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Actualize

Average Rating4.93
599 Reviews
1 Course

Actualize is an online software engineering bootcamp based in Chicago that offers part-time and full-time bootcamp options. Instructors with professional educational experience teach students full stack web development including Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, VueJS, SQL, and Git. The Online Live classes are conducted in real time with video conferencing. Actualize has a deeply integrated “Job Hacking” curriculum focused on the personal branding and networking skills necessary to land a new job, which Actualize feels is just as important as learning to code.

To apply, students can submit an application via the website, then go through a series of two interviews with an admissions advisor. There are no coding challenges, but students must complete 4 weeks of prework before the program starts.

After the program, students have the option to join its unique Career Support program, which contains additional training for Job Hacking, a job accountability group, and team projects to add to one’s portfolio.

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599 Actualize Reviews

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  • JC
    JC
    Support Engineer • Student • Web Development • Chicago
    Jul 13, 2017
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    Life Changing Experience

    Attending Actualize literally changed my life. I had been stuck in a dead end job for years and was just going through the motions. I was searching for a change and a family member in the tech industry suggested that coding may be something that would interest me. I took some online courses and found that I really enjoyed it! The only problem was that I could only take myself so far and felt I needed some hands on instruction. My research led me to coding bootcamps but I was discouraged be...

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  • Derek
    Derek
    Quality Assurance Analyst • Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Jul 01, 2017
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    Perfect bootcamp to take and still work full time

    I absolutely 100% endorse Actualize and the opportunities they afford potential future programmers.

    The two things that initially drew me to Acutalize were the fact that I didn't have to quit my regular job and the apprenticeship program.

    The bootcamp runs monday thru thursdays 6:00 - 9:30 and Sundays 9-5. This fits in perfectly with my work schedule.

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  • Chris
    Chris
    Developer • Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Jun 30, 2017
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    Changed my life

    Attending Actualize was the best career decision I ever made.

    Prior to the boot camp, I was unhappy with my job and felt stuck. I'd always wanted to be a developer, but my coding experience was extremely limited and I wasn't sure I would have what it takes. Actualize gave me the technical foundation to successfully pivot into a fulfilling career in development.   Attending Actualize means joining a great commun...
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  • Dan
    Dan
    Web Developer • Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Jun 30, 2017
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    Great Experience

    ACTLC (Actualize) is a great program. I enrolled looking to make a career change, and I was able to make a financially lateral move to an entry level tech position from a field where I had more than 10 years experience. I chose ACLTC because of its friendly reputation and the ability for me to maintain a full time job. It wasn't easy, but but it was fun. The teacher of my cohort was great, but it's really the extended family of ACLTC the made the difference. There were always lots of...

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  • Amy
    Amy
    Application Engineer • Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Jun 30, 2017
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    The best decision I've ever made

    I had dabbled in web development since I was a kid and enjoyed it, but I always thought that you needed a computer science degree to become a developer. When I heard about coding bootcamps, I was initially skeptical. My main hesitation before deciding to attend a bootcamp was whether an instructor could effectively impart enough knowledge for someone to change careers and become a developer in only a few months. My worries were alleviated after I learned about how Actualize spe...

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  • Ben
    Ben
    Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    May 16, 2017
    Overall Experience
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    Job Assistance

    Excellent experience

    I attended the Actualize coding bootcamp in early 2017.  The part time structure made it perfect for me as I worked a full time job during the course of the bootcamp.  After sitting in on a class and meeting an instructor it was an easy decision to apply to Actualize.  The instructor did a great job keeping us engaged even late into the evening after a long week.  Actualize really gives you the tools to continue your education after you have completed the course.  ...

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  • Andrealiz Afable
    Andrealiz Afable
    Full Stack Web Developer • Graduate • Web Development • San Francisco
    May 05, 2017
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    N/A

    Worthy Coding School

    Before coming to Actualize, I studied Psychology and Spanish in San Diego State University, and I was on track for a career as a social service professional. I also have a knack for implementing new ideas, and startups fascinated me during that time. I didn't pay attention to it much as I was busy pursuing my degrees then. I held a Public Relations Manager position at a startup during my last semester in college, but left because I was moving back to San Francisco Bay Area. 

    ...
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  • Zeina
    Zeina
    Front-end web developer • Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Mar 22, 2017
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
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    Equipped to change careers

     I was a newspaper designer. I had studied journalism and in grad school focused on the design aspect of journalism. During college, however, I started learning HTML and CSS by taking an intro class and ended up designing sites as a hobby, so I had some experience coding and learning things by myself.   Actualize (or Anyone Can Learn to Code, as it was called), allowed me to change my career for the better. There is no way I would have been able to learn all I...
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  • Will
    Will
    Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Mar 20, 2017
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    Actualize

    I went to college at Indiana University for a double major in Telecommunications and Communications & Culture (basically film and media studies). After graduating, I got hired at GP Strategies, a learning solutions provider. They make training materials for other companies. I was a Content Developer, which involved a lot of proofreading and organizing content from clients into specific templates and formats. I started teaching myself to code through online tutorials about a year ...

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  • Stephen Z.
    Stephen Z.
    Software Engineer I • Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Mar 15, 2017
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    Great experience and led to a new career!!

    I chose Actualize becasue of their focus on teaching.  Peter, my instructor, was passionate about teaching, extremely knowledgeable, and always happy to answer all my questions.  The class being part time didn't bother me because I'd usually spend 4 to 5 extra hours each day studying on my own anyway.  And when you have 3 hours of intense lecture everyday, you can't absorbe anymore, it's just too much information.  

    Overall I was completely satisfied with my experience at Actuali...

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  • Daniel
    Daniel
    Graduate • Web Development • Chicago
    Mar 10, 2017
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    Actualize Graduate

    1. What was your background before coming to Actualize? (Include college/past career)

      I graduated college with a degree in Computer Science and worked temp jobs in IT and call centers while searching for development position.
       
    2. What hesitations would have prevented you from joining Actualize?

      My main hesitations were if the bootcamp was going to be worth the time and money. I had a Computer Science degree and didn’...
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  • Paul Krajewski
    Paul Krajewski
    Student • Web Development • Chicago
    Mar 10, 2017
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    Student/Tech Lead

    What was your background before coming to Actualize? (Include college/past career)

      Went to college at SIU and graduated with a degree in Mass Communications/Media Arts, specializing in Music Business and Audio Engineering. I have an informal background of internet marketing and SEO, working for a family business about 5 years before coming to Actualize.    
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Actualize Alumni Outcomes

Recent Actualize News

Jess Feldman
Jess Feldman
Updated November 05, 2024
As a response to the COVID pandemic in 2020, most in-person bootcamps quickly transitioned to online or remote classrooms. In 2024, hybrid classrooms and immersive online learning continue to be popular, but in-person bootcamp options are available again. If you’ve been waiting for an in-person classroom to start your career change, then here are the 30 in-person coding bootcamps with campuse...
Jess Feldman
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Updated October 03, 2024
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Liz Eggleston
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Lauren Stewart
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Updated October 21, 2020
Jay Wengrow founded part-time web development bootcamp and apprenticeship program Actualize in Chicago in 2014 to make learning to code efficient and accessible. Now the coding bootcamp has campuses in New York and San Francisco, and in June 2017 they are launching their new online part-time program to further reduce barriers to entry into tech. We asked Jay about the format of the new on...
Imogen Crispe
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Updated March 23, 2017
  How do you get a job after coding bootcamp if you have no relevant, real-world work experience? Only 1.4% of bootcampers have worked as developers in the past, but most career-changers have little – if any– client experience when they start looking for a developer job. Some bootcamps help students overcome this hurdle by offering opportunities to work for the bootcamp itself, or with rea...
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Updated October 21, 2020
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Updated February 03, 2016
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Nick Toscano
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Updated April 30, 2019
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Updated May 15, 2024
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Actualize Alumni Reviews Summary

Overall Experience
4.9
Instructors
5.0
Curriculum
4.9
Job Assistance
4.8
Write A Review
More Information
Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
Licensing
No
FAQs

How much does Actualize cost?

Actualize costs around $16,900.

What courses does Actualize teach?

Actualize offers courses like Web Development.

Where does Actualize have campuses?

Actualize has in-person campuses in Chicago. Actualize also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.

Is Actualize worth it?

Actualize hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 599 Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize on Course Report - you should start there!

Is Actualize legit?

We let alumni answer that question. 599 Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize and rate their overall experience a 4.93 out of 5.

Does Actualize offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?

Right now, it doesn't look like Actualize offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.

Can I read Actualize reviews?

You can read 599 reviews of Actualize on Course Report! Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize and rate their overall experience a 4.93 out of 5.

Is Actualize accredited?

No

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