I heard about General Assembly classes because they list them on Facebook and it popped up in my…read morefeed as a targeted ad. I'm glad for this as that is how I signed up for a free 2-hour introductory class to coding. The class covered HTML and CSS and was designed to just a quick intro to see if you would be interested in taking a full class. Still I was surprised how much I learned in just a free intro course. Our instructor Allie covered a ton of theory so we understood the big picture and how the different developer languages (HTML, CSS and Javascript) played different roles. Much of the class was her guiding us through actually creating a mock webpage by immediately applying the coding principles and info she taught. I highly recommend bringing your computer for the hands-on portion. Also, Allie listed additional resources for us to explore on our own time, and we were promised the slide deck after. Being totally new to coding, I was able to take what I learned from the intro class and actually fix an issue THE NEXT DAY on the website that I manage for work! I rely on website templates but don't understand the HTML and CSS behind it so I was able to override the template that doesn't even allow me to change font attributes on hyperlinked text. Once you sign up for a class they send you promo emails with discounts, so I will probably look into taking a more full class. TIP: this is located right in the heart of Little Tokyo so there is plenty of sushi, ramen and snack options available before or after going to class here.

I have mixed feelings about GA…read more Pros: 1. This is one of the few places left where you can get actual, in-person instruction. If you're one who can't stick to learning on your own online, face-to-face instruction is the way to go. 2. I also like that they offer a wide variety of topics from web development and digital marketing to project management, sales pitching, and communication skills. 3. The instructors I've had so far have been knowledgeable and nice. 4. They have many free talks in the evenings, sometimes even with free nibbles. I attended one on the art of sales pitching. I think it was called something like "How to Sell Anything to Anyone." The speaker was excellent, and he gave really good tips. 5. The DTLA location has convenient parking ($5 evenings and wknds) at Joe's Garage a few doors down. I also like that you can enjoy the many Little Tokyo restaurants before or after class :) Cons: 1. Cost. If you want to take their multi-day courses, expect to pay $$$. That's what you gotta expect for in-person classes from a private school. I'd love to take more classes, but I can't be spending more thousands of dollars. Yes, they have a payment plan, but you still gotta pay them back. 2. If you're looking to start a new career, don't expect to be "career ready" after you've spent all that money. The classes don't go into much depth. They're more of an overview, just enough to get you started. Then comes the hard part - studying on your own by following all the blogs and video content out there. THAT takes discipline, and nobody can help you there. I wish knowledge could just be implanted in my brain without my having to exert effort. Just being honest. 3. They never answer the phone. The only way to get a response is via email. If you're on your way to an evening or weekend class and need to reach someone, you won't get a response if it's outside normal business hours. Conclusion: If you're disciplined and highly motivated, save your money and take advantage of the overwhelming number of free resources online. But if you're a lazy a-hole like me and you're willing to spend some serious money, take a GA course to at least get you started and pointed in the right direction.