I took a September 2022 virtual class with instructor John D. John applied his vast project…read moremanagement experience and real-life stories to the course materials, which made them stick. He also told us which parts were important for the exam, which were not, and how to study and prepare for the exam. John was down-to-earth, goes at a good pace, and easy to understand. The only thing I would advice students is the PM Academy practice exam questions are nothing like the actual PMP exam questions. Use the practice exam to get used to the time pressure and learn how to time manage. I would not get hung up on the practice exam and keep on repeating it until you get 75%. As long as you know the material well (at least 50% of the PMP exam is agile) and know how to time manage, then you are good.

I attended a February 2024 virtual class with John Dokos and am happy to say that I passed the PMP…read moreexam on my first attempt! I thoroughly enjoyed John's class and feel fortunate that I got him as the instructor. He was extremely knowledgeable, explained concepts at a pace that was easy to digest, and provided real world examples based on his own experience. He also provided really helpful tips on how to approach and take the PMP exam, including what and how to study. This helped in my preparation leading up to the exam since there was so much to cover that it felt overwhelming. On exam day, I could hear John's voice in my head keeping me focused and grounded when my nerves were at a 10!

Holberton School is an amazing place to learn full stack software engineering - from the…read morefundamentals and low level software engineering to higher level programming. All assignments are project based and there are no traditional teachers. The students are expected to do their own research to learn the material to complete the projects. Instead of formal teachers, students are encouraged to first ask other students for help and teach each other. The school also helps prepare students for the soft skills they need as a programmer. There are days were the students practice interviewing through mock interviews with each other. There are also mentors who are available to do mock interviews with students once they are ready to start interviewing at companies for jobs and internships. Some of the projects are also done in groups, so students learn how to work together to complete the assignment. I am currently close to half way through the initial 9-months of the two year program. Some of my favorite things about the program are: - The staff is wonderful and genuinely care about the students. - Great network of mentors who work in the industry - Very diverse population of students - many people are changing careers, others are fresh out of college or high school - all learning programming - No payments up front - just once you get a job - Great space with plenty of whiteboards and variety of working arrangements (sitting and standing desks, study rooms, bean bags) For me, the only "con" I can think of is that it is very difficult to have a job while attending the school which means living on a budget. I don't really mind this as much, though, because I am having so much fun learning about software engineering and programming.

Spent a year looking for a coding job with minimal support. I went into tech sales and now they…read morewant me to pay them the ISA. Seems like most students look for a job from 6 months to a year. A good portion of students(~25% rough est.) never get coding jobs and yet they're told to pay the ISA. I know at least 10 personally. Of course it's in the contract, but I signed it based on false statistics. They misconstrue outcomes to close the sale. Once you're signed in, they treat you like an indentured servant. The 98% job placement rate they claimed was false. You need to get a Software Engineering job in order to graduate. They refused to give me certification because I didn't get a coding job. When I signed up they said it was full-stack but it wasn't. We did 4 days of Javascript. I spent 3-4 months teaching myself front-end after the program. Also, they allegedly attained their ISA and became a school by fraudulent means. The link attached is a notice for them to stop admitting students and collecting ISA payments until a court ruling is made. https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/actions/holberton_emergency_20200124.pdf They don't tell you this when you sign up but everything is being recorded. Every room has microphones and high res cameras. You're being watched the whole time. If you question them or give any feedback that strays from the party line, you get threatened with expulsion by the founder(+ $85k debt and no coding job). There was no code of conduct stating what violations warrant expulsion. I asked for a fitness/stretching area when we moved to a giant campus and he scolded me like a middle schooler. I then asked for them to welcome feedback from their paying customers, and that's when he threatened me with expulsion. They seem to be more focused on investors and rapid growth than iterating on their product and providing optimal outcomes for their students. Since they can just make up any numbers they want, they have no incentive to care about students who fall between the cracks. They paid everyone in our cohort $50 Amazon gift cards to leave reviews. Anyone who left less than 5 stars was courted to raise their rating. Yes, I learned how to code and made some amazing friends there. For that I am grateful. It's just hard to justify that ISA when they half-deliver on promises, treat you like an indentured servant, and put people without coding jobs in debt without thinking twice. Now it's going global, and at the same time imploding in on it's own moral void. That's why I call it the WeWork of Bootcamps.

I'm back here at Safety Training Seminars in the Taraval location to renew my PALS recertification…read more This location is convenient, whether you want to take the L train with the bus stop in front, or park in residential areas. The place has 3 skills training area and is very clean and organized. It's also stocked with manikin wipes and hand sanitizer. It's no wonder I come here for all of my recertifications. Thank you for having this sunset location open and keeping it clean! Again, I will be back for my BLS and ACLS next year. :)

Went here for the BLS certification and their instructions on the computer were clear while the…read morespace was very clean. I just wish they offered XS gloves. I'm docking a point as their small gloves were the only ones that weren't latex free. This resulted in an allergic reaction/rash on my hands by the time I was finished.

First Step Coding has most definitely suffered after COVID-19…read more To start, First Step was recommended to myself and a friend as a great prep class to start learning, however their website always seemed to list incorrect dates and information. When we finally enrolled in a class ($1k charge), the class was cancelled about two weeks prior to start date, 18 days past the deadline to sign up. Seemingly after it was discovered that there weren't enough students to fill the class. The organization and communication were sub-par almost every step of the way and while we were fully refunded after receiving the unexpected email of class cancelation, I can't recommend working with them.

I would like to take coding classes, however, they have not replied my questions and each time I…read morescheduled a call with them, they never called me back.

I absolutely enjoy coming to this computer lab since they have Microsoft Office 2007. There are…read morecomputer labs on campus but I'd much rather come to this one. I like the convenience of this computer lab since the HSS building is right across from here. One of my classmates in my History 428 sent me class notes via email but I couldn't open the file on my computer, then I thought the computer labs at school has Microsoft Office 2007 and this is when I started coming here. This computer lab consists of Room A, B and C so there are plenty of computers to use. I don't even have to walk far to look for a computer lab on campus. I'll definitely be coming in here again whenever I have any homework assignments that require me to use Microsoft Word and Excel 2007. There are times when the noise level will get annoying so gear up with earphones. Have homework assignments to complete using Microsoft Word and Excel 2007? Come to the computer lab here in BUS 209! *YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE YOUR STUDENT ID ON YOU!* Current Hours for Business Computer Lab: Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Friday - Sunday CLOSED

Located at BUS 209. I'll be on the left side right when you walk up the stairs…read more I've been starting to come here this semester because one of my classes require me to use Excel 2007. They do have Excel 07' on the computers at the Annex but only like 10 of them. This computer lab is 3 classrooms long. You just walk in, give them your student ID, fill out a piece of paper, and they'll assign you a seat. I wished I knew about this place earlier so I wouldn't have to go all the way to the Annex even though there are other computer labs on campus. Bring some headphones too if you don't wanna hear people around you because it does get annoying at times.

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.

When I first heard about Hack Reactor, I was skeptical of how a 3 month program could actually help…read moreland me a career in software engineering. But now having gone through the program, I can say that it has helped me reach my goals. The thing with Hack Reactor is that it gives back to you exactly the effort that you put into it. It provides you with amazing mentors which are the cornerstone of the success of the program. Without them, the program would not be as successful. The curriculum is excellent as well. Without the tech mentor, you could have found other decent resources online, but the guidance from the dedicated staff makes an incredible difference. Along with that, the skills you develop socially when working with the counselor help to develop what you need to succeed at the interview and on the job. The main draw of what you are paying for is a well designed curriculum, strong peers, mentors who care and the ability to market yourself in interviews.

I took a two-day CSM course from Cprime, held in a Learn iT! conference room (San Francisco)…read more The instructor, Aakash Srinivasan, was both knowledgeable and entertaining, which made for a very effective class. There was a good mix of hands-on activity, individual exercise, and lecture. Aakash's colorful flip-charts were especially helpful. The course did more than enough to prepare us for the certification exam. The course description advertised light breakfast being provided half an hour beforehand (from 8:30 to 9:00). Bit of a sinking feeling when we arrived at the Learn iT! lobby and were pointed to water and coffee. At some point a box of Noah's Bagels and cream cheese arrived unannounced, but I was already preparing myself for starvation mode. (Having learned my lesson day 1, I picked up breakfast on my way day 2.) Our instructor was expecting 30, maybe 31 students... and we ended up having 32. He had only been given materials (handbooks) for 30, so he had to call Cprime to print more booklets and drop them off. (I'm not sure how Cprime could flub that, honestly... isn't registration all done in advance?) Lunch was plentiful, catered from Bamboo Asia both days. Two trays of rice, one tray of chicken, one tray of tofu, and sides for the class of 32. (Sadly the salad dressing was absent the second day.) One nice touch was that warm Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookies appeared in the lobby each afternoon. The facility was just so-so, but the instruction was spot-on. Bit pricey if your employer isn't sponsoring your course.

I've been to various training courses led by different companies, and the SCRUM Master course I…read moretook at cPrime's Los Angeles office was hands down the best course I've ever taken. My class was taught my Jim Schiel, a veteran SCRUM demi-God who was dynamic, personable and best of all experienced. He charismatically answered all our questions, made us think in ways we never expected, and made two days of training feel like only a few hours. cPrime was extremely gracious about snacks, breaks and facility amenities, too, making sure we had what we needed to stay focused and engaged. I definitely considering taking more courses with them, and I highly recommend you do the same.

Well, I could give 10 stars if there was an option. I started my journey for B-school prep and…read moreapplication relatively late and came across the stumbling block - The exam prep. I was referred to Testcrackers by one of my friend who was in the last year of his MBA program at that time. I didn't want to waste much time, so I called up the number he provided immediately and to my surprise Yuri picked up the call even though it was a late Friday evening. He was very honest with me and provided me guidelines to set the expectations. I enrolled right away - Fortunately, there was a new batch which was going to start the next week. I took both Verbal and Quant courses which were with Isaac, along with an optional (but very important and helpful) small group tutoring session run by Seth. 7 weeks of Quant course (6 weeks for me, since I took EA) and 5 weeks of Verbal course are the well thought and well planned courses. This includes the prep for IR (Integrated Reasoning) section as well which is crucial for EA exams. I enjoyed every bit of Isaac and Seth's classes, which were very interactive and keep you interested all the time. I also enjoyed the study materials and homework problems, which are very systematic to go along with the weekly lessons and if you complete those on time, you are well set for a decent score in your exams. The main highlight is that they also prepare you on how to take the exams - They have some amazing strategies to optimize your results. The strategies differ for different exams. I prepared for 3 and a half months (including Testcrackers courses) before taking the exam and got a pretty decent score. Got admitted to Berkeley Haas EMBA program within the next couple of months after going through the application process and interviews. Overall I'm really happy that I chose Testcrackers during my journey and very glad to have met Isaac, Seth and Yuri. If you are planning to take the test and wondering where to start, this is the place. I'm pretty sure it'll totally be worth as I've discovered myself.

TestCrackers completely changed my GRE experience, especially thanks to Yuri (Quant) and Seth…read more(Verbal). I worked with TestCrackers for over a year, primarily through small-group tutoring, and I cannot recommend the program highly enough. I came into GRE prep from a humanities background and had historically struggled with quant. Math had never felt intuitive or comfortable for me, and I truly never imagined I could perform well on the Quant section of the GRE. Yuri, who taught Quant, is hands down the best tutor, and honestly the best math teacher, I've ever had. He completely transformed how I approach math. From day one, he created a learning environment that was supportive, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable. His lighthearted teaching style, dad jokes, and famously theatrical reactions to common mistakes made concepts stick in a way I had never experienced before. To this day, I still hear his voice in my head catching me before I repeat errors, and it works. Beyond his teaching style, what makes Yuri exceptional is how genuinely invested he is in his students. He took the time to get to know me, truly believed in me, and pushed me to do better in a way that made me feel capable rather than intimidated. He often went over time, not because he had to, but because he wanted to help more. It was clear his motivation came from a place of real care and generosity. To put my progress in context: my first Manhattan diagnostic was a 151 in Quant, and my first official PowerPrep test was a 144. I ultimately ended with a 163 in Quant on my exam. At the time, I didn't even know if meaningful improvement was possible for me. With Yuri's guidance, I not only improved significantly, but gained the confidence to apply to MBA programs that once felt completely out of reach. Seth was equally impactful on the Verbal side. His guidance completely changed how I approached the section strategically. I still hear him asking, "Is this 100% provable?" in my head during verbal questions, which helped me stay disciplined and precise on test day. One of the biggest breakthroughs from Seth's teaching was learning to let go of certain science passages and instead focus my time and energy on passages I knew I could get right, a strategy that made a huge difference. I started with a 153 in Verbal and finished with a 161. Thanks to Seth's emphasis on error logs, thoughtful review, and strategic prioritization, my Verbal score improved dramatically. I consistently reviewed session notes, maintained a detailed error log, and applied his frameworks throughout the exam. Thanks to TestCrackers, and especially Yuri and Seth, I finished my GRE journey with results I genuinely never thought were possible. More importantly, they helped me see what I was capable of before I believed it myself. If you're serious about improving your GRE scores and want instructors who are deeply knowledgeable, incredibly effective, and truly invested in your success, I cannot recommend TestCrackers enough.