Actualize

Learning at Actualize was a great experience. I started Actualize with zero knowledge of Software Development, and can now build out full-stack apps, with knowledge in Ruby, Ruby on Rails, GitHub, SQL, React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. They gave us many resources and guides which were created by Actualize. There was a lot of team work and collaboration. A big part of Actualize was equipping us with the skills to enable us to keep growing and learning independently after the bootcamp was over. The bootcamp was not just composed of lessons about coding and building apps: there were career advising classes, with a  separate teacher who specialized in career coaching. Upon graduating the bootcamp, I felt fully equipped to start the job search and continue on my own. I highly recommend Actualize.

I cannot recommend the team assembled at Actualize Coding Bootcamp enough. The support and guidance I received from the staff were beyond compare. In particular, Amanda, our instructor, was nothing short of amazing. Her teaching style struck the perfect balance between practicality and support, creating an environment that was conducive to learning and growth.

I would join Actualize all over again just for their career advising team. Sarah was my advisor, and I cannot speak highly enough of her dedication and expertise. She went above and beyond to assist me in the job search process, providing valuable insights and reassurance when I needed it the most. Sarah's commitment to the success of the students is truly commendable. Additionally, Lisa's support was indispensable. On a couple of occasions when I needed assistance promptly, Lisa was there to help. I believe the career advising team is a standout aspect of the Actualize experience.

Overall, I am incredibly satisfied with my experience at Actualize, and I have not hesitated to recommend it to others. The dedication and support from Amanda, Sarah, Lisa, and the entire Actualize team have made a lasting impression on me.

Actualize is a well-thought-out curriculum with fantastic instructors who help you get a firm grasp on programming. I decided to choose this bootcamp because a friend who went here in the past recommended it to me, and vouched for their great instruction. After completing the bootcamp I can confidently say that not only is the instruction first-rate, but I also gained the skills necessary to feel confident in applying for software developer jobs and starting my own projects. One key concept that is reiterated in the bootcamp is the idea of "learning how to learn". Actualize does a phenomenal job of expressing this and making sure you know how to learn effectively so you don't feel lost once the bootcamp is complete. Another important aspect I loved about the bootcamp was the constant exercises to reinforce our learning. If I ever felt stuck or lost I could easily ask for help and get immediate feedback. This is super important because when you are learning how to code the more you actually practice writing code the quicker you will pick up on the concepts. Overall my experience with Actualize was superb, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has been considering joining a bootcamp. 

There are so many great perks to this boot camp starting from just the application process. When researching and applying to Actualize, the Operations Manager will be there to support you, answer questions, and guide you through the process. 
The course itself is so great! Students are placed in small-sized cohorts (I had 9 classmates), with one lead instructor and 2 TAs. There is a friendly, low-pressure atmosphere. Each day we learned some new techniques and then worked on a relevant exercises; when stuck during an exercise, there is always someone available for assistance and I never felt lost or uncomfortable to ask questions. Sometimes we split off into breakout rooms and completed exercises in smaller groups which was a fun, interactive way of learning. The capstone is not as daunting as it sounds- everyone makes it through and builds impressive apps! 
I came in with absolutely no prior coding experience and at the end of the cohort, I felt up to par with even the students that came in with prior coding experience. 
One of the greatest perks of Actualize is that they will walk you through the job search from A to Z. When you complete the live Zoom classes, you will find that you are still very much a part of Actualize! There is a tech mentorship program, an alumni network, and career advisors who will still be on your case. 

Choosing Actualize as my boot camp was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was brand new to the coding world and was only learning the very basics before I applied. Actualize emphasizes the importance of how languages and technologies should be approached. After finishing their course, not only do I know how to utilize Rails and React, but more importantly, have the knowledge to efficiently learn any language, framework, interface, structure, and many more. They also have many resources, including a career advisor, and an amazing alumni community to help land your first job. 

If you are committed to coding, love to learn, and put in the work, Actualize is the course for you.

I just finished my cohort and my first feeling is that it was a great program and I don't have any regrets. The pre-work was perfect for a total beginner and I felt comfortable when we started the live lessons. Starting with Ruby and its simple syntax helped gain confidence as we compiled more and more into the lessons. Outside practice is KEY for skill development. 

Where the course fell short for me was the introduction of ReactJS. So much time spent on Ruby and we flew through React and just kept barreling through. I understand we spent less time on React than Ruby but  I  feel that the lesson structure wasn't as strong as the beginning. My classmates and myself were completely lost at times. 

I started this cohort already having a sales position and was transitioning  to a tech position within the same company so I wasn't looking for a job. The job hacking had a lot of useful information and deff important topics to discuss. However I feel it took up too much time some weeks and we could have condensed a lot of it and used the extra time for more JS or SQL. 

We had a lot of independent study time in the beginning and that to me was a little bit of a waste. We barreled through so many topics on the back half of the cohort that we should have used the time together in class better. I can do independent study for free after class. I shouldn't be paying for it.

Overall I think my teacher Amanda was great. Super patient and always good for a laugh. I'm happy I picked Actualize and would recommend it to anyone interested in coding. I will add I think all bootcamps are a bit overpriced and this fits in that as well. 

I went into the bootcamp knowing only what I was able to teach myself a few weeks prior and I was a it intimidated by that fact. The pre-work they have for you before actual classes start was perfect to get me started and I never felt like I was drowning. Then the actual bootcamp was exactly what I wanted! I learned lots of really great skills but the most important skill I feel like I picked up was the ability to teach myself. Even before the end of the bootcamp I was able to start teaching myself another language and make an app with it. No regrets about my choice at all.

A very small class size for almost one-on-one teaching and collaborating gave me the ability to learn and understand very hard concepts relatively quickly. Most importantly I was trained in the art of learning. By the time the course was over I could teach myself skills and find the resources to expand my knowledge base. The course pre-work took me from knowing nothing about writing code to being able to write difficult code in less than a month. My instructor, Peter, is tremendously smart and engaging. All of the staff is incredibly personable and the job assistance is top notch. The course ends in 12 weeks, but you have indefinite access to everything you learned and all the resources within. Highly recommend bootcamp.