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Pathway: Technical Interview Prep

Cost: No-cost
Timeline: 10 weeks (Summer 2024)
Commitment: 5-10 hours per week, depending on level
Skill Level: Intro (TIP101) | Intermediate (TIP102) | Advanced (TIP103)

The TIP pathway focuses on empowering students to ace technical interviewing and give them a preview of real-world challenges in the industry. The courses are designed to prepare students to solve challenging algorithmic problems commonly used in interviews for top companies. The course also integrates a variety of resources from the Career Center, including interview practice, industry mentors, and advanced info sessions from senior engineers.

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Course Details

 

Program Dates & Times

Program Dates & Times

Students who apply will be placed either in the introductory, intermediate, or advanced level, based on eligibility.

Courses will run from the week of June 4, 2024 to the week of August 17, 2024. 

  • Section 1 - 06/04 to 08/15 (every Tues and Thurs from 2-4 PM ET/11-1 PM PT)
  • Section 2 - 06/04 to 08/15 (every Tues and Thurs from 5-7 PM ET/ 2-4 PM PT)
  • Section 3 - 06/04 to 08/15 (every Tues and Thurs from 8-10 PM ET/ 5-7 PM PT)
  • Section 4 - 06/05 to 08/17 (every Wed from 5-7 PM ET/ 2-4 PM PT and Sat from 1-3 PM ET/ 10 AM - 12 PM PT)
  • Section 5 - 06/05 to 08/17 (every Wed from 8-10 PM ET/ 5-7 PM PT and Sat from 1-3 PM ET/ 10 AM - 12 PM PT)
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Application Deadline

May 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT

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Location

This is a virtual course.

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About the Course

This 10-week, virtual class taught by professional engineers will help you ace technical interviewing and give you a preview of real-world challenges in the industry. This course is designed to prepare you to solve challenging algorithm problems in real interviews at top companies, with dedicated hands-on practice time with a pod of students on your same level. The course also integrates a variety of resources from the Career Center including interview practice, industry mentors, and advanced info sessions from senior engineers. 

You Should Take this Course If...

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You are an undergraduate student in computer science or related computing field who wants to apply for technical internships or jobs

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You could use the confidence boost and practice that will help you ace technical interviews now and in your future career

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You can commit to attending classes during the required days/times plus completing assignments outside of class time

What You'll Learn

The course includes:

  • Lectures and algorithm labs
  • Interview practice
  • Tools and techniques for problem solving
  • Mentorship from industry professionals
  • Info sessions from experienced engineers
  • Resume feedback & internship search support
  • Panels and fireside chats with industry professionals 

Based on level, specific topics include:

  • The UMPIRE Problem Solving Process (Understand, Match, Plan, Implement, Review, Evaluate)
  • Classic Algorithms (sort, search, traversal, hashmaps, etc)
  • Estimating the order of runtime complexity (Big O)
  • Common Patterns encountered during Coding Interviews
  • Complex data structures: Binary Trees, Heaps
  • Object Oriented Design/Systems Design
  • Sorting: Merge Sort and Quick Sort
  • Recursion and Combinations

Tech Excellence for All

At CodePath, we believe access to relevant, hands-on technical training, career guidance, mentors, and community—created by engineers, for engineers—can help give tomorrow’s technology leaders the edge they need to launch successful, life-changing careers. As a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, we strive to increase diversity in tech by making successful, meaningful careers in software engineering accessible to all, and by transforming college Computer Science education to make students career-ready.

 

Our programming centers on the needs and success of Black, Indigenous, Latino/a, and low-income Computer Science students. 

Did You Know?

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$107,510

Software Developers make a median salary of $107,510 per year. Software jobs are booming, with software developers being in the top 5 occupations for job growth, growing at 5x faster than the average of all jobs.

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80%

80% of Facebook employees have had an internship. So have 78% of Google employees and 55% of Apple employees. An internship gives you a leg up when it comes time to apply for jobs at top tech companies. (Internships.com)

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30%

More interview practice improves your odds of getting an on-site interview, with applicants who had done 5 or more practice interviews improving their odds by as much as 30%. (Interviewing.io)

Eligibility

CodePath requires all students to meet the following requirements in order to participate in our Technical Interview Prep courses:

  • You are 18 years old or older

  • You are currently enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
  • You have completed at least one basic programming course
  • You are pursuing a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or CS-related or Software-related program.
  • You commit to attending classes during the required days and times; no exceptions will be made
  • You are able to set aside 5-10 hours of work outside class time each week
  • Your computer has a webcam and microphone, which you are willing and able to use in all virtual sessions as part of your active participation

  • You agree to abide by CodePath's Code of Conduct
  • Intermediate or advanced-level applicants should also have taken algorithms and data structures courses.

Those who identify as Black, Latino/a, Indigenous, or are the first in their family to attend college are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

The application is a two-step process:

  1. Fill out a 10-15 minute application about your previous exposure to programming, your interest in a career in tech, and general information about you as a person. NOTE: You will need a GitHub account in order to complete the application.
  2. Complete a HackerRank calibration test. This is a 120-minute timed assessment that is meant to analyze your understanding of concepts that will be covered in our courses. 
    1. Need help with the HackerRank? Here are six useful tips to help you ace the assessment. 

Applicants must complete the questionnaire and HackerRank calibration test in order to be considered for admission.

Previous Instructors

AMANDA SOPKIN
Software Engineering Manager, Autodesk
CAREN CHANG
Android Engineer, Google
JAYASHREE NAGARAJAN
Software Engineer, Meta
PAULINA RAMOS
Senior Software Engineer, Tik Tok
RICHARD SU
Software Engineer, Google
RUTH MESFUN
Frontend Engineer, Zillow
SUSHMA NAYAK
Software Engineer, Android, Instagram
TIM LEE
Co-Founder & Chief Learning Officer, CodePath

Hear from Our Alums

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ADRIANA BELTRAN

Florida International University

"Through the help of CodePath's community of mentors and TAs, I was able to continue improving upon my skills and even land an internship for the Summer. I recommend CodePath for anyone who is seeking knowledge on a specific field like improving your technical interview skills, you will gain valuable skills and will come out with more confidence after taking a CodePath course."

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LEANDRO GAMARRA MONTERO

Incoming SWE Intern, Nextdoor

John Jay College

"If you are a CS Major, then CodePath is the place to be. Without CodePath's Technical Interview Prep courses I don't know where I would be in navigating technical interview and applying to tech companies. Thanks to them I managed to secure an internship and I have to thank the amazing technical mentor and teaching assistants. CodePath is where you want to be!"

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RAJASREE CHENNUPATI

Software Engineer, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Arizona State University

"I am happy to share with you that I got a summer internship at Amazon! The CodePath Interview Prep course I attended this summer was super helpful to me during this process. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."

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ANTONELLA AVOGADRO

Incoming Software Engineering Intern, Microsoft

Florida International University

"I cannot express my gratitude enough to the whole team for creating this experience that has given me so much new knowledge, allowed me to develop my technical skills further, and inspired me to keep working hard to reach my goal of becoming a Software Engineer."

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PHILIP BOAKYE

Incoming Software Engineering Intern, Microsoft

Minerva Schools at KGI

"Over the summer, I had the chance to take part in CodePath's Intermediate Software Engineering Prep class. This was a 12-week intensive class where I got the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of data structures and algorithms and apply this knowledge in solving exciting and challenging problems. Special thanks to my instructors for making this possible. Thanks to CodePath, I feel more confident in my interviewing skills now."

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KAT KIME

Software Engineer Co-op Internship, Zendesk

Oregon State University

"CodePath's interview prep course gave me the skills I needed to succeed at my first hiring season.

And their Android course gave me an opportunity to learn new skills and show my work in front of Reddit's CEO. (We won first place btw)"

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CALEB OKE

Associate Software Engineer, Slack

Troy University

"After graduating college in December, I’m glad to start my first week as an Associate Software Engineer at Slack in the San Francisco office. So much love and gratitude for everyone who has been part of my journey. Special thanks to the CodePath  family for their constant support and best wishes. Let's get it!!!"

Apply today

SUPPORT

FAQs

  • What is the CodePath Technical Interview Prep Course?

    The TIP pathway focuses on empowering students to ace technical interviewing and to give them a preview of real-world challenges in the industry. The courses are designed to prepare students to solve challenging algorithmic problems commonly used in interviews for top companies. The course also integrates a variety of resources from the Career Center including interview practice, industry mentors, and advanced info sessions from senior engineers.

  • When will classes take place?

    Courses will run from the week of June 4, 2024 to the week of August 17, 2024. 

    • Section 1 - 06/04 to 08/15 (every Tues and Thurs from 2-4 PM ET/11-1 PM PT)
    • Section 2 - 06/04 to 08/15 (every Tues and Thurs from 5-7 PM ET/ 2-4 PM PT)
    • Section 3 - 06/04 to 08/15 (every Tues and Thurs from 8-10 PM ET/ 5-7 PM PT)
    • Section 4 - 06/05 to 08/17 (every Wed from 5-7 PM ET/ 2-4 PM PT and Sat from 1-3 PM ET/ 10 AM - 12 PM PT)
    • Section 5 - 06/05 to 08/17 (every Wed from 8-10 PM ET/ 5-7 PM PT and Sat from 1-3 PM ET/ 10 AM - 12 PM PT)

     

    Students should plan on spending 5-10 hours outside of class and lab time to complete assignments.

  • How do I apply to take this course?

    First, you will need to fill out a questionnaire, which will have questions about your programming experience, and your personal goals and history. Then you will need to complete the pre-work assignment before being admitted to the course. For more information, see the “How to Apply” section above.

  • Who can apply for the course?

    Students who are enrolled in US colleges and universities and majoring in computer science or related computing-major. Though primarily aimed at sophomores, juniors and seniors, more and less advanced students may have the necessary programming and network experience to be successful in the course. 

  • Where can I find the syllabus for the course?

  • What is the difference between the Intro, Intermediate, and Advanced tracks?

    • Intro track lets students embark on an adaptive learning journey that allows them to progress through units at their own pace. Students can delve deeply into topics of interest or allocate extra time to ensure comprehensive understanding without the fear of falling behind. This empowering approach encourages students to take ownership of their learning experience and maximize their academic growth. There are 10 total units that focus on Python programming basics to help students develop a strong foundational knowledge of CS concepts as well as meta-learning topics to guide them in a technical internship.

    • Intermediate track aims to boost proficiency in algorithmic techniques and confidence for technical interviews, focusing on the UMPIRE to solve technical interview problems.  The course covers advanced topics like data structures, dynamic programming, and Big O notation, tailored for students with basic programming and algorithm knowledge.

    • Advanced track is structured as a comprehensive 10-unit program aimed at equipping students with advanced algorithmic techniques and strategies, notably the UMPIRE approach, to excel in technical interviews, including those at FAANG-level companies. With a prerequisite of foundational programming and data structure knowledge, the course covers from big O notation and recursion to dynamic programming and graph algorithms, structured around bi-weekly synchronous classes, weekly assessments, and self-study components.

  • Why should I take this CodePath course?

    • This no-cost 10-week course from CodePath is designed to help you successfully navigate the technical interviews and ultimately be successful in applying for software engineering/SWE internships or full-time positions when you graduate. CodePath also helps you develop the soft skills needed to be successful in the industry, such as collaboration, punctuality, and ability to complete projects on time. 

    • You will also gain access to CodePath’s career services (such as mock interviews, resume reviews, etc.), 1,500+ industry mentors, and the CodePath alumni network. CodePath courses and services are here to help you bridge the gap between your computer education and securing a competitive software engineering position in the tech industry.

  • How much time will I need to complete the assignments?

    Students can expect to spend up to at least  5-10 hours (depending on level) outside of class completing assignments to get the most value from the class.

  • Who will the instructors be?

    The course instructors will be professionals from major technology companies, start-ups and academia.

  • What if I need additional help during the class?

    CodePath teaching assistants will be available to help with assignments. You will be in a Slack channel where you can ask questions, and you can also email your instructors if you have further questions.

  • Will I receive a certificate upon completion of the course?

    Yes, you will receive a certificate of completion upon completion of the course. Many of our students will post and share their certificates on LinkedIn, and we encourage you to do so!

  • Is this class really offered at no-cost? How are you able to do that?

    Yes, CodePath is a nonprofit with backing from major tech companies like Cognizant, Comcast, Meta and Walmart. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we can offer our classes to any eligible student for no-cost.

  • How does CodePath determine who is admitted to the course?

    We believe our students have the richest experience when we have a diverse cohort of students who are focused on their computer science education and motivated to land an internship or job in the tech industry. To that end, we take a wide array of factors into our admissions decisions including, but not limited to:

    • Past involvement in CodePath’s student leader programs
    • Identification with underrepresented groups in tech
    • Performance on our HackerRank admissions assessment
    • Eligibility criteria (see above section)

  • When will I hear back about the status of my application?

    We process admissions periodically and do our best to keep up with the volume of applications. You can expect to hear back about your admissions status by May 21, 2024. 

  • How can I get more information about this course?

    Please email admissions@codepath.org with any questions.