Actualize

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!

Coding Bootcamps seem to share a similar idea of getting students just the necessary knowledge for a fast turnaround into placing them at a new job. Actualize takes this idea and pushes it to the brink, with good results. The cohort is shorter than some bootcamps, but the fundamentals you learn are exceptional. As I came to realize, it really wasn't important which specific languages I learned while at Actualize, because the likelihood of finding a job using just those languages was very unlikely. Because of this, Actualize focuses on the concepts so that students can quickly learn whatever new languages, frameworks, etc they will need for a new job. As a former teacher, this approach is wise and beneficial for student learning. 

Overall had a positive experience at Actualize. The curriculum and topics covered weren't necessarily the most popular current languages and frameworks, but the general idea was more to learn how to learn and teach yourself any framework or language you're interested in. Would've liked to have spent more time on JavaScript including some of the more advanced methods and functionality, but I feel I'm leaving the course with a solid understanding. I think I personally would've preferred to learn React instead of Vue, but that could be mostly a personal preference. Overall I had a good time, enjoyed my classmates, and feel I'm leaving with a solid foundation of knowledge to build upon. 

Initially, I had set up interviews with several different coding schools/programs and after several weeks of researching and letdowns, I happened to come across Actualize. I made the assumption that this would be like the rest of them which felt more like a scam rather than an actual coding institution; I set up an interview with Rena, and she quickly put my fears to bed. After another interview and scrolling through page after page of reviews, I was glad I had made the decision to go with Actualize. 

I decided to switch career fields during the pandemic because I wanted something different and I wanted something better for myself. Choosing this school as a step towards my future was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was very fortunate to have Amanda as my instructor. From top to bottom, she succeeded my expectations and actually gave a shit about her students. She made sure we were all on the same page before moving on and made me feel valued as a student and human being. It's qualities like that that make this world not such a shitty place. 

The career counselors also don't just abandon you when you graduate. They are there to make sure your job search is going well and to offer advice. I'm very thankful for them and all of their help thus far. 

If you're on the fence about choosing a coding program like I once was, please please please for the love of god go with this one. 
It may sound trite and cliche but you won't regret it and one day my young padawan, you will be where I am, writing a review similar to this one. 

Looking for a career change, I couldn't be happier to have chosen Actualize for my education over other bootcamps. From the very first steps toward applying I could truly tell that Actualize has honest intentions of educating their students and helping them become independent and valuable Software Developers. The environment for learning was optimal - a small class with great lessons and hands on practice to solidify the learning experience. Instructors and TA's were always readily available to make the process enjoyable, smooth and stress free. I recommend Actualize to anyone, regardless of experience that is interested in becoming a Software Developer. By the end of the bootcamp you will know, be able to, and already have made a full functioning web application using Ruby on Rails as a backend and Vue.js for the frontend.

The course itself teaches you everything you need to know to become a full-stack web developer. The classes are fun and enjoyable but are packed with a lot of information. My instructor was absolutely amazing with previous teaching experience making the course feel like a very natural classroom setting even over Zoom. The career advisors, as well as the instructor, will help you build up your Linkedin, resume, as well as interviewing skills to prepare you for the job search. I am currently at the start of my job search and I am excited to see what the future holds.