App Academy

App Academy is the most fun and rewarding thing that I will never put myself through again.

The 90+ hour workweeks are incredibly grueling and the course only picks up pace as time goes on.  However, being surrounded by dozens of people in the same shoes as you who are all friendly, hard-working, and highly motivated is a blast.  I met several people who I hope will become lifelong friends, and after 10 weeks of hell, I really feel like a full-stack web developer who will be able to find a job in tech.  My only gripe is that parts of the curriculum, especially most of the homeworks, feel totally irrelevant and useless - wastes of my time when time is so precious and every hour of sleep counts.

App Academy is incredibly difficult and fast paced, but you learn an impressive amount in such a short time. The program really trains you to be a fullstack software engineer - by the end of the course you will build fully functional applications. I am also able to have full on conversations about the different technologies and languages that we've learned and used, whereas before beginning app academy I hadn't even heard of them. The TAs and other students were always happy to help out, and career coaches are here for assistance as well. If you are trying to get into software development but don't have the traditional background, I'd highly recommend the course.

App Academy is hard. It is grueling, relentless, and crazily paced. But at the end of it all, if you follow their formula, you come away with the skills they promised you will have. You definitely have to put in the work to succeed, and a/A really hammers that home with their assessments and crazy amounts of homework and projects. You really have to want it, and if you do, then App Academy will help you get there. All in all, I feel like I got what I wanted from a/A. 

App Academy has been a great experience. The past three months have been extremely stressful and rigorous but I can definitely say that I now possess a robust understanding of coding fundamentals. The one thing that I really appreciated about App Academy has been the community. From your TAs to your cohort-mates, everyone is extremely supportive and open to helping 
 out in any capacity. 

I learned a lot from the 13 week coding program with little experience in coding. The program is very intense and time consuming. I spent over a month on the alpha course, which is the online study curriculum you're required to finish after you got in the program and i'm glad i spent at least a month cos otherwise there's a good chance you wont be able to keep up.
I'm now in the job market, 2 weeks after graduation. They have a job search system that prepares you find a job between 3-6 months on average. With the deferred the tuition program, the risk is pretty low if you can get through the program without failing out.

I would definitely recommend App Academy to anyone looking to switch career paths into full stack development. The structured curriculum and pair programming definitely helped me get through the 85-90 hour weeks. It definitely takes self-drive to get through the program but I can assure you will come out with a great knowledge of Ruby on Rails, React, Redux and computer science fundamentals. The instructors are always there to help, and so are your cohort-mates!

Attending App Academy for those crazy 3 months in the summer of 2018 was both one of the hardest things I've ever done, mostly from a mental perspective, but also one of the most rewarding. App Academy is definitely not for everyone; it has a rigorous schedule and they won't take it easy on you. But if you work hard in those 3 months and don't take your foot off the gas, you will come out on the other side a web-developer.

Signing up for a bootcamp is inevitably going to come with questions and hesitation, but as a person who has experienced the difference before and after the a/A full-stack course, I can safely say that it is a worthy investment if you are ready to put in the work. The amount that I learned in these past few months easily surpass the my expectations in both value and workplace usability.

Highly recommended to anyone who is willing to put in the hours necessary to learn the material. Especially recommended to those unsure if programming is for them because this course is definitely one that shows that coding is for everyone.

The weeks are rigorous and make you stretch out of your comfort zone, but by the end of the course, you will have some very impressive portfolio pieces to show off to recruiters. It's also amazing how some hard work and dedication can teach you so much in such a short amount of time. I'd recommend this course to anyone who wants to be a full stack web developer.

Before App Academy, all I knew was that I wanted to be involved in coding and wanted to learn as fast as possible. The problem was where could I go that wouldn't involve student loans and 4 more years of school, but still be competitive and respected when it came time to apply to jobs. My friend told me about his experience at App Academy and at first I was intimidated by their numbers, but after more research I realized it was definitely the right choice. The application process was smooth and they provided me with all the tools I needed to succeed and get accepted into the program, from jump start to the alpha course. Once the program started it was a ton of learning, but now that it's over every moment of it was worth it. If you put in the work, it will pay off and you will be surprised by your own skills.  

I really enjoy the time that I have spent on App Academy. I have learned a lot of coding skills in two months which did change my life. The learning atmosphere here is really professional, and the intensive schedule 'forced' me to regulate myself. These two months are definitely the most productive months of my life, and I really appreciate all TA's help.

I heard about App Academy through a friend who said that the program had absolutely changed her life. At first this sounded like hyperbole, but after a few long chats with her, I found that she truly credited the program with turning her life around and now that I'm also an App Academy graduate, I can see why. 

App Academy takes students from all walks of life and has constructed a thorough curriculum that provides all the tools that are needed to launch a career as a developer. I would recommend it to anyone who's up to the challenge. It was well worth it. 

App Academy has changed my life. It was one of the best and most rigorous experiences that I've had. Before coming to App Academy, I was a complete amateur. After 3 months I now have the knowledge to go out and build a website. I would definitely recommend App Academy to anyone who is interested in joining a coding bootcamp. The environment is intense but it will only push you and make you work harder. The instructors are all great and want to help you. Be prepared to spend up to 90 hours per week as you will be thrown a lot of material at you with no time to catch up. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I am glad I chose App Academy.

I was complete rookie coming into App Academy, first as a Bootcamp Prep student and now as a Full-Stack student. From day 1 I was immediately sold with the culture of the workspace and the professionalism of the instructors. I'm now in the last 3 weeks or job search portion of the Full-Stack curriculum and, I am confident that with the support of the staff and network, I'll be able to complete this transition into a career as a Software Dev.

Some thoughts for prospective students:
1. You'll hear time and again, that the Full-Stack course is not easy. If you're not comfortable coming in early and/or staying late, working weekends and really grinding, you will not have a good time.

2. The instructors are excellent, caring, invested, patient and knowledgeable. Be proactive with using them as a resource.

3. If you're transitioning into this course from a full-time job, I would strongly recommend leaving your job with at least 2 weeks to prepare before the course starts. The pre-course curriculum estimates 1 month for completion but if you're working full-time it'll take twice that long.

When I was searching through all of these reviews myself just a few months ago, I was a little scared at what everyone was saying about App Academy. And after going through the curriculum, I now understand what they were saying about the difficulty of this course and why they were saying it. BUT I also understand why App Academy still gets all these amazing reviews. 

Difficulty: 
This course is HARD. On day 1, the head instructor made a joke that we should tell our friends and family that we're going on a 12 week cruise. He was joking, but at the same time... he wasn't. My personal experience of the workload at App Academy was get to class around 7//7:30am to finish up whatever homework I didn't complete the night before, 9am-6pm class time. 6pm -8:30//9pm homework and then rinse and repeat for Mon-Fri. Generally I would take Friday night off to give myself a mental break, but Saturday and Sunday you could find myself and most of the App Academy Students in the classroom Studying for the Assessments. 
TLDR: This class is no joke. You cannot have a social life and succeed in this bootcamp. (At the very least don't expect to unless, you may be able to get a night out here and there if somehow you're ahead on the material)

Assessments:
Yes this is one of the few BootCamps that relies on Assessments. Yes they are very stressful. Yes there is a lot of practice work given to help you pass these assessments. Yes they are hard. HOWEVER, I couldn't be happier that we had these assessments. At the end of the day, you can sit through the lectures, you can do the homeworks and finish the in class assignments, but practicing and studying for these assessments is what really drills the information into your brain. Keep in mind though, you can be removed from the program if you fail two assessments. This can make the program a lot more stressful for people who are either not good test takers or do not put the work in. These assessments are not made to trick you, but made to make sure you know the minimum amount of knowledge to continue with the program. Without that minimum knowledge, you will not succeed with the rest of the program.
TLDR: Assessments are hard, but not if you keep up with the work and study on weekends. Bad test takers, beware

Instructors:
The instructors are absolutely awesome. All instructors are extremely knowledgeable in the topics being taught, and clearly have extensive experience in teaching the material. They're all also extremely helpful

Culture:
The Culture at a/A is extremely welcoming, and I can tell that I will remain friends with many of my cohort-mates for many years to come. We've spent many many hours in class together and even more on slack.

Worth it?
100%. We are just starting the job application process now, but from everyone I've talked to who is in a place to hire Software Developers, App Academy consistently trains the strongest job candidates from all the other BootCamps in NYC. No matter your background or previous experience in coding, you can succeed in this class with the right amount of work. I personally did not have any coding experience and am currently feeling super confident going into the job search process. 

TLDR of the entire review - If you've already made the decision to take up a bootcamp,  willing to sacrifice 12 weeks of your social life, and wand the best bang for your buck, App Academy is the choice.

If you are interested in software development and willing to devote yourself full time to the program, App Academy will give you the skills to succeed in a developer role. Be prepared to spend upwards of 90 hours per week learning the material, and be ready to do this for 12 weeks straight - as soon as you start to come to grips with one topic, lectures begin on the next. The pace is rigorous to say the least.

That said, the payoff is immeasurable and experience unquestionably positive. I've never learned so much so short a span of time, all while surrounded by diverse peers of incredible ability. I can't recomend the program enough for those willing to devote the time necessary.

Great school that provides a comprehensive curriculum for learning web development. This three month program is packed with industry-standard skills, and delivered at a very high pace. If you are serious about becoming a web developer, this program is an excellent choice.

If you're thinking about applying for this program, let me just tell you now that you're going to have to give up a lot of time to get the most out of this program. 

Also I want to add that people with no prior experience coding can excel in this program, so long as you put in the work. Most of my cohort-mates did not know how to code before entering this program and still did well.

The program is fast-paced, so you will not have time to go back on things you may have missed and everything builds upon another so you will have to keep-up, otherwise you'll fall behind.

After week 9 I am now capable of creating a full-stack application, which is crazy considering how much I knew (or should I say how much I didn't know) 9 weeks ago.

You will need to put in work. In order to make the most out of this program, you will need to put in 80 - 100 hours a week studying, doing the readings, completing homework & projects. But trust me, it will all be worth it in the end.

At the end of the day, I can't say that this program is for everyone. You will have to want to learn to code badly enough to be successful coming out of a/A. If you're serious about it and willing to put in the time and effort then I can confidently say that App Academy is your best bet.

Overall: if you're looking for a relatively fast track to switching career paths or accelerating your preexisting programming experience, App Academy is a great option to consider. The main caveat is the extreme time commitment required by the course. 80 hours per week of work is realistic; more if you want to excel. If you have other non-negotiable commitments such as family or volunteering responsibilities, accept that you may fall behind and have to work harder. 

The App Academy curriculum is excellent. Teaching competency of instructors varies – some are excellent, some are mediocre – but honestly it's probably as good as you can expect from any coding bootcamp. Instructor support overall is very good. Everything you need for a solid foundation to begin the cohort is provided throughout the application process; what's key is setting aside enough time to properly absorb the material (at least two months prior to interviewing, a month between the first and last interview, and a month between admission and cohort start time). The provided prep material is time intensive in its own right, and most who struggle to keep up didn't spend enough time preparing. Time to catch up after beginning the cohort is almost non-existent. 

What makes aA stand out: 
- Rigid structure of accountability through roll calls, assignments, and assessments. Like having a good physical trainer, you may often hate the diet and the workouts in the moment, but in the long run you'll be surprised how much you progress. 
 - Constant pair programming and collaborative work. Especially taxing for introverts, but enormously helpful in learning how to communicate effectively. A significant advantage over solo/remote study options, and even most university curricula. 
- Outstanding job search curriculum. Lots of very helpful workshops, application prep, and interview practice. 

Can you learn everything taught in a bootcamp on your own? Almost certainly. What you're paying for is the opportunity to learn it faster, make connections with other students/instructors, and receive solid career coaching. Most motivated individuals would still take at least two to three times longer to cover the same amount of material, if studying full time. That's worth considering in the cost-benefit analysis of money versus time. 

App Academy as a 3 month boot camp intensive is without a doubt one of the most difficult curriculums I've gone through. You will continuously learn new material and review previous material so be prepared to plan your time for this camp. The staff here is incredibly helpful with questions, kind, do try their best to accomodate. The material provided constantly updates to try and be up to date with the latest technologies to provide the edge to students competing with CS graduates. In regards to the curriculum, most of it can be self taught, albeit nowhere near as fast and instructional help and networking is a plus.

Some things to note:

While the TAs are a great resource for questions, it is important to know many are App Academy graduates, so some deepter questions regarding the material may not always be provided. I believe the instructional curriculum is thorough, but there is a drop in instruction during the job search curriculum.

Overall, App Academy has been a constructive experience for me and I would recommend this bootcamp.