| | Anonymous | I attended the first fully remote bootcamp. You need to pass a technical interview to get accepted. The program was setup so that for the first five weeks, we had two lectures a day with two lab sections. We had career lectures once a week as well that helped orient us to finding a job as a SWE. It was very intense but looking back, the progression was thoughtful and the pace was very doable. The instructors varied in experience. There was a teaching style for everyone. Because we were the first remote cohort, there were still some things that were being worked out - for example, we never got into a good rhythm with pair programming.
The next 4 weeks were focused on completing our solo projects. We had an advisor as well as a group that we would report our progress to and a queue that was basically a help line to get technical assistance from instructors.
The program culminates in a demo-night where some prospective employers come to see students show their projects. This really went pretty well overall. Events like these get a little weird over zoom but it was pretty seamless overall. This was one of the coolest nights because we really got to see each other's projects for the first time and it truly was amazing to see the results!
For the duration of the program, students get assigned to two mentors and in my experience, it was really helpful to have working SWEs to talk to every week, to ask for help. A lot of alumni also come back to volunteer so it's really nice to get that perspective.
The job search after Hackbright is largely your own but the I've found that having a cohort to go through the process with really helps. It's really encouraging to start seeing cohort-mates land positions. Towards the end of the bootcamp, we had a Q&A panels or Whiteboarding sessions with different companies and that was really helpful. If I have a criticism, it would be that career services can be disorganized and unresponsive at times. Perhaps the staff is getting stretched thin over multiple cohorts so I hope that in the future, they can ensure that there is enough staffing to support current students and alumni.
Overall, I definitely recommend Hackbright! I had a great experience and even through the remote program, was able to make genuine connections. It truly is a warm and supportive community and that really helps when you're making a big transition. |
| | Anonymous | When looking at Hackbright's full-time offerings, I wasn't sure if I should wait for the next in-person offering or take a chance on the fully remote program. Now that I've graduated, I'm glad I chose to do the program remotely because there's no knowing how long shelter in place will drag on for, and I feel I was able to get everything out of Hackbright's curriculum, minus the time and expense of commuting into the city for in-person classes. There are lots of bootcamps out there, but I think learning alongside a community of women is such a powerful and unique experience that will change and set you up in ways that will influence the rest of your career. The women in my cohort and Hackbright's fun, approachable curriculum are what made my experience.
The only aspect that were frustrating was the career services portion. The career services team was not as detail-oriented, prepared, or responsive in their student communications or lectures. I didn't feel comfortable expressing my frustration during my time at Hackbright, but hope that the career services team will be responsive and helpful during my career search. |
