Code Platoon

Originally, I was set to attend another bootcamp until I found out about Code Platoon. I did a lot of research trying to figure out which bootcamp would best set me up for a successful career as a SWE and ultimately decided CP was my best option. What really convinced me was the reviews of past students I found on the internet. Everyone spoke highly of this bootcamp and emphasized the amount of support you would get from peers, TA's, and instructors. The reviews on the internet were right, I had a really amazing learning experience. It was very challenging, but I felt I had the support I needed every step of the way. 

The curriculum is top notch, I don't think that get's mentioned in these reviews, but CP pays very careful attention to what and how something is being taught. As a former teacher, I really appreciated this aspect of the bootcamp. If you have the opportunity to attend CP, do it, it's the best coding bootcamp out there right now. 

If you're a veteran, service-member, or military spouse I would highly recommend this program if you're serious about jumping into tech. 

Pros:
-This course teaches you both Python and Javascript. Many other coding bootcamps have you working in a single language such as JavaScript, which tends to constrict what type of projects or areas of development you can pursue. Having Python be a major language used during the cohort was great as the language works very well for web development, data science, or any sort of automation that you can think of.

-You also can participate in earning two free certifications (AWS CCP and Agile). This is voluntary, but I highly recommend at least pursuing the AWS cert. It was one of the primary factors that helped me obtain an internship before graduating. 

-Code Platoon matches students into apprenticeships each cohort. The number of apprenticeships available varies, but this cohort we had around ~10 available positions scattered across different sized companies in various industries. If you don't get matched in an apprenticeship you still get career service help afterwards.

-The education level of each student varies, which is nice if you're new to programming. If you're a newbie, you're going to be working with tons of people just like you, but also have a few people attend who have been coding for multiple years. At first you may feel nervous about working with the more experienced people, but I totally recommend it in helping you grow.

Thinks to know beforehand:
-This isn't primarily a Code Platoon thing, but coding bootcamps in general: be ready to do a lot of learning on your own. The instructors and TAs will help you along the way, but there's a high expectation that you will study outside of class to pick up concepts you feel fuzzy on. It's very easy to fall behind if you get lazy.

-You're not guaranteed a job after completing a coding bootcamp, Code Platoon or otherwise. Make sure you realize that finding a role is a grind and that you're expected to put in a lot of work on your own career development. When looking at my situation, I would say that I performed in the middle of the pack in terms of coding competency, yet still managed to find an internship before graduating. Finding a role all depends on your willingness to put in an effort.

-The program has just started putting an emphasis on remote learning, but a lot of things like apprenticeship placement are focused primarily for those in the Chicago area. They're making good progress, but expect if you're an attendee that about half of if not more of the apprenticeships will require you to at least move temporarily to Chicago. The other half are either scattered across the US or fully remote positions. Be ready for a lot of competition if you're looking for a remote gig.

I attended Code Platoon as an in person student from May 2021 - September 2021. I did have prior knowledge of python. During my time there I learned html/css, javascript, python, Django, react, and other technologies. Along with that I learned soft skills that will benefit me in a team base environment. Along with the core technologies we also had guest speakers and workshops that gave you a different perspective of the coding world. The teachers at code platoon are absolutely amazing and technically knowledgable. Along with having the teachers help you with problems, we also had amazing TAs that were more than willing to help you with any questions on the lesson for the day. It’s encouraged to try the answer yourself because it allows you to grow as a programmer, but you have a network to reach out to. Overall I would definitely recommend this program to anyone that is on the fence about attending and glad I choose Code Platoon.

Transitioning out of military life, whether you’re a veteran or a military spouse, is a challenging endeavor. Learning the skills and culture of the civilian workforce can be liking moving to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. Code Platoon does an amazing job of helping to make that transition. 

Beginning with their boot camp prep course, they go above and beyond to help you be prepared to complete the rigorous 14-week curriculum. The curriculum is designed to give you the hard and soft skills needed to be successful as a software engineer while focusing on popular but enduring technologies that are in demand now and will continue to be relevant in the future.

I can’t say enough positive things about the instructors and teaching assistants. They are there to help you succeed, and they go above and beyond to achieve that goal. There’s no cutthroat environment at Code Platoon - everyone is supportive and genuinely wants to see you complete the program.

Their career services team is also top-notch. They work with you to craft an amazing resume, assist in your job search, and prepare you for the interviewing process. They’re so good that I had a job offer before graduation!

If you are transitioning into software development and meet the requirements to apply, I strongly encourage you to do it! You won’t find a better boot camp.

I attended Code Platoon as a remote student from May 2021 to September 2021. It is an intensive 14 week course to teach full stack software engineering, tech industry norms, and the skills necessary to grow over time once the students enter their first jobs. I entered Code Platoon with some knowledge of computer science, and having written some code, but the amount and variety of problems, solutions and techniques we learned over the 14 weeks was awesome. The course uses Python and Javascript as the main languages, and a variety of approaches to styling. Additionally, there are excellent career coaching opportunities in the weekly Beyond Tech discussions on topics from salary negotiations to Imposter syndrome. A variety of workshops and lectures also round out the curriculum, with topics from cyber security to data structures featuring. Lastly the program offers an apprenticeship program which is geared towards Chicago based attendance. If you can make the move to Chicago work to attend the course in person, you should consider it as the positions available through the apprenticeships are dope. This cohort had one remote apprenticeship, and six in person apprenticeships available to a class of approximately 22.

This course had two primary instructors who are technically adept, passionate about the material they teach, and genuinely work to improve understanding of their students and to help them succeed. Additionally, there are volunteer in-industry assistants available in the evenings to go over problems, as well as student TAs who bring a wealth of knowledge and talent to help out when the going gets tough. With the variety of help you can get when stuck, it's really handy because it's going to happen. There's just too many problems to solve that you won't run aground on a few of them. The instructors understand that, and have also made lectures from previous cohorts available on youtube to help guide your solutions.

Attending remotely was a requirement for me due to family and my partner's employment, and I still had a blast with this school. There were many long nights, but I am graduating this program with a whole lot more certainty that this is a career field I can succeed and thrive in. If I had known more about how the internship/apprenticeship program worked, I would have more seriously considered attending in person.

If you're interested in software engineering, I recommend this course. The skills and understanding you can gain are awesome, and I'm glad I went with this program.

I recently graduated from Code Platoon's full time 14-week immersive program.   Before Code Platoon I spent over a year teaching myself the basics of web development, but after a while it was obvious that I was going to need some help if I wanted to break into the industry.  I found Code Platoon and could not pass up on the opportunity that they presented and I am so happy that I chose to take the leap.  It was far from an easy experience.  The stronger your Javascript and Python skills are going in, the more comfortable you will be, especially in the first half of the program.  Code Platoon will have a lot of resources available to ensure that you succeed like TAs and mentors make sure that you utilize them. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you are stuck.  Sometimes all it takes for something to click is to see how someone else would approach the problem.  Just remember that there is a reason you are there, you deserve to be there, and trust the process!

 I attended Code Platoon remotely from February – May, 2021.  I was able to attend through the DoD SkillBridge Program, of which Code Platoon is an approved program, during my last few months of Active Duty.   Though my entire experience was remote, It did not detract from the immersive experience and overall quality education.  In just a few short months, myself and others, all of whom were at different levels of experience, were able to go from writing simple “Hello World” scripts, to full-stack applications incorporating multiple 3rd party APIs.  This was done through a multitude of individual, as well as group work, that got each student used to the industry standards that we would each be expected to understand as we move into the job search.  The technology stack we used throughout Code Platoon included Python/Django, JavaScript/React and Postgres/SQL as well as HTML/CSS.  This exposed us to modern technology, that is in demand in throughout the industry, and also gave us a more diverse skillset, as opposed to a purely JavaScript based curriculum.  Code Platoon also offered numerous workshops throughout the cohort with teams and individuals in the industry to expose us to new technology or give us a more in-depth look at the tech we were learning.  In addition to this we also were given “Beyond Tech” workshops that helped students learn skills that went beyond just technology.  One of the beyond tech workshops I found particularly useful was the personal finance workshop, as I hadn’t had much experience with money management.   Code Platoon also offered an optional mentorship throughout the program that pairs students with a mentor in the industry.  I, being active duty Army at the time, was excited to have a mentor who was an Army Veteran.  With my mentor I was able to ask more in depth questions about the current tech industry, as well as learn new skills that may not have been offered in Code Platoon.  Lastly, the cohort offers an apprenticeship program, that gives students the opportunity to interview and potentially land an internship or fulltime job with partner companies.   This is an incredibly valuable option for students, and helps keep everyone motivated to work their hardest and learn the material as thoroughly as they can.  Overall, I can’t recommend this program enough to any Veteran, active duty service member, or military spouse!
 
 Pros: 
 - Strong Curriculum that exposes students to an awesome tech stack that is prevalent throughout  the industry.   -Offers both technical and non-technical workshops to help strengthen students’ knowledge and preparedness to enter the industry. 
 
 -The apprenticeship program is an extremely valuable program that can help new programmers enter the industry with awesome companies.  Cons: -If you have any prior experience coding, it can start off a little slow.  - Being remote as of May 2021 (Though this may change), can present difficulties in some cases, though for the most part Code Platoon handled it well.  
 
 

While this boot camp was rigorous. I learned so much. I definitely recommend that you have a good familiarity with JavaScript and Python before you begin the program. Utilize your TA's, do not be embarrassed about what you don't know. They're there to help. They want you to succeed and will do whatever they can to help you. Try to study, definitely work on your problem-solving skills and algorithms throughout the course. Participate in the mentorship program. Also, remember to breathe, and take care of your mental health. This course is going to challenge you, but you can do it!