Here is a step-by-step guide about how to get into the Code Chrysalis Immersive if you are an absolute tech beginner.
JUNE, 2021 UPDATE
Last year, we made some changes to our Immersive admissions process. You can read about those changes here.
Those changes, however, have led to an increase in no-shows and non-serious applicants. There were also questions from serious candidates about what kinds of questions will be asked during the technical check-in.
Thus, we have added back in a basic coding question to be completed during the application process. Read on for more information.
One of the questions that we get the most is how to get into our Immersive Bootcamp. A lot of people think that our course is only for those who have prior technical experience, but in reality ~63% of our students, come from completely non-technical backgrounds.
We have a part-time introduction to programming course called Foundations as well as a self-paced version called Foundations Lite. It is absolutely not necessary to take Foundations or Foundations Lite to get into the Immersive.
You should consider taking Foundations or Foundations Lite if:
Otherwise, this blog post covers what you need to do in order to self-study your way into our Immersive program.
Our process is 3 parts:
The Precourse is a mandatory set of assignments, projects, and assessments that must be completed before the Immersive Bootcamp begins.
We encourage everyone to apply to the Immersive Bootcamp as soon as possible. This is because it will allow us to guide your learning along. After you fill out the application form, you will schedule your admissions consultation meeting.
June 2021: *For the application, you will also need to submit an answer to a basic coding question. This is to get you warmed up and also see if you are ready to go on with the check-ins.*
During the admissions consultation meeting, we will go over:
Start your admissions process with us early so that we can track your progress, help you plan your journey better, and help you navigate learning how to code.
During this time, start learning how to code!
DO: An online JavaScript-only coding course
We recommend the Khanacademy Intro to JavaScript courses, but there are definitely a lot of other free courses out there! These programs are a nice way to ease yourself into learning JavaScript’s syntax, but they should be considered supplemental resources.
Our admissions process does not involve any HTML or CSS, so you don’t need to learn them to get in.
ALSO READ: Read Eloquent JavaScript 2nd Edition Chapters 1 through 3
Please use the 2nd edition and not the 3rd edition.
The 2nd edition does not contain something called ES6, which is a newer version of JavaScript. We love ES6 (and use it and its successors for everything at Code Chrysalis), but we don’t recommend it for beginners.
Introducing a different syntax before being fully comfortable with the original syntax and functions can lead to a lot of strange gaps in understanding.
We highly recommend the online version because there are a lot of code snippet examples that you can play around in.
// Original syntax
function addOne(num) {
return num + 1;
}
// ES6 syntax
const addOne = num => num + 1;
// You can also do ++num, but we wrote it out for beginner-clarity.
ALSO DO: The exercises at the end of EJS Chapters 2 & 3
Do all of the exercises WITHOUT looking at the solutions. At this point, it is entirely reasonable to spend at least an hour on each problem. Please avoid looking at the solution by all means possible. If you are struggling or lost, go back through the current (and previous) chapter to look for clues.
READ & DO: Start reading Chapter 4 after you finish Chapter 3 & do exercises at the bottom
ALSO DO: Work on online coding challenges. Here are some suggestions:
CodeWars — Start with 8kyu, the easiest level. Coderbyte — They provide 10 free coding challenges so do those 10! CodeSignal — Their tutorial leads you through a series of coding challenges that are great practice.
ALSO USE: We recommended using the following resource to help you out. [JULY 2019 UPDATE] javascript.info — Everything you need to know is in Part 1, from 1.1 through 6.4. Please be aware that there is also a lot of unnecessary information in this resource. Stick to the list of topics we have provided.
The technical check-in is a one-on-one pair programming session with one of the admissions coaches. We work with you through some coding challenges to see if you are ready to go on.
Topics the technical check-in can cover include: -basic data types -arrays and objects -loops -conditionals -functions -higher order functions -callbacks -closures
DO: Review Chapters 1–4 of EJS Be patient with yourself and do a thorough review of previous chapters, including redoing past exercises WITHOUT looking at your old code or the solution.
READ: Chapter 5 of EJS This section is the most confusing of them all, so take your time. Avoid the following sections:
Don’t be afraid to try to break or play around with the examples that are provided in the chapter.
DO: Complete the exercises at the bottom of EJS Chapter 5 No looking at the solution! If you’re stuck, go back up the chapter to help yourself.
USE: Try familiarizing yourself with official documentation
USE:
Applicants who are not ready yet will be provided with feedback and guidance about what to work on and invited to reschedule for another check-in.
Our admissions process is free, and we almost never truly reject someone for technical ability. Rather we give you feedback and what to study, then let you try again. There is no set limit on how many times you can try.
We support all applicants as long as they show perseverance, growth, and improvement.
Here is what we look for in our technical check-in:
After you’ve passed the technical check-in, the last step is completing a mandatory “acceptance check-in” session. We do this in order to ensure that potential students are aware of all of the important aspects of the Code Chrysalis experience before committing to the course. In this session you will:
If you meet our technical bar and complete the acceptance check-in, you will be admitted into our Immersive program. Congratulations!
Please note that despite this article being only a few paragraphs, the above can take anywhere from 1 month (if you are studying full-time) or longer depending on your attitude, consistency of study, and aptitude.
For working adults, you will find that learning how to code is a good test of your patience and perseverance.
Learning how to code is really hard! For many of us, we are changing the way we think and that’s often something we haven’t experienced since we were children.
Code Chrysalis is a Tokyo-based 🗼 coding school providing a full-time and part-time programming courses in English and Japanese. Join us in-person or take our classes remotely. See why we are an industry leader in technical education in Japan 🗾.
We also put on free workshops and events for the community, so follow us for the latest!
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年齢・言語・現在のキャリア・技術的なバックグラウンドは日本での就職活動にどう影響しますか?同じ業界内での中途採用もそうですが、未経験業界への転職はより難しく感じるものです。就職先がどこであれ、転職が成功するためにはいくつかの要素があります。
今回は、コードクリサリスの企業向け研修プログラムを導入していただいたNRI DX生産革新本部 本部長 大元様にお話をお伺いしました。 企業向け研修プログラム導入の経緯や受講後の社員様の変化についてお聞きしました。