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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.
Just got done presenting my final project to a bunch of strangers and realized just how much I have learned through this bootcamp. The initial reason for me choosing to enroll in a bootcamp was because of my past experience in insurance sales and not just how much it sucked, but also how much that industry needed to invest in software engineering and web development. This led to experimenting with websites like Wix or Wordpress and eventually trying to code on my own.
I started out...
Just got done presenting my final project to a bunch of strangers and realized just how much I have learned through this bootcamp. The initial reason for me choosing to enroll in a bootcamp was because of my past experience in insurance sales and not just how much it sucked, but also how much that industry needed to invest in software engineering and web development. This led to experimenting with websites like Wix or Wordpress and eventually trying to code on my own.
I started out learning to code on my own through freeCodeCamp, CodeAcademy, Watch and Code, and basically every other free course out there. But after 6 months I just felt like I keep relearning the same things at a very slow pace. I looked into coding bootcamps because well, they are advertised every time I was watching coding videos and initially found FullStack. I applied and was accepted but only if I completed their pre-work. I didn't finish it so I went looking for other bootcamps and found Actualize. It worked out because it ended up being a lot cheaper, part-time, and found out it started in Chicago, which was something I thought would be an advantage.
Now that we are done with the class portion, I'm excited to start the apprenticeship and learning the job-hacking skills. I can honestly say a lot of what I learned could definitely be learned on your own. I had already made apps on my own and the first couple weeks were review for me. But that changed pretty quickly as we started to build way more complex applications than what I had been creating through the free online tutorials. We also learned a lot of skills that I couldn't have learned on my own. Like GitHub is something you definitely need to learn but to have to create branches off the project and collaborate with others was not only challenging but a lot of fun.
Ultimately, I'm very satisfied with attending Actualize. I got a better job just for attending it and using it as leverage for the position which is already paying off. Also, looking at the cost dollar per hour, it is still cheaper than most college courses. I would still like to learn more about computer science but that can be learned through a textbook or YouTube videos, which I plan to do.
For anyone looking into bootcamps, I would recommend doing some tutorials first and seeing how much you like debugging your code and if you can sit for hours in front of a computer. Don't worry if you're math-strong but I think logic definitely helps. Also, a lot of people have questions about financing and one piece of advice I can offer, is to ask your current credit card company for a promotional rate. Discover did this for me so I didn't have to open a ton of credit cards like what others suggested to get the promotional APR to pay for it.
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. 577 Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize on Course Report - you should start there!
Is Actualize legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 577 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 577 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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