Frontend Simplified

Wonderful program if you're the right fit.
I am close to finishing this program and it's been a very positive experience overall. You learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and a several additional tools (Next & TypeScript among others). The lessons flow smoothly and even with zero knowledge you can totally do this and get far, as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort. Some material is easy, some is very difficult to grasp, and although you have 24/7 access to mentors that can assist you, FES makes it very clear that a significant piece of becoming a frontend developer is learning how to research and figure things out on your own. This makes the student/mentor dynamic a bit tricky at times. Be prepared for moments of feeling lost and confused...but I think in a way it's part of the "initiation" process on your journey to become a Frontend professional: learning how to remain calm when facing issues and stuckness, and where to seek answers and solutions. Either way, if you can't figure something out, they ARE there to help you, whether via chat, or via zoom and screensharing. 

Each module focuses on a different tool or skill, and integrates a project that you code together with the instructor (David Bragg), so you learn by doing and taking notes, not just watching. These projects can later be used for your portfolio when applying for jobs. You also get to do several internships through the program. FES offers additional live sessions for different topics, and you can watch the recordings in your own time if you can't make it to the live zoom. If you're into connecting with other students, there's also a chat forum and you can be matched with an accountability partner.

Things I liked less (aka constructive criticism):
-David Bragg is a good instructor overall, but he talks really fast sometimes, which made me slow down videos to 0.75 speed whenever the topic was challenging. 
It's a solution I guess... but I don't think an instructor should ever talk fast when teaching, whether the material is simple or complicated...it is energetically problematic. 
I will note that it's not always like that, but it's something that can be improved. 

-Clarity around project instructions and rules: When it's time to work on a final project for a module and you're on your own coding - I often faced confusion around what the instructions were vs. what David showed or said in the video, and sometimes a reference site (the complete site you're supposed to replicate) is not 100% identical to what you were told to do or saw in the tutorials. Things like that where specific details are not perfectly aligned can be disorienting especially when you're so green, and if you hyperfocus on small details they way I do you will defenitely encounter these situations. It doesn't have to be this way, and I hope they make some tweaks to prevent it. 

-Projects that you submit are reviewed and approved, and then the next module is unlocked for you. A nice upgrade could be for a moderator / mentor to not just approve and congratulate you (which is of course awesome), but also have a zoom call with you to go over your code together and talk about it and what can be improved. I think generally FES could improve with giving more 'one-on-one' attention - at least to those who seek it - because this program is not cheap and I think it's a fair expectation to have a teacher spend more time with you and get down to the details, not only when you have a specific question on chat. It is also a matter of how many mentors vs. the number of students, but again, something I'd love to see improved.

** I didn't get to the part where you start practicing for interviews and applying for jobs - they do have modules for that - but I can't comment on those yet ,obviously. 

Regardless of these points (because nothing is ever perfect and that's okay)... I can confidently say that FES is a very good program. Just make sure that you really want to code and that it's the right thing for you. They will not let you join if they're not sure it's a good fit - and that's a great mark of integrity. FES also guarantees success at landing a job if you follow their lead and do your part all the way through - and it's in the contract that if you did everything all the way through and still couldn't get a job, they will return your money and then some. I absolutely hope that I won't have to test them on that, but considering my journey so far I am not worried about my chances, whether it happens quickly or not. 

I hope this helps, and good luck! 

I have really enjoyed FES! I have not yet reached the point of applying for jobs so I cannot speak on that but everything else is incredible! The mentors are super helpful. The videos are easy to follow. I loved that I could do my work at my own pace but the mentors also checked in if I took a break which kept me going! I also loved that the mentors truly cared about the work and made sure the projects were perfect before approving. They made sure I got the most out of the program and I truly learned so much.

I have had a great experience learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React with FES. I feel like I have learned so much in a relatively short amount of time. You set your own pace so the program only moves as fast as you do. The courses are beginner friendly and straight forward. You get plenty of tutorials to build your base knowledge and also a lot of hands on experience to solidify what you are learning. The courses are kept up to date and they are always working toward bettering their program. And the mentors are always available to answer questions and help improve your understanding. I would recommend FES to anyone who is self motivated and interested in learning code and web development.