Actualize

In the beginning of the year, I decided to make a career pivot into programming. I explored several routes on how to break into the field, from self-teaching, bootcamps, and college courses. I initially settled on self-teaching, but after several months of tutorials with no real projects to show for it, I began to explore bootcamps more. What drew me to Actualize was the "educators first" mindset with live demoing as well as the job search support, and after starting the program, I quickly realized that this was the right launchpad for me in starting a programming career. The structured curriculum, hands-on-learning, and incredibly supportive staff made it an amazing experience. I gained full-stack web development skills, built several applications, and received invaluable guidance on the ever-daunting job search. I would recommend Actualize to anyone looking to kickstart a career as a developer. 

As someone with no experience in coding, whether it be making a webpage or even writing a line of code. I was skeptical that I could learn all of the skills I needed to achieve the goal of becoming a full-stack developer in the future. Actualize was the best decision I have ever made, from my first interaction with Serena Green, who was my liaison to get in touch with the BootCamp and answered every single question that I had from how I was going to pay for the BootCamp and how we could fit it into my schedule. Serena was so able to answer my questions that my anxiety level came down, and I felt much more comfortable with my intention to commit to the BootCamp. As the program commenced, we had a five-week prework program, which gives you the basic skills you will need during the 12 weeks in person or (online part of the course). Personally, for me, the prework section of the BootCamp was challenging. As I stated before, I had no prior experience coding. My prework instructor, Kevin Mitchell, was available for questions and online time to meet with him during office hours and if we needed scheduled time to understand a specific topic. Amanda Hale and the actual TAs (Leah and Anna) teaching my cohort were excellent; as Actualize says, they are educators first and developers second. I can not STRESS how important this was in my experience. I learned how to teach myself different frameworks and languages and now teach myself a new concept almost every time I sit at the computer. One of the standout features of the Actualize program is their career-focused push with our cohort HR guru Sara Kercher. She and Amanda are completely in your corner to ensure you have the standout features and skills that recruiters at companies are actively looking for in candidates.  Sara and the team and Actualize support you after graduation to sharpen your skills and get the job you want and deserve! I loved every moment of my time as an Actualize Bootcamp student and would recommend it to anyone searching for something special that will change their life! 

Nickhil-- Acutalize Graduate September 2023

I recently completed an inconceivable adventure with Actualize, and I couldn't be more thrilled to share my overwhelmingly positive experience. From the moment I walked through their doors, I knew I was in for something special. The program at Actualize is nothing short of stupendous. I started this journey with the goal of learning some programming languages and tools, and I was not disappointed.  I learned Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, Node.js, SQL, and Git. The depth and breadth of the program were truly impressive and sometimes overwhelming. One of the aspects that truly sets Actualize apart is their exceptional instructors. They possess an incredible depth of knowledge but also have a natural skill to express complex concepts in easy-to-understand manner.  And if I did not understand they took the time to help with that.. The support and mentorship I received were invaluable and made the learning process smooth and enjoyable. The hands-on approach at Actualize is another highlight. Real-world projects allowed me to apply what I learned in a practical context, strengthening my understanding and furthering my confidence as a developer. Collaboration is also a cornerstone of the Actualize experience. Working alongside fellow students on group projects not only improved my coding skills but also fostered a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. The career services provided by Actualize are extremely valuable. From resume building to pseudo interviews and networking opportunities. I cannot overemphasize the positive impact Actualize has had on myself. I've not only acquired invaluable technical skills but also a newfound passion for coding. The support, the knowledge, and the sense of community I gained throughout this program have been life-changing. If you are looking for a coding boot camp that offers a program curriculum, superb instructors, hands-on experience, and an unbeatable support system, look nowhere else than Actualize. I totally recommend it to anyone who wants to learn coding.

I had tried a bootcamp that was not in Zoom meetings and used reading material instead. I can definitely say that having someone demonstrate the code in first, then trying it myself helped a lot. I would run into errors that the reading material hadn't covered, so I was left to Google it myself, but I didn't always know the specifics of the problem. Having someone there, that could look at my code in real time,  and give me feedback on how to get it to work made the learning experience so much better. They even gave us advice on Googling our problems so we could find a solution, which has come in handy many times. I could not recommend Actualize more, whether you're a total novice at computers or have some basic knowledge. It has been a great learning process and definitely worth the time and money!

You do 5 month plan or do financing with sub credit 680 score. You have 5 week prework with 2-3 meetup(3hour each day) each week for learning coding basics. After 5 week you start the 5 daily meetup schedule each week. It different depend on selection but for me Class Schedule 9AM - 2PM(PST) Mon through Friday. 15 Min Break at 10AM and 11:15AM and 30 min at 12:30PM. Course format: Instructor Demo(15-30 min) follow up with student doing lesson after for 15-30 min. There are 1-2 Teach Assistant to help during your exercise time. There are before and after help 2-3 times a week with a Teach assistant. No homework but there deliberate practice checklist(programming basics, loop, each) that is helpful to work on daily basis to learn key concept. Week 1 Ruby rails basics. Week 2-4 Ruby on Rails Backend API. At End of Week 4 you will be able to crud(build) Back End API. In between you learn how to setup and use git and github. Week 5 React Crud front end. Week 6-8 introduce to front end frameworks React,Vue,bootstrap,etc. Week 9- 10 introduce to different  libraries and technologies express, flask, etc. Week 11-12 Capstone and transition out of class: alumni slack, mentor program, support systems. You have career counselor (Sara- Amazing) which go through Linkedin and other channel to get job and through out the 12 week process both in class and out of class. Meetup is through zoom and slack is use for communication. Class videos are recorded and accessible after class if you miss class. You access through out the cohort. Max 3 absent days for cohart. Support system is great for during and after class. Instructor have access to slack if you need help access after class for reference. I came from retail and able to follow class with little problem. Use your resources Teacher assistance,  instructor, career counselors, mentors. Connect with me on linkedin.com/in/trung-dinh-9513543 . If you have questions. message me on Linkedin.

When I was researching bootcamps to find one to attend, there was a common theme of negative issues for many OTHER bootcamps (high-stress, quality of instructors, 24/7 workload), but Actualize seemed to have a curriculum and a solution to each of those problems. After going through the program, I think I made the best choice possible. The instructor was amazing and had gone through the program so he knew exactly what we were going through. We also had 2 TAs for 10 students so there was always someone available for to answer our questions. Actualize emphasized continual learning and really helps set the foundation of how to go about picking up new technology and languages for after the bootcamp. While there are tough moments during the bootcamp, I never felt super stressed and always felt comfortable with what we were learning or I knew that I could easily ask for help to make me feel comfortable. The best aspect overall is also the Job Hacking where you have a dedicated Career Advisor that can help you with whatever job related item you need. It can be as broad as updating a Resume/LinkedIn Profile or as specific of helping you craft a message to network with someone on LinkedIn. The support does not stop after the bootcamp ends also, since you keep meeting with your Career Advisor after and are paired with a Tech Mentor (someone that has gone through the Actualize program and is currently working in the field). Overall the experience and the resources are amazing, and I truly enjoyed going to class each day.

When researching bootcamps, Actualize stood out to me because of their teaching methods. Actualize focuses on a "Learn to Learn" style, so we spent a great deal of time delving into the fundamentals of the coding languages we worked with and as we neared the end of our cohort, we discovered that what we had learned, could also be utilized across many other languages! The primary differences were nothing more than syntax. Our instructor, Joey, was incredibly knowledgeable & kept the class energized throughout.

I chose Actualize because of the top reviews and all the good things the previous graduates and students had to say.  I can say after taking this class I feel more confident than I honestly envisioned I would prior to graduation.  Every instructor I had enjoyed their role as teacher and was always available to answer the questions, which was one of my main concerns when choosing a bootcamp.  The coursework was carefully chosen by the members of the company to make sure we were getting the most out of the 4 months and I feel I really did get the most out of it. The job advisors were also always available and provided us with the information we need to be prepared for interviews and how to put ourselves in the best possible situation to get job offers.  I also liked how the classes aren't too big.  If this is an industry you are thinking about joining and you're looking into bootcamps I can say with confidence you can't go wrong with Actualize. 

Choosing to switch careers is nerve wracking, so picking an institution to partner with that you trust will deliver on your goals is also a scary choice to make. I chose Actualize because of their reviews and curriculum, and they absolutely delivered. My instructor was a former educator (all Actualize instructors are) and that made all the difference in the world. Teaching is one of the hardest careers out there, and teaching coding a major challenge on its own. My instructor made the foreign concepts easier to grasp, and reinforced my confidence in believing I could do it. Everything from delivery to pacing to mentorship to job searching help, to additional resources made Actualize a decision I will never regret, and I know will propel me successfully into the world of software development.