DigitalCrafts

I just graduated from DigitalCrafts about a week ago. While I have taken classes on and off, I have no college degree, and have worked in the restaurant industry for around five years. I wanted to do something more with my life and after some free online classes, programming seemed like a great direction. I was tired of taking college classes that didn't interest me just for required credits, so after doing some research, a bootcamp looked like a great alternative.

Looking at the website and during the application process, I came in thinking I would be learning a lot of python, since I had taught myself some and found it interesting. During an interview with the team, they mentioned python is just used to introduce some core programming concepts. We spent two weeks in python, then moved to javascript the remainder of the bootcamp. This is a web development course, so make sure that is what you are interested in.

I also took the comptuer science elective course, which I think was very important knowledge to know in general, but not super applicable to writing code in javascript. After graduation, you could be getting a job writing in languages other than javascript so having the computer science knowledge will be a good start.

DigitalCrafts was a great experience all around. My instructor, Chris Aquino, is not only extremely knowledgable about the material, but is a wonderful teacher, which can be more important at times. The student services and operations teams were always there to make sure I was productive and comfortable, and constantly giving me opportunities to connect more with the coding community and potential employers. I feel extremely confident about finding a job that I can create a career out of.

DigitalCrafts was a great experience for me overall. I was a true beginner when it came to coding and computer science, I started coding about 2-3 months before the first day of class. Those 2-3 months I felt like I had learned a solid amount through self teaching, but it was absolutely nothing compared to the amount of knowledge I have gained through this four month course. Paul who was the teacher for our cohort did a fantastic job and is very knowledgable in all of the topics covered and more and there wasn't a single problem that I had that he could not solve. That is where I believe the value of the class truly lies. When you are trying to self teach yourself coding (especially if you're a true beginner), then you will inevitably run into many problems and get stuck often. While you could try for hours to push through the problems, sometimes you just won't be able to figure out the problem. Having someone who can clearly explain to you what the problem and solution is really does help a lot and I feel like that was very beneficial to accelerate the learning process. Also, having a structured course outline that covers many of the skills that are in demand in the job market was great too, as I would have been pretty lost trying to learn these topics on my own and may have take well over a year to do it on my own. I think DigitalCrafts is an exceptional school and in my opinion the best investment I have made in my life up to this point and I am feeling great about what the future holds for me with my newly gained skills.

After years as an academic, I decided it was time for a career change. So in September 2017, I began DigitalCrafts 16 week full stack immersive bootcamp in Houston, TX. By any measure, I was an absolute beginner when I started the program. Nevertheless, DigitalCrafts comprehensive curriculum, excellent instructor (Paul Bailey), and top-notch job-support team provided everything I needed to gain the necessary skills to land a full time job as a JavaScript/Node.js developer before the course ended.

If you're considering enrolling in a coding bootcamp. Look no further than DigitalCrafts.

This was a great program from the admissions process to the instructor, to my peers, as well as career support. DigitalCrafts is an upfront organization that clearly sets your expectations of what you're getting in to from the get go, lots of hard work, and an intense curriculum, but a very experienced and knowledgeable instructor (Paul was amazing) that has your back. There is no job guaranteed at the end, but Jake, Max, Katy and Jason will be there to support you in your job hunt. 

Some advice: The class is intense. There will be days, maybe weeks, where nothing will make sense. Keep cracking at the exercises and learn to use google and stackoverflow effectively. Do all the pre-work! If you have no coding experience try Free Code Camp even if you are planning on enrolling. If you have programming interests outside of the curriculum now is the time to pursue them; take advantage of the instructor's knowledge to help you overcome those inevitable obstacles. Be open to feedback, as DC is certainly open to yours. They want to see you succeed! 

I'm three weeks in to what feels to be a great job after a roller coaster of a hunt, and couldn't be happier. I'm obviously still learning, but the foundation of skills DC has taught me has already been immediately applicable to my job and allowed me to begin contributing from week one. 

As someone who was in the middle of getting a CS degree, I decided to take the leap and join DigitalCrafts to jump-start my development career. At first, I was a bit wary of taking the leap and putting my degree progression on hold, however after finishing the program I can happily say it was a move I do not regret at all. The amount you learn in the 16 weeks is almost incompressible, but the way everything is arranged makes the flow of learning very smooth. Everyone there is ready and willing to help and Chris, our instructor, was great. Made the material fun and gave us enough freedom to learn the way we wanted to. Very few things in life can change your life for the positive in just 4 months, If me, 4-months ago, saw me, now, I wouldn't believe the things I know to do. If anyone is even interested, I would say schedule a walk around the campus with DigitalCrafts and see for your self. It is an experience I am more than happy have taken. Also, the Atlanta Tech Villiage is a great area to have school, the environment feels great and you really get a vibe for the start-up industry.

DigitalCrafts' has exceeded my expectations, I couldn't have asked for a better coding bootcamp experience. As a true beginner, the amount of knowledge that I have aquired over the past 16 weeks is astounding. It has allowed me to secure a full-time job as a Software Developer before graduation. So far, 50% of my cohort has secured jobs before Demo Day! 

I chose DC due to their local, down-to-earth business model. The founders, Jake and Max, are very involved in the day to day. This lends a more personal feel to the program, and after 16 weeks, everyone here feels like family. In addition, the school is located at Atlanta Tech Village, which provides a great environment for learning and networking. 

In regards to the curriculum, the only thing that I didn't enjoy was Python. This is strictly due to a lack of interest in learning how to code in that language. However, the CS elective uses Python for coding algorithims, so the skill did end up being handy. I am front-end JavaScript focused, and this program provided more than enough opportunity to sharpen my skills.

Choosing a software development program is a very involved decision, but the team at DC makes it easy. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, and a program that will be highly involved, DigitalCrafts would be perfect for you. You get out what you put in, so work hard and have fun!

I had no idea what to expect when I began my experience at DigitalCrafts. I was ensure wether I would enjoy coding, the people, and the experience. Now four months later, I am so thankful and happy I got to have this experience. I have been shocked with the amount of information I have learned in such a short time. Moreover, the friendships and memories I have made will be with me for a long time. Anyone who is considering going to DigitalCrafts should apply ASAP because it is sure to be an experience you won't forget. 

As testimonials go, I'd like to share how I came to this juncture and the helpful hints I learned along the way. Before I commited to DigitalCrafts, I researched dozens of coding bootcamps. My reccomendation is for you to do the same. Pick up the phone and call them. That's was the beginning of my relationship with DigitalCrafts. From there, I met to discuss my goals and reservations. DigitalCrafts answered candidly and supportively. I was actually interested in attending a earlier cohort but reached a mutual understanding that the cohort I ended up joining was the best financial decision for me. 

Another huge decision was the location. The Atlanta Tech Village is the fourth largest tech hub in the country and constantly connecting students with the heart of tech culture and opportunties in Atlanta. It's a creative space for entreprenuers and business to come together to create amazing things. Rooftop louges, nap rooms, a gym, free coffee and beer certainly don't hurt either! 

If you're like me, that's not why you're paying for the in-person experience though. You benefit from lecture, one on one explanations and working on teams to achieve ambitious goals. Hands down, this has been my favorite part of my DigitalCrafts experience. You will come to appreciate the vast amounts of knowledge you have to learn from your instructor and may be surprised to discover what you can learn from your peers as well.

I didn't give DigitalCrafts exclusively 5 stars because there is always room for improvement. Knowing the team as well as I do, this speaks to their core values and philsophy. It's Mom-and-Pop style bootcamp experience. The key to doing well in this or any bootcamp is understanding that you get out of the experience what you put into it. DigitalCrafts can't magically turn you into a software engineer but they can give you every necessary tool and instruction needed to become one. 

If you decide you're interested and get accepted, I can't emphasize enough how imperative the prelimenary course-work is. Do not make the mistake of blowing these assignments off. They are necessary preparation and a good indicator of what you can expect in the first weeks of the course. When you're in the thick of it, remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. If you're up for the challenge, DigitalCrafts may be for you! 

As my bootcamp is winding down after an intensive 16 weeks I'm beginning to realize how much I am going to miss DigitalCrafts. It has been one of the most fun and beneficial experiences of my life. Never have I been forced to learn so much in such a short period of time. Our instructor has been incredible. I am constantly amazed at his ability to teach us complicated subjects as well as help us troubleshoot our own projects. He is hands down one of the most patient people I have ever met. He was always willing to take as much time as needed to help you figure out a problem. 

DigitalCrafts dedicates time to help you make a portfolio and get it polished to send to employers. Their job placement assistance has been very helpful and I'm extremely grateful for the help they've given. It is currently a week before graduation and 5 of my classmates have received offers already. 

I'm extremely pleased with my decisions to attend DigitalCrafts!

Enrolling in DigitalCrafts is without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made. I would recommend it to anyone thinking about pursuing a career in web development.  It was a great experience and without a doubt an unforgettable one.

Some of the benefits:

The instructor, Rob, is amazing. He's a great guy. He's engaging and I found class to be a very enjoyable experience. He's not only a great programmer but a great teacher, and he's very good at making concepts easy to grasp with comparisons and memorable explanations. He has experience going all the way back to the dawn of the Internet, which not only makes him extremely knowledgeable, but also makes him great at putting things in perspective and giving you context. He's also very passionate about his role as an instructor and puts 110% into it. He genuinely cares about the success of each of his students and makes himself available to answer any questions outside of class or even after the end of the course. He's one of the best teachers I've ever had in any learning environment.

Having met Chris. I can say that he seems like an incredible teacher as well. He is very passionate, enthusiastic, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. His students speak very highly of him. I would have been happy to have him as my instructor as well.

The program itself is also incredible in that it covers full-stack web development rather than any particular specialization. This was one of the main things that drew me to DigitalCrafts in the first place. You'll get an understanding of back-end and front-end, and one of the great strengths is that the course does a great job of covering the fundamentals rather than specifc technologies, so by the end of the course you'll feel like you can do anything. In addition to the standard curriculum, many students took it a step further and explored other technologies, such as mobile development or really any sort of language or concept that we didn't cover in class. One of the great things about this program that is not often mentioned is that Rob is an expert in basically everything. So whatever you want to learn while you're enrolled, you can go ahead and do it with guidance from Rob that is essentially on the same level as the instruction would be getting about the standard topics during class. Once you graduate, you'll have all the tools to keep learning whatever your interest draws you towards.

The career support is great. You will not only learn full-stack web development, but you'll be prepared to go out and make a seamless transition into the job search. This includes building your own website to function as a portfolio, guidance in building your LinkedIn and GitHub, resume guidance and critiques, a mock interview, and a career support packet that will guide you through the process.

The staff is also great. They are all wonderful, talented people and I enjoyed getting to know all of them. Their personalities make for a very welcoming, positive, and supportive environment.

The location at the Atlanta Tech Village is awesome. It's great to be share a building with people who code 24/7. I found it to be a very motivating environment while starting off on my coding journey.

Overall, I cannot recommend this program enough. I have a hard time thinking of any negatives. It's almost too good to be true, but it's the real deal. If you really want to get into web development and are considering a coding bootcamp, don't overthink it. You won't regret it.