Galvanize

Intro

I used to work as a principal software engineer at a big software company for many years doing full stack Java web development. I wanted a new job but everything in web development has changed from Java/php/Ruby to JavaScript frameworks. I looked at a few bootcamps in the (Coding Dojo, Hack Reactor, Dev Mountain and Dev League in Hawaii - nice but no time to surf) and was accepted by them all. They are all good schools but Galvanize was 6 months (24 weeks), not 3 months to help us learn more and one of their instructor Josh used to teach at Hack Reactor and gave us a free Saturday course in JavaScript.

Precourse

I was accepted at all the schools. Hack Reactor had a one month prep course, other schools were easier to get in and Galvanize had an online test with an instru...

Great beginners-level Python class. The instructor, Chris, was very dedicated. He wasn't only knowledgeable about Python but well-versed in teaching methodologies . I grasped concepts that I couldn't understand while taking online classes. The curriculum was well-thought-out and jam-packed--I was shocked how much we covered in six weeks. I would absolutely recommend this course for anyone trying to learn Python--if you want to do the work , you will get the support and tools you need here.

Background: Retail customer service and sales in the tech/electronics industry, no prior software experience. Some general education teaching experience.

Now: Just hit 10 months in as a software engineer for an ed-tech company that services students around the world.

My review could just be those two lines up there and it would speak for itself but that would be an injustice to both Galvanize as a school and it's staff. From the admissions staff to the career services director, everyone there is working constantly to see you, the student, succeed. I went in interested in learning software development and hoping for a career change, I left with those hopes fulfilled and an insatiable drive in continuing my education as both an evolving engineer and a possible instructor in the fu...

If you are going to a (data science) bootcamp to pivot careers, be open to opportunities along the way. Despite encouragement from and within the program to stay in San Francisco, I had to move back to Chicago after being offered a teaching position for another semester. I did not plan on not being hired on hiring day and spent about a month figuring out what I wanted to do. When I got back to Chicago, I applied to teach data science and Python at General Assembly. I was hired due to my previous teaching experience. I found myself teaching Python for data science to people saying that they were data scientists at Google! Then, I was hired at my current company as a data scientist by the COO. He told the CEO on my first day that I taught data science. So goes the winding road. M...

Back in the day when data science was a new a shiny object and every company was trying to build up a data science group, graduates of the Data Science Immersive were able to find jobs in no time. I was lucky enough to have finished the course in time to catch the tail end of this wave, but I realized my shortcomings when I arrived at my new job feeling completely overwhelmed. Luckily I had a tolerant manager and thanks to her I have been able to fill in my knowledge gaps.

However, others are not as lucky as me. Around the summer of 2016, it became evident to the employers that these DSI graduates only had very superficial knowledge of data science because (surprise!) they had to cram 1 year's worth of course work in 14 weeks. Their job placement rate has dropped precipitous...

I went through Galvanize's Web Development Immersive (formerly full stack immersive) program last year, graduating in mid-December. The first thing that I'll say about them is that the classroom environment was excellent. My instructors were intelligent, knowledgable, funny, and friendly, and I can confidently say that I learned a lot from the course. That said, Galvanize's stated end goal is to get it's graduates jobs, and in that endeavor they have failed pathetically.

When I applied for the program, one of the aspects that most interested me was the fact that the course culminates in "hiring day." I knew from friends who had been through gSchool previously that hiring day was an incredibly important event wherein a huge number of graduates found jobs immediately after graduating. ...

Galvanize is the worst way I have spent money to date. I have to admit that I fell for all the marketing here. I attended a bunch of free events, got to know the teachers, fit in with the community... I've heard mixed things about different bootcamps so I wanted to try the Introduction to Python course and ensure my bootcamp investment would be worth my time. I went in pretty excited, my faith blided by their great marketing. I should have seen the red flags when the instructor of the class snipped at everyone and dodged questions on the first day and Tara MacSomething would wait entire WEEKS before responding to my email with a simple question (other students complained of the same experiences, apparently I am lucky I got a response). Did I make it through the class? Yeah, but mainly d...

The pros of attending Galvanize were their ability to remain organized and methodical despite being very agile and fluid. The community aspect was huge. The networking opportunities were real and constant. This is a place where people want to connect, want YOU to succeed and make sure you know it every step of the way. You absolutely get out what you put in, and if you give it you're all, you're sure to succeed.
The cons of attending Galvanize were surely the time required, and thus, the time neglected in other areas of life-For example, your relationships, ability to stay up to date with other life matters, like laundry, often fell by the way side. Every cohort is unique and the mix of specific personalities-both teachers and students is the gamble you take. From one cohort to the ne...

Galvanize was great because of the immersive nature of the course. While that's also something that heightens the intensity, it allows for you to come alongside peers in similar stages in life despite varying backgrounds. The culture of Galvanize made it a place where I was excited to come to learn everyday; the instructors were not only knowledgeable, they were approachable and friendly - not the kind to look down on you for your questions. As a female, I was slightly apprehensive on what to expect in the gender-arena. Though there were few women in my class, it was obvious that they (and the women in the working suites) had every right to be there and were treated according to that. The support teams of Galvanize (admissions, community coordinators, etc..) were constantly keeping in ...

First off, I'll start this review by telling you all that I didn't end up graduating from the SF Galvanize bootcamp (the only one out of 13. I'll also state that I graduated UCSC with honors, so it's not like I'm completely dumb). Despite my own personal situation (more on this later), I share many similar sentiments with the rest of the cohort about the school.

Secondly, I'm trying to leave a fair review despite not graduating; however, this review is subjective and, of course, is based off my personal experiences at Galvanize.

A typical day unfolded like this:

9-10: warm-up algorithm
11-12: Reviewing the algorithm's answer, and then lecture.
Lunch from 12-1
1-2: Another 1-2 hour lecture.
3-Rest of day/evening: More work to be done; projects, homework review, etc (typical...

Pros: I was able to learn everything j needed to have a great quick start to programming, and at the end of the program I was able to dive into areas I was most interested in in the world of software development. This allowed for a unique yet structured experience.
Cons: I was not faced with many negitive points in the program. I did have an issue with my computer being broken by another student, and then being left to deal with it on my own with no assistance from Galvanize in any way. That out a huge extra stress on me for a good amount of time and still had not been resolved. Other than that issue (which was very random and unlikely) I loved the instructors, environments and lessons.

Pros: smart classmates; most teachers were great
Cons: material not organized; exercises were not well-designed; expensive

Best decision I have made in my professional life so far. They gave me the skill set to be successful after graduation. They spend a lot of time teaching the importance of learning how to learn, and the course is designed in such a way that it gradually takes off the training wheels and you can begin to be self-sufficient. This is by far the biggest benefit, as the odds that a job you'll get hired into afterward that is using the exact same technologies you spent 6 months learning are basically zilch. "Learning how to learn" is the benefit that gives you dividends in the future.

Beyond that, learning the basics that will apply to every technology you will end up touching is the basis of the course.

The cons are that it is a little pricey, and the 6 month course schedule makes for ...

I attended galvanize and I was not happy with the experience. There were some lessons that were straight out of coursera or udacity (like we literally were told to watch videos from there for the class). I also got the feeling that it was all about the money and not so much about the students and what they get out of the program for their future.

I was lost. After studying psychology and working in the field, I knew that career path was not the right choice for me. So my previously planned trajectory to go to grad school came tumbling down. What was a lost soul to do? I needed a job, so I worked in retail sales for a bit. A fateful interaction with a client who was a developer introduced me to the world of tech. Intrigued, I started researching development and tried out some coding exercises. I immediately fell in love - how perfect this skill was for a creative problem solver like myself! Why had no one told me about this field before?! I was always competent with computers, but never thought any more of it than that.

My excitement led me to investigate what it took to make this career change. I started studying on my own, ...

This review is of the Austin campus.
I did a lot of research on code schools before I applied to Galvanize. I'd attended one of Galvanize's info sessions and was "that" person who asked all the tough questions. Scott, the program director, answered all of them graciously in detail, and I suspected from that night I may have a good experience at Galvanize.

Fast forward six months. I graduate tomorrow, and while I'm excited to go out and get a job (and have already informally been offered two, by the way), leaving Galvanize as a student will definitely be bittersweet. Besides the remarkable cohesion and synergy of my cohort, the technical learning experiences have been the most & fastest I've ever learned in any academic program...ever.
(Coming from a former school teacher) The main ...

The official system with the official 'learn' articles for the curriculum needs some updating and maintenance, but overall the curriculum and staff were all wonderful and supportive. This program definitely made us job-ready. Life changing in terms of confidence and general problem solving skills, too.

Pros:
-Lots of material
-Tons of networking
-Free beer in the afternoons
-(mostly) Expert instructors
-6 month membership to Galvanize after graduating

Cons:
-Too relaxed for me; no way to fail out of the program unless you just don't show up
-A bit expensive, but a fair overall value I think
-A few of the other students were low caliber (didn't care/lazy)
-Barely nicked on reinforcement learning, didn't even mention q-learning
-Only half a day spent on neural nets

I recently completed the Data Science program at Galvanize. I did a lot of research and pondering about which path to take before finally deciding to attend Galvanize (the options I considered were: do it on my own through MOOCs, attend a University program or attend another bootcamp).  So, after all is said and done, would I say it was worth it?  Well, there was definitely some positives and I enjoyed going through the program, but overall I would have to say that the program does not fully deliver upon all its promises and from my perspective would say that its not worth the very lofty price tag of $16,000.

The Pro's:
• They have a very comprehensive curriculum, so you will be exposed to and have the opportunity to learn about a very broad set of DS-related topics. The capstone pr...

I've seen the inner workings of Galvanize both as a student and employee. I can say without hesitation that as an organization, they have your best interest as a student as their top priority. The CEO, Jim Deters, is super passionate about creating the opportunity for people to change their lives through education. This is what happens if you commit to the process and have the internal motivation to work hard. I can say that out of my cohort of 23 people, 22 of 23 currently have jobs as developers (the 23rd is traveling for fun right now.) Besides being in a coworking space where networking happens pretty naturally, Galvanize hosts many meetups and mentor sessions, and events with the specific intention of connecting to the tech community. Galvanize is one of the more expensive program...

Pros - Galvanize is one of the most all-inclusive boot camps out there. I've talked to others who've gone through similar programs and they didn't come out with the same level of experience.
The environment there was fantastic. Having real devs right upstairs made the experience more wholesome. Graduation day put me in contact with my first employer.

Cons - They seem to have a hard time keeping their staff around. They did do everything in their power to make up for it though and I felt valued as a student there.

College is a drag and completely ineffective as a learning institution as I experienced. You spend lots of time agonizing over little things that ultimately get you nowhere in terms of being a useful person in the work force. Galvanize is a 6-month bootcamp that kicks you in the ass but actually does something for you. I am extremely grateful to have gone through the program.

Before starting at Galvanize, I was working at a marketing agency as a copywriter. For my whole life people knew me as a literature lover and writer/editor. Coding never crossed my mind in college, but when I started dabbling with HTML and CSS at work, I found it really interesting and fun! Not only that, it fit my skill set to a tee. I've always been very detail-oriented but also creative.

I discovered Galvanize when I was attending a weekend Railsbridge MeetUp in Denver. I couldn't stop asking questions and was fascinated to learn more. That's where I met the Galvanize folks and first learned about a bootcamp. My first day in the classroom was about nine months later. I was completely intimidated and overwhelmed all at once. Most of my classmates were way beyond where I was. I stru...

I attended the Galvanize full stack web developer program in 2016. It was everything advertised, intense, hard work but very rewarding. We went through what makes up a modern development stack while also 'learning to learn' which turned out to be the most valuable takeaway. Galvanize gave me the confidence to take on new technology as well as give me an understanding on how I learn best, making me a more effective learner.

The community at Galvanize is also a major part of the reason I decided to apply, they do a brilliant job of linking new students with alumni and invite many developers from the Denver community to give talks based on their experiences with web development.

I was able to enter secure a job immediately after graduating thanks to the skills I'd learned, as well a...

Pros - learning skills that are in demand. Cons - if no programming experience, very difficult to get the most out of a bootcamp.

This program was great. I learned a significant amount and after being in the workforce for a bit, feel more prepared then the majority of my colleagues. Galvanize really was an amazing experience. The teachers were extremely dedicated and helped me achieve the expertise I desired for machine learning and data science.

Galvanize has an outcomes team. While I did find a great job, I found their efforts and support lacking. Maybe this was because the job market for data scientists in Denver is not as robust, compared to SF. However, I would have still expected more enthusiasm and effort considering the high price.

Pros -
Job placement assistance
Evolving, industry based curriculum
Networking opportunities provided through the co-working community

Cons -
High rate of instructor turn over (my particular cohort had 11 different instructors throughout the six months)
Varied levels of experience from instructors (The lead instructors can sometimes be FAR from what you would expect to see from a SR engineer / developer)
Cost of tuition

Pros -
Job placement assistance
Evolving, industry based curriculum
Networking opportunities provided through the co-working community

Cons -
High rate of instructor turn over (my particular cohort had 11 different instructors throughout the six months)
Varied levels of experience from instructors (The lead instructors can sometimes be FAR from what you would expect to see from a SR engineer / developer)
Cost of tuition

The Galvanize data science immersive devotes twelve weeks to teaching a very complex subject at a rapid pace. The program combines lectures with both solo and pair exercises. During the program, the staff will also bring in several representatives from data science-utilizing companies to talk about what their data science jobs look like in the real world - and to scout out potential hires. At the end, students put together capstone projects and present them to an audience.

Though the material did seem a tad disorganized, I felt that overall, the educational part of the program was solid - if staggeringly fast-paced. Some of the earlier lectures were weaker, probably due to the fact that some of the instructors were new to the program, but these picked up strength over time. The exerc...

The theory goes that you do your best learning when the material challenges you at the boundary of your ability. That was definitely the case for me with the Galvanize Data Science Immersive (DSI). By the middle of the second week I had the distinct impression that I had already transformed as a person in my ability and the way I could see the world. I have a lot of good things to say about the program, but I will list just a few that stand out.

I expected there to be a lot of content and I was not disappointed. Data Science requires a very large set of skills so it is difficult to calibrate a curriculum to cover the right stuff at the optimal depth in 8 weeks of instruction. This was balanced very well for me. I had a fair amount of exposure to C, C++, Fortran, Basic, Matlab and Mat...