding and learning before you arrive as possible so it’s not as overwhelming and so you can better know if coding is for you. However, don’t put a boot camp off too long if you know it’s the right path for you because you can’t find the time to code and learn, which is what I did. Best decision I’ve ever made was to go to Coding Dojo.

I am a Coding Dojo student graduate. I am orginally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I am also an Army Verteran with 13 almost 14 years of service time.

I loved my experience at Coding Dojo being very green to coding. The atmosphere was awesome the instructors were awesome. I can genuinely say it was the best course or school I have been to. The conetent was great.I truly reccomend Coding Dojo for anyone wanting to improve of leran from the begining. 

I worked in marketing for almost seven years before I attended Coding Dojo, and, having recently graduated, I am excited for my future. Looking back to before I started the bootcamp, I can't believe how much I have learned in such a short period of time. I now have the skills to build a website with amazing functionality, unlike anything I was ever able to do before. The language stacks I've learned include Java/Spring, Python and MEAN (although I would have liked to learn React instead of Angular).

It's only been a couple of weeks since I graduated, and I'm keeping my head up about job prospects. I'm attending a lot of networking events and working my contacts to try to find quality jobs to apply to (instead of apllying to job boards in mass quantity).

Before I get into the review, I think it’s important that I state I had no prior programming experience before coming to Coding Dojo. I had a background in education and taught in the public-school system for 7 years before deciding to make the career switch.

I had a really good experience at Coding Dojo. It is true, you really do get what you put into it. They offer three full stacks and I feel like they really deliver on their end to teach you those technologies and provided resources but that’s only half of the equation.

So much of a person’s success is dependent on how willing they are to push themselves, make mistakes, and become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Making mistakes is HUGE, btw. If you come in with that mindset, there is no limit to what you can learn here at the Dojo and also life after graduating.

Back to the review! A typical day in the life of a boot camp student at Coding Dojo looks like this:

• 7:30-8:00am - Review assignments from yesterday and read up on today’s assignments.
• 9:00am – Algorithms/whiteboarding
• 10:00am – Group discussion over algo solutions
• 10:30am – Morning lecture followed by time to work on assignments
• 12:00pm – Lunch followed by more time to work on assignments
• 2:30pm – Afternoon lecture/Demonstration (Great chance to ask questions from the morning)
• 5:00pm – Technically the “end” of the day but most stay until 7:00 or 8:00pm to work together on assignments/projects.

There would be some days where the schedule was altered to better fit the needs of the cohort, but this was typically the structure for the day.

The instructors are FANTASTIC and were a huge resource for me while at the Dojo. They were always willing to offer assistance or provide more insight into other programming technologies. On top of that, they are good people that really have a passion for technology and sharing it with others.

The curriculum, the online platform specifically, is good. It’s nowhere near perfect and there were times I felt that new topics could have been introduced in a more logical order, but it does provide a good foundation for you to build from. Fortunately, they are frequently updating it and making changes.

To summarize, I don’t think I would have been able to learn as much as I did on my own in 14 weeks. Having other people to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with has proven invaluable and I feel has really set me up to be successful in my new profession.

The Coding Dojo is a bootcamp that truly believes in making a positive impact in the lives of its students. Coding Dojo is one of the few boot camps that have decided to teach its on-site students three full stacks. While some people may believe that this causes a too broad overview and does not have enough content have not gone trhough the program. During my time there I learned all that I could about the three stacks and have a deep understanding and can appreciate the subtle differences between the stacks. Each of the stacks that are covered have well over 40 individual assignments to be completed and then at the end of three weeks you have an exam that cover all of the information that you have learned. That final week of each stack is devoted to students creating a project in that stack that they just learned. This is done so that students can walk out of the course not only with knowledge but also three projects that the can then showcase to potential employers. Before coming to the Dojo I went through a university program and got a BS in computer science but was left with a feeling of what next because they only covered the basics and did not go far enough to make their students employable. Coding Dojo is very much different in that respect in that you can walk out of the program and be market ready. I will not lie its a difficult program from the time commitment to the concepts but if you put the effort forward you will great benefits from the program.

One of the most important aspects of a good bootcamp is to have quality teachers. I can honestly say that Coding Dojo has some of the best teachers that I have come across in a long time. Not only are they knowledgable in the different stacks but they actually care and want to see each of the students succeed. Its this caring attitude and commitment to the students that really put them above many others. Another "teacher" of sorts is the career services individual for the boot camp. Her job is to make sure that each student after they have completed the stacks is them ready and prepared to take their new skills to market. She makes sure that students understand and can produce resumes, cover letters, introduction letters, negotiation tactics, a stellar linkedin and other such important things. This was one of the first times that I have gone through something like this and it really does put your mind at ease and give you a direction that you need to follow in order to land that first job.

I really can not say enough good things about the program and I look forward to poutting my new skills to work doing something that I love.

To start, I will say that no matter which coding bootcamp you take, it will not be easy finding a job (unless the boot camp offers placement post grad). When I was looking at coding boot camps, it seemed like it would be "easier" to get a job because you will have a lot more projects than a regular grad student. This is not true. Yes, it will be nice to have projects but that does not give you an upper hand. However, even though it will be difficult and a struggle, it is not impossible. Additionally, for your first job, it will most likely not be the high salary job you're expecting, unless you have prior experience. In search for my first job I applied to everything including non paying internships just so I can get the experience. 

What makes Coding Dojo different from other places is that they teach 3 full stacks where most boot camps only teach JavaScript. This can either work in your favor or against you. In my opinion, I would look at the languages all boot camps offer, research the kind of jobs you want and then choose what is the best option for you. During the boot camp, I would feel like I'm at a good place with one stack but then the other stack would start and I would be back in the beginning. Because you're doing the same type of applications in each stack, it gets very easy to feel unmotivated by the last stack. I personally was VERY burnt out by the end of my third stack. If I were to do it over, I still don't know if I would choose to learn 3 stacks (a little of each) or go to a boot camp that teaches one stack (possibly learn a lot about the one).

The curriculum in general is decent, there are endless things to know about developing but they do a pretty good job of covering enough that you will at least be familiar with most basic topics. If you really work hard and stay focused, you will learn a lot by the end of the boot camp. You will be able to create things you never knew you could and it will feel great. One suggestion I would make is to really pay attention to how and why things work. I focused so much on making things work that I wasn't very good at explaining it at the end. 

As far as the job assistance goes, I don't have the best experience because when I started the person in that role quit and I didn't get the full benefit of what they could offer. Someone started right after I finished just in time for my career services week and was it was helpful, but there is only one person for many students, so its still not as involved as you may want. Their career service is good for advice on your resume, salary negotiation, and general advice for looking for a job. Just like anything else, you get more use out of it if you continue to reach out and keep in touch. 

Another good thing about Coding Dojo is that they continue to support you as much as possible after you're done. If you need help and they have some free time, the instructors seem to be very open to helping you. I personally have received help from instructors months after I graduated and I really appreciated it. Not sure if other boot camps are like this but its definitely a pro.

Want to be a developer? Want to code? Love learning and challenges?  Not sure about algorithms? What if you have kids, job(s), outside commitments? How do you do a full bootcamp at 70 hours a week in-person?  I don't know!  I do know that Coding Dojo Online Bootcamp has supported this mom, to three young special needs kids, while living abroad, like family, to meet my goals of learning (how to write code, algorithms, Python, MEAN) and I've seen them support and challenge and work with so many other students with a wide background of education.  They all truly believe you can code and YOU can!  YOU will!  All the staff, instructors, career services, fellow students, and teaching assistants are super sharp people with a heart of wanting to see their student be successful. 

Coding Dojo has a FREE platform to do algorithms, critical to development, to support new folks... get passionate, get on and do them before you get into a program (http://algorithm.codingdojo.com/).  When you finish this, sign up for the new FREE algorithms class online (http://www.codingdojo.com/academy/algorithms-i) and meet and learn from teachers and current and past students.  I don't know any other program that offers so much free support. Whatever time and energy you have to pour into learning... it will be matched by other students, teachers, TA's.  

Maybe you're wondering...

• how do I manage my time - I spend every morning and evening online coding or doing algo's... I use the messaging system they have to get questions answered most hours or collorbarate with students and share code and algorithms.
• how much time do I have to put in to be successful? - This will depend on how much "distraction free" time you get.  If I were you, I would get started on algo's ASAP and then ask all the time for help when you get really stuck.  Get ahead by looking at the previous sessions video's to know what you're going to be taught for the upcoming lecture. Doing this allowed me to ask in live lecture about concepts being taught that were unclear to me during the previous sessions recorded lectures.  I also spend a lot of time on algorithms.
• but aren't algorithms optional? NO.  Yes, but no. I used to hate algorithms and fear them but no more. Dive in and you'll be met with really passionate teachers and TAs who will help you master these and rock your interviews!
• Career Services has options for folks in the online bootcamps through Zoom and I've gotten to hear from other graduates in industry and do a resume writing workshop.  I have chatted several times with career services, they're great and send out jobs frequently to graduates to consider.
• Not getting the help you need.  Email your teacher or admin and tell them what you need.  I have no doubt you'll be met with compassion and your team will work with you.

If you're deciding on whether or not to attend Coding Dojo, I would ask myself these questions.

How long have you prepared for this?

Will you be able to show up everyday, no exceptions?

Do you have realistic expectations?

 

How long have you prepared for this: If you want to achieve your highest potential for success, do not decide you want to learn how to code, and then sign up for a bootcamp 2-3 weeks later. You need to prepare. You need to utilize as much online learning as you can, until you feel confident enough in your skills. Coding Dojo is an intense program, and falling behind typically leaves you behind the entire course. That's a place you don't want to be. Prepare for atleast 6 months before you sign up, that way when you get there, you can work from ahead and even complete the optional assignments. This will give you the most bang for your buck because already understanding the fundamentals allows you to better comprehend the coursework, as well as learn more advanced topics that other in your cohort won't have time for!

Will you be able to show up everyday, no exceptions: If you're unprepared and you miss class you've wasted your money. Even if you limp all the way through the program, you won't have gained enough of an understanding of the material to be competitive in the job market. 

Do you have realistic expectations: Bootcamps do a good job at advertising. 14 weeks gets your 70k with a 99% job guarantee, except for that fact that they don't get you a job, lol. You have to do that yourself, and honestly right now bootcamps don't have that great of a reputation in the job market. Put yourself up against graduates with CS Master degrees, and Bachelors degrees which will be most of your competition. Your foundational knowledge that you gained at the bootcamp usually won't match up. I'm not saying don't look for a job, and i'm not saying you can't find one. Some people from my cohort already have jobs and we've been out about 3 weeks. I'm saying your expectations should be to learn, to learn how to keep learning, and to build. And if after all of that a job happens, take it as a bonus. 

Coding Dojo has been the best decision i've made in life to this point. It's not perfect. There are things that can be a lot better. They need more instructors. Some of the learning platform can be confusing. I wish they taught Java or PHP instead of Ruby. It definitely is a cash grab, but that's not to say that it's not worth it. If you ask yourself those three questions above, and then make the right action according to each one, you'll come out of the Dojo with a good understanding of how to code, some cool projects under your belt, the ability to keep learning(they even open up extra platforms when you graduate), a certification from the state that says you know what you're doing, a guide on how to jump into the job market(career week), and a real sense of accomplishment. I haven't looked for a job but I have already made money working on contracts. It's a skill that you'll start off not having and end up having. Take it serious, and it will benefit you. Highly recommend the Dojo. What up Matt! 

I stepped foot into the Dojo with several years of non-tech working experience, some very basic understanding of HTML/CSS.  I stepped out of the Dojo 14 weeks later with a solid understanding of Python, Ruby on Rails, Python, and much more (frameworks, libraries, servers, working within a terminal, etc),  but most importantly, I left the Dojo with the ability to pick up just about any language or framework tossed at me if given the opportunity.

I can honestly say I would have not been able pick up on the technologies I have mentioned above, within a 14 week span if it was not for Coding Dojo. Period.  With that being said, I will reiterate what some of the folks here have already mentioned...

This is absolutely, 100%, a program that you get out what you put in.  If you want to exit the Dojo with any type of traction in regards to landing a job as a developer within the first few months after graduation, you will have to work hard/long hours, weekends, and whatever else it takes for you to understand the concepts that are being taught.  It will be challenging, you will get frustrated, you will contemplate why you signed up for this; but I can assure you you will meet some like minded folks that will be there right there by your side, you will share aha! moments, you will learn from prior mistakes, you will become better by the day, and ultimately you will become a self sufficient developer.

Along with the above I will leave you with this.  The program is not perfect, nor should anyone expect it to be.  There is always room for improvement, and I have personally witnessed the continuous improvement over the months.  Whether it be additional content on the learning platform, layout of the facility, implementing career service activities throughout the course of your boot camp, etc. This will only get better and I am actually kind of jealous now that I think about it.

I would definitely recommend Coding Dojo.  I am grateful for the program, the instructors, and the cohort members that took the journey alongside me.  

I came into coding dojo with no programming experience. I was a university student who just wanted to learn how to code in python, and I didn't even know if I would like coding. However, Coding Dojo made me fall in love completely with programming and the skills I learned have opened me up to opportunities that most university students are unable to participate in. Coding Dojo is not easy. It will require long days (like 12-16 hour days) and a lot of effort to learn everything. They also intentionally leave some things out of the instruction to force you to learn how to learn on your own (like you will in the real world), they say that they don't just train you to become a programmer, they train you to be self sufficient. So basically, you'll get what you put in. 

The instructors are phenomenal and relatable, probably because some of them are previous students and have been through the rigourous course. While no one is forcing you to come into the dojo, watching my cohort push through tough assignments and working together really motivated me to perform at my best.One of the best features about attending a onsite bootcamp is the help and support you get from your cohort. You push and pull each other all the way through. Which I loved and was used to from my prior military service, it was almost like having a battle buddy. They are basically the only reputable coding school that takes the GI Bill, and they know how to migrate through  VA benefits, which means less stress on you.

 You really get exposed to a good cross section of web development however, I cannot understate the time commitment that is expected. The pace was grueling, but I somehow found myself waking up every morning re-energized and excited to learn new things and interact with my classmates and the instructors who are genuine and actually fun to be around. Soon, I will be graduating and will have learned three full stacks, developed the ability to self-learn new languages, and made life-long friends.

I defenitly would reccomend Coding Dojo to anyone that would like to dive into the programming world, it might be rough getting used to the different learning structure but it is defenitly worth it.

It's difficult to write a review Coding Dojo without also reviewing Coding Bootcamps in general. So I will try include both my "review" of Bootcamps in general and then also my review of Coding Dojo relative to other Bootcamp options.

Bootcamps in general:

One piece of advice I feel morally obligated to include as a warning to anyone looking at Bootcamps: do not assume that once you finish the Bootcamp employers will lining up begging to hire you. In fact, expect the exact opposite. Once you complete the Bootcamp you are going to have to scratch, claw, and fight your way to an entry level position. So as I write this review, I just want anyone considering Coding Dojo or Bootcamps in general to be completely sober and realistic about what this is going to be. Throughout the Bootcamp you are going to work harder then you’ve ever worked before. Your brain is going to absorbing and learning enormous amounts of new information. You will be frustrated at times as you spend long long hours looking in front of a glowing computer screen. Then once you finish you will have at the incredibly sense of accomplishment, but at the same time that sense of accomplishment will be mixed with a feeling of: “oh crap now I actually gotta convince someone to hire me.” And it will be DIFFICULT for every 100 resumes you send out you’ll get like maybe 1 response. My advice is that you are going to have to aim LOW. Junior level, intern, total entry level, hell you might have to consider unpaid internship because I’m telling you it is not easy to get someone to hire you a brand as new Bootcamp grad with no formal professional experience. That first job is going to be HARD to get, but the major value in the first job won’t be the pay it will be experience that your gaining.

Still interested? If so, here’s pros and cons of Coding Dojo specifically:

I think one of the main benefits that Coding Dojo offers is that it is one of the cheaper options out there (no small thing). I know a lot of other Bootcamps that were much more expensive. Other than price, one of the unique things about Coding Dojo is that they take you through 3 stacks. By far, this is one of the most distinctive characteristics of Coding Dojo compared to other Bootcamps. And there are benefits and drawbacks to this. The benefits are that you have a wider range of skills. This makes you eligible for a wider range of jobs. You don’t have to limit your search to purely one stack. The drawback is that while you have a wider range of stacks to draw from you haven’t had as much time in each one. In some ways you might feel like your just starting to get the hang of something (say Angular) and then boom time to move on to the next stack! So your skills will be wider, but that might mean that they’ll be a little more shallow as well. Towards the end you may want to start specializing and focuzing on getting good at that one thig, The other benefit about the Dojo is that they don’t kick you out the door the minute your done. They have solid career services and let you do a Residency program after your done. This can be helpful. Other than that, Dojo is as good as any program it's really about what you put into it. What you put in is what your get out.  

I had a college degree and 2 years of work experience in technical sales before going to Coding Dojo to make a career change. 

I was extremely impressed with Coding Dojo. They had a good online learning suite as well as good instructors. I was also very impressed with my classmates, as they were all dedicated and wanted to work hard and learn. 

Coding Dojo is not easy. It will require long days and a lot of effort to learn everything in so short a time. They also intentionally leave some things out of the instruction to force you to learn how to learn on your own (like you will in the real world). 

You'll get out of it what you put in. There is a career advisor that helps you with your resume, interviewing, etc, but a job isn't going to just land in your lap. There were some companies that came to codign dojo specifically looking for people to hire, but not so many that everyone gets hired by them. I didn't have too hard a time finding interviews since a lot of recruiters reached out to me on linkedin, but I did have to do a lot of work on my own to prepare for interviews and get my resume and linkedin profiles to look good. They are there to help you, but you need to be proactive about it. Overall they did a good job and I did end up with a job that I'm really happy with. I would definitely recommend coding dojo. 

Coding Dojo provides you with the tools to go from 0 to qualified Full Stack Developer; PERIOD. I am not going to bore you with the details as many here have gone into details about their own experience. Yes, I invested 60+ hours per week. Yes, the material was highly challenging. Click here if you want that story. Two important points to highlight that blew me away:

1. At the conclusion of the program, I was able to attend the career readiness week at the DC location, which was within a reasonable drive for me. This comprehensive program prepared me for the rigors of the actual job hunt. It made a huge difference in confidently approaching the job marketplace.
2. When I logged into the platform a few months after completing the program a decent amount of material was completely different. I cannot emphasize how important this is as they are updating the content to ensure bootcampers are learning skills and tools that are being used professionally. Compare that to some CS programs at colleges that haven’t changed their curriculum in more than 5 years and you see why that is a big deal. Many employers are seeing the value and versatility of hiring people that attended a solid coding bootcamp such as Coding Dojo.

Please keep in mind that you will not know everything when you complete the bootcamp AND THAT IS OKAY. Coding Dojo gets you to the front door of the job marketplace and prepares you to be an effective Junior Full Stack Developer. Employers are looking for (and hiring) Coding Dojo graduates. I had my first offer within 3 weeks of completing the bootcamp. My experience is not abnormal for those that put in the work. You 100% get out of it what you put into it. I would recommend investing time learning some programming basics before coming to Coding Dojo. No need to spend thousands of dollars to find out that you hate it. If you truly want to get a solid foundation and start a new career as a full stack developer then invest in yourself and attend Coding Dojo.

Joining Coding Dojo was one of the best decisions of my life. I can't say enough great things about it.

I walked into the onsite boot camp with no more than vague recollections of an "Introduction to Computer Science" course I took in high school over 20 years ago, and I have now been working as a full-stack developer for 6 months...and I LOVE it!

Shameless promotion of my alma mater, aside, here's the stuff you're probably looking for if you're reading these reviews:

Q: Is a boot camp right for you?
A: That really depends on you. I found it extremely helpful to be a semi-structured learning environment that kept me focused on the task at hand. Could I have learned the basics of three stacks on my own? Probably, but it would have taken me a lot longer than 14 weeks.

Q: Here's a question that I get often: Can I get anything out of it if I attend 40 hours a week?
A: My short answer is: probably not. I took it to the extreme and easily spent at least 80+ hours a week there (sometimes 100+) and I loved every minute of it. Remember, (for most of you) you're trying to pick up skills that will launch you into a career as a software developer...in 14 weeks. That's not a lot of time, folks. 3.5 months is over before you know it and, trust me, the more you put into it during your time at the Dojo, the gladder you will be when it comes time to start looking for your first position in your new career.

Q: Which segues nicely into the next question: Does Coding Dojo help you get a job after you graduate?
A: Coding Dojo does have advisors dedicated to helping you launch your new career as a developer. They help you build your resume and online presence, counsel and prepare you mentally for the job search process (Imposter Syndrome can be a big one) and put you in touch with prospective employers. They do so much more than that, and if you're really interested, I recommend getting in touch with your local branch and scheduling a tour. In the end, though, it all comes down to how much work you put into it during the program and how much you work you put into it during the job search. (Seeing a trend yet?)

Q: Okay, I'm sold. I want to join a boot camp, but why should I choose Coding Dojo over the other ones?
A: I can't speak to any of the other boot camps from personal experience, but I visited another boot camp in the area and spoken to some of their graduates and I am rather confident I made the right choice. If you're looking for a practical, hands-on way to learn how to program, I found Coding Dojo to be very effective. It's not a substitute for a Computer Science degree, but in 14 short weeks (and trust me, it's over before you know it), it can be a pathway to get your foot in the door of one of the most exciting and lucrative industries for the foreseeable future. The instructors are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The platform is designed to give you lots of hands-on experience, gradually introducing new concepts as you build on your foundations. The course is designed in such a way for you to become a self-reliant developer, able to solve problems on your own, but the instructors are there to provide assistance if you truly get stuck. Finally, I hadn't realized it at the time, but the algorithms that Coding Dojo builds into their morning routine can be a game changer both during and after the course. Not a lot of boot camps focus on them as much which can be a hindrance during the interview process.

Bottomline: If you're willing to put the work into it, Coding Dojo's onsite boot camp is an amazing program that will provide you with the tools you need to create an opportunity for yourself to work in software development. But learning how to program isn't easy and you have to really want it. Or better still, if you're really lucky, love it.

I came into coding dojo with no programming experience. I am a current university student who just wanted to learn how to code in python, and I didn't even know if I would like coding. However, Coding Dojo made me fall in love completely with programming and the skills I learned have opened me up to opportunities that most university students are unable to participate in.

The instructors are phenomenal and the experience is really yours to create. While no one is forcing you to come into the dojo, watching my cohort push through tough assignments and working together really motivated me to perform at my best. The onsite bootcamp is fantastic for getting help and being taught from experienced coders and for using your cohort as a support group.

I came out of coding dojo confident in my coding skills and more marketable when looking for summer internships in a wide variety of industries -- not just tech!

I highly recommend coding dojo to anyone who wants to learn how to code and is hungry for knowledge. The environment and the people make it the incredible program that it is.

Everyone says it and that's because it is so true; you get out of Coding Dojo what you put into it. I began the program with little coding background but decided I wanted to make a major change. I'm use to school coming fairly easily to me but that was not the case at the Dojo. Long hours and hard work are required. Daily algorithms and challenges check for understanding and the pace is very fast. There were several times when I really considered throwing in the towel but fortunately my cohort, instructors, and career advisor were incredibly supportive and convinced me to continue. I learned a ton during my time at the Dojo and got support when I needed it. I received a job offer prior to graduating so I did not have the chance to go through Career Week but have heard it was fantastic from my classmates. The platform did have some areas that needed attention but this is something that was being worked on. If you are serious about wanting to learn computer programming and willing to put in the time, I would definitely recommend Coding Dojo.  

Out of all the bootcamps in the area, I decided to go with Coding Dojo and I definitely made the right desicion. Unlike most, the curriculum trained you on 3 stacks and (if you put in the due dilligence) you come out with a portfolio in hand. The project-oriented coursework helped accelerate my learning and all the instructors were both helpful and know the materials by heart.

If you are looking for a bootcamp with a great value, network, and personnels - Coding Dojo is it.

My stacks(Frameworks): Python(Django/Flask) / MEAN (Angular 2+) / Java (Spring Boot)

To me, the most important thing to know about Coding Dojo, and perhaps any bootcamp or training program out there, is that you're only going to get out as much as you put in. Coding Dojo places a large emphasis on not just training people who can code, but people who can learn to code in any language they desire. They like to say that they don't train just programmers, they train self sufficient programmers. 

A big tennant of the program is the idea of "Strength through struggle" - meaning that often times, if you're stuck on something, they want you to spend 20 minutes trying to find a solution online, then 20 mintues working with your fellow students before going to your instructor. That doesn't mean they won't help, I've seen the instructors sit down for half an hour or more to help solve especially difficult or uncommon problems. They care, and they will help you whenever you need it, but they are also trying to prepare you for the day that you're on your own, a deadline looming, and for some reason your AWS instance keeps coming up 404 when you try to deploy the site you've been developing for the last month. 

They also place a large emphasis on learning the foundations of programming. This is why they take you through three full tech stacks over the course of three months. Not because you can actually become an expert in three stacks in three months, but becauseby learning three stacks from top to bottom in three months, you walk away with an understanding of programming concepts that range from simple conditionals and iteratives, to Object Oriented Programming and Database Management (SQL and NOSQL). 

Additionally, they run you through a 14 week Algorithm program to teach the basics of Computer Science and data structures. This also served as a great time to work with your cohort-mates and build relationships that will last beyond the dojo, when you're all graduated and you find support in the people you went through the program with.

At the end of my program, I participated in the month long residency designed to help make the transition from student to job-hunting developer. It's been great for helping me re-tool my resume, get a sense of what employers look for in cover letters, and how to best take advantage of my personal network, and how to effectively utilize online sites like Linkedin and AngelList. The only drawback was that the career counselor who was there for most of my time, left after the first week of residency to begin her new job. Obviously not ideal, but the majority of my residency was spent finalizing projects and getting them into my portfolio, so aside from the week dedicated to job hunting, I don't know how much of a difference it makes that our career counselor left before it was over.

I want to re-iterate what I said at the beginning, that you will get out of this what you put in. I put in something like 70 hours a week combined between time at the dojo and time coding at home. Most of my weekends were spent coding. I walked away with confidence in my ability to learn any programming language or related skill that will be asked of me in the future, a solid sense of Computer Science fundamentals, and a belief that I can find a successful career in this field. 

I decided to attend Coding Dojo for two reason: the people and the variety of technologies I would learn. A coding bootcamp is a huge time commitment and I wanted to learn in an environment where I enjoyed the people around me. I attended open houses and a Saturday workshop to get a feel for the environment, the people and the teaching style. There are a lot of good boot camps available and I believe that a large part of success is not finding the best, but finding the best personal fit for you.

Trying to learn three stacks in 14 weeks is a daunting task, and I knew that I would not have the same depth of knowledge as someone who may have spent that same amount of time focused on one technology. However, I saw several advantages to this approach. By learning several technologies I was also learning how to learn and use other new technologies in the future. It also gave me a chance to work under several frameworks with different advantages and disadvantages in order to better understand how and where to apply the technologies I was learning. With these skills I knew that I could always continue to grow my knowledge base as time went on and continue to improve myself.

The Coding Dojo was a place that transformed my career and I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested in learning how to code. That said, it is a lot of hard work, and requires a lot of preparation to be truly successful. Remember that this isn’t a traditional school and it doesn’t function like one. The onus is on the student to drive motivation and success. Be proactive in your learning, be curious and ask questions, don’t be afraid to fail.