Blaizing Academy Reviews
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Whitney
Web Dev Grad
The instructors were knowledgeable and I was able to get a lot of help with my job search after graduation. -
Kimber
UX Designer
EFA was my second UX certification. Mixed with my previous experience EFA pushed me to grow my portfolio and network, helping me to land my dream job. -
Amit Mangat
Rewarding
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Eleven Fifty was quite the rewarding experience. I came forth with a small background in coding. Nothing major, other than a small intro to HTML class that I've taken at a university. I felt the rate of what I was learning at college to be slow, and expensive! I made the decision to check out EFA (Eleven Fifty Academy), and it was life changing! Enrolling in their Web Dev course, I was able to take my skills beyond my expectations. In 6 months, I was able to soak in and demonstrate about 2 years worth of knowledge!
Learning and applying the uses of modern web technologies to create production grade websites. The staff is courteous in providing you with support and resources along the way. They also have a great career services team, that helps tremendously in getting you job-ready. Highly recommended to anyone who wishes to develop new skills, or to those who are seeking out a change in their career. -
Kyle
A wonderful door to better opportunities
Eleven fifty academy gave me a solid foundation in web development on which to build and grow upon. In addition, their wonderful career services department is willing to help you for the long term. If you get a job, then years later end up unhappy or out of work - you can link back up with EFA to resume the job hunt. -
Jason
Web Development - JavaScript
Html, css, JavaScript -
William McKinney
Best Decision Ever!
I went to Eleven Fifty not knowing how I was going to become a software developer or what that process even looked like. Today I am one of the top engineers at a small dev shop only a year later. It is all thanks to Eleven Fifty. If you put in the work and keep learning after the program the possibilities are endless! -
Addy Monger
Opening a new door and a new chapter
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When I had lost my job do to the pandemic, I wasn't sure what was going to be next for me. During this time I decided to do a career change and sign up for Eleven Fifty's Web Development Bootcamp. I came in with no previous coding experience and by the end of the 12 weeks, I was able to build an entire website. I never even imagined that this was possible for me until I began my course and had amazing instructors and learning assistance who helped me exceed my own expectations. It was through Eleven Fifty that I realized just how vast and amazing the tech industry is! While I did not pursue a job as a coder, my education through Eleven Fifty helped me gain the tech knowledge I needed to get a great job in tech! I highly encourage anyone who wants to continue to grow and learn new skills, that can help you no matter what your career is, to sign up for Eleven Fifty. -
Paul Fabrick
Incredible Experience
Attending Elevenfifty Academy was one od the best decisions Ive ever made. They provided me the knowledge, certifications and ability to pivot from my old career into a new IT career. -
Brian Winter
Eleven Fifty Part Time Course
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I was apart of an online part time course for software development. Learning online isn’t always the easiest with unknown subjects. Eleven Fifty was able to provide knowledgeable teachers, learning videos/walkthroughs and good assignments. They taught in a way that made you search first for your question, than ask the teacher if the problem could. It be found. This can make the class frustrating, but it has been my best attribute in my new place of employment. As with employment, EFA’s career services is amazing. They met with me outside of normal business hours and worked hard to recommend jobs for me. I worked with them closely and was able to start a job the week after graduation. -
Sarah T.
Full Stack Web Developer
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Eleven Fifty Academy is a wonderful coding bootcamp for those wanting to transition into tech. I was fortunate to attend their 6 months part-time Web Development course this past year to a learn a full-stack package that is highly sought out in the workforce (PostgreSQL, Express.JS, React.JS, Node.JS & Html/Css, Git, Firebase & Heroku deployment, Boostrap, Reactstrap, API's and more!).
I'm confident that these skills will land me a job in the near future, with interviews starting to line up . I have included the pro's and con's about the program below as someone that went from working in the nonprofit and education world to becoming a developer in 6 months:
Pros:
1. Flexibility! The part time course allowed me to balance my family life, attend class virtually, and reach out for help/questions during non class hours. I had class two nights a week (5-9pm) and occasional Saturdays(8-5). There was a lot of independent work outside of class as well, so be prepared to spend 20+ hours outside of class a week.
2. Instructors! The instructors and learning assistants were fantastic and super helpful. You also have a mentor that you meet with weekly during the first part of the program.
3. Full Stack program! As a non tech person going into the program, I didn't fully understand how valuable being a full-stack developer was. I am forever grateful they approach it this way. It helped me realize strengths I didn't know I had that are incredibly valuable in the tech world. I'm also finding so many jobs to apply for that are seeking this skill set.
4. Portfolio: By the end of the program, you'll have a large portfolio of projects to showcase to potential employers that reflect the skills learned.
5. Community! My cohort was super supportive of each other and we built a sense of community through the zoom chat feature during class. It really helped to have that comradery that is often absent in online courses. I went away from the course with fellow coding friends and a network I feel comfortable reaching out to. We also had opportunities to present our projects to the class virtually. That was a motivating factor to do your best with the awareness that your peers will see it :) We also used Slack to communicate during non class hours.
6. Career Assistance: they offer job search assistance and resume review sessions. They regularly post entry level jobs and connect with employers interested in their graduates. And, they cheer you on and stay connected with you through LinkedIn! If you follow their recommended steps, you'll be successful. The career services team is awesome!
7. Grading: They used rubrics for most assigned projects. This really helped me set realistic goals based on my available time so that I could reach MVP (minimum viable product) . You do have to maintain a certain GPA to stay in the course.
8. Cost: I was able to receive a grant they have to help pay for the tuition. They have various funding sources to help subsidize cost and financing options as well. You also get a tuition credit following the program to apply to another course if interested.
9. Values: They have a strong set of values and diversity is one of them. They commit fully to ensuring everyone feels welcome in the course, is supported and respected. They also have connections for women in tech to help increase representation in the tech world.
Cons:
1. Prework: They assign prework before the course. I didn't mind the pre-work and it was great prep, but make sure you sign up for the course a few weeks in advance to give you time to complete it. I signed up about a week before it started and spent a good part of the week completing it. My recommendation is pre-work should be sent out as soon as a student registers.
2. Pace: The pace during live class was often too fast for me and I would need to go back and watch the recordings later. Don't hesitate to ask them to slow down and go back to a specific topic. Fully understand your learning style and find the resources you need to fully absorb the information. I learned quickly that the recordings worked better for me because I could pause them and take notes/look up additional resources at my own pace.
In conclusion: Put in the effort. When they say network on LinkedIN, DO IT! Everyday. After graduating from this program, networking several hours a day on LinkedIN (post, comment, share, message people directly), I have my first interview lined up and recruiters are sending me job postings. Continue to work on projects after graduation as well. The learning doesn't stop after Red Badge :)
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Mansa
Web development
Overall great experience with lots of class walk-throughs and opportunities to ask questions to gain understanding on every topic that is taught.
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Mona Rich
Cybersecurity
Great experience! Teachers were great and supportive. The cyber range is a great hands on tool! -
Nick Wehner
.Net Framework (C#) Course
Creating and Deploying Web Pages (HTML/CSS, Bootstrap).
Developing Full-Stack Applications
Using in-demand Microsoft .NET technologies as well as architectural patterns like model-view-controller (MVC) and Representational State Transfer (REST).
Learning Modern Frameworks and Libraries
As well as consuming and integrating third-party application programming interfaces (APIs) in an application. -
Austin Johnson
.NET Cohort
This 12-week immersive cohort changed my life! This course challenged me in many ways — most times making me uncomfortable through this process. Those uncomfortable moments shaped me into the professional I am today in an industry that I love. Keep up the good work! -
Drew Shepherd
.
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Pros:- Well rounded approach to curriculum. Learned about the variety of applications of Python. Learned how to read documentation, ask questions of google, and start solving issues/questions for myself. "Teach a man to fish."
- Invest in additional educational opportunities as they arise. E.g. A local conference, testing opportunities.
- Instructors knowledgeable about a wide range of computer science related items.
- Staff top to bottom are personable, and approachable.
- Lunches and snacks are provided, and are tasty and well stocked.
Mixed pro/con:- Curriculum: Network+, while miserable in a condensed bootcamp, was highly applicable and worth the energy.
- Half the workshops with industry guests were valuable, the other half were either redundant or didn't advance our education.
Cons (as of my time there):- I never received a 1-on-1 code review. Just group instruction.
- No intentional or systematic way of regularly gathering feedback from students or industry hiring managers.
- The only resources available from career services were the personnel themselves and ad hoc opportunities provided through them. No tools, list of companies in the area, organized events to engage industry hiring managers, etc.
- I don't believe companies in Indianapolis have sufficient demand for Python, for entry-level developers. Do some homework/jobhunting first, and consider their .NET or Javascript courses. I found an administrative job in tech, but not as a developer.
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Aaron Floyd
EFA
I would recommend attending this Bootcamp. Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. They also have a great network of employers to work with! -
Stephen McFarland
Probably worth it
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Wow, I didn't know there were so many boot camps! I chose to go to a boot camp to fill in the holes quicker and launch into a real coding job (or at least be a part of the coding team/department). I graduated with a Business Information Systems degree about 13 years ago and since worked a few technology jobs before going into the classroom as a k-12 teacher for the last 8 years. I've always enjoyed coding and realized now was my chance to really make it happen. I think what Eleven Fifty Academy is trying to accomplish is tremendous. I do think they are overselling their product. Non-profit? I think they are very much for profit. $13,500 for 3 months of school? How do you put a number on the tuition cost? If you ask me it was only worth $3,000. I think the pay a percentage models once employed look better. You think you're going to be learning from experts. Nope, your instructor just took the course before you. You do learn valuable skills in these boot camps. Much of it you can learn on your own, now that Microsoft has open sourced everything. Attending the bootcamp you're able to network and build those connections. I feel like most students were there because they were out of work and desperate for the next opportunity. Eleven Fifty Academy did an excellent job removing students that didn't measure up. Since most attendees are in their 20s I would recommend this opportunity to those in their 20s if you know what I mean. Eleven Fifty did begin night classes. I wonder how that is going. I've heard so many not get jobs for months or years after graduating. If that were the case for me I would definitely not recommend a boot camp. The biggest lie is that they convince you you'll get a coding job when you finish. Maybe after a year or so of really hard work and maybe you'll land something. Eleven Fifty Academy can connect you with the Salesforce Pathfinder program! Awesome! Until you find out that those with degrees need not apply. This is a give back to the community program for the disadvantaged. Another big problem is that most of the students start with no previous coding experience. The instructors can walk you through tutorials but you can do online tutorials yourself. The instructor can go on vacation and then that is basicly lost time. Lunch is catered every day so that is a big plus and when it's not well that is lost time too. The whole experience felt like a drug rehab retreat. You spend 8 hours a day with the same cohort coding together walking 1/2 mile to lunch, eating lunch together, comparing tattoos (no we didn't do that), and playing ping pong and foosball together. It was definitely good times for someone detoxing from public education and teacher burnout. Oh, and don't forget the snacks. There's free snacks and soda all day long. I think because Eleven Fifty is getting help from the Governor to stay afloat they are relinquishing their identity, muddying their brand and in so doing capsizing their ultimate goal. If they were so successful you'd see LinkedIn posts daily. The owner wants a million coders so with this goal, quantity is more important than quality. Career Services is very nice and helpful but still just as clueless as you when it comes to getting hired as a .NET programmer. There's no shortcut to Senior Developer though EFA gets you started on the right path. Maybe you do a bootcamp to gain enough experience to find out that you don't want to do coding as a career. Either way you're better for it. Through Eleven Fifty Academy I was able to land my current role as an application support analyst which has given me fantastic experience and I hope that this role will prepare and propel me into my next opportunity in technology. We all need a path for skilling up. I recommend Eleven Fifty Academy for doing just that! -
Devon Mason
Intense, but Invaluable Experience
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I was working as a bartender before finding Eleven Fifty Academy. I knew I needed a career change, and I had always been in interesting in coding. The JavaScript course required a lot of work -- both in and out of the classroom. I would work on problems in the classroom and find my mind still thinking of possible solutions after class. The class changes your entire mindset and engages your problem-solving muscles. My teacher was willing to guide me to discover my own answers, allowing me to build better researching skills. I became extremely close to my classmates as we pushed each other to learn as much as we could in a 3 month period. I secured a job one month after graduation, and haven't stopped acquiring new tech skills! It's a great course, and the community really wants you to succeed here! -
Tyler Vermillion
Excellent Program
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I am very satisfied with Eleven Fifty Academy. I took a 12-week Course here back in 2017 shortly after they moved to Launch Fishers and Immediately after completing the course I was able to get a 10-week paid Internship with the company followed up by a full time software job at my current place of employment just simply due to the skills I was taught at the academy. Eleven Fifty did a great job in teaching me the skills and technology needed in today's world to help me get started in a great career field.
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Tiffany
Endless Opportunities
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I've supported Eleven Fifty Academy since its inception. The vision for this non-profit was pure & beautiful to me and I wanted to make certain I contributed. As an instructor, apprenticeship director, and a continued community voice for this academy, I've seen hundreds of students pass through! Every student is given opportunities to be great. Those that lean into the opportunities succeeded wildly. Those that don't, are the ones you'll see writing negative reviews on sites like this. Eleven Fifty Academy is an enabler, not a guarantee. But I CAN guarantee that if you attend, lean in, and take every opportunity that they offer you, you WILL succeed! Again, I've seen it repeated hundreds of time.
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Parker Catalano
Huge Impact, Quick Results
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Eleven Fifty has been a phenomenal experience both intellectually and interpersonally. To the point:
- Experienced Educators able to provide constructive feedback and answers when stuck for a while on a piece of code
- Exceptional career services staff willing to dedicate as much time as needed to landing a job
- Diverse group of students. Some personalities did clash, but this provided a fundamental insight into potential workplace environments and how to handle them
- Difficult projects weeded out individuals who did not put in time and effort, or were simply not suited for code - giving the name of Elevent Fifty respect in regards to rigor
- I would 100% recommend this program if you are serious about code and have time to dedicate. Remember, this is not just a hobby.
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Tim G.
A great experience with exposure to true talent!
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I came to Eleven Fifty a little hesitantly, as I wasn't sure I would be able to keep up with a bootcamp style learning environment, but the staff here made it simple. The teachers here are all excellent, and really connect with the students beyond teaching. The environment is more like a family, and the materials provided are extensive and go the extra mile. This school was started by Scott Jones, the forerunner of voicemail technology, and the experience and influence in the coding industry shows in the extras you're given in the curriculum. They assist with mock interviews with real employers in which you are given feedback, resume review, and job placement, as well as workshops in Intellectual Property, Contracting and Law, and Soft Skills, among others. I chose this school because of a friend who went through the program, and was (and still is) gainfully and happily employed in the industry with their help, and I would reccomend it to anyone looking for a quick chance to jump into the nation's largest (and quickest growing) employment field.
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Chris
Student
Love everything about this school. Eleven Fifty Academy truly changed my life.
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Brian Barraza
Caveat emptor (August 2017 JavaScript cohort)
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Before I continue with this review- the background: I have given this a lot of thought and held out to write a review since I was removed back in September of 2017 to avoid coming off too emotional. I want to be honest and give my full critique of this Academy as objectively as possible so those future enrollers go in with all the warnings, what to expect, and that sort of notion.
First the positives: Eleven Fifty looks promising. They have a nice faculty/instructors and plenty of space to kick back and study within their walls. They even offered lunch and snacks. They even have a shower.. In case you stay a night.. or more.. So since I have last attended they provided 24/7 access which is great if you want a private place to study away from home. This location also has places to shop nearby if needed for anything. The course itself- the material I thought was great but also a bit fast (as advertised). I've already had some background in Javascript and I needed something to help focus on advancing further in that realm of coding. The prospects of the course from start to finish seems very promising if you do your part.
The negatives: The main part I want to emphasize and get my message across.. The policy of Eleven Fifty at that time (and most likely still is) was very strict in the sense of the final projects to be turned in during the end of their individual tiers throughout the program, otherwise you will be removed.
In my case, I made some bad choices during the program and tried to remain independent of getting caught up which I failed to do so as well as to bring to attention prior to the end date of 1st tier. They say that they want to maintain some sort of business ethics upon their decision making and that allows them to uphold this overprivileged policy of kicking you out despite how expensive this place is.. over $10K. Regardless of the circumstances, would any of you individuals out there posing as someone running a business just take people's money like this? I wasn't asking for a refund. I was asking for a second chance- all in vain because of bearucratic powers that be "policy".
To my defense- I have seen what the other students turned in and being more than nice I can say that I could have expected high schoolers to create higher quality projects. This was the first tier however.. still sort-of-the-beginning of the program right? If that's the case why wasn't this given more consideration for my desire to stay and push through? My projects that were incomplete had bigger plans that I wanted to use to WOW the other students as well as the instructors. I aimed a little too high for my goals- is that always bad business practice? I strongly dislike turning in low quality work. I have always dealt with time-managing skills with difficulty- any other human being would say the same to some degree of themselves if they're honest.
This is the whole point I am making.. So early in the program- you cannot predict a student's prospects so early unless you are arrogant by nature. I admit I made mistakes and wished I handled it differently- but how does that justify their final decisions or the policy that stands? It would have been more reasonable if it were during the 2nd tier if you were to remove me- not the first.
I even took the pre-course to determine if I would excel in Javascript- which I did! To be fair they did leave me access to the slack channel, so I can still try to "learn" even though the whole point of enrolling for me was to learn in person as I always perform better in. And even when I decided to check on the slack channel several weeks later- I no longer had access to it. Just lovely.
I wouldn't care if they stripped the job assistance from me to maintain their golden image of themselves if I could have stayed and learned, but they did not budge or do anything that any other human capable of sympathizing would do. I understand not everyone at Eleven Fifty is capable of overriding decisions/policy.. But nobody has tried or shown any real sympathy. Saying sorry and acting in the opposite nature.. That's just a recipe to break someone down.
Summary: If you have difficulty learning/focusing... if you have budget restraints.. if you already have plenty of loans as it is.. I do not recommend enrolling here. If you will be paying out of pocket to some degree for this place- I would recommend finding cheap online courses like udemy or udacity instead of bootcamps and build a profile from what you learned. You would save more money and avoid heartache if this were to backfire on you like this. But if you have money to throw around and enjoy a challenge with high stakes with a good healthy demeanor and most importantly a natural talent for these sorts of things.. go for it. I gave job assistance 4 stars because majority of the graduates find it useful and I cannot leave it blank.
My message to Eleven Fifty: I have not reached out to you since I left because I don't know how to reason with unreasonable people- further efforts would have seemed futile as it was for me at the end especially the way I was feeling for several months after.
You should really consider changing the policy to better reflect student's needs a little more in the sense of not removing a student during the first tier to be the nonprofit you claim to be of helping the community. You let some students who didn't have high enough prospects for this sort of work graduate anyways just because they turned work in on time.. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I wouldn't mind coming back to regain what knowledge I lost in the future if it were possible- but I already paid majority of the program and got very little out of it other than a heavy dose of reality. I don't hate you guys. I loved your instructors while I was there- their enthusiasm for teaching shown brightly and helped keep my self-confidence afloat when I struggled. You show some promise in respects to bootcamps such as yourself, but this policy really leaves a bad taste in anyone's mouth who is dealt with it. Reflect.. Learn.. and improve as I have done since I have left this cohort.
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Isaac Ludlow
JavaScript Graduate
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Eleven Fifty is a great program and offers very talented instructors. I was thoroughly impressed at how willing to help each of the instructors are. This is a very tough course and your learning curve will no doubt skyrocket. As long as you love to learn and aren't afraid to ask for help, you will excel in the program.
The staff are still trying to improve curriculum and are trying different things to see what works best. There are some things that still need to be ironed out, but you really can't complain because of how robust the rest of their program is.
I was would like to see a little more help with trying to find a job. While a lot of students are held other jobs, there are a good amount of young students, such as myself, who are straight out of high school and it would be really helpful to have some guidance with job searching.
Overall I would highly recommend Eleven Fifty and their program.
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Kaylea Britton
Graduate - JavaScriptAugust2017Cohort
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I just graduated from Eleven Fifty Academy last week and am overall happy with my experience. I have specific things I liked that I will talk about but I will also touch on some things I didn't like and wish I had known before I started in August to better prepare.
First things first is that I do have a paid internship lined up that I will be starting within the next month. I received the offer for this before the bootcamp was even finished. Full disclosure, getting the internship had way more to do with my network, personality, and state grant that provides funding for training and employment than my technical training or Eleven Fifty's job placement.
I really enjoyed the cohort experience but it worked as well as it did because of the personalities in my cohort. The staff at Eleven Fifty is wonderful and I don't have any complaints about them other than that sometimes it seemed that they forgot that we are all adults. For example, there are 2 points throughout the bootcamp at which a student may be asked to leave the program due to poor performance. We had 2 students leave at the first checkpoint and there was no discussion in class about it until another student asked. I understand discretion, but at that point we had been there for 3 weeks and were starting to develop friendships. We wanted to know if we weren't going to see certain classmates again.
The curriculum was good and bad. The first 4 weeks of curriculum went fairly well but from there things fell apart in my opinion. The class dynamic still held on strong though and that made up for the curriculum short falls.
Eleven Fifty intentionally provides a lot of instruction at the beginning of the bootcamp and gradually lessens it so that you are teaching yourself at the end. This insures that you can be a lifelong learner and that you can work yourself through an issue when you are on the job. With our cohort though, it seemed less gradual and more abrupt. Our time with AJAX, Express, Mongo, React/Redux, and Angular could have been much more productive and meaningful if they had provided one day of instruction and 4 days of self-teaching for each of the topics instead of the way they chose to do it.
With that being said, no one ever gave me the impression that they would teach us "everything". They were very open about that from the start, I just didn't understand how that would play out and could have prepared more if I had. The full blame for this time is not on Eleven Fifty, however, as I had classmates who walked away from those weeks with a lot of knowledge and understanding, but there was still a good group of us who felt the opposite.
While Chris is absolutely amazing and incredibly helpful, I gave job assistance a 4 because Eleven Fifty does not guarantee you a job. For the price tag, it's hard to sign up for programs like these when the outcome is unsure. There is an expectation that the student be in control of their future but I know that this was hard for me to accept and almost stopped me from signing up. Chris provided a lot of assistance for me with my resume and organizing the grant requirements for my internship but I was never presented with an employment opportunity by him or anyone else at Eleven Fifty other than a fellow student. The mock interviews that you participate in can result in job offers but it only happens if that company is hiring and usually requires that you see the same company for your soft skills and technical mock interviews. This didn't work out for my cohort because of some students in the class not effectively preparing for the soft skills interview, which ruined it for the rest of us.
There were at least 2 students who received offers from mock interviews but in a cohort of 21 that isn't reassuring and only happened because their interviewers also asked technical questions during the soft skills interview. Perhaps the solution is to have the interviews last longer, be both soft skills and technical in one sitting, and happen twice throughout the bootcamp. That way students can see one employer at week 8 and another at week 12, if they don't get an offer from the first.
Again, overall I am happy with my experience I just would have liked for better outcomes for my classmates. There are about 20 of us who graduated and I know of 4 of us who have accepted job offers. Again, a large part of that falls to the individual students' shortfalls, but there is more that can be done to improve this. Some of the necessary steps to success were presented as though they were options and I think simply changing the language that is used can help a lot of students better prepare.
The big question is would I do it all again? The answer is yes, although I would buy additional resources for the subjects I mentioned above and probably try to spend even more time at school studying even though I put at least 2 extra hours in each day already.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Nov 08, 2017
Wow! We really appreciate some thoughtful comments and thoughts on our program.
We assure you we review all of these comments and your input will be reviewed and considered for improvements to our courses.
We look forward to hearing more about your continued success! -
Madyson Ward
August 2017 JavaScript Cohort
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At Eleven Fifty Academy, you're not only taught the fundamentals, but also given the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to excel within the program AND in the workforce. The staff put in endless hours to help each and every student succeed and reach/be put on track to reach their goals. You are given honest, helpful feedback in your work and transactions with others, and provided with many opportunities to better yourself as a coder every day there (and not just through coding!). The instructors connect well with the students and go above and beyond to encourage student's learning in their own styles. The curriculum is very evident in how well-planned and thought out it is. The career-readiness prep is extremely helpful and sets you up for success (I even accepted a job offer on my second to last day!). The administrative staff cares a lot about the students and constantly pushes them to be even better than the day before (literally!), and the President has a very hands-on approach in guiding this program down the best path. My experience at Eleven Fifty Academy was truly exceptional, and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone wanting an accelerated, very intensive path into the tech industry.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Nov 08, 2017
Wow! Thank you for taking the time to post this response. This is what the staff lives for (your success)
Please don't be a stranger and keep in touch on your professional journey. -
Nathan Bogan
JavaScript
This is a good course. I learned a lot in a short time. It is a difficult course, but everyone who put in the work passed the course and is on a good path. I had a job lined up before school ended. I would recommend this to almost anyone.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Nov 08, 2017
We are pleased to hear your comments and successful transition into a software development career. Keep the feedback coming and don't be a stranger! -
Lindsay
Jumpstarted my career...right out of highschool!
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Looking for a career path that didn't involve four years of school (and waaay too much student debt), I stumbled upon coding bootcamps and Eleven Fifty in particular because of my current location. The counselors were very encouraging from the very beginning and I was also able to get a good scholarship...make sure you ask about qualifying for scholarships! They were also very understanding of the fact that I had a long drive to and from school, and in bad weather always expressed concern and we were able to work around days when I wasn't able to be in due to the road conditions. Every teacher and mentor there was always available, even after school hours and after the class graduated. They were very supportive as I interviewed and looked for a job, which came in handy because I was searching for two months. After two months of studying full time for the interviews I got, meeting everyone in the field that I could, and very intentionally making every connection I could make, I got the developer job of my dreams! Waiting for the right work culture is absolutely crucial, and Eleven Fifty helped me every step of the way. The only Con I can see is that they are constantly evolving and tweaking their process, which leads to some days and details of confusion, but ultimately change is necessary to growth and I believe they are growing in all the right ways. Absolutely would recommend to anyone willing to put in hard work for 12 weeks, and reap the benefits afterwards. When you really put your mind to it, you can accomplish so much, and at Eleven Fifty you will build real life projects with your own code, instead of studying abstract principles from a textbook.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
Qualls
Nov 08, 2017
You are truly a rockstar! We'd loved having you in the course and seeing your success.
Knowing our values of genuine and authentic interactions, all your feedback will be carefully considered for improving our program. Please stay in touch! -
Joe Blommel
.NET Track Review
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This was a big chance I took by doing the .NET track because I had no experience in development other than taking 1 c++ class in college.I decideded I needed a career change. I quit my job and the next week was in class for the track. The instructors were great, and I gained a lot of experience in an extremely short amount of time. I also got help finding a job after the track was over and that helped tremendously. The instructors are definitely there to teach and care about you learning as much as you can, and I still keep in touch after graduating. The people there really care about what they are doing and make sure as many people as possible succeed, as long as they dedicate themselves and are engaged as much as they can be. You get out of this what you put in.
A note of caution: this will not be easy, it will be challenging. I have a degree in risk management and finance from Butler University in addition to doing this track, so that is what I used as a benchmark for the class. You will be pushed and will get extremely frustrated at times. It all really does get you ready for a job afterwards.
The reward is there, and by that I mean marketable job and coding skills to get you in the door somewhere, but you will have to work at it, and really stay focused and absorb all the information you can.
Overall, this was one of the best decisions I ever made and wouldn't have had it any other way.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear reviewer,
Wow! You are amazing.
Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your journey.
Also, thanks for setting the right expectations. Nothing worth doing is going to be easy.
Very proud to hear about your success. That's what keeps us going during the tough times. -
Travis Falls
Great Experience
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I found Eleven Fifty when I was looking to change careers. If you are in the same boat, then Eleven Fifty is a great choice. Though the Java Accelerated Learning Program was difficult and a lot to process in such a small amount of time, it has enabled me to quickly change careers to something that I really enjoy (and get paid better doing it)!
The instructors and staff really care about you and your success. I especially loved how much they focused on teaching us about soft skills as well as the hard, programming skills. When you finish the program, you have the skills and confidence to go out and land a great job. Not only that, but they have stayed in contact and have always been a great resource well beyond the course.
This will not be an easy experience for you, but it will be rewarding if you work hard and stick with it. I went from dreading getting up and going to work to being excited about what I was doing. I'm not sure I could have made that transition so quickly without Eleven Fifty.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear reviewer,
So happy to hear about your positive experience with our program. Sounds like you took advantage of the opportunity.
Keep up the feedback (positive and critical)
We're committed to constantly improve the programs and experience. -
Carolyn Harris
Awesome Experience
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I really loved my experience at 1150. Despite being the first java cohort, the curriculum was interesting, relevant and thoughtfully put together, even though there were some kinks in the system as we went, they made sure that they worked them out so we could have a great experience. The instructors are some of the most kind and caring people you could ever meet. They go super far above and beyond to make sure everybody gets the help they need. I took this course to transition to a career in software development, and even though we finished right around the holidays, I had a job within a month making the most money I've made in my life! Can't thank 1150 enough for everything!!
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear reviewer,
Glad we made the experience worthwhile! Keep the feedback coming. We're always looking to improve. -
Steve Richards
Java ALP
9 week course with apprenticeshipJohn Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Not a lot of detail here :-)
Keep up the feedback, always looking to improve. -
Evan Reller
Exceptional program
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Eleven Fifty Academy (EFA) offers a great immersive nine-week learning program that also included an additional 12 week apprenticeship designed to help get you in the field. The instructors are fantastic and I would count them among the best I've ever had in my life.
The level of support and attention that Eleven Fifty offers is second to none. They are tied to your success reputationally and financially, which means they are actually invested in your employment. Traditional education (college) is great, but they don't care whether or not you get a job in the field. EFA is completely geared to getting you started in a coding job quickly.
The staff from top to bottom is great and I cannot recommend this program enough.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear reviewer,
Can't thank you enough for making the investment in yourself and our small part in it.
We are committed to completion with a purpose of self-actualization. (aka A Job) -
Anonymous
Ehh....
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I was disappointed by my experience. I would have given 5 stars if the instructor had been better. I would have even taken more classes.
Con: The instructor was far too inexperienced to be teaching. He didn’t know how to explain or answer questions. He expected us to catch on right away without any explanations. Any wrong answer would result in eye rolling or mocking. It was clear that they needed someone with more experience teaching.
Pro: The environment and vibe is really fun. They try to make sure you feel welcomed and try to encourage a sense of community.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear Reviewer,
Could you share which course you took? Did you put these comments into your exit survey?
We're always looking to improve the experience and the instruction.
You can reach me directly at jqualls@elevenfifty.org
We've come a long way and we'd love to have you again. -
Anonymous
Intro to Coding Course Review
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I took the Intro to Coding course during a weekend and I loved it. The instructor was great; I had no coding experience prior to taking this course. Our instructor was helpful and so patient with everyone. The environment was amazing; everyone in the class helped each other as we worked through the problems and all of our needs were taken care of. The staff were friendly and made sure everyone was happy. The course was challenging but great because I was able to be exposed to what coding really is. I hope to take the next course in the near future to continue learning about writing code. I would suggest this course to anyone because anyone can learn how to code!
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear Reviewer,
Thanks for taking the time to write this note. We believe the student experience is just as important as the technical learning. -
Shirley F Grigsby
Newbies read this!
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Eleven Fifty is an excellent school for those wanting to learn about coding for either recreation or professional needs. I had zero experience in Coding, but after taking the Intro course, I felt confident to pursue Coding as a potential career. The facility is amazing, the hospitality of staff is awesome and the instructors are exceptional. The instructor created a climate of openess and that no question was a stupid question. I would reccommend Eleven Fifty to anyone looking to learn Coding.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your kind words.
We don't just want to teach you coding skills. We want you to be a craftsman that takes full advantage of the opportunity to be a software professional. The experience we deliver and ultimately your sucess is the outcome we seek.
Look forward to seeing you in more classes! -
Jeff Hooton
Immersion Learning with a Second Step
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This bootcamp has been extremely helpful in my career change. The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and patient with the students. The facilities were incredible and all of our needs were taken care of, allowing us to concentrate fully on learning.
Immediately after completing my course I was allowed to apply for an apprenticeship with the consulting firm and promptly received an offer. This has been the best learning experience I have ever had and has definitely prepared me for a career change into the software engineering field.John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for your kind words. It's clear you took the bull by the horns and made the effort to earn you way into a career.
We're humbled to have been a part of it.
Hope to hear more about your success and love to see you volunteer and keep involved in the ecosystem. -
Michael McKinley
Intro to iOS Course
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I took the intro to iOS course at Eleven Fifty in January of 2015, with absolutely no computer programming background. I was lucky enough to be offered an apprenticeship a month or so after completing the week long, immersive coding class. Since starting as a full-time employee for Eleven Fifty in March, my knowledge of development and experience consulting real-world clients has expanded tremendously. I have now submitted two, going on three, apps the app store. I have learned so much from my fellow apprentices, and especially our senior developers. This experience has given me the skills I need to ultimately get a job elsewhere doing what I love, which I would have never been able to say prior to enrolling at Eleven Fifty.
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 24, 2017
Wow! We'd love to hear more about the apps you have in the published so we can share with our community. -
Levi Emanuel VanWinkle
Intro to iOS (course)
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Course: Intro to iOS- Crash course-style learning, good for introducing a person to a lot of information at once in a short period of time. Very knowledged/skilled instructors that teach practice instead of just theory in a field-submersive environment, where the student is always in the code doing it themselves. Instructors not only teach, but work it in their career and have years (some with decades) of experience in programming and the business of it.
Welcoming environment for beginners like me- never felt out of place. Definitely worth looking into!
John Qualls of Blaizing Academy
President
Apr 20, 2017
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your kind words. We've come a long way since your visit. Hope to see you in new classes soon! (or volunteer in the community to give back!)