App Academy

I really enjoyed my time here! I came to App Academy with a background in biology and knew nothing about coding. I've come a long way these past few months and I think that App Academy's done a good job preparing me for entry into the workforce as a software engineer. 
I have a very good opinion of App Academy because I can see the results of all my work and studying. I'm able to make amazing web applications and I have a good understanding of the coding languages and tools taught by App Academy.

It is a lot of work, though. I woke up at 7 and commuted 40 minutes to App Academy, where I coded from 9AM to 6PM. Then I commuted 40 minutes home and either reviewed the day's material or studied for the next day's material from 8PM to 11PM. As daunting as that sounds, it is completely do-able. It's hard, but it's not impossible. Just be prepared for it and keep your end goal in mind.

 Furthermore, I've been talking to friends and hear about the friends of friends who have gone through coding interviews. Many of those interview topics have already been covered by App Academy.

If I have to nitpick about things, it is that I don't think that we reviewed enough material as we progressed through the course. We learned ALOT. Which means we also forget a lot. We're told that we should review after class, but most days, there's so much material to look at for the next day that I don't have time to review.

I still really enjoyed my time here at App Academy, though, and I'll be missing it.
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If you are willing to study 70+ hrs weekly, App Academy does a great job to train you to become a software engineer. You will learn a lot during the pairing programming with your partners. After class, you spend night time learning the next day's material. New topics are introduced almost every day and you can find yourself falling behind easily. Overall, you can expect to come out of App Academy with programming skills, good projects, and a lot of job search resources. Read less

I definitely learned a lot while I was at App Academy and I really value the experience, however it was extremely draining emotionally and mentally.

Pros: The TAs are all really friendly and eager to help whenever a problem arises. Many of the paired programming projects we did really helped me learn as I was able to work with some brilliant minded people and see their thought process as we went along.

Cons: It often took a long time for a TA to come help because the student to TA ratio was pretty skewed. I really disliked the lectures as we just all sat and stared at the projector with no desks or laptops. The job search curriculum has been pretty generic and I don't see much value in it.

All in all, I started this journey with zero programming experience and came out knowing more than I could have either thought in just 16 weeks. Read less

For those that are considering a bootcamp and live around the SF area, App Academy is absolutely worth it. What I love most about App Academy is that despite my prior experience in programming, I was constantly challenged and learned something new each day. The curriculum is rich enough that even the more experienced programmers will feel like they're getting something out of it. I can't recommend this program enough for those that are looking for a bootcamp.

However, my main suggestion is that prior to applying or even considering this bootcamp, you should learn to code. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but the purpose of a bootcamp is not just to teach you how to code, it's to help get a job to build a career. In addition, learning to code prior gives you a sense on whether or not you even enjoy learning how to code. If you do, then definitely put in some time to learn prior to applying. It not only prepares you for the admissions interview but also will help you immensely in the program. App Academy is incredibly competitive and while there are many people that come into this program with little to no knowledge of how to code and ultimately succeed, there are many that don't make it pass the first few weeks. This is simply because the program has a strike out policy where if they deem that you're too far behind in their expectations of where you should be, you could get dismissed.

App Academy is a great investment and I highly recommend that those that are considering this program will also consider the time and commitment. Everyone will do whatever it takes to make sure that you learn the material and get that job but only if you're willing to do your part in that process as well.

Pros:
• Rich curriculum of learning full-stack development and job searching
• Has career coaches that work extensively to help you find a job
• Relatively affordable: for those that can't pay the entire tuition out of pocket, the deferred plan is a great option that asks for a deposit and a fraction of your first year's income. This is a great choice because other bootcamps have policies that extend over 1 year and the repayment is little compared to what you'll be making as a software engineer.
• Learn by doing: The curriculum emphasizes learning by doing. So you'll be working on a lot of projects but don't worry. The projects are not expected to be completed. They're meant to be for YOUR learning experience.

Cons:
• San Francisco is expensive. If you don't live in San Francisco, expect to dedicate some time commuting to and from the campus (SF traffic sucks).
• Doesn't necessarily take into account everyone's learning style. I learn better when I'm coding along with someone but lectures don't allow for computers so it's difficult to pay attention when I have to write notes with pen and paper while trying to follow lecture slides.
• Too much pair programming: App Academy focuses on pair programming to get students to learn how to communicate and work with partners. This style is the majority of the program. It would be nice if we had more days to work by ourselves to learn the material at our own pace.

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Pros:
-great support system from TA's
-learn a ton of new technologies in a very short amount of time
-you get to meet a great cohort of like-minded individuals, largely who will become your network in the future
Cons:
-instruction can sometimes seem unorganized
-some material can be learned online that is often easier to understand than provided lectures Read less

App Academy is a time intensive and challenging bootcamp. If you're willing to put in the work, it is very rewarding. The staff is very helpful and encouraging. Bigger classes might have a harder time getting help because there is a queue to ask questions. Besides coursework, App Academy also helps those who graduate with their job search. Overall, it was a very positive experience. Read less

Overall, my experience at App Academy was 100% worth it. I decided to attend aA after taking a computer science course at college and realizing how much I enjoyed it. I was looking into coding bootcamps, and App Academy was recommended to me by a friend. After comparing the prep-work between other bootcamps and aA, it became obvious that App Academy's curriculum was far superior to the others - leading me to eventually choose it over the other options.

After the course, the practical material I learned and the depth to which I learned it allowed me to successfully complete a full stack onsite interview and land a position within 2 weeks of finishing aA. While this was not the norm, I believe that overall App Academy is a valuable asset to someone wishing to enter the field of software engineering. With hard work, it is quite difficult not to learn the material and, by the end, graduate with the ability to build a complete full stack application. The added bonus of the option to delay payment makes it pretty accessible as well. Read less

a/A was an extremely demanding bootcamp (talking 90 hour weeks) but it was well worth it! I gained so much knowledge that I know I wouldn't be able to learn on my own over the same amount of time. Each day brought new curriculum to learn and there is homework every night that is required in order to be prepared for the next day's material. I knew some Python prior to attending, but almost all of my coding skills I learned at a/A. The instructors were former a/A students so they teach understanding the student's perspective and are always willing to help. You pair program every day which to me was great because I loved having the opportunity to work with all of my cohort mates. Towards the end of the bootcamp, you build a full stack clone of an app of your choice which is invaluable in terms of job searching. 

All in all, a/A was certainly stressful at times but highly rewarding in terms of the knowledge and skills you gain. You have to be truly ready to commit 100% of your time (no joke) and have a passion for coding but if being a SWE is your dream like it is mine, you'll do just fine. Read less

I didn't know a coding bootcamp with be with satisfying. I think there was a lot to learn in a short amount of time but a lot of the course is based on how much extra time you put in. The course is very solid and extensive with great instructional information to go along with each topic. If you're willing to put in the work, it is definitely doable. I would highly recommend if you are on the fence about doing it. Read less

The program was a great opportunity to learn a new skill very quickly. I would not have been able to learn as much if I were to do so on my own. The TAs are there if you need them, but you will be doing most of the learning on your own. You will need to learn quickly and not doubt your skills. Read less

App Academy was one of the most challenging learning experiences of my life, it took all my time and dedication for 16 weeks. I did not think it was possible to truly learn software engineering in such a short amount of time, but we did. I feel very confident with the material and have a huge support network of former students, teaching assistants, and job coaches to help me succeed in this new line of work. I am so happy I chose App Academy and I highly recommend it to anyone that is up for the challenge, but be warned, it is HARD! Read less

App Academy makes aces out of anyone capable of completing the program. The course is designed to be fast paced. With a focus on understanding the core/evolving technologies required for web development. The process works. Expect to learn with/from a wide variety of resources/people. All around, a great experience. Read less

The experience of going through the in-person curriculum was stressful but worth it. It was a bit hard trying to keep up with the lessons specially when we switched from Ruby to SQL and to JavaScript in a short time span. They will teach you everything you need to learn but you have to persevere. My tip for aspiring students is to practice being vocal about your code, or just be vocal. Sure, App Academy will help you practice pair programming but it's up to you to do the extra mile and be better at making your ideas be clear to someone else. To everyone wanting to be part of App Academy, Goodluck! :) Read less

App Academy is a truly intensive 16 week program that requires dedication to get the most out of it. This bootcamp is ideal for people with little to no prior experience in software development and will teach you the knowledge necessary to build a full stack web app by week 12. For people with some prior experience, the beginning will be a little slow as the material is tailored to new developers. Being in the latter camp, I still found this program very valuable in many ways that self-study can not compare. The structure of the curriculum and the quality of the projects students work on everyday really reinforce the concepts taught. The guidance of the teaching assistants and the camaraderie of other students provide a great learning environment that will push you to stay on track.
Now for some criticisms. This bootcamp will teach you very basic fundamentals early on and then transition quickly into being focused on frontend web development. The practical skills taught are all in frontend frameworks. This is great to train students to be able to jump into a junior frontend role and be productive, but not so great if you desire to work backend. Now of course a/A is just providing the building blocks to launch students into a career in software development and students can certainly transition into a backend role, but it likely won't be the first job after a/A. The program is 16 weeks and can not replace a CS degree. A lot of self-study is necessary right after the program ends to shore up deficiencies in the data structures and algorithms.
As for the SF campus, the building is located in Financial District / Embarcadero which means rent will be very expensive if you want to live nearby. If you are moving to SF, look for housing right away after being accepted and see if you can find a roommate with a fellow student in the cohort. The equipment on campus is adequate but some upgrades could be made with the office chairs. Having your own relatively modern laptop is a must.
All in all, I am very pleased with what I've gained through App Academy in the last 4 months. Putting in 60-100 hours per week was all worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I've met incredible, diverse, ambitious people with whom I have no doubt will stay as long term relationships. App Academy teaches you how to learn and provides you with the structure to learn as much as possible in 16 weeks. Read less

Doesn’t look like much when you walk past, but I was practically dying to code so I popped in. The definition of a hole-in-the-wall. I got the software engineering special and wow… there are no words. A course done right. Stuffed with Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, React, Redux, then topped off with essential algorithms and data structures. There’s about a million bugs between your code and the solution, so it can get a little overwhelming, but you really can’t go wrong. Not much else to say besides go see for yourself! You won’t be disappointed. Read less

I was a student in the August 2019 cohort. App academy is great for getting up to speed on the fundamentals as well as the cutting edge frameworks currently used in the field. You truly get to know the full stack. However, before you sign up ask them about the cohort size. Previous cohorts have been ~30 students, our cohort was 65+ and it was a challenge working in such a large group. The career coaching during the job search was also very difficult (a lot of pressure), but the coach has left a/A and the rest of the staff seem to be on their game. Your milage may vary. Read less

When I was first deciding between bootcamps I wasn't sure how to determine the advantages of one over the other. Asking around in different bootcamps, App Academy definitely seemed to be the most competitive to get into as well as having a rigorous work load. I decided to attend App Academy and it was definitely one of the hardest and best things I've ever done. From the 4 months of course work, I learned a lot on frameworks and applications that are used in the industry. My cohort/class mates were extremely intelligent and I met a lot of great friends. They do have a policy where they ask you to leave if you fail two exams, which could be the reason for other negative reviews. The school provides you with everything you need to pass the exams and if you prepare enough then you should be fine. I did spend about 80 hours a week studying, but doing it alongside others is a part of the experience. The teachers/ lecturers are extremely knowledgeable and are always willing to help. Read less