Actualize

I graduated from ACLTC's 3rd cohort. An AMAZING experience.  Firstly, they teach in a way that is really easy to understand, and they cover a lot of material. They teach you ruby, ruby on rails, sql, html, css, javascript, and AngularJS. They also teach it very thoroughly providing multiple FUN (I know,  hard to believe) exercises and hands-on learning. They always make sure you understand it, and you'll never be to embarrassed to say if you didn't understand something. It's almost as if they are more concerned that you understand the material than you are.
They provide quality perspectives about web development including TDD (which, again, we had hands-on exercise for), open-source, API's (tying many different apps to one back-end), and agile, often having guest speakers come in to talk about them.
I came from a background that had absolutely NOTHING to do with computers. I didn't even know what a command terminal was. Much less how to use it. Very quickly, I began to learn more and more about these concepts, and, very shortly, it became an experience that I woke up in the morning looking forward to. They break everything down into very small steps so it's a very easy transition from what you knew yesterday to what they teach you today. They also guide you on your journey. It's not like they throw a whole bunch of work at you and be like, "Think about this stuff. Do it. Then come back next week and we'll throw some more stuff at you. Bye." They show you what to do and what not to do, and why not to do what not to do. Everything is smooth sailing (not that it's not a lot of work - it is. but, all the hard work is really clear. You know what you gotta do. It's just a matter of doing it) right till the very end.
All in all, if you're looking to have a solid understanding and mastery of web development, and you're nowhere near that point right now,, go to ACLTC. I think that's such good advice so I'm going to say it again. Go to ACLTC. You won't be disappointed. It's the ultimate web-development boot camp. 

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This was awesome! I held my full time job and attended classes on nights and weekends. Jay is a fantastic teacher and know his material very well. He did not just teach us how to code, but taught us the ins-and-outs of everything in the profession. I feel very prepared to get a job. Great atmosphere too!

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Finding a good developer to help you is easy. Finding a good developer who is also a good teacher is much, much harder. Jay (the lead instructor) takes teaching seriously, and that's where his passion lies. I think most coding schools, especially bootcamps have a sink or swim attitude, where learning is your responsibility, and they're only there to push you along.
But Jay really cares. He wants you to learn, and will put in the time to make sure not only that everyone is on board, but that you're comfortable with what you're trying to learn.

I couldn't ask for a better instructor or program.

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Two things set Anyone Can Learn to Code apart from other bootcamps: the time commitment and instruction. ACLTC is the only programming bootcamp I found that allowed me to keep my job while attending. That was huge. I couldn't have afforded it otherwise. And whereas most bootcamps throw you straight into the deep end of dev, providing an environment where you can teach yourself how to code with little directed instruction, ACLTC gives direct, in-class lessons alongside practical exercises to help guide you through the beginning dev world. There is so much to learn that you can easily get overwhelmed, but Jay makes sure that doesn't happen, guiding you through the technologies and tools you need, building a solid dev foundation that will take you from start to finish on any project.

Prior to ACLTC, I spent six months trying to teach myself to code. I ran through Codecademy lessons, purchased Udemy courses, and muddled my way through Michael Hartl's Rails Tutorial. I learned a little, but I lacked a clear workflow, an understanding of what even basic apps needed, and a road map to learn more. When you're just starting to learn programming, it can feel like each new tool you learn leads to five more new things to learn, and without a guiding hand you can quickly get lost. That's where I was, feeling foolish and frustrated, when I found Jay through a meetup. In three oh-so-short months, I learned far more than I had in the previous six. Now I'm humming with app ideas and the skills to build them. Where once I was proud of a single file JS calculator, now I have fully dynamic Rails web applications, my own gems and APIs, and robust Angular front-ends.

I cannot recommend ACLTC highly enough. It changed my life, taking my dev career dreams from some-day-maybe to right now, introducing me to Chicago-based dev recruiters with a portfolio of apps I am proud of. If you have any interest in starting a dev career, apply to ACLTC. You will not regret it.

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I have recently finished classes at ACLTC and must say, this was a great experience! Jay Wengrow is a true teacher at heart. He is more than willing to spend the extra time and effort to make sure you succeed. Being someone who has never had any experience coding at all, I believe I truly picked the right place to be in ACLTC! I have heard other boot-camps expect you to pretty much learn on your own with their help. Jay teaches step by step with examples and exercises. This gives you the ability to see how things work as well as practice for yourself too. I am truly confident I will land my first development job from the new skills I have learned from ACLTC! I would truly recommend you research ACLTC if you are considering a career in software development.

It also doesn't hurt that Jay creates an atmosphere for people to develop lasting friendships with your fellow classmates. It's not about who can out do someone else but how we work together to accomplish the team goal.

I should also point out that Jay provided teaching assistants to help out too. These people also proved to be invaluable!

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I attended the Anyone Can Learn To Code Web Development Bootcamp (Sept. 2014-Dec.2014) and I must say it was a rewarding experience that has paid off dividends already. ACLTC provided me with the skill set and confidence necessary to become a future developer. Jay Wengrow was an extremely knowledgeable and patient teacher that converted complicated concepts into plain english. Even before finishing the cohert, I've had several interviews with several companies looking for developers with the skills I learned at ACLTC. To anyone looking for a bootcamp with the flexibilty to keep their job while training to become a web developer on a part-time basis, ACLTC is the option to choose.

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I finished up the Summer 2014 cohort and it was awesome. I finally built the soccer app I've been wanting to build and feel so empowered. I had a job interview lined up right after the camp as a result of the showcase and I'm starting an internship now! This comes highly recommended!

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I chose Actualize Bootcamp because although haven tried learning coding on my own I structured with consistency and being able to build projects on my own from start to finish. Joining Actualize help me do this, first going through the prework with Ruby made me so programming as so easy and then moving on to python and AI engineering, the instructor break the learning down to the very basic and support you from there on. I would recommend Actualize for anyone who wants to go into this field. Read less

I had an amazing experience at this bootcamp! The instructor was incredibly helpful and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure we understood the material. I really appreciated how the curriculum balanced learning specific programming languages with building the skills to independently explore new languages and frameworks. We didn’t just focus on theory — we gained real-life, practical experience with debugging, team collaboration, and industry best practices. I left feeling confident, motivated, and ready to keep growing as a developer. Read less

Good way to keep on track with learning coding when I knew bits and pieces but had never done anything as concrete as this. Sometimes the curriculum was paced in a way that puts you behind if you're not able to study in between classes (I did the bootcamp while working full time). However, the curriculum was thorough, and I didn't feel like there were any fundamentals I didn't understand by the end of the program. I feel like I came a long way in 4 months. You have open access to career coaches both during and after the course, and I have found them helpful so far. Read less

I've just graduated. I'm looking for a job, but I've gained a lot of courage and clarity regarding my future path. I believe Actualize is a very supportive boot camp for beginners. You don't have to worry about falling behind, and if you stay committed, you can grasp the basics of full stack development. The instructors are kind, and there's always an opportunity to ask questions.

During the course, I learned Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and React. Towards the end, I also had the chance to dabble in other technologies. Perhaps I'll need to continue studying on my own, but I found that I could grasp new concepts quickly. Read less

I recently completed the web development bootcamp through Actualize and I can say it was a great experience. The curriculum is designed well, and you frequently put the concepts you learn to use in various projects. Brian was a friendly and knowledgeable instructor and the career support is thorough. Read less

This course was great in its ability to learn at a highly-accelerated pace while maintaining comprehensibility. Going through the course it did not feel as though I was learning a lot but every time we stopped to reflect and as I reflect now finishing the course, it is clear the immense amount of knowledge I have obtained in a short period of time. While I do wish some other languages were allocated more time, being taught how to learn on our own was a key point so I feel comfortable venturing out on my own. The curriculum was robust and widespread. The only thing I was we spent more time on was algorithms and big O to prep for technical interviews. Overall, it was a great experience with a great team of teachers and guidance that I would certainly recommend. Read less

Learning at Actualize was a great experience. I started Actualize with zero knowledge of Software Development, and can now build out full-stack apps, with knowledge in Ruby, Ruby on Rails, GitHub, SQL, React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. They gave us many resources and guides which were created by Actualize. There was a lot of team work and collaboration. A big part of Actualize was equipping us with the skills to enable us to keep growing and learning independently after the bootcamp was over. The bootcamp was not just composed of lessons about coding and building apps: there were career advising classes, with a  separate teacher who specialized in career coaching. Upon graduating the bootcamp, I felt fully equipped to start the job search and continue on my own. I highly recommend Actualize. Read less

Recently completed the Full Stack Web Development bootcamp at Actualize and loved it. I chose Actualize because it was taught via live Zoom meetings and there were multiple schedule options. They focus on teaching you how to "learn to learn" which I thought was great, because no bootcamp will teach you everything you need to know and to leave the bootcamp with the tools necessary to continue my education was the most important to me. Highly recommend.  Read less

I cannot recommend the team assembled at Actualize Coding Bootcamp enough. The support and guidance I received from the staff were beyond compare. In particular, Amanda, our instructor, was nothing short of amazing. Her teaching style struck the perfect balance between practicality and support, creating an environment that was conducive to learning and growth.

I would join Actualize all over again just for their career advising team. Sarah was my advisor, and I cannot speak highly enough of her dedication and expertise. She went above and beyond to assist me in the job search process, providing valuable insights and reassurance when I needed it the most. Sarah's commitment to the success of the students is truly commendable. Additionally, Lisa's support was indispensable. On a couple of occasions when I needed assistance promptly, Lisa was there to help. I believe the career advising team is a standout aspect of the Actualize experience.

Overall, I am incredibly satisfied with my experience at Actualize, and I have not hesitated to recommend it to others. The dedication and support from Amanda, Sarah, Lisa, and the entire Actualize team have made a lasting impression on me. Read less

Actualize is a well-thought-out curriculum with fantastic instructors who help you get a firm grasp on programming. I decided to choose this bootcamp because a friend who went here in the past recommended it to me, and vouched for their great instruction. After completing the bootcamp I can confidently say that not only is the instruction first-rate, but I also gained the skills necessary to feel confident in applying for software developer jobs and starting my own projects. One key concept that is reiterated in the bootcamp is the idea of "learning how to learn". Actualize does a phenomenal job of expressing this and making sure you know how to learn effectively so you don't feel lost once the bootcamp is complete. Another important aspect I loved about the bootcamp was the constant exercises to reinforce our learning. If I ever felt stuck or lost I could easily ask for help and get immediate feedback. This is super important because when you are learning how to code the more you actually practice writing code the quicker you will pick up on the concepts. Overall my experience with Actualize was superb, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has been considering joining a bootcamp.  Read less

There are so many great perks to this boot camp starting from just the application process. When researching and applying to Actualize, the Operations Manager will be there to support you, answer questions, and guide you through the process. 
The course itself is so great! Students are placed in small-sized cohorts (I had 9 classmates), with one lead instructor and 2 TAs. There is a friendly, low-pressure atmosphere. Each day we learned some new techniques and then worked on a relevant exercises; when stuck during an exercise, there is always someone available for assistance and I never felt lost or uncomfortable to ask questions. Sometimes we split off into breakout rooms and completed exercises in smaller groups which was a fun, interactive way of learning. The capstone is not as daunting as it sounds- everyone makes it through and builds impressive apps! 
I came in with absolutely no prior coding experience and at the end of the cohort, I felt up to par with even the students that came in with prior coding experience. 
One of the greatest perks of Actualize is that they will walk you through the job search from A to Z. When you complete the live Zoom classes, you will find that you are still very much a part of Actualize! There is a tech mentorship program, an alumni network, and career advisors who will still be on your case.  Read less