RefactorU is a selective technology education and career accelerator in Boulder, Colorado. RefactorU empowers individuals to reinvent their careers to meet the needs of our modern economy. RefactorU conducts “bootcamps,” which are full-time, intense, multi-week, immersive, hands-on, transformative learning experiences. RefactorU provides the training, tools, and environment you need to become a top-notch entry-level developer. We’ll also provide you with access to hiring managers, guest speakers, and all the caffeinated beverages you can consume.

Currently, bootcamps are held quarterly, with increased frequency expected down the road.

There are a limited number of spaces available. Based on a variety of factors, you can expect 20-30 students in each bootcamp.

You’ll learn modern full-stack development from world-class instructors. You’ll create your own applications and build a portfolio of projects to share with employers. You’ll develop a peer and advisor network for life. You’ll also develop team and networking skills, and get insights into what hiring companies are looking for. See Curriculum

There are a variety of factors at play in this decision, some philosophical and some practical. On the philosophical side, our instructors have worked in RoR, but prefer Node.js, Python, and a few others. We believe that teaching modern web app development is better facilitated by leveraging these languages. Node aside, Python is a fantastic first language and is used by a ton of companies large and small. Python is also widely used in scientific computing, etc., which is great since we’re exploring a data science bootcamp for 2014. For example, Python is the favored language of Google, DropBox, and most of science. So they both have their uses. Node.js has enjoyed enormous growth in the last couple of years. It is based on Javascript, which is native on all browsers, and has a very small footprint, low-latency, etc. Node.js is awesome at handling concurrent connections as a web server. This makes your apps really fast and ultimately makes hardware (servers) cheaper. Node.js promotes full stack development and even makes it easier (since Node.js and client-side JS are the same syntax)… Not to mention the Nodecommunity and tools makes development super fast.

Ultimately, RefactorU is teaching a broader skill set of how to be an effective programmer and how to learn new technologies. The specific languages used to do that have been selected both for the excellence of programming skills their fans typically acquire, and for their demand and applicability in the market. The people who care to invest their time learning more cutting-edge languages show passion and technical maturity that the average CS graduate may not. We also think our approach is the most efficient route available to those deeper technical skills.

The format is a large part of our secret sauce, but in general we strive to minimize lecture-style learning to core concepts, good practices, and just enough to get started. We integrate concepts across multiple exercises, and encourage problem-solving and self-learning.

Instead of sitting in 40 hours per week of lecture, we provide continuous support and guide students to effective self-learning. Exercises lead to self-discovery of best practices. We utilize pair programming, group discussion, peer reviews, and project teams as necessary. You’ll be in good hands.

$13,500 is required prior to the start of the course.

Scholarships are not available at this time. However, RefactorU offers a 10% tuition discount ($1,350) to:

• Current student or graduate (within the last 3 years) of a Colorado school.
• Women (underrepresented in technology careers).
• Retired and active U.S. Military personnel (or spouse).

RefactorU is also an eligible training provider under Colorado’s Workforce Investment Act.  To learn more about training providers and programs whose performance qualifies them to train WIA participants, and how to become a WIA participant, click here.

Not currently, but several are being considered. Bootcamps in data science/analytics, virtualization, mobile development, interaction design, gaming, sensor networks, robotics, and others, are being considered, as are “softer” technology skills skills such as engineering management, scenario thinking, systems modeling, etc. Stay tuned if you’re interested in accelerating your career in any of those fields.

RefactorU accepts all kinds of people. We look for candidates who are confident but humble, get alone with others, have intelligence in spades, and passionate about learning and applying new technologies. To be a viable candidate, you must be determined to get a job as a web application developer and be willing to work hard to make that happen.

That’s okay. In fact, we expect that many of our students will have little to no formal programming experience. What you need is intelligence, determination, and you need to be a self-starter. You also need to be comfortable using a computer for daily tasks. It will also help if you have tried to learn how to code on your own. If you know the basics of HTML, you’re probably in good shape. If you’re terrified of technology, you’re probably not a good fit.

That’s okay. There will be a mix of backgrounds and skill levels in each bootcamp. If you have prior coding experience in an legacy language or framework and want to refresh your skills for modern web development, that’s great. Good on ya! You’re welcome to apply!

Of course! Please apply! However, RefactorU can’t help with any immigration issues, securing visas, etc.

There is 40-50 hours of pre-work before the start of each bootcamp.

RefactorU grads receive a certificate of completion following the bootcamp.

No day is typical, but in general you can expect someone to be onsite by 8am. Coffee gets brewed and students arrive. By 9am our instructors will introduce the topic of the day and get students working on applying the new topic to their individual projects. Students hack on their projects until lunch, working individually or within small groups. Instructors help with specific questions and facilitate team discussions. Some students break for lunch, others eat while working. Afternoons are similar to mornings. New topics are introduced and the hacking continues. The day wraps up at 6pm, unless there are special events, guest speakers, or people want to stay later. There are weekly guest speakers, trips to the local rock climbing gym in the evening, and optional weekend group hikes in Boulder’s mountain parks.

Nope, sorry. It’s a full-time, M-F, 10-week endeavor.

You have to start with everyone else, but we can’t make you stick it out. We encourage you to apply if you can commit to the full 10 weeks.

Refunds are only available in limited circumstances. If you have been accepted to a bootcamp session, and if have paid your tuition in full, but cannot attend the bootcamp when it starts, you may defer your start date to an equivalent bootcamp within 12 months of the original start date. If you have been wait-listed and paid your tuition deposit, but do not get accepted, you will receive a refund. If you begin a bootcamp but cannot finish, in general there are no refunds, except on a case-by-case basis.

RefactorU will work very hard to help you get a job at a great organization, but we don’t guarantee a job. Be suspicious of organizations that guarantee jobs after their training program. We do guarantee that if you accept a job through our placement services, you will receive a 50% tuition refund.

Your post-RefactorU salary depends on many factors, including the organization you’ll work for, location, etc. Here are some data points for you to ponder:
“Demand for software engineers keeps climbing — and so do the salaries”
“Riviera-Partners-2012-Engineering-Salary-Infographic”
“Dice Tech Salary Survey, January 22, 2013”
“Glassdoor Software Engineering Salaries”

Bootcamps will be held in Boulder, Colorado. We’re currently evaluating several locations and spaces to provide the best combination of accessibility, amenities, and a great vibe. Stay tuned for details.

With some exceptions (coffee, soft drinks, healthy snacks, and food for special events) students are responsible for their own meals. Lodging is not provided, but there are many options in Boulder and the surrounding communities if you need a place to call home for 10 weeks. RefactorU will provide a variety of resources to help you find something.

No. We encourage you to bring and use your own computer, but that isn’t required. A Mac will be provided for each student to use during the bootcamp.

RefactorU is the result of many passionate people who love building things, solving problems, and generally doing good stuff.  Sean Daken is our Benevolent Dictactor.

Great, we’d love to chat. Please contact sean@refactoru.com.