Skill Distillery Reviews
Page 2
-
Miguel Verified via LinkedIn
Intro to Full Stack
Excellent course that supports Vet Tec. It is highly comprehensive and gives you the tools you need to begin a career as a Full Stack Developer. As with anything, you will get what you put into it. It is not an easy course and will seem overwhelming at times. The vast amount of skills you acquire over such a short span of time is telling and a direct reflection of the staff.
-
Cecil Kitch Verified via LinkedIn
Excellent Program
Read more Read less of Cecil Kitch's review
There are a lot of bootcamps out there but Skill Distillery is special. The small class size, and the rigourous selection of instructors from a cultural stand point make this place shine. You can really tell the instructors care and consider the individual strengths and weaknesses of every student. Behind the scenes, they are constantly strategizing your individual development.
The hard skills they teach, you will learn, will prepare you to enter the workforce as a Junior Level / Entry Level / Associate programmer. During the program you are introduced to the concept of pair programming, which will grow your soft skills. Your success, personal growth rate, etc. will be closely linked to how well you can work with others, and how you respond to feedback. But the good news is, if you get accepted, you already have those skills!
If you are concerned about not having a CS degree, rest assured that you will be qualified for the jobs. The challenge will be that you need to demonstrate knowledge and skills during the interview process substantially more than a CS grad.
Overall, highly recommend A+ program. Attending Skill Distillery has been one of the best decisions I have made for my personal growth and development. I am stronger problem solver, with a lot more tools, and a lot more jobs available. I am graduating today and I am already experiencing a rush of interest from recruiters on LinkedIn and other jobs boards.
-
Tom B. Verified via LinkedIn
Great experience at Skill Distilery
Read more Read less of Tom B.'s review
I enrolled at Skill Distillery in April of 2018. After 11 years in the insurance industry, I decided to pursue software development, and the best option I found here in Colorado was SD. The instructors there were knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely cared about the students learning and future goals. The price was comparable to other full-time options and they did a good job of helping with financial aid. I was able to land a job within 3 months of graduation and I'm using what I learned there every single day!
-
Novak Dobrosavljevic Verified via LinkedIn
FANTASTIC BOOT CAMP
Read more Read less of Novak Dobrosavljevic's review
SUMMARY
The learning process was intense consisting of 60+ hours of work a week. Each of the instructors was among the best I've ever had the privilege of learning from. I accepted a job offer I am incredibly excited about, for a position I really wanted, only a day after graduation. Overall, it was the best decision I have ever made.
In the following chapters, you can read about my background, other students' backgrounds, Skill Distillery's strengths, the school's weaknesses, financing, and the outcome.
MY BACKGROUND
Firstly, have no fears about your background. The first person who to have a job in my cohort had never completed their Bachelor's degree. That same person was consistently one of the top performers in the course and had multiple job-offers weeks before completing the course.
When I joined Skill Distillery, my experience with coding was next to none. A couple of months prior to attending the boot camp, I picked up some Ruby as a hobby, doing it for a few hours a week. That was enough for me to know that I want to turn that hobby into a profession. I had a bachelor's degree in business from Germany and experience in business development/sales. However, I do not think that either of these was needed for me to get a job. All you need is a combination of passion for technology and problem solving, discipline, and an always learning and collaborative mindset.
OTHER STUDENTS
Other students in my cohort came from all walks of life. From people who spent 23 years in the Military, to those who haven't been born that long ago. From people with no degrees to those with advanced ones. From business owners, through chefs, to insurance sales representatives. One thing they all had in common was that they were ready for a change and willing to learn.
WHY SKILL DISTILLERY (Strengths)
I did a lot of research before deciding which boot camp to enroll. Skill Distillery was a clear winner, and here are some of the reasons:
1) BEST CURRICULUM ON THE MARKET
Java is the most popular language in the world (source: tiobe.com). It is used in many disciplines - from Web Development, through IOT, to machine learning. It is an object-oriented language, just like any other of the six languages with the highest TIOBE index. If you only learn Javascript, like at most other boot camps, you will limit your possibilities immensely. Also, switching from a statically typed language to a dynamically-typed one (e.g., Python) is easier than vice versa. At Skill Distillery, you get to learn Java, as well as the most widely used technologies and frameworks used with Java for web development (Spring framework, Maven, Gradle, etc.). Finally, you will come out a very well rounded web developer, as you will learn front-end technologies such as Javascript and Angular, as well as MySQL, a language very similar to SQL, which used to talk with your relational database.
2) BEST INSTRUCTORS ON THE MARKET
At most boot camps, you will get to learn from recent boot camp graduates. At Skill Distillery, the instructors are world-class experts and have an average of at least 20 years in the industry. They are also great pedagogues, and their teaching style is very involving. Each student also gets the individual help they need whenever working on a project/homework. Finally, a big shout out to the teaching assistants who have done a great job, often sitting with us until very late hours on Saturdays, rather than enjoying one of Denver's breweries. Good job lads.
CONS OF SKILL DISTILLERY
1 ) EXTREMELY FAST PACE
The biggest con is that you have to learn all of the technologies I mentioned above, and so much more, in just 16 weeks. What that means is that almost every day you will be learning a whole lot of new things, and there is very little time to catch up on something you struggle with. I stayed many nights until after 11 pm to cope with such a pace, especially in the first 5 weeks.
On the positive side, we did get to work on two 10-day group projects, (a mid-term and a final project), which give you an excellent opportunity to work on your weaknesses and to exchange knowledge with your peers. Besides, you will get a week to prepare for Oracle's OCA exam, at which time you will get to solidify and improve your core Java skills.
FINANCING
Skill Distillery has a deal with Climb for loans, or, if you are a veteran, you can use GI Bill. I used Climb's loan to pay for the school. I am a recent immigrant, so my credit history is short, and therefore I got a very high interest rate. None the less, the return on investment is great. Consequently, even if your credit is not too good, it is probably still worth it getting a loan and attending this program.
Comparing to some other boot camps, financing options are lacking support for the cost of living. You will have to figure out how you will afford your living expenses during the boot camp, as you will not have any time to work. I strongly urge Skill Distillery to find a partner who will offer a loan for the cost of living in addition to the tuition amount, as that may open the doors of attending to a lot of people.
OUTCOME
My cohort graduated last week, yet 2/11 of us already have jobs. Another person created a cool application for which some real estate companies have already offered to pay a subscription fee.
Almost everyone from the two cohorts before mine found a job within 90 days of completing the course. The lowest salary accepted by an alumnus I have met was still above 60k, and the highest is over 90k. Everyone I talked to said that their income significantly increased compared to what they were making before attending the course, with some people doubling theirs.
-
Sebastian Hellsing Verified via LinkedIn
I wish that I had done this sooner
Read more Read less of Sebastian Hellsing's review
I am a Marine vet and I was also a System Administrator wondering how to move laterally into software development. When I stumbled into Skill Distillery, I had 7 years of sys/network admin experience and about 6 months of teaching myself Java. I decided that I needed a hard change in what I was doing if I ever wanted to have a real career change into Software Development and I found this school. I wanted a bootcamp that focused on Java and Skill Distillery promised Java along with a full stack of accompanying technologies to give you the potential to do almost anything once taught. With that, I received and accepted a job offer as a Full Stack Java Developer 5 weeks before the course ended.
I covered the cost of the course with the Post 9\11 GI BILL. This course will take 9 months of benefits and was 100% worth every dime considering how quickly I went from absolutely beginner programmer to employed developer.
The instructors:
Steve is a pationate teacher and he will explain something to you 99 different ways if thats what you need to get it. Sometimes known as the "Java Meister".
Rob is a literal wizard disquised as normal person.
Kris is what happens when Javascript becomes self aware. Sometimes its scary.
Andrew is also self aware Javascript but pretty.
--
In all seriousness, this is the best team of instructors that I have had for any course. Each instructor has a deep understanding of what they are teaching and often answer questions with additional context that answers questions that you didn't even know you had.
The Curriculum:
There is a lot of material that is gone through in this course. You absolutely need to do all of the pre-work to get the most out of this course. If you have questions, you need to ask them as soon as you think them up. Sometimes things start moving fast and once you forget that question its pretty much gone forever.
The material taught in the course has more than sufficiently prepared me for my current position. You will do so much coding that it will shock you how quickly you learn a codebase and become actually useful on your first job.
In the time that I have been here, students receive enough training in valuable industry technologies that multiple students received job offers before the course ended. 10/10 would recommend.
-
Dennis Verified via Linkedin
Best Decision I Have Ever Made.
Read more Read less of Dennis's review
I will start off with saying when I first started my journey at the Skill Distillery, I was skeptical and wary. I had done a lot of research before hand and there were arguments for both sides. I am not skeptical anymore. From Day 1 to Graduation Day, I have had nothing but the best experience.
On to the instructors. From Steve to Rob to Andrew and to Kris, I have to say that the Skill Distillery has the best instructors hands down. I have taken a Java course at a college located in Denver (not naming any names) and the experience was dreadful. Steve taught what I had learned in a semester in two weeks and I was able to retain it all. I would like to take the time now to address the anonymous complaint against Steve by saying that it not only pure nonsense but 100% unfounded. There is no instructor who is more invested in the well being and success of his students than Steve. He is hilarious, kind, passionate and he can be stern when he needs to be. Take from me, I have gotten called out for being on Facebook or dozing in class but never once did I think it was inappropriate or like I was being attacked. Steve is the best Java/Spring guru and you will learn valuable information from him. Rob is the terminal wizard. Actually Rob is pretty much a wizard at everything and I learned a lot from picking his brain. Kris and Andrew were our instructors for the latter half of the course. They tagged team what I thought was the most cahllenging subjects which were Angular JS and JS. The way they engaged the students and conveyed the subjects was perfect. Last but not least, I don't think any of the students in my cohort including myself would have succeeded so well if it wasn't for the help of Aaron the TA. Aaron was always there to help you and help put the technigal aspects into layman terms. I could go on and on but the TL:DR of it all is the instructors at the Skill Distillery are phenomenal.
All the knowledge and all the material we covered was staggering. It was challenging to say the least. I will say that you can make it through this course if you put forth 100% effort. That being said this course is not for everyone. I believe I came in every weekend for a minimum of 5 hours to finish projects or to have study groups. I came in early and stayed late every single day. I don't think I would have done as well had I not. We covered Java in four weeks and we got pretty far into the advanced subjects. After that we dove into the OCP prep. That alone solidified a lot fo what we had learned throughout the previous weeks. After that we covered Spring and some front end topics. From there we moved to JavaScript and then to Angular JS. I have interviewed with a few companies and done multiple coding challenges while on my job search. Everything we learned was covered in the interviews and challenges. In a nut shell the knowledge gained from this course will eventually lead you to getting a career in Software Development. Almost 90% of my cohort has landed jobs including myself so I can attest that this place works!
In closing, the Skill Distillery was the best decision I have ever made. It is in my opinion the best Dev Bootcamp out there because it teaches Java for which there are tons of job opportunities for. The instructors are also the best ones out there in my opinion. Cole, the director, works tirelessly to work with students as well as local companies to open up job opportunites. He is the reason I was able to land a job with a well known contracting company. The material taught here will open doors for you as long as you put in the effort. Skill Distillery has a lot to offer and if I were you, I would not hesitate to sign up!
Sincerely,
Dennis
P.S.: If you have any questions feel free to hit me up at dennis.carrasquillo@gmail.com
-
Mike Verified via LinkedIn
No time to get a CS degree? Consider Skill Distillery as an alternative!
Read more Read less of Mike's review
I'm a veteran who has prior professional experience (not coding related at all) in the corporate world. My prospects were quickly turning into a dead end and I had a family to support. I knew programming was the way of the future but I didn't have the time to dedicate to getting a four year CS degree. If coding boot camps like Skill Distillery didn't exist, I would have been a slave to a less than optimal job outlook.
Skill Distillery has given me the tools I need to successfully break into the software engineering/development market. If you have a clearance you will have an immense number of job opportunities. Those who do not have clearances have plenty of opportunities as well. The market is booming! However, I won't sugar coat it. The process to get hired for positions that don't require clearances will require more of a dog and pony show (white boards, live-coding, homework code problem-solving tests, technical question grilling, in-person culture fit interviews) when interviewing with prospective employers.
Now, let's get back to the boot camp. Before you actually get to the boot camp, make sure you go through the pre-work. Attempt to understand as many of the concepts in Java as you can prior to the first day of class.
The boot camp is NOT easy and you should not underestimate it. You WILL be challenged. The instructors are highly qualified and truly care about teaching as well as ensuring that the students progress if they encounter any road blocks. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Even if you think you're asking a dumb question, you're investing time and money to be there. Make sure you do everything you can to understand concepts that are troubling you.
Ultimately, do your best to stay light-hearted while your committing yourself to the intense learning process. It will be hard, but it will also be very rewarding. This is one of the few professions where you can build something from scratch that can be useful and solve real-world problems. Skill Distillery has all of the resources you need to succeed in this field if you're willing to put in the work.
-
Greg E Verified via LinkedIn
Unbelievably rewarding experience
Read more Read less of Greg E's review
First, I'd like to address the one anonymous review trashing Steve. It's totally bogus. Steve is passionate, smart, and hilarious, but if he sees you doing something you're not supposed to during classroom instruction, he is not afraid to call you out. Not once did he yell at our class or threaten to kick anyone out. If there's an issue with a student, the conversation is always held in private, there is no public shaming at Skill Distillery. Now onto my review.
I can echo just about every other review on here and tell you that Skill Distillery was life changing. Before SD, I was in the military as an Army officer and like many other veterans had no idea what I wanted to do after I separated from the service. After the military I worked a few jobs where I was underemployed and extremely unhappy. Less than a week after graduating from SD I secured a job with a top defense contractor making 36% more than I was making before with a benefits package my previous employers couldn't begin to touch.
The level of instruction at SD is top notch. The instructors and TA are extremely knowledgeable and they are totally invested in ensuring you succeed. Our TA would regularly stay until 9, 10, even 11 at night and come in on weekends to assist students with understanding topics and completing assignments.
One of my favorite aspects of the course was the strong bond my class had - everyone was always helping each other out. The relationships I built in the class were invaluable and consider many of my classmates good friends. The SD alumni network is also great and very supportive.
SD is not for everyone. I have a four year degree and completed flight training for the Army and Skill Distillery was easily the most difficult thing I've ever done academically. I personally put 60-70 hours a week into the course and came in most weekends to complete assignments, though I did find that in the last third or so of the course there's a bit more breathing room as you start to get more comfortable with the material.
Cole, the school director, has lots of connections and is always engaging with employers to help get students a foot in the door. SD is always looking to improve and Cole is constantly looking for feedback.
For those of you reading this that hold a security clearance, especially a TS/SCI, I would HIGHLY recommend this course if you want to be a developer. Since completing the course I get roughly 2-4 phone calls and/or emails a day from recruiters.
I'll close by saying you'll get out what you put in. If you work hard and put in the time you will come out of this course successful.
If you have any questions about the course feel free to reach out to me at gmengler at gmail.com
-
Nik Marchese Verified via LinkedIn
Perfect entry point to an ever growing industry!
Read more Read less of Nik Marchese's review
This program was everything I could've wanted it to be. I applied for entry into Skill Distillery (SD) having never written a line of code in my life. At the time, I had a roommate who was already a successful software developer and all of my previous attempts to start a meaningful career had come to nothing. I decided to give software development a shot, and SD seemed like a good fit. The price tag was intimidating, but SD ended up being worth every penny. I learned an absolutely massive amount in a short period of time, and I enjoyed every bit of it, which is not something I can say about my 6 years of college. The program was difficult, and certainly not for everyone, but for someone like me (always enjoyed problem solving, and able to be fully dedicated to the program's relatively demanding schedule) it was exactly what I needed. Upon completion of the program I was able to get multiple job offers for over the salary I was looking for. The job I ended up taking was one that I was specifically referred to through SD connections. Now, a few months in, I am loving my new career and I'm excited to continue building upon the second to none foundation of coding knowledge I got from Skill Distillery. -
Matthew Jump Verified via LinkedIn
Successful Leap of Faith
Read more Read less of Matthew Jump's review
First off I do want to say that Skill Distillery is definitely not for everyone. If you are willing to put in the time and effort then it can be very rewarding.
I came into the program with probably a lot more to lose than most others that come into the program. I have a wife and 2 young kids, only an Associate Degree in a non-technical field, and no coding experience.
The first part of the program was a deep dive into Java in which I struggled with. The instructors, Steve and Rob, are excellent instructors. They are both very knowledgeable and passionate. Seeing a bad review about Steve upsets me because if it weren't for him I would not be where I am today, a software engineer which I will talk about. With 4 months of instruction from these 2 instructors I was able to take and pass the Oracle Certified Associate Java SE8 Certification. I personally put in a lot of extra hours but it was worth it.
After that you learn a lot more technologies that are highly sought after in the industry. This portion is just as intense as the Java portion because you are learning new technologies every week/few days. In the latter half the instructors, Andrew and Kris, are just as excellent as the other 2. The teaching style was definitely different but they were able to explain things in a different manner that made it easier for me to understand.
With all of the things I was taught I was able to graduate Skill Distillery with a job already lined up. I recieved a software engineer position for a national company. I was able to interview confidently for this job about 4 weeks prior to graduation. I was hired alongside individuals that had Bachelor Degrees in Computer Science with 1-2 years experience and the only experience I had was Skill Distillery. It shows that you are taught a lot and the technolgies taught are desirable.
I will reiterate that Skill Distillery is not for everyone. You will be in class for 8:30am-6:00pm pretty much every day during the week. You will put in extra hours at night and on the weekends. If you struggle like I did you will need to put in a lot more. But if you have doubts like I did, I will tell you it is worth it. You will not regret it.
-
Chris Buttaro Verified via LinkedIn
Life Changing
Read more Read less of Chris Buttaro's review
Without Skill Distillery I would not have the high paying, Junior Software Engineer position I have now. In my new position I will be joining three Skill Distillery graduates already working for my new employer. Before the course my options were to take a position setting up TV dishes on roofs, go back to my old job contracting in Afghanistan, or go to college for another two years. That is not to say you it will be easy for you find a job after completing this course if you do not have a four year degree. In my case I had a particular military background which helped me obtain my current position.
Skill Distillery is an excellent course for professionals who would like to start a career in the programming/Web Development industry. It is challenging, and you will have to work many nights and many weekends. That being said the atmosphere at the school is incredible, the instructors are highly knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. You will be amazed at the skills you pick up in just four months time.
You will have a lot to to add to your resume when you are finished. Skill Distillery pays close attention to the most relevant technologies being used by the industry and focuses on teaching you only those skills you will need to get hired. You will been given an excellent prep-week and an opportunity to be certified by Oracle as an Associate Java Programmer. You will have your own account with Amazon Web Services running a Tomcat server with many, impressive web-apps that you have built, up and running for employers to see. In addition all of your projects will be on a public github account that employers can also reference.
If you are accepted into Skill Distillery, it is because they think you have what it takes to get through the program and start a new career subsequently. Skill Distillery will provide you with the training necessary, in highly productive atmosphere, to enter into the software development field.
-
Justin Denton
Thoroughly Impressed
Read more Read less of Justin Denton's review
I am grateful that Skill Distillery works with the VA and can coordinate education benefits, making the program accessible to veterans like myself. It’s impressive how much material they were able to cover in just 16 weeks. The program is very well organized, and the staff are top-notch. The instructors consistently went above and beyond, answering all questions thoroughly and even staying late to provide additional help when needed. They did an exceptional job of delivering daily lectures in a hybrid/remote environment, ensuring a smooth learning experience. I also appreciate the time they took to review my LinkedIn profile and introduce me to Teal, providing valuable career coaching. -
Jimmy Tran
Awesome learning experience
Read more Read less of Jimmy Tran's review
I was a student in SD42 cohort. As someone with zero prior experience or background in coding or full-stack programming, this program has brought me a lot of knowledge and practical experience. The instructors have real experiences in software induysttry and provide a vast range of experiences and teach styles. The learning process is steep and fast however the material is set up in a way that continuous advancement into more complicated coding is seamless. I would totally recommend this bootcamp. -
Diego Alberto De La Puente
Super positive and rewarding Java Boot camp experience
Read more Read less of Diego Alberto De La Puente's review
I am delighted to announce my successful completion of the software coding bootcamp at Skill Distillery, where I immersed myself in 75% Java and 25% Angular. Entering the program with the goal of becoming a proficient Java developer, I can proudly say that, four months later, I have achieved that objective. Not only can I now program fundamental Java to construct console-based applications, but I have also gained the skills to develop more sophisticated server-side applications that interact with databases and interface with clients.
One of the most valuable aspects of the curriculum was learning how to retrieve data from databases and use Java for business logic to display information on a browser, thanks to the powerful Angular framework. Overall, I gained much more from the course than I had initially anticipated.
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that I had contemplated taking this course for several years but always found reasons to procrastinate. In hindsight, I wish I had taken the leap sooner. If you are like me, on the fence about making a mega life change for the betterment of your life, don't be on the fence speculating if the course will deliver.. It will deliver and more!! You just need to flip that switch in your mind and make the decision to enroll and begin doing the pre-work.
During the four months of the course, I made a conscious decision to clear my schedule entirely (you will too!), foregoing other commitments such as part-time work and other activities. Looking back, I am grateful for this decision, as the course demanded my full dedication and focus.
As for my job search, they polished up my resume and I was able to begin the job hunt early and I am now employed as a Software Engineer.
Pros:Though the course presented significant challenges, there were moments when it felt overwhelmingly difficult, and I found myself completely lost. However, one of the greatest advantages of Skill Distillery is the unlimited support available from instructors and support staff. Their willingness to address any number of questions until concepts were fully understood was invaluable.
The curriculum's organization and format surpassed that of traditional education. Each session consisted of a lecture followed by a practical lab, fostering an effective learning environment. This format ensured immediate application of newly acquired knowledge, enhancing comprehension and retention.
Furthermore, the projects undertaken during the course not only served as learning tools but also contributed to the development of a robust professional portfolio. This integration of practical projects into the curriculum provided tangible evidence of skill acquisition and readiness for the workforce.
Cons:I have no criticisms of the curriculum in the course. If I were to offer one suggestion, it would be to consider offering in-person training alongside the virtual format. While the virtual classes did not hinder my learning, the intensity of the course would benefit from in-person interaction. Sharing the challenges and collaborating in person would enhance the experience, especially considering the rigorous nature of the program. While the profession may lean towards remote work, the course is akin to nurturing a growing process, and in-person interaction could alleviate some growing pains. -
Jacob Snell
very comprehensive.
Read more Read less of Jacob Snell's review
Skilldisitllery is a school worth your money, they run you through a large amount of real-world skills. You will learn a lot about not only how to use technologies that are crucial to the field of full stack development (which they teach you a ton of), but also the skills to coordinate with a team via the great practice in the midterm and final group projects, if you are looking for a bootcamp to learn a lot of skill with real-word tools, this is for you. -
Osvaldo Maldonado
My 4 month developer journey !
Read more Read less of Osvaldo Maldonado's review
I went from zero to hero in a matter of 4 months attending this bootcamp. The instructional staff is absolutely amazing; they are patient and knowledgeable. Your learning preference does not matter. The overall pace of the course was perfect for beginners and intermediate programmers. I was a bit hesitant to attend an online class because I am more of a 'learn in person' type of student, but all of that went out the window after this course. The classes are very engaging and entertaining. If you are looking to change your profession to software development, regardless of your background, this should be your first step. -
Parris Jones
From Course Report to Review
Read more Read less of Parris Jones's review
When I was looking around for Bootcamps to attend, I did a lot of research. I looked for anywhere that had good reviews and a great team with successful outcomes. I ended up finding a lot of mixed reviews but most of them that came from SD were impactful. I charged straight ahead and went, and it's the best thing I've done so far. I started as a non-programmer who had never touched the CLI, to developing Full-Stack websites.
The instructors were great, and all of them wanted nothing but to teach and help you overcome the challenges of understanding your code. There were many weekends where I went back for TA ( teacher's assistance ) hours for some homework assignments, and I always left with a better understanding than before. SD teaches you to program and not just copy paste down a tutorial hill. You learn to think about what you're doing and implement those ideas into working programs. -
Cody Comstock
Extremely difficult but worth it.
The Java full-stack web development program at skill distillery is one of the most challenging things I have ever completed. I feel they have done a wonderful job giving my new career a jumpstart. The instructors are passionate about programming and teaching. -
Cortnie Barrow
Skill Distillery Review
Read more Read less of Cortnie Barrow's review
From day one, the bootcamp offered a dynamic and comprehensive curriculum that covered a wide range of topics essential for full stack development. The program kicked off with an in-depth exploration of Java, the backbone of countless software applications. The instructors were not only experts in their fields but also passionate about teaching, making complex concepts approachable and engaging.
One of the standout aspects of the bootcamp was its focus on hands-on learning. I had the opportunity to apply what I learned in real-world projects, which helped me gain a better understanding of the lectures through the week and allowed us to collaborate with fellow classmates, fostering a supportive community of like-minded individuals who shared the same passion for programming.
Throughout the bootcamp, we delved into both front-end and back-end development, while also mastering server-side scripting with Java. The integration of these skills provided a holistic perspective on full stack development, enabling me to develop end-to-end solutions with confidence. But beyond the technical skills, the bootcamp emphasized problem-solving and critical thinking.
Something that really made my experience at SD one to remember is the facilitation of networking opportunities with industry professionals, guest speakers, and alumni who shared their valuable insights and experiences. These interactions gave me a glimpse into the real-world applications of Java development and opened doors to potential career opportunities.
In conclusion, my experience at SD was nothing short of transformative. It equipped me with the technical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and confidence needed to excel in the world of software development. If you're considering a career in software development and want to fast-track your learning journey, I highly recommend checking out Skill Distillery. It's an investment that will pay dividends in the dynamic and ever-expanding field of technology. -
jacob bancroft
Fantastic, Intensive, Knowledgeable
Read more Read less of jacob bancroft's review
Skill Distillery offers a very intensive coding bootcamp that will leave you with the knowledge to find an entry level developer . This program goes for 16 weeks but honestly doesn't feel like it as the amount of knowledge on full-stack java development you gain from this course feels like you just completed a 4 year course. The instructors at Skill Distillery some of the best instructors i have been taught by period, all of them are very knowledgable of the systems/languages you will be learning and are more than willing to take time to answer any questions that come up. The TA's are also super good at helping you during Saturday help hours for when you need assistance on homework. Over all i cannot recommend Skill Distillery enough if you are looking into getting started in software development. -
Dean Coffman
One of the best educational experiences I've ever had.
Read more Read less of Dean Coffman's review
4 Months ago I was at a point in my life that I knew I needed a change. I just didn't know I needed THIS change. I am the kind of person that does their research. I read a lot about bootcamps and how they compared to the current market of available jobs, and what recruiters in this field thought about graduates. Honestly, not all of the reading was positive. One of the biggest issues was the material that these classes covered and the lack of information retention. That was one of the major reasons I chose this program. Skill Distillery certainly understands what the current job market is looking for. They picked the languages and materials they did to insure you are successful. The instructors genuinely care about you and your future and want you to succeed. The materials they cover are exactly what you need to drink through a firehose to land that job as a software developer. The best part is how they teach it. They aren't just teaching you a coding language. They are teaching you how to be that programmer that is versatile and capable of continuing to learn new things when you finish the school. I feel empowered to apply to jobs and succeed. I've done a lot of things in my life, military, law enforcement, masters degrees. Never in my 37 years have I ever met a team of amazing instructors of this caliber. When they say they care, they mean it. When they say trust them and their process, you should. The emotional rollercoaster of learning this level of material is real, but I never felt alone or unsupported at any level. I never felt like I was frustrating an instructor or my fellow classmates by taking the time to ask the questions I needed to. In addition to all of this, I made some amazing friends. The students I reached out to that were having the same issues and quickly became life long friends and colleagues. If you're looking to make that leap this is the place to jump from. -
Patrick Hansen
Worth it
I'm just finishing the full time Java Full Stack Development 16 week course. The instruction team and the TAs are all awesome. This is not easy and you will struggle, but you will have a team of support teaching you how to use some of the most in demand technologies as well as giving you the tools to pick up more. -
Jacob Van
Very Good Coding Bootcamp
Read more Read less of Jacob Van's review
I am a new graduate from Skill Distillery. From start to finish, Skill Distillery has provided me with the tools / guidance that is necessary in order to begin my new career in programming. One of the things that stands out the most about SD are the instructors. Not only are they experts in their field, but they are passionate about teaching and will strive to make sure that you succeed. Their ability to adapt their teaching methods to various learning styles ensured that every student received the support they needed in order to pass the course. They're also very approachable and will go above and beyond to support their students. -
Kristen Tsuboi
Great experience
Going into the program, I had very basic knowledge of Java. This made the prework a breeze. The pace of the course is very fast but your given all of the knowledge you need to be successful. After 16 weeks, you’ll feel comfortable building full stack applications. -
Spencer Williams
Challenging but worthwhile
Read more Read less of Spencer Williams's review
I graduated from the March - July 2023 cohort. The course will be a full time job including weekend homework assignments on a majority of weekends that will take up at least 2-8 hours depending on the assignment. They offer TA hours on Saturday morning which are very helpful in building an understanding of what you learned that week and building it into your weekend homework. Instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful. -
David Dunlevy
I highly recommend Skill Distillery to anyone interested in a Java Full Stack bootcamp.
Read more Read less of David Dunlevy's review
I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of my four months at Skill Distillery. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and really care about the student experience. Be sure to heed all the advice given at the beginning of the course. It is very fast paced and requires additional time of self study. You really get out of the course what you put into it. I had no prior experience with web development and now I'm capable of implementing my own front to back web applications. -
Robert Tisdale
AMAZING ALL AROUND!!! 1000% Recommend
Read more Read less of Robert Tisdale's review
Skill Distillery set the bar for what to expect in any course moving forward. Still amazed at all the material that was not only covered but retained in this 16 week course.
This course took individuals (some with absolute zero coding background) and produced competent developers with instructional overview of:
Java Fundamentals
JDBC, JSPs, JPA
MySQL
SpringBoot
Angular/Typescript
HTML/CSS
...and much more
1. The staff was ALWAYS available to assist and provide guidance. Additionally they are all passionate about teaching and making sure the students truly understand which made learning that much easier
2. The level documentation and reference material given is outstanding, haven't taken a course that even comes close.
3. The projects/homework (while challenging) really helped solidify concepts learned.
4. The additional tool knowledge such as git/gitHub, CLI, Eclipse/Spring IDE was great as it provides a full tool kit for someone to be able to take and be self sufficient.
5. The staff does an amazing job with preparing students for life after the course. This include resume and LinkedIn prep as well as providing mock code interviews for students to begin to feel more comfortable with the new knowledge they have.
If you are wanting a quick and easy path, this is not for you. This course required dedication and personal accountability, but if you can do that, the end will more than justify the means and pay huge dividends.
SD Briana of Skill Distillery
School Director
May 03, 2023
Rob, thank you so much for the authentic feedback! You truly were an awesome example of working hard to get the most out of your experience! This program is truly designed to prepare you for your next professional endeavor in the tech industry by providing you with a tangible skillset! -
Kira Stout
A challenge worth fighting for!
Read more Read less of Kira Stout's review
For a person with absolutely no coding experience I have to say I am impressed with not only myself but the Skill Distillery team for helping me advance into my new career path. They made the bootcamp journey worth all of the struggle worth it. All of the staff from teachers to TA's are extremely passionate about what they do and truly care about each individual in the cohort. As for the knowledge I gained in the 16 week Java Full-Stack bootcamp, I believe that everyone in the cohort was set up for success from day one. We were given labs, pair-programming experience, a few quizzes, and projects to aid our knowledge in-take. I would take the course again if I could, even though I still have access to the material because the instruction team was so amazing and made learning programming challenging and fun! -
Casey Froehlich
Life Changing Experience
Read more Read less of Casey Froehlich's review
As the 5th family member to graduate from Skill Distillery in the last 5 years I can confidently say (5x) Skill Distillery will change your life and will put you on a direct path to a successful future. The amount of resources, support, and knowledge provided during my time as a student was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. If you’re wanting to make a career change, Skill Distillery will not disappoint. -
Diego Hoyos
Highly recommended
Read more Read less of Diego Hoyos's review
Skill Distillery gave a strong base and that extra push I needed to take my skills to the next level. I had a basic understanding of programming concepts and they helped me see the big picture from the bottom up (full stack!). Instructors were very knowledgeable, personable, and helpful The curriculum was well structured and thought out, helping those of us who had a slight background as well as those brand new to programming. After being out for a couple years I think it is one of the best time/money investments I have ever made. Highly recommended for those seeking to become software devs coming from other unrelated fields. -
Erich S.
Full-Stack Development with Java (remote)
Read more Read less of Erich S.'s review
I graduated from Skill Distillery's 16-week Full-Stack Development with Java (fully remote) boot camp in July of 2022. The course was 1000% worth the time and financial investment. Each of the instructors demonstrated deep knowledge of the subject matter, be that Java, SQL, Java Script, or Angular. Each student question was met with patience and total competence. The materials were well-structured and detailed. The time commitment was high, although I managed to keep most of my Sundays free for some R&R. -
Andrew Cary
Skill Distillery provides an excellent and proven pathway for learning job-ready development skills
Read more Read less of Andrew Cary's review
Skill Distillery provides an excellent and proven pathway for learning job-ready skills involved in full-stack development with Java. I was impressed with the thoroughness of the program from the first day through the last. The material is comprehensive and challenging, requiring strong commitment in regards to time and effort from the student. No matter where you start from (new to the field or with some experience), if you show up daily, engage with the assignments, projects and lectures, and see it through to completion, you end up with foundational skills, an applied body of knowledge, and the confident ability to learn, build and contribute as a modern developer. -
Yettsy Knapp
Java full-stack
Read more Read less of Yettsy Knapp's review
I attended Skill Distillery (SD) for Java Full Stack between March 2020 and July 2020 in Greenwood Village Colorado and then virtual due to navigating the muddy waters of Covid-19 pandemic.
This was the toughest program I have ever completed. It’s a fast paced full time program, Java pre-work is a must.
The instructors and TA’s challenged us at every turn because they knew we could produce great deliverables. I’m glad they did, they are amazing 🤩 .
Advisor (Briana) communicated often with us students and checks in on us as alumni within our alumni community tool.
I highly recommend this program to my veteran community. If you are looking to pivot into a software development career, SD will provide you with a solid understanding of Java and OOP pillars to help you be in a career you can be excited about.
[Immersives are an expensive investment, please do your research on any school or immersive you plan to attend. Do your research, contact the school directly to have their team answer your questions about the programs you’re interested in.]
- cheers Yettsy Knapp -
Brian R.
Skill Distillery
Read more Read less of Brian R.'s review
Skill Distillery is an excellent school with staff who genuinely care about student learning and success.
During my 16-weeks at Skill Distillery, I went from having zero programming experience to getting my first job as an Applications Developer.
The curriculum covers in-demand coding skills such as Java, CSS, HTML, SQL, RESTful Web Services, and much more.
I had my first job interview during my last week at Skill Distillery. The hiring manager was impressed with the projects I developed and the portfolio I created during the cohort. I received an offer from the company shortly after.
I am now earning nearly 4x as much as I was before enrolling at Skill Distillery.
The staff regularly reach out to me even weeks after graduation to ask how I am doing and provide insight on local job openings. I feel comfortable knowing that I have former instructors who care about my education and success. The school even provides interview training and resume review after you graduate.
If you are looking for an excellent coding boot camp that will teach you in-demand skills, look no further!
I am recommending Skill Distillery to anyone who will listen!
-
bronson spies
Java Full Stack Development
Read more Read less of bronson spies's review
If choosing to go with skill distillery as your choice of boot camp here what you can expect:- World class instructors who literally dedicate their lives to improving yours
- A curriculum that makes sense for new learners. Starting with core java and moving into to more complicated things from there is perfect and curates a deeper understanding of things like front end frame works and java script that other curriculums just can’t compete with.
- Knowledge of self. This bootcamp will test you. If one is to take this program seriously one can expect to be pushed to their limits in a way that will strengthen character, knowledge, and capability. This process taught me more about myself then any other 4 months of my life has.
- And lastly, Skill distillery offers its student a strong alumni networks which is continually beneficial to my career progression after graduating
-
Gray Morrow
Excellent experience
Read more Read less of Gray Morrow's review
I came into SD with a very small amount of prior programming experience, no web experience and no exposure to object-oriented programming. The intense first five weeks at SD introduced me to OO and the Java language, and prepared me very well for the OCA exam. Web development curriculum did not disappoint either. The instructors were very available and very helpful, and consistently provided useful advice and feedback, and the alumni community proved very helpful in tracking down my first position. I would recommend SD to anybody looking to make this career change. -
Jeanne
Enter the cocoon and become the butterfly
Read more Read less of Jeanne's review
I am a graduate of cohort 27 - 16 week Full-Stack Development with Java - and attest to the fact that Skill Distillery (SD) is all it claims to be. Like most things in life, you get with you give. If you apply yourself, show up daily, and ask for help when you need it, you will have the skills necessary to excel as a full stack software developer. The curriculum is spot on providing you with the necessary concepts making it easy to learn additional languages.
SD is a family first and foremost. Every employee lives and breaths the SD Values. Cohorts are small thus valuing personalized attention and success over profits. Every person is valued and feedback is not only valued but heeded. The alumni network is second to none. Complete strangers ban together providing assistance to one another whether you have a coding problem you’re trying to solve, learning a new language, or figuring the complexity of Hacker Rank / LeetCode.
The instructors are very knowledgeable and experienced. They are patient and open to questions as well as being creative and practical in their presentation of the material helping to keep you engaged when you think you cannot possibly learn yet another new concept. The teaching assistants have been in your seat and provide wonderful support and guidance without solving the problem for you.
Like most boot camps and computer science schools, Skill Distillery does not guarantee job placement. However, through out the boot camp brown bags are offered providing support for setting up your LinkedIn profile and crafting your resume. After graduation, instructors and previous graduates gave of their time to provide one-on-one mock interviews. The alumni network has a job search channel on which openings are constantly being posted. If you desire to work for one of the big firms (Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc), you will need to do additional studying on Big O and algorithms. Udemy is a wonderful and inexpensive resource. SD has great contacts for veterans. -
Jourdan Rentschler
The Best Bootcamp Out There!
Read more Read less of Jourdan Rentschler's review
This was the best decision I ever made! I was currently in a dead-end sales job and not happy with where my career was going. I decided to take a leap of faith and do a career pivot into Computer Programming. I have now found the passion that has been burning inside of me! The Full Stack Java Web Development Program at Skill Distillery was the best! This bootcamp is no joke, you need to put in the time, work, and effort but just know you will be rewarded 100% once you graduate! The instructors are the best and are there to help you get placed into the right job! So if you are on the fence, think no more, DO IT! You will NOT regret it! #SD27 Pros: The course is full of knowledge and you might think you are drinking from the fire hose but it is well worth it!!!! Trust the process! The Instructors are there to help you no matter what, so you will not be suffering in silence! The money you are investing is worth it x5! Cons: My cohort was during the Covid-19 pandemic so it was all virtual - which was still amazing! But if you're not used to online learning - that might be a challenge - but the instructors and the team are there to help you and they made it just as wonderful! The only thing i would have to say is that I wish they offered a hard copy book of the material... all the material is online - but for myself I need a text book in order to make notes in. -
John
Skill Distillery Rocks!
Read more Read less of John's review
I attended Skill Distillery in 2019 shortly after leaving the military. Everything about the experience exceeded my expectations from the first day of class through graduating and getting my first job as a developer. The instructors are amazing and the curriculum is well designed to give you what you need to compete as a junior developer.
The program is intense. It's not easy, and is not for everyone. You need to have the aptitude for this kind of work to be successful here, and they will help you decide if you are a good candidate during the admissions process. You will begin coding on day one, and it doesn't slow down. They call this a boot camp for a reason! Between class and homework, plan on putting in at least 60 hours a week.
I was amazed at what my classmates and I were able to produce in this short time. You will write literally dozens of small projects while learning Java, JavaScript, SQL, and HTML. You will also design and build two fully functional web projects for the midterm and final. A week or two into the course, I watched the class ahead of us present their final projects and I remember thinking there is NO WAY I could build something like that. A couple of months later I was even more amazed when I did.
You might be thinking this sounds great, but can you actually get a job coming out of a boot camp? In a word, YES. Some of my classmates had interviews prior to graduation. I had a substantial commute to/from class which left me no free time, so I decided to wait until graduation to start seriously applying for jobs. I sent out maybe 15 or 20 resumes. Within days of graduation I had a promising phone interview. That lead to in person technical interview two days later, and I had a job offer before the week was over. I have been working at this company for over a year, and can honestly say it's the best job I've ever had.
If you are motivated, disciplined, and not afraid of drinking from the fire hose, Skill Distillery can offer you the express lane to a career as a developer. Give them a call. You will be glad you did. -
Frank Martin
An invaluable learning experience
Read more Read less of Frank Martin's review
I started programming in college for a semester and discovered coding bootcamps. I found Skill Distillery through VETTEC. It was one of the few schools that taught Full Stack Java Development along with Angular. I was having trouble learning how to learn programming and getting everything to stick prior to attending. I loved the model that was used to teach. We would have a lecture and a lab to enforce what we learned for every topic. Skill Distillery allowed me to transition from the medical field into a Software Engineer position. I currently work using Angular and almost everything I learned in the bootcamp.
The instructors and assistants for Skill Distillery were very helpful and compassionate when it came to teaching and some even stayed with us after class was over just in case we needed help. Skill Distillery also had a lot of workshops for job assistance in the second half of the program as well as after we finished our final projects. I recommend working on HTML and CSS before attending and during your downtime since this coding bootcamp is more backend heavy.
I highly recommend Skill Distillery for anyone in search for a coding bootcamp. Just remember you get what you put into it. I spent a lot of time during my downtime making sure I understood the material and it paid off for me in the end.