Juno College of Technology Reviews
Page 3
-
Maggie
Life-changing experience!
Read more Read less of Maggie's review
At 34 years old I was stuck in a minimum wage job while trying to run my own small business and I wanted to change the direction of where I was going. Next week, I turn 35 and start my first job in the web dev world as a Junior UX Designer/Developer. I have HackerYou to thank for that! Read on if you'd like to learn more about my journey from Barista to Developer:
At the start of 2018, after a lot of self-reflection and thinking about what I would enjoy doing, I decided to look into UX/UI and web development. At first I was interested in taking HackerYou's part-time UX course, so I set up an in-person consultation with Sam, one of the Admissions Coordinators. We had a great chat, but the UX course was geared towards those who had some experience in the industry/with coding, so he recommended me start with the part-time Web Development course to see if it was something I'd like and be interested in pursuing. Well, I loved it. After that course, I took the part-time JavaScript. I think my instructors Kristen (web dev) and Tiff (JavaScript) had a huge impact on how much I enjoyed learning at HackerYou. I decided to take the next step, applied for bootcamp and got my acceptance letter in June 2018.
You can find the current bootcamp curriculum on HackerYou's site as it changes to keep up-to-date with the ever-changing industry, but in my cohort (Summer 2018), we spent the first couple of weeks revising HTML5 and CSS3, then the bulk of the course focussed on JavaScript, jQuery, React, Firebase, Git and Github. Weekly projects made sure we were practising and using everything we were covering and it also helped with learning how to prioritise our time and work in pairs and groups. The instructor to student ratio was great, so you could quickly ask for help and feedback. By the end of the bootcamp, you will be ready to job hunt with a portfolio site!
What can't be beat is the HackerYou community. I've met the most amazing people in my cohort and made lifelong friends. Everyone had their own origin story and that made it even more interesting and encouraging. There is also so much support in all aspects of the bootcamp. The instructors and staff are all friendly and helpful and they really want their students to succeed. Heather, the CEO worked with us one-on-one after the bootcamp and gave us feedback and advice for our job-hunt. I got my first offer within a month of graduating, and I'm stoked to have had this opportunity.
If you are thinking of a career-change and like learning in a classroom surrounded by amazing students and staff then don't hesitate to choose HackerYou. Set up a consultation, get a feel for the environment and programs, and change your life :) -
KATHERINE NAVARRO
Part-time JS Fundamentals and Advanced
Read more Read less of KATHERINE NAVARRO's review
As an HTML/CSS developer, I have often mulled over learning JavaScript. This past summer, I finally took the leap and enrolled in the part-time JavaScript Fundamentals and Advanced courses at HackerYou.
I chose HackerYou because my daughter is an alumna and I was a first-hand witness to her excellent learning experience when she did the Web Dev course. HackerYou prepared her well for a web development career and gave her confidence to step into the tech world. She enjoyed the HY community so much that after finishing the program, she went back to mentor in a few courses.
Now, I can personally say that it was, indeed, an amazing learning experience! To start, HY is a very welcoming environment. Every HY staff I met was nice. My instructors and mentor (Jordan, Trudy, and Garrett) were knowledgeable and very accommodating; they always made sure no one got left behind in class. I liked the relaxed, but well-structured classes. I never felt uncomfortable asking questions.
The code-alongs were very engaging and I liked that they explained what each snippet of code does. I also learned a lot about the coding process—the analysis, the psuedocode, how to approach the solution, the valuable side comments, the real-world tips—things you don’t get when you do an online course.
The projects allowed us to not only apply what we’ve learned but also to challenge ourselves by doing more than what was required. I was amazed at what I accomplished after only several classes into the course. It was definitely very fulfilling to have completed the final project (API)!
At the beginning of the course, I was worried that I might not be able to grasp JS at my age, especially because the lessons were fast-paced. I’m glad that I took the leap and challenged myself. It feels good to learn a new skill!
Now that the course is over, I plan to continue doing JS exercises and small personal projects. If I don’t get a chance to try my hand at JS at work, at least I can read and understand some of the code other developers wrote and learn from them. The many $, {}, (), [] aren’t foreign to me anymore!
-
Jonathan Hoy
Excellent course!
Read more Read less of Jonathan Hoy's review
HackerYou’s part-time JavaScript course was an excellent opportunity to be introduced to the language. For people new to coding, such as myself, who might have only dabbled with HTML and CSS, learning JavaScript can be quite daunting as the logic and syntax of the language is quite different from HTML and CSS. The course does a great job of introducing core concepts and then advancing what can be achieved with those concepts.
What really stands out about the course to me is the freedom of the projects. Students have free rein to create almost anything with their projects. After seeing what my classmates created in their projects, it dawned on me how powerful JavaScript can be.
In university some of my professors felt out of touch with the subjects they were teaching but that is not the case at HackerYou. With instructors and mentors actively working in the field they leverage their own experiences to compliment the course material.
Not speaking specifically to this course but to HackerYou as a whole, the atmosphere is very open, welcoming and conducive to learning. Instructors and mentors are very easy-going and will answer any question that you might have. Even if they don’t have the answer immediately, they do remember and will get back to you once they have the answer.
I enrolled in HackerYou’s part-time JavaScript course with the intention of being introduced to JavaScript prior to HackerYou’s full-time Web Development Immersive bootcamp.
If you are considering a career change or are simply interested in or curious about web development in general, I highly recommend HackerYou!
-
Mikaela
HackerYou Front End Bootcamp
Read more Read less of Mikaela's review
I recently graduated from HackerYou’s Immersive Bootcamp. It was the best decision of my life. All of the staff, students, and alumni are warm, welcoming and extremely supportive.
I originally took the Part-Time Web Development course thinking I wanted to learn a new skill, but I never thought that I would actually quit my job and take the Bootcamp. Long story short, this course was the most fun I’ve ever had learning (and on a Saturday!). I immediately knew that a career in web dev and taking the Bootcamp was something I wanted to do.
The best part about going to HackerYou is the amazing group of students and alumni community that you get to be a part of. Graduates help you during the Bootcamp in the form of Bootcamp Buddies and after class study sessions. After the Bootcamp you’re still connected to everyone through Slack. I’ve asked graduates for coding help, references, referrals or tips if I was interviewing at with a company they now work at. And at conferences and events, you will have an instant network of folks to connect with.
All the fun aside, this Bootcamp is more than a full-time commitment, they will push you as hard as humanly possible. You will eat, sleep and breath HackerYou during these 9-weeks. It is the only way to achieve the results they produce. If there’s one thing I wish I did differently, it would be to also take the Part-Time JavaScript course. The students who took this course, or had previous knowledge, were much more comfortable with programming basics from day one.
Getting a job isn’t easy or guaranteed, but I couldn’t imagine trying to do so without the help and tools from everyone at HackerYou!
-
Sam Sakhavarz
Part-Time JavaScript/JQuery Course
Read more Read less of Sam Sakhavarz's review
I’ve been working in client services at various digital agencies over the past 17 years. It’s been a fun ride, but after turning 40 I had a hard time seeing what my future looked like going forward. I realized that I had gained a passion for the digital craft itself, after spending several years collaborating with internal teams and clients on digital experiences. I decided I wanted to spend the next chapter of my career in the craft working as a web developer.
I discovered that Toronto had several places offering coding bootcamps; this seemed like the right fit for someone like me – didn’t want to lose too much time going back to school for another 4 yr degree program.
I met with several schools and decided to pursue HackerYou – why HackerYou? Aside from the data/stats/reviews which all ranked it #1, it felt most like a community that was really conscious about ensuring the school and student was a true fit. Other schools looked impressive, but I felt more like a prospective customer and they really just wanted “my business”.
After consulting with admissions, it was decided that the best path would be to take the part-time web dev course to prep for applying to boot camp. I took the course, loved it, learned a LOT! Unfortunately, I came up short getting into bootcamp – a bit disappointing, but the reality is they get 200+ applications and only accept 30-35 students per season. I was on a short wait list, so I came close! I was encouraged to apply to the next season’s bootcamp, and in the meantime, enrol in the part-time JavaScript course. I enrolled in the JavaScript course and just finished it!
If you are considering a career path in web development, I highly recommend taking this JavaScript course – assuming you’ve previously taken some kind of HTML/CSS course. The learning environment at HackerYou is extremely welcoming and unpretentious. You get to do lots of practical hands-on work at a nice pace, making the content very digestible. Theory and lectures are great, but when it comes to web programming you have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. The instructors really guide you well through each step and give you great tools and tips along the way. It’s a very inclusive class environment and they make sure no one gets ‘stuck’ or left behind. Not only did we have two instructors, there was also a mentor (e.g. teaching assistant) helping to keep everyone up to speed.
Overall, the course has loads JavaScript/JQuery content, giving you the foundation building blocks to get started. Make no mistake, the subject matter is complicated and there are a lot of abstract concepts that will have you scratching your head. But you come away with great material that can be referenced again and again. This stuff takes lots of practice and the HackerYou course content provides a great structure to practice and learn the right way.
I got into the upcoming Fall 2018 bootcamp session and I’m very glad I was able to take the part-time JavaScript course before this – it’s given me the time to digest the core concepts before diving right into the bootcamp. If you’re considering bootcamp, I highly recommend taking this path as well. It takes a bit longer but I think it really helps you prep for success in the long run. Cost-wise, you’ll also get some discounts on the bootcamp if you take the part-time courses, so that’s a nice perk! I’m super excited and nervous about my next chapter, but I feel like having the HackerYou community in my corner gives me the skills and confidence to succeed.
-
Samiah Khan
Part time Web Development 2018
Read more Read less of Samiah Khan's review
I have completed the part time Web Development program of Summer 2018, with Jenny Veens being our incredible instructor. After doing some research online and reading about the enormous amount of positive reviews on HY, I applied online for the part time program and within the same day I have received an email from the admissions coordinator to attend a short interview at a time that suits me.
When I first arrived at HY, the first impression I got was this vibrant modern and cozy ambience which I immediately felt connected to. Had a great chat time with Sam, and he was so great in trying help me figure out the right curriculum for me, and gave to the chance to consider different options within a very tight time-frame, while I was making my decision.
The course syllabus has been well planned out, starts with the basics and keeps building on our previous gained knowledge and skill. Plus the notes are put in layman's terms, hence making it easy to grasp what we were being taught in class. Jenny, our incredible instructor, also made us work on coding exercises in class, and later took up the exercise to show us how she would have done the coding, and explains along the way of how she would keep the code clean and effective. Jenny's clear and organized communication and teaching styles was something that kept me alert in class. Overall my experience in learning at HY motivated me (and many other students) enough to come to all the classes and ahead of time.
Initially we are taught the Fundamentals of HTML and CSS, then we move on to the Intermediate HTML, Advanced CSS including SASS, responsive design, and JQuery. By the end of the program we are taught introductory JavaScript. There are a total of three projects we work on individually througout the program. And I believe this better equips us for the technical challenge if we apply for their full time bootcamp.
-
Mikey
Part-Time (Intro/Adv) Web Development Review
Read more Read less of Mikey's review
I’m finishing up the Part-Time (Intro/Adv) Web Development course at HackerYou and would certainly recommend it to anyone who has considered diving into the web dev world!
What I can say is that the sense of community is undeniable at HackerYou. Our instructors and HY employees are industry professionals who create a welcoming environment for students who are willing to learn.
The classes themselves are fast paced, and certainly informative! However, I wouldn’t get overwhelmed. The class notes are extremely detailed which allow you to go back and review at anytime. The instructors/ mentors are so knowledgeable and supportive. They’ve done a fabulous job at teaching people with little to no coding experience. They’re also super accessible before/after class with any question or concerns. Seriously, I couldn’t give them enough credit if I tried!
The 3 course projects throughout the Part-time classes give you a platform to demonstrate your current skill set. Each project adds a new component that you have learned in class. This is a type of program that you will get what you put into it. In other words, be self motivated!
I plan to continue my learning and apply to the full time bootcamp. I’ve enjoyed web developing to a point where I’m fully committed to making a career change in my life. This is a leading industry in terms of culture and I’m exciting to be apart of it!
-
Robyn
Part-time Web Development Fundamentals
Read more Read less of Robyn's review
I took the part-time web development fundamentals and advanced web development course and had an amazing experience. I've wanted to start learning to code for a long time but didn't know where to start with online resources. The instructors at Hackeryou break down the curriculum and code along with you. It's the best classroom environment I've experienced - very open and encouraging. New concepts can sometimes be hard to digest but the great thing is they provide helpful notes that you'll always have access to and theres lots of in-class coding exercises for extra practise. I will hopefully be taking more classes! :)
-
Shielarose Gandhi
Part-Time Web Development Fundamentals Experience
Read more Read less of Shielarose Gandhi's review
I'm just finishing up Part-Time Web Development and I have never been more excited about coding than I am now.
I was looking for a career change and I had no experience with coding prior HackerYou, but was interested in the Full-Time Bootcamp. After speaking with the Admissions Coordinator, he advised that I take the part-time course to have a good foundation before applying to the bootcamp. I decided on the Saturday classes since I was working full-time at the time. There are no classes during long weekends, so sometimes it's hard to recall what we previously learned, but working on our projects on our own between classes helped keep what we learned top-of-mind.
In terms of the material, I learned more in the first 5 classes that I thought I would learn the entire course. Some classes can be fast-paced and have a lot of information, but it's not a lecture-type lesson. You are constantly coding along with the instructor and there is always a mentor available to help. The code-alongs helped a lot when I wanted to look back on how to do certain things for my projects.
I started off with no experience at all and now I'm in the process of building my own website for my last project! It's crazy how much you can learn in such a small amount of time. The instructors/mentors are always available and willing to help. They also give constructive feedback to each student after each project so that they're able to better themselves for the next project. In addition to the course, the community is fantastic - everyone I've met at HackerYou is extremely friendly and welcoming.
Overall, I've very impressed with HackerYou and would recommend the part-time course to anyone who is curious about or wants to get into web development. I believe that I now have a strong foundation for front-end development and am excited to apply to the full-time bootcamp!
-
Alissa
Rewarding experience
Read more Read less of Alissa's review
**As a first note, I would highly recommend taking the advanced UX course after the fundamentals. The content becomes much more focused and dives deeper into real design problems that you could expect to see in any design career. **
I wanted to level up my UX skills, and after some research HackerYou stood out as the best option on the market. After completing both courses, I can confirm that the program lives up to it's reputation.
What you will take out of the course really depends on the level that you come in at, and what you want out of it. As a designer looking to specialize in UX, I really appreciated the opportunities to apply the concepts from the course in my everyday work, and I felt that I was able to rocket my career ahead a couple of steps with the deeper perspectives and new frameworks that I was exposed to.
I highly recommend this course for anyone new to UX specifically or looking to expand on their design skills in a human centered design direction.
-
Luca Mo
Crash Course Fundamentals
Read more Read less of Luca Mo's review
I was fairly familiar with HTML from about 8 years ago before this course. I decided to sign up for their Accelerated Intro to Web Development Fundamentals/Advanced because I figured a course would really help brush me up and I am also very interested in participating in the Hackeryou Full-time Immersive course (bootcamp).
Structure: The course is sectioned into Fundamentals and Advanced Fundamentals. Each is four days, 10am-6pm with support and mentoring on Fridays and over the weekends. Class is short lectures that feature code-alongs mixed with short bouts of independent or team-work. It is hard to ever feel left behind as their was a very good balance of 3 instructors to about 22 students. There was always time to ask questions before or after class or in Slack or you could simply look over your digital notes which you have permanent access too. Great mentorship I met so many nice alumni!
Curriculum: the Basics of HTML/CSS all the way to Responsive Design and a short but sweet appetizer of Javascript. I had a bit of a leg up having spent the months prior self-teaching HTML and CSS but this course really can get a beginner to the level that they can publish/manage their own site.
Overall: I had a great time and learned a lot. It was a great introduction to the community of HackerYou and a nice way to see if you are the type of person that can handle an immersive course. It was only two weeks of 10-6 but you are learning something nearly every hour of each day and putting it into practise. I definitely feel more confident in my Web Development skills and feel like I accomplished something great.
-
Brian S.
Accelerated Web Development—Fundamentals & Advanced
Read more Read less of Brian S.'s review
I was familiar with web1.0–era HTML and wanted to introduce myself to the fundamentals of HTML and CSS so that I can make simple websites (landing sites; blogs; marketing sites). This course offered a novel structure that appealed to me: an intensive, full-time, two-week dive into front-end web development. Although it times it felt like drinking from a fire hose, the course was well structured. The teachers are uniformly engaging and the learning style—short "lectures" interspersed with longer code-alongs and independent work—suits the material well. It's a surprisingly fun environment for eight-hour days spent at your computer. HackerYou gives its students plenty of support, with before- and after-hours mentoring sessions; permanent access to the robust course notes; and, through Slack, access to the broader community of teachers and alumni.
One note of caution: this is a very time-intensive one-week course (or two-week course, if you pair it with the Advanced section). If you have the support of family members or your time is otherwise unencumbered, this is a remarkably quick and thorough way to get yourself up to speed on the best practices in web-development. If you do not have this, you might consider the part-time web-development course instead.
I have a small child at home, as well as freelance work in another field. Therefore I found it difficult to review the material nightly, which, given how much you learn each day, is very important. I am just completing the course now, and trust that time and practice—as well as occasionally asking for support from the HY community—will ensure that everything I learned truly sinks in.
-
Rosalie Elphick
Part Time JavaScript
Read more Read less of Rosalie Elphick's review
I am currently finishing up HackerYou's part time JavaScript course after completing their part time Web Development course beforehand. Having come to web development (and any kind of coding) as a complete novice, HackerYou provided an open and supportive learning community with great instructors, real world problems and solutions, and excellent learning opportunities. This proved true with the JavaScript course as well. Our instructor broke down intimidating topics and concepts into simple, real world fundamentals and at no point during the course did I feel intimidated to ask questions about anything. Our instructor and mentors in the course are all professionals in the industry, which gave our class a lot of insight into how the topics we were learning in class applied in a real world environment. I really like the hands on approach HackerYou applies in its classrooms and I am walking away from this course confident and very ready to learn more.
-
Ash McCarthy
Great Experience
Read more Read less of Ash McCarthy's review
I took the part time JavaScript program this summer, 2018, and I thought it was a very good class. It gives a really good view into the language and some of the add-on libraries and languages like jQuery, React, and Node.
It was a challenging course but well taught. The teacher was nice and accommodating, as were the mentors, and all were very knowledgeable.
Be sure sure to ask any and every questions you might have and try not to miss any classes as it’s easy to fall behind.
Classes were in a nice space that wasn’t too difficult to get to…if you don’t mind the streetcar.
Overall a great experience that I would highly recommend.
-
Fawad
Amazing Experience!
Read more Read less of Fawad's review
This was my second part time course with HackerYou and can't tell enough what a valuable experience it was. The instructor and the mentors are super supportive and patient with the students.
The course structure is updated as per the industry standards and all best practices are followed. A variety of topics were covered ranging from fundamentals to advanced. It feels great to be a part of this HackerYou community. I recommend this course to everyone looking to get familiar with JavaScript and also looking to apply for the Bootcamp.
-
Jessica Huynh
If you're debating the course like I did
Read more Read less of Jessica Huynh's review
I’ve always had an interest in web-development but I wanted to make sure it was a good fit before committing to making a career change, so I enrolled in the Spring 2018 Intro to Web Dev course. I chose HackerYou after reading many positive reviews, specifically on Reddit and Course Report, of their supportive community and their dedicated instructors.
Truthfully, before I took the part-time course, I definitely debated how beneficial taking this course would be; if web development was something I could have taught myself— yes, but it probably would not have gone as smoothly. And now that I’ve completed the part-time course, I can confidently say I would’ve make the same decision if I had to do it again. The course is very well-structured, and the instructor and mentors make the course material clear and easy to understand.
I’ve learned far more than I could’ve taught myself in the same amount of time, and in a very organized way. The projects assigned allow you to challenge yourself by applying the material you learn throughout the course. I would recommend this course to anyone’s who’s interested in web development. It was very rewarding and I cannot wait to see what the full-time bootcamp has to offer!
-
Jeff
An Amazing Experience
Read more Read less of Jeff's review
I went into HackerYou not knowing what it was going to be like. As a complete newbie to the web development, I learned more than I can imagine. I tried learning online on my own but like most people, it just wasn't fun and enjoying. Now I have just finished the Part-Time Web Development Course and I don't regret it one bit. I met new friends and learned HTML5/CSS3/JQUERY at a high level. The instructor and mentors were amazing and I couldn't have done it without their help. One thing I could mention is that I wish we had more outside the box assignments such as the flip-card. I really enjoyed the level of difficulty on those.
-
Erin Maaskant
Part-time Web Development
Read more Read less of Erin Maaskant's review
I have completed the part-time Web Development course - Spring 2018, and it is fantastic. I started with an online course, but didn't find that I was getting what I wanted out of it - not my style of learning. So I went looking for a classroom-instructed course and a graduate of the HackerYou bootcamp convinced me this was the place.
As a female making a move into the tech realm, I have found HackerYou to be an inclusive and supportive environment. I never feel like there's a stupid question, and the extra support is always right there.
I like that there is an instructor with two back-up instructors in every class, so someone is ready to jump in to offer extra help whenever needed.For the three projects, the degree of complexity increases at a good pace. They also have a wide enough scope that I was able to incorporate a wide range of the course curriculum.
The volume of what I've learned over the past couple months is far more than I expected. I am excited to be a part of the HackerYou bootcamp this summer - I would not have been accepted without this course.
-
Fawad
Part-Time WebDev Review
Read more Read less of Fawad's review
I moved to Toronto on 4th of April and started with my Web Dev course on the very same day! I had applied for the Spring bootcamp and did not clear the tech test and was recommended the part time Web Dev course, i feel it was the right recommendation because it seems like a good introductory step towards everyone who has interest in joining the bootcamp.
It was the best decision i made for myself for a career in web development. The instructor and the mentors are very supportive and patient with the students. Even with prior experience with HTML and CSS i got to learn so many new things and felt comfortable with the course from the very first week. I am very confident in developing my own sites now!
The course structure is great with all the latest industry standards being followed and the teaching approach is fab ! The overall experience is really valuable and it feels great to be a part of this awesome HackerYou community. I recommend everyone looking for a career in web development to enroll for this cource. Looking forward to apply for the Fall Bootcamp !
-
Claire Ristow
If you want to join the bootcamp...
Read more Read less of Claire Ristow's review
I am just finishing up the Part-Time Web Dev course at HackerYou and I have loved my experience. I originally started looking at HackerYou for their Web Development Bootcamp. Before applying, I heard it was tough to get into the Bootcamp without taking the Part-Time Web Dev course. Even so, I applied with only some quick 2-week self-taught coding knowledge. I didn't pass the tech challenge but was invited to join the part-time course.
In this course, I have become very comfortable with HTML, CSS, and some basic JavaScript. More importantly, the people at HackerYou are wonderful. The mentors are supportive and patient with complete beginners.
After applying to the Bootcamp for the second time, I have now been accepted. If you're looking to eventually join the Bootcamp, the part-time web dev course is definitely a step in the right direction. Join the HackerYou community! You won't regret it :)
-
S Hayre
Advanced Web Development Course
Read more Read less of S Hayre's review
I am in the final days of completing the part time Intro to Web-Development and advanced topics at HackerYou. I've enjoyed the course immensely, and have enjoyed the challenging learning environment. You really need to put in 10-15 hours a week above and beyond the course material covered in the 6 hour a week course, however it's only 12 weeks, and the amount you learn in that short period of time is incredible. Week 1 is starting with learning what the internet is, and by weeks 11 to 13 you are making responsive web pages with navigations, flex-boxes and animation! The instructor and mentors are great, if they are going too fast you can ask them to slow down and/or go over a concept as needed The in-class environment I found very helpful in bouncing off ideas, and collaborating solutions with others in the class. Questions and frustrations can be immediately resolved when others are around to help, easier than it would be in a online-learning environment. I throughouly enjoyed the course, and would like to see more take home exercises to practice coding with, and am looking forward to taking the part-time JavaScript course in the future.
-
Jessica
Love HackerYou!
Read more Read less of Jessica's review
I would highly recommend HackerYou to everyone who is interested in learning more about web development! I completed the Spring 2018 part time Intro to Web Dev course and I fell in love with it. I was looking to steer my career in a different direction from what I have been doing for 4 years, and always had an interest in web development so I decided to try the part time course to see if I really enjoyed the work. I looked around and saw all the great reviews about HackerYou and only heard great things from fellow coworkers who were alumni and decided to apply. It was the best decision I've made because I really fell in love with it and found that I can see myself changing my career path and doing web development long term. I had no prior knowledge in development but after completing this course and with the help of my awesome instructor, Tom, and mentors, Jen, Darshana, and Aly, I feel like I have a really great understanding of HTML and CSS. I was able to put this to the test with the projects we were assigned during the course. It was really exciting to use what I've learned and produce an end product that I had no prior knowledge of 4 months ago! After I complete the part time course, I will be going the full-time bootcamp to continue my education! I am so excited, and can't stress enough about how great HackerYou has been! :)
-
Brent
Bootcamp - Best decision you'll make!
Read more Read less of Brent's review
I started off with the part-time Intro and Advanced Web Development courses before being accepted into the Bootcamp this past January.
I was nervous about starting out because, prior to the part-time intro courses I had almost zero experience with coding. That didn't matter. The people at HackerYou, from instructors to administration staff to the incredible CEO, create such a wonderfully supportive environment for you to learn in. The instructor to student ratio is excellent, there are, at most, 12 students to every instructor and when things got real intense there was always more help available for me and everyone else.
You have 3 teachers, a bootcamp buddy and a number of after hours "fishbowl" sessions for you to squeeze for every ounce of knowledge and help you need.
Everybody there understands people learn at different speeds and in different ways. Everybody there cares about you and wants you to succeed. I've never been to a school that gave a crap about me until I went to HackerYou.
The assistance they provide during your job hunt is unparalleled. There are weekly group meetings with the CEO Heather, alumni job posting boards, cover letter approvals. Any time I had a question during my job hunt, even if it was just a "Does this email sound good to you?", I could bring it to Heather and she would happily give me some advice. After one month of job hunting you can book one on ones with her for more focussed help.
In the first month following our graduation a third of our cohort had accepted offers. I started working 6 weeks after graduation. Before this I worked for years as a printing press operator at a company that didn't care about me. Now I have a great job working less hours and making more money.
This place works, they know what they are doing and you will love it.
Best of luck in the application process!
-
Hannah
UX at HackerYou - excellent course
Read more Read less of Hannah's review
I've taken several courses at HackerYou and the part time UX Design course was another (of many) great experiences. The class was led by Ricardo, and there were always an additional two mentors on hand to help answer any questions I had. The content was fantastic, I learned a lot during both the Intro and Advanced courses. The final project for the Intro was a UI design for an app (using Sketch). For the second half I completed a complex case study following UX research methods. I look forward to adding both projects to my portfolio.
I work as a web developer and this course was a huge benefit to my skill set. I was able to bring so many of the learnings back to my team, and we’ve already started integrating them in our work.
The environment at HackerYou is incredibly friendly, professional, and supportive. I was able to get really valuable feedback from the instructor and mentors throughout the course. They talked through design problems with me, and drastically improved my understanding of UX/UI. The students in my class were all eager to be there, and had a variety of skills and experience to bring to the table. Overall I had lots of laughs and left with a ton more experience.
Whenever I mention my education at HackerYou to folks in the design/tech industry, I’m always met with recognition and a positive response. The school has made an incredible mark on the Toronto tech industry, and it’s graduates are working all over the city. HackerYou is a wonderful network to be a part of and it’s reputation is fantastic for a reason. It has propelled my career forward and I’m so glad with my decision to study there.
-
Jessica
Learn the WHY behind beautiful design
Read more Read less of Jessica's review
I’m a front-end web developer (thanks to HackerYou bootcamp) and I work for a software company. I’ve got a background in design, and I knew I wanted to follow up my bootcamp experience with the HackerYou intro and advanced UX class with a plan to leverage more design opportunities in my current role.
Because I took both the part-time web development class and the bootcamp at HackerYou, they were already my top pick. I knew how the school structured their classes and that I would have access to great resources during the 12 weeks of the course. I checked out other UX programs in the city and online, but none of them offered the kind of learning and support that I knew I would get at HackerYou.
The class schedule was perfect. I work uptown and have a really hard time getting to weeknight classes, so committing to UX every Saturday was ideal. Even though class was only once a week, I had access to Ricardo, the lead instructor, and the two class mentors, Jas and Jen, throughout the week. They were available for extra help and to run through project ideas exactly when I needed them.
Ricardo has an abundance of enthusiasm (an essential quality for teaching a Saturday class) and experience. I found it very easy to learn because he integrated real-world examples with textbook theory and in-class exercises that helped me wrap my head around some tricky material. He taught masters-level UX concepts in a way that felt more like fun than learning, and when I was at home working on assignments I was surprised at how much material stuck in my head.
I was hoping for a class that gave me foundational UX design principles as well as the knowledge and skill to put together comprehensive case studies, and I finished the 12 weeks feeling confident and excited about what I had learned and how I could apply it.
In the time since UX class finished, I’ve been able to expand my job description to include extensive collaboration with the design and UX team. I’ve got more opportunities in my current role and more appreciation for the work that my colleagues put into designing applications.
If you’re looking for someone who will only teach you how to make pretty things, this might not be the best course for you. But if you want to learn how to use qualitative and quantitative research to solve problems with beautiful design, then you’ve hit the jackpot with this class.
-
Kate
Best Instructors Hands Down
Read more Read less of Kate's review
I was a student in the Winter 2018 UX Design Class. What really stood out to me about HackerYou is the sense of community, and the extremely caring and knowledgeable instructors. My instructors are some of the most passionate people I have ever met, which made class a very enjoyable experience. I found that in taking this course, I was able to create a portfolio of work that also speaks to the design process, not just the final design. I think that having a design process is very important when speaking to potential employers, because they want to know how you think as a designer. The curriculum for the UX Design class was very comprehensive, and I especially enjoyed delving into the idea of wicked problems, divergence, and convergence. Throughout my classes I felt very supported by mentors and instructors, who encouraged us to ask questions and seek help. This course left me feeling extremely inspired and wanting to dig further into the idea of Service Design. I really think HackerYou’s UX course is unique in its focus on human-centered design, and not just focusing on the creation of wire-frames. HackerYou teaches you to study the problem from all angles in order to create a solution that benefits the people you are actually designing for.
-
Scott Girouard
HackerYou is for YOU
Read more Read less of Scott Girouard's review
Completing the part-time web development course at HackerYou has been one of the most positive and self-motivating experiences I've had. I have not only learned new valuable skills, but I've also pushed myself to learn things I once thought were out of my comfort zone and loved it. All of the staff are incredibly friendly, approachable and knowledgeable and always took the time to answer everyones questions with enthusiasm. I was set on taking the boot camp before taking the part-time course, and I'm still firmly acting on that decision, as I don't want my experience at HackerYou to end at this point. Nothing but great things to say!
-
SK
Part time Web Dev
Absolutely loved this course, was super fun. Community is great, teachers and leads always there to help you when you need it. If you interested in learning a new skill or thinking of a career change, wound highly reccomend this course.
-
Moin
Amazing experience.
Read more Read less of Moin's review
I just completed a 12-week Part-Time Web Development program at HackerYou, and can say without a doubt that it was the most enriching learning experience of my life thus far.
From the moment I walked through the door for my tour of the campus, I've been greeted with a smile, and that feeling of welcomeness has been a common theme during my experience at HackerYou. My instructor, Kristen, and the mentoring made class a very fun and interactive learning experience and I looked forward to every class, which is saying lot for me since I've generally been disinterested and would lose focus with more traditional learning styles. I had no previous background in web development, and the facilitators are very patient and understanding in helping you learn each new concept.
However, as many people before me have mentioned, the big highlight for me has been the sense of community that HackerYou instilled from Day 1. I am looking forward to continuing the learning journey with the new friends I've made at the Bootcamp and beyond, and I feel that the Part-Time program has instilled the skills necessary to apply for the Bootcamp and succeed.
In recap, don't hesitate to learn at HackerYou if you have any interest in Web Development. You won't regret it. -
Roman
Best school in Canada!
Great place to study for a front-end web development!
The best thing about this school is teachers and program that really helps you understand and implement all knowledge's in future projects. -
Danielle Webb
Full Stack Masterclass Review
Read more Read less of Danielle Webb's review
As a HackerYou bootcamp grad (in 2014), looking into the school's other programs when I wanted to level up my skills was a no brainer. HackerYou has always stood out to me for its incredibly supportive learning environment and this course was no different. From the staff who helped me determine if the class was a right fit for me to the excellent instructor and mentors who not only taught in an engaging and accessible way, but also provided valuable one-on-one time to work through problems and challenges specific to our projects.
What really drew me to this course in particular was the curriculum. The course teaches technologies that are both current and well-used throughout the industry while presenting each part of the tech stack in a way I found extremely logical. On a personal level, they are also technologies that we are using more and more in my workplace. Being able to apply new skills to work projects right away is a great motivator when learning new things in the tech industry. I would highly recommend HackerYou in general and this course in particular to anyone interested in learning about web development.
-
Raven Shields
Part-Time Web Development (Jazzmin VanGeel 2018)
Read more Read less of Raven Shields's review
I am just finishing up the part-time Web Development and I had such a positive experience. I came to HackerYou with essentially no coding experience and I know feel like I have been given a tiny key that basically unlocks the internet!
The instructor Jazzmin VanGeel was an excellent source of information and real world experience from the world of web dev. She was patient and took the time to try and answer every single question. The teaching assistants Melissa and Jaime were also super supportive and ready to help every step of the way.
The lessons are easy to understand and the class is packed with resources that I intend to keep practicing with on my own, even after the class is done.
I would totally recommend HackerYou! I'll be back for sure :)
Raven
-
Jung-Hee Ban
awesome experience :)
Read more Read less of Jung-Hee Ban's review
I am finishing up the Part-time Web-development course at HackerYou (2018). It's really great experience to learn web development at HackerYou. The instructor Jazz is awesome to explain event hard concepts, always with some humours. I also love the way they run the classes: great materials, mentors are super helpful and using tool like basecamp & slack. All together it becomes one of my best learning experience. Highly recommended. Cheers!
-
sophia wang
Thank you!
Read more Read less of sophia wang's review
I just completed the Part-time Web-development course at HackerYou (2018). I thoroughly enjoyed the classes and learnt so much about web-development and coding in these few months than I did in my 3 years of college studying computer science! Jazz is an amazing instructor! She explains even the hardest concept with ease and in detail. And, it also helps that all the instructors are so knowledgeable, energetic and positive! Once you enter the class you know that you will be learning something exciting. Thank you Jazz, Melissa, and Jamie for all your help and patience!
-
Eric
Fantastic experience!
Read more Read less of Eric's review
I took the winter 2018 winter part-time web development class with Jazz and I can confidently say I am 100% satisfied with my decision in taking the course at HackerYou!
- Content: up to date with the industry and they are always refining their curriculum – in fact, before our final class there was a last minute addition to teach something new and exciting in the developer world with CSS Grids (we were the first guinea pig class) for something they may want to include in future classes.
- Instruction: Concepts were easy to follow along and you are able to build upon the knowledge previously acquired class-after-class with a ton of in class code-alongs and applying the knowledge through in-class exercises and multiple projects over the course of 12 weeks. The best experiences were introductions of tools that would change how we approached writing code or improved our workflow. Lots of tips and tricks and online resources! The instructor and mentors were always there when you were in a rut and proactively checked in on you to see how you were doing.
- Community: Ultimately what led me to choose HackerYou. Heard many things about the kind of environment HY prides itself in and I can say this is very much true! Many if not all (to my knowledge) of the instructors and mentors are past alumni students that have gone through the same program. They have a very active alumni community and its encouraged to reach out to alumni for questions which I did, and found them to be very approachable for questions or any kind of support. This is super important should you pursue something further into web development.
Overall would definitely recommend this course to anyone who always had an interest in improving their ‘digital skills’ and a starting point into a web development career. -
Christopher Arsenault
What a wonderful experience!!
Read more Read less of Christopher Arsenault's review
I just recently finished taking the Part Time Web Development program at HackerYou and I must say, I am extremely pleased with the experience I had. I am 35, married with two little ones and I had been looking to change career paths for a little bit, having been in my past position for 9 years and not seeing myself going any further in it. I have a bit of self-taught web design / development experience and some programming experience from college but never took a serious pursuit to web development.
When I decided on a career change, I came back to the desire to pursue web development and began with some online courses and reading some books, but felt that I wasn’t making the progression I had hoped. After doing some research about programs to take, I came across HackerYou and was intrigued by the programs they offered and what they stood for. After reading all the reviews I could find, highly touting the programs and the instructors, I decided to start out by taking their Part Time program first. I am extremely pleased with that decision.
The instructors and staff at HackerYou are all extremely knowledgable, friendly and helpful, many (if not all) were also former students here themselves. The program was very well laid out, spending ample time on each topic to ensure that the class was able to grasp the concepts. I especially love the ratio of instructors to students, ensuring that the students were able to get their questions answered and the help they need, while still continuing on with the lesson.
The team at HackerYou also does a very good job of ensuring that their course material is continually updated, so that the programs don’t feel old and stale and that you are always learning relevant material. I am extremely looking forward to applying to the Full Time Bootcamp coming up this summer (and maybe also the Javascript program down the line as well). I am eager to expand on what I have learned so far and excited to continue fuel the fire that has been lit under me at HackerYou.
-
Carolyn
10/10
Read more Read less of Carolyn's review
I previously worked in the book publishing industry which I loved, but I knew for a long time that when I was ready for a change that I wanted to work in web development. I knew I wanted to go to HackerYou because I had heard so many good things about the community there, and I really respected the way it had evolved from Ladies Learning Code. I had taken some two-day workshops there and loved the experience. When my family and I decided we were ready for me to take the plunge, I did some more research comparing HY to other bootcamps in Toronto, which only cemented my decision.
The most difficult part about the career change for me was that I have a young family at home. The workload in the bootcamp is very heavy, and I needed a ton of support from my husband and my family in order to be able to tackle it. Outside of class, I needed all my evenings and weekends for homework. The fact that the course is nine weeks long made this achievable for all of us because there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and not a moment of those nine weeks were wasted which made it all feel worthwhile.
It's amazing how much you can learn in two-months with the right support system. Throughout the course I was really impressed by how much care and attention went into every detail. As we were learning the instructors would make notes as they went. After ever cohort they take weeks to re-evaluate and iterate on the course, and they're constantly updating the curriculum to ensure HY grads are on the cutting edge, so that the class I took was different than the class my friend took a few months before me, and different than the one another friend is taking now. You really have the feeling of being part of a well-oiled machine, but also on the edge of something new.
There are layers and layers of mentorship built in. The staff and instructors and fellow students are all wonderful, but there's also a huge component of alumni mentorship and involvement which I think really speaks to what HackerYou get's right. The students in my cohort came from all different industries and backgrounds, with different strength and challenges, and HY really created an environment in which we all could thrive. We became very close as well.
In addition to the really supportive class environment, there's a support system upon graduation as well. I've never seen anything like the program they have in place to help students get work out of the bootcamp. I was lucky enough to get my dream-job right out of school, thanks to a connection I made in the HackerYou-organized networking event.
And now that HY's been in action for some time, it's getting a reputation built on the quality and success of it's grads. I really felt it opened a lot of doors for me. 10/10. I'd do it again.
-
Jules Carney
Full-Stack Masterclass - 100% positive experience
Read more Read less of Jules Carney's review
I’ve been working as a developer in telecommunications for the past several years, but am learning new skills to transition into web development. The HackerYou Full-Stack course has been an ideal journey through the ins and outs of a modern web stack. It takes students from the front-end, to the back-end, to the database, and explains the roles of and coordination among various parts of an app. Along the way it covers up-to-date best practices, options for tools, and fundamentals such as computer science concepts and clean coding practices. The course manages to get across a breadth and depth of knowledge far beyond what I would have thought possible in nine weeks of part-time.
HackerYou is also a wonderful community and supportive learning environment. The teachers and mentors have a deep understanding of their craft and communicate the material with clarity, charisma and humour. The staff, students, and partners of HackerYou always seem happy to help each other learn. I’m applying what I’ve learned at my time here to my current job and in my job search, and feel that I’ve really leveled up as a developer as a result of the course. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience, and I won’t be surprised if I find myself taking another course or workshop here in the near future.
-
Regina
HackerYou Part-time Course
Read more Read less of Regina's review
I have taken Web Development, Winter 2018, which is a part-time course of six-hour lectures each Saturday, running for 3 months.
I based my school choice on the reddit posts about programming academies around Toronto and on CourseReport reviews. Hackeryou got the most glowing reviews.
The school occupies a bright open-space floor in downtown Toronto. The location has study area, classrooms and a kitchen, so it is possible to bring lunch. The space is very inviting and reminiscent of a sunny airy café, rather than a school.
Every lesson has a main instructor and two mentors present so each student get enough attention to have their questions answered. The instructor and mentors were very supportive and available either during class or online to answer any queries. Teaching staff are all employed in the programming industry so they speak from the most current experience, which is a big plus.
The projects are mostly recreating existing website mock-ups, which is a great way to apply the skills learned right away.
-
Richard Howard
Web Design
Read more Read less of Richard Howard's review
Highly recommend this course.
I was very impressed by this part time web design course at hackeryou in Toronto. It was well taught, and had a good mix of high level overview with detail that was necessary to learn how to do basic web design using HTML and CSS. Let me put it to you this way -- I am 53 years old and starting working with computers when they ran on magnetic tapes... this course was so useful that when my 25 year old nephew came over one day he was like "what dude, you know this stuff?". It is also useful because as a guy who works doing projects that often involve systems, it is interesting to see how complex this stuff can be.