Launch Academy

This program is one built solely for the purpose of making you the best developer you can be. With so many bootcamps popping up all over the place, it's rare to come across such a dedicated program like that of Launch Academy. I highly recommend attending... Read More this bootcamp!

PRO: curriculum is difficult, fast-paced, relevant, and truly full-stack
PRO: cohort and teachers are very nice and collaborative and - pleasant surprise - diverse
CON: too few opportunities for one-on-one support
CON: too few potential employers at career... Read More day
OVERALL: if you work extremely hard at Launch and on the job application process, you will be able to land/do an entry-level software developer job.

After graduating from college with a degree in Psychology and picking up a sales job, I knew that I had to make a change.
I had always liked coding, so I looked into the Boston bootcamp scene and stumbled across Launch Academy.
Launch has you complete... Read More an 8 week, fast paced introduction to coding that requires about 20 hours a week of work. This prepares you for their intensive 10 week program, which culminates in two projects that you can be proud of, and a skill set that makes you an ideal candidate for an entry level job.
The stack they teach you, a React front end with a Rails back end is a commonly used stack in the current web development space and will set you up for success.
The most important thing to mention, however, is the incredible state of their teaching staff (Experience Engineers). These people truly care about what they do. They work hard to make it an environment where one can ask questions, but also one in which you develop self-reliance and and an ability to challenge yourself. I've never had such dedicated teachers in any space.
Additionally, while you're learning the technology, their career services staff are helping you to improve your resume, linkedin, and interviewing skills. Once you graduate, they help connect you with their hiring partners and keep you in check in the job search.
Overall, couldn't be happier with my choice to attend Launch Academy.

I don't come from a technical background, but I wanted to make a career change and looked into different bootcamps. Initially, I was (very wrongly) wary about bootcamps and about my ability to land a job after 18 weeks. Through Launch, you will learn... Read More so much more than you can believe you can in that time. I had only dabbled with code for 3 weeks prior to the beginning of the program, but the material was very well explained, for even a novice programmer. As the program progressed, the material was definitely more challenging but we have a lot of great educators and there was a ton of collaboration between all the students. The educators are always helpful, and you will definitely create friendships you didn't think was possible with your cohort-mates. That being said, it is a difficult program and if you're not prepared, it can be much more difficult. Make sure to treat Launch like a full-time job.

One of the biggest selling points for me was that Launch has a great network with companies throughout Boston and through Launch, I was able to find a job shortly after. I feel very lucky to have made the change into web development and feel very lucky that I chose Launch!

To anyone considering coding bootcamps, I highly recommend Launch Academy! My decision to sign up for the course was one that I will always deeply value!

The staff at Launch is nothing short of remarkable. The founders, instructors, and the career support... Read More staff are all extremely dedicated and went beyond their job descriptions to help the students in my cohort understand difficult subjects and progress in what can be a high stress and demanding environment. Like in any profession, the rewards will be reflective of your efforts at Launch. The course in no way guarantees that students will get a job upon graduating. However, from my cohort's experience, the instructors cater the lessons towards the student's feedback, which Launch is a strong proponent of. We had access to group lessons, one on one help, peer programming with fellow classmates, and a mentorship program with past alumni.

Launch is also constantly updating their course material to help students be as valuable in the job market as possible. The career support team is also incredibly valuable at Launch. During the program, they prepped us for the job search, interviewing, and the job market in general. Post graduation, they were constantly on call to give advice, feedback, and assist with the job search.

As an added benefit, completing Launch Academy gives you access to a strong alumni network. The program fosters a sense of camaraderie that extends past your immediate cohort and into previous graduating classes. The alumni group acts as a support base, whether your are looking for jobs, advice, or a coding solution. It's very much a community that helps one another, and one that I am extremely happy to be a part of!

I should have done this years ago. I never did well in school. That format just doesn't work for me. Launch provided me with an opportunity to learn in a way that makes sense to me. All in and 100% focused. The staff is very supportive and make the experience... Read More fun even while you are pulling your hair out trying to figure out why your code won't run. They help push you to figure out the problem and how to apply what you know to figure out what you don't. Make no mistake, with Launch you get out of it what you put into it. Take the time to learn and you will do well. It's a hard program but it is so worth it. Launch also has career services. They scatter assignments along the program to make sure you have the skills to land the job. Mock interviews, white board prep, LinkedIn reviews, and more. These are the skills that we often overlook. The final thing I loved about Launch is the cheesiest of them all. Friends. I'm not kidding. Going through the program and suffering with my fellow classmates helped us bond. Being able to look over each other code helps you fix your program and them learn a different coding approach. I still chat with my classmates regularly at both alumni events and parties. This has honestly been one of the best moves I've done in my life. I highly recommend Launch to anybody looking to get into coding.

When I first visited Launch, I asked the co-owner why I should choose them over a competitor. His response was, "I don't know the ins-and-outs of [XXX Bootcamp], and I definitely don't want to talk bad about them. But what I *can* tell you is that I'm... Read More confident enough in our program that if you go to LinkedIn, search for people who attended Launch Academy, and ask what they think that they'll give you great feedback. I could give you a reference to talk to, but I'd never give you a bad one. So contact whoever you find and see what they think."

I did. And the feedback I got was great. And so was my experience.

I was prepared for a 3+ month job search and a pay cut after graduating. Instead I had two offers within a week of graduation and the one I accepted was 25% more than my previous salary (and that will pay for the cost of the program within a year).

The Launch instructors are great and super invested in the program and your development. I expected them to 'turn off' at 5 but they were always willing to stick around and answer questions.

The curriculum is intense, but I could tell that the companies I interviewed with were impressed by the knowledge and final project I had as a result of Launch.

A+ program. I was extremely skeptical through the entire experience and am beyond thrilled with the result.

Coming into any bootcamp is a big leap for most people. Changing your careers entails putting a lot of trust and faith in the bootcamp's educators and their career services. The outcome from Launch exceeded my expectations. I was able to learn not only... Read More how to program, but how to motivate myself and push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. More than that, the career services is excellent and I landed a job shortly after graduation. WOULD RECOMMEND.

If you're reading this, you're probably thinking of attending a bootcamp -- and specifically Launch Academy. As to the first choice, if you're anything like me you're having some anxiety over making the switch -- worrying about the ever-changing tech... Read More market and the rumors that bootcamps are on the decline. Like anything in life, nothing is guaranteed. But if you're passionate about coding, and willing to work hard, you can absolutely attain your dream career out of a bootcamp. If you do decide to make this big change, you'll find no better place to do it than Launch Academy.

The first and foremost selling point of Launch is its amazing career services. Launch recognizes that everyone who walks through their doors is there to land a challenging and fulfilling job. The career services team cares deeply about making that happen. While you're going through the program career services prepares you for the job hunt. Then, at the end of the program you present your "breakable toy" capstone project to Launch's hiring partners at a career kickoff event. A lot of people from my cohort got interviews out of career kickoff -- though I will say I've heard this varies. Launch also has a fabulous 8 week post-grad support program to help guide you through the process of landing a job. A quick note -- the summer and winter cohorts (I was winter '17-'18) seem to have a better time landing jobs quickly. This is purely based on market cycles. Spring grads have to compete with recent college grads, and fall grads are hurt by companies not hiring until after the end-of-year holiday season. Personally, I graduated in late February and was averaging two interviews a week (including follow-ups) until I eventually accepted a position in early April.

From a technical perspective, the curriculum is usually very good. Launch is constantly changing their curriculum to keep up with the market, which means some parts may feel more refined than others. But this is necessary to keep up in fast-changing market, which Launch takes very seriously (i.e. deciding to teach React to give their students highly marketable front-end skills). Launch lets you rate and leave feedback on every article, which helps them constantly improve. Also, you go over the nightly readings and exercises every morning and the "Experience Engineers" (who are your mentors and will become some of your best friends) are great at answering questions to fill in any gaps in understanding. I definitely asked a ton of questions and I was really satisfied with the answers I received. Aside from the readings your first six weeks on campus will consist of afternoon and nightly challenges, and a graded "systems check" on Fridays. Up until the systems check the EE's are available to help you out if you run into any challenges. The next two weeks consist of a group project, where you'll be building a review site with a team of your cohort-mates. During the last two weeks you'll be working on your capstone project.

Lastly, but certainly not least, one of the strongest selling points of Launch for me was its culture. Going through a bootcamp is a lot of work -- you're taking in so much information so quickly, which can be super stressful at times. But being surrounded by amazingly fun and caring people makes you look forward to going in on even the hardest days. By the end of your time at Launch you will have made life long friends and connections, and will have so many inside jokes. Your cohort, and the Launch staff, will be with you for life -- as will the Launch alumni network. It's something special that you won't find in many places.

So after all of that I'll end where I started. If you're passionate about coding, and willing to work hard every day, go to Launch Academy. Your effort will be matched by an amazing team, and you will find yourself on the way to the tech career you're dreaming about.

I decided to make a career change after 8 years and on the recommendation of a former graduate I attended Launch Academy.

I highly recommend Launch Academy to anyone looking to learn web development. The staff is enthusiastic, engaging, and incredibly... Read More knowledgeable.

While I'm sure every cohort is different the sense of community that grew over our 12 weeks together on campus was amazing.

In addition to the well crafted coding curriculum the career services team does a wonderful job ensuring that you are set up for success on the job hunt. The post-grad support for job seekers is also top notch.

Attending Launch Academy was one of the best decisions I've ever made.