Actualize Reviews
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Jose Z Verified via LinkedIn
Great For Beginners and Intermediate
This is a Awesome bootcamp, I was a beginner entering the course and now I feel more confident with my coding skills. You really have to put in the work. It's not easy but at the same time it is not out of this world. They have an excellent curriculum and great Instructors and T.A's. -
Lisa S. Verified via LinkedIn
If you're on the fence, just do it.
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I debated between big, well-known bootcamps and ultimately committed to Actualize. The main reason, and I can say this even more as a grad, is the unmatched community and support. You get weekly checkins and support from career advisors, an instructor and a TA who will go above and beyond to aid you on this journey, and classmates who will become your new, trusted friends. Material is taught in a way that gets you to truly understand the material and teaches you the skills beyond the bootcamp to learn a new language all on your own. So give this bootcamp a chance because it was an irreplaceable experience for me. -
Ambar K. Verified via LinkedIn
Just Do It!
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I am a researcher when it comes to any decision, but especially when it comes to a big life decision. After deciding to change careers to coding, I did hours of research, review reading, and talking to different programs to figure out which would be the best option. I work full-time, so having a night option was important. An important piece was to avoid a program that consisted of mostly pre-recorded videos where students are left to their own devices. I wanted a class setting where you can learn and grow with other students and have a teacher/program that actually cares about your success. That is exactly what I found at Actualize. From the start of pre-work and continuing after you finish the course, you are supported. Brian is an amazing teacher and mentor! The course is challenging but still fun and very rewarding. Honestly, the whole Actualize team is amazing, shout out to Kevin, Lisa, Alex, Lauryn, Bart, and Jay! -
Jimmy Jonsson Verified via LinkedIn
Best learning experience.
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After ten years of working in hospitality, I felt like I wanted to develop new skills and change my line of work. This brought me to decide on attending the Actualize coding Bootcamp. Being part of this Bootcamp was an extremely positive experience. I barely had any familiarity with programming and even before finishing the course, I felt like had learned and developed several skills and strategies. Now that I've graduated I feel like I've opened a door to a learning environment where I can constantly keep on growing and build on what I've learned.
The Actualize team was very flexible and helpful in many ways from the very beginning. Which was something that I really appreciated. Making this investment in myself is something I would do again mainly due to the experience I had with the Actualize team. Everyone, including the pre-work instructor, the TA's, the lead instructors, and career support assistants are all very helpful and believe that the students are fully capable of managing the material and tools that are provided.
I would definitely encourage anyone to enroll in their program. Especially if you have very little knowledge of coding or programming. Like I mentioned I had almost no experience in this field and graduating with a new skill set will only help me find a job as well as opportunities! and continue to build new skills in the future.
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Erin Verified via GitHub
Wonderful experience
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I looked into several different bootcamps and ending up choosing Actualize. I am so glad I did! Actualize feels like a family and they truly want you to succeed. I was in the evening/online cohort with Brian, who I would highly recommend. Not only does he know his stuff, he is an amazing teacher with a great sense of humor. He is easily approachable and was always willing to help us out, while at the same time challenging us and preparing us for our new career. The job hunting guidance they provide us with is excellent. Lisa and Alex are amazing and work hard to help us find a great job, I wish I would have had that when I graduated from college! I would highly recommend Actualize to anyone who is motivated to learn how to code. -
Tyler W Verified via LinkedIn
The best bootcamp experience imaginable
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My journey with Actualize from start to finish has been such a breath of fresh air. The pre-work section was incredibly informative and really helped me get comfortable with coding before getting fully into the course. As for the course itself, I can't say enough good things about Brian, one of the teachers. He was an incredible teacher who never made me feel bad or dumb if I was slow to grasp a topic. He has a very clear and concise way of teaching and it's an extremely fun environment. The curriculum was great as well. I felt like I learned a ton, but not too much to be stressed out. The pacing was great and each day built on the previous lessons learned. By the end of the course, I genuinely felt like a developer. Now I'm confident that I'll be able to keep learning and growing on my programming journey. And I can't wait to land a job -
Mendy Cohen Verified via LinkedIn
Great Experience!
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I chose Actualize after researching many different coding bootcamps and finding that Actualize matched what I was looking for, a bootcamp with an emphasis on teaching its students how to learn and think like a software engineer and a staff that is available to work with you on all aspects from coding to learning how to conduct your job search.
The four-week pre-work was an excellent preparation for the 12-week online course that was to come and all throughout the course I felt a very strong sense of intentional teaching. From how our instructor built up the lessons and structured homework assignments to how the TAs interacted with us, it was apparent that the curriculum and its delivery were masterfully designed with the intention to provide us with the resources needed to begin a new career.
I sensed that the approach at Actualize is genuine. Between the instructor and TAs there was a very good teacher to student ratio and I think they truly live up to the teaching philosophy described on their site. -
James W. Verified via LinkedIn
Learning to learn how to code
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Like most people reading these, I spent hours upon hours researching and sifting through reviews after choosing the bootcamp route. Narrowing my choices, Actualize stayed at the top because of their emphasis on learning how to learn and developing the mindset of a software engineer.
That philosophy stayed true throughout the cohort. Instead of having code thrown at us to memorize with or without comprehending, the curriculum is designed to understand the logic behind the code and put it to practice. That made a huge difference with it being a lot of information in a short amount of time. Additionally, and maybe most importantly, we learned how to problem solve and develop the skills to learn any programming language, much like the actual job of a developer.
Our instructor, Dani, was very knowledgable in not just coding but also the current industry from her real world experience. She and the TA's (who were extremely helpful Actualize grads) were always available to answer questions, guide us in the right direction, and make us think our way through concepts and issues. They also have career support that begins early in the cohort and continues after graduation, and the career counselor, Lisa, is readily available and helps keep you accountable.
While you can't learn everything within a few months, you can go from barely able to use an app to creating one, and leave with the skills to learn languages and frameworks beyond what's used for the class. -
Megan Verified via GitHub
Amazing course, amazing teacher, amazing school! Coming out with a job.
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Actualize was such an incredible experience. I learned the most critical components of web development and more. I am finishing up the course with a plethora of resources at hand. I had Peter as my instructor and he explained everything crystal clear; truly one of the best teachers I've ever had! Him and all staff I interacted with at Actualize were always so helpful. Lisa, the career advisor, was instrumental in helping me land my first job. Thanks so much Actualize! -
Todd Verified via LinkedIn
Best Decision of My Life
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I did a lot of research on which bootcamp I wanted to join and I picked actualize because of their focus to be teachers first. The curriculum is designed to actually teach you how to think like a software engineer. My instructor Peter and TA Kevin were always there to help when needed. I spoke to many big name bootcamps and I just felt like a number where at Actualize it was a bit more personal. The pricing was way more realistic as well! The job hacking lessons really helped me with my confidence in applying for jobs and prepared me in ways that I never would have gotten teaching myself how to code. Id would recommend Actualize to anyone who is ready to make that commitment to a bootcamp that delivers beyond what you paid for.
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Alan Verified via LinkedIn
Web Developer
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The main reason i chose Actualize was for the online night classes and the Job assistance. I feel like the main focus of this bootcamp was not just the coding and building your skills (though it is a massive part) but also finding and landing a job in Web Development. If you're looking for a course that is going to help you through the process of learning and finding a job definitely check out Actualize. -
Taylor Dorsett Verified via GitHub
<3 Actualize
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I choose Actualize because I know a lot of successful Actualize graduates and it has a great reputation in Chicago. They also have an after-hours program that makes it possible for folks who are working to attend the boot camp.
I loved the program. We started by learning ruby on rails which is an easier programming language to understand. When we moved to JavaScript I was able to recognize the concepts we learned in Ruby. The pacing of the course was great. I cant stress this enough. Feeling like I was being pushed but still being able to keep up kept me engaged. Peter our instructor was fantastic. I think he might be the most experienced Bootcamp instructor in Chicago and maybe the US.
I'd recommend Actualize to anyone who is looking to make a career transition. +1 if you are looking for a bootcamp that you can do while still maintaining a day job. +2 if you have tried programming in the past but got stuck. Actualize is run by educators who are developers which makes all the difference. -
Sun Shin Verified via GitHub
One of the best learning experiences in my life.
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I enrolled into Actualize after seeing my brother go through the bootcamp and see the strides he has made in his career afterwards. After recently completing the program I feel as I can do the same despite the current state of the job market in 2020. Not only have I learned modern coding languages such as Ruby on Rails and Javascript, but most important I was taught how to be a better student as well. I feel confident that I will now be able to tackle and coding language/framework after being taught key fundamentals at Actualize. The instructors explain concepts well and are prepared to make time for each individual. The amount of resources and help available from the instructors and career advisors goes above and beyond in comparison from my knowledge of other bootcamps. I also was hesitant about online instruction, but I would say it is just as good as in-person! -
Winston Verified via LinkedIn
Exceeds Expectations
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I found the decision as to which bootcamp to attend to be an exceedingly difficult one. After nearly signing up for a big corporate owned camp, I came across Actualize. Actualize makes you feel noticed and supported. You are with the same instructor and teaching assistants the whole through so you feel like your progress is really being tracked and you are building connections throughout the camp. A lot of camps out there feel a little scammy, with published job rates and what not. Oh so you have 98% of graduates, get job, well what defines a graduate? The truth is what you put is what you get out, and that applies to actualize, but they give you solid footing to exceed without trying disassociate with you if you aren't meeting requirements. Because they aren't wrapped up in a published job placement rate they can focus on helping the students as much as helping themselves. Actualize also provides continued support with smaller lessons and job help after you graduate. If I had to choose a bootcamp again I would definitely make the same decision. If you are unsure of what to choose, choose actualize. Don't get caught up on languages and frameworks that are taught. You'll be better off going to a camp with a good environment and actualize has that. Peace. -
Mike W Verified via GitHub
Truly Exceptional!!!
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I researched bootcamps extensively, and had almost decided to go with one of more well-known bootcamps. Luckily, I came across an article by Jay Wengrow on LinkedIn which led me to Actualize. After speaking with them, and discussing the options, I decided to register with Actualize, and there has not even been one moment since that I have regretted that decision. They are truly an exceptional bootcamp with people who personally care about your success. In addition to the outstanding curriculum that builds upon itself everyday, the job search portion is second to none. They prepare you for the job search by not only providing the people and the tools to succeed during the bootcamp, but continuing support and training every step of the way afterwards. I would not hesitate to recommend Actualize to anyone looking to start a career in Software Development. -
Jack Verified via LinkedIn
Fresh Graduate
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I just finished this program and I have to say it has been one of the best decisions in my life so far. I chose Actualize due to them being a Chicago based program, as I am Chicago based as well, but another huge upside was the fact that they have implemented online-based teaching since before the pandemic. That means they weren't scrambling to figure out how to put their curriculum online, or to turn it into a zoom based class, the structure was there and it always had been. That made it feel like an incredibly good pick during this time.
The online-live class setup is a fantastic way to learn coding, with immediate feedback and great class-flow between lectures and exercises. With an emphasis on learning to learn the instructors at Actualize are training your brain to think like a developer, encourage problem solving and growth mindset. I really have nothing but good things to say about Actualize, and they let you sit in on classes in progress if you're applying and want to see how the classes are structured. So if you're on the fence, setup a sit-in and see for yourself!
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Katrina Jelinek Verified via GitHub
Great course, great instructors
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Deciding to learn coding through Actualize was easily one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. The course is packed with information and moves very fast, but not so much that you can't keep up. Dani Zaghian was my instructor and she is an incredible teacher. She was always very clear about what is happening in the concepts she was teaching along with what is expected of each of her students throughout the course. It was a great experience and I would encourage anyone who is considering attending a bootcamp to consider Actualize. -
Aaron Verified via GitHub
Great Course - Great Instruction
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Having just graduated, I don't know how my job will go (or for how long) but everything related to career planning I've received during the course has been incredibly helpful. I came into this course with a pretty strong computer science understanding, but was pretty overwhelmed trying to self learn frontend and backend frameworks. I'm not sure there's any way to get better at simply coding other than putting in the time, so keep that in mind when you're thinking about any bootcamp in particular. Most of this bootcamp has been focused on using frameworks. Even though its unlikely you'll ever work solely in those frameworks in the future, I'm confident moving forward to learn new frameworks with ease and a better understanding of what challenges in development the specific features of a framework intend to address. -
Blake Gandy Verified via GitHub
A solid use of your time and great investment!
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I couldn't be happier with my decision to attend Actualize. The instructor and TA's are really helpful and you always feel like you've got one on one help when you need it. The curriculum felt engaging and challenging which forced myself and my classmates to really push ourselves to see what we were capable of. If you were looking for a remote bootcamp I would strongly suggest you check out Actualize. You won't be disappointed! -
Melanie Verified via LinkedIn
Best Decision I've Ever Made...
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Actualize was the best decision I have ever made. After getting half way through a computer programming degree at a community college and never writing a single line of code, I decided to take some coding classes online. I found them lacking the structure and guidance I needed. That's when I started combing reviews for a solid bootcamp. I noticed Actualize had so many perfect ratings and now I understand why. This school teaches you how to code. But, more importantly, they teach you how to LEARN how to code. I feel confident after taking this bootcamp that I can learn any language I want. The lead instructor, Brian, is a phenomenal instructor. He anticipates and validates the difficult parts and his background in teaching AND software development really show in how he conducts the course. You can tell he truly cares about each student's success in the course. The curriculum is relevant and useful. They teach programming logic in a way that I wish I would've learned earlier! They provide tons of career support during and after and Lisa, the job hacking instructor, is as caring and empathetic as all of the staff. She really wants to see you succeed. I left this course feeling empowered, confident and like a true developer. You will always have more to learn as a developer but now I know how to learn anything! I could not recommend this bootcamp more and I am so grateful I found them. -
Alan M Verified via LinkedIn
Wonderful Experience from Start to Finish
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Actualize was easily one of the best experienced I could have hoped for. After spending hours and hours researching bootcamps and toiling over which one to choose, I had a friend recommend Actualize. After hearing what he had to say and looking into them, I jumped in head first and never looked back. This was one of the smartest things I have ever done. Everyone at Actualize has been nothing short of amazing and having graduated I can honestly say I feel confident in my abilities as a Web Developer. The instructors are world class and the career help is icing on the cake. If you're looking at bootcamps, I honestly cannot recommend Actualize enough. -
Declan M Verified via LinkedIn
Highly Recommended
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Actualize has been an outstanding educational experience, challenging but rewarding in a ton of ways. Our teacher Brian, and our TA's Bart and Lauryn were knowledgeable, helpful and supportive. The course also has career oriented sessions with a career counselor who specializes in helping graduates find placement in real companies. My fellow classmates were all bright, curious, and really bonded well together. It was a joy to have a group of such cool people working on this project of self improvement in a time when people are increasingly isolated and detached (as the corona virus continues to ravage the country). Actualize gave me an outlet for my creative energy while providing a staggering amount of information in an intelligent and organized fashion. Five bags of popcorn, two sodas. -
Kristofer Verified via LinkedIn
Best Decision Ever!
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After calling several bootcamps and reviewing their curriculum, I chose Actualize because of their emphasis on job search, teaching methodology and overall support. This was probably the best experience of my life (so far) and I cannot stress enough how much I learn about coding and tech in general. The amount of support was also insane, they really care about your professional growth and I highly recommend their web development course to anyone interested in pursuing a career in coding. Kudos to everyone working at Actualize! -
Sequona Hastings Verified via GitHub
One of the best decisions I've made
I came into Actualize knowing just a little bit of HTML (self-taught). I had no idea what direction to go in or where to even start. Now that I am a graduate, my knowledge is not only far greater but I now have learned HOW to learn. With these skills gained at Actualize I have the confidence to achieve some great things I never knew I was capable of before. -
Dan Verified via LinkedIn
Best decision ever
I couldn't imagine a better place to begin my journey than with Actualize. The instructor was fantastic and everyone was very helpful and supportive. I would highly recommend this course to anyone. -
Angela A Verified via LinkedIn
It's a great time!
This class was so much fun, and I learned so much! I highly recommend this to anybody that is looking to get into coding. It is a little bit overwhelming at first but it will make sense in time. -
Iris Verified via LinkedIn
Well thought-out curriculum!
With Actualize, not only did I learn a lot within a short period of time, but I was also trained to think through problems like a developer! The curriculum is very well-designed. -
James O Verified via LinkedIn
Smartest decision I've made
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Before choosing a coding bootcamp to invest in, I researched extensively the variety of options that are out there - I am so glad to have settled on Actualize. The folks at Actualize have carefully put together a curriculum that is digestible and effective. It is a lot of content in a short period of time, so the syllabus was designed to cover material quickly but not to overwhelm. I had very little coding experience before starting this course, and that was A-okay - our lead instructor Dani, and the TAs alike, were there to support when we inevitably got stuck and challenge when we were on the right path. I was a little fearful to take the course online as I am someone who enjoys learning in-person, but that fear was lifted when the online format proved to feel like we were all in the room together. As a graduate, I look forward to utilizing their excellent, integrated career support, as well as connecting with their rapidly-growing alumni network. I am so grateful for my time at Actualize. If you're looking for a coding bootcamp that is challenging, engaging, and achievable - look no further. -
Ian Fletcher Verified via LinkedIn
Web Developer
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Early into 2020, I was laid off from my current job and decided it was time for a change. I had an interest in computers and programming that I had ignored for a long time, and I decided it was time to do something with that interest. During the pandemic, I knew online courses would be the only way to operate, so I landed on Actualize after being recommended by an Alumni and after speaking to admissions at the school about their already well-established online curriculum. It was an exciting choice, but nothing could have prepared me for how amazing the course would actually be! Personally, I am someone who has struggled in the past with staying motivated with my education, but this course was SO engaging. I had a very, very minor history with CS from my time in college, so the pre-work was a great refresher and more, but I'm confident that anyone could work through the pre-work and learn the basics necessary. Once the course is under way, the lessons are paced very well, and the lessons stack day after day in a very cohesive manner until you get a few weeks in and realize you can do some really cool stuff! By week 9-10, you will have more skills than you even realize until you start building an entire app from front to back and get to see all those skills in action. My cohort was instructed by Dani who was incredible! Clearly experienced and knowledgable, she taught the course well, and her enthusiasm and demeanor throughout the entire course took it up another notch. Class time was always engaging, always rewarding, and help was always a quick question away. If you are considering an online bootcamp to switch up your career or learn some valuable skills for your current one, I don't think you can make a better choice than Actualize! -
Rebecca Doukas Verified via LinkedIn
Web Developoer
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Actualize was the best experience and choice I have ever made. I previously attended another bootcamp and realized the learning style wasn't for me. Actualize provides students consistent assistance and support from start to finish, including the pre-work portion! Dani and all the TA's want to see you succeed and will do whatever possible to make that happen. I was nervous I wouldn't be as successful with the online course as opposed to the in-person course but my fears quickly diminished after Day 1. This bootcamp is definitely friendly for anyone without coding experience but not too slowly passed for someone that knows the basics. -
Irving Villasenor Verified via LinkedIn
Full-Stack Developer
Honestly one of the best experiences ever. I had absolutely no tech experience and their curriculum was well structured and easy to follow. Dani is the best and would take this course again if I had the chance. -
Hubert Verified via LinkedIn
Great Education, Great Experience
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Actualize has been one of my best life experiences to date. If you are wondering if this is a group you can trust with educating and guiding you, I can respond with a resounding "Yes!" I am writing as someone from a completely different industry field with some self-taught experience of HTML/CSS in the past. When comparing this to the sheer amount of technical know-how I have received in these short months, the results are astounding.
I believe any learning program will equip you with not just outspoken technical knowledge, but also with an inner mindset - an approach and culture of how to tackle problems, and even your belief in your ability to do so. I feel some programs only do well in challenging that belief with the goal of "weeding out" students. Instead, Actualize is a program that draws out that inner-belief. After all, it began with the name "Anyone Can Learn to Code". And I am happy to say that this mindset continues among how it leads students today.
The coursework is challenging, but is never overwhelming thanks to the support of instructors and other students. Never did I feel that help was unavailable or that instructors were uninterested. The teaching accommodates students of different work backgrounds and learning styles. I found the class to be professional in handling subject matter, but also very friendly in our normal day to day. The faculty must have graduated hundreds of students before, but they are always fascinated in seeing you grow.
For the online program, students can expect 5 hours of class time and up to 1 - 2 hours of homework per day, depending on the subject difficulty. I found that I was freely practicing more to solidify what I learned. Yet I did not have to give up my entire life and values to make it through. Yes, they expect you to have a weekend away from the computer. Still, for the best experience, I would highly recommend bootcamp students to make this one of their few priorities, but if you absolutely must work part-time during the process, I could see that being a possibility. Please talk to faculty first!
As a testament to the program's effectiveness, some student family members who were also tech industry professionals viewed our livestream of capstone project presentations. Even they were impressed by what the students had completed from start to finish. Furthermore, the program gives a wealth of knowledge and support in the job searching process - a process that begins during the bootcamp months and continues for some time after. It is a well designed program that offers incredible support. I've only seen great things from Actualize, and I can continue to expect great things from the people who dedicate so much of themselves for others' learning and well-being. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about the program. -
sam Verified via GitHub
Amazing experience
Actualize is a fantastic bootcamp with an incredible teacher. Her enthusiasm and charm made the learning experience so much more enjoyable. You will learn A LOT in relatively short amount of time but it is highly rewarding. I recommend this bootcamp to anyone looking to learn fullstack/web development. -
Phil Verified via LinkedIn
Worth it!
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I graduated college in 2018 with a finance degree and immediately started to work at a large financial institution. I always had an interest in various fields in technology, but never took the time to thoroughly explore the possibilities of a career within tech. During the two years I worked in finance, I started to dabble in various analytical tools such as VBA, Tableau, and Python. I was blown away by their abilities to automate and facilitate the work I was doing. At this point I had to follow this newly found passion.
Towards the end of my 2nd year out of college, I knew I wanted make a career transition into software development. I began looking for coding bootcamps, taking into consideration the recommendations of friends and reviewers from sites like this one. Until I came across Actualize. What caught my eye with them was their message that they promise to teach you how to think like an engineer. With an emphasis on learning how to approach difficult problems, and how to pick up new skills with ease, they break down the barriers that seem so impassable when you first delve into the world of coding.
From the very beginning of the course, our amazing instructor Dani worked to mold our mindset to be one that approaches challenges with confidence. It was clear that she was not only a very skilled developer, but also incredibly passionate and skilled as an educator. It is as if the core message of Actualize that I previously mentioned (to teach you to think like a developer) is embodied within her. Anytime we had trouble grasping a concept, Dani helped us to figure it for ourselves. In my opinion, this is the most valuable ability an educator can have. The ability to empower their students with confidence that leads them to answer their own questions, no matter what they may be.
For career counseling, we worked with Lisa. Like Dani, Lisa is very passionate about educating her students, and pushes you to take control of your own destiny. Lisa gives you the tools to succeed and shows you how to use them properly. All thats left between you and success is effort. Like many things in life, securing a software development gig is something that you have to put 100% into in order to achieve it. However, if you do your part, I'm certain that Lisa will be by your side, coaching you through all of it. And you will be that much more successful because of it.
At the conclusion of this course you will not be able to solve insane algorithms problems in 5 minutes, or build the next big social media platform from memory. However, you will have the ability to teach yourself anything, as well as the mindset to reach any goal you desire. I 100% recommend Actualize to anyone who wants to become software developer. -
Luke Verified via LinkedIn
Well Worth the Investment
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First off, some context: I graduated from college in 2015 and I had known that I wanted to transition into a tech career from business/marketing for about four years prior to enrolling in Actualize's online program. Actualize was a school I applied to among several others when I was looking at potential bootcamp options in January of 2020. I'll link that list here, if you want to view it: https://www.coursereport.com/best-coding-bootcamps
Now, what made me choose Actualize was a few things.
Staff of Educators
First off, something that had stuck out to me was that during my first call with them, it was stressed to me that their staff are unique in that they are not only experts at coding, but also skilled at teaching the concepts and educating students. This emphasis on the staff being educators wasn't something I was hearing from other bootcamps, but this was a big differentiator.
Sometimes in school, I've taken a class where the professor was really good at the subject but couldn't communicate it to others who didn't know how to do it; if you've ever been in that situation, that was what I was avoiding and I can confirm that Actualize's staff are very good at breaking down complicated concepts through their material and course.
Course Structure (Online)
The second reason I chose Actualize was their course's structure; in January, I was informed that because I was based in Dallas, I would have to take the class online (unless I moved to Chicago). Originally, I was really dead-set on taking a class in person, but by the time March 2020 rolled around...everything was closing anyway because of the pandemic. Still, I couldn't shake my instincts; even before the pandemic, Actualize was such a strong choice for me and my only hesitation was the online structure.
In response, Actualize was very transparent in answering all of my questions beforehand; I was able to join in-class to observe an online lecture and talk to the instructor for that lesson afterwards and get any questions answered. This transparency and ability to sit-in and see how the online class went made me more comfortable with the idea of going online, though the pandemic completely wiping out my chances of doing in-person anywhere also played a role in my decision. I understand this is a unique case, but I will vouch for Actualize's online and say that in my experience, they had proven their ability to deliver the material online just as effectively as they would in person.
Career Resources
Additionally, I was able to talk to their career advisor in two different calls where she helped me by letting me know how the class worked and emphasizing Actualize's career focus - which, after taking the class, I actually found to be better than anything in my 4-year university's offerings. Another thing I want to say is that none of these resources just "go away" after you graduate. Applying for jobs happens way earlier in the course, too, and every week the course has a built-in career aid to assist you in being in the mindset of getting hired. There's a real-world value in the course offering this that I wasn't seeing from other schools.
If you take Actualize, you'll have 5 weeks of pre-work to get you ready with programming basics, 12 weeks of class (mine was 11am-4pm everyday with a few hours of homework), and a post-graduate structure built around student success (including coding sessions to help students continue to build their portfolio out).
After taking the course, I can say that my experience was pretty good, especially in respect to the "educator" edge that Actualize informed me of; my cohort had a lead instructor and 3 TA's, with office hours after class every Tuesday and Thursday; sometimes, TA's would stay in office hours longer to help students figure things out. I'd say another plus, Actualize makes an effort to get each cohort a better experience than the one before it, so keep that in mind, too - they shift with the times. After every cohort graduates, Actualize asks what can be done to make the course better: I weighed in with that, too, so if you're reading this way after 2020...just know that they've likely just continued to refine their course for students.
Who Would I Recommend Actualize To?
My Actualize cohort had about 14 students in it and was fully online. I'd recommend Actualize to anyone in Chicago who'd be able to take the course in person (once it's available again). If you need to go online, Actualize is a very strong contender to go with - especially because their staff have that educator approach that is a necessity for learning, especially one in the online setting.
Before starting my course at Actualize, I had worked with HTML, CSS, Wordpress, and JS. If you have any kind of background in coding, this course is a great way to build those skills out and learn the bigger world these languages live in. If you don't, it's okay, but I will say it's like anything...the more experience you have doing something, the less of a shell-shock it will be. Nonstop learning/Googling your answers is your friend, being a developer is just knowing you won't know everything and not minding that, it's just constant and continuous growth. That's part of the "growth mindset" that Actualize really wants you to get into. If you're comfortable with this and know that tech is where you want to be, this course is for you.
On Jobs
- You'll use and learn Github in this course. Computer science majors are not learning this in universities, but this is a required skill for working anywhere as a developer.
- This course is less computer science theory, more "doing" the code - it's all repetition, but conceptual understanding is actually really heavily hit on, too.
- There's a "2 week lag" where you may not 100% understand new material until about 2 weeks after, as you catch up to everything.
- You'll build/present a capstone app by the end of the course (needs to have a database, backend, and frontend). It's really cool to pull all of what you do together.
- There is technical interview prep sessions in this course - if you want to start preparing right now, go onto Hackerrank.com and make an account, technical interviewers pull their questions from it.
- There's a whole world of jobs out there: backend, frontend, full-stack, UI/UX design, these skills you'll learn will make you worth the interviewing, but be really aggressive applying for jobs anyway. Focus on that portfolio.
- Nothing should be taken for granted. A job can't be guaranteed, but hey, employment can't be guaranteed after you find a job, either, it's just part of the game. What I will say is, this course is a great place to go to get in the right mindset for chasing your tech dreams - and there's people who change careers for this field without doing a bootcamp like this, so just look at this as a really great resource because that's what it is.
- Your Linkedin account will help you out a lot, their career support is there to help you. There's a very extensive career support program that is a part of the course, again - it is so much more extensive than what my 4-year college had. That, in combination with the coding/Github practice, it really good.
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Carl Verified via LinkedIn
Thoughtful Curriculum & Instruction
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A former co-worker told me about Actualize, and because it's in Chicago, I was super excited to take an in-person class... until COVID hit, of course. With only the online option remaining, I was admittedly pretty hesitant about the prospect of taking an online course for weeks on end, and that's because of how much I value the communal feel of a brick-and-mortar classroom experience. But Actualize immediately wiped that apprehension away.
The five weeks of self-guided pre-work (focused on Ruby) were thoughtfully and effectively scaffolded, and the live instruction that followed took that torch and ran with it. Our fearless instructor, Dani, was terrific: highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and humorous. And she did what all great teachers do: She let us make our own mistakes and learn from them. And then (after a brief, playful scolding), she'd guide us toward a better way of solving whatever problem we were trying to solve.
With Actualize, much like with any kind of intensive learning experience, you get out of it what you put into it. And from the beginning of the live coursework, Actualize provides a bunch of "deep dive" exercises (in addition to "regular" homework) that offer students the opportunity to put in that additional time and effort and get introduced to new concepts.
As an Actualize student, you won't become a master in every relevant, cutting-edge tool or concept, because that's impossible in 17 weeks. But you'll learn how to learn, and you'll become confident about your ability to pick up new languages and frameworks. In the software engineering world, that seems like an awfully important lesson, and one which Actualize has succeeded in imparting (with flying colors). -
Steven Chen Verified via GitHub
A helpful Course to start a coding career
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I needed to choose a coding bootcamp so that I can receive help on the basics of coding and develop projects while under the bootcamps supervision. I needed a guiding hand to point me into the right direction for my career. I choose Actualize not only so that I can acquire coding skills, but to also help me with getting a job within the industry. Actualize helped both improve my coding skills and gave me tips in the right direction of how to acquire a coding job. They also helped me with getting pass some of my issues and habits that I have been struggling with when looking for a job. For anyone who is unsure of themselves and need a hand in the right direction for their coding careers, Actualize is a great starting point to get pass the fears of job searching and wall of seemingly high learning curve. -
Ernesto Verified via LinkedIn
Great program, highly recommended!
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I enrolled in this bootcamp after I went to observe a class. That was the first thing that stood out to me about this program. The fact that they were unafraid to welcome you in to observe their classroom was unique during my bootcamp search. I was impressed by the passion, knowledge, and patience of the instructor Peter and when I heard that he was teaching the next cohort, I made sure to sign up. I was not disappointed because he expressed the same level of energy and interest in my cohort as he did in the previous one I went to observe. The full-stack approach to web development is evident in their curriculum and they teach you the fundamentals to go on and explore other tech stacks and feel confident about going forward into the job-hacking portion of the bootcamp. I loved the career counselor Lisa's great job-hacking tips that she shared with us on Sundays and I'm excited for this next phase of the program that will dedicate 100% focus to landing a job and further building your portfolio with group projects. They stick with you throughout and that's important, especially if you are new to the tech field or looking to level up! -
Nate Bierdeman Verified via LinkedIn
CEO
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This was an incredible experience! I highly recommend it to anyone looking to switch careers, or learn the specific technology stack offered in the course. My instructor was engaging, personable, helpful, and very knowledgable of the subject matter - a true educator through and through! A lot of thought went into how to structure the course, which is evident not only in the curriculum itself, but in the post-graduation career support as well. As demanding as it was to work full time and take this course, I found myself looking forward to the next class every day! -
Travell Verified via GitHub
Just Do It!
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If you are serious about learning how to code and/or becoming a software engineer/developer I highly recommend taking the plunge and joining this bootcamp. The curriculum emphasizes learning 'how to learn' new technologies and languages instead of focusing on what is most popular. You will also do a lot of test-driven development and pair programming throughout (I will also include that you won't realize how much of it you've done until the end). Peter and our TAs were not only accessible and caring but also smart AF. They're really good at identifying the goals, gaps, and opportunities within each individual. In addition, they're really good at building a super diverse, inclusive community of people you will be learning alongside. I can't emphasize enough how dope this bootcamp was for me.
