Le Wagon Montréal - Tech & AI bootcamps

There sure are a ton of choices out there nowadays when it comes to online learning or bootcamps for all sorts of subjects. It can be hard to filter out legit from the less legit courses. But one coding course I can certainly vouch for is Le Wagon! I joined the pool of international alumni of Le Wagon in September 2020 after completing the intensive 9-week program in Montreal. What makes this course absolutely unique in my opinion is the obvious amount of preparation that was put into this course. I came into this adventure with a background in music, so I had no previous experience coding whatsoever. So, without a doubt, there are times during this course when you ask yourself how the heck you will be able to process the amount of material that is given to you on a daily base… that's when it is especially important to remember the most important motto at Le Wagon: "Trust the process!". And you MUST trust it because it really works! As I progressed through the course there often were these moments when previous material came back into the picture and finally made sense. But the magic happens in the last three weeks of the course when we worked on our 2 final projects. We had to build two apps from the ground up, which does seem daunting at first. Very daunting!!! But quickly enough I realized why Le Wagon is structured the way it is. And yes, the course is so beautifully structured, but what makes it just perfect is the amazing teachers we have during the course, as well as TAs who have been through the process recently, and the buddy system which means you always have access to someone to talk code with, help you understand or solidify the concepts. Le Wagon welcomes people of all walks of life, with the most diverse backgrounds. I met so many amazing people during this course with whom I know I will have long-lasting friendships. So this course is for ANYONE who is motivated to learn and have a strong start to the wonderful world of code! I certainly could have learned to code on any of the many online courses, but I am certain that by now I still would be a long while away from building an app from scratch, I would not have the tools or confidence to start working in the industry so quickly and I would not be part of the biggest and most amazing coding community on planet earth!

Before starting Le Wagon’s Web Development bootcamp, all I had was a high school diploma and experience in customer service. I decided it was time for a change and made the best decision in my life. The teaching style concentrates on practical exercises and the support from teachers is incredible. No need to spend 3 to 5 years in college/university. This 10-week bootcamp will prepare you with everything you need to start a career in tech.

I recently completed a web development course at Le Wagon coding bootcamp in Montreal and I have to say, it was an unforgettable experience. One of the aspects I appreciated the most about the bootcamp was the focus on practical skills. Significant time was spent working on projects and building our own web applications, which gave us the opportunity to put what we learned into practice and see firsthand results. The course was intense and required a lot of dedication, but the support from the instructors and my batch (#1058) of fellow students made it manageable. It was a great experience to be able to learn from and work with people from different backgrounds and with different experiences. Overall, I highly recommend Le Wagon coding bootcamp.

Can't recommend this camp enough. Coming from a career in translation and interpreting where one must be a "serial specialist" in infinite topics to survive, I was no stranger to teaching myself stuff on Google and solving problems alone. It’s true that anyone can start teaching themselves coding online for free - why would anyone pay to go school? In my case I taught myself enough to make quirky little JavaScript games and tools for my coworkers. Unfortunately I kept hitting two walls. How could I combine all these languages I was learning to make powerful and useful apps? More importantly, how do I work with other people? Le Wagon demolished these two walls with one wrecking ball swoop. The curated curriculum gives you a solid understanding of how all the parts work together and you’re convinced you know it because you built the apps to prove it. I never felt stuck because teaching assistants were always on call for help on the nichest of my very niche problems. But the greatest part of Le Wagon is that it’s all about collaboration from day one. You see how others code via the buddy system and daily livecode sessions, you become set up and intimately familiar with tools like GitHub and Figma for collaborating with anyone anywhere, and as the cherry on top you learn techniques to work in a team to design, build and pitch two apps. Plus the whole thing is just plain fun. We were eager to come in each day to the point people always showed up early for pre-lecture coffee and chat, and we did a fair amount of celebrating together regularly outside camp. Besides coding skills I’ve come out the other end with dear friendships. Camp’s over now but not really thanks to the lifetime global alumni chat membership I’m connected to active Le Wagon grads around the world for continued learning and networking. Le Wagon offers a package you won’t find in a Google search: a global community for life that knows what everyone’s been through, and the knowledge and confidence and support to land your dream job and continue learning.

As a computer science student, I didn’t think Le Wagon Montreal would have much to offer me since it was only a 9-week coding bootcamp. I thought it would be only a shallow knowledge for those who’d never coded before. Boy, was I wrong! The course is extremely well made for both beginners and more advanced students. The attention they give for each individual is amazing, the environment is extremely calm and good (which is important, since we spend long hours of sometimes frustrating code), the people are amazing (both teachers and students) and it’s a complete course without being so fast-paced, despite the short length. For those willing to learn how to build a good website from scratch (either knowing how to code or not), Le Wagon offers you everything you can hope for and more, with tech talks, networking, funny internal events and, by the end of it, projects that you wouldn’t believe you’d be able to do 9 weeks before you started it. I’m really glad I applied to it and strongly recommend everyone with interest to apply as well.

From the beginning of the Bootcamp, the teachers kept telling "Trust the program". I didn't know what they meant by that! I questioned everything. The bootcamp felt overwhelming at first. A lot of new information was thrown at us every day, and the next day built on the previous one. But at some point, everything started coming together: The morning lectures, the buddy system, the live code at 5pm, and then the flashcards in the evening… It just made perfect sense and work out so well, to my surprise. It's a PERFECT program - for everyone - regardless of their background, whether they are coders or non-coders… The teachers and TA are very knowledgeable. They are extremely friendly and patient. Sometimes they go out of the way to help students, even during lunchtimes or after hours if necessary. The teachers taught me how to code but also how to be patient, be gentle with myself, and work in a team effectively. The management team is extremely polite and friendly. They're always available to help with any issues, including personal ones. The Community Manager helped me a lot to manage some personal breakdowns. I also love Le Wagon Montreal's location, the view, and the atmosphere of the campus. Not only that, they have free tea, K-cups coffee, and fruits. And then there is yoga on Wednesdays, Happy Hour on Fridays… A lot of activities besides coding, which is very important to balance the body and the mind. The Career Week was extremely helpful. I enjoyed the Lunch & Learn sessions with special guests, Alumni Q&A, and talk with an HR specialist. This week served as guidance to find a job, get ready for interviews, polish my resume and Linkedin profile. It was well organized and very informative. All and all, I am 100% satisfied. Honestly, Le Wagon thought of everything! From the content materials to the well-being of every student. It's hard for me to think of anything for improvement! If you're on the fence (just like me at the beginning) and wondering if you should take Le Wagon bootcamp or not, please do yourself a favor – take a leap of faith – and GO FOR IT! Like I did. And I'm thrilled that I did. Three words for you: "TRUST THE PROGRAM!"

Before Le Wagon, during my time as a business student, I was curious to learn how businesses use technology to their advantage. It soon grew on me that the use of technology is a vital part of a successful business. I had decided to learn to code on my own but I soon realized I needed something more structured. That’s when I found Le Wagon, a place to learn all of the coding basics, how to solve challenges alongside others and more importantly how to think like a developer. At Le Wagon, the program is extremely well-structured to maximize learning. This is done by watching lectures before class and doing challenges which reinforce what was taught in those lectures during class. If ever we got stuck trying to solve a problem there was always a teacher to help. My primary goal at Le Wagon was to learn the fundamentals of coding as a web developer. In the end I’m glad to say my goal was achieved and furthermore I have met new friends who motivate me to excel in this career path. Ultimately, I recommend Le Wagon for anyone looking to get familiar with coding.