Hacker School Winter 2013 Applications are Open

I love the idea of HackerSchool and would love to take part at some point in my life. The only thing that gives me pause is that I've heard the application process heavily emphasizes and selects based on github code and open source contributions vs. other accomplishments. Can anyone verify if this is or isn't the case?

Personally, I love oss and have always planned to get more involved. That's one of the primary reasons I'm interested in trying HackerSchool. But so far in my hacker career I've focused much more on achieving financial stability and freedom, which means that while I've produced a lot of interesting code across many domains and studied a decent variety of languages and technologies, the majority of my work has either been for pay or on personal projects that have (so far unsuccessfully) been aimed at least to some extent at turning a profit.

Just wondering if there would be a place for someone like me at HackerSchool, or if I'd have to spend some time beefing up my github first to be considered.

former student here, batch[1].

> I've produced a lot of interesting code across many domains and studied a decent variety of languages and technologies, the majority of my work has either been for pay or on personal projects that have (so far unsuccessfully) been aimed at least to some extent at turning a profit.

I would describe my pre-hackerschool self very similarly.

The important thing is that you want to spend 3 months honing your craft, that you love programming, that you can move to NYC, and that you have demonstrated that you have programmed enough to know that you can commit to doing it full time. Beyond that, it's about balancing the group, and, in all honesty, a bit of chance. There's more applicants than can be admitted, so even qualified applicants aren't necessarily admitted, not for any deliberate reason, but because resources are limited. Based on your description it sounds like it would make sense for you to apply if it's something you really want to spend 3 months of your life doing. I'm very happy to have done it.

Former student here from last summer. My only programming experience was in MATLAB and I did not have a github account before my application.

If you can code FizzBuzz and you want to be a better programmer, there is a place for you at HackerSchool.

It's not just about happiness, but also productivity, diversity of thought, ideas and working styles, having a well-rounded team, and all that jazz. Though I'm sure happiness comes into it, too.

I'm female, and half the reason I'm tempted to apply is the scholarship. I find that a little disquieting, and I can't quite put my finger on why. Unfortunately, the scholarship is not enough for me to give up my (non-programming, but in technology) day job and move across the country, so it's something of a moot point. I'd love to do Hacker School, it's definitely a direction I'd really benefit from growing in, but the sort of person to whom the scholarship makes a substantial difference in applying... let's just say not every woman falls into that category.

I pretty much left my programming job to come to HS. As i'm in the current batch, i'm entering the nob market around now. While I don't know about average salary or job placement rates, if you are a professional programmer before hacker school you'll only be a much better professional programmer after hacker school, and that means it won't be too difficult to get a job.

But Hacker School is not a job placement program. It is a place for people who love programming to come to become better at their craft. That this results in increase job opportunities afterwards is often a beneficial side effect, but not the primary motivator for people to come here.