Hack Reactor

For me, Hack Reactor was worth every penny of tuition. It is a wonderful program with an incredibly well-designed curriculum. I was previously working in corporate finance and earning six figures, so this was not a decision I took lightly. I am now working as a software engineer at a major telecommunications company, writing code to deliver video content (and working in Golang to boot!).

I was worried about the pay cut I’d take to start over in a new industry, as I have earned my MBA and was making salary in line with my credentials. The pay cut ended up being only 10% and my skills are far ahead of the <1 year engineers with whom I am competing. Factor in that I had a reduction in working hours of 25+%, I’d say I came out ahead on a net basis (yes, we only work 40 hours a week!!!).
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Pros: You get very detailed instructions on every subject and they have material that will allow you to filter out what to study as opposed to just searching on the web for hours and not knowing where to start. The instructors are super nice, and always willing to help. If you don't pass the readiness assessment, you can take SSP for free a second time (I did this, it really helped) or you can so a technical interview.
Cons: Not much other than you gotta stay focused. It can be lonely if you're just home coding alone so make sure to be involved with your classmates online and ask questions.

This program was very intense. In just four short weeks, I learned a huge amount of material, and became very proficient in basic JavaScript. The process was very challenging, and I could not have done most of it without help from the TAs. I don't know how much help my classmates needed or received , but I submitted dozens of help tickets over the duration of the course. Most of them were handled, it seemed, by the TA named Leo. Leo was very patient and helpful, he got me unstuck many times. My huddle leader was the TA named Abiy, and he was excellent. Not only did he help me when I was stuck on the material, he also gave me a mock RA to help me practice for my test, wished me luck the morning of, and asked me how it went afterwards.

The Structured Study Program(SSP) is a 4-5 week program to prepare people for Hack Reactor and concludes with a technical and soft skills interview that are required for admission. Though I do think they could be more transparent about the percentage they admit from SSP (seemed to be about 50% for my cohort), I found the program to be a great introduction to JavaScript and definitely made programming a less daunting experience for me. SSP, in addition to HR I assume, requires a lot of autonomy and self-motivation, but they do a good job of verbally letting you know that throughout the entire program. This program is not for those who can't self-motivate! That being said, the instruction that was given (through the program leader and the huddle leaders) was very efficient and well-delive...

I deeply enjoyed my experience at SSP. There was the perfect balance of autonomy to practice self learning and building language fundamentals, mixed with a community of attentive and understanding staff. (not to mention pretty fun people). I want to give a shout out to staff members John and Abiy for their time and support in helping me get through problem challenges along with mental fortitude to keep pressing on. Straight up good folks!

Amazing experience. It was challenging and fast paced, but the course material was great and I have learned a lot during the last 4 weeks. The staff was very helpful, knowledgeable and supportive.
Kara (my huddle leader) was very helpful, provided me with honest feedback and good advice, also boosted my confidence. 

I have attended HR's SSP course. The course material was great as well as Course staff. I have learned so much from Kara, Leo, Tabitha and John. These are some amazing bunch of Teachers/support staff. Kara was my huddle leader and she always provided me with feedback and boosted my confidence which made me a very confident developer.

I learned so much during past 4 weeks. The staff was very knowledgeable and supportive. Attending this course gave me so much confidence and self belief that I can write good JavaScript although I only started learning it quite recently. The only downside was, I was in different time, It takes some getting used to.

Going to hack reactor was one of the biggest wastes of money I have ever experienced in my entire life.

First of all, before starting hack reactor, I spent 10 - 12 hours per day for 3 months working through an Intro to CS course from MIT on EdX and then spending the rest of time on coding challenges on Code Fights. These two experience took my ability to read through documentation, understanding core CS concepts like Big O notation, and basically how to just think like a software engineer to a working level. Going through this experience gave me the ability to work through any problem. Like learning to life weights, I could, albeit slowly, start growing my muscles and getting ready for a sport. The coding challenges and the basic CS fundamentals were my conditioning. I felt that...

I was a self learned web developer working in a meager job. I love coding and I really loved my job. But the pay was very low.

Hack Reactor changed it. Now I am a full fledged software engineer working in a wonderful company with good salary in New Zealand.

I studied commerce all my life. But I hated my job. Somehow, I got into coding and I loved it. But I was quite late. When I enrolled into Hack Reactor, I was already 38 years old.

But it didn't matter. I was fully dedicated and was determined to make it happen. And it did.

First thing you have to keep in mind is that software engineering is hard. With that, I can tell you the following:

Hack Reactor has created a program that works.

First, It teaches you things you need to know to become an efficient software engin...

For the first half of 3 months, they just offered CS lectures and some Toy problems, which you can find out on github and online course easily for free. They're exaggerating their quality of curriculum. But, there are too many students for instructors in this program. The rest of the program, they just let us be free for group projects. "Autonomy is important for software engineers" is their excuse. You can find out your peers on meetup event if you want to try group projects. Their super high fee of over 18000$ is not reasonable.
In the end, there are three types of graduates. 20% of my class mates can't get any job after graduation. 60% of them took contractor position or joined small companies which brag about themselves but the comp/benefit and work environment are terrible, or ...

Pros:

-Supportive staff that is always available to answer your questions through HelpDesk or Slack
-Access to great lectures to help understanding of the concepts
-Access to lectures about Hack Reactor and the tech industry

Cons:

-Like most of coding, most of it is autonomous work (not necessarily a con, but I wish there were more pair programming exposure in SSP)

I am a few years out from graduating from HR, and have always wanted to write HR a review since graduating, but, for whatever reason, haven't gotten around to it until now. I'm hoping I will be able to provide some additional perspective being a few years out, as many people usually write their reviews immediately following the completion of the program. Additionally I would like to qualify that I attended the in-person program in San Francisco (back when that was its only location). I know HR has since expanded to other areas, so I cannot speak as detailed about those locations.

Overall, my experience with the program was overwhelmingly positive, and certainly life-changing from a career perspective. I can say with great confidence that you will NOT regret attending a coding boot c...

Hack Reactor is what you make of it... but they give you all the tools and support to make it great.

There are many ways to get a job as a software engineer: one of the quickest is through Hack Reactor. I had previous coding experience (sans Javascript) but hadn't used it commercially for many years. Hack Reactor got me up to speed with current best practices, latest coding techniques, dramatically improved my soft skills (being able to talk code one on one or in groups), and helped me put together my javascript portfolio.

I'm based in Australia and got really lucky and landed a mid-level Frontend Engineering job with an international company during the last week of Hack Reactor. But not everyone is so lucky. You must understand that they don't hand you a job. You have to take wha...

I am 100% happy that I chose to study at Hack Reactor. 10/10 with rice would do again.

I did the full-time remote program. I have a BFA and was a bartender before I started. I did a lot of self study, built some apps on my own, and was rejected once before attending.

My knowledge and understanding of Javascript, frameworks, and full stack development increased in a way I couldn't have replicated on my own in the same amount of time. The soft skills that you learn here are also extremely invaluable and it's what set me apart from others while searching for a job afterwards.

It was extremely hard, probably the most demanding 3 months of my life, but Hack Reactor taught me how to learn on my own, which has proven useful since my first day at my new job I was using PHP.

Advice: ...

I attended Hack Reactor Austin from August to November 2017.

I had been interested in attending a software engineering bootcamp for years before I pulled the trigger and went to Hack Reactor. I had been teaching myself javascript and web development technologies on free sites like freeCodeCamp, Udacity, etc., but I had been unable to break through past doing lessons and demos into feeling like an actual software engineer. Which technologies should I learn? How would I know that I was learning the most important principles of those technologies? How would I know that I was following best practices? How do I seek out help when I don't even know which questions I should be asking?

After months of research on sites like this, reddit, CourseReport and others, I had narrowed down my sea...

I'll admit that I turned to Hack Reactor as a last resort when my job search in my degreed profession was not yielding results. After talking to a friend who had gone through the remote program, I decided to pursue software engineering and began teaching myself Javascript and found I really enjoyed it!

It wasn't long before I was enrolled in Hack Reactor's Structured Study Program (SSP), which is a GREAT primer for the immersive experience, especially if you're considering the remote campus. SSP leveled up my Javascript game and I was ready to start the immersive program. The first thing everyone says is that the immersive program is hard, and they were right, I found myself often over my head. But Hack Reactor's great support network - Tech mentors, Hackers in Residence, Counselor, ...

As a former public school teacher I was skeptical of the overall Bootcamp Experience. The fees seemed exorbitant, and the promises of employment appeared out of line with my own perceptions of the job market. After reading reviews and shopping around town I realized that Hack Reactor wasn’t offering what most bootcamps were, they were providing an environment that allows people to push themselves to learn more than they thought possible. Even the entrance process was far more rigorous than what most bootcamps covered in the first part of their programs. After taking the tour and talking to some alumni I decided that I would take the plunge, and I am truly thankful that I was able to be apart of this transformative program.

From the first day it was evident that the entire staff v...

Hack Reactor (LA campus for me) was an excellent experience that I would recommend to anyone looking into coding bootcamps. I was very hesitant to do it at first because of the price and uncertainty, but I do not regret it at all. The course material was designed in such a way to teach us problem solving and autonomy as much as the technical skills to be full-stack JS developers. The instructors and staff were also top-notch and were helpful every step of the way. They are notably great at listening to feedback and are constantly improving as they get suggestions from students and industry experts. The work is tough and the days are long, but it was all worth it in the end.

I put off the Hack Reactor interview for a long time - about a year or so. I kept thinking the success stories were too good to be true, was nervous about the price tag, and already had a professional career that I was settled into (although I was powering through free online coding resources in my spare time and knew I was heading toward a career in development). Finally I bit the bullet and decided to go for it, and I am SO glad I did. It really is a life changing experience. It's not so much that Hack Reactor teaches you how to code in 3 months (the bar for passing the entrance interview is surprisingly high - they already expect relative comfort with javascript concepts when you arrive), but they teach you how to survive and be valuable in industry. The most valuable things I walked...

I attended Hack Reactor May - July 2017, and can confidently say that it was among the best personal and professional decisions I have made in my life. Not only does the program truly prepare you for a field in web development and software engineering, but the staff are also incredibly helpful and invested in your success. The curriculum is challenging but fun, and pushes students to learn autonomously in a supportive environment. I also had the incredible opportunity to stay on for 3 months after completing the program as a "Hacker in Residence", which is probably best described as a TA. The experience gave me the opportunity to fortify my skills and act as a mentor for students completing the course. I found that having recent students in this kind of role helped build my confidence,...

When I first heard of SSP. I thought it was for a beginner and that it would get you up to speed . well I was wrong . it may start as just simple building blocks program but after few days you are in-depth with other programs that you never heard of and you are way out of your comfort zone . There are stuff members who are tasked to help you if you get stuck. Finaly you are required to pass a readiness assessment test at the end of the program in order to get accepted to the immersive .
What I learn from this study program is beyond my expectations . I suggest you give it a try . ;)

I don't have a background in computer science or programming and am working on learning the fundamentals well enough to get into HackReactor. Before taking SSP, I attempted the online HackReactor interview. I did alright on the first few warmup problems but did not handle the later tougher problems well. I enrolled in SSP after failing my first interview. Overall the program was great! The staff were approachable and available to help me get unstuck as I worked my way through the Hack Reactor prep material. Having designated class times also kept me accountable and I wrote at least some code almost every day for over a month. I finished the class five days ago and re-interviewed with Hack Reactor last night. I'm still waiting to hear back on how I did, but I felt much more comfortable w...

Hack Reactor's SSP had provided an amazing community that helped future students get prepared for the immersive. Their help desk were super responsive and the coaches were there every step of the way.

Hack Reactor's prep course(SSP) is a great course for beginners to learn how to code. Before attending the program, I have no formal training in programming. SSP provided a lot of toy problems that had helped me gain understanding of how the syntax works. Even though it was structured in a remote setting, Staffs were very accessible and were always eager to help. Also there was a Help Desk that was available to help answer any of the toy problem questions during class. Thanks to SSP, I'm now admitted to Hack Reactor!

Hack Reactor's prep course(SSP) is a great course for beginners to learn how to code. Before attending the program, I have no formal training in programming. SSP provided a lot of toy problems that had helped me gain understanding of how the syntax works. Even though it was structured in a remote setting, Staffs were very accessible and were always eager to help. Also there was a Help Desk that was available to help answer any of the toy problem questions during class. Thanks to SSP, I'm now admitted to Hack Reactor!

Recognizing that I needed to turbo boost my minimal coding skills, I decided to attend a bootcamp. A lot of research later, Hack Reactor stood at the top of the heap. Since I wanted to go into the immersive with a solid grasp of the fundamentals of JavaScript and coding in general, I chose to attend Hack Reactor's Structured Study Program, an online preparatory course designed to bring prospective immersive students up to speed. Spoiler alert: I loved it! The course runs for four weeks, four weeknights a week for a few hours, and full days on the weekends. Although I initially worried about feeling isolated (the course is fully online), I was immediately welcomed into a friendly, inclusive and enthusiastic community of immersive hopefuls and guides. The SSP coach and instructors are fri...

I participated in the Hack Reactor SSP prep program for the immersive, and couldn't be happier with the process and outcome. It's a well structured course that helps you hammer down the fundamentals of JS, and is perfect preparation for the immersive. I was admitted to HR during the program, and I probably wouldn't have gotten in without it! Unless you're already very well-versed in JS, there's no reason not to take the prep course.

Over my 20+ years in technology as en entrepreneur, product developer and marketer - some of which included working with developers - I often wondered what exactly was going on underneath the hood in the products I was developing and selling. After 9 years at American Express, and having become increasingly obsessed with cryptocurrencies and the emerging blockchain technology ecosystem since 2013, I left to pursue a career shift to software engineering.

Hack Reactor was the perfect choice for me, and I wrote about the my initial 5 weeks in the program in this blog post: Wrestling with a New Paradigm and Relishing the “Obstacle As the Way”
Coding bootcamps bring tremendous value — to both employers and a U.S. workforce in need of serious retooling
https://medium.com/@john_packel/w...

I'm a student in the Structured Study Program (SSP), Hack Reactor's live online prep course. If you're someone who thrives with a little structure and a cohort of peers, SSP is a great choice. The program takes you through tons of practice problems to build up your fluency in Javascript and teaches you good coding habits along the way. There's a help desk available if you get stuck on problems during class hours, and the Slack channel is buzzing with activity and people helping each other.

I just took my technical interview for Hack Reactor, and I passed! I attribute this 100% to the preparation I got from SSP—it put me in the right mindset and gave me the tools to succeed.