Galvanize
Galvanize Reviews and Key Information
Galvanize is a coding bootcamp with eight campuses located in cities across the United States like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boulder, Seattle, and San Jose. This school offers different training programs designed to prepare you for careers in software engineering and data science.
The programs come in full-time and part-time schedules and can be taken online or onsite. The school also offers job training assistance to help students during the job search process. Read this in-depth Galvanize review to learn more about what the school has to offer.
Galvanize at a Glance
| Cost of Tuition | $17,980 |
| Financing Options | Income Share Agreement, Upfront Payment, Split Payment, Loans, Scholarships, Veteran Benefits |
| Courses Offered | Software Engineering, Data Science, Python Fundamentals, Professional Development for Software Engineers |
| Career Services and Job Assistance | Career Services Preparation |
What Can You Learn at Galvanize?
Galvanize has four main programs that you can choose from. These consist of an introductory course in Python, two immersive programs in software engineering and data science, and professional development courses for software engineers.
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The last one is a group of micro-courses created to upskill software engineers with the industry’s most in-demand skills and technologies. Below is a comprehensive summary of Galvanize’s programs. Note that in light of COVID-19, all in-person classes are delivered through live online instruction.
Python Fundamentals
Python fundamentals is an introductory course that’s perfect for those who want to dip their toes into software engineering or data science but are not ready to commit to an immersive course yet.
The program focuses on the building blocks of Python, a programming language that plays an integral role in tech fields. You’ll learn how to conduct object-oriented Python programming and navigate data science libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.
This course lasts 2.5 weeks and is designed for beginners.
Software Engineering Immersive
Galvanize’s software engineering program is held in high regard in the bootcamp industry due to its rigorous curriculum. The program begins with immersion in the software engineering best practices. It then moves on to honing your skills in full stack JavaScript, including working with server-side technologies and web frameworks.
The program culminates with the delivery of functional applications built from scratch and career services preparation. The latter includes participating in mock job interviews, learning how to negotiate your salary, and building your brand.
You have the option to learn full-time or part-time, depending on your availability. The program lasts 12 and 36 weeks, respectively.
Galvanize Data Science Immersive
Galvanize offers a competitive and immersive data science program designed to equip you with the skills you’ll need to become a data scientist. Expect to jump into a Python-focused curriculum that covers Python and statistics fundamentals, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Finally, you’ll be required to complete three projects using real-world data to solidify your knowledge of the field. To be eligible for the program, you’ll need to have some solid foundations in math, statistics, and basic programming.
Choose between a full-time (13 weeks) and part-time schedule (30 weeks) if this is the program for you.
Professional Development Programs
The professional development programs are meant for software engineers looking to add more skills and credentials to their resumes and advance their careers. At the time of writing, Galvanize offers four professional development courses that combine computer science theories with practical programming practices.
These programs include algorithms and data structures, networking and reactive programming, and microservices and orientation. Most of these micro-programs cost around $1,500 to $2,000 and are available online.
Admissions: How Do You Get Accepted to Galvanize?
The admission process at Galvanize is not that different from other coding bootcamps. Applicants are required to attend an interview and complete a coding challenge, so you need to prepare before you submit your application.
You must have the right mindset and demonstrate that you’re passionate about coding or data science. While a bachelor’s degree in computer science or data science is not necessary, it would be helpful to have some knowledge in math, statistics, and programming.
Galvanize Application Process
The application process at Galvanize starts when you submit your online application, which requires basic information about yourself and the program you wish to enroll in. You should then sit a technical interview and a coding challenge that will help demonstrate your problem-solving skills and logical thinking.
If you’re applying for a seat in the software engineering program, you will need to complete a technical admission assessment where you’ll solve simple programming problems with JavaScript. Only if you pass the assessment can you proceed to the precourse work.
If you’re applying for the data science immersive and pass the technical interview and coding challenge, you’ll receive a call from one of the school’s representatives to begin the precourse work.
Galvanize Interview
The technical interview at Galvanize requires a lot of preparation. Make sure you study as much as you can to be prepared for any type of challenge you may face. This technical interview is meant to evaluate your programming skills.
Paying for Galvanize
Galvanize has several payment options you can consider, from upfront payment to income share agreements. Below is a list of the payment options that you can choose from to afford a Galvanize education.
Upfront Payment
Paying upfront is the most straightforward way to finance your education, although it can be quite burdensome to pay at once. The immersive programs at Galvanize cost $17,980 if paid upfront, but all the professional development micro-courses come with varying prices.
Income Share Agreement
Galvanize’s income share agreement option allows you to study without having to worry about tuition costs until you’re hired and making more than $60,000 annually. Once this happens, you will have to pay 10 percent of your salary for 48 months to the school.
If you fail to find a job during the stipulated time, your ISA will be waived. However, note that you’ll still be required to pay a $2,000 deposit to secure a spot in the program.
Private Student Loans
Galvanize currently partners with two loan providers, namely, Climb Credit and Ascent Funding. Ascent Funding offers a deferred option, interest-only payments, and living expense financing. The application process for both institutions is straightforward and takes just a couple of minutes.
Scholarships
Galvanize offers five full-ride scholarships for each cohort. These scholarships are for those that don’t have the resources to pay for their education but have demonstrated a passion for coding. Also eligible are members of underrepresented communities.
What Makes Galvanize Unique?
Galvanize has stood out among other schools because of its cutting-edge curricula. The bootcamp also boasts a host of employer partners with an established presence in the tech industry. These include companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, Tesla, Salesforce, NASA, and Apple.
Finally, Galvanize also offers multiple career services designed to help you succeed in your job search journey.
Price Range
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Anonymous
Intro
I used to work as a principal software engineer at a big software company for many years doing full stack Java web development. I wanted a new job but everything in web development has changed from Java/php/Ruby to JavaScript frameworks. I looked at a few bootcamps in the (Coding Dojo, Hack Reactor, Dev Mountain and Dev League in Hawaii – nice but no time to surf) and was accepted by them all. They are all good schools but Galvanize was 6 months (24 weeks), not 3 months to help us learn more and one of their instructor Josh used to teach at Hack Reactor and gave us a free Saturday course in JavaScript.
Precourse
I was accepted at all the schools. Hack Reactor had a one month prep course, other schools were easier to get in and Galvanize had an online test with an instructor, Oli. Josh gave me some last minute tips and I passed with flying colors but I would recommend people learn JavaScript first. They also like us to have a pre course project making a web page. I reached out to a few grads who helped me with Galvanize.
Quarters
The course was taught by Nestor and the resident was Michael (a recent graduate). Both were very knowledgeable in the materials.
The first quarter was web (HTML, CSS) and JavaScript. We created an image scraper JavaScript web application. Each quarter we get about one week to work on a final project and etween quarters we get a break week.
Second quarter was on React. This was the first cohort to learn React in the second quarter and probably the first to really deep dive on Redux, Think middleware and JS testing! We all made React web and React Native mobile apps projects for second quarter!
Third quarter was on Node and database development with the project to be integrated with our React projects to be hosted on AWS (Amazon Web Services). We all worked together and got everything done right before the Thanksgiving holiday break week.
Fourth quarter was our final project (3 weeks) and prep work, CS concepts for interviews. I worked on a React Native mobile app and our cohort had the most diverse set of applications throughout the program (5 mobile apps, e-commerce apps, video game for 2 players) and technologies (React, React Native, GraphQL, Python, Socket IO, and many more)! The limited amount of time the students had (1 to 3 weeks) to build full stack applications was truly amazing and inspirational!
As for career services, James encouraged us to go to informational interviews (I met with 18 tech professionals and wrote a blog about it http://siliconvalleycoffeetalk.blogspot.com/2018/03/interested-in-silicon-valley-coffee-talk.html), set us up to interview with many companies and even had follow up interview preps to help us months after graduation. This was free to graduates and we also get six months access to Galvanize workspace and lifetime use of the Alumni lounge.
After graduation, there weren’t that many companies hiring and I went to Galvanize interview prep with help from their director Sherif. He gave me a few pointers which I tried at an interview and it got me an offer from a start-up. Overall I received multiple offers two months after graduation, had interviews with big companies (had to cancel a few due to the job offers) such as Apple, Sony PlayStation, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Netflix, Amazon, IBM and many more.
Thank you Galvanize. Even though I graduated and got a job, I still go there to help with the new students and go to meet ups as it encouraged me to pay it forward with people new to tech. I highly recommend this school!
March 25, 2020
Anonymous
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, 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)
July 7, 2020
Anonymous
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 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.
September 10, 2020
Anonymous
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, 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
October 20, 2020
Anonymous
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 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.
November 16, 2020