Grace Hopper Program

I'm still early in the job search so this review is based mostly on the actual course. The best part about GH is the atmosphere - the fellow students, instructors and staff are extremely supportive, warm and encouraging. That makes a big difference, because... Read More by its nature, the program is quite intense. There were plenty of times I felt exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of information being thrown at us, but the process definitely works. And it was greatly comforting to know we had resources to turn to if we were falling behind and that everyone there was invested in making sure each student succeeded. There are a lot of opportunities for one-on-one and small-group instruction if you're struggling with a particular concept. While there are certain small aspects of the program I could quibble with, overall it was run well and I was very satisfied with the experience. The projects we completed in the second half of the program were a great way to hone our skills and are hugely helpful in the job search. So far I'm mostly pleased with the job search support. During the program, there was a lot of good advice and practice in areas such as improving your resume and LinkedIn profile, practicing for technical and behavioral interviews, creating your elevator pitch, and general job-hunting tips. The "Hiring Day" was a bit disappointing as far as the range and quality of the companies attending, and ultimately you are mostly on your own in the job search, but I think we're well-prepared, and there is support if you ask for it.

I highly recommend this bootcamp if you have the resources to be able to attend. I have background in art/tech but was always working on the business or administrative side when I decided to learn programming on my own. I'd always been in competitive... Read More and male-dominated environments so coming to Grace Hopper was truly life-changing for me. The program gave me the confidence to be fully devoted to a drastic career change in addition to having productive relationships with very capable, intelligent women. I had not previously experienced a learning environment as supportive as the one at Grace Hopper. This isn't to say the curriculum is somehow any less rigorous. Every person who goes through the program is absolutely prepared for this career path.

If I had to be critical about the Javascript curriculum specifically, it would be that Grace Hopper does share educational resources with Fullstack Academy and I find that the structure of the workshops doesn't always accommodate every skill level. In this sense there is a 'you get out of it what you put in' attitude embedded in the material rather than one that ensures a more conceptual understanding at a basic level. I think this can cause some individuals to fall behind at times. Compared to other bootcamps, this one only focuses on one language so depending on how deeply you want to learn a language this may or may not be the right curriculum for you. The course is great, however, if you want to be a strong Javascript focused, front end developer. Since graduating from the program and finding an awesome job, I have noticed that graduates from other bootcamps are significantly less skilled in the Javascript language.

As for job support, again the career success team is shared with Fullstack Academy so their attention can be spread thin at times. Still, I do think job support at Grace Hopper is top notch. You'll find many helpful peers who will happily help you practice interviewing in a safe space to ask questions. I wouldn't underestimate the confidence that the Grace Hopper community gives you during the job search which is of course the most dreaded part of the program. While the cohorts vary in terms of personality and diversity, the GH community at large is a good one. The alumni are incredibly insightful and candid. In addition, many students find jobs right away from the hiring day event that is organized by the career success team.

I come from a completely non-technical background. I studied social sciences in college and the last time I took a math class was sometime in high school. I always liked computers and logic, but never thought that software engineering could be for me.... Read More But after finishing school I was pretty stuck professionally and so I started thinking about changing my path. I ended up learning some basic coding on my own and then realized it’s something I really enjoyed and could actually do full time.
I started looking at coding bootcamps and when I learned about Grace Hopper I knew I found the right place. As someone from a non-technical background I knew it would be easier for me to learn how to code around other women, and I think I was right. For me, Grace Hopper was the perfect mixture of a supportive and constructive environment with a rigorous curriculum. There was definitely pressure, the pace is very quick and for a lot of us there was a lot on the line, but it never felt like unnecessary/unproductive pressure that actually keeps you from learning (which I think happens sometimes in other bootcamps).
I think that often the deal with bootcamps is that what you put in is what you get back, and GH makes it pretty easy to put a lot in. The culture is really positive, the instructors are very dedicated (and so very smart), and the staff is super helpful. Even months after graduating GH is still there to help with career advice and general support, and I feel like I’m a part of a really valuable network of women engineers, which is pretty great.
About a month after finishing up at GH I got an offer and started my current job as a full stack developer at a small startup and I’m really happy with where I am in my career. It’s hard to explain how different my professional trajectory is now from what it was before GH, but I just feel so grateful for having that opportunity and for now having an interesting job that I love and where I’m appreciated and can keep improving as an engineer.
A lot of people talk about bootcamps as something they’re glad they did, but wouldn’t want to go through again. Personally, I would redo GH any day of the week, but for now I’ll just have to settle for the great job they helped me get as a full time engineer.

I couldn't be happier with the outcome of my Grace Hopper experience. The women I met and the things that I learned in the program have tremendously impacted my life for the better. Before Grace Hopper, I had never taken a programming class but came away... Read More from the experience with an awesome job where I feel confident in the work that I do, directly as a result of how well coding is taught at Grace Hopper.

After accepting a software engineering role at a Silicon Valley tech giant, I'm happy to say that I'm extremely happy with my decision to attend Grace Hopper at Fullstack Academy (GH)!

Prior to GH, I was a recent university graduate with a background in... Read More computer science and business. I decided to attend GH to round out my CS background. However, GH did more than just that for me. Not only was I able to really solidify what I learned in college, but I was also able to develop concepts into full stack apps in team environments; dip into libraries, frameworks, and platforms outside of the GH curriculum during project phase; and also practice whiteboarding techniques which were extremely helpful during the job search phase.

In addition to gaining a job-relevant portfolio, GH also introduced me to the extremely welcoming community of GH and Fullstack Academy. Before, during, and after the program, I was able to network with alumni from both GH and Fullstack Academy, who provided me with awesome advice and also connected me with their network. With a job-relevant portfolio and skillset; insider tips; and a strong network, I was able to land my dream job at as an engineer at a great company.

If you're having second thoughs -- don't! GH has a solid curriculum AND a great alumni to prove it.