GW Boot Camps

With interactive activities and comprehensive projects, I was able to turn my knowledge into action. This boot camp provided ample support outside the classroom and constructive feedback on each graded activity. All in-class activities were well explained. Each class had a new topic broken down into laymen's terms for people (myself included) with no experience in the field. It was easy to follow, if I had any questions I felt invited to ask the instructors. Both the instructor and TAs were reliable and respectable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this boot camp to my friends or family!

This course taught me I am so much more capable than I think I am. Growing up, I didn't think I was any good with computers or coding and that there wouldn't be a place for me in the tech industry. However, I was unhappy with my current job prospects as someone with chemistry/biology degrees and knew I wanted something that allowed for more creativity while still being challenging. I had doubts from time to time as to whether I would finish the course with the confidence to break into the tech industry, but I made it and I surprised myself with straight 100s on every assignment. I've made lifelong friends too, which I didn't think would happen as an introvert. I'm grateful for the opportunity. The only thing I might suggest to the Bootcamp Team is that I would've appreciated it if my assignments provided some real-world advice if there's nothing to critique.

I took the data analytics bootcamp with little programming background, yet for the sole purpose of improving my skills as entrepreneur, or better put, “not to be dumb in today's data driven/informed world”. What I experienced was far more than what I expected. After 6 months of the bootcamp, I was not just equipped with skills to confidently use python to extract data from different sources, transform and load it into databases (including into salesforce as a bonus), analyzing the data and building predictive models with machine learning and finally visualizing the results with a professional look using JavaScript, but the bootcamp covered a very wide range of topics with a hands on approach that helped one to learn how to work in teams and even lead. 

My experience goes without mentioning my instructor, Dartanion Williams and his team. Dartanion did not only put in the hours but will cunningly used a combination of tough love and loads of patience such that no one was left behind, and yet those sought a more challenging experience were satisfied too. More personally, I was coached on team management skills in the world of programming and data analysis-a priceless lesson for any entrepreneur. This is a bootcamp I would recommend without hesitation to anyone with dedication to see it through.

Normally I don't write reviews but this class was so amazing. I know a huge part of it came for my amazing teacher Dartanion Williams. His teaching technique is phenomenal. I heard he was one of the best teachers so I actually waited to get in his class. The rumors of his amazing teaching technique was ALL TRUE!!! Wow. I learned so much. I was alittle scared in the beginning but all the hard work and help for Dart paid off. From Advance Excel (VBA), Python (Panda Libraries), API, SQL, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Machine Learning and more. The list goes on. He breaks things down to a science and I can't believe I completed this class with all this knowledge. I am apart of the Dartlings. A special thank you to Dartanion and Gemini so all the support and knowledge. This was the best bootcamp ever. 

I am a recent graduate of the Data Analytics Bootcamp. As someone who severely lacks skill in algebra, logic, and statistics, to practically pro-coder after this course, I can absolutely attest with unwavering support that this program is career-changing. I had the pleasure of being instructed by Dartanion Williams and academically supported by Gemini Sanford. The teaching presence was a remarkable dream team that made dense content easy, enjoyable and encouraged an insatiable hunger for ever-growing knowledge regarding data analytics. Although it's a lot of work and requires a fair amount of commitment, every grueling hour is indisputably worth it. I cannot express enough positivity or testimony in support of this Bootcamp.

I went through the Fintech Bootcamp. It was a six months period.  I had Mr. Dawson as my Instructor and Yohan as my TA. I learned a lot with financial technological tools and a lot of Data Science tools. Their patience and knowledge definitely made this learning process easier for me to learn. I was introduced to a lot new tools, skills and techniques to help me further my career in Fintech/Data Science and also as a programmer - which is my current profession. There is so much to learn - one reason I did the bootcamp is to be able to learn to current tools in a structured manner  - and with GW Bootcamp, I wasn't disappointed.

This was an immersive program that presented a broad overview of concepts underlying cybersecurity, including network and system administration, attacks, defense, and analysis.  The instructors were extremely knowledgeable, and used their real-world experience to help us navigate both theoretical and practical applications of important cybersecurity concepts.  The structure of the course was also perfect for a full time professional who needs both accountability and flexibility.  

One of the best aspects of the class is that even though a lot of time is devoted to understanding the basics, the curriculum required that we complete several projects involving beginner/immediate penetration testing concepts and efforts.  We then analyzed those efforts from both offensive and defensive perspectives. In short, we got to wear both red and blue hats, and so had to think about the same problem from multiple angles.  This strikes me as a practical and useful approach to learning cybersecurity.  

Finally, the other great thing about this program is the availability of the instructors, tutors, career services professionals, and program success managers.  Everyone bends over backwards to make themselves available for questions, and to ensure that you get the most "bang for your buck".  

The only negative feedback I would give relates to some of the instructions in the specific course materials.  In some cases, we would complete activities that would ultimately need to be memorialized in a report or presentation; however, the specific activity instruction would omit some of the steps or work that would ultimately be needed to complete the corresponding report or presentation.  So, we would have to work through a particular problem or step a second time.  While this was good for gaining additional practice, it was sometimes incompatible with time constraints and deadlines.  

This program was possibly one of the best learning experiences I've ever had.  It's not often that you go into something as murky as a career change knowing exactly what you want to do.  In 2019, I decided I was going to switch careers to cyber security.  I had no idea how I would get there, how much work it would take, or how long.  But on the advice of several people much smarter than me I decided to sign up for this boot camp.  It's honestly changed my life.

From the course content to the instructional team, everything was constructed to make sure you had every opportunity to learn, and got all of the support you needed.  For me personally the biggest highlight was my instructional team.  Our instructor, Rashed Rabie, was always willing to go the extra mile to make sure we understood the concepts we were learning and consistently provided opportunities to expand on these concepts.  our TAs Niyah Lester and Christian Tremp were always available to answer questions while still encouraging us to go the extra step to figure it out on our own.  Our Student Success Manager Gemini Sanford was always present and available to ensure that we had everything we needed to make sure our experience was as smooth as possible.  Even more so when the pandemic hit and we we're forced to go remote.  They've sparked a passion and love for this field, and I've continued learning researching and growing even after the boot camp ended.

I could literally, right a novel about my experience (I still might), but I just want to say thank you to everyone on my instructional team, everyone at the Hyatt, and everyone at GW.  I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.  Also, I think the hotel owes Rashed a coffee maker.

The people at GW Boot Camp are just the best.  You can get the program details elsewhere, but if you want an in-depth preview of who you will work with as a new student, read on:
Each class was led by our instructor, Gary.  Every day he greeted us warmly, always in a good mood, and got to know each of us (even quiet people like me) as individuals.  You really want to log in to class every morning just to hear Gary tell another story from his time in the tech world, or to hear him crack a joke.  He always stayed late and showed up early for ‘office hours,’ where he can help you navigate your way out of any coding challenge.
Our TAs, Dan and Erick, were just as awesome.  They helped bridge connections in your brain by explaining tricky concepts in plain language. Any time you have a question and don’t want to interrupt the lecture for it, Dan and Erick were there to help you 1-on-1.  You can even ask them in a direct message if you don’t feel like sharing your question with the class.  They’re both knowledgeable and friendly, and are always ready to help.
The admin and career support staff are just as fantastic.  Gemini, the Student Success Manager, guides the meta of your development as a student and a coder.  She is very friendly and helpful, and she’ll be in contact with you regularly and will quickly answer any big questions or concerns you might have.  Her regular emails are encouraging and she has great resources on combating stress and ‘impostor syndrome.’  Best of all, Gemini is your audience for your major projects.  She offers you a world of encouragement, feedback and keen insight into how to bring your coding ideas to market.  This is great practice for showing off your projects to prospective employers. She even has an adorable pet pig who will show up at presentation time to help put your mind at ease.
Finally, Christy will help guide you with the transition from coder to student.  As Career Director, Christy helps you organize and perfect your professional materials so you’re ready to enter the job market.  She shows you how to turn a stack of class projects into a strong portfolio. The interview practice and networking insight she has given me since graduation alone is excellent.
Not only will Gary, Dan and Erick remain my favorite teachers for years to come, but I am still getting ongoing career support from Gemini and Christy in the few weeks since graduation. I couldn’t be more grateful for all their help and have never been more prepared to enter the job market.  In an environment like this one, every positive person on your side is worth their weight in gold-- and the people at GW Boot Camp are the new gold standard.

I came into the program with the idea that I wanted to change careers, but I was not completely confident that I would be able to pick up so many skills in a 6-month time frame. The pace of the program is aggressive, but Dartanion is one of the best teachers I've ever had, full stop. He makes the pace manageable, the classes fun and it's evident that he truly cares about the successes of his students, both during and after the class ends. When you're going into a program like this where you know so much material is going to be covered, it is such a confidence booster to know you have this type of support and it has truly made the difference for me as I finish up.

Not only does he possess an encyclopedic knowledge of each programming language/library/software or topic covered in the course, he is an exceptional communicator that can break down the most advanced concepts and make the instruction relatable to you, regardless of your skill-set coming in. 

He is also someone who is so completely immersed in the data industry/community and is willing to help. Whether you need to discuss a concept, a gentle nudge with an assignment or just want to converse about an interesting data-related topic outside of class, Dartanion not only makes himself available, but so clearly displays passion for not only the topic at hand, but empowering you to understand and execute your vision. It was intimidating to come into this course with very little coding experience, but having someone like Dartanion who is definitely an expert, but more importantly relatable and approachable, really helped me take the next step as I was not afraid to ask questions or to reach out.

The classes are highly-structured and the syllabus is clear in terms of how you will be building up different skill sets, but doing so with the understanding of how each each concept/topic relates to each other and will work together as you build full-stack projects. The collaboration on the projects is a fantastic dimension, as it prepares you for professional environments where project management and collaboration are essential. 

The balance between homework assignments and reviewing class material, while challenging, is certainly manageable and the assignments really allow you to practice, which is clearly the key to immersing yourself in the material. The TA's provide timely and helpful feedback on both in-class and homework assignments, the Student Success Managers are there to assist and are willing to work with you. It's clear they truly understand the challenge of balancing this course with life and your work schedule.  The Career Counselors are quite helpful and work hard to help you, wherever you are on the job spectrum.

This has been a fantastic experience and I highly recommend the course to anyone interested in Data Analtytics, regardless of your experience or job status!

 Six months ago, I felt hopeless in our technology-driven world. I did not even know what an IP address was. The command line was like a black beast for me and I could not interact with a computer outside of a very friendly graphical user interface. I decided to enroll in George Washington University Cybersecurity Bootcamp.


My journey in the Bootcamp has been one of the best learning experiences in my life. The multidisciplinary approach of the curriculum helped me earned my CompTIA Security+ certification. Today, as I am graduating from the Bootcamp, I have a clear understanding about the tactics, techniques, and procedures an attacker may use for initial access, execution, persistence, privilege escalation, defense evasion, credential access, discovery, lateral movement, collection, command and control, as they compromise a victim’s network infrastructure.


Knowledge of attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures coupled with an understanding of secure network design gives me an edge when it comes to defending a network against cyber-attacks. This Bootcamp has transformed me into a cybersecurity professional who not only can leverage tools such as Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit, and many others to assess the vulnerability posture of a network, but also write rules in ELK stack or Splunk to continuously monitor network traffic and stop emerging threats in real-time.


This transformation would have never been possible without the dedication of exceptional teachers, Rashed Rabie who patiently clarified the misunderstanding I had and used different teaching method to make the curriculum accessible for me, Ms. Niya Lester and Christian Tremp who, through their scaffolding techniques guided me to the solution of difficult problems, successfully building me self-esteem in the process, and our beloved administrator, Ms. Gemini Sanford, who has remained present throughout the Bootcamp to make sure we had had everything we needed to succeed.


 

The GW Coding bootcamp has been the most rewarding experince of my life as it relates to eduational institutions. I came from a non IT background and the course got me from nothing to a whole lot more with the ability to understand programming in HTML, JavaScript, CSS, React, Mongo , Express and Node. The instructors were amazing with a great supporting cast of teching assistants who were passionate about teaching and helping. More so the Administration staff was excellent and very supportive. They supported me through my time in the BootCamp and made a graduate of the GW Coding Bootcamp . 

I had very little programming experience prior to the GW boot camp and after the 6 month part-time program (which I would recommend over full-time) I feel that I now have a very solid foundation to build on. I signed up for the course because I wanted to make a career change from a different field and didn't really have any technical skills. I am now confident that what I learned in this program will be very helpful with landing a new job.

My instructor was very knowledgable and had an engaging teaching style, which made the 3 hour classes go by fast. The TAs were also very helpful and responsive whenever I ran into problems. Career services were a great resource for things like resume writing, interview prep, and one-on-one career coaching.

Some of the material was covered for a very short amount of time (like Java), but I appreciated the introductions, even though they were brief. Self study is a huge part of your success in this program, so if you are not able to commit 100% it is easy to fall behind. Be prepared to spend at least 10-15 hours a week outside of class. But if you stay committed throughout the program it is managable, even if you are working full-time.

Overall I'm very happy I decided to take the course, and would recommend it to anyone that's thinking seriously about making a career transition or adding to their technical skillset. 

Signed up for the GW coding bootcamp as part of my attempt to make a career transition and was successful in finding a job before the course was over. Course gave me insight into tech that I hadn't gotten familiar with yet and let me deep dive into programming. TAs in particular were very helpful when it came to job searching. Very happy with my choice to take this bootcamp

My biggest complaints: Some of the cirriculum choices, I'm not sure weeks were needed for things like Firebase or Handlebars and would have happily taken extra time with React (in particular) or something more prominent in the industry like a brief intro into AWS. I do believe they are getting rid of Firebase for AWS in the future, at least.

My biggest advice to anyone going in is that you need to be realistic about the amount of time that you can put into the bootcamp. If you think that you are just going to attend class and that'll be enough to get a job after, think again. They say put it in at least 20 hours outside of class, but the more the better. Do your own projects outside of class, go deeper than the course does into things like React. 

I thought the program was very valuable and useful.  We covered a lot of material during the course.  In some cases, I think it would have been more valuable to slow down and make sure the core concepts were understood before moving onto other areas.  But for the most part, the course was well run.  Here are some special notes to consider before taking the class:

- Take at least one course in Python on udemy.com before beginning this course.  it will make the learning more valuable. 

- You need to commit time to homework every week, probably no less than 8 hours.  The homeworks are like projects and require a lot of work. 

- It would be best to get a tutor to help you if you fall behind.  I ended up needing one because I feel too far behind.  If I got one early on, I probably wouldn't have got so far behind.

Our class thought us a lot of new technologies and skills. Although I have no coding background, they explained things really well. Our instructors and TA's are all patient with of us. We also got a lot of academic and emotional support. Gemini Stanford is also an awesome admin. She will try her best to help for you make it through the bootcamp. She will listen to your needs and would try to resolve any issues you experience in the class.

I was part of the just ended GW Data Analytics cohort. Dartanion was my instructor and he is simply the most dedicated ,detailed and all around experienced Data Scientist and instructor I know. It is one thing to be knowlegeable in this filed, it is another to succesfully impact that knowledge to other poeple. Some of us had no coding experience whatsoever and we finished this course creating some really cool apps. Forever, we will be his Dartlings.

GW Boot Camp offers the MERN-stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), and related techonologies toward them, unlike other places where the curriculumn is like a jumbalaya of different technologies. I understand that DMV area has a lot enterprise businesses that may use Angular, but as time goes on, React is becoming more and more popular, so that was my main focus point for choosing GW Boot Camp (At the time of writing this review, Microsoft enabled React Native on all of their platforms, including Windows, Xbox, etc..) 

 

The instructor seem very knowledgable, and the TA's were very encouraging, given they finished their cohort prior to ours. The Student Success Manager (SSM) is also very kind, and very helpful, her goal was to make sure we passed the course and we were treated fairly.  

Regarding career services, they are available to help you, and I personally got the help to write a resume and a cover letter. My counselor personally helped my by making sure I was actively looking, which YOU HAVE TO DO. 

 

Overall, I do recommend GW Coding Boot camp. It was a life changing course because you know that if you want to be a developer, you are willing to be a forever-learner. And that's what the Boot Camp taught me. How to learn, and how to effienciently apply what I learned. 

I'm taking the data analytics & visualization bootcamp at GW. I'm hoping to get into the a career in journalism dataviz. I'm learning exactly what I need to in this program, and building a portfolio as I go. It can be difficult to stay engaged in work in the evening after a full day's work at a desk, but my instructor makes the class very engaging and since we're working as we learn instead of just listening to a lecture, it is not hard to follow along. Plus, it's only 6 months long so it's a great option if you're hoping to quickly learn and put in the effort to change career paths or expand your knowledge in data analytics.

The GW full stack program has awesome instructors and teaching assistants. They really cared about our progress and learning in the program, and would go out of their way to make sure that we had the level of support we needed. The best part of the program, different from other bootcamps that I found during my research, was that we got to design our own apps for each of the four projects. This allowed me to delve into some GIS technologies that I was interested in but that we didn't cover in classroom instruction. After the bootcamp, I was able to get a job creating GIS and mapping apps because of those projects I had built! If you're willing to do the work and want to change your life, don't hesitate.

I am a little over halfway through the 24 week full stack web development boot camp.

Everything has been great, and I have received a lot of support.

• The instructors are experienced, humorous, and engaging. They work full time in web development.
• The teaching assistants help us if we get stuck on an exercise during class or on homework.
• The student success manager keeps the overall program on track and checks in with each student periodically to ensure they are having a positive experience.
• The career support staff has helped us improve our LinkedIn profiles, resumes, and elevator speech. They have also facilitated some practice behavioral interviews. This is the best career support I have ever received.

Before enrolling, I was wary of the boot camp model. I did a lot of research and talked to two friends who went to GW. I wanted to make sure this was legitimate. My fears were unfounded. This has turned out to be a worthwhile experience.

My section (about 20 students) meets Monday and Wednesday nights 6:30 - 9:30 PM. There is another section on Tuesday and Thursday nights 6:30 - 9:30 PM. Both sections come together on Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Saturdays are usually focused on group projects and breakout activities.

Periodically, I have had to switch from a Wednesday night to a Thursday night, and it has worked smoothly. The students and instructor in the other section are welcoming and supportive.

I usually attend in person. Hoever, some people usually attend remotely via the live video feed. If we are going to do a group project, they encourage us to attend in person.

Most of my classmates are younger than me, but they have been very welcoming.

Each week, I work 40 hours at my job, attend 10 hours of boot camp classes, and do 10+ hours of studying and homework. There is so much to learn that I could spend 20+ hours on studying and homework. I wish I had more time. The homework and projects are not easy, but I have learned a lot.

I cannot think of anything that the boot camp could do to improve.

I decided to change my career after being in the service/hospitality industry for almost twenty years. I decided and wrote down two things. The first was Data Analyst. The second, well. Yet, the bootcamp I joined is a twenty four week course which sounded exceptional as opposed to a twelve week course. I didn't have a background in technology, mainly in POS systems such as Micros, PosiTouch and recently Toast. I can scan the S' of something, yet when it came down to coding I didn't know s'. It took a bit to catch up and truthfully I am still 25% there. I suggest that if you decide to this course of action that you do. The world needs people to change the world of those who try to harm it. And this is one of the ways.

The GW UI/UX Design bootcamp is challenging and effective. You will complete this program having senior-level designer knowledge if you take it upon yourself to ensure you do the hard work of making sure you learn how to do everything this course expects of you. This program provides a thorough foundation of knowledge and covers every base. When I look at websites now on the internet, I see how much I know now, and I see what other designers didn't learn properly. My recommendation for prospective students is to take the beginner and advanced Figma courses (offered through Figma) either as you progress through the bootcamp or before the bootcamp start date. It's not absolutely necessary, but if you're older like me and/or if you don't already work in tech, you will especially benefit from it. I highly recommend this bootcamp! 

Fast-paced class, but it’s expected because you learn the skills to be a well-rounded candidate in the industry. Data analytics is becoming a standard skill in all industries now and from this program I was able to apply my new skills at my current job and was able to identify opportunities for improvement. The instructors were top notch! Aside from the instructors being knowledgeable and experienced they were very committed to helping you succeed. From experience if you fall behind, do not fake it and do not wait, just ask for help. It’s better to spend the time going over with help than falling into a three hour rabbit hole.

The Cybersecurity Bootcamp at George Washington University is a fantastic program for anyone interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity. The curriculum is presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way, and the instructors are approachable and knowledgeable. What sets this program apart is the focus on practical skills, which gives students the confidence to apply what they learn in real-world scenarios. Overall, I found the program to be an excellent investment and highly recommend it to anyone interested in this exciting and growing field.

Great Bootcamp. I have learned a lot, Extremely valuable. English is my second language. It was a challenge to complete it, but the teacher and instructors team were always there to help and support us. We covered all the basics of digital marketing. So thankful for everything. I feel so ready to start my campaign from scratch! An excellent learning experience and great content. I highly recommend it.

I signed up for this cybersecurity boot camp with no experience in the field but with a lot of interest and curiosity to learn more about it.  The six month camp covers a wide range of concepts used in cybersecurity.  I must admit, a few times, I found it overwhelming.  The instructor, her TAs and the administrator were always encouraging and willing to help.  It was a challenging and fulfilling experience.  I learned so much about cybersecurity and I am excited to learn more.  

The Beginning:

My first week in Cyber Security Bootcamp seemed to bring a lot of information to take in but I felt I was able to have it all under control. I was changing careers with no IT background but was ready to embark on my new path. Around week 3, I started to get frustrated as everything was moving fast, looking at what syntax to apply, being exposed to new concepts, security programs, confidentiality, risk management, and many other tools within the Cyber Security world.
With my frustration, I was too embarrassed to ask for help because it left me feeling vulnerable with the other students in my class who I safely assumed knew more than I did and later learned we were all in the same boat.

Communication is key:

I thought, here I am a smart woman, I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, a Master's in Terrorism Studies and I can't figure out this Cyber information. Something was not processing in my brain. I reached out to my Student Success Manager, Gemini Sanford who was truly was amazing. Gemini took time to speak to me, hear me out and understood exactly where I was coming from but wanted me to see the process through with her support and guidance. Gemini stayed in constant communication with me to ensure I was receiving the support I needed to succeed. After speaking to Gemini, I understood I had to do my part which was to reach out to my instructor, and teacher assistants if I needed assistance as they would not know I needed help if I didn't say something. 


Within the 30 weeks of boot-camp, we had many activities, some of which we worked on individually and other actives we worked on in group settings. Over the weeks we got to know one other and looked forward to each class session. I learned to ask questions, however, I have to admit my frustration grew but it was because I was being challenged in an unfamiliar area. 

Our instructor, Dan Iannoti did an amazing job to teach this course as he would relate a lot of the material to his personal experience in the Cyber Security Industry which allowed us to understand and process the information. Dan has an extensive background in Cyber Security and has been a great inspiration and leader to our class. I appreciate his willingness to always extend his assistance before and after class. 

Erica Watkins and Anthony Kwon, our teaching assistants were an incredible team. They were patient, extremely helpful and offered assistance before and after class hours. I would have not made it without you. 

Conclusion

If you asked me in the beginning if I would have seen myself completing this course, I would have said no. I had great class team mates. My experience has allowed me to feel empowered within the Cyber Security industry that is ever-growing. This experience has made me confident and continues to be amazing with the ongoing support that I have with the staff at GW Bootcamp. 

I would like to thank Gemini, Dan, Erica, and Anthony for not giving up on me, and knowing I could make it and see this boot camp course through. 

Thank you for reading.

Elsa Clark

It was a really great experience to complete the GW boot camp. The instructor, Dartanion Williams, is a very wonderful and professional person who always is there for students. He just goes beyond your expectation to make sure every single student feels confident about topics. The program covers up-to-date coding and data science topics which can help you feel confident transitioning to a new career or make your current coding career even more solid. I'd suggest this boot camp to anyone who loves to get into a data science career. 

This bootcamp was fantastic! The curriculum was well-structured and covered a series of key skills. The instructor and teaching assistants were knowledgable and dedicated. The modules and courses were hands-on and easy to follow. It accommodated the needs for beginners who are new to this field but also provided challenges to learners who have more background knowledge. During the six months of learning, it was intense, but you had concrete goals to work towards. After the bootcamp, you would gain skills to solve problems and perform projects independently. The overall experience was great and you got so much out of the bootcamp!

I am deeply appreciative of the multiple levels of academic support I received in the Data Analytics Bootcamp. The data analytics “bootcamp” program, by definition, can be formidable.  It becomes increasingly technical and complex.  And it builds on itself, so failure to learn topics at one level have potential to compound at successive levels.  And the fast pace of the program truly never relented.  For good reason then, not everyone makes it through (that’s my understanding).   I came to the program with an undergraduate degree in liberal arts (political science and history majors) from a small liberal arts college and an MBA (focus on strategy and accounting/finance) from a top 20 nationally ranked program.  As part of the MBA program, I had had classes in statistics, forecasting, and operations research.  Beyond that, I also brought more than a decade as a securities investment research analyst and another decade as an investment banker / M&A banker, primarily covering and/or serving the software industry.  In fact, over the decade prior to my data analytics program, I focused on software companies that provide large-scale data analytics and data management capabilities. However, despite my education and experience, which on the surface seem like they should have given me a more resilience in handling the course, I nonetheless experienced serious imposter syndrome during the program. First, I suppose it could be related to my own expectations, which were admittedly high but also self-defeatingly perfectionist.   Second, there seemed to be issues unique to my learning style.  As an example, on some occasions we as a class installed and configured software necessary for the lesson.  However, if your system didn’t install as intended, you could find yourself unable to replicate the exercises and only able to watch what others were doing – or you could work to trouble shoot the installs with the class TAs in a separate breakout room.  Either way, there was a decent chance of falling behind.  For my learning style, it was often enough problematic and frustrating, and it sometimes reached the point of panic.   Third, we would routinely break out into groups to try to use code we had just learned.  Always, someone in the groups would share their screen, and often that individual would power through the solution.  Not everyone would collaborate.  But, from my perspective, many seemed to arrive at the right answer rather quickly.  Often seemingly far more quickly than I.  By contrast, I sometimes wouldn’t catch “small” errors – be they syntax, flow order, logic, etc.  I would fail to remember something or another.  Why?  I could have been tired at the end of that weekday evening, or sleep deprived that weekday morning, or whatever.  Only over time did I realize that my perception wasn’t correct, but not before I became gun-shy in groups. Fourth, I failed to credit real accomplishments.  Right from the first homework assignment, I seemed to perform well on the homework assignments.  I provided myself adequate time to take the assignments as far as I was able.  I got reasonably good at finding answers via Google search, specialty sites like Stack Overflow, specialty articles on Medium or KDnuggets.  I also advocated for myself.  I was a frequent user of AskBCS learning assistance service.  (I never really synched with my first tutor, but I know several of my classmates found good support from their tutors.)  Beyond that, the instructor and the TA staff were incredibly generous with their time.  They often scheduled remedial group sessions above and beyond the class requirements to make sure laggards caught up.  Early on, I attributed my good grades as beginner’s luck.  Then I attributed it to all the support.  The doubts kept creeping into my mind.   The issues quickly compounded, and I began to wonder if I even belonged in the same room as my peers.  The feeling of inadequacy became so strong that once or twice I didn’t join my in-class break-out groups.   Thankfully, the instructor and the TAs didn’t let me fall through the cracks.  I strongly suspect that in other similar programs, it could have been so easy for someone like me to fall through the cracks.  Fortunately, the instructor quickly caught onto something not quite going right for me.  In a private breakout room, he asked me what was going on, so I told him.  With tons of positivity and infectious good humor, the instructor had me walk through what I knew, proving to me that I had learned something after all.  And he bridged the gap to the solution, which also helped me understand just how not far off the mark I actually was.  Obviously, I cannot speak for what the instructor did for others in my class in private one-on-one meetings, but if those encounters and interactions were anything like what he did for me, it was truly great. I also observe that the instructor had several former students attend our classes and presentations.  Their stories and interactive feedback were helpful.  In particular, they related when they began to gain confidence with various languages and particular data analytics skills.  For me, their comments helped to settle nerves and to provide solid grounding for expectations. I did great with Excel, then I “survived” VBA.  In truth, I did reasonably well, but not without sweating through the steep learning curve –a cycle that seemed to repeat with each major learning hurdle.  I hit a wall in Python, but after I fumbled briefly, my performance quickly improved.  I began to really “get” how to do sophisticated data analytics with Python and Pandas.  Then I scorched through SQL, that is until we hit ETL, whereupon I was brought back to earth.  (I later learned there was even a ton more to learn on the DBA side.)  Then I hit several new humbling walls as we launched into JavaScript, some number of associated libraries, web applications, etc.  Other major walls included becoming proficient at passing variables between functions and other chunks of code, using routes in Python to interoperate with JavaScript, etc.  Even using GitHub as a group repository.  While it was all humbling, it was also a great learning experience. It is hard to explain what happened with me.  Despite acing my individual graded assignments, I just was not feeling strong.  I just was not convinced I would be able to competently execute with the tools I was learning.  I was not giving myself legitimate credit.  I so doubted my ability that I could not imagine hiring myself.  I was becoming my own worst critic.   The imposter syndrome gnawing at me from the inside ultimately led to a real crisis.  I feared I would be an impediment to any group I might be assigned on our big, graded group assignments.  And the three group projects were major milestones, were more heavily weighted than individual homework, and were mandatory.  My runaway angst reached the point that I offered to take a failing grade rather than pull a group down.   My fear was no longer a simple issue that could be dealt with by patient but firm encouragement.  With a large class to manage, the instructor decided to involve the student success manager (SSM).  At that moment, my impulse was to flee, to run away despite strongly desiring to be a valuable, integral part of a team.  Thankfully, the SSM, the instructor, and the teams I would be involved with handled me remarkably well.  I was given a safe outlet to explain my fears.  On one occasion, I was given the option of another path -- to go it alone.  And when I opted to return to the original group, the instructor and SSM facilitated my reintegration with the team, despite real awkwardness of the event.  Taken together, these steps allowed me to continue to learn to do data analysis programming in group settings. I ended up with high marks for the entire program and, I think, respect from my peers.  Significantly, on the final, most important group project, my work turned out to be critical and well executed.  (On completion, I journaled the details of my contributions on that project, concluding with, “It was really me.” I also want to point out that the supportive interactions I describe between myself, the SSM, and the instructor occurred multiple times.  That included a number of follow-up checks.  The SSM handled me with the perfect amount of understanding and encouragement.  In the end, I was disabused of my unjustified fears.  Their timely, calibrated support was critical. I suspect I could have been crushed for cause by a different, less understanding, less patient instructor or student success manager.  I am deeply grateful to them and the groups I worked with for giving me a chance to contribute meaningfully, while I wrestled down imposter syndrome.  They gave me the opportunity ultimately to recognize that I produced solid, respectable work that I can take meaningful pride in. I leave the program with solid data analytics skills – and a strong foundation on which to build and shine.  But I also leave the program much stronger emotionally, and much better able to tackle imposter syndrome should I ever encounter it again.

To whom it may concern,                        The past has a way of showing us how we have struggled, and where we have overcome that to find success, or where issues still lie. It is hindsight. It is insight.             With the introduction of normal learning environments in college, I had never found them to be anything more than a conceptualized idea helping to guide minds in the direction that knowledge flows. Dartanion Williams accomplishes this with his instruction, as well as so much more. There was never a moment of time that I did not feel that he was not giving his all to the section. From the first night, to the last day of class, I found that he exuded an aura that helped not only foster a learning community, but also peer to peer exchanging of information in order to better themselves. Students from both sections hold him in high regard, mainly because of his style of teaching, as well as the time that he invests after class, ensuring that any student in need of assistance has it. There were nights where I struggled to with the ability to complete tasks and on those evenings, he worked beside me, listening to me slowly figure things out on the other side of a zoom call, keeping me between the lanes so that I was able to achieve the results that I wanted. The environment that Dart offers is far greater than that of any institution that I have found myself in; while I value my time in college among other places of learning, none took the time that Dartanion did to ensure that I was doing above average work, pushing myself to the next level, and when choosing my final project, taking a chance on myself and going it alone. I would never have risked so much, if not for him, and his belief in me. I would not have challenged myself to go as far as I did, if not for his guidance. 

Data Analytics Boot camp from GW –

Being in the field of Data analytics, I always wanted to improve my skill set in manipulating data or having cool ways to visualize my data. That’s when I came to know about the GW Data Analytics and Visualizations boot camp. I am so happy I had chosen this particular course. I am definitely” WOWED” by the syllabus , the instructors and the admins of this course. I have taken many courses many other places but this team of admin "Gemini Sanford" and teacher "Dartanion Williams" are the best  so far in my experience. Both go overboard and show not just 100% but 200% interest in helping you through the coursework. 

It is definitely a fast paced, highly technical course. If you plan and put aside good time for the course, but again If you are ever stuck the amazing team is available 24 X 7 to help you move over your hurdles. There are always available to help. 

I am so glad I took the right decision; these guys have become my second family. It was the BEST learning experience so far. If you want to learn ways and means to analyze and or visualize your data. You will need to do this course. 

My knowledge in coding was mainly focusing on the application and usage of my day to day portals with what my engineering field requires to deal with,being in advanced engineering fields then shifting to QC. I found that coding can take a different form specially from the security side.
I was looking forward to gaining more knowledge especially after realizing the basic infrastructure that tech knowledge can raise on is cyber security since its unique vision toward the tech world. The GW Cyber Security Bootcamp provided me with the practical tools I needed to succeed plus my instructional team consisted of Gemini, Rashed, Christian, and Niya. Their knowledge about cyber security in different tech areas was great. It helped me to figure out cyber threats , attacks , and how to mitigate them. Their knowledge put me on the track  to discover every new thing about cyber security.They always employed extra effort ensuring  the class stayed focused and on track, and always providing meaningful feedback to ensure that you are  performing at your personal best.I would like to give special thanks to my instructional team.