Coding Dojo

I recently graduated from the Coding Dojo bootcamp at their DC location.  I signed up for the bootcamp because I was looking to transition to a career in tech, though not necessarily as a developer.  However, I wanted to gain coding skills because I know it will be helpful for me with whatever I end up doing in the field.

I really enjoyed my time at Coding Dojo.  The instructors were all extremely knowledgeable and supportive, and all of my cohort mates were helpful as well.  The curriculum is challenging and intense, but if you put in the time, it is possible to get through it.  I really liked the balance between algorithms, lectures, group work and individual coding time.  

One thing that makes Coding Dojo unique, in addition to the fact that you learn 3 languages, is that the instructors will support you at whatever level you are with coding.  Though you are encouraged to keep up with the fast pace of the curriculum, you are not penalized if you fall behind or struggle.  There are many resources to help you catch up though the instructors really do a great job making sure that everyone leaves with the ability and confidence to be a self-sufficient developer.

The only challenge I faced with the program is that one of the languages we learned (Java) was new to their curriculum when I joined, so the materials for that language had some gaps, which made it harder to learn Java.  But, they are continuously refining and improving the content, so that probably won't be much of an issue for future classes.

All in all, my time at Coding Dojo was a great experience.  Now I am working at a digital innovation agency leading product strategy and account management for clients seeking to grow their businesses using digital technologies.  I actually received two job offers even before completing the bootcamp.  My bootcamp experience helped me take my career in a new direction and I learned a great skill and made great new friends in the process.

Before enrolling for Coding Dojo in San Jose, it's probably good to mention where I was coming from. I graduated from SJSU in Dec 2015 with a degree in Computer Engineering. Typically you can get a full time job 3-6  months after school, but I unfortunately did not take advantage of school career fairs or apply for internships so I was already at a disadvantage. I did however receive a short 2-month contracting role working as an IT Consultant for Rogers Benefit Group where I got a bit too comfortable with an extended contract and stayed for the entire year. By the beginning of 2017, I had to make a decision whether to become a full time employee as a service rep for an employee benefit service company or go back to my coding roots and actually make use of my degree. Ultimately I stuck with my gut and decided to return to coding. However, my coding was rusty.

I needed a quick and efficient way to improve my coding skills as I had trouble teaching myself on my own without getting distracted. One of my close friends and almost mentor, Bryant Luu, was from the mid 2015 cohort and knew I wasn't in the best situation. He highly suggested applying for Coding Dojo as he was able to land a web developer position at a startup within 2 months of graduating. I knew myself that I wasn't going to get anywhere being indeceisive so with enough convincing from Bryant, I decided to enroll for Coding Dojo in San Jose since it was the closest option. From what I've heard about most bootcamps, they're fast-paced and difficult. However I had experience coding back in school so I knew I could pick up syntax and concepts much quicker compared to a first time learner. Mentally, I knew I was well prepared.

Those 3 months flew in a blink of an eye, and my expectations were pretty well met. The curriculum covered just enough of the fundamentals and depth (save for the Full MEAN section, some code snippets were outdated and there wasn't any mention of importing FormsModule in app.module) to move at a moderate pace. The instructors were also able to break down complicated concepts way better compared to some of the school professors I had prior. The difficulty felt perfect for me, but I can't say that for some of the cohort.

The #1 biggest complaint I heard from many of the cohort were instructors losing patience while trying to help debug and would speak in a much more condescending tone, up to the point where some students were demotivated and actually left the venue for the day to cool off. They were unlikely to ask some instructors for help again and would rather only ask cohortmates. Some instructors did have enough complaints where they would publicly apologize to the cohort about their impatience, yet I keep hearing the same complaints even afterwards. Perhaps during the instructor interview process, try testing the interviewees' patience by throwing them in a pretend situation where they have to teach someone who doesn't know how to code and see how they handle it.

For my job search, it's been 2 months since my graduation and I've only been getting about 1 response (typically rejection) per week. I could complain how difficult it is after the bootcamp, but I could also easily identify my main problem. I'm not applying or networking enough, which is the same situation I was in back when I graduated from school. However, my toolbox is much larger than when I started the bootcamp, and I'm definitely in a much better position than I was prior to the bootcamp. Even my friend/mentor Bryant says it should be easier for me since I'm coming from an engineering degree. Bryant's first time coding was when he started the bootcamp and he came from accounting, yet he got a job within 2 months. Why is that? He was aggressive. He applied to at least 30 applications per day and put himself in uncomfortable situations where he'd fail, but everytime he failed, he also got a little better. If Bryant could do it, I can do it, too.

I feel like those who come out of the bootcamp with a negative perspective perhaps came into the program with the wrong mindset. It is kind of like learning how to swim. Here are the different strokes. Here is how you do each stroke. Then by the time students finish their 3-month lessons, they expect to compete in the Olympics. Well, you still have to do a lot more swimming after that, and I feel some students don't see this perspective when enrolling. Why is that? Perhaps we are so focused on success stories like 94% job placement rate and 1000+ graduated students in 2016 that we forget that it takes a lot of failure to succeed in something. The hardest part of the bootcamp is not the bootcamp, but afterwards where no one is holding your hand. There's no daily goals written on the board for you, and you have to pick yourself up after every rejection. In a way, I think it would be nice to remind newcomers that they will encounter hundreds of failures and missed opportunities, but also remind them that they're doing great. It is completely normal to fail, and I feel like that is a good indicator that life is moving in the right direction.

The takeaway from all of this is before enrolling in the bootcamp, actually spend an hour doing some self-reflection. Not just whether you can put in the 10+ hours everyday to code, but how much you really know yourself. How much failure can you really endure? How do you handle rejection? What are things you do to motivate yourself? Are you willing to put pride away to ask for help? If you have answers to these questions, I feel like you know yourself well enough to decide whether the bootcamp is for you.

I had an amazing experience at the Dojo! It was an extremelly well-rounded program providing three full-stacks, daily algorithm practice, and collaborative projects with other students. The professors ranged from former students to veterans with decades of experience -- all of whom were very knowledgable and willing to help. They also stay very involved after the program, whether you are on the job hunt, or even if you have secured a programming job. Also, I was able to find a coding job within 3 months of finishing the program. I would definitely recommend Coding Dojo to family or friends.

I had an opportunity to attend full stack developer boot camp program at Seattle Coding Dojo and my overall experience is very good and would surely recommend Coding Dojo for anyone who has the interest to work in Software engineering.

Following were the some of the things I liked in Dojo.

• Algorithm lecture are conducted everyday and they cover data structure concepts in detail
• Course curriculum is well constructed and there are assignments that helps students to have hands-on knowledge on the concept that was covered
• Exams are conducted for every stack and helps students to strengthen their knowledge.
• Instructors are very dedicated and help students to learn the concepts
• Facilities/Infrastructure provided are very good
• Speakers from various disciplines in software engineering provide tech talk and that is beneficial
• There is a system where students can provide review on the course curriculum and the instructions delivered and any constructive feedback provided is acknowledged and is acted upon in a timely manner.

I wanted to make a career change to better my life and provide a better future for my children.  Technology was always facinating to me so I searched around for careers in the industry.  I found free online courses for html, css, and javascript.  Now that I got a taste of what its like and it was something that I enjoyed doing, I need some kind of accelerated program to get caught up.  Didn't have the time and money to be able go for BA in Computer Science.  Started to look at these bootcamps that were all over the country.  I came across a few that I really liked.  Coding Dojo was the only one that really stood out from the rest.  The offered 3 full stacks.  Did more research on Coding Dojo and applied for the full on-site program.  

I was nervous as one can be for taking 4 months off from work and taking out loans while still trying to provide for family and ensuring bills are taken care of.  Kept thinking, "did I make the right choice?". 

5 months later...  No regrets.  I graduated in July 2017.  I'm amazed with the program and all that I have learned.  The best advantage that Coding Dojo has over all the other bootcamps is that they train you on 3 full stacks.  By getting exposed to all 3, you can really pick and choose a stack that you really like or one that your really good at.  The instructors are focused, serious about your learning, and want you to succeed.  Tim Chen (instructor) really help me to dig deep and tough it out.  I did have a moment that I said "I'm not sure if I can do this".  Tim kept giving me confidence that I could.  He did take some extra time to help me out.  He kept me a float, kept me in the game sort of speak.  He is a true example of what an instructor should be.  Another is Marco Molina (instructor) who in which is the has help tremendously.  He is also what an Instructor should be.  His tenacious energy and great attitude was felt by everyone.  He made everyone smile and laugh.  Just like Tim, he as well is an Excellent Instructor!  Thank you Tim and Marco for your passion, patience, dedication, and determination.  Other honorable mentions are Mihn, Dan, William, Bobby, and Herman.

Coding Dojo does an excellent job of preparing you to land a position in the tech field of software development. Many of my friends (15+) have went through coding dojo, and have landed very well-paying jobs. It took them about 3.5 months to land their jobs. More of my friends will enroll in Coding Dojo in the future. 

It is very hard though. It is very possible as well. I had no prior experience and am a slow learner so I was on campus from 7 AM to 11 PM regularly. You put in what you get. And some of you will have to put in more time, and it was worth it. In my opinion.

If you had some experience or a lot, Coding Dojo will be good for you. If you had no experience and plan to attend, you should go to their info session and prepare yourself by studying coding right now. Coding Dojo has some free lessons and challenges on their site for you that you should know by heart before you attend to be prepared.

Yes, it seems as of right now, the instructors don't have loads of corporate experience, but they KNOW what they are teaching you and more. I find them to be helpful, kind, and they reach out to you if they see you are behind. 

Coding Dojo is worth it, in my opinion. I think of it as less expensive and shorter time to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. Not the same of course, but still great. Be prepared. Be ready to work hard and put in lots of time. Don’t be embarrassed or scared to ask lots of questions. Know that you will need to continue to study as you look for jobs after Coding Dojo is over. I hope that this doesn’t scare you but it prepares you. With technology nowadays, AI technology, automated machines and cars, your creativity is your only limit! Think about it. This will just be the beginning of your tech career!

I attended Coding Dojo with the intention of changing careers. I had almost no experience in coding prior to starting the program, just the small amount I'd been able to pick up trying to teach myself. And teaching myself was a struggle, even with all the online resources.

Coding Dojo provided me the structured learning environment that I needed to kickstart my education. Their curriculum is based on the principle that a good developer is a self sufficient developer. Not only was I learning the nuts and bolts of programming, more importantly, I was learning HOW to learn, so that once I'd completed the 14 week course I could continue to deepen my knowledge and improve my skills - which I've done.

The instructors are knowledgeable and attentive. The curriculum is constantly being updated to stay relevant. And it's hard. Every challenge that I overcame felt like an achievement and kept me moving forward.

But most valuable to me was the community of overwhelming support that Coding Dojo fosters. Everyone is helpful, students and staff alike. Though there are varying ranges of experience, from people who've been in the tech industry for years to complete noobs like myself, no one is made to feel inferior because they don't have experience. They promote a culture of teamwork throughout the organization.

I would recommend Coding Dojo to anyone who wanted to break into development. The skills I've learned here have real world value that translates to callbacks, interviews, and job opportunities. It's not perfect, but in speaking to people who've gone to other coding bootcamps, the issues seem pretty consistent across the board. So for my money, I'd rather go somewhere that wants me to be successful and doesn't make me feel like an idiot in the process.

I enrolled in Coding Dojo during the early part of 2017, after having self-studied programming for a few months prior. This self study was invaluable - getting exposed to basic programming concepts really helped during the early weeks of the bootcamp. However, the bootcamp itself did a great job of efficiently explaining concepts, from the most basic programming knowledge to really in-depth data structures and algorithms.

Coding Dojo offers you everything you need to succeed, but you still need to work hard. This program does not hold your hand; you need to be confident enough to seek help when needed, and always focus on understanding core concepts and building knowledge on that core.

I would really recommend this program to anyone who thinks they're passionate about web development and programming in general, as they taught both prior-experienced individuals and brand-new students equally well, as long as the students were willing to seek the always available help. 

I began my journey into the complex and often daunting world of coding and coding boot camps towards the end of 2016. After spending a great deal of time researching boot camps in my area and visiting several campuses, I decided Coding Dojo was best suited for my needs and the best equiped to help me acheive my goals as an aspiring software engineer and developer. 

I began Coding Dojo's 14 week on site program at the end of January 2017 with very little background in coding and programming languages aside from an Introduction to Computer Science course I took at George Mason University and the Pre-Bootcamp work I completed for Coding Dojo. I immediately found the instructors to be helpful but very up front about their expectations - my success in the boot camp was entirely dependent on the time and effort I put into the program; the instructors are there to guide you but you have to take the initiative and take responsibility for your learning. 

The three stacks taught at Coding Dojo when I attended, Python, Ruby on Rails, and MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js), are in very high demand in today's job market. Each stack is taught over a four week period with three weeks dedicated to instruction concluding in a rigorous, four and a half hour Black Belt Exam that allows students to demonstrate their level of competency in a given stack. The last of the four weeks alloted to each stack is designated either for make up exams or personal projects. This project week is something that sets Coding Dojo apart from many boot camps because it allows students to build projects that they can add to their portfolios and demonstrate practical application of the skills they have learned beyond those covered in a Black Belt exam. Students can work in small teams or individually. I graduated the boot camp with a personal project in each of the three stacks and that gave me a huge edge when it came time to enter the job market; I not only had a Black Belt in each stack but I had a project that I had built from scratch that demonstrated to employers that I could build a full stack web application from scratch.

Coding Dojo equipped me with the skills and the ability to pick up new skills quickly and efficiently. Attending Coding Dojo truly was a life changing experience. Before Coding Dojo, I couldn't imagine that I could go from coding beginner to a fully fledged Software Engineer in the span of four months. With the help of knowledgeable and very helpful instructors I left Coding Dojo with the confidence that I could not only compete with but overcome many university or college graduates with four year Computer Science degrees. However, in the end you get out only what you put in. If you put in the time and effort you will be rewarded but I did see several students who expected to be hand held throughout the program and they were not successful in their endeavors after leaving Coding Dojo.

I loved my experience at Coding Dojo in Chicago. We had great students and amazing instructors. I found my passion for backend development, and I am so happy that I had the experience of learning three full stacks. The alogirthms every morning helped me learn computer science fundamentals as well. I found a job within a month of graduating doing the exact job I want to do at an incredible company. I would highly recommend this course to any person who desires to change careers or wants to learn web development for any reason. 

After years of working as a copywriter, I was looking to learn a new skill and was particularly interested in learning to write code. After the company I was working for shuttered its doors, the thought of adding a new skill set was even more appealing. After a lot research and thinking things over, I made the choice to leave Colorado for a few months to attend the full-stack program at Coding Dojo Chicago. The skills I learned there were absolutely invaluable. Two months to the day I left Chicago, to head back to the mountains, I started a job as a Digital Producer. I work on the UX team, where I not only get to hone my front end skills, but also work with content management. It's the perfect blend of my skills, and I know that my time spent at Coding Dojo is what gave me the edge over my competition.

I picked this place in Chicago because they teach 3 full stacks.

Pros:

-You will practice algorithms daily.

-The location is perfect, near to the train, and the new campus is cool.

-End of stack assessment and "project week" to help you build a portfolio.

-They update the learning platform regularly.

Cons:

-They underestimate how much prep work students need to do, when my cohort started, some of us were CS grads, some with cs classes, some are equipped with self-learning, few were just doing it for the first time. Definitely, more work than the Algorithms App need to be done, so you can hit the ground running.

-In this location, more work needs to be done to make the place inclusive.

-Alumni support is still growing, and I hope to see more improvements.

-Each new group members need to find a way to work together and support each other as a team, both during learning and project work.

-Some students will face tougher time while learning, and not much support will be provided in that case.

-The program is intense, and they encourage you to put in many hours, so you may fall behind on self care if you did not have a plan to keep the balance.

I was scheduled to attend a Coding Dojo Intro Workshop on a Saturday, due to miscommunication problems, the course didn't take place and I still showed up. I was upset that I did the drive to attend this course. I complained and I received a call back the following Monday, and Danny was just beyond nice and apologetic and we bridged our communication gap. His kindness and quick response changed my perspective about Coding Dojo in a matter of minutes.
If this is the customer service that they deliver, I'm excited to see their approach to working with students and the follow through with students. 

If you want to be a coder  and your looking for the most direct route then Coding Dojo Dallas is the place...I just completed 14 weeks of the onsite bootcamp and it was an awesome experience!!!...I was absolutely amazed at what I learned and was able to accomplish in just 3 1/2 months!! All the staff are "Top Shelf" people and go above and beyond the call of duty to get you were you need to be as a coder...regardless of your prior experience.The instructors are right there everyday to anser all your questions and guide you through the whole course...It is however no easy task..from the very first day your gonna start the learning process and they dont let up tell the last. So dont think for a second that its just gonna be one of those "if you show up, you'll pass" schools(not gonna happen).. Youve gotta really want it!! There not gonna ask you to do something no ones every done before..but to say its a challenge would be selling the program short...bottom line is this school and these instructors are for people who are seriuos about becoming professional coders....Really , I cant say enough good about the staff or my experience at CodingDojo Dallas!!! John K

I had a great experience at Coding Dojo Burbank/LA. I came to Coding Dojo not really sure how well I would grasp core competencies, computer science, or ‘coding lingo.’ However, the time the instructors, teaching assistants, peers, and even some grads poured into me helped me realize not only can I do well here, but I have a pretty solid team available to support me. 

My key to success (earning three black belts) was leaving my ego at the door. I did not approach the languages like a know-it-all, I humbly received feedback and correction, and I was willing to learn in a new way. Coding Dojo believes that anyone can be a successful coder, and if you are willing you really can be a successful coder. 

If you are the kind of person who is willing to put in the time and effort then you will do well. The Coding Dojo team will do anything in their power to help you succeed as a student and alumni. The student who shows initiative, determination, and a ‘never-say-die’ attitude will go far. Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready for life change? If so, the Coding Dojo will be a great fit for you. 

Please do not attend this bootcamp. I'm giving a fair warning to anyone who is thinking about attending. Online instructions with outdated videos on old technology stacks with old versions with unproven instructors without industry experience, what can go wrong? Absolutely everything about this bootcamp experience has not been up to par considering that I learned 95% more from FREE sources online and plus the fact that there is no Job Assistance in the program. I will give one star for some instructors giving more Effort than others, but having them shuffled or fired, and the overall lack of professionalism throughout the whole experience leaves me wishing i never stumbled on Coding Dojo in my bootcamp search.

Beware of the sales tactics and supposed discounts for minorities and bring a friend? Seriously, this is suppose to be about programming and bringing more tech individuals into the workforce.

My experience at Coding Dojo was nothing short of life-changing. The program is designed to change people's lives and after completing it, I can say it did just that for me. The combination of online material, in-person demos/lectures, and being able to work directly with other students truly make for a perfect learning environment. 

The online material you work through daily is challenging and really helps you become self-sufficient. The content is delivered well and the projects help keep you coding while learning.

The instructors also make a huge difference providing support and in-person demos. The instructors here in Washington, DC were knowledgeable and very helpful. 

Lastly, the "classroom" environment is fantastic. Having people around you working on the same things and helping each other really allows you to cope with any feeling of being overwhelmed. It is a tough program, and you will learn a lot if you can stick with it and put in the work.

Coding Dojo enabled me to acquire skills that are literally changing my life. Simply one of the best choices I have ever made. 

After a lot of research and a few interviews I had decided to attend CodingDojo in the DC area. I did not know what to expect, especially since I was in the first cohort of that area, however I cannot express how grateful and fortunate I was. I had awesome supportive teachers as well as a small group of classmates that were all very nice. Maybe I got lucky but it made coming to class a lot more appreciable and I was very motivated to learn more code and dive into specific subjects that particularly interested me. I found that the instructors and other students encourage you and get you excited to work on a certain project. What was most unbelievable was that I learnt so much material in such a short amount of time!

Please do understand that everything you do in the program has to be from yourself. No one is going to push you, you have to be self motivated. Also be aware that it's not like an instructor is going to baby you through everything. One great takeaway is that this program is trying to teach you to become a dependent coder, which is a glimpse into the real world where you should be checking stackoverflow or google first when you run into a problem. The teachers are super useful and if you are stuck on something for a while, they will sit with you for at least an hour or longer to help you debug.

There is so much material and there is no way that you really become an expert in a certain thing unless you put in the time. Even after I graduated I still am taking it upon myself to learn more everyday, because technology is always advancing and once you stop trying to learn you might as well quit the programming profession in general. Anyways after a couple of months out of the program I did find a job! So I honestly recommend this program for those who are really seeking a life changing experience.

Do your research and you can see this is a very flawed curriculum, from the founder, to the instructors, to the staff, look at their LinkedIn profiles and make a decision from there,

Plus look at Coding House and Coding Dojo, you see why these are at the bottom.... eerily similar....

The students who are successful, well, why haven't they shared the negative aspects, not even one, makes you really question the curriculum....?

Go to an info session, I've been to a couple from different bootcamps, everything here is a Sales Tactic. That many languages in a short amount of time? Ask a working developer, Ask a technical recruiter? Ask a graduate about Coding Dojo