Turing School of Software & Design Reviews
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Carrie Walsh Verified via GitHub
You get what you put into it
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When I decided to make the change from teaching to programming, originally I wanted to do an apprenticeship in Boulder. Then a friend made me go to a Try Coding for Teachers. I knew right away that I had met my people.
Fast-forward and I'm graduating today. It's so surreal. Turing provides such a unique experience and you can feel how much they care and want you to succeed. Don't get me wrong, it is a difficult 7 months. There are a lot of late nights and a lot of times you reach a wall and can't see how to get over it. But the skills they provide you to plan and climb those hurdles is beyond what I expected. I've felt nothing but support and the community both in the basement and beyond is more than I could have hoped for.
The more you put into your time at Turing, the more you get out of it.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 29, 2019
There are some people who have this inexplicable light about them. When everything is hard, when everything is broken, they're somehow the ones that remind people "WE CAN DO THIS." Thank you for sharing your light with our community and lifting up everyone around you. -
Nick Verified via GitHub
BE Graduate
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The program is advertised as a 7 month program. The program is broken into four 6 week modules. In many cases, students have to repeat one or two of these modules. The program will then take you and extra 3 months. That being said, the program was the best thing I have ever done. It is NOT for everyone. I spent an average of 60-70 a week either on campus or at home working on projects, in class or studying. There are very few opportunities to take a day off. If you remember that this program is less than a year, it makes the long hours easier. Go to a try coding event if you want to check it out.
The school is in a cool location in Denver. Take public transportation if you have the option.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 29, 2019
Determination isn't always enough. Some folks have put in a millions hours and things still don't work out. Then, there are some where it just takes a minute to get off the starting line. But, powered by commitment and work ethic, they reach top speed. Thanks for sticking with it and finding your way. -
Mike L. Verified via GitHub
Life Changing Decision
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TLDR: If you are ready for a dev-related career, can afford to take 7+ months to learn and are prepared to WORK HARD, go to Turing!
I made a career switch from Marketing to Frontend Development and went through the 3rd wave of the frontend program (1610). I wanted a career where I could solve challenging problems, work hard to improve my skillset and work remote. Programming (with Turing's help) gave me just that.
Turing was an incredible place to learn. The facility is great (you might think windows would be nice but when you need to stay heads-down on a project, a basement is the best place). The staff is incredibly knowledgable and does everything in their power to set you up for success. The curriculum was great then (2016/2017) and prepared me well and has been iterated on and vastly improved in the years since. Lastly, you are going through it with a bunch of other people learning the same things you are. These people will become invaluable resources for your learning, sanity and even job prospects down the road.
**If you work hard, the skills will come...but the community you immerse yourself in with Turing is the greatest value you will receive. **
The outcomes of Turing were incredible. They were supportive with the job search, helped prepare me for interviews and provided the resources necessary to build an attractive resume. Plus when you have access to hundreds of Turing graduates, networking is kind of fun. Within a few months after attending I was able to increase my salary by 40% and now on my 2nd dev job (almost 2 years since graduating) I have essentially doubled the salary I had before attending Turing. Not to mention I work remote which was a big incentive I sought out when switching careers (keep in mind it can take a while after Turing to establish the necessary skills to be successful in a remote environment).
On top of the technical skills, Turing does an amazing job of reinforcing and enhancing what the industry calls "soft skills". Through weekly "Gear Ups", you learn a better sense of respect and how to navigate differing opinions. Code is written for human eyes at the end of the day and your ability to collaborate and effectively communicate with others will make you more attractive to companies, better to work with and let's be honest, a better person in general.
So I'll repeat it here - If you are ready for a dev-related career, can afford to take 7+ months to learn and are prepared to WORK HARD, go to Turing! The admission cost is a tiny price to pay for what you get in return.
Some final thoughts and opinions:- Be ready to WORK! The classtime/worktime hours are only part of it. I put in 60-80 hour weeks regularly while attending Turing.
- Don't try to work while attending Turing (if you can help it). Things will get intense quickly and the stress levels are high enough. If you can manage to take out a loan to afford your cost of living on top of Turing, the average salareis being reported from graduates will be more than enough to pay it back quickly.
- I've seen some folks drop out because they feel they didn't get what they paid for...First off the cost is nothing when you think about what you're getting. More importantly, going to Turing does not guarantee you a career in programming. They will do everything in their power to help you succeed. What you get out is what YOU put in. You can't "buy" a new career. You will need to work your ass off and earn it.
- Turing is an "All In" experience. If your plan is to pick and choose the lessons you attend and skip out on others, Turing is not for you.
If you're still reading this I hope you found it helpful. Turing changed my life. I love what I do for work, am constantly learning/growing and am able to live where I want to because of the skils they helped me acquire. If you are prepared to work for it, Turing will get you there.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 29, 2019
People talk about how the industry is built on 100-hour, high-pressure weeks of work without a minute to breathe. But this guy's living the dream in Steamboat and his instagram is a non-stop stream of trout. TELL THE WORLD YOUR SECRETS MICHAEL LIMBERG. -
Tim Tyrrell Verified via GitHub
Everything Turing Gave Me
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They gave me a sense of purpose.
They taught me what hard-work looks like, what it leads to, and why it's important.
They challenged me to be a better me. They asked me to challenge others to be a better them.
They gave me a sense of empathy for those I assumed had always had had a similar experience to mine, which was a wildly inaccurate assumption.
They gave me a skill. Then, they gave me another skill. They gave me skills that build on skills.
They gave me their effort. They gave me their support.
They gave me a community to be inspired by. They gave me people I can depend on. They gave me better firends.
They gave me an opportunity to be proud of my self. They gave me the chance to lift up others.
They gave me a chance to contemplate impact and responsibility.
They gave me tough love when I needed it. They gave me perspective.
They didn't give me a choice to do it my way, instead, they showed me the right way to do it.
They gave me a chance to help make the community feel more like it was mine when I was a student.
They gave me a career.
They gave me ladder.
They threw me a life preserver when I was floundering.
They listened to me.
They gave me a hand when I was down.
They cared about me and my success. They care about me and my success.
They gave me an opportunity to change my life. They gave me an opportunity to change the lives of my grandchildren.
I don't have any grandchildren.
They gave me a place to belong. They gave me a sense of what equality actually looks like.
They gave me advice on how to grow. They grew me.
They keep giving to me. They will never stop giving to me.
Every day this community grows in size, so do my future prospects within this industry. Every time a Turing alumni does their job well, my name gains respect by association. And, every time I represent myself well, I have the opportunity to fuel that respect as well.
What else will Turing give me in a year? In five? In ten?
These are questions I feel privileged to ask.
How can I ever give enough back to them?
Truthfully, I can't. They've given me a new life. A better life. How do you repay that?
But, I will still keep giving, keep trying, keep growing, because I know they will never stop doing the same for me and our community at large.
I am but a small slice of Turing. But, I am Turing. And, Turing is an extension of me. But, more importantly it is an extension of many who are not me. And, it is an organism that will never be complete. It will grow and evolve and iterate to become more than any one person ever could be. It already has done that, and it will only grow stronger.
Thinking about what Turing might give you? All the above and more.
But, more importantly, one should be thinking about what one can give to Turing. For this is the mindset that will enable one to obtain the most successful outcome.
Giving yields getting in this community.
If you give yourself, your effort, your trust, your energy, and your mind to Turing, you will get more than you had ever dreamed a "code-school" could possibly provide.
Thank you, again and again, thank you Turing.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 29, 2019
Thanks, Tim, for now spending your free time mentoring and guiding the next generations. We're already seeing dropouts trending down and graduation trending up thanks to your work. -
Charlie C. Verified via LinkedIn
Learning to code at Turing
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I attended the backend program at Turing school in March 2017 (1703). I worked in public libraries for about a decade before discovering a passion for coding. Code school seemed to be the most efficient way to accomplish a career change. I chose Turing because it was the longest, most in depth, and most well-reviewed of Denver's options. I also appreciated that it was non-profit.
I did the backend program, graduated after 6 months or so, had a job within a couple weeks of graduation. I'm about a year and a half into my software engineering career now. I’m a full stack engineer, which means I do front end, back end, and devops. Turing prepared me for this. I am absolutely loving every moment if it.
Of course, while I was in the Turing basement, I don't think I'd describe it as love. I worked 12-16 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the entire program. For seven months, I didn't have a day off, I didn’t see my family or friends, I didn't read or hike or have any hobbies. I’m not usually a crier, but for seven months, I coded and I cried; and, because Turing time is precious, I coded while crying because it’s more efficient! Part of that is my fault for being overly intense about achievement and learning, but part of that is the stressful nature of the program (there’s a row of small rooms near the kitchen that are officially called “phone booths” but are unofficially referred to by students as the “crying rooms”). But, I learned what I needed to learn, I finished, got a job as an actual software engineer, have the tools I need to be good at my job. And, you guys: my job is super dope.
I absolutely recommend the program, but feel the need to point out that my cohort lost about half of its students along the way. Either they left the program entirely or stayed back to repeat a module. It is one of the hardest code schools — that’s why it has such a great reputation with employers — but not everyone makes it through. That’s part of the stress of the program is seeing this happen to other people and being terrified that it might happen to you in a few weeks. What if you work as hard as you can and it’s not enough?
I don't say so to discourage you from attending, but rather if you choose to attend, I encourage you to set yourself up for success: Do all the pre work, including the extra extensions. Don't plan long hikes on weekends or camping trips during intermissions. Say “farewell for now” to your family and friends. Budget for eating out a lot if you don't have someone to cook for you. Invest in dry shampoo. Listen to the teachers and don’t get mad at them when they tell you to Google it. You need to hear that. And show up every day ready to work harder and longer than you probably have ever before. It's a long 7 months, but it's only 7 months.
If it’s what you want and you’re willing to put in the work, it’s totally worth it.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 29, 2019
I weighs heavily on me to think about all the students who haven't graduated. Folks who spent time, energy, and money to figure out it just wasn't for them. We've worked to improve and deepen our prep programs before people show up along with constantly refining our instructional content, methodology, and execution. I'm committed to achieving a 90% graduation rate and 90% employment within 90 days of graduation. With the help of people like you and Keegan out there proving that the model works and opening one door after another, we'll get there. -
Adam Lusk Verified via GitHub
Best Decision of my Life
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I was a struggling musician with a Master's. Now I'm a well-paid software engineer thanks to Turing, and I couldn't be happier. If you are considering a boot camp to learn software, look to Turing first.
The program lives up to its reputation. It is very difficult and time consuming, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable and caring. If you get through it, you'll have a portfolio full of web apps to show to potential employers that students coming out of universities with CS degress lack. And there is a very inclusive atmosphere that invites a diverse group of people to share ideas and experiences with each other to develop all kinds of empathy, a desparately needed skill in any industry.
Just go there already and make your life better while making everybody else's life better with the technology you will build.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 29, 2019
Why are there so many musicians turned programmers? People typically talk about the patterns of music being similar to the patterns of programming, but I think it's more behavioral. Musicians learn to practice, critique, and revise. The small details that might go unnoticed are your stumbling blocks you can't get over. So you work and work and work to fix it. Practice, critique, do it again. Thanks for making it work. -
Gray Smith Verified via GitHub
A ton of hard work, a lot of fun, and an amazing new career!
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I very much enjoyed my time at Turing and got an amazing new job a little more than a month out from graduating. I considered several different bootcamps and the thing that sold me on Turing was the staff and the commitment to excellence. Turing is a single-location non-profit and the founders are down in the basement day in and day out critically analyzing everything they do and continuously improving the curriculum. I’m actually jealous of the current students because I feel like the curriculum has gotten markedly better even since I’ve been there a few months ago. Turing also has a very good reputation with employers because their graduates are actually job ready. Turing is very hard especially if you’ve never done any previous programming (most students haven’t so its normal). Prep work before starting is crucial to your success in the program in my opinion. They are currently working on Module 0 to help people prepare. As hard as it is, Turing is a lot of fun! The projects are awesome and you will make some really good friends. The camaraderie and mutual support in the basement is infectious. The teachers are also excellent and very committed to the students. You will get a job after Turing and a lot of graduates are making really good money right out of school. However, you have to work hard for it and make sure all your ducks are in a row (networking, projects, personal site, interview skills, LinkedIn). The alumni network is strong and the career services people are great. They will help you with all this stuff if you put in the work. I would highly recommend Turing to anyone who is interested in programming as a career. If you’re not sure, go check out a ‘Try Turing’. If you like it, sign up for the program and start preparing right away! 10/10 would enroll again.Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 30, 2019
I'm glad it all worked out for you, Gray! You're right that both (A) the curriculum and structures have improved over time and (B) preparation can make a big difference.
On (A), some early students who now mentor have said to me "I don't think I would have passed [given the demands/expectations today]," and they're right. I think we still have a lot to learn/build to make things truly excellent, and I'm excited for some of the changes coming down the pipe in the next few months.
On (B), we're just about to graduate the first Mod 0 participants and have seen a marked decrease in the repeat and drop-out rates. It's convinced me that technical prep is helpful, but life prep is the most important. People who have their budget, transportation, housing, food, and personal relationships all sorted before they start can really focus 100% and find success. When some of those things are off, people can only put in 90% or 80% of their focus, then they just can't keep up.
We look forward to seeing where you go from here! -
DW Verified via LinkedIn
Life Changer
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I know its been repeated in review after review, but the decision to enroll as a student in Turing's frontend program completely changed my life. To anyone looking to make a career switch into software development, I highly recommend attending the Try Turing weekend to get a feel for the instruction style and atmosphere. It won’t be easy, and it will take everything you’ve got for all 7 months, but if you put in the hard work, the benefits of this program are incredible!
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 30, 2019
It's great to see you out there on the second job, proving that hard work pays off. -
Josh Thompson Verified via LinkedIn
I went to college, and years later, Turing. Turing was 1/6th the time, 1/3rd the cost, and 10x more valuable
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I graduated from college in 2011 with a major in Political Science and a minor in "International Studies", whatever that is.
I have never, ever used the "skills" I gained in college. No one has ever asked to look at my resume, or asked me about my college education.
The skills I gained in Turing, on the other hand, are extremely relevant. I'm now a software developer, and I'm about 1.5 years into my first job.
I suspect my entire working career will fall into two categories:
- Pre-Turing
- Post-Turing
I'm feeling really good about my post-Turing career. I enjoy the work I do every day, and I'm well paid. I have significant growth opportunity in my career, and I have a healthy work-life balance. I can spend time with my wife and family, friends, etc.
I appreciate what Turing does every day, and contribute time (and money!) to their efforts. I mentor students, I donate to the school, I refer many friends to Turing. To date, FOUR of my friends have gone through the program, and all are equally thrilled with it.
After I finished Turing, I paid off the $15k I owed for Turing, and the $15k I had left in student loans, in less than a year. Now all the extra income just goes straight to savings.
I wrote up a bit about my experience here: https://josh.works/turing-retrospective
I think Turing is a great use of time and money. I strongly suggest you do the work of setting yourself up for success at Turing, across financial and emotional domains. Take out a loan if necessary, but don't try to work a job while in Turing.
Plan on putting your regular life on hold while at Turing. Work hard to get through the prework, and then some. Work hard, and sleep at least eight hours a day. When you're done, do what they say to get a job, and you'll get a job. Your life will be changed.Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Aug 30, 2019
It's one thing to graduate hundreds of developers over the years, but are things better today than they were two or four years ago? Are more doors open? Are grads better trained? The action and energy invested by the alumni network will determine the magnitude of our success. Amongst that network, there are the few who you know are always ready to show up. Panel for new students? Josh is there. Someone needs advice in Slack? Josh is there. Mentor? Josh. Organizing event? Josh.
Thank you for your tireless commitment to making every next generation successful. -
Eric Wahlgren-Sauro Verified via LinkedIn
Back-End graduate success story
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I graduated from Turing in June of 2017. I attended the program for eleven months after having repeated two modules. I'm currently at work and want to be quick so if I don't mention something assume it was amazing, 5/5. The professional development I found to be mostly busy work. I already had a LinkedIn set up and in a healthy state. I knew, given my personality, using Twitter wasn't how I was going to find connections and therefore wasn't valuable. College had taught me already how to assemble a decent resume so that wasn't a learning curve. The most valuable part of all the PD was the mod 5 content. I'll link to part 1/3. That put a fire under my butt to really nail my interviews and treat each with great care. Those videos basically showed me to never assume you've made it until you've made it. The only other thing I thought wasn't maximum potent value add were weekly gear up sessions. Every Friday we would take a couple hours to dive in on a topic of controversy and while this is a fun exercise at best you leave it being on the "right" side of the argument and at worst you lose ground with peers and instructors. I think just leaving that off the table for consideration would be a benefit to Turing.
Briefly, let's talk about the amazing. Turing is hands down, the best education regarding any subject matter I have received. Everyone at the program is there because they want to be and that makes a world of difference in how much effort I put into the work. There are no games around work that can be skipped and work that really matters. No, it all matters and someone has thought deeply about why that content shouldn't end up on the cutting room floor.
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Kathleen Yruegas Verified via LinkedIn
Best Decision Ever, But Difficult
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8 months ago, I was working as a financial aid officer at a small school and I was bored out of my mind. Career growth was small and I knew I wanted to do something that challenged me and elevated my current level of living. Through a lot of research and talking to alumni, I settled on Turing School. I started in June 2018 in the Back End Engineering program and just graduated a few weeks ago (January 2019). The down and dirty is Turing was the most difficult, yet rewarding thing I have ever done.
The work load is intense. I spent the better of 50-70 hours per week working on projects and studying. Stress levels were high, work-life balance was very very hard to maintain and most of us really didn't have much of a life outside of Turing. We were in it together though and the support amoung my classmates and the staff was amazing. The friends I made over those 7 months will be my friends forever, no doubt! I have a family and kids and juggling those responsibilites with school was very very difficult. But holy crap I learned so much!!! More than I thought I was capable of! I didn't have a background in software, just some exploring here and there, but I can now create full web apps! I surpassed all expectations I had of myself and Turing surpassed all expectations I had of the school. The community is amazing, there is tons of support and resources if someone is needing technical help, emotional help, job search help, etc. The mentor and alumni community is strong and they are almost always willing to help however they can.
From my graduating cohort of 16 people in the Back End program, one of us had a job offer at graduation. Many have had multiple interviews and are progressing in the job search. Turing has great support in this area and if you do the things they tell you, you will be successful!
If I had to do it again, I would in a heartbeat. Those 7 months were emotionally strenuous, stress levels were crazy, I cried many a time, but Turing helps you push through, dig in, and learn how to code. The program is extremely immersive as it needs to be to teach you so much in such a short period of time. The in-person structure was key for me. Having that community and accountability was the reason for my success. We did individual and group projects which allowed us to learn more from our peers and to build our collaborative skills as well. (Read: great for employement!!!)
I could go on forever about why Turing was so great, but if you really want to see what it's like, talk to an alumni, attend a Try Turing event, or attend some sort of information event.
I would absolutely recommend Turing, but one who might attend should be aware of the time commitment. If you have questions, you can find any Turing alumni on LinkedIn and they will most likely be happy to talk to you about the program!
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Nicholas J Verified via GitHub
:thumbsup
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Plenty has already been said about this program in other reviews so I'll keep this brief.
My life will forever be divided in my mind into two distinct periods: before I attended Turing and after I attended Turing.
It was a transformational experience for me in ways I never expected, it's impact going far beyond just my career or salary. I couldn't be happier with my decision to attend.
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Jesse Pinkman Verified via GitHub
A good program...if you can get through it
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I attended Turing for eight months. I had a decent overall experience, and ended up getting an amazing job after only completing 3/4 of the program. I learned what I needed to in order to excel in my current job. I think that there are several things that could be changed at turing however. Firstly, Turing promotes transparency, yet doesn't release statistics on how many students end up repeating a module. Most of the students that I knew ended up repeating one or more modules. Turing should release these statistics and realize that in order for people to save up an appropriate amount of money and plan ahead, they need to be honest about the module repetition system. I also think they should re-evaluate how they assess and deal with possible cases of academic dishonesty, especially when it comes to accusing entire classes of cheating. My entire class was accused multiple times, even though we all knew that the accusations weren't legitimate, and as far as I know, no one was actually singled out(which would be pretty easy to figure out in that its CODE). Overall, I met a lot of amazing people, learned a lot, but was dissapointed in the general management.
Jeff Casimir of Turing School of Software & Design
Executive Director
Jan 23, 2019
Keeliana,
I'm excited to hear that your job has been amazing and leads to more great things in your future.
In our industry-standard CIRR reports linked on this page or findable on https://cirr.org/data , there are lines for "How many students graduate within 100% of published program length (on-time)?" and "How many students graduate within 150% of published program length". The difference between those, currently about 8%, represents the percentage of students who repeat or take time off and still graduate. Amongst the students who don't graduate there are, of course, a high percentage of repeaters. The typical ratio is for a Module 1 class of about 28 students to see four repeat Mod 1. Then the numbers typical go down each mod with 2-3 repeaters in Mod 2, 1-2 in Mod 3, and none in Mod 4.
Personally, the module-repeat system is one of the things I am most proud about at Turing. Few other programs have any meaningful assessments or checkpoints in their academic program. Over the years we have seen many students struggle, repeat, and succeed. In another program, they would have either just dropped out or, worse, spent their entire time at the bottom of the class always a bit behind. That's bad for their skill development, bad for their psyche, and bad for their classmates.
We've also implemented the Mod 0 curriculum to cut down some of the reasons people dropout early or need to repeat modules: insufficient life planning (budgets, scheduling, etc) and foundational technical skills (using files and folders, text editors, etc). As you mentioned, some students don't make a realistic budget for their time at and after the program (allowing for both potential mod repeats and time to job hunt). Financial pressure/stress typically undercuts their academic progress, leading to poor results. My hope is that Mod 0 will mean more students have a healthy financial life leading to better academic performance and a dramatic change in the stats for 2019 and beyond.
On the topic of Academic Dishonesty, it's surely complicated. We have a documented academic integrity policy in our student handbook and review it with students in the early days of the program. Nevertheless, in a world where everything is posted to GitHub, it's tempting for students to short-circuit their own learning by copying code. When we find situations of suspected copying, we always have multiple staff members look at the submitted code and the suspected source. It's usually pretty clear.
In most cases we're able to give students a private/confidential warning, they're terrified, and it never happens again. Occasionally it can become a trend amongst a cohort, in which case we choose to both have individual/private conversations and whole-group discussion. From there, a second violation will usually lead to dismissal from the program. Thankfully we've only had to dismiss about six students for multiple violations of the academic integrity policy.
I hope this clears up some of your concerns. -
Melena S Verified via GitHub
Life Changing
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Making the decision to go to Turing was terrifying but I've never felt better about a decision in my life.
The curriculum is intentionally designed to give you the skills and underlying understanding that it takes to succeed as a developer. The instructors and staff are passionate and lovely people. The program is very demanding (60 hrs a week minimum to get by, and you'll probably want/need to do more), but with dedication is totally doable and the community really comes together to support each other.
I absolutely love the job I have now, but I miss that basement.
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Erin B. Verified via GitHub
Amazing education at Turing
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Attending the backend program at Turing was hands-down the most challenging and rewarding educational experience of my life (previously I completed undergraduate and master's degrees from a large state university). I chose this program for its strong curriculum, educational integrity, and non-profit mission, and I am so happy I learned to code at Turing. With any immersive/intensive experience, you must go into it expecting to do nothing else while in the program; you cannot work outside of the program, you must line up help with childcare and household duties, you should not plan any trips or weekend getaways over the seven-month period, and you must put your entire focus on your learning (and in many cases relearning how to learn in a context like Turing). I basically told my friends and family, "see you in seven months." If you cannot manage your time in that way while also getting 8 hours of sleep each night and other self-care you may need, you may struggle in this program. You must limit distractions and become incredibly self-reliant when it comes to asking for help (from other students, mentors, etc.) and seeking solutions outside of class. If you are the type who always did well in school, this program will humble you (which I find appropriate given how humbling the career of software developer can be). You will learn how to communicate well and collaborate with a team through group projects.
You will be expected to manage your own job hunt (there is no "placement service" although Turing is well-known/respected among hiring managers and employers often come to Turing to find candidates), but the Turing curriculum includes great professional-development sessions and resources to prepare you to do so successfully. Turing provides excellent instruction and a lot of wonderful resources, but in the end, you are in charge of your success in the program and job hunt. If you get behind or need more instruction, you have the option to repeat a module (there are four modules in the seven-month program) for an additional charge.
Turing is hard, stressful and relentless in ways I'd never experienced before, but it's also fun, inclusive and definitely worth it. If I had to do things over again, I would have done considerably more pre-work and online learning before starting the program—possibly like six months' worth of part-time solo studying since I didn't come from a technical background. I also highly recommend attending one of the "Try Coding" workshops Turing runs on weekends before deciding to enroll. Once you're in: Keep repeating to yourself, "This is really hard, but I can do this" because it's true, and just keep going.
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Pat Neel Verified via GitHub
Front End Engineer
Overall amazing experience
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Jon Verified via GitHub
10/10 Do It Again
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Before attending Turing, I researched a lot of bootcamps. I transitioned my career from a completely different field and wanted to make sure I made the right choice to launch my new career as a software developer. After all the research, it still felt a bit like a leap of faith, but I could not be happier with my choice to attend Turing. My impression of most bootcamps is that they are "pay-to-play" and regardless of whether you retain any meaningful knowledge or skills, they ship you out in to the world and call you a developer. That is not the case with Turing and you will be thankful for it later. The Turing program is rigorous and ever changing to keep up with the latest technology. Their staff is unbelievably skilled and knowledgeable and if you want to move forward through the program you have to pass legitimate assessments. You will see some of your new peers/friends fall behind, or even drop out - this is a good thing. The academic rigor and refusal to graduate someone who is woefully unprepared is what has set Turing apart from their competition and, at least in the Denver, I think the tech scene has recognized that. Turing is doing a great job of breaking the stigma around bootcamps with employers that other camps have created by churning out underqualified devs in the name of profit (Turing is a non-profit).
Turing does a great job with professional development and preparing you to find a job, but they won't just hand you a job. That being said, most developers bounce around within the 'gig economy' that is software development and taking the time to learn how to craft your resume and a nice portfolio is worthwhile when you are ready to put your name back out in the market for your 2nd or 3rd opportunity. The teachers are great, but a special shoutout goes to the supporting players that run the professional development and personal growth side of the curriculum.
10/10 would do it again.
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Adrian Lara Verified via LinkedIn
Awesome experience
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TL;DR - This isn’t a place you come to just to get good grades and earn a certificate; this is a place to get job ready. Along the way, you’ll likely be part of an awesome community and meet some amazing people.
Before continuing, I’ll preface my more detailed review with a reminder that this comes from own experiences which, of course, can/will be different from others’.
Regarding the technical curriculum, I think it was generally well structured in that there’s an initial focus on the basics of programming before they dive into more practical and applicable skills. Throughout the program, there’s a common theme that I think worked very well - that is, they often position students to explore a topic on their own before formally teaching it. As difficult as this was, this did two things for me. The first is that it allowed me to have context for any particular lesson/topic being taught. The second is that it allowed me to be confident in exploring unknowns and being self-sufficient as a developer. I think the second is a necessary skill for developers to practice.
The instructors and staff are an amazing group of people who really care about the growth of their students. They range from Turing alumni to individuals with years of experience in the field. As an aside, for those like me, I initially had some concern about being taught by alumni with no experience in the field. But not only was this a non-issue (they were all very knowledgable), looking back, I’d now view this as a positive. It was great to learn topics from someone who could easily “meet me where I was”, which I think the alumni-turned-instructors were all very good at doing. Lastly and maybe most importantly, all of the staff (including Jeff) are not afraid to make changes to the their teaching styles or curriculum based on student feedback or relevant changes in the field.
Finally, I’ll speak very briefly about the overall community. I really felt like this is a place designed to push individuals to grow personally as well as technically. There are plenty of non-technical sessions that explicitly did this, and I think those were extremely useful. But aside from those, I think the personalities of the staff and students collectively add up to a community of people that want to make a positive impact on the tech and larger community.
(Like a lot of things in life) Turing is what you make it, but the school's done a great job of providing the environment for you to grow in a lot of ways. Overall, I really appreciate my experience at Turing.
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Seamus Quinn Verified via LinkedIn
Another Clever Title
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I want to preface this by stating that these are my experiences. I can only speak for myself, and hope that this review is seen as singular, not an accurate portrayal of every experience at Turing. These are my opinions and should be consumed as such.
Turing is a special place. A strong, tight-knit community where there is almost a 1:1 ratio of giving and recieving. When I started here, I had zero experience working with computers. I was worried that I wouldn't be successful, or able to perform to the standards of Turing, my instructors, or my peers. I did not come from a math or science background, and was worried, especially as the first week passed, that there were others who might be more successful than me, due to their previous experiences, or their "programming-brain-type".
What it really came down to was putting in the work. For someone like me where things did not necessarily come right away, I had to put in the work. I had to study every day before and after school. It wasn't easy. It wasn't glamorous, but I eventually ended up having a lot of fun doing it, and looked forward to practicing concepts I had learned.
If you're thinking about taking the leap, know that you are landing in a community of people who care about your development as a learner, a thinker, and a human being. This is not a place for a quick fix. It is a place to build a foundation that allows you to learn whatever you set your mind to. That being said, the time required (in my experience) to be successful is huge, and should not be taken lightly. If you are not sure if you will be able to devote the majority of your time to learning, Turing might not be the place for you.
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Jordan Quinn Verified via GitHub
Turing Changed my Life
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I am who I am today, in large part, because of my experiences at Turing. Coming into the program, I had a very slight "edge", in that I had taught myself some code over the period of about 6 months. By the end of the program, though, that edge was non-existent. We were all equals.
I have never so consistently felt that I was surrounded by individuals (staff and students alike) that wanted nothing more than to better themselves and those around them. It's absolutely infectious and I can guarantee that, if nothing else, Turing will inspire you to transcend your former self and you will try to become something more. As many of the other reviews have stated, you can expect 70-80 hour work weeks here. There will be incredibly intense struggles, moments where you feel like you can't.But then you will.
And out of that process of living somewhere between the edge of success and failure for 7 months, you'll become a well rounded software developer who is more than ready and capable to join the work force. More importantlty than that, though, you'll become a well rounded human being. The relationships I developed while at Turing are some of the most dear I've had over the course of my entire existence. It's a family. I walked away with numerous mentors, people I know will be in my wedding party someday, endless professional contacts, and a sense of pride I had never previously experienced. My perspectives were challenged, my paradigms shifted, and I became a little bit more of the type of person I'd truly like to be.
That said, you can absolutely expect to make intense sacrifices. Friends from outside the program, family, and other relationships will become strained. At the time of writing this, I am the 10th or 11th known (thanks for loosely keeping track of this stat, Jeff) engaged person to leave the program no longer engaged to their former fiance. While this may sound like a tragedy, it's the best thing that ever happened to either one of us. We both grew due to my experience at Turing, into individuals that no longer fit in a pair. And out of that, came the opportunity to pursue who we truly are.
I use that example to (hopefully) paint a picture of just how intense this program is. You will leave different than you came.But, it'll be the best thing you've ever done.
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Angi C Verified via LinkedIn
Veterans Warning
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Hi- I was hesitant to leave this review, as I do not want to scare people away from applying to Turing. Turing is a good school, it is boot camp style, so essentially you are thrown in the deep end when you can barely swim, then throughout the module, you are thrown more and more material, sinking you deeper, as you struggle to keep your breath. The staff wants you to struggle, as a big part of becoming a developer is solving your own problems using Google, and various other resources such as classmates, and staff.
I came into Turing with a solid education, I have a master's degree and a BS in Science. However, this school is geared towards people with mathematical or engineering degrees (arts degree as well, it is the left side of your brain used mainly for object orientated programming)- those are the people that really excel. I am not saying that you cannot go through this school successfully when you have any other types of backgrounds, I am just saying the majority of people that move on without repeating modules have those types of backgrounds typically.
The cost of tuition is roughly $20,000, that includes a laptop. As a veteran, you should know it is $20,000 for four modules, so if you repeat that is an extra cost on top of that $20,000. When I went through the repeat rate was 35%!!!! 10 of us out of 28 repeated, with three dropping out for various personal reasons. I used my post-911 GI bill for this school. The VA paid the full $20,000 upfront to Turing. Turing has a policy if you fail a module twice, you are not cut out to continue in Turing, this happened to me. In the end, Turing took roughly $10,000 and some change (admin fees) from the VA. You will still owe the VA. I was warned by a staff member that people tend to have to pay BAH back, as the VA takes awhile to process withdraw paperwork.
This school is really tough. Turing has a very lax acceptance process compared to say Galvanize (interview, portfolio, coding examples, etc). To get accepted, I basically just had to answer why I want to pursue this field, and then solve an algorithm. So yes, you will probably get accepted easily. This is easy money for the school. The instructors are great, and they will help you in any way they can, but keep in mind that any extra help you ask for, they are outweighing your progress in the back of their minds.
Some of my classmates that repeated continued through, those that repeated prior to and were in my first module continued to module two, however, two of them are repeating module two. Can you imagine that is $15,000 in the hole already? So outweigh this decision and do not take this lightly, you only have so much GI bill to use. If you make it through, I have heard it is life changing. You gain great friends and a great career.
With all of this being said, reading this review before starting I probably would have still enrolled. I trust in my abilities to adapt to stressful environments and I was always an A student, but look where I am now. I can say that I put in everything I had into this program, I was there 12 hours a day and barely saw my family. Time does not equal success in this program. You need to be able to grasp object orientated programming fully- I was there, I was on the edge- but they would not allow me to continue. So before deciding to spend your hard earned, sweat and tears funding from the VA- really weigh your options.
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Co7 Verified via GitHubBig challenge, Big commitment, even Bigger pay off
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Full Disclosure, wasn't able to finish at Turing for reasons that had nothing to do with the School, but was able to complete 3 of the 4 modules and even repeated the 1st module so in some ways I got extra experience only some see.
Like you will read from most, this place is challenging. There is no ceiling for any student and everyone has a rough time. Be prepared for long, sleepless, frustrated nights and mornings that come too soon, only to have more information crammed down your throat. The first module can be quite the wake up call and it only continues. The pace is fast and vigorous, but so is your learning curve. Sadly the first few weeks there didn't go quite as smoothly for me as it did others and so I was forced to repeat. While feeling like failure, the staff and other students made it known I wasn't. Like many others I was able to pick it up, and progress on.
All in all, the school is great. It fosters a community that is there to help out and support you. The staff is fantastic and without a doubt there only to see you succeed. If you're able to make the commitment, you will not regret it. The amount of information and experience you gain is incredible. Not just from a coding side either.
Many people say, "This school is life changing". When I first heard that, I honestly cringed from the cheese-ness. However I can attest it's the truth. While everyone of course will take different things away from the program, I can only speak to what I took from it. I absolutely became a much more driven, efficient and focussed person. I learned to communicate with co-workers/students better and also learned to know when to push through a problem, and when to ask for help. These traits, paired with vast coding knowledge you'll learn made transitioning into my first developer position easier than others who came from different boot camps or backgrounds.
My advice to perspective students, get your life situated and ready to be completely hijacked for the time there. Had I prepared more for the full immersion that is Turing, I can honestly say things would have gone smoother. Do the pre-work and be ready to be committed to the program. Relationships and a life outside of Turing is virtually non-existent, or at least when I was there. But once again, it's well worth it on the other end.
While I didn't necessarily fit in the best there socially, I'd say everyone there looks out for each other and there is very strong since of camaraderie and teamwork. So don't let that keep you away from what is something amazing.
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Jason Pilz Verified via LinkedIn
Highly challenging, yet even more rewarding
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After the course of many career changes, and once I decided to pursue programming, I began spending a fair amount of time researching coding programs. From what I found, Turing seemed to be the longest, and most positively-reviewed of the 'bootcamps'. I knew I did not want to spend only 2-3 months to try to learn a new career, especially something as deep as software development. So I took a chance on Turing, which was (for me) the far more expensive and difficult path. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I went 'all-in' when committing to the Turing program, and what I found was that they did the same to make you the best software developer possible. I learned more in 7 months than I though possible. The staff and instructors are top-notch, and the community is incredibly strong. 2 months after graduation I began my first software position and have been highly fulfilled ever since. I feel Turing exceeded my expectations in every way for preparing me in the best career change I have ever made.
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Adam Hundley Verified via LinkedIn
HARDEST thing I have ever done BUT, life changed 180 degrees for the BETTER!
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The decision to take a break from life to spend a lot of money to go back to school was hard but MORE than worth it. Turing was the hardest 7 months of my life. There is no getting around the fact that it is a HUGE commitment and sacrifice, but it is truly life altering. I went from having zero career direction to a lifelong career with the ability to provide for my family. The education I recieved at Turing is invaluable and I recommend it to ANYONE willing to sacrifice 7 months of their life. 7 months is NOTHING compared to the rest of your life.
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Nicholas Dorans Verified via LinkedIn
CHANGED MY LIFE !!!!
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Going through Turing was one of the most challenging yet deeply satisfying things I've ever done. I had no background in tech and didn't even know what the command line was before attending Turing, and that did not matter at all. They teach you all the tools you'll need to succeed is this ever changing field of software development. In under two years from me starting the program, I am making more money than I ever did before, living in a new city that I never thought I would, and I have a job where I learn new things everyday. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to get into tech. No prerequisites are required, except raw curiousity in how things work and pure grit. I would be willing to talk to anyone interested in the program personally if you'd like to email me at nicky_bobby@icloud.com . Thanks and hopefully this was helpful!!
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Bao N Verified via GitHubTuring genuinely cares about your ability as a developer
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Okay, to the point.
1. Turing is a great school that cares about you as a developer. They will not pass you automatically and they will not make it easy. This is not about reputation, but simply that you make it out of the program as a competent junior engineer who will excel at their new job.
2. They help foster an environment that is inclusive and helps you to develop the skills necessary to be a good engineer. Public speaking, interviewing, pair programming, and solving problems are all covered here. These are arguably the best skills that will get you a job.
3. Jeff Casimir is pretty straight shooting when it comes to voicing his opinion on things in the tech industry and also when it comes to job hunting. Turing students really do come out of the program with some amazing skills, but it is a tough job market out there and you'll need to hustle in order to find a job. Turing does what it can, by forcing you to build a portfolio, a resume, and to come up with a job hunting plan in order to graduate, but jobs won't fall into your lap.
4. The curriculum is great. It teaches you how to learn new things quickly and how to implement new ideas. The fact that the backend program teaches you Ruby on Rails doesn't matter. I got a job that uses a Java/Groovy backend and a JS/ React frontend. The fact that 80% of the code I wrote during the program was in Ruby, didn't deter me in any way with finding a job in a different tech stack.
5. But can't I teach myself? Sure you can. The whole curriculum is available to you if you do a google search. There are tons of learning resources out there, but the program puts you alongside dedicated, smart, and driven individuals who will help you to push further and faster than you could learn on your own. Also, you can go to https://cirr.org/data where many coding schools have had their job placement results published. Turing students consistently get higher salary offers than most programs and I think that is a reflection on the skills demonstrated by its graduates.
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Ryan Workman Verified via GitHubExpand Your Horizons While Gaining the Knowledge and Technical Ability for a Fulfilling Career
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It's been nearly a year since I graduated from Turing and began working as a professional software developer and not a day goes by without me realizing how happy I am for taking the leap and enrolling in Turing.
Before joining Turing, I graduated from college with a degree in Journalism and spent five years as a news producer. Searching for something more fulfilling and challenging, I sought out information on dev bootcamps in the area. After speaking to the CTO of Trelora (a Denver-based real estate company), the choice to enroll in Turing became clear. He echoed the same sentiments I heard from small businesses around the metro area, "Turing produces the best, most well-rounded developers."
After just the first month in Turing, I knew that I had finally found my calling. It was the first place that I felt accepted for who I am and software development (which I had some experience with when I was in high school) became my passion.
I spent seven months working through all four modules, continually being pushed to produce some of the coolest things I could ever imagine. Furthermore, beyond the technical aspect, Turing opened my eyes to some of the real-world struggles within the industry and gave me the tools to combat those injustices in the workplace.
I am now a software developer for Dish Network creating internal applications for our thousands of sales agents around the world. If, just 18 months ago, someone told me that I would be doing this for a living, I would have never believed them. Turing's fantastic instructors and difficult curriculum is changing the lives of hundreds of people everyday, while diversifying the technical field with talented, driven individuals.
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Calaway Verified via GitHubThe Most Challenging and Rewarding Experience of My Life
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I'm seven months into my first job outside of Turing, and I can tell you it's the best decision I've ever made in my life.
This CodeNewbie podcast interview with Turing's founder, Jeff Casimir, is what drew me to the school originally: https://www.codenewbie.org/podcast/the-not-bootcamp. I would highly recommend giving it a listen. Jeff was a tenured educator who started his career teaching with Teach for America before founding one of the very first immersive code schools, Hungry Academy, before the term bootcamp was even applied to them. Hungry Academy had a specific purpose and once that was completed Jeff co-founded G-School (now Galvanize) and then went on to start Turing as a non-profit organization.
Here are just a handful of things that sets Turing apart:
- They are a non-profit organization.
- The curriculum is exemplary. They keep all the best practices and material from their many years of experience, and then also continue to iterate on it for continual improvement.
- The community and alumni network is filled with incredible people who are all willing to help one another, be it with mentorship, helping set up a job interview at their work, or even just to meet for coffee and talk shop.
- They have a great focus on diversity, which the tech industry will benefit greatly from.
- They teach more than just code; they teach process. When you get to your first job out of Turing you'll know how incredibly important this is. In this industry the hot new programming language or framework changes quickly, but good, solid process is consistent and you'll be able to use it wherever you end up.
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Chris Concannon Verified via GitHub1605 Back-end, no repeated modules
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I think the investment of time and money into Turing is worthwhile, but I was fortunate enough to complete the program without repeating any modules. This isn't true for a huge portion of students. I think that anyone applying to Turing needs to know that, from what I've seen, it is one of the more difficult coding schools out there. They'll throw students in the deep end and let them drown for a while, but help is there when anyone asks. Students struggle together and create a support network for each other. Every single week has at least 50-60 hours of commitment between project work time and class time. It can be more than that during the final week or two of each module. When I say it's hard, I mean that in order to succeed, you need to expect to take a break from everything else in your life.
I also like to mention that although Turing is very transparent about reporting their graduation and placement statistics, their metrics measuring these numbers have changed multiple times in the past couple years. In general, they have declined. For example, when I decided that I would apply to code schools in late 2015, Turing claimed to accept 8-14% of their applicants while placing well over 90% in careers that paid on average more than $80,000/year within 3 months of graduation. They also offered a tuition reimbursement guarantee if you didn't get an offer of at least $65,000/year in the first couple months after graduating. These are written in my notes from code school research, and they came from Turing's website in 2015. Those numbers have continuously declined, both while I was a student and after I graduated. They stopped guaranteeing tuition reimbursement just before I started in May 2016. The code school market is much more competitive now.
I still think Turing is a great life-changing experience. Is it worth the investment? Depends what you must sacrifice to get there. I obviously can't speak for the other coding schools, but Turing has competitors that claim better job placement, better starting salaries, and even competitors that don't make you pay any tuition until your first offer comes along. If you're located in Denver, I believe Turing would be a solid (and probably the best) choice. If you're planning to move in order to attend Turing, I'd weigh more options and look thoroughly at each one.
One additional component worth mentioning is that Turing takes to heart it's mission of developing not just skilled developers, but developers that are aware of social issues and how the web development world is engaged with, or impacts these issues. Everything from the gender wage gap, to accessibility for disabled persons, to examination of workplace stereotypes is covered in school-programmed discussions and activities. I don't know that this element exists at other coding schools. I appreciate what I gained from engagement in these discussions.
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Lacey Verified via GitHubLife Changing
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Deciding to apply for, and attend Turing School was quite honestly the BEST decision I've ever made not only professionally, but personally. When you attend Turing you receive a top notch education from incredibly passionate instructors and staff, make a group of lifelong friends and mentors, and leave with a supportive network of web developers, and most likely an incredibly fulfilling job and career.
Keep in mind, this program is not for the faint of heart. It's really really hard and there will be a handful times when you question whether or not you can do it and even if you've made the right decision. You'll spend hours sitting at a computer not seeing the light of the day, feeling like you're going to pull your hair out and I'd be lying if I said it gets easier as you get further through the program. It doesn't. But, the light at the end of the tunnel is having a solid skill set of web development and the ability to shift or expand upon your current career.
I graduated from the Front-End Engineering program (as the second cohort) where I gained a strong fundamental knowledge of front-end languages, libraries, and frameworks and accepted a job offer 2 weeks before graduation. And although they needed some adjustments to the curriculum when I attended, they had already started to implement big changes by the time I graduated. Aside from the curriculum, you also receive an invaluable education on soft skills, the impact you can have in the world of technology, and how to be a strong member of a community.
Overall, Turing was a great experience and I'd recommend it to anyone who thinks web development is something they could truly be passionate about, who wants to pivot their career or, like me, expand on the one they already have.
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Matt Verified via LinkedIn
Take the good with the bad
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I love my classmates and hope we're friends forever. I got a job that pays better than anyone could reasonably expect and much more importantly that I actually enjoy. I learned a lot during my time at Turing, both technically and about the world.
There were some things I didn't like about Turing. But what can you remove? The worst experiences were the ones that brought me closer together to my cohort and the other students.
The main reason I went for a lengthy face-to-face training was to learn things that wouldn't be in a curriculum or textbook, and to get a leg up in job hunting. I think Turing delivered on both big time. I see others rate the job assistance lower, and certainly it could be better. But I got leads. Good ones. And I feel like I got into the right group of people and we can continue to find each other work for hopefully many years to come.
Turing was an interesting life experience, I like showing up to work now, and I met some great people. Good luck in your journey.
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Kirk Hauck
Excellent education and professional development
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Short version:
- Turing gave me an excellent education. My employer said I on-boarded far more quickly than other hires.
- When I attended, they offered pro rata reimbursement. If this is still true, you will get some of your money back if you choose to quit while in the program.
- The tech job market is very challenging in 2023. If you choose this path, know that you will most likely face a months-long job hunt. Maybe even longer than a year.
Long version:
When researching bootcamps, I chose Turing for two main reasons. One, they provide a more in-depth education compared to other bootcamps. Two, they were the only bootcamp that incorporated professional development throughout the curriculum as opposed to a last-week crash course that I saw advertised elsewhere. In today's challenging tech market, you will need every advantage you can get when it comes to the job hunt. Turing will ensure you receive a quality technical education, a robust resume, and excellent interview preparation. You will also become part of the Turing community and have access to the large professional network that they and their alumni have developed.
I landed a paid internship before graduating. Although it wasn't a salaried position, it was with my dream company, so I leapt at the chance and will grow my career from there. Others in my cohort were able to land full-time salaried positions as software developers. That said, you need to be aware that landing a job as a software developer is much more difficult in 2023 than it was even just two years ago. You will need to have tenacity and the means to commit to what will likely be a months-long job search post-graduation. However, if you take advantage of all that Turing has to offer and keep at it, you CAN get a job. -
Casey
Came for the coding, stayed for the community
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I knew that Turing was the bootcamp for me after I attended their Try Coding class where I was able to get free hands on learning with both JavaScript and Ruby. From the beginning it was clear that Turing was a community dedicated to diversity, community building, and a well rounded learning experience.
After having gone through the Back End program, where I learned Ruby on Rails, I eventually landed a job as a data engineer working primarily with SQL and Python. The only reason I was able to get a job in languages I hadn't used was because Turing teaches universal principles like OOD and TDD. I cannot express the amount of times I spoke to someone else who attended a different bootcamp and was told that it was unheard of that we were doing such a deep dive into programming fundamentals for a bootcamp, which is one of the main things that set Turing apart for the better. I am forever grateful to the instructors, fellow cohort-mates, and staff at Turing for providing one of the most difficult, rewarding, and supported learning experiences I have ever had.
I know there are a lot of options out there for bootcamps, but I would highly recommend Turing based on my experience from start to end. It was one of the most challenging, life changing experiences of my life, and I am so grateful for it. -
Ben Firth
Best bootcamp ever
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Definitely the most complete bootcamp education out there. Fully accredited, non-profit, with a focus on inclusivity. This program is longer than most, and very challenging. Because of this, your depth of knowledge is much more complete than other bootcamp grads. The teachers really care about everyone. I had vulnerable conversations with them along the way because of imposter syndrome, and they gave me honest opinions of where they thought I was and how I was progressing. Even graduating into the start of the pandemic I was able to find a job, which kickstarted my career in tech. Couldn't say enough great things about my time there. -
Alycia Canavan
Very much worth it!
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I attended the Turing Front End program from 7/22-1/23. I had very little prior coding experience. I absolutely loved my time at Turing! It is an intense commitment and requires diligence and effort, but was completely worth it, in my opinion. Instructors are caring and knowledgeable, and I really felt that I got a good amount of attention and connection with instructors and peers, even though it was a fully remote program. I graduated with the skills I needed, and got a developer job within 3 months of graduation. -
Hugh Hartigan
Absolutely changed my life
Turing has been foundational to my life as it exists today. They set me up not only with the skills I needed to succeed in my career, but with a life long community of support and growth. I went from an entry level job at an ad company, to a lead engineer at a public tech company. Easily one of the best decisions I've ever made. -
Jeremy
Best decision I've ever made
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Turing fully prepared me for a career as a software engineer including job support and advertising student work to employers. The curriculum is holistic enough to fully prepare students to tackle computer science concepts in any language or framework, but accelerated enough to not get hung up on academic technicalities. I highly recommend Turing's BE course for anyone considering a career as a software engineer. -
Joshua H
Life-Changing Program!
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I graduated early this year, and I can't begin to express how much this program has helped me. Beyond teaching me to code, Turing provided valuable professional skills that allowed me to find a job quickly after graduating. When I was going through the program, I often treated professional development as a secondary priority; now, having graduated, I understand why there was such an emphasis on it.
To be clear: this program is not easy. Turing is a full-time commitment that will challenge you daily, and it can often feel overwhelming. However, this difficulty is mitigated by a faculty of skilled, friendly, and encouraging instructors that want nothing more than for you to succeed. Even remotely, Turing has an environment of shared success where students and faculty alike celebrate each other's wins, motivate one another to overcome hurdles, and work together to solve complex coding issues.
It's hard to imagine that one year ago, I didn't even know how to declare a JavaScript variable; yet today, I am working as a full-time software engineer for an established company. The best part? I love it! I never could have landed such a fulfilling and financially rewarding job without Turing.
If you consider applying, rest assured that it will be worth it. It will be hard, but it will be worth it. Attending Turing was, in all senses, truly life-changing. -
Angela Guardia
Backend Enginnering
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While considering a few schools, Turing caught my eye for two reasons:
1. I considered it the “best bang for my buck” - it is the longest bootcamp I could find (7 month) at similar prices to much shorter bootcamps
2. It is a non-profit which made me feel confident that they would prioritize student success over revenue
I was right on both counts. The length of the bootcamp allowed me to really dig deep into topics that some bootcamps don’t cover like a heavy focus on testing, developer empathy, and personal career development. Additionally, the ethos of the school was a good fit for me. The curriculum is designed to not leave anyone behind no matter what educational background you start with.
The result of my experience there was incredible. I was hired as a Software Engineer I by a major social media company a month after graduation and have been successful at my role for over a year now.
I recommend this school to absolutely anyone who is thinking of making this career move. Especially to anyone who is doubtful and maybe doesn’t see themselves as a Software Engineer. -
Kyle S.
Great Content, Culture, instructors, and People
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I heard about Turing through a good friend who's an alum. A few of the things that really pulled me in:
- It's a non-profit so i wasn't concerned with it being a scam
- I deeply agree with their social mission
- The social mission means the students self select and are a really solid group to be going through an intense program with
- The instructors are paid better than other bootcamps and do it because they enjoy helping others learn and succeed
- Bang for your buck. Many camps are the same price for half the time. 7 months is long but totally worth it.
- You're setup with a mentor from week one
- They don't just pass everybody, many students have to repeat mods, but I think this is beneficial
- Their job and alumni network is extensive
- They have an on staff therapist and support groups for students struggling with different things
pros
- Great education that's thorough and from experienced instructors, including more CS education than other bootcamps
- Focusing on BE or FE allows for a deeper dive into a specific part of the stack
- The program builds resiliency and resourcefulness(it's not without painful struggle)
- Made some awesome lifelong friends i still keep in touch with
- Got a job offer within a month of graduating
- Healthy focus on non-technical skills like communication, empathy, and genuine collaboration
- How well they were able to educate and build community via zoom
cons
- It was incredibly difficult(also super satisfying)
- Sometimes the line between instructors wanting you to figure it out on your own and not being helpful felt blurred
- The therapist is only available for Colorado residents
The program is not without it's challenges. I had many long nights troubleshooting staring at a screen in a zoom room with 3-5 group mates. At times I was frustrated that I was trying my hardest and still felt like I wasn't going to succeed. It can be lonely spending so much time staring at a screen when you don't have a lot of other time to be social. The stress and pressure could occasionally be overwhelming(there's also a lot of great support built in too). Instructors wanted you to struggle with the content so sometimes they weren't super helpful(this is in cons because in the moment it's frustrating but overall it's a pro because it made us better programmers).
This program was easily one of the most challenging experiences of my life and also one of the most gratifying. This was much more challenging than my undergrad. The program helped me rediscover a hunger for education(especially collective education) that i'm grateful for. After Turing I feel more capable and motivated in other aspects of my life. One of the best parts of this program is people in your cohort. My cohort was a super solid crew with really awesome supportive folks. When things were hard I was supportive and also received support. Most cohort mates and myself were offered a job within a month of graduation. I've already recommended this program to friends who aren't satisfied with their jobs and If given the choice i'd do it all over again.
