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App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

appacademy.io

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Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#21

Post by ruggeri »

ethan_t wrote: post #15

This should have been an ASK HN question: But I am wondering how a curriculum like this could possible place a candidate into Apple, eBay, Twilio, or Box? I thought the interview process for those companies involve low-level, tough algorithm/data structure problems, which requires an intensive college education or participation in TopCoder, CoderChef... -- not just how many shiny toys you can play with (iOS, HTML, JS…

We're not trying to replicate or replace a traditional four-year CS program. Over 500+ hours, working full-time, in pairs, and with constant access to instructors, students have rapidly built skill and experience with programming. Ultimately, that's what I think employers are looking for in junior devs.

We have also spent considerable time reviewing traditional CS topics like algorithms and data structures.

We're a couple weeks away from hiring day, but companies including Apple, airbnb, Lytro and Twilio have signed up. These companies are making the investment to send senior engineers to hiring day; they don't do this lightly.

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#22

Post by CesareBorgia »

jfarmer wrote: post #19
ethan_t wrote: post #15

This should have been an ASK HN question: But I am wondering how a curriculum like this could possible place a candidate into Apple, eBay, Twilio, or Box? I thought the interview process for those companies involve low-level, tough algorithm/data structure problems, which requires an intensive college education or participation in TopCoder, CoderChef... -- not just how many shiny toys you can play with (iOS, HTML, JS…

Yeah, what does "partner recruiting companies" mean? Has anyone from App Academy received offers from any of them?

The companies listed are some of those that have signed on with us to hire students.

We are a couple weeks away from our first hiring day. If you're looking for devs, sign up here: appacademysummer2012.eventbrite.com!

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#23

Post by ruggeri »

telephonic wrote: post #12
ruggeri wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey! Thanks for the interest! To my mind, we're not underpricing Dev Bootcamp. Our focus in pricing is to change the risk equation for students. We want to lower the barrier to entry for the tech jobs market. We also want students to know that we are really committed/invested in them. The big difference from student loans: students only pay us if the course actually works :-) Our first batch students are just beginni…

That's fair. But then why ask the student to pay, rather than the employer?

We think the incentives align better with this model. We want our students to take the best job for them, regardless of whether the company is paying recruiting fees.

As far as recruiting fees go, when employers make a decision on salaries, they look at the total employee cost. If the employer needs to pay a recruiting fee, that goes into the cost. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, etc, etc. :-)

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#25

Post by ethan_t »

ruggeri wrote: post #21
ethan_t wrote: post #15

This should have been an ASK HN question: But I am wondering how a curriculum like this could possible place a candidate into Apple, eBay, Twilio, or Box? I thought the interview process for those companies involve low-level, tough algorithm/data structure problems, which requires an intensive college education or participation in TopCoder, CoderChef... -- not just how many shiny toys you can play with (iOS, HTML, JS…

We're not trying to replicate or replace a traditional four-year CS program. Over 500+ hours, working full-time, in pairs, and with constant access to instructors, students have rapidly built skill and experience with programming. Ultimately, that's what I think employers are looking for in junior devs. We have also spent considerable time reviewing traditional CS topics like algorithms and data structures. We're a c…

It's awesome that you are able to get attentions from those top-level companies like those. I did take a look at the curriculum and you do in fact have some data structure/algorithm classes.

It would you be nice if you can provide us with candidates' interview experiences and outcome -- just to provide a roadmap for future candidates

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#26

Post by startupfounder »

gyardley wrote: post #24

The first company to offer intensive programs like this over the Internet will do well for themselves.

I disagree.

A program like this would be like Knewton online for GMAT training. They charge $500 per program and can't begin to charge $10k. The other point is that these programs are set up to find great people, teach them to code and then hook them up with a company looking for great people who can code (go figure).

The company that is going to win will set up courses like this in multiple cities, SF, NYC, Chicaco, etc. and build an online component.

I look forward to seeing what companies the alumni work for and project they build.

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#27

Post by w1ntermute »

ruggeri wrote: post #23
telephonic wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's fair. But then why ask the student to pay, rather than the employer?

We think the incentives align better with this model. We want our students to take the best job for them, regardless of whether the company is paying recruiting fees. As far as recruiting fees go, when employers make a decision on salaries, they look at the total employee cost. If the employer needs to pay a recruiting fee, that goes into the cost. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, etc, etc. :-)

Maybe you should set up some sort of subcontracting scheme - that the students wouldn't have to pay taxes on the 12.5% that they pay to you.

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#28

Post by srunni »

How useful would this be to a non-software engineer with significant self-taught programming experience? I have programmed (mainly Python & Java, no Ruby/Rails and little web experience) for several years within the context of biomedical engineering and could probably teach myself the material, but this would provide some external discipline and, more importantly, make finding a job much easier (my resume and some other links are on my profile page, if anyone would like to hire me).

Re: App Academy is an intensive web development course in San Francisco

#29

Post by bjoyce1 »

at-fates-hands wrote: post #18
chriszf wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that a problem, underpricing the competition if the market bears it? Dev Bootcamp's cost has risen meteorically since they first opened their doors in February of this year. It is now roughly the same cost as a year's tuition at a UC. Apples to oranges, sure, but it gives the number some perspective. The difference in the pricing model here is that you don't have to pay it back should things go pear-shaped after t…

Not only has Dev Bootcamp's cost risen, they're getting super selective about who they let in the program. The other huge issue would be for people who don't live in SF. On their website they say they work with the best recruiters in SF who are "waiting for you to graduate.". Yeah, so if I'm not from SF, then what are my odds of getting in? Probably slim to none.

Regarding the issue of Dev Bootcamp and international students, I live and work in London England and I'm in the Fall cohort. So I can categorically confirm that they do accept international students. Just wanted to clear that point up.
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