Actualize

I picked this bootcamp based off of reviews on this site, the schedule they had available, and conversations with friends. I didn't do as much research beforehand as I probably should have, and I feel lucky that I had made a good decision.

Actualize's teaching philosophy is teaching us how to learn. They won't go over every possible technology simply because it isn't necessary. Instead, we dived deep into developing an understanding of how our code is interpreted by the system, how the mechanisms work beneath the surface, and best conventions to use. I feel confident that I can apply what I learned in this class to any coding environment going forward, whether it's backend or frontend technologies, or even if it's in a language I know or not.

I'd recommend Actualize to anyone who is serious about pursuing a career in software development. 

I found Actualize because a client of mine said a couple of co-workers went through it and they learned a ton. I liked that they offered a mid-day option and it was affordable for the amount of instruction and job assistance offered post-course. The course was unique because it had 5 weeks of pre-work which was self-led that gave you enough background knowledge to begin the 12 week live instruction portion. I felt that even with minimal coding experience before the 5 weeks of pre-work, this gave me enough experience that I could understand what was happening when the live instruction started. I also loved the instructors that I came into contact with. I had Dani as a lead instructor and she was awesome. Very caring, knowledgeable, relatable, very willing to help, and prepared us for the real world of web development. I would definitely recommend Actualize to anyone thinking about changing career paths. It helps build upon your current skill set and prepares you to enter the workforce as a web developer.

I was initially pointed to this bootcamp by a family friend and former graduate, and I was not disappointed. I am confident that I have everything I need to get a job in web development and to pursue other interests that weren't covered, like game design. While the curriculum is grueling, so long as you are willing to put in the work your instructor will not leave you behind. There is also the fact that you will have a support system for finding a job after you graduate, and you will have this system up until and even after you get your first programming job. Overall, it's a very welcoming environment and allows for success no matter where you're coming from.

Before actualize I had a love-hate relationship with computers. I loved what they could do, but I hated that I didn't know how they did it. Thanks to actualize I now simply love computers. This is truly a bootcamp for anyone with the time and energy to commit to it. This program will teach you to utilize a computer as it was meant to be utilized: efficiently. Furthermore you learn everything from the basics to pushing your self-crafted website to to the real live web. The most important thing you'll take away from Actualize is the ability and basic familiarity needed to teach yourself whatever programming or computer concept your passion or career might require. The resources to learn all of it are already out there, but Actualize gives you the skill of sifting through that information and determining what's actually useful and how to implement it. All-in-all: worth it. 

I made an extremely hard choice coming to Actualize. Leave my comfortable but ultimately dead-end job for something that I might hate? I tried learning how to code online and always ran into walls, ran out of motivation, just burnt out. Is this going to be super intense? What if I fail... how do I explain that to my family and friends?
I really wish I could go back in time and slap myself in the face and tell myself to just do it. I had no idea that I would actually have FUN with all this. The joy of learning new things and expanding my mind - it's something I haven't felt since I was a kid.
What separates Actualize from some other bootcamps (only from what I've heard, cannot give any first hand experience) is that this bootcamp is more about learning how to learn, not learning how to code. Don't worry, you'll learn so much your head will spin when you look back at it - but at the time it never felt daunting. Our instructor Peter did an incredible job of teaching the fundamentals of learning, because that's what we'll really be doing in our jobs. This isn't about passing and failing, weeding out people who aren't getting it - it's about making sure everyone is up to speed and fully understands what they're doing and why.
I feel confident now going into the world of software engineering. Do I know everything? Am I a master coder? Of course not, that's just impossible. But I'm quick to learn, and excited to learn. 
The fact that they hire people with actual teaching experience (not just programmers) to lead the classrooms is what pushed me over the edge, and I'm glad. As I mentioned, our instructor Peter was amazing, and probably the best teacher I've had. 

I chose Actualize because I was in need of a career change and so I took to the web and looked for bootcamps and actualize stood out to me because of all the positive reviews I had seen even on reddit I had seen positive reviews... so I took a leap of faith and signed up and now finishing the course I can say that the reviews matched up Actualize was a very personal bootcamp I felt that my all my questions I ever had were answered and i feel that I am going to be as prepared as I ever could be for a job interview and I am excited to see what this next chapter holds for me!