Actualize

Thanks to Actualize, I'm now a software engineer.

And I'm not the only one. Everyone in my cohort who went for a new job got one. And that is pretty much the case in every cohort before and after mine as well.

I have so many good things to say about the bootcamp and the company as a whole, that I don't know where to start. I'll  explain my background and how I found/decided on Actualize, and then break my review down into four categories: Instructors, Curriculum, career support, and community.

 

My background:

Before attending Actualize, I had a varied educational background. I got my undergraduate in Psychology and was in a masters program for Speech Language Pathology. During grad school, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in software engineering instead of Speech therapy, and by chance, I heard about programming bootcamps from a friend of a friend. I researched a few different bootcamps that I found on Switchup.org's website and applied to a few of them.  The process of applying to Actualize was great - the CEO, Jay Wengrow, interviewed me himself and invited me to tour the space. I observed Josh, one of the two lead instructors, and knew right away that I wanted to attend Actualize (then known as Anyone Can Learn to Code). I went to one of their showcases and talked to the other lead instructor, Peter, their admissions advisor, and some alumni that were there. I knew in my heart that Actualize had the highest quality education and best value of all the bootcamps I looked into in Chicago. And I was right. It was the best decision I've ever made.

 

Instructors:

The instructors at Actualize bootcamp are the absolute best. I had Peter as an instructor, but also worked a lot with Josh after graduating. They're both really funny and are great teachers. They had teaching experience before Actualize, and are both brilliant coders. Josh regularly stays very late after class to help his students to understand the material because he's highly dedicated to his students' learning. They're both very responsive to messages and make themselves available for office hours.

 

Curriculum:

The way the bootcamp is structured is: about one month of online prework, three months of in-class instruction, a showcase where you show your capstone project to potential employers, and at least one month of apprenticeship, as well as white-boarding, lessons on computer-science fundamentals, and job-training. Class takes place in the evenings and on Sunday all day so that you can keep your full-time job, and the apprenticeship is where you work with actual clients to build their apps and websites. NO other bootcamp in Chicago does this. It's what makes Actualize so unique. Your capstone is individual, unlike some other bootcamps which have group capstone projects. Individual capstone projects are awesome because potential employers know that everything in your project was built by you.

 

We learned Ruby on rails, Javascript, AngularJS, git, jquery, HTML/CSS,  SQL, API integration, and more. The curriculum is always evolving and improving, though;  for example, current cohorts are learning VueJS .

We learned how to make apps from scratch and add features to them. And we were constantly reminded to push our apps to github as we developed them, so when I graduated, I already had a large amount of work on github to show employers.

Actualize teaches programming fundamentals that can be applied to any language. Many of my classmates and also previous alumni got jobs coding in languages we never used in class, such as Swift and Java. That's because Actualize does an amazing job of preparing you to be an actual developer. You're taught how to get unstuck when you get errors in your code, and you're taught how to learn new technologies on your own. For example, we learned how to read documentation.

 

Career support:

And you're not just left on your own after graduation. They have a dedicated career-management director, Taylor Dorsett, who has the #1 most-viewed profile in Chicago; he was one of the best recruiters in the country, so Actualize hired him to ensure that Actualize graduates are able to find jobs right out of bootcamp. After graduation, you'll get weekly trainings from him and Jay Wengrow, the CEO, to learn how to network, ace interviews, do whiteboarding exercises, and pass coding challenges. The value you will get from all of this training is worth the tuition in itself. Actually, the increase in my salary from finding a job in software engineering has already paid for my tuition.

 

Community:

I have made friends for life because of the awesome people I met at Actualize. They are now the people I spend the most time with.  We grill together, have game nights all the time, and still participate in Actualize events and attend all of the showcases. It's a wonderful community of like-minded people who are all contributing positively to the tech community in Chicago. We attend meetups and continue to learn new technologies, either through our new jobs, or for our side projects. The network that Actualize provides is unbeatable. It not only changed my life, but it's changed my future. I would recommend Actualize to anyone interested in a career in tech. You will not regret it.

Attending Actualize literally changed my life. I had been stuck in a dead end job for years and was just going through the motions. I was searching for a change and a family member in the tech industry suggested that coding may be something that would interest me. I took some online courses and found that I really enjoyed it! The only problem was that I could only take myself so far and felt I needed some hands on instruction. My research led me to coding bootcamps but I was discouraged because they were all full-time programs and I was not in a position to quit my job. One day while researching bootcamps I came across Actualize. I was immediately intrigued because I saw it was a part-time camp that would allow me to keep my job. I did have some doubts because I did not know how they could train me to become a web developer in such a short time while only being a part-time program. I decided to push those doubts aside and I went for it. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. We were given hands on instruction and my teacher was/is awesome. We were given lectures followed by exercises to put in practice what we just learned. I learned so much and if I ever needed help someone from Actualize was always there to help push me along. It was not easy, but the road to success usually isn't an easy one. The staff is so supportive and they were always available to us (even the CEO!). Not only did I have a great experience learning, I also made some life long friends along the way. I would highly recommend Actualize. I now have a great job at a startup and the opportunities to continue learning and growing are endless.

Attending Actualize was the best career decision I ever made.

Prior to the boot camp, I was unhappy with my job and felt stuck. I'd always wanted to be a developer, but my coding experience was extremely limited and I wasn't sure I would have what it takes. Actualize gave me the technical foundation to successfully pivot into a fulfilling career in development.   Attending Actualize means joining a great community. The CEO and instructors are truly invested in the success of the students and there's great camaraderie among fellow students and alumni.     The Actualize curriculum is extensive and fast paced, but the instructors know how to break the material down into digestible portions. My instructor was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic.   The Apprenticeship program was invaluable. It cemented the concepts I learned in the boot camp and exposed me to industry best practices. Working on real projects for real clients gave me a portfolio of tangible work to show to potential employers. The techniques taught at the career placement seminars helped me network and get interviews.   The boot camp isn't easy, you're exposed to a huge volume of material in a short period of time, but you're given every opportunity to succeed. I'm now working as a developer for a great company doing what I love. As cliche as it sounds, my only regret is not attending sooner.

ACTLC (Actualize) is a great program. I enrolled looking to make a career change, and I was able to make a financially lateral move to an entry level tech position from a field where I had more than 10 years experience. I chose ACLTC because of its friendly reputation and the ability for me to maintain a full time job. It wasn't easy, but but it was fun. The teacher of my cohort was great, but it's really the extended family of ACLTC the made the difference. There were always lots of alumni around as, currently employed in tech positions, that were eager to help and convincingly interested in my success. I enjoyed the apprenticeship part of the program, and I really believe that it gave me the added confidence and knowledge to land my first job.

I had dabbled in web development since I was a kid and enjoyed it, but I always thought that you needed a computer science degree to become a developer. When I heard about coding bootcamps, I was initially skeptical. My main hesitation before deciding to attend a bootcamp was whether an instructor could effectively impart enough knowledge for someone to change careers and become a developer in only a few months. My worries were alleviated after I learned about how Actualize specifically chooses instructors who have a background in teaching.

Josh turned out to be a wonderful instructor. He was able to explain complex concepts in a manner that was easy for everyone to understand while keeping a laid-back atmosphere in the classroom but also pushing everyone to do more than what we thought we were capable of. The TAs were knowledgeable and always on hand to help. I was also very lucky to have been in a cohort where everyone was supportive of each other.

Another factor that drew me to Actualize was the apprenticeship program. After completing the bootcamp, you get the chance to work on real projects and learn how to deal with real clients with the help of experienced and enthusiastic mentors. No, you're not going to know everything there is to know about web development by the end of the bootcamp or even by the end of the apprenticeship, but that's not the goal of Actualize. You will leave with a solid foundation and the tools to keep learning. It’s up to you to utilize those tools.

Actualize also offers excellent job search and interview training. You won’t be automatically handed a job after the bootcamp and the job search process was often frustrating, but you won’t be completely abandoned. Taylor was an amazing resource and was instrumental in helping me find my current job. With his help, I received two great offers after a month and a half of searching. While I've never attended any other bootcamps, I believe what sets Actualize apart is that Jay, who is the founder, and all the people at Actualize actually care about the students even after we are no longer technically their students.

Only a little over a year ago, I was feeling stuck in a job I didn't enjoy and now I'm in my dream career doing what I've always wanted to do. Actualize was the best decision I’ve ever made. Actualize will be the best decision you’ll ever make if you are willing to put in the time and work to pursue a career as a developer.

I attended the Actualize coding bootcamp in early 2017.  The part time structure made it perfect for me as I worked a full time job during the course of the bootcamp.  After sitting in on a class and meeting an instructor it was an easy decision to apply to Actualize.  The instructor did a great job keeping us engaged even late into the evening after a long week.  Actualize really gives you the tools to continue your education after you have completed the course.  We learned a variety of languages and frameworks, but were also encouraged to pursure our own interests and incorporate them into our personal projects, even if those technologies weren't part of the curriculum.  The job assistance is also top notch.  Several interviews were set up immediately after the end of the course and I received an employment offer within 6 weeks.  I would highly recommend Actualize to anyone looking to attend a bootcamp, regardless of skill level.

Before coming to Actualize, I studied Psychology and Spanish in San Diego State University, and I was on track for a career as a social service professional. I also have a knack for implementing new ideas, and startups fascinated me during that time. I didn't pay attention to it much as I was busy pursuing my degrees then. I held a Public Relations Manager position at a startup during my last semester in college, but left because I was moving back to San Francisco Bay Area. 

After moving back, I was blessed with the opportunity to work as a Behavioral Therapist for children who had autism and developmental disabilities. It was a greatly rewarding job and this is where I nurtured my passion to helping others. 
In addition, I did a lot of volunteer work for nonprofit organizations in San Francisco and was able to collaborate with seasoned professionals in strategizing how to outreach to corporations and get them involved. This eventually lead me to change jobs and work closely with nonprofit organizations and the clients they serve. 

I was then working as a bilingual case manager/social worker. I provided intense case management for 35-40 homelessness families per caseload and helped them achieve their goals of self-sufficiency, family well-being and independence. We provided resources for shelters, employment, education, health services, childcare, transitional and permanent housing. 

This position encouraged me to have a broader impact on underprivileged populations outside of the system -- to create something that can be used as a tool for social service agencies and the community in general. I wanted to create applications that accomplished this goal, which lead me to apply to Actualize.

I actually made the decision to apply right away. It was a Saturday morning, and I was looking through different bootcamps to enroll into. Actualize was the only part-time bootcamp that was being offered in San Francisco then. Because I was still working full-time and did not want to leave my job yet, I thought it was a great fit.

Actualize had a life-changing impact. Learning through Actualize helped me reach a goal: to learn how to code. With that simple accomplishment, I feel a lot more flexibility now with my career path. I see technology as a tool that you can pair with anything that you're interested in: from nonprofits, to startups, to medical, etc. I feel empowered learning these new skills.

When considering the specific features of Actualize I liked most, I definitely like that it was part-time. It gave people the opportunity to transition careers without having to lose their means of living. I also liked that our cohort had a small-size class. It really allowed the instructors and TA's to pay closer attention to your learning. Actualize can improve their program by implementing a strong career support team around the cohorts. They should also provide interview support where students can practice white boarding, technical questions, etc.

In regards to choosing Actualize over other bootcamps, when I saw the screencasts filled with humor, that jumped to me. As an educator in therapy, it was important to me that students love to learn. I felt that the founder of Actualize had the passion for teaching and giving space for fun while learning. That was key. I also checked reviews from their former students and they gave great reviews. They spoke about their values. A bootcamp with values is also very important. 

I believe that every bootcamp is different and yes -- everyone has a different learning style. If you have a full-time job and need to keep it while you're transitioning careers, I would definitely recommend Actualize. If you are well supported and want to learn to code, I'd still recommend Actualize along with other options.

 I was a newspaper designer. I had studied journalism and in grad school focused on the design aspect of journalism. During college, however, I started learning HTML and CSS by taking an intro class and ended up designing sites as a hobby, so I had some experience coding and learning things by myself.   Actualize (or Anyone Can Learn to Code, as it was called), allowed me to change my career for the better. There is no way I would have been able to learn all I did at ACLTC on my own and get a job in this field. I also developed (see what I did there?) some wonderful friendships. I had done a lot of research into what bootcamp I would go to (including considering online bootcamps).  The fact that the instructors were programmers but also had a background in teaching is what ultimately swayed me. Peter is an amazing instructor.   The part-time aspect ended up working for me as well -- I didn't have a job at the time but was freelancing, so that allowed me some flexibility. Judging from my cohort-mates' experiences, having a job and going to the part-time bootcamp was a really tough challenge. So either make sure you have a really good support system at home, or see if you can work part-time.   Having the apprenticeship (I think the format changed since I graduated -- I forget what it's like now) was really useful. It allowed me to get a little bit of experience in a work-like setting.   I got a job offer about a month after graduating. Part of it is because of my experience in design. People are also going to look at attitude and how well you work with others, etc.    Overall, would heartily recommend Actualize. However, I would not recommend any kind of web dev bootcamp to someone who's never coded before or has never before shown interest in it but wants to do it because it's the "in" thing to do. 

I went to college at Indiana University for a double major in Telecommunications and Communications & Culture (basically film and media studies). After graduating, I got hired at GP Strategies, a learning solutions provider. They make training materials for other companies. I was a Content Developer, which involved a lot of proofreading and organizing content from clients into specific templates and formats. I started teaching myself to code through online tutorials about a year before the first day of Actualize.

  When considering joining Actualize, the biggest hesitations were money and location - I moved up to Chicago to take the class. I chose Actualize over other bootcamps because it gave me the ability to attend and while still keeping my day job.   I loved the way the classes were taught. There was a lot thrown at us constantly, but it was structured in a way that you would learn something new, learn a few variations of it, and then be set loose on your own to solve problems. It was a very effective way of teaching. If students ever had questions or concerns, our instructor was also great at helping you on a one-on-one level. Since taking the class, I am happier with my job, making more, and am excited to be a part of the industry. I would absolutely recommend Actualize. The classes are great, the people are cool, and you are given a ton of support and resources.   The only thing I would add is that you shouldn't think of the course as something where you waltz in, spend some time in a classroom, and then are immediately offered a job as soon as you graduate. There is a great deal of information that is given to you at a high level, but when looking for jobs, my experience was employers were looking for those deeper levels. So to succeed and actually get a job in this field, it takes a lot of additional time on your own.   

I chose Actualize becasue of their focus on teaching.  Peter, my instructor, was passionate about teaching, extremely knowledgeable, and always happy to answer all my questions.  The class being part time didn't bother me because I'd usually spend 4 to 5 extra hours each day studying on my own anyway.  And when you have 3 hours of intense lecture everyday, you can't absorbe anymore, it's just too much information.  

Overall I was completely satisfied with my experience at Actualize.  I actually had a job offer three weeks after graduating!!  The company that hired me specificly wanted someone a little older, I'm 36, and from a coding bootcamp.  They recently had a couple bad experiences hiring kids straight out of college with CS degrees.  

Good luck out there!

1. What was your background before coming to Actualize? (Include college/past career)
   
   I graduated college with a degree in Computer Science and worked temp jobs in IT and call centers while searching for development position.
    
2. What hesitations would have prevented you from joining Actualize?
   
   My main hesitations were if the bootcamp was going to be worth the time and money. I had a Computer Science degree and didn’t manage to get anything development related. So I was a little skeptical.
    
3. What impact did Actualize have on your life?
   
   I would say it had a huge impact on my life. Actualize has provided me with the experience necessary to move forward to a development position.
    
4. What specific feature did you like most about Actualize?
   
   The apprenticeship was the selling point for me. It provided real world experience building websites for non-profits.
    
5. What made you choose Actualize over other bootcamps?
   
   I would definitely say that the apprenticeship was what made me choose Actualize.
    
6. Would you recommend Actualize, and if so, why?
   
   Yes I would recommend Actualize. What you learn throughout the course will shape your way of thinking and the experience that you get from the apprenticeship is indispensable. Having any experience with developing real world projects is necessary to get a job.
    
7. Is there anything else you would like to add?
   
   The instructors are great and make sure you have a firm grasp of the material they teach. Job placement isn’t guaranteed, but if you take advantage of the resources Actualize offers the chances improve greatly.