Prime Digital Academy

At some point in life everyone has that moment they can pinpoint as being completely life altering, my moment was my acceptance into Prime.

I started Prime as a college drop-out floating through life with no idea of what to do. I left a completely different person. I'm strong, confident (most days), independent, and I feel prepared for the future. Prime doesn't just teach you how to code, it teaches you how to be a better you.

Prime is aware that you have a life outside of school, no matter how limited your interactions with the outside world may be while in the program. They have resources for students in need and are always willing to help; if it gets to be too much even with everything they offer, you are allowed to drop back into a different cohort when things calm down.

I actually had to drop back into a different cohort due to events outside of Prime. The staff was very helpful, my classmates in my first cohort were supportive and endlessly kind. The curriculum itself changed a surprising amount in the month between cohorts. I learned things day one of cohort two that hadn't been covered before. The curriculum is ever evolving into the best possible combination thanks to some very dedicated staff. Student feedback also plays a large part in the curriculum; there are daily and weekly (optional) feedback forms that the staff uses to make these changes and keep general tabs on the students. They care about the wellbeing of each and every student in the program.

The atmosphere is incredible. Everyone supports each other regardless of where in the program you may be. You grow to be close to your classmates even though you only spend 12 weeks with them face to face. I've made multiple friends in the program that I still keep in touch with and hang out with even after graduating.

 

TLDR Prime is awesome. Absolutely life changing. You'll learn code, soft skills, and how to be a better person. Would recommend!!

I attended an open house at Prime before applying and from talking to alumni and current students, the experience at Prime sounded exactly like what I was looking for. A boot camp for fast, yet high quality learning and a fantastic experience and environment. What I didn't realize is how much of an impact Prime had on my life.

Students and alumni kept talking about getting close to your classmates and becoming good friends with them throughout the process of this intense learning. The realization of how close you'd get and the impact these people have on you struck me after only about three weeks into the course. The learning process is intense and the teachers know how to push you to the edge of your abilities and then watch as you make things happen that you wouldn't have thought possible. The amount of knowledge you absorb and utilize is incredible. It's also stressful. It's fast-paced and you move quickly. What you find is that your classmates and the Prime staff is there to support you throughout the entire experience. 

What I kept discovering is how I was doing things I didn't think I would be capable of, over and over throughout my Prime experience. You have two large projects at the end of Prime but before that, you watch the cohorts that are ahead of you present their projects. What you immediately tend to think is that there's no way that you'll be able to create something like that. It seems leagues away from where you are. Once you get to that point in the program though, you end up discovering that you CAN do that, and probably even better than the cohorts you followed.

One of the benefits of Prime that I didn't expect was their focus on not just development skills, but also on soft skills. Every week, students have Toastmasters and speak in front of their classmates, developing their public speaking skills. You also get prepped with knowledge about interviewing, updating / creating your resume, using LinkedIn to your benefit and how to structure it, as well as having multiple chances to meet with recruiters and companies looking to hire students. Those same recruiters will also be able to provide you insight into interviewing and making sure your resume works well and stands out.

Prime's curriculum focuses on the MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS and Node.js). You also learn how to use jQuery, Git, Bootstrap, PostgresSQL, and how to interface with APIs amongst other things. Once you are finished with this program, the learning doesn't stop, but you are now prepared for a lifetime of learning and can start your development career.

In the end, I can't recommend Prime enough as the entire experience can be a life-changing event. At the least, you'll meet some amazing people, gain some new friends, and learn to develop web applications over the span of 18 weeks. Well worth the time and investment to start a new career in development.

My experience at Prime Digital Academy was transformative. I've never experienced education in a more immersive, well-supported, and holistic way.

The instruction is primarily on the MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js) but the focus is not simply on imbuing you with "the stack." There is instruction in life-skills, job search, work/life balance, and more. The instructors' don't consider you just a number (as I've experienced in so many mainstream institutions); they really want you to succeed. Everyone at Prime Digital Academy works toward that end. There is a ton of support.

Beyond that, althought the coursework is focused on the MEAN stack students will come out with a more diverse skillset. Studetns learn HTML, CSS, jQuery, SQL, and how to use APIs. Weekly Toastmasters meetings teach attendees public speaking. On top of that there are multiple group projects that acclimate students to working in a team setting (which is prevalent in the industry).

I left Prime as a more well-rounded person, not just as a Programmer. My life has been forever changed for the better, and I owe much of that to them.

Overall, this was an incredible educational experience.

During this software development bootcamp, I learned how to use a variety of skills and technologies to create a myriad of projects, including an in depth project for a real world client.

The focus on specific technologies was effective, but even more importantly, I learned how to get up to speed and develop effectively using new tools and technologies. I didn't just learn how to write code, I learned how to do research and problem solving to add additional tools and skills  to my inventory.

The curriculum was well thought out and structured, starting from a foundation of HTML, CSS and Javascript, and working up to full stack project development, including meeting with real clients, designing a project from start to finish, task management, problem solving, how to create and connect with multiple databases, and working with various frameworks, libraries, and APIs.

The instructors are knowledgeable, experienced, and supportive.

The application process is rigourous, and the students I learned with and worked with were an exceptional group of people.  The collaborative learning experience was an effective and essential preparation for working effectively as part of a softwaredevelopment team.

The support staff work hard to make sure that graduates have all the skills they need to land a job in their field.  

This program was so much more than I bargained for.  I can't reccomend it highly enough.

 

I came to Prime Digital Academy with virtually no coding experience. Not only did I learn to code in several different languages, I also built a talented, supportive network with my cohort, other Prime students and Prime staff. Yes, I had moments when I felt lost, frustrated and overwhelmed, but because of the positive and supportive environment, I was able to keep moving forward. I surprised myself by how quickly I learned and how much I learned. My one recommendation, if you decide you want to take on this challenge, is to have self discipline, and never be afraid to ask for help. Overall, an awesome and life changing experience.

Prime Digital Academy is a fantastic program that teaches you more than just coding. Although you learn an incredible amount about different technologies (JavaScript, jQuery, Ajax, AngularJS, Node.js, Express.js, SQL, MongoDB, Grunt, Git, Gulp, Bootstrap, Angular Material, just to name a few) but you also learn a lot of important soft skills that are important to the industry. Some of these soft skills are public speaking, working together as a team, communication, handling conflicts with non-violent communication, and many others. I would recommend Prime Digital Academy to anyone who is willing to accept the challenge and is willing to make a change in their life. 

As a former part-time college student taking the traditional Computer Science route, and a full-time blue collar worker, I left in order to pursue something that would kickstart my professional career as a Software Engineer. Prime did that, and more. 

While learning in-depth knowledge of full-stack programming, I was also taught a wide variety of soft-skills that are prudent when working on a development team. Not only is the curriculum cutting edge, I truly believe that every teacher in the school genuinely cares about the students' well being's, and fosters their immense growth as a programmer. 

After graduating from Prime, I can wholeheartedly say that it changed my life. I will be the first to admit that it was a very intense program, but It was well worth the journey. I'm making way more money at a job that I love doing and that I'm extremely passionate about, and none of it would not be possible without the support from Prime. 

Needless to say, I would highly recommend Prime to anyone looking to kickstart their career in Software Engineering. 

After spending far too long in retail management, I decided to go back to my love of math and logic and attempt a career in programming. I had pretty close to zero technical knowledge -- my last programming class was an AP Pascal class in high school, so that should tell you something. I really didn't know what to expect from Prime. I was in the second cohort ever, so it was clear that not everything had been ironed out with the curriculum yet. But, really, tech is ever-changing, so the curriculum should not be static, and should be flexible based upon the current market's needs.

The skill of the instructors was astounding. I attended a fairly well-respected liberal arts college known for the quality of its instruction, and I can say for sure that Scott was one of the best teachers I have ever had. He has a knack for communicating technical concepts to newbies in a way that is just utterly impressive. He also was extremely empathetic to the needs of the class - if we were stuck on a concept, he changed his lesson plan accordingly. This is some highly tailored instruction that you and your classmates will receive.

I know not everyone has had the same experience, but I was lucky enough to get a job with one of Prime's business partners through the Career Day held the week of graduation. The staff at Prime cannot guarantee job placement, but they do their damnedest to make sure you are given every opportunity for success.

After worrying about my decision to attend Prime, pay the tuition, and give up work (and a social life) for several months, I can honestly say that all the worry was worth it. My decision to attend was absolutely life changing, and I don't regret a thing. If you're up for an incredible challenge, with the potential to shift careers and experience a level of personal growth that shouldn't be possible in such a short time, then Prime is for you!

Some People Like bullet points...

PROS:

1. Intensive, immersive experience
2. Flexible curriculum
3. Excellent staff and instructors who care about you.
4. Free coffee, bread, milk, cereal (SO YOU DONT STARVE!)
5. Activly trying to be inclusive of women, people of color

CONS:

1. Expensive. Save your sheckles, even if you get a loan. You'll need a macbook of some sort, so account for that too. Even if you get a job right out of the school, it would be far safer to expect not having a job for a couple months after graduation. You cannot work and do this at the same time. 
2. Open main area. Classrooms have doors, but the commons area for breakout work can get loud.
3. Difficult to get feedback if you are doing well. Squeeky wheel gets the grease.

 

Some People Like words...

I came from a completely non-techical background, but have a passion for tech, people, and learning. This program was tailor made for me, I think. You must love to code. If you've never coded before, make sure you check out other free resources like codecademy to get your feet wet. If you are honest with what you want, and that desire is to get into software development, then you should really, really consider Prime.

Prime focuses on interpersonal skills HIGHLY. It doesn't matter in the end if you can code all languages and churn out crazy complicated applications. There are people that do that already. You have to be able to work with people, communicate, and convey complex ideas in non-complex ways. If you are honest with yourself, and you love people, then you should really, really consider Prime.

Prime is a very flexible, non-accredited school. What that means: No, you can't write this off on your taxes. Yes, they change curriculum constantly to reflect the class, the market, and the situation. Some projects are more challenging that others, but all are useful, especially if you are of the mindset that learning is the goal.

Prime doesn't end when you graduate. The people and relationships you've built will still be there. So will access to the building and the staff. The community manager helps you navigate the job search, offers, and the psycologist will help with worries and anxieties. I graduated on January 15th, and while certainly not the majority of people in my cohort do yet, I already have a job offer. The staff asserts that about 50% of a cohort will have a job after 6 weeks. 

Some people like code. 

if (code && attitude && people) {

    attendPrime();

}

Ooh, that was nerdy.

My experience at Prime was overall positive, but I feel the need to counter-balance some of the other reviews here.

- Curriculum was shaky. Tech stack isn't focused on actually learning strong fundamentals, and there was sometimes the feeling that *actually* learning how to code wasn't the top priority.

- Hiring slower than advertised. Staff had to manage expectations after perhaps overestimating the appeal of bootcamp grads in the Twin Cities market.

- Non existent hiring network--at least while I was there. This is probably something that has to develop over time, but 95% of our "mock" and real interviews were with recruiters or companies that weren't actually hiring.

- Wide range of quality of client projects--from doing really cool work for awesome companies/non-profits to developing fake apps for Prime or Prime's parent company.

Prime is a group of amazing people coming together with the goal of learning and sharing insights as a team. I arrived at Prime due to a potent mix of curiousity and desperation - I had always been fascinated by coding but I never believed I'd be able to learn it without a LOT OF HELP. 

I got that help at Prime and a hell of a lot more. Prime is a community of peope who are genuinely interested in each other's best interests. The support I recieved and continue to recieve from Prime staff has been lifechanging. If you plan on attending just make sure you are bringing every ounce of work ethic you have in you and a willingness to be open, humble and genuine - it's not easy but it is absolutely worth it!