Worcester State University Coding Certificate Bootcamp by Stack Education

I was looking for a career change at the end of 2019 and started researching web development. I loved that this bootcamp was local and offered one day a week in person classes. I was so nervous that I would end up in over my head (I had ZERO coding experience) but all of my nerves went away after orientation. I was so inspired by that first day of class. This isn't just a web development course, this is also a course in professional and personal development. My classmates came from all different backgrounds and that made this class so much more interesting! We were encouraged to discuss our different backgrounds and to celebrate and utilize each other's strengths. I always felt comfortable asking questions in class and was never made to feel embarrassed for not understanding something. The instructors do an an amazing job of balancing teaching technical skills and soft skills. I still can't believe how much I learned and all of the things I built in just a few months. I was so impressed with how quickly and efficiently they were able to pivot our class to 100% online when the pandemic started in March, they were still able to provide a number of interesting and informational speakers and engage all of us in meaningful discussions. All students are offered career support after graduation which was extended for many of us due to the tough job market during the pandemic. You will not find a more supportive group of teachers and staff who truly care about your future. These are people I know I will stay in touch with for years to come and skills that I will use for life. 

Definitely a good bootcamp to participate in if it's in your area. You will be given assignments weekly to learn the ins and outs of back end web development primarily, though there is some coverage for front end with HTML/CSS for making a static portfolio site. There is also a co op project done with an industry partner that you can definitely write about on your resume to show you have some experience in taking on real world problems. Instructors differ with each cohort but mine went above and beyond to get us to learn and continue learning even after the bootcamp by hosting coding meet ups at a local cafe frequently before COVID struck. If there's one thing you should do to make this experience worthwhile, it's to keep learning beyond the classes. Regardless of your bootcamp choice, you are only learning the beginnings of development. How far you go is on you after that. 

This is a great program if you're just starting out in the field of web development and you want to learn some hands-on experience with JavaScript and React. They help you get started using Git as a repository for saving projects and give you tips on how to get a job in the field. They also bring on guest speakers that you can network with who also work with web development across different industries. It was a fun experience to learn how to code and see what you can do with it but it was also great to find a group of like-minded people to work alongside with and gain new friends and mentors! 

My Bootcamp experience was challenging since I came with no prior coding experience. Between struggling to learn git commands, javascript functions, connecting to databases and debugging solutions for months the pressure was on. The Bootcamp gave me access to tech projects, team building and complex algorithms to harness my skills. I always found technology interesting due to its ability to solve complex problems and the reach it could create in bettering my community. I was denied acceptance into a prior coding Bootcamp I applied too. Yet, I didn’t allow the voices in my head to make me quit or tell me you’re too old to get into STEM. I saw the advertisement for Worcester State University Bootcamp online. I read what the core skills the course was offering and signed up immediately with my fingers crossed. I spoke to Rich DiTieri, the Co-Founder and COO of Stack Education on the phone for thirty minutes. We talked about everything ranging from technical training, craft beer, and entrepreneurship. We instantly clicked straight away. Rich accepted me into the WSU Coding Program and made me feel confident about learning how to code. It would ensure that I could adapt to the gentrification and automation that is taking place across inner cities and workplaces in America. Now months after graduating I am a full time software engineer thanks to the skills I learned during my Bootcamp cohort.