Actualize

I had the absolute pleasure of being in this bootcamp. We had a wonderful instructor Peter Jang with patience that most saints could not muster. He was informative and fun to learn from and I came in with little to no knowledge of coding and was able to follow along and learn the basics of coding. He made sure to spark the wonder for research and figuring out the problems not just giving up and saying I don't know. He offered time and expertise in so many ways to all of my classmates we all have come so far and truly will be successful due to this course.

I was part of a January 2024 cohort (Sundays and weeknights) and I found the course to be engaging and fulfilling. A big factor in that was the small cohort size. With only 7 other people in the class, we all got to know each other well and spend plenty of time working together to solve problems and help each other out every day. In fact, I've become friends with 2 others in the class, and we plan to hold each other accountable in our job search and continuous learning.

A special shoutout is well-deserved to Peter Jang, the instructor. He was funny, had lessons that were easy to understand, and had an positive attitude that was a great motivator. He was always willing to answer any questions we asked or even offered to stay late after class to help out with tougher issues.

I also appreciated the "job hacking" portion of the class where we spent an hour every week learning how to network, get interviews, and land jobs. An hour might not sound like a lot, but we also had homework that forced us out of our comfort zone in order to get connections and find the right jobs for us.

After 5 months in the cohort, I definitely see the improvements. I couldn't see myself learning how to do a CRUD app or realizing that I love backend way more than frontend code before the beginning of the course. Now, I have multiple side projects that I want to tackle, and it's possible to do so because of the foundation created during the bootcamp.

I'm still looking for jobs, but I definitely wouldn't be as confident in my search now if it wasn't for the bootcamp and the support from instructors and classmates.

So, I'll start this off by saying this bootcamp was basically my only choice after having called at multiple different bootcamps. They were very professional at the start of me contacting them as opposed to another bootcamp that i wont mention, and slowly pushed me towards choosing them. They were very helpful and understanding of my situation and gave me options on which course to pick (they got morning and evening cohorts as of this writing) and even offered for me to take a sit in on one of their classes. Its very much a structured learning environment, i would compare it closer to maybe like, a college class with a small amount of students. Because of this I felt as though I was watched over in a good way, they pushed me to complete assignments on time even when I fell behind, but I was able to submit them at any point (this is during the first 5 weeks for the class, before any actual zoom calls). once the zoom calls started I felt a sense of accomplishment. and again after the course. In todays job market they also told me the reality that I might not get a job within a month, but that they would help us in any way they can and they gave us strategies to go about it. Overall while being the only coding bootcamp i have attended, its definitely my favorite. Especially when comparing it to my early comp sci classes where the professor could not be bothered. 

...and that's ok. I'm a graduate, so I'm still applying to things. Ask me in 6 months how I feel about my Actualize experience. But at least, right now fresh out of it I can say: I don't feel ready. But I know I *am* ready, and that's really all that counts. If you go with Actualize, there are a few things I can guarantee: (1) you'll get a teacher who cares, and is good at teaching. (2) it'll be 100% about what YOU put into it. You'll get out what you put in. Be ready to apply yourself. and (3) you will absolutely adjust to the schedule. It'll all be ok. And sooner than you know: you'll graduate.

Good luck on your school search and, should you choose to accept it, your coding journey. 

I decided to join Actualize because I wanted to get into the coding world and make a career out of it. With the help of this bootcamp I feel prepared to enter in a junior developer role. During the pre-work they teach you the basics of coding and it is self-paced. After 5 weeks of pre-work you start the live classes. The live classes is 12 weeks and they teach you all about the frontend and backend of making an app. It is Ruby/React based which is a nice easy start when you come in knowing little about coding. Overall it was an amazing experience and I definitely would recommend this bootcamp to anyone that asks "What coding bootcamps are worth it?" 

If you are someone who is new to coding and unsure of which way forward is best for you, look no further because Actualize is the BEST COURSE AVAILABLE. I could not more highly recommend this bootcamp as the overall experience was amazing and it has prepared me thoroughly for my new career as a software developer/engineer. Prior to joining Actualize, I was completely new to coding and slogging through Youtube tutorials and other self-learning materials but didn't feel that my learning trajectory was on the right path. I had actually joined a different bootcamp but had a terrible experience that lasted 3 days before dropping as their material was more advanced than advertised and my teacher there was not welcoming or helpful. Soon after, I found Actualize and the reality could not be more starkly different. Their application process was very straightforward, and Actualize was extremely transparent with their curriculum. The pre-course work with Kevin was vital to creating a great base of coding fundamentals, and the live course with Brian exceeded all of my expectations. Brian organized the class content perfectly and was extremely attentive to each individual student's needs. He took my cohort from writing loops in Ruby to making full-stack web apps, and I truly feel comfortable using Rails and React to create web apps. Don't waste anymore time on your coding journey and join Actualize now!

I decided to give Actualize a chance after my brother took this coding BootCamp. I felt like this was one of the better programs when compared to my other options. Overall it was a great experience. In total, it's about 18 weeks long because they have you do pre-course work that is all self-paced for about 4-6 weeks prior to your official start date. I think this is amazing because it gets you prepared with the basics of coding. It usually consisted of 3-4 video lectures (5-10min/each) daily with practice problems. The actual course covered backend and frontend development very well. I just wish they explained some syntax/logic a bit better on the front end. It also would've been nice if we spent a bit more time learning how to make our web apps more appealing with Bootstrap, CSS, or Tailwind. Of course, these are all things you can teach yourself outside of the course so it's not a deal breaker. For the job assistance, it's pretty average you get resume help, how to find jobs, and interview prep.

I entered Actualize Coding Bootcamp with high expectations, having been referred by two former alumni, and I can confidently say that my experience exceeded every anticipation. The only regret I have is not joining sooner! From the curriculum to the instructors and career services, Actualize has proven to be a game-changer in my journey towards web development.
The curriculum at Actualize is nothing short of superb. The pace at which I learned was astonishing, and the depth of knowledge I gained in such a short time is a testament to the effectiveness of their teaching methods. The instructors played a pivotal role in this accelerated learning journey. Kevin, who guided me through the prework, Amanda as the lead instructor, and the TAs, Kevin and Luke, were nothing short of phenomenal. Their dedication to student success was evident in their willingness to go above and beyond to help with any challenges or roadblocks.
What truly sets Actualize apart is the unwavering support system provided by the entire team. In moments of doubt and imposter syndrome, I found solace in voicing my concerns to the instructors, teaching assistants, and career advisor. No matter how many times I reached out, they were not only responsive but also incredibly supportive and encouraging. The genuine care and personalized attention I received helped me put my fears into perspective, fostering an environment where growth and overcoming challenges were not only possible but expected.
I am coming out of Actualize with a robust foundational knowledge that goes beyond just web development—it's a skill set I can use to learn new technologies and adapt to the ever-evolving tech landscape. While the journey was not without its challenges, the incredible support system of instructors, teaching assistants, and career advisors made all the difference. I wholeheartedly recommend Actualize to anyone looking to enter a coding bootcamp with a strong and nurturing support system, setting the stage for long-term success in the field of web development. My time at Actualize has been not only educational but also empowering, and I am incredibly thankful for the enriching experience.

I enjoyed my time at Actualize and especially liked my instructors. I switched from the night class to the day class due to a personal scheduling info and both Kat and Amanda were thoughtful teachers who helped guide you toward solving problems on your own. The curriculum covers both backend and frontend technologies and bounces back and forth between them which really helps build on ideas gradually rather than doing all one followed by the other. While I do feel more confident in my ability to pickup new languages, frameworks, etc., I do wish that the course spent a bit more time teaching some of the other popular coding languages. The career counselors and touching base regularly has been incredibly helpful for preparing a resume and getting ready for job interviews. I look forward to the continued career support and landing a job with my class experience!

I did a lot of boot camp research, and immediately got good vibes from Actualize.  Their website was the most transparent, with the cost, curriculum, and ethos displayed openly (whereas many boot camps require your contact info or a phone call to learn about the tuition rates).  Their professed dedication to teaching you how to continue teaching yourself post-graduation was what pushed me further toward Actualize, and they definitely delivered on that promise!  Our instructor, Amanda, was engaging, smart, funny, and always went to distance necessary to answer questions and ensure comprehension.  I was also surprised to find out that I could finance the cost (through a third party) easily, at a reasonable interest rate, and without even being employed at the time of application.  I am now-  I got my first engineering job 2 weeks before graduating from the boot camp.