Concordia Bootcamps Reviews
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Noam Shalev Verified via GitHub
Definitely the Right Decision
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Decode was definitely the right choice for me. I do think that it's possible to teach yourself coding and get a job so Decode is not your only option if the money is a deterrence. For me though, I knew that I needed a supportive environment and a structured path to get me where I needed to be. Decode was definitely this and seeing as I got a job within 2 months and really enjoyed my time, was worth the money to me.
I gave the course 5 stars not because it's perfect, there is always room for improvement, but because Jacques, the instructor, knows this. He was always very curious as to whether we liked what he was teaching and the tools he was using to do so, and that's probably one of the most important qualities in an instructor. I think this course is only going to keep iimproving as he gets feedback.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this course if you're looking for a career change!
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Stephanie Saretsky Verified via GitHub
Worth Every Penny!
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Decode was by far the best choice I've made in my life thus far. Jacques is an amazing instructor, and all of the TCs were super helpful. It will be one of the most challenging things that you will ever do. I learned a lot about myself personally and professionally during the 8 weeks, but it was 100% worth it ! They also care to keep mentoring you once the bootcamp is over, something I didn't know when I applied but I really appreciated afterwards.
I found a job after 1 1/2 months and would recommened this course to everyone!
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Denis Irkhin Verified via LinkedIn
Change career made me Happy
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I'm very new in Canada. In the middle of 2018 me and wife understood that we are going to live in Montreal for real. We have been waiting for 6 years of that moment in the immigration process. All my life I worked in accounting. That was a chance to restart my career. It was a bit scary moment to restart from zero but on the other hand it opens some new bright perspectives.
I had a dream to be a coder. I implemented a lot of software during accounting career and always envy developers who could create and improve that software. So my choice was defined.
Even before arriving in Montreal I started to search for a way to become a developer in Quebec. A university - long and very expensive. Cegeps - 2 years and the quality couldn't be good. I need something intense with job opportunity just after. A codecamp. It's a revolutionary way to get into a profession especially with high demand domain like software development. I believe that's the future of modern educational system.
I arrived at Montreal in November 2018. I visited all three most famous codecamps in the city and their final project presentations. I compared their programmes. The price I found almost the same. Those were my arguments for DecodeMTL:
1. People.
Kevin and Jaques are serious and very reliable persons. I talked to them personally and understand them clearly.
2. Modern stack.
React and Nodejs are the most popular and trendy in modern web development. No php and jquery - old stuff. Just what I needed.
3. Entering test.
That showed that You have to be committed and motivated to start with DecodeMTL.
I applied at the end of November and passed entering challenge at the beginning of December. I was astonished when Kevin told me that next cohort starts at January is already full. I had nothing than to beg and convince him to take me on. Fortunately, he did.
From day one of the the codecamp I had feeling that I'm in the exact right place to study how to code. People in the cohort were awesome. We communicated a lot, shared our previous experience and brainstormed challenges.
First month was a bit unexpected for those of us who had absolutely no experience in web development. But Jacques assured us many times that we need just continue to do our work to keep progressing. Here I highly recommend for those who have no idea about HTML and CSS just go to youtube and find the best crash course about before You start DecodeMTL.
But anyways as Jaques said at the end of first month everyone of us was pretty confident about basics of JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
Second month we dived into React. In less than a month we made huge progress from zero in React to redux state management.
Jacques is amazing professor. He found a way to explain very advanced topics in simple way. He worked for Google and that fact makes You trust him from day one which is very important. But not least. As You know him better he start to like him more and more. Jacques communicated with us in very cosy and friendly way. We discuss a lot with him during our lunches. Jacques found the best way to communicate with each of us. Jacques has very thin sense of humor and use it in appropriate moment. My picture of Jacques was like this: somewhere in between weird geek with crazy ideas and smart uncle who knows how the world works.
Our general day was divided into two parts. First part is for learning something new with Jaques and second part is practicing that new by doing small projects with the help of teaching assistants(TA). We were lucky to have Scott, Richard, Cristian and magic Josh. Each of them is super nice person. They explained to us many nuances of code. It's very important and makes a huge difference between codecamp and online course when You have an opportunity to show your code and ask a question at any moment. Especially when You stacked. They shared with us real experience from there jobs and assured us that we will become at least middle devs in one year or so.
Unfortunately, the course war 8 weeks only for us and I envy new decoders who have 12 weeks long.
At the end of the course we made two full-stack projects in teams. Final project we presented on special event with HR from many Montreal companies. Our team Konrad, Jonathan and me created a site www.movielists.ca. We used git and profited real teamwork techniques during the projects. It was an amazing experience.
Next week was devoted to job search technique under Kevin management. Kevin has profound understanding of labour market: the needs of most companies in Montreal. Kevin took care of everyone of us and his goal is that we all get jobs. Kevin knows a lot of people in Montreal and many people know Kevin well. Decoders are profiting that situation. After DecodeMTL You are part of alumni and can reach everyone from there just by slack him/her. Those people work for many companies and can present You to their companies.
Personally, I felt like I was in big family for those 8 weeks.
After one month after I finished DecodeMTL I was presented by Elisa - another DecodeMTL graduated to a big international company and got the job after two week of entering process.
I want to say to DecodeMTL team again: Thank You So Very Much!
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Alex Lacroix Verified via LinkedIn
Best decision I've ever made
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It took me a while before finally taking the jump and applying to Decode; even though it had been personally recommended to me, I just wasn't sure if I was ready not only for the time commitment but also the investment. I went for it and I have absolutely no regrets; in fact I miss it and wish it had gone longer! It was a rollercoaster and you go through all of the ups and downs with your fellow classmates, and everyone is there to support each other.
By week 1, I didn't know what I was doing. By week 4, I didn't know how in the world anyone would want to hire me. But you gotta keep going and by week 7 and 8, working on the final projects, the confidence i had was day and night compared to the very beginning and that was only during the course of two months.
Jacques, the instructor, and the TAs are amazing, really care and are there to help you, even when you feel like the dumbest person in the room sometimes. It is hard work and you have to give it your all, you have to be there both physically and mentally. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.
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Natasha Sirois Verified via GitHub
Life changing experience!
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My journey with Concordia Bootcamps was amazing! I was skeptical at the beginning because I couldn’t imagine being able to code after only 8 weeks especially considering the fact that I never coded before. The pre-bootcamp preparation proposed was very helpful and I managed to pass the admission test quite easily. I felt confident with my basic knowledge of JavaScript at this point but I still had a lot to learn.
8 weeks later, 3 colleagues and myself managed to build a mobile app using React Native. We were all surprised by the incredible evolution we went through.
Then the job searching process began and believe it or not, after only 2 weeks and a half, I had two job offers on the table. I accepted an amazing offer, better than I could’ve imagined when I started all this, better than the conditions I had working as a Senior Digital Marketing Specialist! I will be forever grateful to Concordia Bootcamps for giving me a better life. As a new mom, I didn’t think I could still change my career path and I was happy to be proven wrong. I discovered a field I’m passionate about, I met amazing people and I evolved as a person.
Thank you so much!
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Elisa Matteo Verified via LinkedIn
Wonderful Life Changing Experience
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I decided to join DecodeMTL because I wanted to change careers. I come from the food industry and was worried at first that this dramatic change would be too difficult. However, the minute I started the bootcamp, all my fears immediately dissipated. Right away I felt like I was in good hands. Jacques is an amazing instructor who cares about his students and their learning progress. We were also very lucky to have a fantastic TA. But what is especially great about DecodeMTL is that they really care about your success after the bootcamp is over. Kevin goes above and beyond to help you with your job hunt and you really feel like DecodeMTL is not just a money maker but really a community of people who help and support each other.
If you’re looking to become a web developer, I highly recommend DecodeMTL. I landed a great job with amazing working conditions after the bootcamp. It’s hard work and you need to be 100% committed, but it’s worth it.
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Youssef Makhoul Verified via GitHub
Best decision I made
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I was really hesitant to apply for the boot camp, as a software developer myself, having more that 10 years of experience in .NET and C++, I never worked in developing full-stack web application using JavaScript, but as this skill was highly in demand, I took the decision to do it anyways.
during the boot camp I was amazed by the quality and quantity of the information you learn in such a small time, I learnt a lot of new things that give me the skills and the confidence to apply for any job.
As soon as I finished the boot camp and did my final project presentation, I got three interviews with the companies' recruiters who attended the last hiring event, was able to get three offers and chose the best one.
In summary, Decodemtl was a great combination of education, networking, good people and a very good recruiting agency.
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Vicky Bouie Verified via LinkedIn
DecodeMTL review
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So i started the bootcamp in October 2018 and i can honestly say it was one of the best desicions i have ever made! When i started this bootcamp, I had no experience in computer science whatsover, apart from doing a few small online courses on HTML and CSS.It is really intense but i feel like it covers everything in order to prepare you for a job. After the 8 weeks of intense coding, i got a job(with good benefits and good pay) in less than two weeks! So i can definetly say that it was worth it! Jacques explains everything really well, and him and Jordan were extremely helpful anytime i have a question, i was NEVER shy to ask a question, no matter how stupid it was sometimes (lol). Also, Kevin really helps with the Job Assistance, he really cares and always checks up on you to make sure you are on the right track to get interviews. Overall i would definitely recommend this bootcamp!!
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Tom Verified via GitHub
A Sound Investment
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Decode provided a comprehensive bootcamp in becoming a web developer, with an emphasis on fundamentals and continuous learning. Additionally, Decode provided the necessary knowledge and tools in starting a career as either a front-end, back-end, or fullstack developer using JavaScript and/or Node.js, along with understanding and using a framework (React) and other tools.
Overall, the instruction was great and the teaching assistants were for the most part excellent. I feel that more topics could have been covered in the course, but then again topics you could cover for web development are virtually endless, and the material had to fit into 8 weeks.
Great experience, and well worth my while.
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Caroline Song Verified via LinkedIn
New life!
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When I first got the idea of doing a coding boot camp, I felt like it was a huge risk. And truthfully, it can be! I quit my perfectly fine job and enrolled in Decode because I wanted to make a fast change.
It's really crazy what you can do in just 8 weeks. If you're bored by your current job, industry, whatever - and want to make a super quick change into a computer science career, this is the program for you. If your end goal is to get a programming job ASAP, Decode is the right stack - they teach you the latest technologies in demand, unlike other boot camps in Montreal.
The boot camp is an intensive, condensed program with all the useful parts of a university computer science degree, and then some. A CS bachelor's degree to Decode's boot camp is like university to technical college.
Now, about the course itself. The first 2 weeks are the toughest, as this is when your body and mind struggle with the fact that you're probably going to be at school for 10 hours every day. It really does require full spiritual and physical commitment, but this also means that almost every person in your cohort is 100% motivated and ready to learn, so it's a really awesome environment to be in.
During my cohort, we could've used a little more academic support - a couple more TAs would've been nice. Also, I do wish that a few more technologies were covered, but we have given feedback on this subject for future cohorts. There is after-grad support in terms of job search help. And also academic assistance, if you ask for it. But ultimately, the power is in your hands so be resourceful!
It's been just under 2 weeks and I have a job offer. I'm super happy that I experienced Decode and would recommend it to anyone looking to get into software development today!
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Matthieu Verified via LinkedIn
The career pivot that went beyond my expectation
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Honnestly before doing the bootcamp I wasn't sure what I should expect from it, either some more technical knowledge on my resume which would have been valuable (for a career Web- related) or enough skills / confidence / pleasure to start a new career.
That was the later. 120%.
The curriculum (React / Vanilla JS / Node ) where we solely focused on Javascript was one of the reason I choose this bootcamp over the other ones in MTL. Why ? because I trully believe it offered me the best mix of current job opportunities / future market perspectives / quick prototyping stack for side projects. I was not disappointed at all
The staff. Jacques (the main teacher) and the TA (teaching assistants) were really a great help and support navigating through all the new concept you need to learn. They are all very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching. They made several adhoc workshop based on our questions / interests (Redux / Jest / Enzyme etc). Kevin and Natasha were really helpful in the post bootcamp job search. They do their best to connect you to the right employer.Of course it's demanding and you have to be fully dedicated to it. Not only through the courses, but also in doing the workshop at home/over the week end. As I see it, the bootcamp provides you all the tool and support to achieve what you want (aka for me was pivoting in my career), how much you get out of it depends mostly on you.
That being said one of the key takeaway from this bootcamp for me was the pleasure I had doing it. Being in a class where all the students were fully dedicated to learn, 100%, was creating a really inspiring atmsophere. Plus with all the different backgrounds, I felt and still feel we're part of a community. (I wear the Decode Tshirt at work :) )
After that, I found a job in 1 month, and had even the privilege to choose among several offers.
My biggest fear before the bootcamp was about my technical level, not being sure I would be ready enough and maybe thinking that Decode would try to fill in the class despite the basic knowledge needed. No body wants to spend X thousand $ for something not appropriate.
Trust Decode and their interview preparation process, they're looking more into your logic than in a formal lvl of technical knowledge. At the end what is important to them is what makes a difference for you - aka finding a new job because that's their selling point. No jobs - No bootcamp. If they believe you have what it takes, be confident.
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Tim Verified via GitHubWell worth the investment
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Decode is the perfect fit for anyone looking to get a job as a junior web developer. Everything about the course is relevant and practical.
When it came to job applications, Kevin was outstanding in coaching me through the process. He is extremely well connected in Montreal and which is a huge advantage for decode students. I was fortunate enough to land a job a few weeks after graduating.
To make the most of your experience, I would strongly suggest you follow many of the free/paid tutorials online and build some basic applications before attending.
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Sadnan Verified via GitHubLearn by doing
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DecodeMtl does exactly what it promises. It is a high intensity bootcamp, where they will provide all the necessary tools and resources for you to come out as a competent web developer. They provide you with great instructors, resources and teaches you by making you write lots and lots of code. I am a software engineering student and had a fair bit of coding experience before joining the bootcamp (not in JavaScript though). So naturally, at first I was worried if this course was too basic for me but on our first meeting Kevin had assured me that I would be challenged. They kept their word. I got to learn a lot in a very short span of time. If I had to teach myself all this through online resources, it would have taken at least a couple years more. They also focus on the latest technologies which traditional schools or universities don't in my experience. While you won't learn about time and space complexity of algorithms and data structures, instead you will learn relevant practical coding skills needed to build actual deployable products. I certainly came out as a programmer with a lot more confidence in my coding abilities regardless of the language I am working with. After you graduate, they provide a lot of assistance to you for landing a job. I personally had to go back to school but Kevin assured me I could come back whenever I was looking for a job in the field. My only criticism would be, I thought the bootcamp was a week to short. As you really learn the most and the fastest near the end. Also the TAs stay up to 6 everyday, sometimes till 9. It would be even better if they stayed till 9 more often but then again no one wants to stay in office that late :p. My final advice would be, if you do decide to do this, understand that it is a huge time commitment and expect to stay late into the night. While Decode does their part, it is upto you to grind out the results. You got to do your part to get the best results. 10/10 would recommend. -
Eddy Drew Verified via GitHubRelevant and Effective
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I had a solid experience with Decode despite having very little programming experience. The stacks that were taught are extremely relevant in my opinion. I landed a job as a Wordpress developer after graduating, and with my experience in sales and management, I feel comfortable leading a team of developers.
Pros:
-Intense and gruelling; best way to learn
-Project-based (you're writing code all the time and producing original applications)
-Job placement services: it shows that Decode puts their money where their mouth is
Cons:
-Not enough TA's (although this forces you to be more independent and figure things out on your own)
My two sense: this coding bootcamp works best for people who have strong fundamentals in programming and who want to find a job as a junior web developer. If you're thinking about enrolling, my suggestion is to spend at least 3-6 months learning to code on your own in Javascript and get comfortable with it. This way you won't feel like you are punching above your weight. Fortunately Decode offers a free bootcamp prep course that you can finish in that time.
Good luck!
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Armel-Styuart Chiza Verified via GitHubGreat experience.
Good experience. A high value was taken from only 8 weeks of the Bootcamp. Good assistance, and job application support. Great location and overall coding vibes.
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Paul Verified via GitHubBig promises, actually delivered.
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I was skeptical about bootcamps in general. Comp sci students take a minimum of three years to be ready to apply for software development jobs.
However, the 8 week program really gave me enough practical knowledge to be able to do well in the position I'm in now (funded, high-growth startup). To my own surprise, I passed the technical interview "with flying colours". Most comp sci graduates finish school with really good theoretical knowledge of how to build algorithms and the like. That's really interesting knowledge, but most jobs don't require too much of this type of skill. They require knowledge of modern libraries and methodologies, all of which I learned through Decode.
So, if you already have a university degree (like I did), don't go back to school. Do a bootcamp. If you're in Montreal, do Decode. They've been around the longest, and the Kevin/Ziad combo probably know more people recruiting software developers than anyone else in the bootcamp business in Montreal. This part is really important for organizing a proper demo day (I found my current gig there).
I also want to give a shout-out to the post bootcamp job assistance. The support doesn't end after 8 weeks. They do mock interviews (both technical and culture fit), they help review your CV, and put you in touch with a bunch of different recruitors. It's surprising how much this can help out in your career change.
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Eric Verified via GitHub⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, would decode again
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TL;DR - Before Decode, I had no experience with coding. 10 weeks later, I had a job.
If you're considering DecodeMTL, I would highly recommend it. There is seemingly endless ways of learning web-development, but for me Decode made the most sense.
Decode is an intense two months, but if you throw yourself into it, you will be in a good position to succeed afterwards.
Everyday, you have tutorials for several hours in the morning, and then the rest is spent on workshops that build off that material. The projects that you end up doing are fun and portfolio worthy. We built everything from a weather app, to a reddit clone.
One of the things I most appreciated about it was the fact that we as students, had 1-on-1 teacher access for about 11 hours everyday, and they never hesitated to answer your questions via slack outside of school hours. They won't straight up tell you how to solve your problems, but they will help steer you towards figuring it out on your own and will always make sure you understand why you got the result you did.
The final Demo-day was a unique experience. This is a very cool part of the course. You end up presenting your work to a room full of potential employers, and it was through this I met the company I now work for.
They don't just kick you out the door at the end of the 8 weeks. The next week - if you want it - is for helping you with the job search. They do mock interviews both regular and technical, and help you currate your portfolio, resume, and linked in.
If you want a program that asks a lot of you, but gives you a lot in return, Decode is it. From the top down, they genuinely care about you succeeding, and if you put in the effort, you will.
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Andrew Verified via GitHubAwesome Bootcamp!
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My experience at DecodeMTL was extremely rewarding. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to launch their career in web development, regardless of your background. The class size is small and very dynamic. You will learn a lot and work a lot - expect to spend your days and evenings there. If you are looking for an easy pass into learning how to code, this is definitely not it. Decode will teach you everything you need to know, and have a really good support system with the TA's, but they will not hold your hand. They will make sure you are really understanding what you are doing and why you are doing it. The more work and focus you put in, the more reward you will get out of it.
I would recommend going into the program with as much javascript knowledge as possible. This will greatly assist with the learning curve and will allow you to understand the more difficult concepts much quicker. I would recommend doing the Decode prep course, as well as an extra month or two of hard study, prior to starting the bootcamp - you will get much more out of the program.
The quality of instruction is really good. Ziad and the TA's do a really great job of simplifying complicated topics. Ziad loves what he does and really wants his students to understand and succeed.
If you're disciplined and driven, you will thrive at Decode. Clear your schedule for 8 weeks and make the most of it.
10/10 recommend.
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Max Epifanov
Intensive and challenging but ultimately satisfying
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I completed a full-time Data Science bootcamp with Concordia, graduating in December 2023. The course is intensive and covers a lot of material in a short time, but if you put in the effort, you’ll definitely learn a lot. Pros: Numerous workshops throughout the course to practice newly acquired skills, plus very friendly and helpful instructors. The career services afterward were also quite good. Cons: The bootcamp is a bit pricey in my opinion, and the course notes could be improved. -
Ali Afkhami
One of my best decisions
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Being an immigrant, securing a decent job without a Canadian university degree is a real challenge. I consider myself fortunate to have discovered this bootcamp, as it opened doors for me to enter the field of data science. It's undoubtedly demanding and rigorous, necessitating long hours of study, but the rewards are well worth the time and effort invested. Moreover, the support from the bootcamp team post-graduation was exceptional. I want to express my special gratitude to Kevin Khoury and my career coach Penny Mancuso-Kaplan for their invaluable assistance throughout this journey. -
Fahad Bakkar
Depending on circumstances.
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Very informative, helps with getting familiar with the technical languages. It is intensive but everything is taught a satisfying level. Although I wished they taught sql too since it used more often. If you're someone who doesn't have any background knowledge in coding then it can be tough and after you finish, it is still kind of hard to get a job as you are someone with no background, if I were to go back in time, as someone who didn't have any background in coding I would have done an A.E.C program. If you are someone with background in coding then this is definitely the option as you save time and get a diploma from a prestigious university. -
Ross Muccio
In-Depth Bootcamp Review
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HOW THE BOOTCAMP WORKS
In the full time version, you study Monday to Friday, with about 8 hrs of class/instructor help per day. You start with short lesson, somewhere between 1 to 3 hrs of lecture. You are then assigned a workshop which is usually due before the beginning of the next class. There are also a few major projects to complete. While projects are assigned, workshops are not assigned. So at any given time, you are expected to be doing either workshops or projects, but not both. You only need to complete each workshop to 75% to pass. Unfortunately, there is usually a huge learning curve to overcome if you want to complete the last 25% of each workshop. Each workshop has additional stretch goals, which are not graded but are challenges which will help you become a better developer. So if you only complete 75% of each workshop, you will be missing out on SO MANY opportunities to learn skills that will make you a more competent developer. Skills that you paid good money to learn. On the plus side, once the bootcamp is done, you still have all your workshops on your GitHub account. So you can go back and complete them after the bootcamp if you want. But you should understand that, unless you have significant past programming experience, you will spend nearly every waking moment studying. You will give up your entire weekends. You will do nothing but code for the duration of the bootcamp. And even then, you will probably not achieve a 100% completion rate on your workshops.
In the part-time version, you have class/instructor help on Tuesdays (6:30 to 10pm), Thursdays (6:30 to 10pm), and Sundays (10am to 5pm). The workshops are due before the next class after which they were assigned. Instead of being 3 months long, the part-time version is 8 months long (because of things like Christmas break, March break, and statutory holidays).
Once you complete the program, you are given career assistance for 6 months. A career counselor helps you make a resume, a LinkedIn profile, etc. They also help you with mock interviews, filling your resume/applications with keywords, etc. You also get invited to online job fairs and speed interviews, where you get some face time with employers. I was eventually hired by a company through one of these job fairs. Most of my friends from the bootcamp were too.
MY EXPERIENCE
I was almost totally green when joining the bootcamp. I had done some very basic HTML and CSS in some online courses, and the simplest Javascript. Like document.querySelector() type stuff. At first I joined the full-time bootcamp. It was WAY too fast-paced. I think I would have passed, and my instructors told me that I was one of the stronger students. But I took this encouragement with a grain of salt. Because even though the instructors are for the most part kind people, their paychecks depend on people sticking with the program, whether they pass or not. Additionally, if I had stayed in the full time program, there would have been so many missed opportunities for learning, because I simply did not have the time to complete my workshops to 100%, nor did I have the time to accomplish any stretch goals. You have ten days to quit the bootcamp and get all your money back except for your $500 deposit, which you lose. So I quit and took the $500 loss.
I then joined the part-time bootcamp, and worked part time while I studied. The bootcamp coordinators say that the part time version is made for people with full time jobs. But let me tell you from experience, as someone who has a bachelors degree and knows how to grind, that you are much better off working part time and doing the part time program. This will let you actually take the time to get the most out of the program. There were students in my cohort that had full time jobs, some of whom even had past programming experience. They tended to not do very well. Most of them passed, but some didn't. When I started the part-time program, we had 46 students in the class. By the time we finished, there were only 26 of us left. This means that close to half of us flunked out, and lost somewhere between $500 and $11,500. So if you can make it work it financially, I strongly recommend that you take the 8 month part-time version, and only work part-time while you do it. This way you can maximize your chances of passing, and also maximize the amount of learning you do while completing the program.
Now that I have given you fair warning to take this program seriously or risk a major financial loss, I want you to know that I am glad I completed this bootcamp. It was VERY challenging, but the rewards are great for those who make it. I feel like a pretty competent Javascript-based developer, even though I'm a fresh graduate. If you manage to complete most workshops to 100% or close, and manage to do your projects well, by the end of the bootcamp you will be able to confidently build full-stack web applications using the MERN stack. You will also be in a better position to learn new technologies. The instructors were good about helping me find the answers to most of my questions, and I learned A LOT. In eight months of part-time studies, I went from being barely able to put a basic webpage together, to building full-stack web applications that actually worked well. If you put the work in, you will RAPIDLY grow as a developer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE BOOTCAMP
One of the reasons I chose this program, is because you actually get a diploma. While the diploma is from the Concordia University's Centre for Continuing Education (and not from Concordia University itself), it sill qualifies as a Diploma program for tax purposes. This means that you get a T2202A for the money you spend on the program, which will give you some tax credits when you file for that year. This helps take some of the sting out of the cost of the program. When I was looking for a coding bootcamp, this was the only bootcamp which offered this. And they made good on their promise. I got my diploma and my T2202A, and I did get a substantial tax rebate.
The other reason I chose this bootcamp, was their emphasis on learning the React.js framework. React.js is a very useful frontend Javascript framework to know. It is a powerful framework, and at the time of me writing this, lots of companies use it. Check some job descriptions on LinkedIn or Indeed to see for yourself.
One thing that I really did not like, was that the database management software we learned was MongoDB. It's pretty rare for companies to use object-oriented database management software like MongoDB. The first thing I did after graduating from the program, was to start learning PostgreSQL. PostgreSQL is a relational database management software. And this type is MUCH more common in the marketplace. Luckily, learning PostgreSQL helped me to land my first developer job right as my career services was about to end.
I found the career services to be helpful. My resume has never looked better. My interview skills have never been stronger. And I did eventually find a job, although I had to relocate to Quebec to get my foot in the door. This is something you should understand. The bootcamp is in Montreal. Most of their corporate partners are in Montreal. Even though many tech jobs are remote, junior developers are often expected to go into the office. So if you absolutely will not relocate to Quebec, and you don't care about getting a diploma or the tax breaks that getting one entails, then you may want to consider a bootcamp a little closer to home.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I learned A LOT through this bootcamp. When you graduate, you will still only be at the level of a green, junior developer. But you will have the skills you need to integrate into a new workplace as a junior developer. You will also have the skills to build and deploy websites. In short: you will still be a newbie, but you will know how to code some seriously cool stuff into existence.
If you treat the bootcamp like it will be one of the hardest things you ever do, allocate the appropriate time to it, and work really hard, you have a good chance of finding success by completing it. This bootcamp is like so many other things in life which bring reward: they are risky. There is no reward that one can earn without risk, and this bootcamp is no exception. It is hard. It is risky. And if you make it, you will be in a much better position to enter the web development field. But as a junior developer, you will still probably have to settle at first, for a job that isn't exactly what you want. This is the honest truth. I hope that by sharing my experience, I help empower you to make the right choice for you. -
Janette
changed my life
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When they say the course is intense, they are not kidding around. I do wish they were a bit more organized and cohesive between the instructors but over all the experience helped me to grow as a person and I did learn a LOT of new information.
However, I would have to say that the best part for me was definitely the career services after the program had ended. I worked with a woman named Penny and she really made me feel supported and heard. She went above and beyond to make sure that I was able to find a job that I really like and get access to the companies that I deserved to connect with. Penny rules. -
Rahin
BlueBird Tech Sales
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My overall experience was amazing and I would highly recommend the course to anyone interested in tech, likes to help people and is ready for a challenge. A change in a career takes a lot of work and determination. The Bluebird team is really there to guide you and help you with a life-changing experience. Everyone is so friendly and supportive!
Instructors: My instructor Scott Tower was an amazing teacher. He was open and understanding. He went above and beyond with great actionable support. He really helped in any way he could to land a tech sales role.
Curriculum: The class was quite a fun challenge but really prepared me to 100% jump into a tech sales role and be successful. It was always very interesting and Scott always answered everyone's questions and dug deep into the material.
Job Assistance: Having a career coach is a huge difference maker, between regular post-secondary and Bluebird. My career coach Penny Mancuso helped me stay on track and build up my weaknesses. She was open, kind, supported and helped me gain a new perspective on job hunting. I had an awesome experience doing interview prep and would recommend her to anyone trying to land a role. -
Amelia H
Hard but worth it!
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Prior to this course, I had never written a single line of code. I think most people in this course would definitely agree that the course is hard! It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. However, it was well worth it. The instructors are incredibly supportive and if you're giving your best, they are with you every step of the way. While it was a lot of work I could see myself learning and building on previous skills. What I ended doing for my final project was something that me on day one would have never believed.
Finally, the job coaches are fantastic. My coach helped me prepare for interviews, how to make my linked-in more attractive, told me off(gently) when I doubted myself, and all-around was a great support for a time that is known to be stressful. The career week was helpful in understanding the jobs I was looking for, and was a nice introduction into the industry. I would recommend! -
Jide O.
Incredible Challenge
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The bootcamp was quite intense. Since I did the full-time option, it really was 10-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week of hard work. By the end of the third week, you get used to sitting in front of your computer screen solving hard (real-life) problems. Luckily, you also get incredible support from the instructors who will try to help you figure things out when you get stuck (and not give the answers away). So, despite the spartan schedule, it was actually fun. It wasn’t hard, and I felt like everything was within reach.
Pros:The curriculum covers most major machine learning techniques so you get to work on a lot of relevant projects throughout your course. You make friends along the way - as people are just in the same boat as you are, figuring things out together makes you a sort of "band of brothers".Your determination is tested immensely and if you match up to it, you will absolutely make headway.The lectures had so much knowledge and information, and instructors were frequently available to clarify things during the workshops.Your programming skills are sharpened in a relatively short time
This program was really worth the investment in myself as the value that students get from it is pretty astounding in terms of the content. However, it works well if you work at it. There's only so much the instructors can do by way of information, you are required to solve the problems yourself.
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Charlotte
Data Science Bootcamps
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It was the best decision I could take!
It is really intense and as long as you work hard you got this. I did the Data Science Bootcamps, I learnt so much about Data Science while I was a complete beginner didn't know much about code. We see Python, visualization, algorithm, regression, clustering, classification, time series, SQL, predictive modelling. We can work together on workshop and we have group project. The instructors were awesome, tried to explained and break down complex things.
The coach and technical coach are awesome and really help with your resume, your cover letter, your LinkedIn profil, trained you to passed interview. -
Ned Marafawi
Best Bootcamp Experience :)
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Before the bootcamp I did a little of bit of HTML, CSS and JavaScript but never went too deep. I think learning the basics is very important. Otherwise, you will struggle a lot. Now, the structure of the workshops, the projects and all the instructors are all absolutely gold and so well organized. Plus, once you graduate the carrier service and the events is something that I've never experienced before. They really take care of you and help you till the end. It is totally worth the money as long you take it serious and remember to ask questions if you don't understand something. Don't be shy! -
Maxime Cloutier
Great Bootcamp!
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I really liked the Concordia Bootcamp. From the instructors to the other students I've met, the workshops, the projects, and the coaching and support, it was a great experience. The online formula was handled well so even though it was remote, I didn't feel alone. I also found a very well-paid job with amazing benefits 1 month after graduating from the course, so I consider that it was a great investment. -
Tantely Rabefarihy
changing life experience
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Before attending the Concordia Bootcamp, I was a beginner with little experience in coding. The curriculum was good as it reflects the current industry tech stack. The instructor, Harris, was great and knowledgeable but also the instructors assisting you along the adventure. The career part after the bootcamp was also, good. I was supported and given great advices from professionals. They helped me to improve my interview skills. I found a job after 5 months.
Advice: study on programming Fundamentals before the bootcamp will help a lot. -
Heather
100% worth it!
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I'm so happy I decided to take this bootcamp! It was an intense 12 weeks and we learned so much. But I always felt supported by the TCs and fellow students. After the bootcamp they have dedicated career coaches (Joelle was amazing!) that give you a ton of support throughout the process of job searching. After graduation they held a virtual Job Fair with 20 different companies. I was offered a full time position within 3 weeks of graduation from one of the companies at the job fair! I honestly can't imagine a better bootcamp. I 100% recommend it to anyone looking to learn web development. -
Winnie
Concordia Web Dev
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Coming in with very little experience in coding, I was nervous to start and a bit skeptical about how much I would learn after completing the bootcamp. However, if you look at my ratings ⬆, it evidently turned out pretty well!
Since I was working while studying, the part-time stream fit my schedule perfectly. The curriculum was well-structured and the topics covered were up to date. The instructor and TCs were helpful and friendly (thanks y'all). They always took the time to go over concepts that were confusing and offered a lot of useful advice. There were workshops that accompanied the weekly lectures so we were able to practice what we learnt. Near the end of the course, there was a group project and an individual project. Both of which were challenging, but I did learn a lot and had support when I needed it.
After completing the course, they offered career services. The coaches that were assigned to me were both very knowledge in their areas and helped to guide and reassure me throughout that process (thanks to you both). I had a very good experience overall and would recommend! -
Ivan Escalante
From Biochemistry to Web Development
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In 2019, I had decided that I wanted to do something better for myself and I had seen the Concordia Bootcamps show up in my feed a couple of times on Facebook until one day I checked out the website and found out the possibilities that could be waiting ahead for me. So at that moment I evaluated my budget and I was good to go.
From the moment I started the bootcamp, I had access to a multitude of resources and the only thing that could set me back was actually just me. Being part of the part-time cohort, it allowed me to keep my full-time job as well as reserving some time in the evening and weekend to code away. It had been a while since I was challenged to this point in my professional life and that is what I was longing for.
After graduating, I followed the advices from the career services and my career coach/ technical coach to improve my chances to secure a job. 2 months later, I was able to get my 1st developer job and I have never felt so accomplished since it took less than a year to achieve this goal that I had set up for myself which was to change careers!
I definitely would recommend this bootcamp to anyone that is serious and committed to go through the multiple hurdles that comes in a career change and you won't regret it! The instructors and technical coaches are very accessible as well as the career services in case we have questions or need help. My career coach also was invaluable to me as I was able to be accountable for my actions and the support was priceless.
The curriculum was well-organized and the logic to it made sense in how it develops you from the fundamentals in order to understand more complex ideas. In the end, everything becomes interconnected which helps to solidify your understanding and are able to work more independently. -
Gia Thinh Nguyen
I got a chance at a new career!
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I was initially skeptic at any chance of success jumping into a bootcamp, but after meeting the very dedicated staff there, I take it back. It was far more efficient to learn in this environment than taking any number of online courses, I received detailed feedback on my understanding of topics and my instructors were an amazing source of technical and career knowledge that no MOOC could offer (as far as I've seen). The tech stack is very relevant to the job market as of this review, and I believe in the program's aim to keep the curriculum as modern as possible. I was in the part-time cohort working full-time and time was not my friend. You have to put in the work in and out of the class to truly grasp the concepts and practice your newfound abilities as well as pursue your own interests in coding outside the scope of the course. Your peers are also a great source of learning and motivation. The careers services team delivered great webinars to keep you motivated and to help you prepare your mindset/profile for the jobs you'll be hunting for. We also received updates about the job market during the pandemic and post-graduation. I definitely recommend this route of if you have the determination and commitment to change careers! -
Mrwan
A challenging but rewarding experience
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The curriculum flow is well elaborated. You progress logically, build upon what you learned in the previous lessons and use it directly in workshops to properly assimilate what you learned. Be ready to devote a really big portion of your time to learning, especially if you're new to programming. I did not enlist as a total beginner, but I could see it to be extra demanding and overwhelming for one.
The instructors and teacher are very good at what they do. Tailored technical help is available at your fingertips whenever you feel stuck, albeit in a queue :P. This plays a big part when learning something new and demanding.
After graduating, it is not over. You are offered job support to help you ease your way into a developer position if desired. CV tailoring, mock interviews, building online presence: you can expect things of the like.
My only cons is the steep price for tuition. Though the quality was very good, I believe in my opinion the suggested price is very high.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed my experience and recommended it. Even more if it was a bit less expensive. -
Kolby
Above and beyond my expectations!
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I was nervous when I first started the Bootcamp, I had next to no knowledge of development (extremely minor html + css). The instructors (Josh + Scott) and Technical Coaches though help you every step of the way. Josh was amazing at delivering the content in such a way that made tricky subjects seem simple. The Technical Coaches (Bryce and Guillaume), would spend however long it took to help me understand a problem during the workshops. Even after hours they would send me documentation to help me further understand. The entire team was welcoming, and made me feel comfortable asking questions and reaching out, which was very important! After graduating, career services took over and we hit the ground running - touching up my resume, LinkedIn, advice for interviews, and weekly goals were set. I truly believe one of the biggest values from Concordia Bootcamps is the incredible Career Services that are offered. From start to finish, the entire team was there to help! -
Johnny
Highly recommended
I very much enjoyed my time in the Bootcamp. The workshops were practical and challenging. The instructor was very clear and highly knowledgeable. The technical coaches were always willing to help. Career services offers many useful webinars and resources. I was nervous about jumping into a new career after working many years in finance but I have no regrets. I highly recommend this Bootcamp! -
Paolo Drago
Concordia Bootcamps Review
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Bootcamp:
I took the Concordia Bootcamp Full-Stack Immersive course. I had zero prior coding experience and actually came from a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.. So yeah, no math, intensive sciences etc.. The bootcamp portion of the journey was very hard. But also extremely rewarding. We covered the fundamentals of Javascript and its most used libraries and frameworks (React, Node, Express and more). The teaching assistants that were provided were excellent and knowledgeable about the topic and material which made asking questions simple and helpful. I only which we covered relational databases (MySQL), instead of non-relational databases (MongoDB), however, the team at the bootcamp are very dynamic, so I would not be surprised if they have updated their curriculum or plan to:)!
Career Services:
I graduated right in the middle of the pandemic. Therefore, the job search was quite challenging, however, the career coach I had (Penny) was truly amazing. She helped me with applications and drastically changed my perceptions on the job search. I owe so much credit to her. We also receive a technical coach who are usually awesome at helping you with future projects and coding bugs. My technical coach was awesome, she helped me pick up/ learn new coding languages and libraries (MySQL).
All in all, this program would be a great place to learn the fundamentals of coding web applications. It's very challenging but fulfilling in the end. However, for those applying, the team at Concordia Bootcamps expects you to give 100% and they will offer all the support they can in return. You can't just lounge around during the course, you need to give it your best shot. I would recommend this program to anyone willing to work hard and have an open mind about the process!
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Charles
All expectations fulfilled
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Concordia bootcamps teaches you exactly what you need to know to be relevant in the growing software industry. At the beginning it can be hard to think but at the end it's amazing how much you can learn in 3 months. Take the course was the best decision of my life. I've made so many connections that I won't forget. Scott and the Tc's are amazing and I can't thank them enough. For the career stuff Natasha in incredible. I learn a lot of things that I won't forget. Unfortunately, I started the Bootcamp on campus but COVID-19 happened so we finished the course online. Personally, doing it online was smooth like if I was in class. -
Alla
I loved it!
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When I started the Bootcamp, I had zero coding experience. I didn’t really know what to expect but wanted to give it a try anyway.
I really loved Wakata, the platform I used to get ready for the course. It helped me understand how to read code as a computer would. This tool also gave me the fundamentals I needed; I don’t know how it is even possible to learn to code without it.
I also had a great teacher (*Jacques, you are the best! Thank you for everything!*), and I loved our TCs (*Micah, Richard, Michael, I already miss you guys!*) :)
Everyone was very patient and did their best to explain everything to us. It wasn’t only coding support but also a psychological one.
During the Bootcamp, I had tons of homework and I didn't have a single minute for myself at all, which was very difficult to handle at the time but I am very grateful now that the curriculum was this demanding!
I finished the program on December 16th, and 7 weeks later received a very good job offer which I accepted. *Thank you Natasha for your help!* :) I was also well accompanied by my career coach who gave me precious tips as to how to change my CV and LinkedIn. She also helped me find jobs which were a good fit for me. (*Thank you Rachel!!*)
Overall, I had a great experience. I am just very sad that Jacques left Concordia but am very happy I studied there while he was still the Head of Education. I am still using the tools he created (Wakaread and Wakarithm) because I believe they can actually make me a better developer.
