Prime Digital Academy Reviews
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Konou Vang Verified via GitHub
Amazing Experience!!!
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Enrolling into Prime Digital Academy Kansas City has truly the best decision I have made in my life. Today was graduation and I was happier today than I was when I received my Bachelors or my Masters. Words cannot sum up the value of what I learned, not just coding but personally as well. Now that I got my personal feeling about this program out of the way, I want to dive into what I have learned technically.
I built a full stack fully functional application that incorporates AWS that I use in my business. I then worked in a four member team to build a fully functional application to serve a client's need that incorporated the use of Google Calendar API and Twilio API! That's TWO APPLICATIONS that are in use! How many bootcamps can claim that?! That's just a part of the professional technical skills they teach. They also work on speech using the Toastmaster's method and taught us how to fail so that we can succeed. I'm not going to lie when I say that I don't get nervous to present in front of a crowd, but failing in front of my peers allowed me to succeed on the big presentation day.
Prime Digital Academy is the embodiment of Furious Learning. The instructors make sure that we are emotionally ready to learn, they lecture, and then give us assignments to reinforce and retain the information. It's not a joke when I say that you could be spending 60 to 80 hours a week on the accumulation of those assignments and weekend challenges.
I can only give the staff 5 stars but I wish I can rate them higher because they gave up 110%. Truly amazing people!
Prime might not be for everyone but when you put in the time and effort, it will change your life.
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Austin Burgard Verified via GitHub
Best Decision I've Ever Made
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Prime is amazing and the best decision I've made in my professional life.
TL;DR
Prime is a full-time, intensive program. It doesn't fit everybody's learning style or life situation. As I began to look into software engineering I was uncertain about many of the options in Kansas City. I was even more wary of my online options, not because they aren't good (I have no experience with them) but because of my learning style.
I came across Prime while doing research on local programs and I set up an appointment that forever changed the trajectory of my life. This program is not easy. The instructors will push you to the point of failure. I wish I would've known that because then it would've made my first few weeks a bit more bearable. But it's when you get to the point of failure that you're ready to learn.
The instructors take massive amounts of personal time to help whenever there is a question but you have to be willing to ask. You can't get help until you put your pride away and ask. They bring in tech companies from the community, they teach how to speak, and they enable us to do real projects that help real clients.
We learn full-stack JavaScript. The curriculum goes deeper than any other program I've researched. We go deep into JavaScript, React, Redux, Node, SQL, etc. As I said, this isn't for the faint of heart and you will be pushed. You'll need to rely on your fellow team members, the instructors, and your support system. If you can't make it through the program you only pay for what you were taught. So, yes it's expensive, it's full-time, but it takes that kind of commitment to become a good software engineer and transition to a new career. Take the risk on yourself, you won't regret it.
I loved the cohort I was in. We all came from diverse backgrounds and that enabled us to work well together. There were times of friction, as in any group, but we rallied and encouraged each other to press on and now we're graduating.
Prime cares deeply for its students. I have never encountered a more helpful and loving group of people. One of the major positives is that they don't leave you after you graduate. They stick by your side and keep you accountable. They give you all the tools you need to succeed and are by your side every step of the way.
Prime not only made me into a software engineer but they helped me to grow as a person. I was pushed like never before, I wanted to quit on day 2, but I trusted the system and I'm incredibly thankful I did. I'm forever grateful to the wonderful people at Prime KC. They're amazing people, instructors, and friends.
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Ben Pollack Verified via LinkedIn
"Prime Is Real"
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That was a quote from one of my cohortmates. Prime really is the best decision I could have made to transition my life as an adult switching careers. Before this program I was working paycheck to paycheck doing dead end retail and food service jobs. Having a degree in Grpahic Design, I understood the WHAT of design but Prime really teaches the WHY of design. The instructors, Ange and Kyre and Bryce, are so knowledgeable and really have your back. All of the staff at Prime are helpful and truly want you to succeed. The comeraderie amonst cohortmates and staff is unparalleled. One motto that seems to permeate through the entire schooling is "we all succeed as long as EVERYONE succeeds". One thing I had heard about bootcamps was the cut-throat nature of them. Prime is the direct opposite of that. Even alumni students truly WANT you to succeed. The program is intense, long hours, but so well worth it. I was able to find a job right away (in fact I got the job offer the day of graduation) and the staff is so helpful in finding something that is right for each student.
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Sarah B. Verified via LinkedIn
Best choice for my career!
Prime was one of the best decisions of my career. I went from having no coding experience to having a job as a software engineer in six months. I would defiantly recommend this program to anyone who is willing to put their time and all energy into learning code.
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Jonny Verified via LinkedIn
Best choice I've made in my professional career.
Prime helped give me the foundation I needed to become a UX Designer in the industry as well as networking and mentor opportunities.
If you put in the time and effort, you'll be rewarded.
The staff is invested in seeing you succeed and the instructors are awesome.
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Carina A. Lofgren Verified via LinkedIn
If you're willing to put in the work - do it.
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Prime gives you a blueprint, building tools and all the consultation you can ask for. It is up to you what to do with it.
Prime is structured enough to give you an appropriate scope of the many facets of the UX process, but flexible enough to allow you to explore areas that interest you most.
Prime not only prepares you to be a UXer but also to be a competitive and knowledgeable candidate in the industry. If you put in the work, there will be results.
I am happy to say two months after graduating I am happily employed!
Undoubtedly worth it.
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Eric Austin Verified via LinkedIn
Life Changing
I don't know how else to describe it.
In 20 weeks I went from being a competent computer user to designing and writing fully functional computer programs.
Trust the curriculum, trust the instructors, trust the staff. They all want to see you succeed.
I would recommend this program to anyone. -
Lisa Schoofs Verified via LinkedIn
Prime is the real deal.
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If you’re in the Twin Cities and are serious about getting into software development, this is absolutely the place to go.
The curriculum is here legit. It’s been carefully crafted, and is continually improved upon. They teach full-stack Javascript, but they do an excellent job teaching you the broader concepts in programming. They set you up for success after school by teaching you how to teach yourself new technologies - a skill that is immensely valuable in a field that is always changing. I was a part of the first cohort to go through their software development program since it switched from 18 weeks to 20 weeks. I thought the additions they’ve made were great - there’s a solid introduction to OOP, more insights & material for ongoing career success/getting a job, and I think the overall pacing of the in-classroom time benefitted greatly from the change.
The people that come through the door here are great. The staff are amazing, and are genuinely invested in your success & well-being. I think your experience could vary a little bit based on the cohort you’re with and your primary instructors. I happened to hit the jackpot, and had a phenomenal group of people to learn alongside and instructors to learn from. We got a chance to interface with most of the instructors at some point during the program, benefitting from their various experiences & coding styles.
They do a great job of setting you up for success post-Prime. While you’re in school, they offer support on resumes, networking, LinkedIn, etc. They set you up with mentors in the industry. When you’re done with school, the support continues. Plus, you have a network of Prime grads that are happy to help others out with continued learning and connections.
If you think this might be the place for you, I’d definitely recommend stopping by for an open house or giving them a call. And/or just apply and see what happens. You won’t regret it.
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Keith Tomlinson Verified via LinkedIn
Create your future.
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Prime Academy was a life changing experience. It is a weird place, in beautiful way.
Every piece of Prime Academy is intentionally designed. The courses were designed by a true educator, someone who considers how people best learn and removes all pretense of formality focusing solely on the student's success.
It is a challenging experience and should only be entered into by people who are committed 100%. It takes everything you have, but the gains are massive.
Prime cares about its community and the impact those people will have on the greater world. This place knows that collaboration, not competition, is where the real joy exists. Relationships and soft skills are highly empasized. Get ready to be a seasoned public speaker!
I would start again tomorrow. -
Cassie Nieman
Life Changing without Doubt
Prime allowed me to delve into both research and design, and working individually and on teams with real-world clients allowed me to understand how the work would translate at a company. But hands down the best aspect about Prime is the community that comes with it while you're there, and more importantly, after you leave. -
Emma Molden
Rewarding Experience & Supportive Environment
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I have a teaching background, and I was very impressed with the curriculum and professional development. From the application process onward, everything was very intentional. I developed the technical and soft skills necessary to be an empathetic engineer.
In terms of my specific experience, I started with five weeks of part-time learning in JavaScript. Then, I spent a month learning all the components of full-stack development, followed by another month acquiring additional skills within the full-stack. Finally, I spent the last two months working on both a solo and a group project. These projects provided great experience in the full life cycle of software development. -
Paul LeRoy
Fast, intensive, Robust Software Learning
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Prime did a great job of getting me ready to be a software engineer. I learned how to build a website from the front end all the way to the full stack of Client, Server and Database. This culminated in two projects I can show off as original work including a pro bono non profit project. Their career staff also did a great job preparing me for the interview and networking processes as I pivoted from my previous career. -
Curtis Kettler
Student
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I can’t say enough good things about Prime. The information and learning is laid out in a way that is easy to understand and quickly put into practice. I went from knowing only the basics of HTML and CSS to being a full-time front-end developer in 6 months (with a very substantial raise from my previous career. The support and community that they provide and encourage though is what sets them apart from other bootcamps. Taking care of each other is important at Prime. If you’re looking for a boot camp that is worth the time and money, this is it! -
Gaby
UX Design
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Prime's UX instructors were excellent and did a great job at designing the course for a remote setting. I learned so much here and you really do get how much you can put into it. The big + of their program is emphasis on user research skills and competency that I don't think you would get at any other bootcamp. It is a full end-to-end curriculum and you get a lot of assistance throughout the program. The reason for the 4/5 stars on curriculum is because there isn't time setup right now for students to really learn visual design skills. I already came to prime with vector software and visual experience so it wasn't really an issue for me but others that had little or no experience had a difficult time leveling up and making their work look presentable to recruiters who don't distinguish between visual design skills and UX. If there were 2 full-time additional weeks (20 weeks total) dedicated to visual design at the beginning, I think those without that experience would have a better post-job hunting experience for entry-level or associate-level roles. -
Cooper Doten
Why Prime RULES!
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Prime is a one-of-a-kind experience! I learned so much about software development, but more importantly so much about how to learn. The skills and acumen I gained there helped land me a job right after my Cohort finished. This isn’t necessarily everyone’s experience, but it was mine. Additionally, they have a wonderful career development part of the program that continues post-graduation. The network of employers they’ve developed relationships with is also helpful. Great people from the head of the company all the way to instructors. (Don’t think you’ll find a better bunch) -
Jessie Conley
Full Stack Software Engineering
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Prime Digital Academy gave me the skills and experience I needed to take my career to the next level, in a more technical role as a project manager. The staff are dedicated and truly care about your success both during and following completion of the 20-week course. It's an intense program, but it is 20 weeks of your life vs. the rest of your career. I learned so much and made some great connections during my time at Prime. I highly recommend this program if you're looking to transition to a career in technology. -
Billy B.
Succinct Review
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I had a great experience at Prime Digital Academy. The instructors are knowledgeable, patient and assertive. They understand not everyone learns at the same pace and try to put the extra effort where is needed without dragging faster students behind. The facilities are well equipped with everything you need, including breakfast food and coffee, which you will need a lot. During the five months you'll feel a lot of pressure to keep up and learn everything in the curriculum but they have managed to find the balance where the pressure is not so much that it becomes counterproductive. In conclusion, I would recommend this program to anyone looking to learn how to code, you won't regret it. -
Skyler Burgard
Full Stack Engineering Program
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Prime Digital Academy is an excellent program that I would recommend to anyone looking to get into tech. They gave me the proper tools to succeed and flourish as a software engineer and a human. The staff is extremely supportive, nice, and helpful the entire time offering their knowledge on all things tech and business.
The community and network they offer outside of actual code is also amazing. They surround you with alike individuals from all sorts of different backgrounds and life paths. Anyone looking to get into tech should check out Prime. 10/10 experience -
Ashleigh McGinnis
Software Engineer
A really great and challenging program! Prime took me from little to no experience in code to knowing an abundance of it in just 20 weeks! Really turned my life around for me!!
The staff there is great, super helpful and is really genuine in caring about your education. Just all around they are amazing people. Plus you get the opportunity to meet amazing people in your cohort and stay connected! -
Ailea
A Bootcamp That Cares
I love Prime. They're always making sure you're getting the most out of the material. They treat you with respect and are always willing to help out. I asked so many questions and they were always ready to answer without making me feel stupid. They even talked me out of a downward spiral on a semi-regular basis. -
Courtney Overby
I Would Do It All Over
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Prime was a huge leap of faith for me, and I am so glad I did it. Prime is hard, but once you commit to it and you succeed, it is beyond gratifying. Scott and Myron are so personable and patient. They really understand what it takes to not only teach, but to learn as a student. Although it is meant to and stretch you, Scott and Myron are amazing instructors. They are patient, thorough, and care so much about their students. Rachael is on top of it all- she is truly such a help behind the scenes and with helping you get yourself ready to job hunt. All 3 of them tell it like it is, but go above and beyond to watch us succeed. I definitely miss it already. -
luke ma
life changing experience
Up until this point in my life, i have not been so certain of most choices I made. Deciding to attend Prime Digital Academy was by far the most life changing. -
Lindsay Thron
Setup for Success!
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Prime is an incredible program! I’m so happy I trusted them to help me level up and develop new skills. Their approach prepares students for careers well beyond UX methods and approaches. Some of the takeaways include engaged, genuinely caring staff; reminders that you are not your work; practicing progress over perfection; learning how to embrace a growth mindset; working with real clients on actual opportunities; identifying and leveraging one another’s strengths; channels for open, honest conversations; a mentorship program for additional support ...I could go on.
For context, my background includes a degree in graphic design from a traditional 4-year university. I’ve held multiple positions at companies ranging from corporate to startups were my responsibilities were skewed more towards either
marketing and/or eCommerce. In 13 years since undergrad graduation I wasn’t able to establish a secure career path. This is what I was looking for.
Before applying to Prime I did research with people in UX roles to learn their path into the field; researched online programs; met with Prime alum; and had a call with a Prime staff member. Ultimately, I realized Prime was a path that would set me up for the most success – and I also didn’t want to be competing with Prime grads during the job hunt and/or in a role.
Fast-forward to being a graduate, the curriculum and support has more than adequately prepared me to take what I’ve learned and bring it into practice. When I was applying to jobs and interviewing Prime’s credibility allowed me have a much better response rate than I’ve experienced in the past, as well as stronger in-person conversations / interviews. I ended up receiving a job offer 2 weeks before graduation. Very happy I decided to attend Prime! -
David S
Prime exceeded my high expectations
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I attended Prime Digital Academy from Aug 2019 to January 2020.
Amazing instructors and community. Solid technical instruction for people who are new to computers and for people who have programming experience. Because of what I learned at Prime I got a job as a software engineer before graduation, started the next day.
I came in not knowing if Prime was the right choice, if "full-stack web development" was worthwhile and hoped it was rigorous enough. Prime exceeded my expectations, I learned a ton about programming concepts and was able to build development muscles with hundreds of hours of practice building projects. Their carefully crafted curriculum offers a challenge to new learners and scales for people already comfortable with programming.
We learned React (the most popular web development front end library) but you also design databases and the necessary relationships/tables, build it and then integrate it into the server you've spun up to provide data to your front end. Thinking like a front end designer made my APIs and Database Schemas better, thinking like a back end developer made my UIs better too.
Two other benefits of Prime are the career services and the network of other Prime grads. I felt very supported applying for jobs and having a network of people to help me learn about workplaces in the Twin Cities. The career services team gets each grad ready for the job application, interview, and negotiation process. I was able to consult them on my job offer immediately after hearing from my recruiter. After talking to graduates of other boot camps this really sets Prime apart.
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Max Maher
Life-changing experience
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It's very true that you will get out of your experience at Prime Digital Academy what you put into it, and that if you work hard it can be a life-changing experience. I graduated in October 2019, and even as early as May I really didn't have any fundamental knowledge in JavaScript. Now, I've recently accepted a Front End Developer position at a local company and can't believe the jumpstart this has been for my new career.
The atmosphere at Prime is incredibly caring. Everyone wants you to succeed - your cohortmates, your instructors, the career development staff, everybody. You will become very close with your cohort and they'll almost feel like family as you go through a rigorous curriculum. Some of the greatest moments are when you get to start building a solo project and really see how much you can flex the new skills that you learned. The curriculum is delivered at a quick, but manageable pace, and it won't take long for you to learn a whole lot.
I would have liked to have had more instructor feedback following the solo and group projects. A lot of work goes into those, and I think we could have learned a lot with some good, constructive criticism following the completion of that work. Additionally, I think it would have suited the curriculum well to spend more time on new React concepts (such as Hooks in React 16). While that was introduced, it would have been good to have more practice working with React code in a way that deviated from the way we were used to it. Finally, I think more assignmetns where the job is to read code that someone else has written and interpret what that code is doing would go a long way toward improving code literacy.
These are all very minor points of feedback - this program does an incredible job of teaching you how to think like a software developer, and provides you with the skills you need to grow professionally in this field. I would absolutely recommend Prime for any person looking to get into software development as the way to go.
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James J
Fully Comprehensive Program
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I was looking for a career change. I had little to no coding knowlege before decided to go into Tech. I had a not so favorable experience with a startup program that went under third way through the first class. I explored other programs but found none that would put me in the best postion to earn a job in Tech. Then I found Prime.
Prime Academy is a fullly fleshed out coding school. You will learn to code, the theory of code, solo and team project building, industry networking, interviewing techniques and all things needed to gain employment. The staff is knowledgeable, intuitive, passionate, caring and determined. You will not only become a software engineer. You will become a better more well rounded individual that will be a true asset to any prospective employer.
I am now fully confident that I am prepared for a long and productive career in Tech. All thanks to the outstanding staff and awesome program created by Prime Academy.
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Chase
Supportive, Educational, Skill Building
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I attended the Prime Digital Academy Software Engineering program in the beginning of 2019 and graduated in June. At first I felt unsure if this was going to be a smart decision because of the expense, but based on what I had heard about the program, I knew that I was paying for quality. I experienced this as soon as I visited the campus. I would show up to the campus during tier 1 just to get a feel for the buildings and for the people at prime. Nothing but welcoming hearts from every individual who worked there. None of them are the same, but they all have a common goal: *to see you succeed*. I spent a lot of time speaking with these people individually (Fred, Mary, Ally, Dane, and many current students.
It was a challenging program. I would not reccommend working while attending prime. On top of the work load, there are many curve-ball life challenges that I saw happening to pretty much everyone while I was there. Including staff. So many people had their own problems, and we all felt for them because it doesn't take long for your cohort to become a family. One of the things that Prime promotes is that you are engaged with your classmates so you get a true experiece of working with others, not in competition but in community.To sum this up, expect to work hard in order to Read, Write, Speak, and Teach code. In the process, you'll have as many human experiences as you do machine.
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Nicholas Tourville
Incredible Program
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I couldn't recommend Prime more highly. I was finishing up a PhD in philosophy and struggling on the academic job market when I decided to move back home to Minnesota and switch into an in-demand field. Prime quickly prepared me to become a UX designer and I got a great job within three weeks of graduating.
The Prime community and culture is fantastic. The instructors and staff are all exceptionally qualified, but you also learn a lot from fellow students and alumni (many alumni come back as mentors or guest lecturers). I felt motivated and supported throughout the program and even after graduation.
UX design is also a great field to get into from my experience. The work is fun and interesting, the people are great, and it pays well. If you're on the fence, apply now!
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Tony Gillen
Prime allowed me to get back into the workforce quickly doing work that I love.
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I had spent most of my professional career as a web generalist and have always wanted to get into user experience. Facing unemployment gave me time to examine what I really wanted to do and Prime Digital Academy gave me the opportunity to do it.
A curriculum taught by instructors with experience as professionals, the course work is very hands-on with projects from real-world clients allowing us to practice user experience. The program encourages progress over perfection with solid support in every step, which culminated in a high-level team project and presentation. Support staff prepared us for the job market with guidance in interviewing, resume writing, networking, and public speaker as well as our own personal development. Mentors also supported us with their own professional advice and portfolio critiques. In addition, learning alongside my cohort gave
My interview during career day, where I could really share my work and progression over my 18 weeks eventually led to my full-time position as a UX professional.
I am thankful for my experience at Prime and now get to work professionally doing something I love everyday.
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Margot
Honestly Life Changing!
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After working in the service industry for far too long, I needed to figure out how I was going to sustain myself. Living paycheck to paycheck was both physically and mentally exhausting. My experience at Prime equipped me with the skills and mindset I needed to make a serious career change. A month after graduating, I was navigating competing offers that were more than three times what I'd ever made in my life- for positions that felt far more meaningful and exciting than my previous work.
I can only speak to my own experience, so here it is: Prime was very intense and exciting. I learned new skill sets and methodologies. I learned how to network, how to market myself as a UX Designer, & how to navigate the hiring process. I gained confidence in public speaking and experience working with diverse, sometimes challenging teams. I gained access to an unbelievably supportive network of alumni. I made new, life-long friends. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and forced to work through my perfectionism. I feel that I left Prime not only with a deeper understanding of UX design, but with a better understanding of my own strengths and opportunities for growth.
The staff is incredibly supportive and inspiring. They push you, but would never want you to sacrifice your physical or mental well being.
Is it challenging? Yes.
Is it intense? Yes.
Is it worth it? YES!!
If the cost is holding you back, I encourage you to speak with the staff about scholarships. There are several orgs in the twin cities who can help fund your education, especially if you identify as a cis or trans woman, or a non-binary individual. I was honestly surprised by how easy it was to get a scholarship. Ask about them early & act fast when they become available.
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Leo
Intensive, Up-To-Date, Accountable
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I was skeptical at first, knowing that there are a lot of boot camps popping up, but Prime is the real deal. They put a lot of effort into making sure they're teaching tech that's relevant.
The instructors are top notch, and enthusiastic about turning people into engineers. It's also great to have a group of peers going through the same thing as you, and very motivating.
I came in with programming experience, so the things I found most valuable about Prime were the network and career help. Knowing how to set up your resume, who to talk to and how, and just having some confidence was very helpful for finding a job.
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Cooper Miller
Seriously, they're the best.
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I came into the program knowing very little about programming and in 20 weeks with the help of the instructors, my cohort-mates, and everyone at Prime I'm starting a job as a Software Engineer at a local company. I've gained the skills to learn any new tech and search the web for related information. I've learned how to communicate efficiently with people and have also learned valuable soft skills in an incredibly welcoming environment. A literal safe space to be who you are and grow into what you want to become.
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Jonathan Kaiser
Review of the UX program at Prime Digital Academy
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It's hard for me to speak or write about my experience at Prime without sounding like I'm exaggerating. But I wouldn't be going to the trouble of writing a review at all if I didn't think it was an outstanding educational experience. In fact, I've found myself telling friends that in many ways, Prime was more valuable to me than my Master's Degree. Before attending Prime, I taught at the college level, and I was initially skeptical about the whole "boot camp" model. I kept hearing glowing reviews from a few friends who had attended the Full Stack Development program, but it wasn't until I visited campus and had some conversations with the staff that I started to understand how rigorous and multifaceted and awesome the Prime curriculum is.
When I was looking at UX bootcamps, I also visited General Assembly in Manhattan, and it seemed large and impersonal compared to Prime. I was also unimpressed with the class session I sat in on -- it seemed like a passive lecture, presenting the same information I'd seen in online tutorial videos. In contrast to that, Prime is hands-on from day 1, with tons of opportunities to practice new skills as you learn them.
People are Prime's number one asset, and I can't say enough good things about the staff. They truly get to know every student, and give everyone access to an incredible professional network and helpful career development activities in addition to the regular curriculum. The primary UX instructors are not only experienced designers with impressive resumes -- they're skilled teachers who know how to immerse students in a brand new career and help them succeed. They are 100% dedicated to students, and they're always available to help. They also have deep connections to the tech community in Minneapolis and beyond, and they share that access with students.
If you're considering attending Prime, the best way to start is to schedule a visit and talk to people. Talking to students and instructors is what convinced me that it was a place I could spend 3 months of my life, and I couldn't be more glad that I did. An immersive program is not for everyone -- it's intense! Expect to spend 60-80 hours a week working on new skills and building a portfolio. I honestly enjoyed the intensity most of the time, but I'm sure not everyone would. But a couple weeks after graduating, I'm already starting a UX job that I love, and it definitely feels like the hard work paid off.
Talk to people and visit to decide if it's for you, but I highly recommend Prime.
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Steve Hogan
Amazing experience, provided you give it your all!
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I cannot say enough positive things about my Prime experience. It was a wonderful, life-changing time for me, and overall I believe they did a great job of setting my cohort mates and I up for success in the Twin Cities tech community. My instructors were fantastic, and it was clear from Day 1 that they truly cared about our success, and were very passionate about their work, often working late to answer our questions/offer help. The support/admin staff were also amazing, as they devoted so much of their time helping us with soft-skills, resume/cover letter guidance, and even arranged a "Career Day" for us where we each had several actual job interviews with local businesses. Also, I really appreciate how Prime is constantly seeking to improve and change their curriculum based on current tech trends/needs in the TC community. Finally, the environment at Prime is extremely welcoming and comfortable for all types of people and backgrounds. And the bond I developed with my peers was unexpectedly deep for me, as I gained not only immense amounts of knowledge at Prime, but several new friends as well.
That said, it is a very demanding curriculum, can be mentally and emotionally exhausting at times, and will challenge you in countless ways. But ultimately I believe that what you get out of the Prime experience is what you put in. I devoted nearly my entire life to Prime for those 4 months, and it paid off immediately for me. If you aren't ready to give it your all, I would not recommend Prime, as it truly requires a 100% effort. The only small criticism I have of Prime is that the first few weeks devoted quite a bit of time to non-coding related discussions/speeches/exercises. While I recognize their importance, I would have liked to see those things pared down a bit in order to fit more coding/learning in. Overall though, I had an amazing experience at Prime and would recommend it to anyone willing to put in the effort and jump-start an exciting new career! -
Erin S.
Which came first, the experience or the job? Overcome the Permission Paradox @ Prime
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So you are interested in a career in User Experience? GREAT CHOICE! UX designers are in high demand and the market is growing fast. The Problem: even entry-level UX positions are seeking candidates with 1 to 3 years of experience...but how does one gain the experience necessary to land their first gig in this field if no one will give them an opportunity to get their foot in the door? The Solution: Prime Digital Academy. This 18-week immersive course will not only provide you with a foundational understanding of the industry so you can talk the talk, it also affords students the opportunity to demonstrate what they've learned by partnering with real companies to solve real UX problems, so you can also walk the walk. By the end of this program, you'll have the direct experience and polished portfolio necessary to be taken seriously in any job interview. And it doesn't end there...after graduation, you'll become part of a well-connected and supportive group of Prime Alumni & Staff that are only a message away...talk about a lifelong competitive advantage!
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Andy Krueger
Prime Digital Academy worked for me!
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I attended the User Experience Design program from December 2017-April 2018. Three weeks after graduation I started my first job as a UX Designer. One thing that really impressed me was that even alumni who were unemployed a few months after graduation told me they'd do it again without question. The experience is truly that remarkable and transformative.
I cannot imagine how any program would do a better job of preparing for this career shift than Prime Digital Academy. Experienced professional instructors, caring and knowledgeable staff, and a solid curriculum based on the skills that employers are looking for. One major benefit of Prime is that you'll build a portfolio by doing meaningful projects for real clients. There's no substitute for learning by doing.
The flip side is that it's a lot of hard work, stress, and strain on personal relationships... but only for a few months. If you're committed to a change and prepared to give 100%, then I can recommend Prime with no reservations. You'll get out what you put into it.
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Harrison B
Not a joke
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I never thought that 18 weeks could change my life's trajectory so drastically. I was at a plateau in my career as a contract graphic designer and was tired of always struggling to find work. I always wanted to find my way into UX but was always shut down during the interveiw process in a job market that is amazing for UX. Feeling down on my luck, I decided to go to Prime so I could identify my shortcomings and improve the quality of my work. Prime offered me exactly what I needed for me to succeed: an amzing support system, REAL industry expereince, a huge network, great friends, and an incredible place to learn and grow.
Be ready for an intense 18 weeks. It is a lot of work but if you can stick it out you will not regret signing up.
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Josh K
An amazing experience
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Having gone through school a few times, I honestly can't tell you how beneficial Prime Digital Academy was to helping me figure out what I wanted to do in life. No matter your background, Prime caters to your needs. I literally learned a life lesson every day, as well as learning about real life job scenarios, and how to be prepared when applying and interviewing for jobs. Is it a huge commitement? FOR SURE. Will it change your life? FOR SURE.
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CB
Life game changer
Prime Digital Academy is not just an incredible school that will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know about UX design, research and working with business and developers, but it’s also a place you grow into a better you.
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Jeff M
Fullstack Development Bootcamp
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Overall, my experience at Prime Digital Academy was positive and I am very glad I attended. I received the fundamental knowledge I needed to begin my career in full stack programming/development. I would highly recommend that anyone looking for a relatively quick way to get into this industry, they attend Prime.
With that said, I feel my experience at Prime could have been better. I believe our cohort's instructors were not fully devoted to their position as educators. As a pair, they really required the students to come to them with their questions. On its face, that sounds fine... but in reality, a lot of us didn't know what questions to ask. The pace of Prime is very fast and it is easy to not realize when you're not grasping the fundamentals of something. Also, as a pair, they were not the most approachable individuals... They weren't aholes or anything, but they had the more "generalized" engineer personality, not necessarily the personality type required to be great instructors. Not to my surprise, both of them voluntarily left Prime to return to engineering positions after our cohort graduated.
Now, the majority of the other instructors at Prime have been there for a long time, and they are absolute rockstars - from what I understand. Talking to other Primers, they have nothing but glowing reviews for their instructors... I think our lot just got a bit of bad luck. ALSO, the entire staff are some of the greatest and most caring people I have ever met. The experience at Prime is pretty intense and they are always there - and encourage you - to talk to. They become a sort of family to you, and it is pretty awesome... definitely will not forget a couple of staff members in particular.
There are a lot of other perks as well. You will have access to endless coffee, RAMEN NOODLES, and PB&Js. Also, they have a great mentor program and 2 awesome careers days. Plus, they emphasize soft skills - public speaking, communication, etc - which is awesome because if forces you to get out of your comfort zone and really forces personal growth.
Post graduation you continue to have access to all of Primes resources - even your Codeschool accounts (For a few months). They also have a weekly thing called "Alumn Scrum" which is pretty boss. It is aimed at assisting you in your job search and continuing education and personal growth.
Lastly, I would reiterate that Prime delivers the fundamentals - or base - knowledge needed to get into the industry. It is in no way comprehensive. If you are looking for a comprehensive educational experience, you are better of getting a CS degree... but if you are comfortable with entering the job market not fully understanding what you know and needing to learn as you go... Prime is for you.
