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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 necessa...
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.
A long review of Actualize for those wanting all the details
Warning: small novel ahead... Like you, I was doing as much research on bootcamps that I could. There are so many out there now. How do I choose the right one? How will I know if I’ve learned enough? Does the bootcamp care about me or are they just trying to raise their statistics? I’m writing this review as I would’ve liked to see in my bootcamp search months ago. I’m going to go into a lot of detail about what the course looks like, and hopeful...
Warning: small novel ahead... Like you, I was doing as much research on bootcamps that I could. There are so many out there now. How do I choose the right one? How will I know if I’ve learned enough? Does the bootcamp care about me or are they just trying to raise their statistics? I’m writing this review as I would’ve liked to see in my bootcamp search months ago. I’m going to go into a lot of detail about what the course looks like, and hopefully help you decide if Actualize is right or wrong for you, and why. Here we go: My background:
I’ve worked in retail basically my entire life since I was 16. I’m 35 now. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life and never knew how to find the direction I wanted to take. My brother and friend did a bootcamp about 5 years ago that really opened my eyes to other possibilities outside of retail. But the biggest thorn in my side of making the leap was: can I really do this? Me, of such a lowly work background, with no real programming skills to speak of and a college degree that is pretty much meaningless? Actualize has shown me that the answer is yes. About the bootcamp: In about 17 weeks (including prework) I’ve gone from barely knowing how to open a file on a mac to being able to create my own full fledged application that I feel pretty confident about putting in my portfolio. You spend the first 5 weeks learning pure Ruby language mostly at your own pace - this is called the prework. Each week you are required to complete a number of small exercises (that become bigger as the weeks go on) which are then graded by a pre-work instructor. Two times a week the instructor will hold an office-hours zoom call to ask questions, and you can reach out to your instructor pretty much anytime through Slack (a messaging program used by people in tech). This part, for me, was the very beginning of things feeling real. But not fully real yet because this is done, more or less, at your own pace. In-class portion: It is about 12 weeks of daily class where you will be in your virtual classroom with your teacher and a TA. You pick up where you left off in some of the pre-work, then you start learning about the Ruby on Rails framework along with all the applications you’ll be using to be successful in the class. Every day, there is homework regarding the lecture of the day that is due before class begins the next day. Class is generally a small mini lecture on something new (you watch your instructor do an example), then you follow up doing it on your own. The beautiful thing about doing this kind of class over zoom is the ability to share screens. During the exercises, all students share their screens and the instructor and TA can “watch over the shoulder” of all students in the class. I really liked this feature. The culmination of the 12 weeks live instruction is a Capstone Project that you begin planning on week 5. This is meant to be a portfolio piece that you can show off to future employers. It incorporates everything you’ve learned. You spend a lot of time working on this (basically a month-ish of class time). During the 12 weeks, every Monday there is job-related work that is incorporated. From here, with the help of the job-hacking team, you will build up your LinkedIn, perfect your resume and start applying to jobs and asking for informational interviews. After the 12 weeks, there is one more week of classes dedicated to job searching. From there, you are mostly on your own, though you do have a community of people to fall back on for questions and advice. Languages/Skills Learned: Actualize teaches you a Ruby on Rails backend with a VueJS frontend. From what I’ve gathered from numerous small interviews I’ve done, these are not the most in-demand languages or frameworks. That isn’t to say that there are no jobs in this niche, but there are just less of them. The nice thing about Ruby and Rails are their overall simplicity to teaching and learning. It’s clear that these are picked to be taught because they are the easiest to digest in the short time that we have. However, I believe a lot of critics would say focusing on these particular languages isn’t the best use of your time due to their lack of popularity, and that is a fair argument. Actualize believes that once you pick up these languages, you can teach yourself almost any language. After 17 weeks, I would agree with that sentiment. Why pick Actualize? I picked Actualize because I felt they were the most welcoming and the most comforting bootcamp I talked to. I truly feel that my instructor, my TA, and the job-hacking team are all people that legitimately care about me and my success and want to help me get there. It feels warm. To me, that is a big deal. The sense of community and camaraderie I felt among people in my cohort is huge, and though most bootcamps will give you this feeling, Actualize gives it to you just a little bit more. Another benefit is that there is a lot of discussion about not only the technical challenges we all will be facing leaving the bootcamp, but also the mental challenges. I appreciate these lectures and discussions because mental pressure in web development is a real thing and I feel the precursor we received to these issues will help me deal with it. Closing: In short, I felt my time and money was well spent enrolling in this bootcamp. I feel I have the initial skills needed to begin working in a completely new field. I have a large network of top-quality people and friends to support me. These are all of the things I didn’t have before, and for that, this guy from the retail world is grateful. TL;DR: Actualize cares about you and your success and treat you like family. You get a lot of resources and support throughout the bootcamp. Though the languages might not be the most relevant, you’ll still be equipped to start applying to jobs.
I decided to join Actualize because I wanted to get into the coding world and make a career out of it. With the help of this bootcamp I feel prepared to enter in a junior developer role. During the pre-work they teach you the basics of coding and it is self-paced. After 5 weeks of pre-work you start the live classes. The live classes is 12 weeks and they teach you all about the frontend and backend of making an app. It is Ruby/React based which is a nice easy start when you come in knowi...
I decided to join Actualize because I wanted to get into the coding world and make a career out of it. With the help of this bootcamp I feel prepared to enter in a junior developer role. During the pre-work they teach you the basics of coding and it is self-paced. After 5 weeks of pre-work you start the live classes. The live classes is 12 weeks and they teach you all about the frontend and backend of making an app. It is Ruby/React based which is a nice easy start when you come in knowing little about coding. Overall it was an amazing experience and I definitely would recommend this bootcamp to anyone that asks "What coding bootcamps are worth it?"
If you are someone who is new to coding and unsure of which way forward is best for you, look no further because Actualize is the BEST COURSE AVAILABLE. I could not more highly recommend this bootcamp as the overall experience was amazing and it has prepared me thoroughly for my new career as a software developer/engineer. Prior to joining Actualize, I was completely new to coding and slogging through Youtube tutorials and other self-learning materials but didn't feel that my learning tr...
If you are someone who is new to coding and unsure of which way forward is best for you, look no further because Actualize is the BEST COURSE AVAILABLE. I could not more highly recommend this bootcamp as the overall experience was amazing and it has prepared me thoroughly for my new career as a software developer/engineer. Prior to joining Actualize, I was completely new to coding and slogging through Youtube tutorials and other self-learning materials but didn't feel that my learning trajectory was on the right path. I had actually joined a different bootcamp but had a terrible experience that lasted 3 days before dropping as their material was more advanced than advertised and my teacher there was not welcoming or helpful. Soon after, I found Actualize and the reality could not be more starkly different. Their application process was very straightforward, and Actualize was extremely transparent with their curriculum. The pre-course work with Kevin was vital to creating a great base of coding fundamentals, and the live course with Brian exceeded all of my expectations. Brian organized the class content perfectly and was extremely attentive to each individual student's needs. He took my cohort from writing loops in Ruby to making full-stack web apps, and I truly feel comfortable using Rails and React to create web apps. Don't waste anymore time on your coding journey and join Actualize now!
I decided to give Actualize a chance after my brother took this coding BootCamp. I felt like this was one of the better programs when compared to my other options. Overall it was a great experience. In total, it's about 18 weeks long because they have you do pre-course work that is all self-paced for about 4-6 weeks prior to your official start date. I think this is amazing because it gets you prepared with the basics of coding. It usually consisted of 3-4 video lectures (5-10min/each) d...
I decided to give Actualize a chance after my brother took this coding BootCamp. I felt like this was one of the better programs when compared to my other options. Overall it was a great experience. In total, it's about 18 weeks long because they have you do pre-course work that is all self-paced for about 4-6 weeks prior to your official start date. I think this is amazing because it gets you prepared with the basics of coding. It usually consisted of 3-4 video lectures (5-10min/each) daily with practice problems. The actual course covered backend and frontend development very well. I just wish they explained some syntax/logic a bit better on the front end. It also would've been nice if we spent a bit more time learning how to make our web apps more appealing with Bootstrap, CSS, or Tailwind. Of course, these are all things you can teach yourself outside of the course so it's not a deal breaker. For the job assistance, it's pretty average you get resume help, how to find jobs, and interview prep.
I entered Actualize Coding Bootcamp with high expectations, having been referred by two former alumni, and I can confidently say that my experience exceeded every anticipation. The only regret I have is not joining sooner! From the curriculum to the instructors and career services, Actualize has proven to be a game-changer in my journey towards web development.
The curriculum at Actualize is nothing short of superb. The pace at which I learned was astonishing, and the dept...
I entered Actualize Coding Bootcamp with high expectations, having been referred by two former alumni, and I can confidently say that my experience exceeded every anticipation. The only regret I have is not joining sooner! From the curriculum to the instructors and career services, Actualize has proven to be a game-changer in my journey towards web development.
The curriculum at Actualize is nothing short of superb. The pace at which I learned was astonishing, and the depth of knowledge I gained in such a short time is a testament to the effectiveness of their teaching methods. The instructors played a pivotal role in this accelerated learning journey. Kevin, who guided me through the prework, Amanda as the lead instructor, and the TAs, Kevin and Luke, were nothing short of phenomenal. Their dedication to student success was evident in their willingness to go above and beyond to help with any challenges or roadblocks.
What truly sets Actualize apart is the unwavering support system provided by the entire team. In moments of doubt and imposter syndrome, I found solace in voicing my concerns to the instructors, teaching assistants, and career advisor. No matter how many times I reached out, they were not only responsive but also incredibly supportive and encouraging. The genuine care and personalized attention I received helped me put my fears into perspective, fostering an environment where growth and overcoming challenges were not only possible but expected.
I am coming out of Actualize with a robust foundational knowledge that goes beyond just web development—it's a skill set I can use to learn new technologies and adapt to the ever-evolving tech landscape. While the journey was not without its challenges, the incredible support system of instructors, teaching assistants, and career advisors made all the difference. I wholeheartedly recommend Actualize to anyone looking to enter a coding bootcamp with a strong and nurturing support system, setting the stage for long-term success in the field of web development. My time at Actualize has been not only educational but also empowering, and I am incredibly thankful for the enriching experience.
I enjoyed my time at Actualize and especially liked my instructors. I switched from the night class to the day class due to a personal scheduling info and both Kat and Amanda were thoughtful teachers who helped guide you toward solving problems on your own. The curriculum covers both backend and frontend technologies and bounces back and forth between them which really helps build on ideas gradually rather than doing all one followed by the other. While I do feel more confident in my abi...
I enjoyed my time at Actualize and especially liked my instructors. I switched from the night class to the day class due to a personal scheduling info and both Kat and Amanda were thoughtful teachers who helped guide you toward solving problems on your own. The curriculum covers both backend and frontend technologies and bounces back and forth between them which really helps build on ideas gradually rather than doing all one followed by the other. While I do feel more confident in my ability to pickup new languages, frameworks, etc., I do wish that the course spent a bit more time teaching some of the other popular coding languages. The career counselors and touching base regularly has been incredibly helpful for preparing a resume and getting ready for job interviews. I look forward to the continued career support and landing a job with my class experience!
Software Engineer • Graduate • Web Development • Online
Verified by GitHub
Jan 05, 2024
Overall Experience
Instructors
Curriculum
Job Assistance
Worth it.
I did a lot of boot camp research, and immediately got good vibes from Actualize. Their website was the most transparent, with the cost, curriculum, and ethos displayed openly (whereas many boot camps require your contact info or a phone call to learn about the tuition rates). Their professed dedication to teaching you how to continue teaching yourself post-graduation was what pushed me further toward Actualize, and they definitely delivered on that promise! Our instructor, Amanda, wa...
I did a lot of boot camp research, and immediately got good vibes from Actualize. Their website was the most transparent, with the cost, curriculum, and ethos displayed openly (whereas many boot camps require your contact info or a phone call to learn about the tuition rates). Their professed dedication to teaching you how to continue teaching yourself post-graduation was what pushed me further toward Actualize, and they definitely delivered on that promise! Our instructor, Amanda, was engaging, smart, funny, and always went to distance necessary to answer questions and ensure comprehension. I was also surprised to find out that I could finance the cost (through a third party) easily, at a reasonable interest rate, and without even being employed at the time of application. I am now- I got my first engineering job 2 weeks before graduating from the boot camp.
I have been learning coding prior to joining the bootcamp for almost a year, but I didn't have direction in how to learn the material. With thousands of different tutorials and guides online, I didn't know where to start or go next. Actualize has provided me with a knowledge of what to learn and has taught me different libraries and frameworks(rails, react.js, vue.js, flask). The instructor I had, made the experience fun and easily graspable. The job assistance coach provided a wealth of...
I have been learning coding prior to joining the bootcamp for almost a year, but I didn't have direction in how to learn the material. With thousands of different tutorials and guides online, I didn't know where to start or go next. Actualize has provided me with a knowledge of what to learn and has taught me different libraries and frameworks(rails, react.js, vue.js, flask). The instructor I had, made the experience fun and easily graspable. The job assistance coach provided a wealth of knowledge which I didn't even know I needed. While the curriculum doesn't teach you algorithmic problems, it does provide enough knowledge to start your career and to continue teaching yourself after graduation.
A Fantastic Start to Coding with Actualize Bootcamp!
I recently finished the coding bootcamp at Actualize, and it was an amazing experience. I had zero coding background, and I was worried about understanding everything, but Actualize turned out to be the perfect fit. The teaching style at Actualize is spot on. They start from the basics and explain everything really clearly. Our instructor was not only knowledgeable but also patient, and the classes were interesting and easy to follow. Even though some of my classmates had more experience...
I recently finished the coding bootcamp at Actualize, and it was an amazing experience. I had zero coding background, and I was worried about understanding everything, but Actualize turned out to be the perfect fit. The teaching style at Actualize is spot on. They start from the basics and explain everything really clearly. Our instructor was not only knowledgeable but also patient, and the classes were interesting and easy to follow. Even though some of my classmates had more experience than me, everyone was friendly and always ready to help I never felt left behind or intimidated, and I enjoyed getting to know everyone in my cohort. The days went by faster than I expected and the breaks every hour were just right, keeping the pace comfortable. The community feel was great, and it's not just about learning but also building connections for the future. Choosing Actualize was a smart move for me. I gained valuable skills, and I feel confident about starting my career in coding. If you're starting with no coding experience like me, Actualize is a fantastic choice. It's a supportive and enjoyable place to learn. Highly recommended!
For anybody who's on the fence about this school, i highly recommend it. From the beginning they were very helpful in explaining every detail and help anyone in wanting to make a transition into the coding world. The course itself was so very intense but also cool, our teacher Amanda was awesome. She was really good at explaining and letting us be hands on and actually code, instead of just theory and reading about it. I could go on and on about all the pluses, but this is definitely the...
For anybody who's on the fence about this school, i highly recommend it. From the beginning they were very helpful in explaining every detail and help anyone in wanting to make a transition into the coding world. The course itself was so very intense but also cool, our teacher Amanda was awesome. She was really good at explaining and letting us be hands on and actually code, instead of just theory and reading about it. I could go on and on about all the pluses, but this is definitely the best bootcamp out there and i highly recommend for anyone looking to join one.
I spent over 6 months looking for a full-stack coding bootcamp, and this one is the real deal. It is fully remote in a cohort setting with daytime or nights/weekend options. My instructor was a magical coding fairy, she was competent, funny, and able to keep all 15 of us engaged in our virtual setting. We learned more in 4 months than I could teach myself in 3 years. They have career coaching designed into the curriculum as well. Bootcamps are time-intensive and expensive, but I truly be...
I spent over 6 months looking for a full-stack coding bootcamp, and this one is the real deal. It is fully remote in a cohort setting with daytime or nights/weekend options. My instructor was a magical coding fairy, she was competent, funny, and able to keep all 15 of us engaged in our virtual setting. We learned more in 4 months than I could teach myself in 3 years. They have career coaching designed into the curriculum as well. Bootcamps are time-intensive and expensive, but I truly believe that I received the best value at this bootcamp, and the return on my investment will be well worth it.
This bootcamp was everything I was hoping it would be. It's my last day at the course today and all I can say is that I am so glad I made this choice. I was worried about whether or not this would give me the information I need to get a job, but now I know that they truly do set you up for success. Also my teacher, Amanda was amazing! She was great at teaching the material, was able to make it fun, and was flexible if I ever ran into problems. My classmates also only made the experience ...
This bootcamp was everything I was hoping it would be. It's my last day at the course today and all I can say is that I am so glad I made this choice. I was worried about whether or not this would give me the information I need to get a job, but now I know that they truly do set you up for success. Also my teacher, Amanda was amazing! She was great at teaching the material, was able to make it fun, and was flexible if I ever ran into problems. My classmates also only made the experience better. This was a great decision not only for learning Full Stack Web Development, but also for the people involved!
The best part is the individual attention you get, and the ability to have your questions answered. They are great not just for learning coding but provide amazing support with your job search.
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 32 in-person coding bootcamps with campuses in the U.S. 3 Reasons to Go to In-Person Coding Bootcamp In-person learning may ...
Oh Summer, one of the best seasons of the year! While it s a time to relax, bask in the sun, and plan trips with family and friends, summer is also an awesome time to learn. If you re a current student, teacher, or professional looking to learn to code, a summer bootcamp is a great opportunity to learn to code in a short time frame . Various coding bootcamps offer summer courses to help you launch a new career in tech. Check out the following courses to help you #learntocode this Summer 2024. ...
The landscape of online coding bootcamps is vast ranging from 30/month subscriptions to full-time bootcamps that cost around 20,000 . And many online coding programs now offer Income Share Agreements (ISA), which adds another layer of complexity when comparing online coding bootcamp costs. In addition to flexibility, remote code bootcamps cost less than in-person bootcamps the average online bootcamp tuition is 11,118 (and lasts 15 weeks) while in-person bootcamp tuition ...
This November has been super busy in the immersive coding education world, and at Course Report! We read about how Amazon s new headquarters will impact the coding bootcamps in New York City, we celebrated successful coding bootcamp grads, we were sad to hear that a school is closing, we heard advice for being successful at bootcamp, and found out about new initiatives to improve diversity in tech! Plus we look at new schools and campuses around the world and discuss our favorite ...
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 online course (+ photos) compared with the in-person course, why no programming experience ...
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 real clients through projects, internships, and apprenticeships. These opportunities can ...
Luke was ready to make the transition from chemical engineer to software engineer, but wasn’t ready to quit his full-time job. He found part-time coding bootcamp Anyone Can Learn to Code in San Francisco, learned to code while working full-time, then got real-world experience in his apprenticeship with The Difference Engine - an opportunity that ACLTC guarantees all its grads. Luke tells us the secrets to managing his time, the immense benefits of doing an apprenticeship, ...
If you re determined to learn to code, there are a lot of factors you should consider when deciding how to accomplish your goal. What sort of budget do you have for the tools you might need? How much free time do you have, or are you willing to make? Do you want to quit your job and learn full-time? Another factor to consider is your own style of learning. Kassia Shishkoff of Anyone Can Learn to Code in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, outlines these learning styles for us! Whether ...
Thinking about applying to Anyone Can Learn to Code ? The part-time Chicago programming bootcamp just opened a new campus in San Francisco and is a great option for career-oriented bootcampers who can't quit their day jobs quite yet. But not everyone is accepted into Anyone Can Learn to Code , so what can you do to ace the interview? We're covering the Anyone Can Learn to Code interview and application process with ...
Chicago is currently home to a growing lot of coding bootcamp and web immersion programs tasked with preparing students for a lucrative career in web development. Courses providers in Chicago have something for everyone with intensive programs in JavaScript, Ruby and Rails, Java and .NET. There is a healthy selection of full-time courses as well as part-time bootcamps, workshops, and night and weekend courses for those looking to take their career to the next level. According ...
While quitting your job and diving headfirst into your coding education can yield impressive results, we also understand that not everybody can commit to a full-time, 12-week programming bootcamp. Jobs, school, families - life, in general, can prevent that kind of commitment. For all the students who can t give 40 hours a week to a code school, we re outlining some of the best part-time web development bootcamps around. With a variety of price points and locations to choose from, ...
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?
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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