I have completed 2 certificate programs at Noble Desktop in NYC - a 90-hour front-end web design certificate that included classes in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and JQuery, HTML email, Photoshop for web and UI, and mobile and responsive web design. No more Dreamweaver and WYSIWYG, this is all coding! The second certificate built onto the first, and added a 30-hour back-end web development program which included PHP and MySQL and WordPress.org. I learned tons, and the teachers were excellent. The coursebooks are such a valuable tool to use with my projects, and being able to take additional classes live online makes it easy to keep learning. I was able to code a WordPress theme from scratch with what I learned form the WordPress.org class, and was even asked to speak at this past summer's Wordcamp NYC. The instructors know their stuff, and really make learning fun. Nothing is rushed, and they take time to answer all questions. And having the option to re-take a class is also great. These courses were a very worthwhile investment - would recommend to anyone. 

Ada Developers Academy ( ADA ) delivers what it says it does. You will receive a top notch education in programming, computer science fundamentals, and preparation for whiteboard style interviewing. You will not be charged tuition and you will receive a stipend at the end of each month of your internship that is the equivalent of 35 hours a week at $15 an hour. Taxes will not be taken out of your check as your role is that of a contractor. Most of your class will have job offers before the cohort ends, but not all, often for reasons not under ADA's ( or the Adies' ) control. You will graduate ready to enter the job market as a junior developer. You will think that you should feel more skilled and experienced once you reach that point but you won't ( what you hope to feel like usually takes 5 years of experience and work to achieve ). You will have a strong network of graduates to lean on and the support of ADA during future job searches and dealing with the challenges that the tech industry brings.

Teaching will usually be spot on, but there will be missteps and errors along the way. You will be doing more independent study than you anticipate. Your instructors ( 2 per 24 students, 1 floating instructor, 1 Jumpstart instructor, a dedicated Computer Science Fundamentals instructor, and an outstanding student counselor ) are supportive, committed to the mission of ADA, and eager for you to succeed, but they are human. Things more very fast and you have to advocate for yourself and your classmates. Sometimes tutoring is available, sometimes not. If you start to fall behind you need to recognize it quickly and get assistance immediately. You may have to go outside of ADA to do that.

You will receive education and training about social justice, including the concerns and challenges of women of color and non-binary individuals. You will be personally be challenged. You will learn things you didn't know about yourself, and didn't necessarily want to know. You will learn that there is difference between ADA and the Adies alumnix. It was the alumnix who made the commitment to "no woman left behind". Students have been expelled from ADA. Not all of us got in on our first try. Some were admitted on their 5th try. There is some Redshirting. You will form some of the strongest friendships of your life, but you won't like everyone. Lateral aggression is minimal, bullying almost non-existent. ADA was worth it, the Adies especially so. But it is hard. The process hurts. It hurts alot. But it was worth it. Eyes open, keep your expectations in check, and it will be amazing. You will be amazing. Apply.

Before enrolling in the bootcamp at Danger Education, I was working as an AML analyst at a small to medium-sized Chinese bank. Unfortunately, my experience there was marred by discrimination from my line manager, leading to numerous instances of unfair treatment. This period was one of the most challenging times in my life.

One day, a senior colleague recommended that I study data science to better equip myself for future career development. Taking this advice to heart, I decided to enroll in the data science bootcamp offered by Danger Education.

The bootcamp was a transformative experience. I gained a wealth of technical skills and knowledge, including web scraping, PySpark, Python, SQL, and various data analytics techniques. The curriculum was comprehensive and practical, providing me with hands-on experience that proved to be invaluable.

After completing the course at Danger Education, I successfully secured a position at Deutsche Bank, one of the leading investment banks in the world. My manager at Deutsche Bank has consistently praised the depth of my technical skills and my ability to apply data science concepts to real-world problems. In fact, he specifically mentioned that "Dickson has joined the bank for a year and in that time has proven himself to be a quick learner and an asset to the team." These skills, honed during my time at Danger Education, have allowed me to excel and contribute meaningfully to my team.

I highly recommend Danger Education's data science bootcamp to anyone looking to advance their career in data science. The practical skills, supportive learning environment, and expert instruction provided a solid foundation that opened new doors for me in my professional journey.