I’ll start with the pros. I fell in love with Metis during the bootcamp. Perhaps the most life-changing learning experience that was brought about in such a short time. Yes, it’s intense and probably not for everyone. But it struck the right balance between classroom instruction, projects, independence, and guidance that helped me get out in one piece. The instructors and the TAs went above and beyond their call of duty and are generally incredibly knowledgeable. Some of the staff can definitely land an industry job that offers them a pile of money but my hunch is that they are staying at Metis because they simply love teaching. The diverse set of peers challenged me, expanded my thinking, and I can honestly see myself being friends with many of them in real life once this lockdown is over. NOW, ONTO THE CAREER SERVICES, WHICH NEED A SUBSTANTIAL REVAMP. Any decent career service should provide 1) resources and tools such as resume reviews, interview prep, etc., and 2) a network of companies that are willing to hire graduates, such as in career fairs. On #1, the resources are plentiful and the advisors offer amazing advice. However, on #2, the program fails miserably. The hiring partner listings are mostly unhelpful; of the few that pop up, the majority are for mid-level positions with 4-5 years of experience in data science. For any cohort that graduated in 2020, a rough estimate is that 50% of the graduates do not have jobs based on the many conversations I had, and the figures are likely higher for September and December grads. If true, this is a dismal figure for a bootcamp with such a high tuition cost… how is it different from a MOOC at 1/20th the price? The career advisors’ recourse is to double down on the resources they provide (see #1), point out the graduates who have successfully landed jobs, Metis alumni connections, etc. No, what we graduates need more of is #2. That is, career fairs and/or a sizeable network of employers and recruiters that are CURRENTLY willing to hire fresh graduates, not just a list of companies that previously hired Metis grads. Most Metis alumni are not hiring managers or recruiters and have little say in the hiring process, so just telling us to go network with alumni isn’t great. ADVICE TO CURRENT MANAGEMENT. We understand COVID has made career placement a challenge. But, the current system is not working for us. Too many 2020 graduates are still without a job. Host career fairs. Many universities have hosted successful virtual career fairs. Allocate substantially more resources to careers and do a major overhaul of the current career advising system. I know the career advising system worked during the in-person era, but Metis is now permanently a remote bootcamp and needs a new system. Without such changes, I cannot recommend Metis to any prospective students. | 