University of Miami Cybersecurity Professional Bootcamp by ThriveDX

This review is for the Cybersecurity BootCamp by HackerU from the University of Miami.

I left another review here after I had completed the intro course with high hopes of what the program will offer. I just graduated from the program in March, it is now April and I have yet to hear back from HackerU or UM in regards to career assistance. So it’s been a month since graduation and I’ve proactively sent out three emails to try and get the ball rolling, but no response. So there’s been zero career assistance, which you would think they would be prioritizing for recent grads.

The next issue I had was that the content is very condensed. I understand it’s a boot amo and it is meant to be short, but there are topics that you cannot hope to grasp in 4-6 classes, like Python programming and Cloud Concepts. For students who are not already familiar with programming or some familiarity with networking, you’re going to have a rough time. 

For the money you pay this program should really be 4 or maybe even 5 classes a week instead of 3, so you can really flesh out the concepts and so less tech literate people can develop a real understanding of what is being taught. I also recommend that this program provide you with a free book on the certification that corresponds with the module you are learning. It helps reinforce what you are learning while also preparing you for those separate professional certifications. For $15k they could at least do that. 

The instructors were great, super knowledgeable, but the curriculum was lacking, and there has been zero career assistance even a month after completing the program. I would not recommend anyone take this bootcamp, and the biggest reason is the complete absence of any help in finding a job after completing the program. That is literally one of the main reasons why I selected this program to begin with. 

Ive always wanted a career In Cybersecurity and figured now would be the best time to transition from hospitality. I started out with the intro course, which is $500 and it’s okay, they discuss (not in much detail) a broad range of topics related to cybersecurity, introduce VMs and provide ISOs and exercises to get your feet wet. The intro course basically prepares you for what your going to do in the main course. You have to pass a test to be invited to the main course, but let’s be real I’m sure they want the $$ so I doubt if anyone really wanted to proceed to the full thing they would let them in. 

Some things that were promised were not delivered during in the intro course. No virtual labs were offered even though they said they would be, they did not go into detail into a lot of exercises that were in the textbook. But they consistently said they will go through everything in the main course. 

The total cost of the program is $15,500 and they push you trying to join VERY hard, which makes me skeptical, but it is UM and they do have a good reputation so I was willing to risk it l, and I begin the main course on June 8th. I’ll post a review after I’ve completed it.

Cyber Security is an area that is growing, and it needs qualified professionals. I wanted to reinvest in myself, to grow on the field i love. I looked at other programs, but i was not seeing that i could grow more from where i was in I.T.

I was atracted initially by the UM brand. The reality was better than that. The professors are in the industry, on real world tasks that reflect what is being taught in the classrooms, they live and breathe Cyber Security. I had the privilege to see students with little to no I.T. experience grow. They graduated with the skills needed to change their lives. They are now Cyber Security professionals, ready to provide the right level of skills and knowledge to protect, educate end users, and improve the level of I.T. Security a business needs on this day and age.

If you are on the fence about making the right choice, i can tell you that going to the UM Cyber Security program is the right choice.

The way that I approach my work now is always more interesting, and more challenging, because of what i learned at UM. I am now looking into so many other avenues of work because of that program, and i am now always eager to learn more.

 

 

I originally signed up for the UM namesake but stayed for the in-depth lectures taught by invested instructors. I knew I wanted a career change and after attending UM's demo day, I decided cyber security was a $$-rewarding option that doesn't require the traditional college degree. I chose UM's program because it doesn't require any prior experience in tech and the people involved in admissions were super helpful and continued to support me throughout the entire program. I graduated last month with a standing job offer making more money than I've ever made in my life. If you're considering a career in tech, check out this Cyber Security program