Recurse Center

The retreat where curious programmers recharge and grow

Spend six or 12 weeks programming at the edge of your abilities alongside motivated peers—at no cost to you. Our optional recruiting services keep RC 100% free.

Work on projects that spark your joy and curiosity—just because.

At RC, you pick the projects you want to work on and the people you want to work with, with no deadlines, grades, or OKRs.

Gain the support and insight of 2,000+ people. Go further together.

You’ll get to work with and learn from kind and curious programmers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a self-taught programmer or have years of experience, there’s a place for you at RC.

Learn how to apply

The Recurse Center gave me time, space, light and clarity I never knew was possible. Being here has been transformational as a programmer and a human being. I'm in awe that this place exists and it's ours.

– Helen Ngo, ML Engineer and Researcher

Attending the Recurse Center has been life-changing for me. Never before in my life have I had this experience of being surrounded by kind people, supporting each other and cooperating, focused on improvement and learning, avoiding competition. The lack of curriculum really hits!

– Jonathan Strickland, Senior Backend Engineer

The Recurse Center is one of those rare things where you find a small group of dedicated people who believe in a cause and pour their heart and soul into it, and it shows. I would recommend this to anybody who wants to invest time in becoming a dramatically better programmer.

– Andrew Kelley, creator of Zig

RC is a magical place where you go to become a better programmer. The diversity and a super welcoming environment have made RC one of the best educational experiences I’ve ever had!

– Serena Peruzzo, Senior Data Scientist

Gain focus and accountability with a community of supportive peers

With all the resources and distractions of the internet, it can be hard to know what to work on first—or even work up the motivation to start.

RC gives you a clear beginning, end, purpose, and name for your time off—and friendly social accountability to keep you going. With our supportive facilitators and 24/7 community code review, you’ll get better at directing your time, picking your projects, and meeting the goals you set for yourself.

During your retreat, you’ll learn how to optimize your time and abilities—and do more than you thought was possible.

Plan your retreat

Get better job offers with less stress

Interviewing is a slog, and choosing the wrong job can make you miserable.

RC gives you time and space to clear your head, grow as a programmer, and think intentionally about what you want out of your next job and beyond.

At RC, you’ll receive lifelong career support with a team of recruiters who know and care about you. Our Career Services team provides personalized job recommendations and referrals for companies that align with your values and goals (from a human, not an algorithm). Plus, you'll be matched with friendly alumni mock interviewers who have been in your shoes and gone on to work at successful companies.

Invest in your career

Find your people

It’s hard to focus on programming when you don’t feel like you belong.

For over a decade, we’ve worked to build an environment that is not just productive and educational, but also supportive, friendly, and positive. We provided over $1.7 million in living expense grants for underrepresented groups in tech and lightweight social rules to foster collaborative growth.

Come to RC and learn generously – no matter your background.

Learn about our approach