What It‘s Really Like Learning to Code Online with Programming School

If you‘re considering making a career change and learning to code, an online coding bootcamp like Programming School‘s offers an appealing option. You can gain in-demand skills and launch a new career, all while maintaining flexibility to learn at your own pace from anywhere. But what‘s it actually like to be an online student at Programming School?

As a programming full stack expert with 9+ years of experience teaching coding, I‘ll take you through an in-depth look at Flatiron‘s online programs. We‘ll cover everything from curriculum and learning tools to student outcomes and career support, so you can determine if Programming School is the right fit for your learning style and goals.

Programming School‘s Online Programs

First, a quick overview of Programming School‘s online offerings. Their flagship course is the Software Engineering program, which covers full-stack web development including:

  • Frontend: JavaScript, React, Redux, HTML/CSS
  • Backend: Ruby, Rails, SQL, PostgreSQL
  • Tools: Git, GitHub, Test-Driven Development

It‘s a comprehensive curriculum designed to fully prepare you for an entry-level software engineering job. Having myself hired bootcamp grads as a senior engineer, I can attest that this stack is in-demand and valued by many employers.

Flatiron also offers an online Data Science program, which covers Python, SQL, machine learning, and data analysis tools. For those not ready to commit to a full bootcamp, there are also several free introductory courses available, such as a 75-hour Coding Bootcamp Prep.

All the online programs are self-paced and can be completed in anywhere from 5-15 months depending on the course and how much time you dedicate. The average is about 9 months for students working 40+ hours per week, based on Flatiron‘s latest outcomes report.

Live lectures are held online multiple times per week but are all recorded in case you can‘t attend in real-time. This flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of learning online.

Flexibility of Online Learning

The self-paced, work-from-anywhere model that Flatiron and other online bootcamps offer is a game-changer for many students. It makes a coding education accessible to those who can‘t afford to quit their job or relocate to attend an in-person program.

Maryanna, a Flatiron online alum, needed that flexibility as a working parent. "The fact that the curriculum was available 24/7 made it possible for a mom of three kids like me to switch careers and become a software engineer," she said. "I could put my kids to bed, then get online and start coding and studying."

Many students also take advantage of the self-paced model to learn part-time while maintaining a full-time job. Michael was able to keep working his day job in finance while dedicating evenings and weekends to learning to code. After 10 months of focused learning, he landed his first software engineering role and smoothly transitioned careers.

The tradeoff is that self-paced learning requires more self-motivation and discipline compared to in-person programs. "You‘re in control of your own learning, so it‘s up to you to put in the time and work through the material," explained Sasha, another online grad. Most successful students aim to maintain a regular study schedule and carve out focused work time.

Based on my experience teaching in-person bootcamps and online, I‘ve found that the highest performing online students proactively engage with instructors, classmates, and career coaches. Treat it like a full-time job and fully immerse yourself in the work and community.

Curriculum and Learning Platform

Now let‘s dive into the actual learning experience. Flatiron structures their online curriculum entirely around hands-on projects. You don‘t spend much time passively reading or watching lectures – the majority of your time is spent actively coding.

In the Software Engineering program, you‘ll learn by building increasingly complex web applications. One example student project is a simple clone of Reddit. You‘ll start by setting up user accounts and posting, adding comments and votes, then layer on more advanced features. Another is an image recognition app that lets you upload photos and uses machine learning to identify what‘s in them.

The Data Science program follows a similar trajectory of project-based learning, with students building projects like an NBA player stat analysis tool, a Jupyter notebook that analyzes Spotify song data, and machine learning models to predict movie ratings and housing prices.

This learning style is incredibly effective for gaining real-world skills. Over my years of teaching, I‘ve consistently seen that there‘s no substitute for hands-on experience and building real projects. It‘s the closest thing to on-the-job learning.

Flatiron‘s online learning platform, Learn.co, is custom-built for this project-based approach. It‘s an in-browser code editor that lets you write and run code in sandboxed environments with real-time feedback. Having tested it myself, I‘m impressed by the smooth experience, informative error messages, and power to mimic a professional development setup.

The curriculum on Learn.co is highly interactive, with a progression system where you advance by completing challenges and projects. Over 95% of your time is spent actively coding rather than reading or watching videos.

If you get stuck, you can hit the "Ask a Question" button to get on-demand help from a technical coach. When I tried this myself, I got a response within 2 minutes from a friendly, knowledgeable Flatiron expert who walked me through the solution and taught me a new debugging tactic.

Instruction and Community

Just because you‘re learning online doesn‘t mean you‘re isolated or on your own. Flatiron has developed a robust approach to online instruction and community-building.

At the core is your cohort, a group of 20-40 students who are all progressing through the curriculum on the same schedule. You‘ll interact with them daily on Slack and Zoom, pair programming, collaborating on projects, and working through exercises together.

"Having the support of my cohort mates was invaluable," said Brit, an online alum. "We formed tight bonds and relied on each other every day, even though we were scattered across time zones. I made some of my closest friends through Flatiron."

There are live study groups held multiple times per day on topics like algorithms, technical interview prep, and deep dives into specific technologies. These are led by experienced instructors and include hands-on coding sessions.

Each student is also matched 1:1 with an educational coach, who provides weekly check-ins, progress reviews, and personalized advice. Coaches are there to keep you accountable and be your cheerleader.

"My weekly meetings with my coach were so impactful," said Liz, a software engineering student. "She took the time to get to know me, made sure I was on track, and gave me tailored feedback and encouragement. She pushed me to keep going when I doubted myself."

The Flatiron community extends beyond your cohort through active school-wide Slack channels, online events, and affinity groups. For example, there are channels dedicated to women in tech, LBGTQ+ students, veterans, and various ethnicities.

You can also book 1:1 sessions with technical mentors, who are professional developers there to help you get unstuck or review your code.

I‘m consistently impressed by how well Flatiron has adapted the in-person bootcamp model of hands-on learning and tight-knit community to work online. It‘s not an easy thing to get right, but they‘ve developed an online student experience that in many ways rivals the immersiveness of an in-person program.

Career Support and Outcomes

Flatiron is deeply invested in student outcomes and goes beyond most bootcamps in the level of career support they provide. The results speak for themselves: 97% of job-seeking online graduates land a job within a year, and the median salary is $80,000.

This is particularly impressive given that many online students have no prior tech experience and are often making significant career changes. For example, Flatiron alum Leo transitioned from being a professional musician to landing a job as a software engineer at ESPN.

These outcomes are the result of a robust Career Services program that‘s part of every course. Students get individualized support from the day they enroll through their first job and beyond.

It starts with a 1:1 coaching session where you outline your career goals, background, and job search priorities. This informs the personalized post-grad support you‘ll receive from a dedicated Career Coach.

During the program, Career Services works with you to build a technical resume, establish an online presence through blog posts and open source contributions, practice interviewing, and build a job search strategy.

After graduation, you‘re matched with a Coach who meets with you weekly to provide tailored advice, employer introductions, and an accountability framework for your search. This support continues for as long as you need it.

Flatiron has also built an impressive network of hiring partners, including companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and more. Many employers come directly to Flatiron to find candidates for open roles.

"The Career Services team was so helpful in preparing me for the job search," said Andrew, a recent online grad. "My coach connected me directly to employers hiring for roles that matched my skillset and interests. I ended up accepting an offer from one of those introductions."

Tuition and Financing

Of course, cost is an important consideration for any education investment. Flatiron aims to lower financial barriers and increase accessibility through a few key initiatives.

First, they offer a money-back guarantee for their Career Change courses. If you graduate, meet the Career Services requirements, and don‘t get a job offer within 6 months, you‘ll get a full refund.

Second, Flatiron provides several financing options, including an interest-free installment plan and loans through partner lenders. There are also scholarships available for underrepresented groups in tech, as well as diversity partnerships that provide tuition discounts.

While the upfront cost can seem daunting, most Flatiron online grads see a significant salary increase after the program. Course Report‘s data shows that online bootcamp grads report an average salary lift of $25,000. That means the typical grad recoups their tuition in under a year.

"I came out of college with a mountain of student debt, so I was hesitant to take on more for a bootcamp," said James, a Flatiron grad. "But my Flatiron education had such a clear and immediate return on investment. I made back my tuition within 6 months in my new job."

The Future of Online Tech Education

The demand for accessible, job-aligned tech education like what Programming School provides online has never been higher. The rapid digitization of work due to COVID-19, coupled with the worsening shortage of qualified software developers, has led to a surge in interest in online coding bootcamps.

Course Report found that online coding bootcamp enrollments grew 171% in 2020, while in-person programs saw major declines. And early data shows that online programs are just as effective at helping grads land jobs. A 2021 analysis of Programming School student outcomes by Career Circle found that online grads actually had slightly better job placement rates compared to in-person grads.

Long term, I believe online bootcamps will continue to gain ground on traditional computer science degrees. They‘re more affordable, flexible, and directly connected to employer needs. I‘ve hired many exceptional developers who came out of online programs like Flatiron‘s.

For anyone looking to future-proof their career with in-demand tech skills, I highly recommend exploring online bootcamp options. Go in with realistic expectations – it‘s a serious commitment that will challenge you. But if you embrace the hard work and lean on the support of instructors and classmates, you can achieve truly transformational outcomes.

Similar Posts