Galvanize

I heard about the DS program at Galvanize through an alum and was immediately interested. I was looking to change careers but was not committed to a master’s program. I heard that Galvanize had a great Data Science program and an even better alumni network... Read More (which let’s be honest is the reason we want to choose a school - popularity). What I like about the DS Program at Galvanize is that you learn from really smart instructors who have a lot of industry experience. They know what they are talking about!! Having a program that is relevant and current on industry trends is super important. I also liked that there were multiple projects and case studies throughout the program. The projects allowed me to explore my own interests and at the same time show off skills that I learned. The case studies were really useful to see how Data Science and business interact. We learned how important it is to make your Data Science results interesting and understandable to stakeholders who may not know any technical details. The things that you have to be ready for in this program is the amount of information that you will learn and be accountable to understand in a short amount of time. The days are long but the weeks go by fast. You must be ready for a new challenge every day and stay confident in your ability to problem solve. The lectures are a general guideline but not always direct instructions on how to do the assignments. Thus you have to be self-motivated and willing to keep digging when you get stuck. They will teach you a variety of Data Science topics so you are presented with width of information, not always depth. Since graduation I have met with my career advisor almost weekly, have had multiple meetings with employees, HR managers, recruiters, and even senior management at start-ups and big companies. I am constantly meeting more people and make connections. So if you want to you learn about Data Science, complete projects of your own, and have access to a network on people then join the Galvanize family!!

I started @ Galvanize with very little experience in terms of the coding side, but came in with a decent statistics background. This program helped expand the breadth of algorithmic knowledge I had, as well as helped me get more comfortable with coding... Read More and creating insights. The instructors were helpful and understanding and the format of the class was very conducive for my learning. Like any short term bootcamp, the classes are going to be rigorous and will be fast paced, you have to be prepared for that type of learning style. If you are a more - learn as you go at your own pace - type person, then this might not be the best fit for you. This program also had a comprehensive career services portion which really helped with the resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn revamp to get us job ready for the workforce.

I attended the Galvanize DSI in Seattle from September 2018 - December 2018 and am extremely happy with my decision. I now work for as a Data Scientist at a local consulting company. Before enrolling in the DSI, I also partook in the Galvanize Intro to... Read More Python course which helped get my Python skills up-to-speed before the immersive. Pros - Student/Instructor Ratio. When I attended, there were three instructors and one resident (essentially a TA) for the 20 students in the program. This ensured that each student received ample attention and a wide gamut of perspective/expertise. - Cohort members. The admissions team did a really good job of selecting students into the program. Each one of my classmates was not only extremely sharp, they were empathetic and easy to get along with. I consider many of my fellow classmates as close friends. We were also lucky to have a good balance of guys/girls. - Curriculum. Although we covered a ton of topics in a short amount of time, we had the opportunity to cement our skills through realistic case-studies and a capstone project. - Network/Job Support. One of the best aspects of Galvanize is its deep well-connected network. Many Galvanize alums work at the top tech companies, ensuring you have ample resources during your job hunt. The new Galvanize capstone set up (science-fair style) also provides the opportunity to speak to tons of prospective employers right as your job search begins. - Location. Pioneer Square is awesome. Cons (Not really negatives) - Length. You learn a ton in the 13-week program, but it would be nice to have a longer period to let the information sink in. That's the nature of boot camps though. - Job Hunt. Galvanize has a really helpful network and a great support staff but ultimately getting a job is a single player game where the responsibility is up to you to hustle, network, and make things happen. Data Science is also maturing as an industry so it probably gets slightly harder to land the ideal first job each passing year. However, there is still a huge demand for DS talent. Overall I'm very happy with my decision. I have nothing but good things to say about the Galvanize staff, my cohort members, and the program.

Two years ago I knew that I wanted to make a substantial change to my life for myself and my family - Galvanize didn’t really help me do that though. I have been an Engineer now professionally for 2+ years and after taking some time to reflect on my journey... Read More I thought it would be best to leave a review.

I can honestly say that the crucial information I learned over the last two years mostly came from Udemy.com and practice. Galvanize was good for the sense that I had to dedicate myself to coding every single day for six months. There were many times though that my Cohort would be lost and asking for help with non to be found.

Galvanize even managed to use us as guinea pigs in our third quarter by letting us be the first to experience a completely lacking React curriculum. We had instructors on vacation and with no help to clarify things the class resorted to purchasing Stephen Grider’s “Modern React and Redux” course to complete together.

The overall experience was completely lacking. Some of my fellow graduates resorted to leaving it all behind and going back to old jobs. Some of them looked for work for about 2 years until finding something - they drove Lyft and Uber to get by. I resorted too Freelancing and trying to make websites and anything else I could to get people to pay me.

I ended up getting a job two years later with some help of Udemy.com and being in the right place at the right time.

When people ask me about attending Galvanize, I always give the same answer. If you have 20k to waste then go for it. If not invest time in to 3 - 4 Udemy Courses and you’ll achieve better results!

Please also note - The program has progressively gotten worse. I’ve kept in touch with many Alumni who were in attendance and the general consensus is that it was a complete waste and helped them go nowhere. I’ve seen the Phoenix campus churn through instructors and let go of critical staff all while shortening the program length, introducing more “Self-taught” curriculum, and leaving students to fend for themselves.

I have removed my time at Galvanize from my resume and don’t disclose it when talking with engineers because Galvanize didn’t get me to where I am. I did.

Please, If you are reading this - Spend your money more wisely. Udemy courses and some local tech groups will get you further, faster, then this utter disappointment of a program ever could.

Pros:
-Felt like they had a good grasp of the relevant technologies that need to be learned.
-Excellent Career Services: I worked largely with Chris Hegg and some with Angela Hayes. They help you with your resume, cover letters, interviewing, salary negotiation,... Read More application process and all the associated and latest tools to help with these things.
-It was very challenging, which is good because it prepared me for the future challenge that is being a junior developer. Plus, it just pushed me to be better in all areas of my life. Because it was so hard, I had to become more disciplined, more focused, and better with time-management.

Cons:
-Very disorganized: we keep moving classrooms, experienced large curriculum changes, and I think missed out on learning some things due to a shortage of instructors. My cohort came in just as two lead instructors and curriculum developers were heading out. So, perhaps the disorganization was something merely acute and not a chronic symptom.
-It was difficult to get one-on-one help at times
-It felt very high-school-ish, clique-ish, and I think some of the instructors participated in this
-Some of the instructors were not very professional

I recently (end of 2018) graduated from the web development immersion program (I think they are changing the name toward - software engineering program) at the Galvanize Platte location. It was a 6-month intensive program which is changing! It will be... Read More a 3-months intensive next year. I learned a ton through the program and acquired some pretty incredible skills, but I had to work my ass off in order to be successful at the program. The time required to be on campus is from 9:00am to 5:00pm (although, class usually ended 45 minutes early everyday). However, I was there usually from 7:00am to 6:30 or 7:00pm. I spent so much time at campus because Galvanize preaches a "learn to learn" pedagogical philosophy that expects YOU to do all the leg work in learning the material and only will provide the instructor support to help you along the way. This is important for the very reason that it gives you the skills to learn all of this stuff on your own. However, when you pay the high tuition, one expects (as I did) to be taught how to code which wasn't my experience at Galvanize. I often wondered if the "learn-to-learn" philosophy that was constantly preached was leaned on too much by the Galvanize staff as a way to make up for the short fall in instructor support during the learning process. Galvanize does not have a conventional teaching model. I want to emphasize that you teach yourself. That being said, there are some incredible instructors at Galvanize Platte. I became close with several of them, who were always available to help when I couldn't figure something out. Their desire and eagerness to help students learn is certainly evident. They want you to succeed and will work hard to help you if you work hard to do so. So, keep in mind that Galvanize is an atypical learning experience. If you choose to do this program, know that you do so as an adult who has that power and ability to work hard to obtain what you want - this experience is the epitome of "you get what you put in." I also was in a great cohort and made several new great friends. The community at Galvanize is awesome. The school's career services folks (there are two of them that work with students directly) are great! They are both incredible people with incredible talent for creating successful job candidates out of the students. However, again emphasis added, you must do the work. All in all, I thought Galvanize Platte was a great experience but it was the hardest I have ever had to work to learn something new, and the experience paid off multifold and will continue to do so. If you are not willing to put in the time, then I wouldn't recommend this program, there are cheaper and easier alternatives out there. However, if you are willing to put in the work, this experience will be worth the money invested into it.

My overall experience with the Galvanize data science immersive was very positive and something I would recommend to others. I felt like I was always supported throughout the program by staff (technically, and career-wise), the curriculum was well developed,... Read More pacing was ambitious, but not too fast, and ultimately left feeling well prepared for my career.

Pro's:
- Diverse curriculum, with room for flexibility at the instructors discretion
- Well educated and credentialed instructors
- Great facility
- length of course
- Good preparation for career hunting (mock interviews, content testing, etc.)

Con's
- Cost
- Lack of depth in learning concepts (mostly due to time constraints however)

Galvanize's (Denver-Platte) WDI program exceeded my expectations. I joined the 6-month immersive totally new to the field, and the program and it's astounding staff took me from the ground up. The curriculum is top notch, and instructors do a phenomenal... Read More job of guiding you along the way while teaching you to be independent and job-ready. Being in a co-working space, students have the unique opportunity to network with companies of all sizes and background. In addition, the career services team is an exceptional asset to the program, as they give you personal feedback on your resume/cover letters/etc. to be job search ready. Thanks to their help and the modern curriculum, I accepted a job offer less than a month after graduation! This program is tough, but anyone willing to work hard will be successful.

I was a part of the g63 DSI cohort. While I do think what is taught is valuable and useful, it doesn't really matter since I can't find a job. To get anything valuable out of galvanize you have to focus on what you're interested in so that you can explore... Read More certain topics to a deeper extent.

I regret going through the galvanize program as at $16k, I'm now still unemployed (6 months after the course finished) and have basically been left in the dust by the school/company. Career services has completely stopped responding to me after the last time they emailed to ask for an update on my progress (I told them I still hadn't found anything). In addition, weird things happened during the course, such as losing our lead instructor to a different company, and there were several days where the galvanize staff booked the learning classroom (the only space our DSI was taught) for other events so essentially there were days where the dsi students would show up and we were told to just work on projects around the building because class couldn't take place that particular day due to a scheduling conflict with our classroom, I didn't pay $16k for that. There were countless promises made by the career resources team to help us, such as professional photos to update our LinkedIns, that never actually materialized, as well. The final straw on my low rating is just the general lack of knowledge the career services staff have regarding applications as well as their uselessness. There were several times they suggested things during the application process that actually impeded my job search such as their suggestion to seek out roles with "senior" in the title because that's just a company's way of filtering out entry level applicants or their suggestion that galvanize is worth "around 2-3 years worth of experience" when applying. NO! That is not true and any company you apply to under that disillusion will laugh in your face. Galvanize certainly helps you get the tools to explore certain topics more in depth at your own pace but you are not experienced in much of anything except for the technologies you previously were experienced in or what you focused on during the course for your capstone projects. Also galvanize's Talent job portal is a failure. They market it to be some great service to help students find jobs with companies that are familiar with the galvanize courses but they don't screen posters so some jobs have absolutely no relevancy to the dsi or web dev programs at all. In addition, galvanize doesn't even post their own job openings on Talent... Just goes to show you how much they invest in that program.

There is a reason the contract for Galvanize states that the school can alter staff and facilities.
It is so that you have no recourse when they play the bait and switch on you.

The first quarter was great. We had an engaged instructor, meaningful lectures... Read More and exercises, and useful, organized resources.
That all went away in quarter 2 when Galvanize acquired Hack Reactor. Our instructor was reassigned, along a vast swath of the facility, to accommodate the addition of dozens of new students. Our cohort was left borrowing an instructor from another cohort. His engagement and enthusiasm were tepid at best. Along with the acquisition came the departure of the once-renowned career services staff, one of the main reasons I'd chosen the course.

Our class was essentially left paying $17-20k to sit in a room with the TA and struggle through seemingly random assignments with Google and LinkedIn as our guides.
Appeals to the general manager were unfruitful.

1/4 of the class dropped after Q2, realizing they could acquire a better education at home for free. I suggest anyone considering Galvanize or Hack Reactor to keep looking.