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Orange County Code School is closed
This school is now closed. Although Orange County Code School is no longer accepting students or running its program, you can still see historical information and Orange County Code School alumni reviews on the school page.
Orange County Code School is a 12-week immersive coding bootcamp in Orange County, CA. OCCS includes 540 hours of hands-on coding and instructors with 15+ years of industry experience. There are no pre-requisites or coding experience required for admission. Classes cover JavaScript, Node.js React, Redux, Angular, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, HTML5, and CSS3. Coursework focuses on industry best practices and collaboration workflow, and includes guest speakers from the largest local technology companies. Students receive ongoing job assistance including skill building, and hiring/networking workshops and events. Students are also given the opportunity to connect with peers in alumni activities after completion of the bootcamp.
Ron is incredibly experienced in code, the internet, and computers in general. He will impart a respectable amount of knowledge to you provided you show interest and put in effort.
Ron will drill best practices into you that seem overkill but are absolutely vital for code maintainability (I learned this on my first day in my dev c...
Ron is incredibly experienced in code, the internet, and computers in general. He will impart a respectable amount of knowledge to you provided you show interest and put in effort.
Ron will drill best practices into you that seem overkill but are absolutely vital for code maintainability (I learned this on my first day in my dev career).
Ron has a broad network, and likewise wants to broaden your network as well. I was encouraged to meet people in the software industry, and I did: I spent hours every day messaging professionals and absorbing culture through coffee meetings and interviews
Mike is astonishingly dedicated to the success of each student. He checked in with me daily, kept me on track and remained encouraging when the job search became discouraging.
I met with a lot of people for coffee: CTOs, Sr Developers, Lead Developers & Directors of Engineering. I wanted to speak with anyone that looked like they were well informed and setting the standard for hiring because they could be hiring me.
I put in a LOT of applications: 10/day every week-day, 3 linked-in connections per application, I crawled Indeed, LinkedIn, Angel.co, everything, even Googled local companies and sent resumes to people not searching. I have never worked so hard for a job in my life, but it paid off in the end.
I searched for two months, it was difficult and intimidating and the bar is definitely set high to hire, just be aware that Ron really has engrained in you /best/ practices, and that will make you a skilled dev on the team that eventually does hire you.
I learned a lot, I dedicated myself to learning more, and I was not bashful about asking Ron for extra-advice, which was typically given to me in sarcastic witty retorts that pointed me in the right direction. As such I landed a Lead Developer position for my first software-development job. If you work hard for it, you can really make this experience worthwhile
I'm doing so much more than just JS now, in fact, I'm predominantly working with PHP. Ron taught me how to understand a language through researching documentation and through that I learned how to work with new (or old) tech bravely and effectively.
I came into the course after almost a year of drifting through free online courses and a few JavaScript books. I was familiar with a lot of the basics, especially HTML and CSS, but hadn't been able to put it all together or push through that beginner level. Programming as a career was a big change for me, and I was both excited and nervous about actually making the leap.
Ron starts his curriculum fast right out of the gate. He knows that there is more to learn than can possibly f...
I came into the course after almost a year of drifting through free online courses and a few JavaScript books. I was familiar with a lot of the basics, especially HTML and CSS, but hadn't been able to put it all together or push through that beginner level. Programming as a career was a big change for me, and I was both excited and nervous about actually making the leap.
Ron starts his curriculum fast right out of the gate. He knows that there is more to learn than can possibly fit into 12 weeks, so there is no time to waste, or to coddle egos. Some of it was review for me, and if I could go back and give myself any advice, it would be to take those moments to deepen my understanding or move forward. It takes more than just coming to class and putting in the hours. One needs to be driven to make the most of the class time and outside of class time. There is definitely a balance that each person will have to find between school and life, and between coasting and burning out. Find that balance.
There is a lot to be gained just from the practice of sitting in front of the computer 8 hours a day and using the various pieces of software (the same software you will be using in the professional world). The terminal, the editor, chrome dev tools, git(hub), etc. The particulars of which exact tool you use are not important, don't get hung up on that (Atom/vsCode, bash/zsh/iterm). Just use them, learn them, if you can't figure it out, look it up.
Learn to research independently, if you don't already know how. Ron will tell you what the best sources of knowledge are. Listen to him and then learn to use them. Don't copy and paste code. If for no other reason than the fact that writing it over and over again will help you learn it, help you become familiar with the syntax and rhythm of the language.
These are just the few of the lessons that I took from the class. Lessons that continue to serve me professionally. Attending this course is a big decision, and I worked hard to make sure I wasn't wasting time, mine or Ron's. I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about getting into this industry and willing to work as hard as they can to make it happen.
My personal experience:
I am recent graduate of the 4th cohort, but my background details are not likely what you care most about. (There are plenty of other reviews with folks and their backgrounds/accomplishments if desired) You are considering embarking on an incredible journey into Software Development and have questions like: How much and what will I be learning from this school? Will I be able to get job? Is this school imaginary and a bunch of bots trying ...
My personal experience:
I am recent graduate of the 4th cohort, but my background details are not likely what you care most about. (There are plenty of other reviews with folks and their backgrounds/accomplishments if desired) You are considering embarking on an incredible journey into Software Development and have questions like: How much and what will I be learning from this school? Will I be able to get job? Is this school imaginary and a bunch of bots trying to fool me?
I have decided to keep this post short and sweet in order to help you best understand the OCCS experience: what the school will and will not offer you.
What the school will offer you:
Ron Perriss: A Javascript Wizard
There is really no doubt that Ron knows his Javascript and has an impressive background. The best part about this is that Ron really gives detailed breakdowns of all the considerations when you have a problem or a proposed solution you are thinking about. There is not always a defined/singular path to accomplishing goals with code, and Ron is excellent about making sure his students understand how to attack problems in a variety of ways and the pros/cons of various approaches. He is great about trying to impart a holistic sense of how to think and reason about problems, which is a key part of becoming a Software Developer. (a.k.a A Problem Solver)
A knowledge of "Best Practices" and Coding Culture
I am sure there are some quotes floating around the internet like : "The small things ARE the big things". Well it's true. You will learn code to tackle your projects, but Ron will also let you know how your projects/Github look like in the eyes of a experience Software Developer/Hiring Manager. (e.g. Code cleanliness and style, commit history and wireframing, tackling issues methodically)
This section would almost seem like "common sense" if all these learned lessons were typed out, but having Ron's perspective and experience as you work and make mistakes (you are going to mess up at least once) proves to be invaluable.
Exposure to the industry and potential employers with a proudly owned portfolio of projects
When you leave this school, you will have 2-3 projects under your belt which is no small feat considering the time frame. You will also get a chance to interact with hiring managers (Ron is extremely well connected) during demo nights and present your projects to them.
Job Assistance
Ron and Michael really do care about the students and their success after the course. They will make calls, walk into offices, setup meetings and introductions, and do whatever else is in their power to assist. (They can't force employers to hire students unfortunately) What do you have to do? Just make an effort to keep in touch and keep at the process. There is really no magic bullet to finding a job, but if you heed their job search advice and keep working with the school then probability will be on your side. (You will succeed and find a job)
An Alumni network and camaraderie
OCCS's network is large and it keeps getting bigger and better. OCCS hosts alumni events every week for students to return and learn additional skills and share their post-course experiences.
A diverse skillset of Full-Stack Javascript
First and foremost, Ron's goal is to teach you to understand core Javascript principles. If you can understand Javascript at a deep level, then many of the subsequent topics become much easier to handle.
That being said, this course still covers ALOT of material in a short time frame. (e.g. Someone could make a 3 month course on Angular alone) I really think there is a near 0% chance of a student completing the program and remarking: "I wish the OCCS curriculum had even more material". The course exercises will definitely help your grasp key concepts as you move along, and teach you how to accomplish practical tasks. (e.g. When learning Angular, we built a To-Do App by applying each lesson)
What the school will not offer you:
This section is probably the most important thing to read as a potential code school applicant in my opinion. I will not lie in this review, there were some people who dropped out of the 4th Cohort (some gracefully, some grudgingly) because the material/pace was tougher than expected.
I really do believe that OCCS can teach anyone to code, but how effective the teaching will be will also depend in some of the principles below.
Curiosity/Eagerness to Learn
Ron will definitely teach you how to code, how to learn to code, how to read documentation, and so forth. Software Development however is a very "deep" field, and there will always be the opportunity for the student to learn more of their own volition.(e.g. I wonder how that method works instead of this one....let me go and try it out to get a better idea)
Doing the bare minimum to complete the exercises might get you through the course, but it could create additional difficulties when tackling projects, lower the quality of your projects, and be detrimental to how much knowledge you build in the long run.
Reading comprehension, knowledge application, and questioning your understanding of things. (Study habits)
You are going to be coding alot. "All Code. All Day" is more of a fact than a slogan to sound impressive. So of course, you can expect to be reading plenty of material to go along with that. Many of the exercises for example will reference a material (specific link to documentation, book, code sample, etc.) that teaches you plenty enough to tackle the exercise, which you will be expected to read and then apply.
For an example, take a look at the first 2 chapters at : http://eloquentjavascript.net/. (Ignore the exercises, this site is not a requirement of OCCS) While the material you get during the course will be much easier to read through than the EJS site, it will also definitely end up being tougher to read at times.
There is no way around having to read and test what you learned (e.g. right away in a browser/code editor) as you proceed through the course, and having a mindset that incorporates thoughts along the lines of the following will be critical:
Motivation and Willpower
Coding is tough. You will get stuck and hit a wall. You will feel frustrated. The monkey in your mind may begin hurling feces at you as you begin to wonder if you can really become a Software Developer. (hint: you definitely can and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome is real)
You will have the instructors and your colleagues for support, but you may have to dig deep at times to keep chipping away at problems and finding solutions.
Overall Summary: Becoming a Software Developer is incredible enough for reasons that you might already be hearing, which is why you are most likely reading this. OCCS is a fantastic school with a proven track record of success and being able to teach students how to code. Just remember that this is a coding bootcamp and is an intensive way to acquire this valuable skill, and it is not always the best path for everyone. (But if you have what it takes, I probably didn't dissuade you anyways :) )
I am a recent graduate of Orange County Code School. I attended the bootcamp that ran from Nov 2015 to Feb 2016. In 12 weeks I went from being someone who knew very little about coding to making full apps. Was it hard? Yeah sometimes. Did I ever feel lost? Of course. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!
Ron the instructor is very knowledgable and will teach you how to code. Other negative reviews you might read in here say he not a good instructor, but that is far from the truth. He's t...
I am a recent graduate of Orange County Code School. I attended the bootcamp that ran from Nov 2015 to Feb 2016. In 12 weeks I went from being someone who knew very little about coding to making full apps. Was it hard? Yeah sometimes. Did I ever feel lost? Of course. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!
Ron the instructor is very knowledgable and will teach you how to code. Other negative reviews you might read in here say he not a good instructor, but that is far from the truth. He's teaching you how to code so you can land a job and keep it. Take it from someone already working in the developer field, NO ONE WILL HOLD YOUR HAND AT YOUR JOB. You will have to figure things out on your own a lot. That is what Ron is also teaching you. All those negative reviews are students that just didn't understand that.
You will have to learn things on your own. The development field is always changing, and it will continue to change long after you're done at OCCS. Could you learn coding on your own? Possibly. What you won't learn on your own is what employers are looking for and what they expect from you as a developer. Trust me all the help OCCS gives you in getting ready to search for a job helps a lot. You don't go out there completely clueless.
If you're serious about learning to code and getting a job, OCCS is for you.
If you're reading this, then you are very possibly in a similar position to where I was not too long ago. You're interested in starting a career as a developer, and those 4 years and student loans at a university just don't seem worth it. You are probably also skeptical that these coding bootcamps are legit. I mean, it does seem pretty ludicrous that after just 3 months of hard work you could be starting out at a new job as a software developer. I was incredibly skeptical about...
If you're reading this, then you are very possibly in a similar position to where I was not too long ago. You're interested in starting a career as a developer, and those 4 years and student loans at a university just don't seem worth it. You are probably also skeptical that these coding bootcamps are legit. I mean, it does seem pretty ludicrous that after just 3 months of hard work you could be starting out at a new job as a software developer. I was incredibly skeptical about it as well, and I will say that I did a lot of shopping around and research before I was convinced that Orange County Code School was the most legit option, and my best bet at a successful career change.
You should absolutely research your options, and understand what you are getting into, but I should share what set OCCS apart from the other options for me.
All of the bootcamps I looked at (roughly 6 in the SoCal area) featured 3 month programs boasting high employment rates among their graduates. That's great! That's the goal, so any of these should work, right? Upon further research, I learned that some of these bootcamps are in the practice of hiring their own graduates as "tutors" for the next class, and so artificially inflating their statistics. That was both incredibly scummy, and a complete deal breaker. Any bootcamp that messes with it's statistics like that and lies to their applicants should be avoided. Before deciding to attend OCCS, I blatantly asked them if they ever hire any of their graduates, and they told me that they do not. Having now attended, I know all of the people involved at the Code School, and I know for a fact that they do not.
The next factor I looked at was curriculum. What am I going to learn? Is it going to be relevant technology? Or some language that is on its way out the door? If it is a solid technology, how well will I learn it? Most bootcamps I looked at have their curriculum up to date with market standards, but in my shopping, I noticed that some bootcamps teach a wider variety of languages. A bootcamp saying it will teach you 4 languages in 12 weeks... I did not believe for a second that I would come out of that truly fluent in any language. I am already looking and learning a great deal of information in a short amount of time, better to pick a widely-used and robust language, and become fluent in it. OCCS is a Javascript bootcamp, a language in vast demand, and rapidly growing.
A few factors that solidified my decision to go with OCCS were Ron's background in software development, and how selective they are with admission. At the time of my application, I believe they had a 5% acceptance rate, which, to me, only strengthened the legitimacy of their 100% hiring rate.
That's the summary of how I chose OCCS. More important than that is the actual course itself. I quit my accounting job because the bootcamp is a full-time undertaking. A goal of Ron's is to make the bootcamp itself similar to working as a software developer. You are there 5 days a week, about 8 hours a day. The course is structured with 2 weeks of skill acquisition, followed by 2 weeks of skill application. Essentially you spend two weeks learning different aspects, applications, or implementations of Javascript and the tools to go with it, and then you spend 2 weeks working on your own project, putting those concepts into form. Those 2 weeks project work are huge, because as much as you can learn from reading about something, or doing exercises on it, you will reach an entirely different level of understanding to it once you incorporate it into a project you built from scratch.
Ron proved to be an extremely knowledgeable resource, and he also brings in professionals from the field to come speak and answer questions. I will say that, even though I learned Javascript, HTML, Angular, Node, and several other skills in the bootcamp, the single most valuable skill I learned was the ability to break down a problem I know nothing about and solve it without asking someone else for help. Ron will push you to answer your own questions as much as possible, and this has proven to be invaluable in my position I am now in. Thanks to this skill, I am now primarily working in C#, a language completely different from what I learned in OCCS, and am constantly impressing my employers with my ability to tackle tasks I have no prior familiarity with.If you are looking for a career in development, a challenging job you love, and in getting a jumpstart in a new direction, then I can not recommend Orange County Code School highly enough. It is literally one of the best decisions I ever made, and it has changed my life.
Thank you Ron.
I drove 5 - 6 hours per day to attend OCCS. I spent over 19 days total sitting in my car, and drove over 11,000 miles in those 90 days. For 90 days I missed out on time spent with my wife and my two small children, always leaving before they woke and often coming home right when my kids were getting to bed. I made a lot of sacrifices for what I consider to be the most important aspects in my life to attend this course, and it was worth every minute. Here is my story.
Both of...
I drove 5 - 6 hours per day to attend OCCS. I spent over 19 days total sitting in my car, and drove over 11,000 miles in those 90 days. For 90 days I missed out on time spent with my wife and my two small children, always leaving before they woke and often coming home right when my kids were getting to bed. I made a lot of sacrifices for what I consider to be the most important aspects in my life to attend this course, and it was worth every minute. Here is my story.
Both of my brothers are software developers. Prior to choosing OCCS I asked their opinion on the curriculum I should be taking, and out of all the schools they felt that OCCS had the best curriculum based off my needs which was simply to provide for my family at the financial level I was accustomed to. I spoke with Ron and briefly met with him to make sure we would be a fit for one another and shortly thereafter began attending.
Ron is a special person. Something I discovered while attending is that Ron really cares whether or not you succeed which can be monumental in your success. He is extremely patient. He never once made me feel bad for asking questions, and I asked a lot (I asked more than anyone else in the course, on a daily basis). When I did not understand something he would take the time to explain it to me, multiple times if necessary. He was always personable, always approachable, and always eager to teach. He never put any of the students down, and he challenged us because he knew out in the real world, we would be challenged.
Ron is more than just an exceptional programmer. He is an exceptional instructor (I would not be surprised in the least if he had some type of training in teaching methods), he is an exceptional networker, and he is an exceptional businessman. You may wonder why I mention he is an exceptional networker and businessman and the answer is simple. His dedication to not only you, but his experience with hiring partners/other software developers and his drive to make his business successful directly influence his determination in making sure you are taught how to properly code and to do it better than his competitors. It works.
I was hired on my very first interview. I was not the most experienced candidate that applied for the position. I was told that the reason I was hired however was because of my hunger and because I write "really clean code". The reason I write really clean code is because of Ron. The hunger part I take credit for, but without Ron's instruction and his insistence on teaching me to code the correct way, I wouldn't have known better.
Ron... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have shown me a patience and encouragement that I can only hope I can do as well to someone else some day. You have changed more than just my life, you have been instrumental in changing the course of the life of my family as well. I have seriously thanked God for you every single day since discovering what type of person you are, but I only thanked you a few times. So here it is in writing, for all the world to see and for you to read whenever you want to. Thank you so much. I am so thankful I chose to go to OCCS over the other coding schools because of your instruction and the type of person you are.
- They got me a job offer 3 or 4 weeks before the cohort ended.
- It's by an Ike's Sandwhiches.
- Seems like the numbers on the website are correct; Everybody in my cohort has a real job now.
- They understand how people learn.
- There is a lot of low-quality information about programming and javascript on the internet. You get to skip it.
- Cohort six was the best cohort ever
Hi everyone,
I decided to go to Orange County Code School (OCCS) after researching the local bootcamp programs they offer for coding around the area and decided this was the best option. After meeting Ron, I knew this was the place I would have to go. I had a little bit of experience in coding before this course, but this took my knowledge and abilities to a whole new level. I loved the three months I was able to spend coding all day, every day and if you are looking to get into...
Hi everyone,
I decided to go to Orange County Code School (OCCS) after researching the local bootcamp programs they offer for coding around the area and decided this was the best option. After meeting Ron, I knew this was the place I would have to go. I had a little bit of experience in coding before this course, but this took my knowledge and abilities to a whole new level. I loved the three months I was able to spend coding all day, every day and if you are looking to get into a career for coding, this is absolutely the gateway in. Ron and Zane are great instructors and will really help get you ready for what will come next when pursuing your first job in the programming field.
After the program was done, I landed a job within the first month and am happily starting my new career path! Thank you OCCS!!
I am a proud member of the 7th cohort at the Orange County Code School.
Background
I graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. I had a year of experience working on a rapid deployment medical laboratory software team, and about half a year of experience working in the entertainment sector at AT&T in a non-developer role.
Motivations
During the last few months...
I am a proud member of the 7th cohort at the Orange County Code School.
Background
I graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. I had a year of experience working on a rapid deployment medical laboratory software team, and about half a year of experience working in the entertainment sector at AT&T in a non-developer role.
Motivations
During the last few months at my previous job, I had a strong feeling that I needed to make a change. I was dissatisfied with the direction my career was going, and one day I was unfortunately let go. I spent hours and hours reading reviews and articles online about the right types of bootcamps, attending many seminars and demonstrations, and talking to people about their experiences.
Previously, I had worked with HTML/CSS and JavaScript through FreeCodeCamp.com, but there is so much out to learn that I felt extremely overwhelmed. I understood the syntax of the language, but had trouble putting it all together when it came time to build any sort of web application. It was at that point I realized that I needed guidance.
Ron, the primary instructor, has a very impressive technical background, and it was evident after speaking with him that he is truly passionate about what he does and has the best interests of his students in mind. To anyone interested in attending a bootcamp here in Orange County, I highly recommend that you talk to Ron; he is the real deal.
The Full Stack Experience
Make no mistake, this course is no walk in the park. This is a 40 hours a week, full time commitment, and you need to be prepared to give 110% of your effort for every minute that you spend here. There will be times that you will feel lost, and times that you will be banging your head against the wall in frustration, but Ron and Tim will be there to help guide you in the right direction.
I highly recommend taking the time to sit down with Ron and Tim both inside and outside of the class to ask them about their experiences in the industry. They've been in your shoes before, and the advice they give is extremely valuable.
The curriculum is structured in a logical and cyclical manner. Each month, two weeks are spent learning the basics, while the last two weeks are spent working on a project. You will be surprised at how much you will learn when you build something from scratch; learning JavaScript and applying it are two totally different beasts. Ultimately, these 3 projects you create will be a part of your personal developer portfolio that you will then go on to show off to prospective employers.
During my time in the 7th cohort, we spent our time building JavaScript full stack applications from the ground up with React & Redux on the front-end, Node & Express on the back-end, and PostgreSQL as the database of choice.
The Job Search Experience
The bootcamp experience doesn't just end after the 3 month learning period. In fact, Ron takes it upon himself to leverage his professional connections and help you find a job. He will assist you with bolstering your resume and LinkedIn profile to garner the most attention. It took me about a month after the course to find and lock down a position at a great company in Irvine, and I couldn't have done it without Ron's connections with key people in the industry.
I recommend OCCS ten times over. I can't say I'm a JavaScript expert, but Ron and Tim have instilled in me the ability to learn and succeed on my own, and that's more than I could have ever asked for.
I graduated with the 3rd cohort of OCCS, which ran from August 2015 to February 2016.
TL;DR (Too Long, Didn't Read)
I graduated with the 3rd cohort of OCCS, which ran from August 2015 to February 2016.
TL;DR (Too Long, Didn't Read)
My Background:
I have a B.S. in Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering and prior to the bootcamp, I worked for several years as a Software Product Manager and UI/UX Designer in startups in Shanghai and Beijing.
My dream was to transition from product management into software development. I had gone through the HTML/CSS/Javascript curriculum on Codecademy and codeschool.com, but I couldn't seem to connect the dots from the 'code exercises' into actually 'building' a web app. I felt like I needed more guidance to transition my career into web development.
OCCS Experience:
I chose OCCS because I wanted to stay local in Orange County (as opposed to going to San Francisco/Los Angeles/New York/etc.), and also because OCCS' curriculum is focused on full-stack Javascript web development.
There are some great online bootcamps and remote programs out there, but I know my own learning style and I needed the on-site experience and work environment to succeed and stay focused. There are other on-site bootcamps in Orange County that teach LAMP stack web development on PHP, but the software industry trends point to full-stack Javascript (greater growth rate of JavaScript developer job postings vs others. Also, Jr. LAMP stack developers don't seem to get paid as much, on average). Anyways - do your due diligence on job postings and average salaries.
I loved my time during OCCS.
The two main points that I appreciated the most about OCCS were:
I really really value the environment that OCCS provided for me. The classroom is in a professional shared office building and the environment helped me to 'get in the zone' and focus.
I also appreciated the feedback I got from Ron and Zane about code structure/best practices. They have both worked in the software industry for several years and I appreciated their sharing of real-word experience and know-how on pointers to improve my code quality and structure.
This is a bootcamp though! So be prepared to put in 3 months of intensive learning. Make sure to sleep well (aka10:30pm latest), eat well, and most importantly, have a curious mind to take initiative and get your mindset in the industry. This means: find blogs to read, podcasts to follow, tutorials to watch, etc.
This is an industry where the more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know. I needed to (wanted to) look up terminology and technologies on my own time for things that weren’t 100% clear to me. I would read articles and watch tutorials to clarify concepts over the weekends and during the evenings.
When we were learning HTML and CSS I heard about Sass and Jade, so I read up on it.
When we were learning client-side Javascript I heard about API calls, so I read up on it.
For Git - on the best practices of committing, branching, merging, rebasing.
For Node.js - on RESTful interfaces.
For login authentication - on the difference with JWT and Sessions.
For Angular.js - on the benefits of React.js.
You get my drift… you get out what you put into the 3 months at OCCS. If there's something that isn't covered in the curriculum, but you are hearing about it in the industry, then read about it. Be curious, and then implement those technologies in your next project.
Write code, read code, eat code, sleep code. The bootcamp environment will help you succeed if you put in the time, curiosity, focus, dedication, and work.
Job Search:
Towards the final weeks of class, Ron invited several speakers who are in the programming industry (CTOs, Sr. Web Developers, previous alumni) to come to class and share their experiences. It was really great to get insight on how they started coding, how the industry has changed, and what the industry is like now. I found these speakers to be really helpful on aligning my perspective for how I needed to continue to grow in my career after the bootcamp.
I interviewed with several companies that were invited to the Demo Day, and ended up taking a full-time position as a Jr. Front End Developer with one of these companies. I appreciate the effort that the OCCS team puts into connecting with the software community in Orange County, and getting us in front of recruiters at Demo Days.
Ron and Zane were also really helpful during the job search and provided post-graduation job search mentoring and advice. After week 2-3 of job searching, they set up a time for me to meet with them to go over my job search status. They acted as great sounding boards/mentors and provided advice on my resume / LinkedIn profile and also gave advice/answered questions on how I could better interview and negotiate a salary.
If you are looking for an on-site bootcamp in Orange County to learn Full Stack Javascript Web Development, then I highly recommend OCCS.
Go here People.
My long story:
I studied Finance( mostly on my own time) though out high school. Although, I am a creative. Finance didn't allow me to be visionary and solve ingenious problems. After reading many many articles about becoming a software developer, I denied my job offer that I received after my internship from Wells Fargo and decided to end my journey in Finance.
So my new journey began as pro...
Go here People.
My long story:
I studied Finance( mostly on my own time) though out high school. Although, I am a creative. Finance didn't allow me to be visionary and solve ingenious problems. After reading many many articles about becoming a software developer, I denied my job offer that I received after my internship from Wells Fargo and decided to end my journey in Finance.
So my new journey began as proceeding to college for a Computer Science degree. I was still finishing up my last couple months of high school at that time. I finished all my college apps, was aware of all the classes to take, and was ready! Only to find out that there was something much better..
"A freaking Coding Boot Camp."
Yes, I did all my research. I looked at boot camps all around Orange County, San Francisco, and the Eastside. I was very convinced on a Boot Camp in Boston, but luckily I stumbled across OCCS right before I made my decision about Boston. OCCS was the only Boot Camp that looked promising. Although, at the time, it had no reviews, the first cohort didn't even start, but I still had a good gut feeling about the school. I joined one of their info session night and met with Ron, Courtney, and Ryan.
Here I was again, starting a new journey. Dropped my college apps and signed up for OCCS. This was in April 2015, I signed up for the Aug-Oct 2015 cohort.
Before the course started, my experience in coding was just few small courses online; HTML, CSS, jQuery, and barely any JavaScript.
My overall experience at OCCS was of course, still unbelievable. In the course, I learned Full-Stack development(client and server side). Everyday was organized with exercises and lectures by Ron. Ron is an expert in what he does. He always has an answer and a reason, very straight to the point, and cares for quality. He only taught us the best practices with the best technologies. He didn't just teach us how to code, but how to prepare ourselves for interviews and going into the industry. We worked on 3 projects, which becomes great examples for your portfolio. So, make sure you put all your effort in all the projects and implement everything you've learned. Of course the course is hard and it takes a lot of hard work. You will get stuck and you will start doubting yourself if you can make it or not, but you just have to muscle through it. Especially for me, someone with only a high school diploma and no actual professional experience in any industry. But, on my 10th week, I interviewed with a small start up that I did not accept. On my 11th week, I was in contact with a small digital production company and KBB. I interviewed with them after I graduated. I didn't get an offer from the digital production company and I decided not to proceed my second interview with KBB. I had an interview with a Real Estate company that again, did not get an offer from. By that time, it has been 2 weeks since graduation and I still haven't applied for a company yet. All those opportunities were reached out to me first. Luckily, one of Ron's connection was interested in hiring me, so I decided to interview with them before I started applying to companies. I accepted the offer after thinking about it over the weekend.
Now I have a job as a Software Developer at a small agency with a great salary and flexibility. I luckily do Full-Stack Development, not just Front or Back End.
Advice:
If you're debating on going to/continuing college or going here, just go here. You have nothing to lose. This will save tons and tons of time and money. If it doesn't work out(which is not really a realistic situation) college will always be there.
If you have experience in other professional industries, take advantage of that while applying for jobs. There's always an IT department in each company within each industry. A software developer with good knowledge in the company's industry is always beneficial. Especially for people like us, who are trying to get our foot in the door.
If you're like me and have no experience in IT or any professional industry, just go here. You will learn how to code and you will get a job no matter what your background is.
Remember, as long as you have the skills and you are confident, employees will hire you.
P.S. I was never a straight A student in school. I didn't have good grades at all actually and I hated school. At a early age, I understood that having valuable skills and a sense of people were more beneficial than my grades at school. Not against school, by all means, school is very important and necessary for many people, just really wasn't for me. No, you don't have to know high level mathematics (the computer does it for you). No, you don't have to be a computer geek. No, you don't have to be ultra smart or be a genius to learn how to code either. My point is, everyone can learn how to code as long as they have the hunger and determination.
Before I attended OCCS I was working as a manager at a retail store. I was not making very much money and the work was not very satisfying. I heard about OCCS from a friend of a friend who works in the software industry and he assured me that the best way to start a career as a Software Developer is to attend a bootcamp-style school and he told me about OCCS. I went to a meetup they were having the following weekend to get a feel for it, and see how it is. I was a l...
Before I attended OCCS I was working as a manager at a retail store. I was not making very much money and the work was not very satisfying. I heard about OCCS from a friend of a friend who works in the software industry and he assured me that the best way to start a career as a Software Developer is to attend a bootcamp-style school and he told me about OCCS. I went to a meetup they were having the following weekend to get a feel for it, and see how it is. I was a little nervous, but decided to attend.
OCCS has a rigorous three months of coursework. They teach all of the latest technologies and skills required to be successful as a Web Developer. The instructors are there to teach and challenge you to be the best you can. They teach you everything you need to know, and also give you the freedom to learn and grow your knowledge yourself. During my time there, I learned multiple programming languages, many new technologies and over a dozen frameworks.
You don't graduate from OCCS when they are done teaching you, you graduate once you get a Job. OCCS provides leads to you after you finish the course to help you get a job. While I ended up finding my job myself, OCCS gave me three leads with companies to help me find a job. They help you prepare your resume and LinkedIn, and prepare you for your interviews. They will give you strategies on best ways to find a job.
Two weeks ago I started my job as a Front-End Web Developer. There is still alot to learn, but I feel prepared thanks to my experience at OCCS, and I am making twice as much money (not an exaggeration) as I was before attending. More Importantly, I enjoy what I am doing. Orange County Code School was the best decision I have ever made, and I recommend it highly to anybody looking to become a Web Developer.
How much does Orange County Code School cost?
Orange County Code School costs around $15,000.
What courses does Orange County Code School teach?
Orange County Code School offers courses like Full-Time Immersive.
Where does Orange County Code School have campuses?
Orange County Code School has in-person campuses in Irvine and Orange County.
Is Orange County Code School worth it?
Orange County Code School hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 40 Orange County Code School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Orange County Code School on Course Report - you should start there!
Is Orange County Code School legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 40 Orange County Code School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Orange County Code School and rate their overall experience a 5.0 out of 5.
Does Orange County Code School offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like Orange County Code School offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.
Can I read Orange County Code School reviews?
You can read 40 reviews of Orange County Code School on Course Report! Orange County Code School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Orange County Code School and rate their overall experience a 5.0 out of 5.
Is Orange County Code School accredited?
While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Orange County Code School doesn't yet share information about their accreditation status.
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