| | Thomas Corbin | Earlier this year I decided to leave the architecture industry and move into the computer science field. Having always been fascinated by technology and design I ended up enrolling for the Software Engineering course.
Pros:
- An intensive schedule: Official class hours is from 9am until 6pm Monday to Friday. This comprises a 2 hour lecture in the morning and the rest of the time spent is hands on coding. But the reality is that you will be working until about 9-10pm every day and working on your weekends. This is the best way to learn to code and catch you up to a job ready level but not everyone will be able to handle this intensity.
- Very helpful and approachable staff: Everyone, from the CEO to the interns, was very engaged with the students and tried to make us feel like we were part of a larger community. Xccelerate will help to connect you to potential employers, review your job applications and help you network in the field if you so desire. Rather than getting a job, I was able to start my own software engineering firm (RH-Studio) with one of my classmates with with support from Xccelerate.
- Some lifelong friends: Much like going into the army, your fellow students in this boot-camp will become like family to you. You will very quickly get to know everyone very well and make some amazing friends.
Cons:
Mixed messaging: As I was not very experienced in Computer Science I had slightly different expectations of a Software Engineering course. In reality this is a Web Development course only and you don't touch other elements like mobile applications or independent software creation.
Prep-work: People need to do the prep work before the course starts otherwise they will fall behind very quickly. There needs to be a better system in place to ensure that this is complete prior to the course beginning.
If you are a hard worker then you will have no problems taking this boot-camp and transitioning your career, and you might just have a great time doing it as well. |
| | Christophe Elisha | Xccelerate's Software Engineering bootcamp was compressed enough to allow me to transition from an investment management career to successfully founding a software house, with a fellow Xccelerate classmate, within only 4 months.
Students learn plenty of new and relevant information each day ; the course notes and online learning systems are of very high quality.
Xccelerate’s teaching staff put in long hours for their students ; they are knowledgable, talented communicators, who provide clear instruction and detailed feedback.
Xccelerate is true to it’s name … you’re guaranteed to learn what you need, fast, if you can hang with the pace ! |
