BrainStation

Brainstation is a complete school talking about IT, IA, and new technology skills. The advisor team is super available to help and bring the results that you expect as a professional. The instructors were not only experienced professionals in the field but also excellent educators. They were approachable, enthusiastic, and always ready to answer questions. The real-world insights they shared and the industry connections they brought to the classroom were invaluable. Read less

My goal in taking this course was to learn more about product management because I was wondering if I should take my career in that direction. I feel that my goals were met. With only a three-hour meeting time once a week for eight weeks, there is only so much material that we could cover, and I knew that going in. That being said, we got a good overview of:

• A day in the life of a product manager
• The role of a product manager throughout the lifecycle of a product, from inception to successful release
• Common tools that product managers use

We were given ample examples provided through the lecture slides but also through our instructors.

Speaking of our instructors, they were very knowledgeable and had years of experience to draw on, which they did often. They were also very enthusiastic and gave me the space in class to answer all of my questions.

I wasn't expecting nor asking to get hands-on help with finding a job in product management. Regarding job assistance, we did have a discussion to go over resources on how to continue learning about product management.

If you're looking for a lower-stakes commitment while still getting the fundamentals, I recommend taking this course. Read less

If you're on the fence about enrolling in Brainstation's Data Analysis course, let me offer a gentle nudge in that direction based on my recent experience.

The course offers a well-crafted curriculum that's perfectly aligned with current industry standards. The breadth and depth of topics covered from topics in Advanced Excel to SQL, R, and Python, these are not just theoretical fillers but actionable skills. What you learn here is instantly transferable to real-world applications.

Brainstation provides hands-on experience with analytic tools that are the gold standard in the industry. From Tableau to Google Analytics, you get to play in the big leagues right from the get-go, setting you up for nothing but success.

There's something particularly helpful about learning a complex subject in a room full of like-minded individuals. The in-person sessions elevate the learning experience to a whole new level. The class felt like a vibrant community, a safe space to ask questions, share insights, or even make a mistake and learn from it.

Finally, I'll rave about Sriram, our course instructor. Sriram's teaching style is a rare blend of expertise and empathy. He brings an incredible depth of knowledge to the table, breaking down complex topics into digestible pieces, while simultaneously creating a warm and welcoming learning environment. You're not just a student in his class — you're an emerging analyst whose potential he's genuinely invested in.

To sum it up, Brainstation's Data Analysis course is not just an educational experience; it's a holistic journey that transforms you into a competent, confident data analyst. It's an investment not just in skill-building, but in lifelong learning and community-building as well. Read less

This class was a great introduction to the fundamentals of digital marketing! It provides a breadth of information of the field, which is exactly what i was looking for since i don’t have experience in digital. 

While it won’t make you an expert on any one thing in particular, it provides you enough to know what you could potentially be interested. 

Jake is also super passionate about the course and helping his students which is a huge plus! He’s very knowledgeable and willing to dive deeper wherever learners are interested.  Read less

Alberto's course was truly enlightening. UX isn't about us—it's about understanding and serving our users. With Alberto at the helm, each lesson feels like an engaging conversation on design rather than mere technical jargon. He brings the human aspect to the forefront, emphasising that behind every design is a real person. Through immersive projects and compelling anecdotes, the learning journey becomes more experiential. And Alberto's exceptional teaching skills elevate the entire experience in to something truly special. Read less

Having no experience in developing, I came out with very good foundational skills from BrainStation. As my title says, it is intensive but rewarding. I committed a lot of my time in to learning and building my skills.  Although it was stressful at certain points of time, I had fun. It was something I've always wanted to do and to be able to create a full-stack application is mind-blowing to me. I never would have thought I would gain these skills within 3 months but here I am. 

Overall, I have no regrets. The dedication and commitment I put into taking this course was rewarding and It was a great experience. Loved the instructors and my classmates! Wishing the best for everyone in their job hunts.




Read less

As a recent university graduate with a background in business, I took this class to understand whether Product Management would be the right career for me. One of my aims was to gain firsthand exposure to the challenges inherent in the role of a Product Manager. The course's project-centric structure facilitated that. Every class was packed with valuable information spanning the entire product lifecycle, from conception to launch. I got out with a newly-found network of like-minded individuals, as well as skills around identifying market opportunities, applying product development methods and the art of prototyping. The instructors Arya and Stacy, both seasoned product managers, delivered complex content in a way that was easy to understand. I found them supplementing theoretical framework with examples drawn from their professional experiences highly valuable. Overall, the Product Management course helped me identify areas for improvement and provided the tools necessary for becoming more well-equipped to embark on this career. I would recommend this course to anyone who is looking to enhance their skill-set and expand their professional network.  Read less

I had a great learning experience at Brainstation. I enrolled in the Product Management course 8 weeks ago with no knowledge of Product Management and now feel informed, more knowledgeable and confident in my skills gained. I appreciate that in class there were moments to apply the information given to us as activities and that our instructors who work in the industry were able to give us personal and professional stories that related to the content being delivered.  Read less

BrainStation Web Development Bootcamp was no joke! It was challenging, fun, rewarding and frustrating at times. I'm very pleased with the outcome of the Bootcamp, I am leaps and bounds ahead of where I would be with self-study. The pace was fast but not overwhelming. It is very do-able to learn how to build a full stack application in 3 months, it does require full dedication and commitment. 
Overall it was a great experience and I'm thrilled I took the course.  Read less

The main reason I chose BrainStation's Full-stack software engineering bootcamp (online, full time) over other online courses was because of their claim to have a "hiring partner network" of over "3500+ companies," and that "90% +" of their graduates find their first job within 6 months of graduating.

Throughout the bootcamp they tout our presentation day as the huge moment where they invite their "industry hiring partners" to watch us present our final projects. At BEST, there is not enough transparency about the nature of their relationship with these "partners" is. When asked, none of the staff would/could provide details regarding how many "partners" attended our online presentation day.

None of the 30 students from my cohort, including myself have received any communications from their hiring partners. It's currently September and we graduated the end of June. Surely out of 3500+ hiring partners, some of them would have to be hiring jr devs on any given day right? BrainStation (BS) mentioned that their hiring partners have contracts with them to consider BS grads when looking for jr devs and BS puts our resumes on their internal network.

Again, at BEST, there is not enough transparency. There are no ways to know how many (if any) partners are hiring at a given time, if they've seen our resume or asked about us, and no way for us to contact them through BS and leverage that alleged connection.

The career services team (CST), not for lack of stellar, positive attitudes, has not aided anyone I know from my cohort in any tangible way to actually get a job, or even an interview for that matter.

Each week in our slack group, someone from the CST posts a couple of job openings. Often, those openings are asking for 1-3 years of experience. In a 1 on 1 meeting with a CST rep, I asked them why they're posting jobs with requirements like that. I was told (with a smile) "Oh, well in BS's intensive bootcamp you've gained the equivalent to 1-3 years experience so you are qualified to apply for those too!".....................

MY COURSE WAS 3 MONTHS LONG. What world do you live in where that magically translates to 1-3 years of real, working experience in the industry????

And how in the world am I to convince recruiters who see my no-dev-experience resume that my 3 month course is equivalent to the 1-3 years of experience that they've paid their jr devs to do?

TL;DR:

BrainStation's claim to have a "hiring partner network" of "3500+ companies" has had no tangible benefit to myself, nor anyone in my cohort. Three months after graduating, none of us have received any communications from their hiring partners.

The curriculum, TA's, and educators are excellent (5 stars), but there are many bootcamps charging the same, or much less (less than half!) to acquire the skills you need with the same level of quality in their course. DO NOT consider BrainStation's hiring partner claims as a benefit when choosing the bootcamp that's right for you. I chose BS because of their hiring partner network claims, but due to a lack of transparency and any tangible benefit for myself and my cohort regarding that network, I give them a punitive 1 star rating. I feel that I was deceived. I could have chosen a much cheaper course (I paid around $16,000 usd for this bootcamp) had I known that their network claims would not have helped me in any way.

Final note, I put in work in the bootcamp! 8 hrs a day of classes and classwork, plus an additional 3-4 hrs daily of self-guided study and practice. I graduated with a 95% overall and a 100% on my final project, and they do not grade lightly. Just so y'all know I'm not some slouch who scraped by and expected a handout.

Fortunately my wife and I have our own companies, so we started a tech branch in one of them and I hired my own damn self.

Since this isn't anonymous, you can see
My portfolio at: austinwisdom.dev 
My github: https://github.com/austinwisdom
My linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinwisdom/

Read less

I joined this bootcamp with minimal prior knowledge of Cybersecurity. My understanding was limited to the notion that Cybersecurity safeguards us against Cyberattacks. However, Ben and Trevor provided comprehensive explanations, delving into Cybersecurity from its broadest aspects down to its minutiae. With each passing week, I absorbed fresh insights into Cybersecurity, fueling my growing fascination with the subject. Additionally, every week featured engaging activities that aligned with the ongoing topic. In summary, it was an excellent bootcamp experience with exceptional instructors. Read less

Despite having worked fairly busy in a business company until now, these past three months have been incredibly busy, sometimes tough, and challenging. This is why I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

In-person experience is a key to learning from my point of view. Online courses may seem cost-effective, but knowing my own personality, I struggle to stay motivated with such materials. Therefore, I opted for an in-person school. I believe it was the right choice in terms of the learning experience. Of course, being able to attend classes on-site and ask questions in person is beneficial, but what's even more important is the presence of practical projects and Demo Day. Being able to learn alongside other students from web development and UX courses and engage in discussions is highly valuable, and I think it's worth attending a physical school.

While the classes were a bit fast-paced, leaving some concerns about the retention rate of learning, I believe that reviewing the material after the school ends will clear up this fog. Read less

I really enjoyed the course and how it helped me give a better understanding of the Digital Marketing world. If you're looking for something to get you through the first step, this is a course for you. It's very beginner-friendly, gives lots of tips/pointers and goes through everything you need to start your journey in Digital Marketing. 

I would have liked to see more in-class activities, and more interactive work vs. going through slides, however, that's a small suggestion I could provide back to the team. We want to be hands-on and do creative work, or have the teachers provide a bit of homework/small tasks for us to do back at home to further strengthen our learning from the slides.

If you are thinking of doing the course, I do recommend doing it in person vs. online - it is so much better and more rewarding.  Read less

I recently completed the 8-week Product Management course offered by BrainStation, and I am delighted to share my experience. From start to finish, this course exceeded my expectations and provided a deep understanding of the field.

The course structure was well-organized and thoughtfully designed. Each Monday session was an engaging blend of theoretical concepts and hands-on activities. The instructors' expertise was evident as they seamlessly navigated through complex topics while ensuring everyone grasped the key takeaways. Their real-world insights added immense value to the learning process.

One of the highlights was the practical application of knowledge. The weekly exercises and group projects mirrored real-world scenarios, allowing us to craft product strategies, define user personas, and create prototypes. These hands-on experiences not only solidified our understanding but also built confidence in our ability to tackle challenges in the field.
Collaboration was encouraged, and BrainStation fostered a collaborative environment both inside and outside the virtual classroom. Peer discussions, group projects, and interactive Q&A sessions facilitated valuable knowledge exchange and networking opportunities.

Moreover, the course addressed a diverse range of topics within product management, leaving no stone unturned. We explored market research, user experience design, agile methodologies, and even received insights into the latest industry trends.

If I were to pinpoint an area for potential improvement, it would be the pacing of certain complex topics. Given the depth of the subject, dedicating additional time to these intricacies could enhance the learning experience further.

In summary, BrainStation's Product Management course provided a solid foundation for anyone aspiring to excel in this dynamic field. The instructors' expertise, the practical approach, and the collaborative environment truly set this course apart. I am leaving the course equipped with valuable skills and a newfound enthusiasm for product management.

A heartfelt thank you to BrainStation for this enriching experience. I look forward to applying the knowledge gained and contributing effectively as a product professional.

Pros:

• Expert instructors with real-world insights
• Hands-on projects for practical experience
• Collaborative learning environment
• Comprehensive coverage of product management topics

Cons:

• Some complex topics might benefit from extended exploration

I highly recommend BrainStation's Product Management course to anyone looking to transition into or enhance their skills in the field. Kudos to the entire BrainStation team for offering a top-notch learning journey!

Read less

After completing the Software Engineering Bootcamp, I got the opportunity to take the Artificial Intelligence course and the in-depth explanations for how AI works on a high level and the detail on how prompt engineering can be handled. It was just a great experience and I cant wait to be able to implement these concepts into my own projects. Read less

I did the 8 weeks UX Design course at Brainstation. I like how the first few classes explain what UX Design is and how to conduct user research before jumping into wireframes, usability, and Figma, which comes in later. I am completely new to the subject, so I feel that I gained a lot from the course. It didn't feel too rushed, everything that was seen in the class was very well explained and the instructors are very patient and well-prepared. I'm not sure if it prepared me enough to work in UX, tho, if anything as an Intern (?) but I don't think as a Junior Designer... On the other hand, some of my peers in the class were already professional designers and I am curious if they felt they learned anything new. Overall I'm happy I took the course, but to work in this field I need to find more and better prepare myself.  Read less