Thankful this place shutdown. The owner was an egotistical maniac and at one point literally had a…read moreswearing/screaming tell off session with our group. He also enjoys using his "status" as a way of putting down ppl and making them feel less than. All of the "lessons" you take at this "school" can be found for free online and there is absolutely no need to drop $14K or more. Not only that, you're expected to do all of your own work in terms of networking and finding jobs during and after. You're deemed a lazy, entitled brat if you're not doing most of the work yourself. So not sure what we're paying the tuition for? I'm not surprised by the reviews here. The owner uses bullying tactics to scare ppl from speaking out such as telling students he will ruin you and that knows all the CEOs and founders in silicone valley (I highly doubt such an assinine person would be accepted in those circles). Hence my need to make this account to avoid jeopardizing my own career that I built myself from scratch. If you contact alumni and ask for the real tea, you will find out these shiny reviews are a farce and I welcome you to do that to save yourself. I hope this review saves people a ton of money and emotional abuse caused by this establishment.

I am an alum, and I am so glad to hear this place is shut down. The founder and his team are…read moreegotistical, delusional, abusive, and rude. I had low self esteem when I joined which is why I tolerated their attitudes. I was once yelled at by the founder's mother, she literally yelled at me at the school. And the team bullied students who were so afraid of losing the network. 14K was not worth it. I wasted my time and resources there. My previous 1 star review was deleted, not sure why. I am adding another one here. If they represent Silicon Valley, I would not touch SV because the culture is toxic.

Magnetic Speaking is truely out of this world! Under Giles insightful guidance, the classes promote…read moregenuine self-reflection and collaboration. Dani has also been fantastic in addressing my specific ADHD high masking needs. In just four months, I've experienced tremendous growth. I now feel more comfortable in group settings, even when speaking with leaders, and my overall communication skills have significantly improved. As an entrepreneur, communication is one of my top priorities. They continue to elevate my skills to keep me evolving. Thank you for making such a positive impact on my life through accessible communication training!

Highly recommend. I took the Magnetic Storytelling bootcamp and loved it. If you're nervous-- don't…read morebe. Our excellent trainer Giles took the group through a series of low risk exercises that had us telling brief stories about our lives and/or work. He then provided simple structures and pinpointed a few things (different for each of us) that gave our talks more charge, clarity and power. These exercises are devised with thought and sensitivity to connect you more deeply with your own voice. (Entirely centered around YOU and your particular needs.) Every communication then transforms into an opportunity to deepen your engagement with your audience and yourself. Plus it's super fun!

I took my first class with CP, and it was exactly what I was looking for. I have been modeling for…read morejust about a year and was craving guidance, knowledge, and a resource to direct questions to. In my first class I learned all about runway walking and casting etiquette, it was all new things I had never heard before and I now hold them very valuable to my heart. I can't wait to continue learning under CP, and see how far this modeling journey can take me.

Charleston is a very knowledgeable and experienced teacher. He has many connections and can help…read moreopen doors for people. I attended a few classes and learned things I'll never forget. He preaches anyone can be a model. Attending his class you'll see various heights, ages, ethnicities, body types and weights. Which is why I found it quite hurtful he found it appropriate to send me an exercise video. I'm disabled, which he was made aware of. Its an invisible disability but it can impact my physical capabilities so I've chosen to no longer attend.

I chose App Academy because it was one of the few bootcamps that still offered an in-person…read moreexperience. I attended App Academy's 16-week in person software engineering program in San Francisco. Being able to have your instructors there with you and pair program with your peers in-person was invaluable. If being in-person is something you can commit to, I highly recommend it!  The coursework is extremely rigorous (about 8 hrs of lectures/programming during the day and a few more hours of readings/homework at night) and the job search after is even more rigorous. But they do provide you with all the tools you need to succeed with experienced instructors, opportunities to build projects to showcase your skills, and career workshops and partnership jobs after. The in-person curriculum may be lacking Python, but App Academy prepares you to learn and implement new languages and frameworks on your own.  I was previously a marketing manager with little coding experience. The job market was slow at the time I graduated App Academy and it took me 6 months to receive 2 software engineering offers. The program is tough, but definitely rewarding if you are dedicated to shifting your career into engineering.

App Academy is the most rigorous program I have ever completed, but it was absolutely worth it…read more Starting with no coding experience, I was able to develop three full-stack projects by the end of the course. The program equips you with all the support you need from instructors, TAs, career coaches, and fellow students. I loved the structured curriculum, as it suited my learning style perfectly. However, be prepared for a very fast-paced environment that requires your full dedication. If you want to break into tech, learn how to code from scratch, and are willing to commit all your time to become a developer, I would definitely recommend App Academy. At the end of the day, success ultimately depends on your commitment and effort to secure your first job in the field, which is tough in this market. However, after completing the bootcamp, you will have the confidence to keep pushing forward.

Hack reactor was an amazing program, and I can attribute my success in the field to it. It was fun,…read moreand intense, and I distinctly remember it being a work hard, get rewarded type of scenario. The instructors were fantastic, and the curriculum really taught you what you needed to know to succeed as an engineer in the valley. As grateful to the program as I am for what I learned there, what really amazes me is the support I continue to get from its Alumni Director, Marlene Tang. Marlene is truly a lighthouse in the dark when it comes to actually functioning as a software engineer in the industry. Sure, Hack Reactor had gotten me in the door, but Marlene not only keeps me in the building, she pushes me to climb to the top. She gives support in working, learning, growing, promoting... you name it, she's there. Recently, I left my previous company and started looking for my next home. I brought it up, and as usual, without hesitation, she dove right in, set up meetings with companies, reviewed resumes, emails, and made sure I stayed on track. I just signed my offer, and she was a huge part of it. All I had to do was study! I honestly don't know how she does it all with an ever growing network of Alumni. In addition to being a tremendous resource when you reach out to her, Marlene actively reaches out to the Alumni network to collect feedback and make it even better. She is ever present and if for some reason a HR graduate forgot about the immense support system available to them, it won't be long before Marlene is there to offer her precious time and energy. All in all, Hack Reactor was an amazing experience and I'll never forget it. The real start of the show, and the one thing that continues to provide immense value on a consistent basis is its extremely dedicated Alumni Director, Marlene, and her superhuman program. I can't emphasize enough that this is the one thing that puts Hack Reactor leaps and bounds ahead competition. Whether you're thinking about which boot camp to go to, or are currently a student, or have graduated long ago, you can rest assured that Marlene will take care of you.

I went through hack reactor a while back and am leaving a review…read more This part of the review is in hopes that hack reactor addresses some of their issues: During the cohort, there was a student that was expelled due to inappropriate jokes during a show and tell. However there were many other instances of inappropriate behavior never addressed. 1. There was a male student that had at the same time of the show and tell repeatedly walked around behind the audience checking out female staff and students backsides. He never faced any issues. 2. The male students had at points discussed female students and rated them based on looks and date-ability. 3. There were lunch trips that weren't appropriate. 4. Female students were judged differently based on their behaviors aligning with certain gender norms than male students. This directly did affect some of the ways their career paths developed. To hack reactor, stop enabling sexism even at the entry level to the field. Be more aware of biases within the instructors and have some training. In terms of the course merits based on their ability to help land a job: 1. I think the lead instructor at the time was good. The instructors for the actual cohorts varied in their experience and their ability to help students. The progress, results, and the cohort's feeling of togetherness (which does play a huge part in final team projects) depended in part on the cohort's instructors participation or willingness to be a leader. I think in general the cohort instructor I had was not as helpful nor as experienced to really be effective in teaching others. So while the overall course was decent at giving barebones fundamentals to some of the concepts in software engineering and structure to those that need it, the impact varied based on your cohort instructor. 2. The course is really geared to be successful for certain people. The prereqs does filter a lot of people out. The financial cost filters even more out. I think that for a lot of people trying to enter the field, it's not the best option available. Especially since the job market entry rate is more reflective of the individual's ability to ace interviews and the current job market availability and not the boot camps ability to necessarily train people.

Richard is an amazing teacher. He is patient, accommodating, and will give you the right feedback…read moreto get you to your best speaking abilities. I had a lot of fun during these sessions, and could see the immediate impact they were having in my business. Would 100% recommend him!

Highly recommended - a life saver! I hired Richard to help…read moreme prep for a keynote speech. I had decent content, but he helped me refine it and get better at delivery. Practicing with him was extremely helpful. I felt prepared, confident and I nailed it! Thank you, Richard

I spent a wonderful Sunday here!…read more The owner asked me to come in and teach a class, so I did. I hadn't been to Voice One before. I can tell you it's a wonderful facility with great ownership and management. The students here are and welcoming to new people. As a professional Voice Actor for 20 years, I feel that the education they are giving their students is top-notch. They have wonderfully defined coursework and everything is mapped out to gear students for success. I have a friend who teaches here and she is also very fond of the school. She and I are both very honest people, and we appreciate that being reflected by the owner of Voice One. The integrity is lovely to be behold. If you were looking to learn about voice acting or any of the other things they teach here don't hesitate to sign up.

Took a number of classes and really couldn't recommend any aspect of their approach to teaching…read more Most, but not all, of the instructors seem jaded, burnt out, and obnoxious, sally in particular. There didn't seem to be any effort to build meaningful connections between instructors and students, their attitudes seem very detached, joyless, and transactional.

So I attended and graduated Barbizon Modeling school in San Francisco over 30 years ago. I was…read more10-11 years old when I attended. They had a charter bus that picked us up in Stockton and drove us into the city almost every weekend. I almost forgot about this place until recently I reminisced about my experience. So you'll see either 5 star ratings or 1 star ratings on this place, I'll provide some insight to why you see two extreme points of view with this. For those who rated 1 star, a common complaint is the marketing and the appearance of a scam from this company, and the amount of money it costs for what you get in return. I will start there. Barbizon does utilize a unique marketing technique to recruit prospective clients. I remember my mom bringing me to the Hilton hotel at the Plum Tree Plaza in Stockton for a casting call type event. The details were vague. Basically the event was an opportunity for the recruiters to meet with the talent and parents for the sells pitch, claims of success in the industry from past alumni and what the agency is all about. At the end, when you and the parents are really exciting, they lay down the cost of the program. Back then it was about $3000. A lot of people get sticker shock right there and walk out. What isn't clear, if you are really serious in getting into modeling or the entertainment industry, it costs a whole lot more than that in the long run. $3000 back then in the early 1990's was a lot of money. But those who aren't in the industry have no idea what they are really about and now I'm a adult have worked with the entertainment and film industry, and have friends and family who are in it, the costs can be astronomical. $3000 is a little pricey I have to admit but you learn the basics. Prior to Barbizon, my family and I never had a background in the modeling, fashion or entertainment industry. I didn't know anything and there was no internet back then to do research on it. Looking back on it now, Barbizon did provide a solid foundation of training on what to expect if you're gonna make a career out of modeling. But after the training is complete, it's up to the graduate and their family to put in the work to be successful. Just because you graduate Barbizon, it doesn't guarantee you a career or success in the modeling industry. Headshots, portfolios, auditions, voice coaching lessons, dancing lessons, fitness trainers...all that stuff costs lots of money and is what is basically required for a career in this industry. Unless you are incredibly gifted and talented and have that "look", you or your parents have to spend an enormous amount of money to break into this industry. It's extremely rare that someone becomes a superstar overnight, for everyone else, is hard work, time, talent and investing into career that is not very steady and reliable for a steady income. I think for me, I was too young at the time to appreciate all the training I received at Barbizon. As an adult, I can see the value now. However, with technology now, a lot of basic information is out there and is free. But it doesn't replace hard work or the "it" factor it takes to be successful. For those who rated this 5 stars, I can see why they were so impressed with this company. They do well at covering the basics but not getting too specific with any specialty's or disciplines. I would manage your expectations when signing up with Barbizon. If your kid is not very talented like I was(no singing or dancing background and decent looks), expect a challenging path. Not impossible, but challenging. If you're kid is naturally gifted and talented, they still need to bust their butts to make it. No agency will be 100 percent responsible for the success, a lot of the real hard work and investment will need to come from the parents and graduate. You get what you put into your career! Even though I grew up and never got into the modeling or entertainment industry, I learned a lot about myself and had an awesome experience going to San Francisco every weekend. I made a lot great friends and learned a lot about the industry. My graduation was pretty epic, it was at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco back in 1992.

My sister and I got scouted in my local mall when I was in high school. I didn't think anything of…read moreit but my sister really wanted to try it out. We went to the "audition" at a hotel where it was just a bunch of other kids that got scouted with their parents. We watched a video about the kids who had been in Barbizon and gained success. After, they made all the kids "model" or give them short lines to read out loud. A Barbizon graduate gave her speech on her experiences and what she was doing now. After the presentations, they called the parents and their kids by groups to tables to a representative that would try to get us to join and sell the ridiculous fee. The woman that we got pointed out my insecurities and told me that if I joined I would be a lot more confident. She had claims that only a therapist/ a mental health professional could ever do. My sister was sold because she thought she would be discovered as an actress. Fast forward to the actual classes in SF, I thought it was a waste of money. It was pretty fun and interesting but you could get those experiences elsewhere. Even at school, through clubs and organizations that will benefit your resume and college apps. The best part of it was just meeting other kids and playing hide and seek. I didn't know it back then but Samantha had prejudices based on race and disabilities. She was very rude to the students she didn't like and was unprofessional. When someone would volunteer to give advice they have learned as well from other sources, she quickly shot them down. She also singled out the people who were shy and would ask them in front of class, "Why are you holding back?!" She also claimed she made me a lot more confident in my line reading, but she wasn't the instructor I usually had, so how would she know that? I did my "commercials" just as I had did the first day I started. Cindy was an amazing instructor and she was very professional and kind. She actually does a lot of professional modeling. She made the experience a whole lot better. I quickly found out that the graduates they bragged about only had careers in Barbizon as instructors and representatives. Once in a while, they have "modeling" and acting opportunities but you have to be a certain height for almost all of them. One email that got out to us was only hiring Caucasian models. TLDR: it's not worth it. The price is ridiculous. You can get the experiences elsewhere and have a better college application resumé by joining clubs and organizations, volunteering, dance classes, music classes, etc.

OMG. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The good: location,…read morecost and flexible schedule (you can go every week or every other week) I love that! The Bad: Very commercial The Ugly: They use high-pressure tactics /Hard sell techniques, which I found very off-putting.

I've been taking lessons with Christina since about 2018 and knew from our first meeting that I was…read morein the presence of someone special - for real. She makes learning fun, accessible and pushes me to do things with my voice I never thought possible! Before lessons I honestly never knew there was so much to learn about how to use your voice as an instrument and I've grown so much as a vocalist in my time with her! Beyond being an amazing vocal coach, she is a beyond fabulous human being with a passionate, and creative soul. I'm so lucky to have found her and beyond happy to be a member of this amazing Songbird community!!

I worked for them for almost two years…read more Sr Admissions Advisor, Business Development/Outreach.

Took the 3 week ekg course in March, moved quickly and hard to understand the instructor although…read morehe was very knowledgeable and sweet. Had a sub one day and it was helpful. There are 3 labs and the teacher for the labs had no clue about ekg material and was not even aware we would be there so we just practiced and taught each other. More than half the ekg students didn't even get their books. Lots of confusion, inconsistency, and no preparation even though they're charging and advertising it as such. A lot of the material on the ekg nha exam was not in the course, thank god I studied externally with external resources. Met with an externship counselor before the course ended. Made an appt with him which he no showed. Kept trying to email, call, reach out, get more info, and they can't give a range of how long it will be or any information really other than the externship isn't available even though they've reached out to barely two hospitals. It's been two months with no word of an externship, cannot get a hospital job or any job without it. Very disappointing /: not sure why they advertise the externship when it's an essential part of the program being relevant enough to find any job in the field. Highly recommend looking into other options.