Turing School of Software & Design

Turing School was probably one of the best decisions of my life. As someone who knew very little about coding before starting, I felt very taken care of throughout my time there. From an introductory program on getting your computer set up before even starting the main program to teachers making changes on the fly to accommodate the classes needs, Turing works hard to make the experience relevant, engaging, and productive. The instructors were incredible, taking time to answer questions in class, holding office hours afterwards, addressing larger group needs, and even putting time aside just to get to know the students. The curriculum pushes students hard through larger projects that need to be completed in mini 'sprints' with an emphasis on learning real world skills like deployment, teamwork, and test-driven development. Alongside the coding, Turing's program also gets students ready for the job hunt starting on week one with exercises on building a LinkedIn profile or practicing job interviews, with specific staff there to assist in the process. Turing's greatest strength though lies in its community of graduates, who are incredible caring people, willing to meet with students and help in any way possible. While at Turing, I met some truly incredible people that I am excited to be friends with for the rest of my life, people that I can rely on for help in any situation, coding or otherwise. The seven month program is longer than traditional bootcamps and the requirement of full time student work on top of a tuition can be difficult for some people. The program is hard and will require your full attention throughout that time but I felt that it was well worth the effort and I started my first job as a web developer out of Turing feeling, if not comfortable, confident in my abilities to live up to the expectations of the role.

I recently completed the Back End Engineering Program at Turing School of Software & Design, and it has been an incredible experience. This seven-month coding boot camp focused on developer collaboration and Ruby on Rails. 

First and foremost, while I have yet to secure a developer job, the support I received from Turing School has been outstanding. They go above and beyond to assist students with optimizing their resumes and LinkedIn profiles. They also provide networking strategies and an extensive alum network for potential referrals. This ongoing support gives me confidence in their commitment to student success even after completing the boot camp.

One of Turing School's standout features is the instructors' genuine care and dedication. Throughout the program, I consistently felt their passion for teaching and desire to see every student succeed. Their knowledge and expertise were invaluable, and they were always available to provide guidance and answer questions. If you are struggling to understand the material, you have the option to repeat a module without additional cost to ensure you are absorbing the knowledge/skills.

Turing School employs a project-based learning approach, which is incredibly effective. Assigning projects before teaching all the necessary skills fosters an environment where students are constantly challenged and encouraged to apply their knowledge. This method not only solidifies the concepts learned but also simulates real-world development scenarios, preparing us for the demands of the industry.

The online environment at Turing School is vibrant and engaging. They provide numerous avenues for students to connect and collaborate, ensuring a rich and interactive learning experience. I always felt connected to my peers, from discussion forums to virtual meetups. I had ample opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

Another aspect that impressed me was the mentorship program available at Turing School. Having a mentor to guide me through the curriculum and offer personalized advice was invaluable. In addition, the mentors provided valuable insights, helped me overcome challenges, and supported my growth as a developer.

Turing School operates as a non-profit organization, which aligns perfectly with my goals and values. Their dedication to providing affordable education and fostering an inclusive environment is commendable. In addition, they actively seek student feedback and take steps to improve their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In conclusion, my time at Turing School of Software & Design's Back End Engineering Program has been enriching. The level of support, caring instructors, project-based learning, online community, mentorship program, and the school's non-profit status have made this boot camp a standout choice. The skills and experiences gained here will help propel my career in the tech industry. I recommend Turing School to anyone looking to kickstart their journey in coding and pursue a fulfilling career as a software developer.

Turing has everything someone looking to break into tech would look for. The program is designed to take someone from 0 to entry-level/junior in 7 (or 9) months and reliably does just that. The program is highly focused on diversity and inclusion and always ensures that everyones voice is heard. The coursework is very challenging, but Turing provides countless resources including fantastic instructors and mentors to help you get through it, and also has an amazing career team at the ready to help you increase your chances of finding a job. If I had to do it all over, I would, and pick Turing every time!

I participated in the Backend Engineering program with Turing and had a fantastic experience. The instructors throughout the entire program were excellent - knowledgable, supportive, and kind. The curriculum was great, and notably more comprehensive than what other schools offer. There's a real focus on building not just the technical knowledge of web app creation, but also the familiarity with industry tools and practices - specifically working collaboratively on group projects using GitHub, writing tests for your code from day one, setting up continuous integration tools, and more. In addition to this technical curriculum, the career development curriculum is great. Students are given exposure to what it actually looks like to be a professional developer, access to networks even beyond the Turing alumni community, and 1:1 support from the career team. Finally, and most uniquely, Turing offers an additional layer to their curriculum that focuses on inclusivity, identity, and what it means to be a good teammate. It's an evolving offering but they do a great job of creating space to have tough conversations, and equipping students with tools to bring to the workplace when they're hired.

Turing was more challenging and more rewarding than I could have imagined before experiencing it. The amount of support throughout the entire experience was exceptional. There will always be someone who's ahead of you in learning and that's alright because the community you're in with your peers, mentors(who are alumni themselves), and instructors are always willing to support your learning. There were folks who had to "repeat" sections of school and it wasn't something looked down upon to be held back. If you did repeat it was because instructors believed you weren't ready for the next section of school. In times when I was struggling it was comforting to know that I could repeat and still be successful and supported in completing school.

The support with resumes, cover letters, interview prep, and just overall advice from school support staff was also amazing. I ended up landing my current job because a Turing staff member shared my information with who is now my direct manager on an amazing team. 

I would say that you get out what you put into it. Make sure you have a good support system and are ready to jump into such an intense program before picking your start date. You'll be doing ~ 70-80 hrs on average each week so make sure you're prepared for that and have healthy sleeping/eating habits for the long haul you're getting into. There's a lot of support available, but if you don't use it and lean into the idea that you will need help getting through it might be a tough go of it for you. Ask for help! Make connections! People are there and willing to help you get through it and get a job on the other side!

Turing provides a high-quality, well-rounded tech education.  In addition to learning specific coding skills, students also spend time learning about high-level tech concepts, job hunt strategies, networking opportunities, industry best practices, and how to be a valued, empathetic team member.  Key concepts include Test Driven Development and Agile Workflow, among many others.
In terms of developing coding skills, instruction is delivered by knowledgable and practiced teachers who use sound pedagogy and well-structured lessons.  Classes are hands-on and participatory.  Outside of class, the majority of learning takes place through a combination of skills practice and actual project completion.  Students will gain experience working individually, with a partner, and in small groups, and will exit Turing with completed applications that are resume-ready.
Turing is a rigorous experience that requires full dedication and attention, and it will thoroughly prepare you for a new career in tech.

Short version:

• Invest in yourself and unlock the amazing skills you’re capable of with the right training and support
• Be a part of a community seeking to make a progressive impact on the world.
• GO TO TURING.

Long version:Working as a bartender at a local brewery, someone wise told me "A day without learning something new is a day wasted". Hearing that, I knew I needed to find a career where I could learn and grow. After doing some exploring I landed on Turing, and I  have never made a better decision in my life. In the world of software development, there is always something new to learn, and at Turing, you learn 50 new things a day!
To say Turing is life-changing is an understatement. After completing a 7-month intensive bootcamp from the only ACCET accredited coding Bootcamp in the US, the opportunities on the other side are staggering. I went from making $20,000 as a bartender to valuing my skills at $75,000 and above.
These opportunities are all the more accessible thanks to Turing's close-knit and supportive community. Turing is devoted to making software development a more progressive and inclusive space. Therefore if an alum has a job opening at their company, they know the Turing community is the best place to look to find a skilled developer who also has a heart for progress.
But your life will also change while you attend Turing. Expect long days... sometimes up to 12-hour days once you combine class-time, group project meetings, and personal study time. Devoting upwards of 2500 hours within 7 months can be challenging, both for you and your loved ones. But there is nothing I've done in my life that paid off better (or faster) than attending Turing.
Prior to attending Turing I completed an undergrad degree, as well as made multiple attempts at a post-grad degree. Turing is without a doubt the most well-designed and ultimately beneficial education I’ve received. 
The main causes of these failed post-grad attempts were that I didn’t believe in my capability to learn the material, and I didn’t have a supportive staff telling me otherwise. I saw other students flourish, and professors reward and celebrate those successes while I was left feeling like I couldn’t succeed and didn’t belong. This is a toxicity that often exists in academia and goes along with the “prestige-mindset” of many universities. 
At Turing, the instructors celebrate students' success, of course, but they also celebrate and reward the learning gained during the moments of failure. They highlight the tenacity and perseverance that their students display while trudging through those failures, and they maintain a belief in their students' potential to grow. These are all things I have not seen to this degree in any other educational setting to date. 
Turing believes that problem-solving and intelligence can be taught and that we all have human potential that can be unlocked. They believe anyone can learn how to code, and anyone can become an expert if they are supported properly and devote their time. They believe that "a day without learning something new is a day wasted". They know that there is no better industry than software development for achieving that goal of learning something new every day. And they know that this industry is in desperate need of progressive people with progressive ideals. Turing is doing the work to change the industry by training a diverse and inclusive community of people who have and will continue to make a positive impact on the world through code. I’m very proud to be a part of that community!
GO TO TURING. 

I landed at Turing after considering 3-4 other schools. What drew me in was the thorough curriculum, the length of the program, the program options, and the community. The length and thoroughness go hand in hand - with Turing being ~2x as long as most other programs I came across, it's inevitable that there will be a wider breath and depth of learning opportunities. Being able to choose between the front- and back-end programs means going even deeper, while also having the option to explore the other side for your capstone project and beyond Turing (several people have learned one side and ended up working on the other side in their careers). As for the community, the support system and resources around you are very strong - including peers, mentors, staff, alumni, and non-Turing grads who've gotten involved in the community because of how much they believe in Turing's mission. The community is what gets you through every step of the way - from mod 0 through graduation and well beyond graduation. There are interest and identity based groups that offer incredible support and guidance, there is mental health support offered by the school, and everyone just wants to help everyone around them succeed and to make it enjoyable to succeed. The key is to get comfortable leaning on people, know how to utilize your resources, and get confident with shamelessly asking for help.

It's necessary to acknowledge that the pace was very fast and intense, with breaks in between quarters just long enough to keep you from drowning before diving back in again. I spent ~60-80 hrs/week on Turing for the duration of the program and was thoroughly burnt out by the end of the 7.5 months. But the rewards were all well worth it. Looking back at where I was a few months before starting Turing, I can say I feel 10x more fulfilled, stable, valued, and invested in my learning, growth, and career than I ever did before.