Actualize

The focus on teaching you how to learn is what drew me to actualize and they definitely delivered. The instruction was always clear and concise and tailored to help you understand complex subjects. The instructor's jokes weren't THAT bad either... While it was digestible it was also challenging. The job hacking portion took my networking game up to another level and many excellent connections and learning experiences were gained as a result of reaching out to others in the industry which I would not have done on my own. 

Actualize was recommended to me by a group of Software developers I befriended on my search for the perfect boot camp. I am not disappointed at all and it doesn't hurt that they offer scholarships. The experience was mind blowing and a little scary, but I came out the other end equipped with the skills to help me move forward in my new journey. I am very grateful to Dani Z. (lead instructor), My two TA's, Tori and Benji, My Job career coach (Lisa) who worked tirelessly to help me succeed. I'm also grateful to Jay Wengrow for Founding such a wonderful program and giving back to the community and all future developers out there.

I recently finished the Actualize online web development course. I looked long and hard at all the schools. Interviewed at several different programs as well. In the end I choose actualize because I felt the live online classes with an instructor, teaching assistants and other students gave me the best of both worlds. This turned out to be exactly the case! A bonus was all of the content is recorded and documented so you can use it as reference right after a lesson or after the program is over. I felt that the program was well thought out in terms of timing spent on all necessary aspects of learning development concepts, softwares, frameworks and even the basics on command line interaction. All of the content felt on point. There were some technologies I would have liked to have gone over but the rate at which technology moves I understand you can't touch on everything. This is a great course for someone with no previous knowledge in IT or development. I only put 4 stars on the job assistance just because I am starting to get into that aspect of the job search right now. Actualize does start grooming students for how to get prepared for the job market as soon as you start the program. It was good to have a gradual introduction to job assistance right away and throughout the program. I highly recommend this course! Another big take away is they teach you how to learn new concepts and software in the development field.

As a business professional (by trade I am MD, plastic surgeon, with extensive experience and involvement in RE investment industry as well) I do not make any decision lightly, without proper and diligent research on the subject.

When I decided it was time for me to get “literate” by the 21st century standards (meaning - it was time for me to learn to code), my first step was to indulge into deep, extensive search and research of all options.

Decision was placed on Actualize boot camp.  At that point I suspected they were probably good, but little did I know, that Actualize was the best. By far. And by all measures:

• Extremely well-planned curriculum;
• Founder, Jay Wengrow, not only expert in his filed, book author, educator, but also respected and thoughtful leader of his team;
• Peter Jang, my instructor, outstanding engineer, with exceptional ability to convey knowledge no matter what level of coding student might be at, super fun too;
• Lisa Tucker, patient and supportive guide for graduates on their path to get recognized by hiring companies as a signal, not a noise;
• TAs, Jennifer, Bret and Mark: knowledgeable and well mannered;
• Campus facilities modern, spacious, inviting, located at hip and convenient River North area of downtown Chicago. 

But there was one element where they impressed me, and where no competition will be able to come not even close, and that was a care for their alumni. So much sincere efforts, support and assistance for every graduate during their positioning to get a career and job of their dreams I haven't seen yet in my (long professional) career. And this human element is the final and the most critical reason why I think it will be almost impossible to beat them at the throne of being the best.

 

At first, I fell into the trap of, "I can do this by myself" - after all, I had taught myself HTML and CSS. However, when one decides on persuing programming as a vocation, it is important to due the proper due diligence and invest in the proper process in order to ensure success. Enter Actualize. During my time as an Actualize student, I have been able to go beyond my comfort zone in regard to my programming and "soft" (interpersonal) skills related to the job search process, allowing me to master new skills and confidently move forward with my goal of attain a job as a Software Developer. If you are feeling stuck in regard to mastering your programming skills, head to Actualize - you will be amazed at what you are abile to accomplish!

Starting even from before the pre-work I never felt like I was alone. From the moment you are enrolled at Actualize to the moment you graduate and beyond you have that sense that you are part of a family. I was in Peter's class during the night class and I never felt like I was being neglected or ignored when I was struggling or had a question. With being new to software engineering I learned more than I could ever imagine in the 12 weeks of being enrolled and know that I will feel the same way post-graduation and I continue my job search. The staff at Actualize is absolutely fantastic all the way from the teachers assistant all the way to the CEO who is very hands on and always willing to help out each and every student no matter the time of day. I recommend Actualize to everyone I talk to if they are between choosing bootcamps because they truly make you part of the Actualize family. 

I chose Actualize because it was one of the few online courses that fit with my schedule. I did my research by reaching out to former students and combed through reviews. After much hesitation, I signed up. My biggest fear was attending a course too fast paced and end up falling behind. This course was perfectly paced. The introduction to new material, the lectures, the practice, and the questions were all very nicely layered. There were times that I felt overwhelmed, but times like that were anticipated. The instructor is very supportive of any questions, even at odd hours of the day outside of the class. Resource materials and consolidated cheat sheets are in abundance. Having a responsive instructor and access to many resources reinforced my confidence in the course when I felt overwhelmed. I would highly recommend this course to anyone shopping around for a bootcamp. Upon leaving this course, I feel very confident in my programming abilities and am eager to start looking for job opportunities. 

I recently completed the Software Engineering bootcamp through Actualize and feel comfortable making a strong recommendation to others regarding this program. While I do not have any other software bootcamp experiences to serve as a comparison to my cohort through Actualize, nonetheless, I am comfortable stating, based on my progress and prospects (starting as an absolute beginner)  the course and program are well run and outstanding overall.

I attended the online program which utilizes live classroom meetings (utilizing video) giving me the benefit of attending a class from my home. In addition, there are significant off class support structures in place, including the availability of the lead instructor as well as teaching assistants and a robust career counseling segment that creates a well rounded matrix of opportunities.