If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. App academy is no exception.
Getting into app academy is not as hard as they make it seem. A few basic ruby programming problems and you are in.
Their curriculum is nothing special. It's all open source which you can find online for free or low cost.
After quitting my job and investing a ton of time and energy, I was "asked" to leave after 9 days into the program.
App academy's PC culture of diversity, inclusiveness, a*s kissing, and bureaucracy did not click with me. They are big on pair programming which is a complete waste of time and a hindrance to learning. Facilities are filthy and men can't even get their own restroom. Every day there was some diversity, women in tech, gay pride, sensitive training type thing going on. That crap doesn't belong in the workplace.
App academy's claim to fame is "no tuition until hired". This is complete bullsh**. I paid a $5000 deposit which was inconvenient but I didn't think too hard about. I thought it would be similar to a security deposit on rent. When I was asked to leave they only gave me back $2300 when I expected my full refund.
Based on their model, they are incentivized to take as many students as they can, cull the ones that don't work and make a ton of money. I like most people would think "no tuition until hired" means they do everything they can to get you hirable. Turns out they don't give a sh** because they keep your money.
I don't mind being "asked" to leave. What I have an issue with is claiming "no tuition until hired" and then turning around and keeping my money.
If they had refunded my amount completely they would have kept their promise and I would have been fine with that.
This is false and deceptive adverting. This is fraud. This is coercion.
The reason why they have perfect reviews on yelp is because they stick a non-disbarment clause to students who are asked to leave.
This is illegal in California. Shows the length of what these scam artists do for money. Suppression of free speech. This review will probably get down voted until no one sees it.
I talked to a lawyer and he said since I signed the termination contract I have accepted their "refund" and there's nothing I can do. I was coerced into signing it because I would get nothing if I didn't.