Thinkful

I attended Thinkful's data analytics flex program from October-February. The recommended timeframe was 6 months though I finished it in 3 months. The curriculum which involved Excel, SQL, Tableau. and Python were all relevant and appropriate for a job in data analytics. However, I would say that the bootcamp revolved mostly around Excel which seems to be less and less relevant as the data analytics field becomes increasingly technical. I would've appreciated a greater focus on SQL as that was the skill most tested for as I began applying. I felt that the SQL portion of the curriculum was a great foundation but didn't help me apply the skills in practical contexts. Additionally, the Python portion was rather sparse and also questioned frequently during my interviews.

Overall, the bootcamp did an excellent job for what it is. It provided a foundation and starting point for me to learn on my own terms. I could take it as fast or slow as I wanted to. I ended up landing an amazing job after attending with a salary beyond my dream scenario. The bootcamp is a launch pad for an individual to push for their own success. It will not lead to a job magically on its own or be an end of your learning. It gives you structure for you to explore on your own and create projects that will dazzle interviewers. However, the onus is on the student and it is not as guided as some may be expecting.

 I recently completed the full-time Data Analytics Immersion course provided by Thinkful.  I was impressed with the amount of knowledge gained in a short period of time - in two weeks, I went from complete unfamiliarity with the advanced functions of Excel to passing an Excel assessment on LinkedIn with flying colors!  The support provided by Thinkful's instructors and counselors is tremendous, and the focus remains on career placement every step of the way.  I was able to secure a job offer less than a month after I completed the course!

All these perspectives are regarding the Flex program, the Immersive may be different.

My favorite thing about Thinkful was the mix of setting up for success in both the industry and as a job candidate.  Through the course of the program, the lessons and capstones are marked through helpful lessons in resume building, portfolio construction, and other necessary skills that, even if you've applied/had a substantial professional career, are great supplements to the coursework.  I'm self motivated but it's still helpful to make this a required stepping stone of the program, and I feel the feedback I got was very helpful.

I also really liked my mentor, he did a good job of providing guidance and ideas for my projects, and having overall advice on the Data Science field down to what laptops I should look into, but was also diligent on pushing me to produce really good work through the program.  Even as a new data scientist, it's important to demonstrate good work and capability and I'm glad I had him in my corner.

There were quite a few technical errors during my time in the program, including some delays in grading and one case where I never received grading at all, and the quality varied.  Some feedback was detailed and others not, and a majority of the assignments aren't graded regardless.  I would say that was my biggest letdown; I would've liked more feedback and at more consistent points throughout the program.  Once you get past coding it really does require a person to grade a project or assignment, but at least having some additional quizzes or shorter assignments that could be looked at would be helpful.

My interactions with other students was also very limited.  I was pretty involved with the student Slack channel and the career development sessions for my first two months, and then after never interacted with another student.  It is encouraged to but the community Slack channels for learners in the same city aren't very strong and, even though each capstone suggests that you'll present to your peers, I never did and was never able to.  I'm assuming this is all different for Immersion, but that program is more expensive and (obviously) more immersive.

Overall I would recommend the program, but self motivation really is key, especially after!  The program does a good job of setting you up and providing a path but it really is reliant on you to put in the work.

I dropped out of college because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do as a career so my sister told me to check out this program called Thinkful, and I immediately became interested in their digital marketing program. Joining their team was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I learned how to do so much in only 4 months, I loved how hands on all the projects were with me being a very visual learner. They pair you with a mentor that you meet with once a week and it was extremely helpful to me to be able to get that dedicated one on one time. I absolutely recommend this program! 

I really enjoyed my time with Thinkful in their UX/UI Design Immersion program. They have done a great job of creating courses led by actual designers who are still working within the field who can speak to the most needed skills that designers have right now. I got a great foundational education in design, I love that the projects are not cookie-cutter like other boot camp programs so each student's portfolio is distinguishable from their peers, and I got an overabundance of support with both coursework during the program and with job hunting after the program! The benefit of this boot camp is that your success as a student directly affects the success of the boot camp and Thinkful. Therefore the instructors, TAs, mentors, and career counselors do everything in their power to help you be as successful as you can be. The program is not for the faint of heart and it is hard work, but if you stick it out, there is no way you won't be successful!

I recently was contemplating changing careers, as my current career was not engaging enough for me, nor was I learning anything new on a daily basis. This time of reflection was happing just months before the COVID-19 outbreak. While cases were growing, my office actually closed its doors and I was left to seek new opportunities or learn new skills that would propel me into a new a rewarding career, that was both fulfilling and challenging. I came across Thinkful and it looked like a great place to develop the skills I needed to compete for a position in the tech industry. I knew I wanted to code and build applications so I joined Thinkful's Engineering Immersion course. The pace was intense and engaging, which is what I imagined a normal week for a developer would be. The depth of the education material was thorough and working 1:1 with cohort members and advisors was invaluable in preparation for dealing with co-workers and managers. 
After the course, I was paired with another advisor that helped me with every stage of applying to jobs, interview preparation, as well as reviewing and negotiating offers. 

Overall, I believe I gained much invaluable information in a curriculum form that made sense to follow. I recommend Thinkful to anyone, either looking to change careers or get a head start in the industry, because of their outstanding program and commitment towards your success. 

I discovered Thinkful's programming last year after losing my contract job due to the pandemic. The following are things I believe anyone interested in participating in their Bootcamp would find beneficial to know.

Let's start with the Positives:

1.) They offer a living stipend/income share agreement
Thinkful's partnership with Vemo (not Venmo) opens the doors for many people struggling financially. I can honestly say that without this program I wouldn't have been able to attend this life-changing program. The stipend is 1500/month and was just enough to ensure all my bills were covered and that I could have some food in the fridge. 

2.) Thinkful offers a job guarantee
This job guarantee definitely was a major consideration. Especially the "qualifying position" points in the contract. I knew that any business that was willing to risk their revenues would have to be pretty sure of their programming and curriculum. 

3.) Pair Programming focused learning (full-time immersion)
Being able to work and network with other aspiring devs of differing skill and experience levels was one of my favorite parts of the program. It also gave me an idea of how I would fit in, culturally, to the industry. I was able to learn from and teach other students in the same way that I would in a work setting. 

4.) Teaching Assistants were incredibly helpful!
During business hours, TA's were always willing to sit with you until the issue you were facing was solved - and didn't leave until you felt comfortable with the concept you were having issues with. I cannot stress enough how great the TA's were.

5.) Mentors
While some mentors were hit/miss, they allowed you to request new mentors until you found a fit. I had fantastic mentors, an Academic Success Manager who TRULY cared and had a vested interest in my growth, and several fantastic career coaches! I sincerely believe I would not be anywhere near as successful in my program without them!

Now for the constructive criticism:

1.) Communication to students about changes in the program are non-existent
In the middle of my cohort, there were MASSIVE changes made that ran the risk of severely affecting our success. 
One of which was changing from dedicated TA's for each cohort to general TA's that also were working with another program not affiliated with Thinkful (from what I was told). Another change happened before our cohort was completed, in that the careers team were no longer guaranteeing us interviews with partnered employers. The program was eliminated and this was a major thing that set Thinkful apart from its competitors. This felt like disingenuity from Thinkful, given we were sold this program on certain things and it was just changed without letting us know ahead of time or having us grandfathered in to finish out our program. 

2.) Certain instructors are toxic.
While 3/4 of my instructors were fantastic, eager to guide and develop aspiring devs, 1 instructor in particular almost led me to attempt to find a way to leave the program. She would outright call out/embarrass people in class, would deflect any questions about the material with "call a TA after lecture", then show up in our paired rooms when we put in a TA ticket only to harass us and not answer the question or just flat out say "I dont know what you're asking" and leave the room and clear the ticket. Not a single student coming out of the React block of the curriculum felt strong and well over 50% dropped due to the inept and at times extremely unprofessional "teaching" style of this instructor. Every single person in the cohort put in a complaint against her, and I have recently attended AMA's and have found that she has gotten WORSE - with claims that she has been acting racist on camera during lectures. The fact that she is still working there is unacceptable and I know that all of my mentors have reached out to escalate this, but Chegg has not done anything to alleviate the situation and her employment continues. Were it not for her, this would be a fully 5-star review for instructors.

3.) Outdated Curriculum
The curriculum at the time of me undergoing the program was, as was told to me by my original mentor who has since left, at least 2 years out of date. With that being said, I have seen Thinkful working to update the curriculum and am exceptionally happy about this. Seeing them drop jQuery and adding in hooks and functional components to the React course is great, and I'm actively seeing people going through the program talking about it in the slack channels - which is fantastic.

TL;DR Summary - 
I would and continue to recommend Thinkful to all of my friends and any aspiring devs. It was a fantastic program that was worth every penny for the resources I received. While I experienced one awful instructor, changes in programs without being informed, and an outdated curriculum that was being updated, I still managed to find a job within 60 days of graduation. I also gained a large group of friends from the program who are just as passionate about the industry as I was. 4.25/5 stars.

I attended the engineering immersion program through Thinkful in 2020.
I am very pleased with the quality of the program and what I learned in the curriculum.
The experience was a rich and valuable one, and has led me to my recent employment as software developer. The options provided by Thinkful along with the stipend program paved the way to where I now find myself. Don't fool yourself, the program is rigorous and challenging, I came in with a lot of experience prior and still found it to be testing at times. But challenges are what we must endure to both value something and get us where we want to be. I recommend the program.

I recently graduated from the Designer Track of Thinkful's Bloc online program and had a very positive experience. 

I do feel the curriculum, projects, and assessments have prepared me to enter the field of UX Design and I'm beginning work with the careers team now to start that journey. I enjoyed the self-guided curriculum and found it easy to move through, particularly with the support of real-time chat for curriculum support. 

The program can feel isolating and frustrating at times if you don't take initiative to reach out for support. I didn't connect with my first mentor who was rarely fully available, but once advocating for my needs with the academic support team I ended up with two different excellent mentors throughout the remainder of my coursework and exceptional support from the academic support team. The support is there, but only if you seek it out. Creating and joining student groups on the Slack channels is also a great way to build up your support system, which you'll really need to fully enjoy the course in my opinion. 

Overall, I'm so glad I did the program and I'm excited to begin working with the careers team!