Hey everyone, I'm Bloc's cofounder and CEO -- happy to answer any questions here!
Report
@choxi The website says "No more video-tutorials". Wondering how exactly is the curriculum taught? A curated list of online tutorials one is expected to read before diving into a project? I am currently part of the pilot cohort for Udacity's Front End Nano Degree.
@dhawalhshah we found that curated resources created a subpar experience for our students, so we've written our own curriculum from scratch to tailor it for our program.
Mentorship is the core feature of our product though, there's no better way to learn dev skills than to work with a master developer. You meet 1:1 with your mentor on a weekly basis over a screenshare to get help with code reviews, pair programming, or troubleshooting areas where you're getting stuck. It's much more high touch compared to Udacity.
Definitely an exceptional program and highly recommend anyone looking to get into web development, whether you have an app idea or looking for a career change.
My mentor made the difference in where I am at today (Rails Engineer).
Report
anybody willing to provide a ballpark range on cost?
Report
@sethmills21 It is $5k. Pricing is at the bottom of each course
Report
@Akhil_Anumolu ty, I just found it. I would love to do this but it's a bit out of my price/hourly commitment range. I wish there was more of a p/t option for those juggling other jobs. Maybe 10 hours a week w/fewer meetups for 1/2 the price? Also, ironic you're a specialist at Symantec. I'm currently in NetBackup training ; )
Report
@sethmills21 Seth -- we have 12, 18, and 36 week tracks exactly for folks like yourself :-)
Bloc was absolutely instrumental in getting me where I am today (like @brianllamar, I too am now a Rails engineer). Bloc is what gave me the confidence to build my own web apps. The company and mentors care deeply about the success of their students. My mentor was the man and has since become a good friend with whom occasionally I work with on side projects and study new technologies.
Report
Bloc is pretty sweet. I've been a mentor since early on, and it's been amazing to see how quickly the product has iterated and how much the team cares about their students. Mentoring is an awesome and rewarding experience; 10/10 would recommend. (Surprised/happy to see it on PH!)
Report
I started bloc in December of 2012 and graduated 12 weeks later. I was already working as a Front End Designer/WordPress guy, but I wanted more. Shortly after graduating Bloc, I was offered a position as a Rails Developer. Now almost a year and a half later I'm a remote employee with the same company and lovin life.
My Bloc mentor was awesome! He was continuously available and always pushing us. I've been so happy with Bloc that I have recommend it to total strangers that were inquiring on Reddit.
Pros:
- You can attend Bloc from anywhere. Other classes require you to live where they are located.
- They are constantly improving their curriculum. And you always have access to it. I've gone back through the courses time and time again. Practice makes perfect, right?!?
- The mentors are top notch!
- They are one of the most affordable options in this space.
Cons:
- If you don't have the discipline to do the work on your own, you may struggle. But truth be told, being a developer requires a lot of self-discipline. Very few shops will micro-manage you. So it is on you to do your best.
Pro-Tips:
- A few people in my class wouldn't reach out to their mentor when they needed help. It almost seemed like he had to chase them. DO NOT be those people. USE THE HELL out of your mentor. Obviously you should Google/Stack Overflow first and give it an honest try. But don't be afraid to ask for help. That is what you are paying for.
- Make this a priority and set a schedule. Pick a few days a week when you turn off the world, log in and make progress. If you get stuck, take a small break and come back to it. If you get super stuck, schedule some time with a mentor.
Hope this helps. I'd be happy to answer any other questions anyone has.
Report
Hello all, I am enrolled in the Full Stack Web Development apprenticeship and am currently on my third week now. I have a design background and had some basic knowledge of front-end development when I joined Bloc. I think Bloc is perfect for me because it gives you the flexibility to do it at your own pace even if you have a full-time job (I'm under the 36 weeks program). And having a mentor that is always available during your learning curve is just great. The curriculum is awesome and the way they explain the material is so subtle that anyone can pick it up and start coding from the beginning. I can't wait to see the end results.
+ @choxi
I haven't taken one but I've only heard good things. It's a really clever model that sits between a full-time in person bootcamp and self-learning to get the best of both worlds.
Report
I just graduated from Bloc's Full Stack Web Development Apprenticeship this week. It was an amazing journey from beginning to end! I came into it without any background in computer programming and now I can build my own web applications. My mentor was incredible. He really understood where I was in my learning process at each point in the curriculum, and was therefore able to scaffold my learning so I didn't feel frustrated. The office hours mentors are really great as well! I don't know of any other online bootcamp that has such extensive office hours. Being able to get help when you need it makes all the difference. Bloc has also added a 'Job Prep' component to their curriculum. I'm so thankful for this as I know that I will be better prepared to find a job in the field once I finish. Enjoy the ride, Nikhil! You're going to love it!
Replies
The Twenty Minute VC
The Twenty Minute VC
Swiftris
Swiftris
OpenSauced
TownHall