Have you ever quietly thought to yourself, “I can do more”?  This thought led me to where you are right now, scouring reviews for answers to that omnipresent question—is [a coding boot camp] worth it?  I started this program on little more than a hunch, a lot of faith, and ZERO coding experience.  Fourteen weeks ago, I didn’t know how to execute a callback in javaScript, or clone a git repository using the command line in my computer’s terminal.  Fourteen weeks ago, I would have told you, “That’s not possible.”  I’m here to tell you that 14 weeks later, it is possible, because this curriculum works—the pedagogy is solid and the academic support is outstanding.  Trilogy wants you to succeed, but the key is your motivation.

Think about your intention before joining a coding boot camp.  You will need this during those times when you want to give up and when you doubt yourself.  Mine was stated on the outset—“I can do more.”  I needed to prove to myself that I could do it.  That meant being ruthless with how I allocated my time.  Social life? Gone.  Free time? Gone.  If you are working full-time, which I am, that means you must to allot 10 hours a week in-class, including Saturdays (say sayonara to your weekends for the next 6 months), plus 15-20+ hours minimum outside of class.  You’re probably thinking, “That’s not possible.”  I’m here to tell you that it is possible, because I am living it.

This program teaches you how to learn these languages, but that doesn’t mean you will understand them right away.  The accelerated pace means you will have to fill in the gaps yourself.  I did this through tutoring, forming study groups, watching videos, etc.  Just keep showing up and be patient with yourself.  Understanding is delayed when you learn at lightning speed.  I’m here to tell you that you can learn something even when you don’t understand it.  Nothing is impossible. 

Is this particular program worthwhile?   YES. 

Is a coding boot camp worth it?  You will have to answer that for yourself.

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I am in the part-time full-stack program at Penn/Trilogy and graduate in ~1.5 months.  Thus far I think its been worth it and can be a valuable asset if you want a career in tech. The MERN stack is surely in demand but outside of that marketing yourself as someone capable of diciplining yourself to learn such a large volume of information in webdev can be a great way to show what you are capable of. I have a lot of experience on the business side as a business/data analyst at JPM and have been able to show the SE's I work with on a daily basis my ability to learn compex code in a short period time. The plan is to roll-over to the SE side of the fence and this program has been a great tool to help me get there. 

To those wanting to apply I recommend that they constantly practice javascript outside of the classroom (specifically for the MERN stack). The better you can master JavaScript whether it be through Edabit, Leetcode, etc the more you'll be able to grasp as you start using more and more javascript technologies. If I am not doing homework/review my time is spent doing practice problems.

If you are in a place where you can afford to take a leap and prefer the in-person learning environment this is a solid program with qualified instructors, just know that you will not have any downtime for 6 months. Outside of the 10 hours in the classroom I am behind the computer 20-30 hours a week doing homework and reviewing old topics (the review is often embedded into the assignment which is great).  This is a great foundation but note that it is just that - a foundation.  Coding does not stop upon graduation and the diligence you gained needs to be harnessed when you start building upon the blocks that this bootcamp gave.

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I am a current student, slated to finish the bootcamp in May 2019. I have a BA in History and spent the past 10 years as an office assistant, and I decided I needed a complete 180 career change. I came into the program knowing a basic amount of HTML and CSS, and some basic concepts of programming from taking Visual Basic and Java classes in high school, 11 years ago.

Many of my developer friends told me that all of this information is available online for free, so I should just do that instead of spending all this money on a course. However, the bootcamp provides so much more than just the information. For one, the academic support is a huge benefit to taking this in-person. Not only do you have the support of the instructor, teacher assistants, and career coaches, but you also have access to one-on-one tutoring as often as you like and a whole network of classmates going through the same thing as you.

Aside from the academic support, the regularly scheduled assignments and projects keep you on track, whereas at-your-own-pace online courses wouldn't provide that rigorous structure. You attend classes three days per week. The in-person classes hold me to a higher standard than online courses would. This is one of the main reasons I chose an in-person bootcamp.

There are three group project assignments, which prepare you for the real world of web development. The individual assignments are great, but knowing how to develop on a team is a very important skill in this field.

After spending 5 months in the bootcamp, many of my friends who work in this field full-time have told me that they can tell this program is absolutely worth the investment. I'm amazed that this bootcamp has brought out skills I didn't even know I had, and in such a short amount of time!

I am working full-time while I finish this bootcamp. It isn't a walk in the park, but it hasn't been impossible. Before the course they help you with time management strategies. For me, the bootcamp has been a roller coaster between feeling overwhelmed and feeling incredibly bright, but mostly the latter! It definitely requires determination, but if you stick to it, you will for sure get your money's worth.

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The Penn Boot Camp was a life-changing experience for me. It gave me the opportunity, the tools, and the confidence to pursue and fulfill a dream of mine. The staff was awesome, the curriculum was strong, and the relationships I've made along the way have been incredibly meaningful. If you have the desire and the determination to push yourself, I would highly recommend this program. You'll learn the in-demand skills of full-stack web development, and you'll walk away with a portfolio that is ready for any interview.

Don't expect to skate through by just attending class. The program is intense, and you should be fully prepared to put in a lot of long nights -- but the outcome will be totally worthwhile. So make extra sure that this is something you want to pursure before committing to it.

One area I would like to see improvement for future cohorts is around job placement -- it would be nice to see some partnerships with local businesses that allow graduates a direct line to interviews. The toughest part of this program for me was when it ended -- the stress of finding a job in the industry can be a bit overwhelming. Work with your career services team as much as possible so that you are fully prepared to hit the job market (if that is your goal) as soon as you graduate.

Overall, the Penn Boot Camp exceeded almost all my expectations. If you are ready for a new challenge professionally, personally, and creatively, I would say go all in. Shout out to Anthony, Eric, Bernard, and the rest of the instructional staff!

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I had followed along with FreeCodeCamp prior to joining the Penn/Trilogy (PT) program, completing the front-end portion of the curriculum.  Even though FCC offered a track for back end, I felt that in order to best learn how to make a full-stack app, I needed the formality and structure of an in-person class.  PT also adverstised the use of a modern stack, MERN, so after some time, I decided to sign up.

So far, so good.  You most assuredely will have to work outside of class to get the most out of this, and that would be true of any educational venture, so expect to be quite busy.  Now, if you do go ahead and do what I did, learning before even starting the program, you will be very well positioned to maximize your return on investment. You can come in with no knowledge of even HTML (mostly), but do yourself a favor and follow along with FreeCodeCamp/Codecademy/Lynda at least a little to orient yourself to the ways of the web.  If you had to focus on only one language beforehand, it would definitely be Javascript. Again, this isn't isn't necessary and the course is well-designed, allowing you to fairly quickly acclimate and begin immersing yourself without getting too lost too quickly. In all, if you're motivated and genuinely want to learn, you'll have no trouble getting yourself to learn on your own while following along.

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I'm currently enrolled in the program and graduate in May 2019. When I started self-teaching myself intro HTML, CSS, and JavaScript through free online resources at the beginning of 2018, I honestly wasn't too sure that I would join a coding bootcamp. But I'm so glad I did. It's a life-changing investment on my future and it is definitely worth it. 

The bootcamp is pretty fast-paced, but we receive a lot of support. We meet three days per week, totalling 10 hours per week. It's recommended to spend minimum 20 hours outside of class reviewing activities, doing additional research, and completing homework and projects.We also have office hours before and after class to ask questions about homework or anything that we might need help with. We're given homework assignments weekly and three group projects as well through the course of the program.

I've had a really amazing experience so far. Our instructor, TAs, Career Coaches and everyone involved in the program have been supportive and really care about us learning the material and succeeding as web developers.

I would highly recommend this bootcamp! 

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This full-stack program moves fast and presents a tremendous amount of material.  The specific stack is (MERN) which is meant to be highly relevant to the current job market.  It is produced by Trilogy but paired with UPenn, thus giving an ivy league stamp for your resume that is sure to attract attention.  Like many bootcamps you get out what you put in, and this one can require quite a bit of time but offers flexibility with projects that allows you to start to focus on a specific direction as the course continues.

Note the career services are not those of UPenn but rather Trilogy.  Instructors are qualified and a lot of extra help (tutoring etc) is made available.  For those of you who aren' regimented enough to do all this alone on your own, the bootcamp is worth the money to set you on track and keep you engaged while offering valuable resources.

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I graduated May '18 and started the bootcamp in Oct. '18. Since the start of bootcamp, i have not regretted joining. After my graduation with my Bachelor's degree I wasnt sure as to what my passions were, or even the direction I wanted to head towards. This bootcampt gave me an even bigger sense of confidence and connections with other growing developers who share various backgrounds and personalities that made me push even further than what my 4-year degree did. It may all sound like bs but honestly, this bootcamp has been my best decisions. From the instructors to the TA's, everyone is supportive and energetic to make sure you know your stuff. 

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I'm currently a student about halfway through Penn's coding boot camp. So far the boot camp has been awesome. The classes cover a ton of information across many coding languages. The course will definitely help get you going with any type of developing career you plan on chasing. With that said, while the course is great, it is definitely not for the lazy type. If you expect to just attend class for 6 months and walk out knowing everything about every coding language covered, you'll be sorely mistaken. This course will require you to put the time in outside of class like they recommend.

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Disclaimer: I'm currently enrolled in the program and have about 10 weeks to go.

The Penn LPS program I imagine is a pretty standard full-stack development program. You meet several times a week for class, and are given homework assignments and group projects to work on outside of class. In-class time totals 10 hours each week, and outside-of-class work takes anywhere between 10-20 hours per week. The pace is fast for anyone with no prior HTML/CSS experience, but they give you some pre-work before your first class to help you get caught up on key-topics.

Our instructor is amazing and truly cares about everyone's success. He is patient and really takes time to teach topics in an easy-to-digest fashion. The class itself usually consists of lectures and activities. Activities can range from small code snippets each student copletes on their own computer, to more longer-form activities whereby you spend 20-40 minutes working on a standalone application. Sometimes the activities can span the entire class and require groupwork. The class-style is varied and keeps the course interesting and fast-paced. Every class also has several TA's to help students during assignments.

Each student is also assigned a career-success coach, who follows them along the way. My success-coach has been instrumental in helping with my resume and portfolio, and I already have a few job interviews lined up before the program even ends.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! The program's structure is fantastic, the career team truly cares about your success, and on top of all of that, you get the name and recognition of Penn!

Summary

Class Structure:

• Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:30PM to 9:30PM
• Saturdays from 10AM to 2PM

Assignments:

• Weekly homework
• Three large projects during the course of the program

Career Help:

• Students get career-success coach/advisor
• Penn organizes demo-days for students to show off their work to local employers
• Interview prep
• Networking events

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With Electronics and Communication Engineering as an educational background with a Masters Degree, with work experience in Operation and Sales, Now I want to share my experience of this program how it influenced my life.

When I started the program, I have zero knowledge of coding, especially Front-END. After week-1 I was a little overconfident. But when I started my first homework, I still remember I spent an extra 7 hours in my office to finish it.
On week-3 after the introduction of Javascript, it was a Roller Coaster. But I used my helpline (Mr.Bernard) who introduced me to Richard Debrah. He is very patient and tried to clarify all my doubts in once a week.

My Instructor Mr.Ed, He always loves to share his knowledge and he does so in a very fun and engaging way. It was a very fun class, and I learned a lot. He took his teaching duties very seriously and it was obvious that he cared about the comprehension level of each student. Mr.Eric, TA always shows his enthusiasm in clearing doubts for everyone.

Finally, It is my life changing the curriculum. It is very organized and very encouraging.

​

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Hello World!

As part of the first cohort of the Penn LPS Coding Bootcamp, I had little information to go off of. I chose this program, run in partnership with Trilogy Education Services, over others because I expected its affiliation with a leading university would suggest high standards of resources.

Every aspect of this program unequivocally exceeded my expectations. When I began the 24-week program, I was completing my final semester of a bachelor degree. The demands of the bootcamp homework are tantamount to that of a university course, so I personally don’t recommend attempting this feat. However, I am deeply grateful for the abundance of support from the program team, which allowed me to reach the finish line and develop a solid grasp on a range of topics in web development.

I also appreciated the ability to learn by interacting with peers. The flexible, part-time nature of the class hours allows for a diverse set of students. With Slack, were able to be in constant communication with each other, as well as with the teaching and support team. The enthusiasm and encouragement from all directions played a key role in drawing out motivation during the travails of the curriculum.

Through building real-world applications, both individually and in teams, this bootcamp equipped us with a skillset highly relevant to the job market. Additionally, career services were offered during and after completion of the course and provided us with guidance throughout the job process from revamping our CV’s to conducting interviews. I was impressed by the amount of growth in knowledge and preparedness I felt entering the professional industry.

For these reasons and more, I urge you to invest in this rewarding and valuable experience!

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One of the best decisions I have ever made hands down! I had absolutely zero experience when I started and in only eight months I became a software engineer. I still can't fully believe it yet, but it's true. It should have taken longer I know this, but God blessed me with these opportunites and I haven't looked back since. I have my all the wonderful teachers and teacher assistants at Penn LPS to thank of course, in addition to an incredible career services team that helped build my resume and craft a great cover later (two of my biggest weaknesses).

That being said, it was a terrifying experience while being in the middle of it. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that many times I felt like the dumbest person in the room. But that's bootcamp. The key is to learn how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. And I've come to realize it's the only way any of us, no matter what we do in this life, can grow as people.  And I certainly did grow .I grew to love my time at the boot camp, the whole process and the wonderful people, my peers, who I had the pleasure of sharing this incredible journey with. And even now, as crazy as it may be to think or say, I actually miss it. Anyway, that's my review. They give you the road map and if you're willing to follow it, amazing things can and will happen.

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My background was very tangential to tech before the boot camp. I managed a coworking space and planned events. I knew I had a steep road ahead by joining this program. Thankfully, the teachers, teaching assistants( , and Bernard) were incredibly helpful and attentive. At certain points, they would even explain line by line what my code was doing/saying so that I could understand how to fix the issues myself. They were patient with me and as excited as I was when I had a breakthrough. They took the fear away from learning to code and helped to understand it as if JavaScript were as easy as English. 

Needless to say, the teaching team, career services, and the operations team are all invested in helping you succeed in your new career. I had members from the teaching team reach out and congratulate me on my first job offer, and honestly, I think they may have been more excited than I was(which is almost impossible).

If you were to ask me if the program was hard, yes, absolutely, but is it worth it? Again, the answer is an overwhelming yes! I still can't believe I have the job I have, and the beautiful friendships I've made since joining and completing this program. 

I cannot stress enough how much happier I am since joining this boot camp. I urge you if you're considering a boot camp to really look at Penn LPS. It is a great way to invest in yourself, but also, it is wonderful knowing that someone else is also invested in you, and rooting for you to succeed.

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I am an experienced developer with 15 years in .NET and SQL working mostly back end.  I joined this bootcamp to expand my skillset and explore broader opportunities, and I was not disappointed by the results.

Starting from vanilla HTML and CSS, and working up through the full MERN stack of JavaScrip frameworks (Mongo, Express, React, Node), I covered more ground, faster, than I ever could have on my own.

With a dedicated team of instructors and TAs, along with the help and encouragement of our Student Success Manager and Career Coach, we went from know-little beginners to career ready full-stack developers with a rich set of hands-on work and the foundations to build on for our future growth.

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