IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
How long have you been frustrated with your job?
How long have you been dreaming about a career you love?
"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
Imagine your life five years from now. Are you still at the same job you hate or did you finally make a change? Did you finally get tired of saying that you'll learn to program or is it still just a daydream to escape your frustrations?
I'm not gonna lie; learning to program is hard. Hating your job is harder. Delaying action doesn't take away the pain. It reinforces it.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH NO CODING EXPERIENCE
This means you already know enough. You have no more excuses. The time to act is now.
The clock is ticking. Don't waste the next five years of your life telling yourself that tomorrow is finally the day you'll do something to fix your life. You can have a forest of opportunities, but only if you plant that tree today—the same tree that you should have planted years ago...
"Five years ago, I didn't know how to code. I just knew I wanted to get out of finance. I discovered Popcorn Robot and completed the course in two years.
Three years after graduating, I work at a company I love and was promoted from junior to senior-level developer. I now make over six figures.
It wasn't easy. I'm here because of everyone who helped me. Popcorn Robot was a big part of that.
Oh, and before I forget, our company just IPO'd."
- Kelvin Tsoi
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO LEARN PROGRAMMING?
There are a lot of options out there. Each has their own pros and cons, but Popcorn Robot is the most complete option to trust your future with.
Not only do you learn how to work with the latest technology, it's done in the least amount of time possible so you can quickly put your skills to work.
Here's a breakdown of the major school systems.
College | Popcorn Robot | Bootcamp | |
|---|---|---|---|
Builds a foundation | ✓ | ✓ | |
Updated technology | ✓ | ✓ | |
Hands-on learning | ✓ | ✓ | |
Builds a portfolio | ✓ | ✓ | |
Mentorship | ✓ | ||
Low commitment | ✓ | ||
Interview training | ✓ | ||
Estimated time | 4 years | 2 years | 3 months |
Total cost | $120+k | $13k | $20k |
THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL UNIVERSITIES
The original goal of public education was to prepare people to be cogs in the machine of society—not to create free thinkers, movers, and shakers in charge of their destiny. The internet wasn't even a thing when the idea of mass schooling started!
As society grew, universities grew to the size of small cities. The problem is that it's all based on an old system that makes it impossible to take advantage of new opportunities.
That's why the solution is not to think bigger, but to think smaller. We solve this in Popcorn Robot with smaller classes.
TRADITIONAL UNIVERSITIES
PROS
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Life experience.
Living with other students and cheering for sports teams is a fun experience.
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Wide exposure.
College exposes you to different classes that go beyond coding. This exposes you to a lot of different people and ideas.
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Getting a degree.
A degree is valuable, but the new wave of coders is coming through non-traditional backgrounds. Employers now focus more on what developers can do and less on where they got their degree.
CONS
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Outdated.
It takes over three years to update their curriculum. When they finish, you're already learning yesterday's technology.
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Theory over action.
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not. Great developers are born from great action, not theory.
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Too slow.
College takes four years to get a degree. That's because the curriculum is bloated with classes you don't need.
THE PROBLEM WITH CODING BOOTCAMPS
Bootcamps were born out of necessity. Universities are slow and they bog you down with a bunch of unnecessary prerequistes, electives, and classes unrelated to coding. In theory, being well-rounded is nice, but not when it costs so much extra money. So bootcamps asked two questions:
"What could we accomplish if we only focused on programming?"
"How fast could we accomplish this without pointless classes?
By focusing on coding, bootcamps saved a lot of time. But in practice, they started competing on speed at the expense of proficiency. The results have been less than stellar...
Some claim to teach you full stack web development in less than ten weeks while not giving you the gritty experience of actually designing and building something. This has lead to a generation of bootcamp students who have never actually used their skills and don't have a portfolio of work. Now they're not only still at their old job, but they've got a new bill to boot!
The solution isn't traditional college. Those are old, expensive, and outdated. It's not coding bootcamps either. Those are so fast that they slow you down. Popcorn Robot is hyper-focused on developing your coding skills, so you can build a working portfolio.
Popcorn Robot students come away with more in-depth knowledge than a college graduate and more coding skills than a bootcamp student. We also do it in a shorter time while spending less money.
CODING BOOTCAMPS
PROS
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Fast.
Imagine being able to build a whole new career in three months. Sounds amazing, right?
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Updated technology.
Bootcamps introduce you to the latest technologies. You leave with a marketable resume that attract employers.
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Action over theory.
Unlike traditional universities, bootcamps focus on practical applications over theory. This is the best way to become a good developer.
CONS
-
Too fast.
Full-time college students take four years to learn to code. Bootcamps claim to do it in ten weeks. Does that sound realistic?
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Expensive and risky.
Bootcamps cost $20k for three months of education. Not only that, you have to quit your job and pray it pans out.
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Surface learning.
Bootcamps teach you three frameworks on paper, but you can't build anything. They leave you unable to solve real world problems in any meaningful way.
POPCORN ROBOT:
ACHIEVING CODE FLUENCY
Knowing theory or writing programs is not enough. At Popcorn Robot, we develop you in the one thing that everyone needs but no one is teaching: code fluency. Our goal is for you to program as easily as you speak your native language.
Fluency doesn't just apply to language. A person can be fluent in anything. All that matters is the ease and speed with which one can effectively string together the fundamentals of their craft. Code fluency is when you can effortlessly bring any project to life, regardless of the demands or language used.
When you reach this point, you will be able to create anything. Employers will want to hire you because you deliver. Your portfolio and reputation will grow almost as fast as your bank account.
Getting there won't be easy. You need a system that you can follow. You need support from your fellow developers. You need a plan.
You need Popcorn Robot.
mentors
not
professors
No one can learn programming alone. If you could just Google a tutorial, then everyone would be doing it. You need to be connected. You need a tribe. You need a mentor.
That's why we build strong relationships in small classes. Our teachers aren't distant figures standing by the chalkboard. They are next to you, guiding you, challenging you.
You interact with mentors every class. They know your strengths and weaknesses. They will keep you moving forward.
CHEATING
IS
ENCOURAGED
Coding is not a single player game, it's a team sport. At Popcorn Robot, we don't just allow cheating, we encourage it.
We want students to work together because this is how it works in real life.
flexible
around your life
Life is complicated. Some weeks are busier than others. That's why Popcorn Robot works like a gym membership.
Designed for working professionals, you work at your own pace and attend as many classes as you can. If you miss a class, that's up to you. The more classes you take, the faster you progress.
"I started Popcorn Robot in 2018. Eight months in, I was hit with a family emergency. I took almost a year off to handle the situation. If I had to withdraw from a university, I would not have returned. Resuming the program would have been a nightmare.
I am grateful that Popcorn Robot's system is flexible. I took the time I needed and resumed when ready. I was surprised at how much I retained. I expect to complete the program this year and will be proud to be the first female graduate from Popcorn Robot."
- Arlene Rangel
HOW IT WORKS
Popcorn Robot is an online class with hands-on teaching. Every class you code and interact with mentors and students.
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What experience do I need?
Nothing. Our school is designed for non-technical people who have never coded.
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When can I start?
Immediately. Unlike traditional schools, we don't have enrollment periods.
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On average, how long does it take to complete the course?
This is a self paced course, so students can adjust how long it takes to complete the course. With that said, a student with average competency should complete the program in about two years.
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How much does it cost?
Instead of charging $20k like bootcamps, Popcorn Robot is only $550 a month.
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When are classes?
Classes are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7-9:30pm. -
How do we pay?
We accept all major credit cards and most online electronic payments.
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What's the commitment level?
Membership is month to month. You can cancel anytime and your membership will stop at the end of your period. It's that easy.
HOW WE PREPARE YOU
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Certificate.
Upon graduating, you will receive a certificate of completion validating your expertise and abilities in full-stack web development.
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Build your portfolio.
By the end of the course, you will have a meaningful portfolio you can showcase to employers. This portfolio will be the foundation for your job search.
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Experience working in teams.
Coding is a team sport. That's why we train students to work together and function as a team.
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Trained to learn independently.
The software world changes fast. We train you the art of learning new languages fast so that you'll never be left behind.
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Secrets to getting interviews.
Carpet bombing your resume on Indeed is not a strategy. We will show you how to hack the system and get your application to the top of the pile. We will set you up with a career where you choose the companies you want to work for.
OUR STUDENTS WORK AT
