App Academy Reviews
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Hiro
Best place to learn to code and become a web dev.
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AppAcademy - the best place to learn to code, pair-programming and become a software developer.
Pros:
Great resources and environment - Curriculum is designed day by day and it is clear what to learn and practice every single day throughout the course, and it will lead you to be able to build the full stack application by the week of 10. If you get stuck (especially debugging), you can ask TAs and circle leader for help anytime, and they are experienced, welcoming and awesome to work with!
Cons:
Workload and assessment pressure - Even though the course ends 6pm, there are a lot of readings and homework everyday. If you can't commit 70 - 90 hours a week, you might feel behind or not ready for the assessment. Failing the assessment twice means having to leave the program, so there are a lot pressures to handle.
Context:
I attended May cohort 2017. Prior to the actual program, I attended the 2 weeks program called Jumpstart, that teaches the basics of Ruby language to pass the border of admission. After receiving acceptance, I went through the online a/A preflight materials called Alpha course for about a month. Once the actual course starts, time flies so fast. I gave up a lot of things on weekends for the course, but making apps and solving problems is exciting and I currently enjoy working on the flex project with my awesome classmates.
I could have done this much without a/A. -
Spencer Chan
App Academy Review
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I entered App Academy in the May 2017 cohort, and it has been a great experience. The courseload is heavy and requires a more than full time commitment. I spent many days past 6 PM, especially during the project days towards the end of the curriculum, but I learned thoroughly all the topics covered.
We covered the fundamentals of programming to creating higher level applications and complete products. The workload was immense at times, but the reward matches the time put in. The instructors are extremely helpful and qualified, and are great people.
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Alex
Incredibly challenging/excruciating/rewarding/learning experience
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App Academy has life changing potential. I think we can all agree on that given that the program offers to make you eligible for Software Developer jobs in the span of three months. There are some caveats though. I'll address the negatives of the program before I delve into why I think it is a fantastic program that everyone should consider.
The a/A lifestyle is not for everyone. Whether you are invited to Jumpstart, or make it through to receiving an offer, it becomes quite apparent that a/A does its best to recruit the best, brightest, and youngest to their program. Completing this program fortified my passion for coding. If you can't picture yourself coding from 9am-6pm (with a lovely 75 minute lunch) and then doing homework until 10 or 11PM every night, then you may want to reconsider. The material itself is not super, super dense, there's just an absolute ton that they shove at you in 8 weeks. In essence, be ready for your lifestyle to be a/A all the time. Myself, and a lot of my cohort mates would take Saturday off and play basketball Sunday mornings - so I want to be transparent when I say that although it consumes your entire life, there are patches of time to catch your breath.
The range of students also varies considerably, but by the end of the program everyone is committed to finishing together. One fact that I heard a lot, yet still surprised me was how diverse the cohorts are. Keep in mind software engineering is some really hard stuff. Learning Javascript in one week is not for the weak, so it makes sense that a majority of attendees come from prestigious schools. If that makes you wary, don't be. We had students with backgrounds from MIT, Standford, Princeton, dozens of mechanical and electrical engineers, former employees at firms such as Google, Goldman Sachs, Mckinsey. But we also had multiple people who failed college, only attended community college, had never held a job more than 25k. I think youre starting to get the picture. The people that have a limited background in tech/engineering/coding do typically do better but that's true with most endeavors in life so I hope that doesn't deter anyone reading this. What's vitally more important is being flexible and having a lot of drive. There's not a person above 30 in our group, and it makes sense given that a lot of us dropped everything to come to a city with the highest rents in the country and a full-time curriculum to learn in a matter of months. It's overwhelming, and they specifically design it that way. Again, I want to repeat that because people will bash a/A for stopping to help them when they're struggling, or going too quickly through the material, but they design the course to make it feel like you're always inches away from drowning. They don't have time to make it easy because you're competing with unemployed young guns with a fancy CS degree and boatload of knowledge.
Their contract sounds strict, but when it comes down to it they really want to help you find a job. If they had any loop holes they'd be exposed and taken advantage of. You can't offer someone a free curriculum without being sure that they will do everything they can to go out and get that job upon completion. Again, you have to be ready to work and that is even truer during the job search curriculum. It's also worth mentioning, because people read too many marketing materials and get a ridiculous thought in their heads, that they will make 100k in 12 weeks. There are probably 2-5 people in our graduating cohort (out of 70) that could obtain that. The majority of graduates take 90 days to find a job so take that into account as you're doing your preparation.
A few parts of my a/A experience that I am forever grateful for are the relationships that you make and the material that you learn. It's actually pretty easy to show up to a place that day in and day out keeps trying throw more and more work on top of you. The biggest reason is because you develop extremely close relationships with a lot of people as you tackle trial and tribulations together. In the end, you enter the job market with a network of 1000+ a/A grads that know everything you went through. Don't underestimate the people in your cohort. A lot of us all came in with the same mentality of buckling down and getting the job. Like actual software development, you need to rely on your team in order to achieve.
Every day is long and tiring. Every day will waver your self-confidence and raise your level of impostor syndrome to unprecedented heights. But every day is also extremely riveting and fulfilling. You will do and create things you wouldn't imagine. You find a way to get it done, and then you do it. That's engineering. That's innovation.
Any questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I was once in your shoes but somehow after twelve weeks of telling myself to take it one day at a time, I finally emerged as a software developer - and know that you can too.
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TIANYU DUAN
App Academy Review
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App Academy is one of the most difficult programs I have ever attended. Not only does app academy tell you all the fundamentals to succeed in the tech industry, it also teaches you how to learn a lot in a quick amount of time. If you do get in, you not will not much time to do anything else besides program for the next 3 months. It is one hell of a journey. There could be a lot of improvements to app academy's infrastructure, but what made my experience amazing was the people. You will meet tons of individuals with different backgrounds and places in life, but what makes you guys similar is how hardworking everyone is. There is lots of learn in a/A both interpersonal interactions in pair programming and software engineering knowledge. It is not for everyone, Best of luck if you do attend!
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Terrence
Be prepared
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I attended App Academy in May 2017. It is a 13 week course that trains you to become a web developer through their rigorous program. I came into the program knowing little to no coding. I attended jumpstart before hand which was a free prep course that trained students for the interview process. The overall process was a positive one. From week 1-9, the curriculum is a lot to take in. Prepare for a lot of long days and nights especially if you are new to coding. The amount of knowledge that you need to take in can seem crazy at times, but if you put in the time and effort, the experience is rewarding. It would've been hard for me to believe if someone told me that I could make a website at the end of nine weeks. But it is totally doable, and if you want to get into programming, I don't know a better place than App Academy.
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Ade
Hard But Rewarding - a/A
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App Academy has been great so far in terms of having a structured environment for learning and partially teaching yourself to code. TAs provide assistance along this journey as well as classmates. It's a lot of work and can be stressful at times but other classmates and TAs provide a great support system. Material taught in the curriculum is good as it's adapted to the current trends in the industry. It's very intensive but if you have the determination, you get through the course and attain the end goal of starting a new career in tech.
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Geewon Lee
Intense yet rewarding
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This intense 13+ weeks bootcamp has changed my life completely. Before starting, just know basic Ruby and Javascript, I didn't think I would be able to create wek/mobile applications on my own. However, after completing the course, I am able to create a full stack application on my own and further, I am able to learn a completely new stack and still produce a fully functional application. They don't spoon feed you the material but they make sure that you are capable of adapting to new technology. However, job search could be better.
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Student
Definitely worth it
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App Academy gives you the tools needed to change your life. The first thing to get out of the way is that the course is not easy. The 80-100 hours a week that they estimate you will spend on the course is not an exaggeration. You can easily expect to spend 9am-10pm 7 days a week at App Academy, but it is worth it in the end. The course takes so much time out of your life because they want to give you everything that will make you successful in the world of software development after graduation. They not only give you the coding tools, but they also spend copious amounts of time teaching you how to succeed in the interview stage and really show your self off!
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Dave
The Right One for Me
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I chose App Academy over other available boot camps, including Hack Reactor, for two primary reasons.
The Job Placement program and tuition plan create a strong alignment with student interests. I came from working in small business finance, and one of the design choices we worked to popularize is royalty based financing, where the payback to investors is based on business performance. The same is true at App Academy where you pay tuition based on your first year's salary. This gives App Academy a strong and clear incentive to prepare you for the current job market in software development.
I also picked a/A because of their Jump Start program, a two week evening class in Ruby. I took the course in San Francisco. It uses test driven problem solving and Repl.it to make picking up Ruby a straightforward and pleasant exercise. I had such a good time learning Ruby this way, that I decided to take the full course.
No regrets. -
Torah Oglander
Not Easy But Doable
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tldr; I learned a ton, and I did get a great job, but not in San Francisco.
I was in the November 2016 cohort at App Academy. I was very motivated, and did a lot of self-study before I arrived. In fact, my situation was a bit unique because I had intended to join an earlier cohort, but then had to drop out after just a couple of days due to having a broken finger. That false start may have given me a false sense of security, because I had a good idea of what the first week or two would be like.
I knew that we would cover a lot of material quickly, and I was very excited to accelerate my learning. The first half of the curriculum focuses on Ruby, data structures, SQL and Rails. In my opinion that section of the curriuclum is pretty polished. Concepts were presented clearly and the work was challenging, but mostly doable. However, the idea that you might need to put in 80hrs + per week was no joke. The more time you put in, the more you get out of this course.
The second half of the curriculum was more focused on front end development including JavaScript, React and Redux. This part of the curriculum was not as well put together, and now that I have a deeper understanding of how React, Node, Redux, and Webpack all work together, I feel that some parts of that section could have been presented a little more clearly.
Then comes a section of the curriculum where you build some projects. These were really fun ideas, but unfortunately seemed a bit too rushed. Now that I am working as a professional software developer, though, I also appreciate the pace that we were pushed at, since that was good practice for a genuine job.
During the job search, I learned that some students paid a slightly lower upfront fixed fee rather than a percentage of their first year salary. In retrospect that would have been a good option for me, since I was not 100% determined to end up in San Francisco. Yes S.F. is a great town to live and work in if you are a software engineer or developer, but the competition for entry-level positions is pretty intense there. I had much better luck looking for work outside of San Francisco.
After I started getting offers in another city, staff from App Academy still helped coach me on how best to negotiate with my new employer. They showed genuine concern for my career outcome, and that is why I give them 4 stars for job-search assistance. They don't really help you find a job, though. Instead, they just help you get ready to go find one yourself.
All in all it was a great learning experience. I met amazing, talented, and motivated people who inspired me and helped me successfully transition my career. I am pretty happy with the outcome of my App Academy experience.
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Amy
Stats Don't Lie
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When I told my parents I was interested in pursuing software development, that I found a good program that boast awesome stats, they (and everyone else I knew) was pretty skeptical. To be honest, even I was skeptical. But, I took a leap of faith and am so glad I did.
App Academy is a boot camp (seriously). You'll average 60-80+ hours a week grinding through problems and concepts. You will have little to no social life. You will dream (okay, have nightmares) about code.
In exchange, you will become a better critical thinker and problem solver than you ever thought possible. You'll become acquainted with very exceptional people, and your mind will be blown away by people's genius. At the end of the long and challenging road, you'll walk away with a six figure salary, and will get paid to just solve puzzles all day.
All in all, App Academy was the single best decision I've made for myself as a full-fledge adult. -
Ryan Odening
Best Decision I've Made
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The deferred payment model is unparalleled, and it baffles me that other bootcamps have still not caught on. It really helps you feel/understand that they are on your side to get you a job! A high-paying job at that! I just got hired, actually, by a company I really enjoy with an offer I really loved!
Great environment, great people, a ton to feel proud of, great results! What more could you ask for? -
Benjamin N
App Academy's Bootcamp Prep is awesome!
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This program is a must if you have little to no coding knowledge! Over the 4 week course period App Academy gives you all the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed. You have access to all notes, practice problems, solutions, and explanations ONLINE! This really helped me study at home and focus while I was in class. Also the instructors Alvin and Chase rock! Super knowledgeable and patient. They're always looking to help and make sure you understand the material. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to get into coding. -
Monique
Best Boot Camp Prep Course
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I started the BootCamp Prep Course after debating whether to apply straight to App Academy or not. It was definitely the best decision ever. The course really shapes your coding skills (especially when you have only a basic coding knowledge like me) and allows you to be ready for any Coding Boot Camp interview you might want to take when taking it seriously.
Boot Camp Prep is really challenging and the tools and 'tips' provided by the instructors are really valuable. I haven't regretted it for a second! -
Deveren Fogle
Awesome Bootcamp Prep: Especially for newbies!
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I have to admit that going down the path of changing careers is daunting, and really scary. Learning how to code adds another layer of stress. So I really liked how App Academy began our course by stressing how they understood how difficult it can be, but not to give up. It seems so trivial, but for a team of "techies" to believe it's such an important topic to cover shows their compassion in teaching people of all skill levels. That put me at ease early in the course.
I'm a beginning coder, with very limited experience so I had a lot of catching up to do to prepare for my bootcamp interviews. However, after these last four weeks in the bootcamp prep course, I am confident that I can tackle most problems, and for those I don't know, at least show my interviewer that I'm able to think like a software engineer by fully explaining my thought process.
I've learned so much more in these 4 weeks than I ever would have been able to on my own in the same amount of time. I simply would not have been prepared to interview, now, however, I'm confident that I'll be accepted into one of the top bootcamps this coming fall. It's not easy, and I really liked how our teacher, Alvin, pulled no punches in forcing us to be clear in our code writing and explanation. It was like being in school all over again, but at a much higher level.I fully recommend App Academy's Bootcamp Prep, especially for those career changers who need the skills necessary to succeed, not only in interviewing for a top bootcamp. But those interested in succeeding once they are in!
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Tim E
aA Bootcamp Prep Review
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I took the App Academy Bootcamp Prep course and really got a lot out of it. I couldn't imagine applying for a top tier coding school without having taken this course. The only experience I had coding previously was from a book about introductory programming. There’s no way I would’ve been prepared for an interview just from the book alone. One piece of advice for how to succeed in bootcamp prep is to take the pre-course work seriously. It’s important to hit the ground running because one lesson builds on the next. Another thing to remember is how important practicing coding in your free time is. Watching videos and attending lectures helps, but the best way to improve is by sitting in front of a computer, coding and debugging programs. It’s even better to practice with a partner in your free time.
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wancong zhang
Review of AA
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Overall, AppAcademy was a great experience because despite of how difficult and sometimes unpleasant it is, it gets the job done. You can’t beat the deal of becoming a full-stack engineer earning 100K after merely 3 months of training.
Campus - I attended the campus in NYC. It has great facility. Obviously there are enough computers for everyone, and there are private rooms for people to do phone screens and whatnot.
Teachers - In general they are responsive, knowledgeable, and dedicated. However, sometimes some of them may act impatient and annoyed at you, which is simply unprofessional and immature given their profession.
Curriculum - The readings are easy to comprehend (until you get to the React/Redux part, which is not well explained). Video content is delivered clearly. The only bad part I can think of is that it is too fast. Sure, the majority of the students still manage to graduate and get high-paying jobs; but if the course had went 10% slower I think the learning experience would be much better, at least for me.
AppAcademy is not perfect, but it is still a great deal for what it offers. I would definitely recommend it to people who want to transition into software development.
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Tony W
Quite the Journey
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Hm, how to describe App Academy? For starters, it's hard. Certainly the most challenging course I've taken. Coming from a non-tech background certainly did me no favors, either, but it is certainly doable. That said, I do wish to stress to applicants that the entire process is a huge commitment. Coding and learning for 12+ hours a day takes its toll and I did not take into account the burnout. I felt truly worn out within the first 2 months. Taking care of yourself is paramount, as the 13 week program is quite the marathon in itself.
That said, going through this program allows you to learn so much. It would have taken me so much longer had I chosen to self-study to get to where I am now. And there's still so much to learn, but I feel properly equipped to get through the job search that soon awaits me.
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Robert Keith
grueling but rewarding.
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Pros: Learned a lot. Have a solid foundational knowledge that I can build off of. Learned how to teach myself. Have a greater appreciation for computer science. Built some cool projects. Job support. Deferred Tuition.
Cons: Pace is grueling. You literally won't have time to do anything. multiple 100 hour weeks. A few moments of second-guessing your attendence. More than a few moments of desperation / depression.
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Tu Ngo
The best bootcamp
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App Academy Curriculums are so awesome. You can not only learn about software but also practice for job searching. These curriculums are always updated with new materials. Pair programming is the best part. You will understand faster and deeper when pair with a lot of partners. But it is quite intensive because you have to spend over 90 hours to program and study. Although this experience will provide you best skills for your career.
SPECIAL: Get a $250 tuition credit towards App Academy if you enroll with this link: https://www.appacademy.io/referral_redirect?hash=e07b704d2412e6fb -
person
Bootcamp prep review
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Winber Xu
You get what you put in
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It's a rough course and curriculum, but you get what you put in. Passing assessments and such does not mean you are geared towards success. It's going be difficult even past the 12 weeks of curriculum that they advertise, but they offer full support to everyone who has successfully passed the course and in job hunting. App Academy gives you a very strong foundation to work off of, but you still need to go that extra mile to be successful. Despite the challenging curriculum, it is a fair curriculum if you take the bootcamp seriously and treat as more than just a full-time job.
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Alex Bullen
My a/A experience
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Not for the faint of heart or limited of drive, but if you're looking for a program to teach you a whole lot about coding in not a lot of time, you could certainly do a lot worse. The staff is technically minded and eager to help and the deferred payment model aligns company goals with your success, but the hours are long and the processes can be exceedingly grueling at times. If you are considering a coding boot camp, put App Academy up at the top of that list.
If you are looking to get into a bootcamp but want to work on your coding skills first, I can also recommend their bootcamp prep course (either online or in-person). It will provide you some good coding fundamentals that will definitely give you a leg up, wherever you end up (it certainly did for me). -
Tony
It's been hell of a ride
App Academy has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. A packed schedule with weekly tests that could end your time short any week is not for the faint of heart. If you decide to attend App Academy make sure you mentally prepare for the adventure.
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Miles
Worth it
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App Academy was a really great experience. It's crazy to think how much I've learned in so little time. I learned more in the first couple weeks here than i did in months of learning on my own. It is very pair-programming focused, which really helps you develop the ability to talk about code and effectively communicate your technical thoughts. The people here are all awesome too.
App Academy really focuses on the skills you need to become a front-end developer. There is not a ton of theory taught, it is more applications based. The skills you will learn here are still very relevant for all of web-development, but just know you will be learning more front-end skills.
By the end of your time here, you really will be able to build your own applications, and do things you never thought you'd be able to 10 weeks prior. It is not easy, but if you like coding, it is honestly fun. Being able to geek out all day with other people rather than at home struggling to figure things out alone makes this a great experience. Just make sure when you start here you are prepared to put a ton of work in so that you can get the most out of it! -
Stephen
Great Program, But Make Sure It's Right for You
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This program is a lot of work. A standard day consists of a lecture in the morning, pair programming with new material during the day, and studying for the next day's material at night. There are weekly assessments, which if you fail two, you may be asked to leave the program. As such weekends are spent primarily studying for those assessments. A lot of the curriculum is provided as reading material or videos which you solo study over night.
This program isn't for everyone and if the above doesn't sound right for you, then this may not be the program for you.
If the above does sound good and you're willing to put in the time and effort, then App Academy is the best way to become a software developer. The curriculum is up-to-date and relevant for the industry, TAs and fellow students are available for support and assistance, and a/A provides an environment that allows you to focus on learning the material. If I'd tried to learn all of this on my own it would have taken me far more time and there's no way I would have been able to stay this focused on the material.
Overall attending App Academy was a great decision for myself and I appreciate everything I was able to learn in such a short amount of time.
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Sean P
App Academy is top notch!
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Going into App Academy, I heard good things about it, but I was not sure how it would impact me for the future. 12 weeks later, and I could see why App Academy is one of the best bootcamps in America. They have such a structured curriculum and great organization that feels top notch. From the lectures to content that they provide to the TA's that help out, a/A had something for me whenever I needed help.
So if you any of you have any different opinions about considering this place, I would say try it! I am glad I switched careers and going into development. It's not for the light hearted, and I would recommend that you should only do this if you have a passion for this field. It won't be easy, but in the end, you will thank yourself later.
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Yong
lots of work/stress but worth
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tldr: It's worth if you're willing to put in the work. The curriculum and TA's are pretty top notch. You will learn a LOT in a short period of time.
There are many reviews here already, so I'll do a FAQ thing for some of the questions I had when I was applying.
1. Is it really 90 hours per week worth of work?
Yep, at least for many of us. People's experiences here range from never programmed before app academy to having actual software development experience (rare). But I think it's safe to say for the majority of us, it took up all of our time during the week and (for me) weekends.
2. How to succeed?
Work hard. Come study in the office if you can, that way you can ask other people questions. Ask questions from TA's, your cohort-mates, etc.. Ask questions.
3. What are the students' backgrounds?
Most people fall in between professionals looking for a career change, or people straight out of college who decided they didn't want anything to do with their major. Everyone who made it through are extremely hard-working and smart.
4. What do you mean "made it through"?
You can be dismissed by failing too many assessments. It does put a tremendous amount of stress on the students, however, I feel like I wouldn't have been as motivated as I was without the assessment stress. I do wish they would change the assessment structure to be more project-like though.
5. Can I learn this stuff on my own? Aren't there tons of free material online for this?
Extremely difficult, impossible in this short amount of time (for me at least). The free resources that I used seemed to go from doing for loops to "hey now go make a project". It's very easy to run into a bug or a question that you can't figure out when learning on your own. It's also very easy to give up. You won't have TA's to ask questions or give you feedback. When I was trying to learn this on my own, it was like running through a wall. At least at a/A, you got like 60 other people running through the same wall with you and the TA's to help. -
Warlin
Awesome Course
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The instructors Alvin & Chase are simply amazing, they both deliver the material in a way where you can get understand it through plain english. Over the four weeks in Bootcamp prep, I was really insecure about my coding skills but towards the end it was a great boost to help me be confident in the way I asess problems. I really recommend this program if you're really serious about your career and getting into any bootcamp. a/A rocks!
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Brikend
bootcamp prep/ intro to javascript
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This is a great course to take if you'd like extra preparation before applying to the various programming bootcamps out there, but it's especially helpful when applying to App Academy.
The course is structured so that you get a sense of what the fullstack immersive program is like. There are assessments every Monday and Friday, and pair programming is a big part of the curriculum; you are given problem sets to work on with a newly assigned partner almost everyday. App Academy's immersive program is heavily pair-programming oriented, which is something that I really look forward to, so I love the fact that Bootcamp Prep gave us a sense of what that will be like.
I would also recommend this course to anyone who just wants to learn the fundamentals of the JavaScript programming language. The course is four weeks long, and by the very end you will feel comfortable enough with your knowledge of JS to take what you've learned and apply it elsewhere.
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Chris
Great Instruction
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I participated in the Boot Camp Prep course by App Academy. I had no coding experience before I started the program. Now, I am on my way to learning javascript and hopefully gaining admission to a highly selective coding Bootcamp.
Instructors, Alvin and Chase were very helpful and even stayed after class to answer questions from students. They care about their students and want us to be successful. The course moves fast and major effort is required for success.
Access to AppAcademy is limited outside of class time, so it is importaint that students find a distraction free place to study and reliable internet while taking the course. The money back guarantee makes me feel safe to learn a valuable new skill.
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David Sehl
Bootcamp Prep: A Great Intro to Programming
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Coming into the course I knew I had an interest in programming, but was unsure if I would be able to keep up knowing that I had zero coding experience prior to starting the course. These concerns dissapeared soon after beginning the Bootcamp Prep course. Our instructor, Alvin, did an excellent job of making sure each concept was fully understood before moving on to the next topic. It is extremely important that you understand why a certain solution works, and they did a great job of breaking down problems and solutions line by line. I had no idea that I would be able to learn so much in such a short period of time, and I can honestly say I am leaving the course confident in my ability to get into a top programming bootcamp. The course was challenging and rewarding. They are not lying when they say you are going to have to dedicate a lot more time than the two hours per day in class in order to get the most from the course, but if you take this on as a challenge you should have no problem spending time outside of class improving your skills. I would definitely recommend App Academy Bootcamp Prep to anyone considering a career in programming.
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Katarina
App Academy Delivers
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When I started looking at different boot camps I was already taking online open courseware classes. There were three main things I was looking for that I could not get self-teaching. The first was coding with other people - App Academy focuses heavily on pairing and you will pair for the majority of the day every single day for the first seven weeks. The second factor was having people actually look at and critique my code, as online code checkers really tell you nothing about code quality, only code correctness at best. This was addressed with pairing, TA code reviews, lectures on best practices, and studying the provided daily solutions. Lastly, I knew that I would seriously need help in the job search. This was the real kicker, as App Academy's tuition model of paying a percentage of your first year's salary really gave me confidence that I would be supported and pushed throughout the job search process. I'm happy to say that really was exactly my experience. On my own, I never would have pushed myself to apply so quickly and to so many places, but with App Academy's support I ended up nabbing a Software Engineer position I am super excited about in almost exactly three months after starting to apply, which is the average time. The stats are real! (Salary stats, too)
Overall I was very impressed with the structure of the program, so much is really thought through in advance. The admission process mirrors job search, and the tests serve not only to ensure you keep up with the pace but also are great preparation for timed coding challenges in interviews. I would definitely suggest studying a lot in advance and making sure you are strong in your fundamentals. The provided a/A material is really the bare minimum, I took CS50x and MIT 6.001x and would highly recommend them. If you are not prepared for the first weeks it is nearly impossible to catch up and I would say most people who fail out do so because they were not sufficiently prepared. Also, if you have sufficient time, I would recommend spending some time to learn algorithms in advance as you will have a ton of things on your plate during job search. -
Matthew Santamaria
App Academy = Entirely Worth It
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Truthfully, App Academy was one of the best decisions I personally have ever made - I feel very lucky to have attended. I am writing this days after having just accepted a job offer - the program really helped launch me and get me to this point, without a doubt. I attended a San Francisco cohort in 2016; I chose the program because I got the gut feeling it would be quite challenging and super high-quality, and this proved to be true. It is very hard work, and requires continuous persistence. Simultaneously, though, it was some of the most fun I ever had - you not only create a network, but more importantly you are simply taking a plunge into something new with a lot of bright people who are also starting this journey with you. I don't think I met one person who was really "cutthroat", everyone is eager and willing to help one another; this says a lot about a/A's screening process.
If you are reading this, a big concern you may need addressed is the tuition model and if this is "too good to be true". It is not. I paid my $5000 deposit, then App Academy invested a ton of time, energy, and resources into me until I found my job, several months after the program ended. They mean it when they say they are invested in you for the long haul. I feel like they believed in me and stuck with me, honestly. They were more than willing to work with me on my re-payment structure, because frankly after several months of searching your finances inevitably dwindle. BOTTOM-LINE: App Academy just doesn't want to get screwed, and you don't want to screw App Academy. They are a business and need to get paid, but they have mercy and understand your situation. Again, I just ended my job search so this is all fresh in my mind - trust me when I say a/A is a wise decision. -
Zachary Greathouse
A fantastic intro to programming
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A fantastic way to break into learning how to code. I had a great experience in this program. You aren't simply fed material to memorize to pass a test or interview. The curriculum and classroom environment are very much centered around making sure you understand the material.
One of the best things about the bootcamp was the instructors. The instructors were clearly knowledgable and passionate about programming. Also lectures were engaging, which is very important when trying to learn some of the more complicated material. The course not only provides a massive amount of practice problems, but also many resources to study to continue learning long after you have graduated.
Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. I grew very much as a person and as a student programmer. I am also proud to say that this program assisted me in being accepted into App Academy!
For anyone who is trying to become a programmer, I can't recommend this course enough.
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Bohdan
App Academy worked out 100% for me
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I chose to attend App Academy because they have one of most competitive admission processes in Bay Area and they help with the job search. The whole process took me almost a year (study for getting into, curriculum part, find a job).
I think the curriculum is structured very well, so you are learning new concepts step by step. Every day you are paired with different students for building new projects. Pair programming helps you to get a sense of working environment and get feedback on how you're doing.
I would recommend being overprepared during each and every step of App Academy - prep work, curriculum, assessments, algorithms, job search - overkill everything.
I just finished my job search and I'm pretty happy with results. App Academy worked out 100% for me. -
David F.
It wouldn't be my first choice. But AppAcademy isn't terrible either.
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App Academy was definitely a life changing experience. And I'm glad it was my first real exposure to code. But honestly having gone through several Udacity courses and Flatiron's immersive, it was the least helpful in me acquiring my position.
The curriculum seemed oversimplified in comparison to the learning platforms I approached (including the other boot camp). But in all fairness. App academy will work for you if you've really struggled with programming before. The resources are all there to help you succeed. As long as you use them.
My only complaint is with job placement. Although you do get an opportunity to attend the job fair, if you're not perfectly prepared to deal with the pressures of technical interviewing right away, it seems like nobody believes in you afterwards.
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Eddie
Learned More than I ever Thought Possible
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Program was first intimidating but it helped me building up my tolerance for working longer hours. My turn-around point for me was after the 3rd week. That was when I realized keeping a schedule is a MUST. If possible, put your personal life on hold and put aA as your #1 priority. The amount of material to be learned demands such a schedule. As far as the subjects covered, they are some of the most marketable programming skills nowadays. I learned Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, and etc (just to name a few).
Again, it is hard but it is also very rewarding. If you dedicate your best effort into this program, you should not fail.
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DL
Waste of time and money
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I signed up in July 2016 for the online bootcamp. The initial lessons were easy to grasp but as the course progressed I could not keep up.
The latter lessons were confusing and too fast-paced. I have a biology degree and could barely understand what the instructors were talking about.
I tried the online tutoring, but in the time alloted, only got 1 or 2 questons answered. In addition to having the tutor flirting with me.
By November 2016, I had tried the mock interview twice, and failed miserably. I reached out to them in December 2016, in regards to retaking the course in person. I was even willing to pay another $2000. They said they would reach back to me, and to this day I have never received a reply....
I am dissapointed I spent $2000, in good faith, and did not even get a response. They took my money and left me to my own devices, essentially.
I would not recommend the bootcamp to anyone. It was a very negative experience overall, and one of the most unprofessional situations I have encountered in my adult life.
I have since given up becoming a software engineer, due to feeling duped and mislead, and will likely never pursue it again. I am now leery of anything promising such and such, but then asking for thousands of dollars upfront.
Anyone not already in Computer Programing, save your time and money and learn on your own or go to an actual university! -
John Hill
hostile culture
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App academy creates a pretty miserable culture in which all of the students are afraid of getting kicked out. I was substantially anxious every single day of this program, and it honestly did not make me more productive. In addition to high pressure assessments, they have an absurd and unnecessary strike system that just adds a little extra daily misery to your life. The physical space of their New York location is overcrowded, and they seem to have not adjusted their teaching style while recently doubling their cohort size. When you are in the project phase of the curriculum, a new cohort will have started, and almost all of the instructors' attention will be on the new cohort, so plenty of students finish the exhausting curriculum only to find that they aren't even satisfied with the portfolio projects that will be central to their job hunt.
I learned a lot, but as someone who has taught at the college level before, I know that there is no justification for treating students in this manner. It doesn't improve results. It brings out bad student behavior, and when combined with all of the social forces already shaping the tech industry, contributes to creating a hostile environment for women and minorities.
I think that their tuition model helps them justify treating their students poorly. Everyone thinks at first "App Academy isn't charging me tuition, so I'm lucky to be here no matter what!" But then you rememer that you paid a $5k deposit, and you will eventually pay many thousands more, and that maybe, just maybe, we should expect to be treated like humans by educational institutions.