Actualize

I will start by saying Actualize is not for everyone; as with most coding bootcamps, you will need quite a bit of resolve and patience to complete the program. Actualize does a great job at a lot of things but making you work-ready is a long shot. The job hacking is there and the alumni community is great but in the end when you finish the program, you are left with the common question: "Now what?" and you will find yourself in a similar position as you were before enrolling at Actualize.
It is not without value, at Actualize you will learn full-stack programming but there is only so much you can learn in such a limited amount of time. Unfortunately, knowing one way of doing things lining up exactly with requirements for a job is beyond a shot in the dark. Getting into web development ...

I chose actualize because their emphasis on teaching. There are many bootcamps available who do not stress this enough. I would recommend Actualize to anyone who is willing to put forth the effort to learn how to code. While they do teach you, you must put in the work if you want to succeed. I would also recommend exhausting free online exercises before enrolling in the class because it does move quickly, and having a base to build off is something to help cement your understanding.

And just as a side note, Peter led my cohort, and I would gladly recommend his teaching style and general demeanor regarding learning to program to anyone who is considering the course.

**Job assistance rating is left as NA as I am a recent graduate at the time of this review, and have not attended a...

I considered attending a bootcamp for for 2-3 years before finally making the decision to go through with it. I can honestly and personally say, that it was the best thing I've ever done for myself personally. After researching and reading through other reviews online for other bootcamps, I chose Actualize due to the smaller independent feel, the apprenticeship program offered after classes end, and most importantly the teaching experience/acuity of the instructors, especially Peter Jang. He's absolutely the best teacher I've ever had in all my years of school. He's extremely intelligent, insightful, experienced in the materials, and has a great personality. Without a doubt, the material is difficult but the atmosphere and approach they provide does not cultivate a high stress environme...

I came to Actualize in Chicago as a recent college graduate from California. I had received my BA in psychology, but had since decided that I wanted to pursue a different career track, and I thought I'd try my hand at coding. I had originally planned to move to Chicago to attend Fullstack Academy, as per a suggestion I had received, but upon being accepted into and starting the beginning of their program, I didn't feel like the teaching style was right for me. In looking for other bootcamps in Chicago, I came across Actualize and was impressed by the description of their program and instruction techniques, particularly after they let me sit in on a class before finally making the decision to join.

As I am currently graduating from the program, I can say with confidence that this boot...

When I made the decision to pursue a path in coding, I did extensive research on which program would be the best fit for me. Actualize checked all the boxes in that it was part-time (I couldn't commit to a full-time program) and because the program focuses on teaching first - this was different than any other program I was considering.

From prework through the intensive 12-weeks of live class, I felt supported by my instructors throughout. I can't say enough great things about Brian and how patient and supportive he was with me and my classmates when there were concepts we didn't fully understand.

This experience has taught me a lot about myself and I am amazed with how much I have learned and have achieved. I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone who is interested i...

Truly the best learning experience iin my life.The instructors are extremely knowledgable and helpful throughout the process! Coming from a background in sales and not having any programming experience was super intimidating and although it is a fast-paced course covering a lot of material there was a positive and community vibe ambience that kept me motivated and excited to attend each and every class! Supportive, comprehensive and most helpful coding bootcamp out there!

I came into the online live boot camp with little experience in coding. The set up of the screen sharing from the instructor for demoing concepts followed by working on examples to practice the new concepts really helped me learn the material and retain the information.

I am extremely happy with my choice to make a career change and enroll in Actualize. The instructor and teaching assistant were very helpful promoted positive learning experiences. They taught not only the hard skills needed to code but also how to succeed in my future career.

This course did an incredible job of creating something from nothing in my skill base. It's set up in a way where you can learn things really sequentially but are able to build out your knowledge at your own pace to some extent as well. The balance between structure and freedom was good. I also got to create a more extensive portfolio than I expected, which is helpful for job searching.

I chose Actualize because I wanted to attend a bootcamp that worked around my family's schedule. I liked that Actualize was offered online but in a way that is like a regular classroom. I could ask questions and get help as I was working.

I learned so much. It's amazing how much is covered in just a few months.

I would recommend Actualize to anyone wanting to learn to code and needs to do it a way that is flexible but still wants the benefits of in-person course.

Like most people reading this, I had no programming experience prior to attending Actualize. While working through Codecademy exercises, I began researching bootcamps and was nervous to take the plunge. Without question, Actualize is an incredible educational experience suitable for all backgrounds. Cohorts are small, allowing for more instructor attention. The instructors (who are FANTASTIC!!) have backgrounds in both software development and education. They really take the time to make sure you understand the material. You can ask for help and actually get an answer that makes sense. Most bootcamps are not like this.

In addition to modern web development tools, Actualize shows you how to not only build full-stack web applications (Ruby, Rails, VueJS), but feel comfortable reading ...

I'm very happy that I decided to pursue the Actualize program!

I had looked into, and was accepted into, three different programs: Actualize, Northwestern and Fullstack Academy. Not only did Actualize have the best ratings (rightfully so), they also fit my budget and my schedule.

Peter was a great instructor, combining his history of teaching and love of code to make lessons engaging, funny and informative. The program is challenging, but if you dedicate time and effort into improving, you will. The most important aspect of a bootcamp, and Actualize specifically, is that they teach you how to learn. I fiddled around with code for a few months by myself and got nowhere... it's so hard to know where to start! But with Actualize, they eased you into the program, and you were creati...

I think what makes actualize so great is the amount of information and understanding you get in such short time periods. Their emphasis on teaching you how to think like a programmer goes a long way. I came in knowing javascript, but not really knowing how to use it in web development, but after this course I am confident in knowing that I can think like a programmer and use my skills to make web applications.

Cannot begin to describe how worthwhile this whole process has been.

Having just completed the curriculum I feel very confident about jumping into the industry of web development and landing my first job in a field I thought previously I had no shot at. The curriculum is definitley no walk in the park but it was very fun to overcome the challenges and obstacles that you face when you jump headfirst into learning something as complicated as web development. Although you're technically in a class, it doesn't really ever feel like a school and the small size of the cohorts allows you to have a lot of one on one interaction with the instructors and TA's which is very beneficial when you run into small problems, and is one of the reasons I chose Actualize over a bigger bootcamp. Since Jos...

Actualize is a great place to learn a new career in web development. The teachers and staff are there to make sure you succeed.

Actualize was overall a great experience. The instructors and TA's very friendly and personable, and explained things in a clear and enaging way. It was difficult doing it while also working full-time, but also rewarding in the end. After not knowing a thing about coding, in the end I feel confident in writing Ruby, Javascript, HTML, CSS, building a Ruby on Rails application, using Vue.js, and understand a variety of other important concepts in the industry. They also just hired a career counselor for us so I'm excited to begin the job search.

The facility is also very nice with a ping-pong table, rooftop, vending machines, etc.

I came in knowing minimal HTML, and CSS, but came out learning so much. I had a great time, all the teachers and students were great. I honestly didn't expect to learn so much in such a short period of time. Really exceeded my expectations and I'm glad I came here. Another plus was that they help after the main course, they don't just throw you out and say good luck finding a job. We have a job counselor to help us prepare our resumes, go in prepared to our interviews etc. If you're on the line of coming here don't be you'll learn a lot and be able to move forward in your coding journey.

Great instructors that are incredibly knowledgeable, a very cool space to work and learn, and job support beyond the instruction. There is not much more I could have wanted out of a bootcamp and believe taking this class was one of the best decisions I've made.

I chose Actualize because:

- They emphasized the fact that the instructors are actual teachers
- I was intrigued by the post-bootcamp apprenticeship with nonprofits
- It was the cheapest, part-time & online
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I was nervous about the logistics of doing the class online (audio/video quality, screensharing, etc) but that worked perfectly for me the whole time. In fact, the ability to view the instructor's screen during the lessons & share my screen during exercises was extra helpful.
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Part-time was a great option for me. I would have burned out in a full-time program because of how intensive each session was.
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The content is not too hard for anyone. It’s the way the content is presented. There were a number of times when I would study, re-review materials, finally grasp ...

This was an intense curriculum that is designed to prepare you into the real world of coding. It was an intense challenging and sometimes brutal experience, but you will learn how to operate as a coder. It does become a skill, just like any other one, but much more precious. After graduating there was a great apprenticeship where the Jay (CEO) is a fundamental part of, helps you prepare for job hacking / interviews that proved extremely valuable to get me the job in the field I wanted. I have friends who have C.S. degrees, who where shocked as to the level of knowledge I was able to acquire in a short period.

I am a UX designer with a background in front-end development and design, and I have always wanted to learn to program. I chose Actualize after researching a lot of bootcamps, and talked to graduates. An acquaintance of mine went to Actualize a few years ago, and had an incredibly positive experience.

Excellent pedagogy to me is the make-or-break of a learning experience. Peter Jang and Jay Wengrow have somehow managed to put together the all-star package: a rigorous, exhaustive curriculum that actually teaches students the fundamentals of programming, while also giving them a complete grounding in the latest technologies. I struggled to learn C++ and Java in high school, and nothing stuck. By the end of this program, I can read code in multiple high-use languages and really understa...