After doing a ton of research on UX bootcamps, I chose Springboard because it met the most criteria. Overall, I am happy with the education I got from this program. However, I was fortunate to be involved with 2 study groups of great individuals (one I was invited to, one I started) that met weekly for 1 hour on skype and were great about sharing resources. I also had a good mentor that I got along well with, and began meeting with career coaches early and often. Pros of this program: • The curriculum is well-structured and covers a wide expanse of UX methodology • The program is set up to give you some breathing room - although it is structured for 9 months, it actually allows for almost 12 months to complete • The mentoring and career coaching pieces are really valuable, and each student will have a unique mentor along with access to unlimited mentors • Your student advisor will support and advocate for you • I feel very confident in what I have learned and have gotten confirmation that I'm adding value to the company I'm working for now • You will get out of this program what you are willing to put in - if you are smart and strategic about the methods you use and the work you make, it will work for you Cons of this program: • The impetus is totally on the student to be responsible for their own learning - if you are someone that needs a teacher to walk you through new ideas, tools, and techniques, this is not the program for you • The estimated 17 hrs work/week is unrealistic if you are working full-time, have a family, or other life obligations beyond this program. The program does work with you so you can complete, but it probably won't be in 9 months (think about this with your payment structure) • There are some poorly structured deliverables that definitely feel like working harder, not smarter. Look ahead at the curriculum, especially once you start putting together your case studies, and build toward your portfolio (not google documents). • Some of the resources are outdated • It can be difficult to find any available times to schedule meetings with career coaches and/or unlimited mentors Springboard isn't perfect - nothing is. However, though there is room for improvement, I feel good about my decision to complete this bootcamp and what I have to show for my time and learning. | 