Codecool

I do not recommend this school to anyone. The availability and attention of the mentors is limited and they are consistently overwhelmed by the high number of students. Additionally, issues with bugs and errors were present in a significant portion of the curriculum. The cost of the program is excessive and the promised accreditation from the Ministry of Education has not been delivered. The job guarantees and partnerships with companies advertised by the school are not reliable, and if a student is hired after finishing the school and subsequently fired within a month, the school will not provide any support or assistance in finding a new job. Overall, this school is a waste of money and should be avoided.

About me:
This section is just so that you can gauge if what I wrote below applies to your situation. I learned programming mostly on my own and only became a Codecool student because I found I needed help in getting a job. I also followed the courses of another company (Scoala Informala de IT <- would not recommend), but this was after I had a decent understanding of the Java programming language. I started learning Java at about 32 years old, and I joined Codecool when I was 36. I finished their courses in 8 months and got hired about 2 months after I finished.


The good:
- You will be surrounded by a community of people willing to help you learn how to code. I'm not talking here about the mentors necessarily (though they will definitely help you... if you set your shame aside and ACTUALLY GO ASK THEM), but about the other students.
- The curriculum is decent and, based on what I heard, it somehow got better AND shorter.
- The job guarantee, although not a guarantee per se (more about that in the next section), is real. If your attitude is not that of a jackass, you will get hired through them. This was the main selling point for me, because even though you can indeed learn to program from Udemi, that doesn't mean anyone will actually hire you.
- You will also learn how to hold presentations for your projects, a skill that, from recent experience, seems to be just as important as writing code.


The bad:
- The curriculum is a roller coaster ride to go through for somebody with no experience in programming. As people have probably already told you if you're planning on becoming a student, the course is a full time job, and you will most likely not be able to also work for the majority of the courses duration. 
- Some of the mentors attitude towards mastery based learning can degrade to "figure it out yourself" without them leading you to the right way of doing things. This statement needs more clarification, as for somebody who hasn't programmed before it probably means that the mentor should be there to help with their the majority of their problems. This is not the case though because learning how to research and troubleshoot are also things that students need to learn. I'm talking about stamping out bad solutions that would make your potential employer shake their head in disagreement if they read the code.
- The HR/marketing team will sugarcoat the contract terms heavily. Now I don't blame them, in fact I'd do the same if I were them, however I still want to point it out. If you read the contract though you will know exactly what you're getting into. The terms are not for the faint of heart. If you won't read them, you'll grieve about how horrible the service is. Either way, it's on you. For example you're not actually guaranteed a job, you're guaranteed 6 interviews, but if needed the number of interviews you're allowed to take can be increased (the way I read this paragraph from the contract is that if you're a decent human being they will help you get hired. If not, they'll provide the 6 interviews and then "bye bye". And also it helps protect against abusers who will wait for a year and not have to pay for the course. Bottom line, read the contract).

Am amanat mult scrierea acestui review, ma gandeam cum sa fiu mai concisa, mai obiectiva si cum sa includ tot. Dar mi-am dat seama ca poate niciodata nu o sa reusesc. Drumul meu cu Codecool a fost lung, a insemnat multe si a avut un impact puternic (atat pozitiv cat si negativ).

Am mai scris un review pentru Codecool la sfarsitul anului trecut pe Google, nu mai tin minte cuvant cu cuvant ce am scris dar era numai de bine. Am scris ca a fost cea mai buna decizie, aceea de a face acest curs, am scris ca metoda e geniala si ca oamenii sunt foarte faini (mentori, staff, colegi). Dupa o jumatate de an l-am sters deoarece nu mai simteam ca pot lasa un review pozitiv de 5 stele pentru Codecool.

Insa tot ce am scris, desi era ceea ce simteam la acel moment inca sta in picioare. Chiar daca cu ce stiu acum nu as mai aplica pentru acest curs, la momentul la care am aplicat am luat cea mai buna decizie cu informatiile pe care le-am avut atunci. Ce nu mai sta in picioare este numarul de stele care trebuie sa se potriveasca cu intreaga experienta.

Am facut parte din prima generatie Codecool, am urmat intregul curs, o perioada lung de Job Hunt, un internship de 3 luni si acum sunt Junior la o companie de care sunt foarte multumita. De dinainte de a incepe scoala mi-am dorit sa invat Java si sa lucrez apoi tot cu Java, iar pe parcursul cursului am continuat sa imi doresc acest lucru si sa fiu inclinata mai degraba catre backend decat frontend. Iar acum lucreaz in principal cu Java, alaturi de multe alte tehnologii.

Pro:

- 4.5 spre 5 stele pentru modelul Codecool (si aici ma refer la Codecool ca si startup, desi review-ul este pentru Codecool Bucuresti): metoda de invatare flipped classroom/ self mastering este geniala, fiecare invata in ritmul lui urmand pasii din curricula, iar la fiecare doua saptamani se lucreaza pe un mini proiect in echipa in metoda Agile. Acest lucru simuleaza un mediu de lucru real si te ajuta sa obtii o multime de aptitudini cautate in industie. Cu mentiunea ca nu e perfect pregatit inca, si intr-un fel e normal, ca e oarecum la inceput si unele lucruri se invata din experienta.
- curricula este organizata in asa fel incat poti acumula gradual multe cunostinte din multe tehnologii (o sa mentionez asta si la negative), partea pozitiva fiind faptul ca obtii o imagine mai bogata de ansamblu si mai multa incredere in abordarea de noi tehnologii
- 5 stele ++ pentru M. de la HR care din punctul meu de vedere este o femeie 100% profesionista si experimentata care mi-a dat doar sfaturi bune, cat de multe informatii a putut, a ascultat si incercat sa inteleaga ce ar putea fi facut mai bine, desi nu cred ca a avut cadrul de a schimba prea mult, a fost onesta, transparenta si ne-a tratat cu respect. As spune ca astfel de atitudine si fel de a lucra sunt normale, insa simt ca ea a mers chiar mai sus de atat. (mai ales in contrast cu alte persone)
- 3 spre 4 stele pentru mentorii cu care am lucrat eu, dar mai ales pentru atitudine si soft skills. Aproape toti mentorii din Codecool mi s-au parut oameni faini, experimentati, relaxati, cu foarte multa rabdare si cu dorinta de a ne ajuta sa intram in industia IT.
- 5 stelute ++ pentru un anume aspect, acel extra mile pe care unii mentori l-au parcurs, de a-mi oferi ajutorul in timpul lor liber. Asta e mult peste asteptari si am apreciat fiecare secunda
- atmosfera din campus era foarte faina, mi-au placut workshopurile din primele luni, secret Santa, petrecerea de Craciun, faptul ca aveam o gramada de board games si puteam ramane vinerea dupa scoala sa ne jucam si socializam.

Cons:

- am aplicat la o scoala care te informeaza pe site ca are 150 de companii partenere si ca in 12 luni aduce de la zero la hero. Am terminat o scoala cu doar cateva companii partenere, si in consecinta am stat aproape 6 luni in Job Hunt pana cand am avut primul interviu pentru un post de Java la o companie partenera. Ma simt pacalita comparand ce am citit pe site cu ce am primit. In Job Hunt m-am declarat deschisa oricarei tehnologii si oricarei locatii din tara si din lume si cred eu, am irosit timp invatand si alte tehnologii pentru a fi pregatita oricarei oportunitati. Insa, partial din cauza pandemiei, dar cred eu mai mult din cauza modelului de business al scolii, companiile nu se grabeau sa devina partenere. Cele 6 luni neasteptate m-au afectat financiar si mi-au adus foarte mult stres.
- contractul este scris vag si cu viclenie, dar nu pot detalia
- cand am aplicat am fost informata ca exista o varianta de finantare cu un credit fara dobanda pentru reconversie profesionala. Ca sa aflu mai tarziu ca scoala inca nu e acreditata si nu pot beneficia. Pana a fost scoala acreditata guvernul a sistat acele credituri ca a venit pandemia. 
- atitudinea managerei mi se pare nu numai neprofesionista ci si incorecta, jignitoare, aroganta, total nepotrivita (am fost amenintati ca ni se va face factura pentru 10k euro cu motivul de rea vointa atunci cand nu am vrut sa aplicam la un job care nu era de programator, job care mai tarziu a fost oricum scos, am avut colegi luati de sus si certati pentru ca aplicatia lor nu arata bine, desi ei muncisera foarte mult la backend)
- eu sunt un client al acestei scoli care a cumparat un curs scump, insa am fost tratata cu aroganta de parca mi s-a facut un favor in aceasta scoala
- mi s-a spus ca datorita scolii am ajuns unde am ajuns. E ca si cum primesti o bicicleta stricata dupa ce ti s-a promis una electrica, si nu te lasi si dai tot ce ai mai bun sa ajungi unde ti-ai propus, iti ia mult mai mult timp si la sfarsit incerci sa te plangi de produsul primit si ti se spune "nu te mai plange, bicicleta asta te-a dus unde voiai sa ajungi". Cu intelegerea de acum as spune ca mai bine mergeam singura pe jos. Era mai ieftin si mai putin stresant.
- simt ca modelul Codecool nu a fost aplicat cum trebuie in Bucuresti. Fiecare lucru care "a mers si asa" a fost facut. Lucrurile puteau fi mult mai profesioniste
- cateva persone din scoala pur si simplu nu vor sa auda feedback negativ si daca totusi il aud au o atitudine urata
- la cat costa cursul ma asteptam la o curricula pusa la punct, nu la linkuri catre alte surse de informatii. Unele module au fost mai complete, altele foarte aiurea. Super, vrei sa ma inveti sa caut singura pe net si sa ma descurs, pot sa accept si asta, dar nu la curs de 10000euro. Pentru acesti bani ma infurii cand ma gandesc ca exista oameni care au platit bani buni pe cursuri de pe udemy, coursera, sau si-au luat meditatori pentru a suplini un lips al scolii. 
- mentoratul este un alt aspect care nu se potriveste cu pretul cursului. Si nu din cauza unui mentor anume, si mai degraba a managementului cred. Sunt putini mentori la multi studenti, este cel putin un mentor care nu reuseste sa transmita informatia, sunt multi mentori care au venit si au plecat dupa doar cateva luni, nu primesti un mentorat de la o persoana cu experienta in tehnologia pe care o studiezi, aici ma refer mai ales la Spring, nu am primit code review si poate asta din cauza ca erau depasiti. Din punctul meu de vedere code review-ul este principal in evolutia unui student de programare. Am dus cateva greseli si lipsuri intr-un proiect timp de luni de zile fara ca cineva sa se uite pe codul meu. Pana cand m-am lovit de aceste lipsuri la un interviu.
- mi se pare foarte superficial ca se insista atat de tare pe prezentarile de vineri, ca o aplicatie sa arate frumos, dar nu se insista pe corectitudinea codului din spate
- spuneam la pozitive ca se studiaza multe tehnologii si ca e si pozitiv si negativ. Partea negativa este ca la final poti sa joci scrabble cu cate cuvinte din programare si tehnologii cunosti, insa nu stii nimic in profunzime
- mi se pare ca a lipsit transparenta si onestitatea in scoala, si ca mai degraba o atitudine orientata numai spre afacere a fost mascata de o falsa onestitate
- simt ca la nivel managerial si financiar am fost doar un numar care trebuia sa aduca profit. Stiu ca e business pana la urma, insa am fost lasata gresit sa cred ca insemnam ceva ca si oameni si ca staff-ul isi doreste sa ne ajute sa reusim. 
- au fost momente in care m-am simtit lasata de izbeliste si mi-a lipsit un anume ghidaj, din nou, cred ca din vina faptului ca sunt prea putini mentori la prea multe persone
- lunile in care am facut eu modulul de Job Hunt nu exista absolut nici o structura, nici o curricula, foarte putin ghidaj si doar daca ceri tu.
- review-urile pozitive de pe Google sunt date nu numai de studenti (care au fost rugati sa lase review), insa si de mentori, staff si rudele lor. Mi se pare o distorsionare voita a realitatii.

Doua stele din urmatoarele motive: scoala nu ofera ce promite, ma simt pacalita cu minciuna celor 150 de companii (ele exista, dar nu in Romania), simt ca modelul genial propus de Codecool nu a fost implementat cum trebuie in Romania, mentoratul este un pilon al acestui model insa nu a fost deajuns in Bucuresti, atitudinea anumitor persoane, pretul de 10000euro este disproportionat fata de ceea ce primesti in timpul cursului si mai ales, fata de salariul de la internship.

Si varianta mult mai lunga si mai subiectiva, fiind experienta mea personala: https://chasingsunshineroundtheworld.com/2021/07/12/my-journey-with-codecool/
 

The first attempt to enroll in Codecool Romania Bootcamp was last summer. For two months, since being accepted as a student, I asked for a contract almost every two weeks or so but every time they postponed sending one. Just a week before the Bootcamp should have started, they emailed me a copy. The excuse they used for the delay was totally unprofessional: "We did not receive the contract from the law firm". I received this excuse on the 9th of September, the day that should have been the first day of the Bootcamp, the start being postponed by a week with no answer to the why question. I told myself at the time that the Romania branch is not experienced enough and they still have some things to learn. Being a person who dislikes the experiments of others at my expense I decided not to continue the collaboration with Codecool Romania.

After a couple of months, on the 4th of April, I decided to participate in a live online presentation that made me believe that things have changed for the better in Codecool Romania. I resumed discussions with the Bucharest Office Manager (BOM) and registered for the Bootcamp again, the start date being the 5th of May. One week before the start date, I received an e-mail stating that due to the Easter holidays and the 1st of May (Labor Day in Romania) the start of the Bootcamp will be postponed by two weeks. In the current state of quarantine caused by the covid-19 pandemic, I consider this excuse to be disrespectful. I expressed my concerns to the Romania Country Manager (RCM) hoping to get a clarification on the message. From the RCM I found out that the start of the Bootcamp can be postponed if the minimum of 12 students is not met and that it is in the "students best interest" not to start with a lesser number despite the fact that I saw on the Codecool Discord server the students from Romania channels work in teams of 2 or 3. Furthermore this information is not mentioned anywhere neither in the contract nor on their website (at the date of writing this). The RCM even tried to convince me that I am the problem, that I'm not patient enough and that I am a frustrated person. I asked what will they do if the minimum of 12 students is not met again in 2 weeks and and how will they deal with a possible high number of dropouts and how the remaining one will learn, questions on witch RCM refused to answer and If I want more information I should contact the BOM. I asked the same questions to the BOM but I only received evasive answers.

I have to mention that there are some issues with the contract they expect you to sign. To put it short, it's the kind that asks everything from you but offer almost nothing in return and you have to take their word for it. They offer only vague information about what you will learn during the one year Bootcamp.
Also I strongly believe that the "guaranteed job after you graduate the Bootcamp" it's a scam, as they do not guarantee this by contract. They repeatedly say this in their ads but everything in the contract about this subject it's surrounded by uncertainty. 
This last part is my opinion and I hope that, for the sake of the students enrolled in Codecool Romania Bootcamp, I'm wrong.

I used to go to Eötvös Lóránd University Computer Science division for 3 semesters before CodeCool. What I learned there during that time was taught to me and every other student in the first 3 months in CodeCool. As opposed to university, in CodeCool you are not required to spend your valuable time learning unnecessary, useless information, but only the things you actually need to know for you to become a software developer. You will be forced to work in teams of 2 - 5 people therefore making you improve your softskills such as teamwork, communication, resolving conflicts, etc. You will be introduced to widely spread technologies that almost every company uses, and expects their programmers to know. They have a great curriculum with useful tips, links, amazing explanations and examples that would take you a huge amount of time to gather on your own if you even could. They have several senior programmers there to help you whenever you need it.

If during the first 3 months you decide that this course is not for you, it only costs you 20000 HUF, or about 60 EUR.

You will need to spend about 40 hours per week on studying the material, doing the homework and working on a team project that you will be required to present to both students and teachers at the end of each week. Therefore you WON'T be able to work while doing this course, at least not a full time job anyways. You will have to find a way to finance the full 12 months you spend here.

All you need for this course are:

• Determination
• Hard Work
• Some logic skills
• Money for 12 months of rent, utilities and food so you can dedicate your time to this course.

Once I finished with the course I was showered with job opportunities within the first week, and I was hired by the end of the second week.

Take one year of your life and gain sufficient knowledge and skill-set to be efficient as a junior software developer. What is most important, you will get tools and experience in how to acquire more knowledge on your own later on, simply through the internet, to further improve yourself if need be. You will also learn how to work on specific projects in teams of 4-5 people, as this is a practice oriented course. You are also provided with the essentials and help from mentors to master theoretical background for the relevant technologies.

If you ever seriously thought of working as a developer but never really dared to start, this is the right place for you. One year of hard work that pays off multifold.

All the needed knowledge and skills in a friendly and motivating environment. Thanks to the concept of mastery based learning your progression is flexible and give chance to work in your own pace. Transparency, courage, fun and quality are real core values that you can experience every day.   If your financial state worries you it's a perfect choice, because you've got the 1/4 of the time for trying out the school only for 20 000 HUF and if you like the school and fit to the requirements you've got to pay the rest of the fee in 18 months only after you get a job with a guaranteed salary. As far as I know, it's unique among competitors in Hungary.

Codecool is a fantastic place to start to learn the basics and the intermediate level of programming. During the course, I learnt a lot about different languages like python and java, had to use some of the best tools for application development, and they gave me confidence to share my ideas with a team, or to speak in front of audience. When we are graduated in the school, we are almost immediately started to work for a company with two of my former classmates. Before Codecool I worked in catering industry, and I would never imagine that I could work in an office instead. Real life changing experience. I spent the best year of my life in this school.

If you want a real practice oriented course during which everyone is commited to improve your soft skills (communication, presentation, conflict handling, teamwork etc) as well, choose Codecool. During my studies I not only developped programming skills but also became more confident and determined about my professional life. It gives a relavant, up to date knowledge and all the support (hr, network, interview preparations) to help you to get a software developer job. It really was a lifechanging experience for me. 😊