General Assembly
General Assembly Overview and Guide
General Assembly has been listed as one of the best bootcamps in the world by several reputable reviewers. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because more than 70,000 students have graduated successfully from the bootcamp since 2011.
Our General Assembly overview and guide takes a deep dive into this school. Want to learn web development, data science, UX design, product management, and other in-demand tech disciplines? Find out if this coding bootcamp is the right one for you.
With campuses in more than 30 locations across the globe and a reliable online platform, its programs have helped hundreds of people land rewarding employment. Graduates find jobs at PayPal, Google, Samsung, Hilton, Chase, IBM, Snapchat, Facebook, Pfizer, Slack, Disney, and thousands of other hiring partners.
What You Need to Know About General Assembly
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General Assembly is for beginners and experienced tech experts who are interested in learning new skills to create more employment opportunities. This bootcamp review covers all the details to help you decide if General Assembly is a good fit for you.
- Cost: Full-Time: $15,950, Part-Time: $3,950, On-demand: $950
- Schedules: Full-Time and Part-time, Flex
- Courses Offered: Software Engineering Immersive, Data Science Immersive, UX Design Immersive, Data Analytics, Product Management, Front-End Web Development
- Upcoming Start Dates: Varies by location and cost. All courses are currently online until further notice
General Assembly Curriculums: What Can You Study?
The major General Assembly courses are Software Engineering Immersive, Data Science Immersive, UX Design Immersive, Data Analytics, Product Management, and Front-End Web Development.
General Assembly has an extensive curriculum for each tech branch. The course catalog is designed to ensure that every student succeeds and gets a job in a high-paying company.
Software Engineering Immersive
The Software Engineering program at General Assembly prepares students to become certified software engineers. It starts with some hours of pre-work on the fundamentals of software engineering which prepares each student for what is to come in the following weeks.
After the foundation course, students learn front end web development and full stack web development. These are in-demand courses that offer students the skills they need to create front end applications and full stack applications for companies beyond the tech industry. The bootcamp also covers all the frameworks and APIs required for successful web development.
Data Science Immersive
The immersive Data Science program is one you should consider if you are thinking of getting a job as a data scientist. There is a 12-hour online tutorial as an introduction to data science. The prep work also gives you the chance to determine if this Data Science Bootcamp is right for you.
Following the prep course, classes are divided into five sections with each one covering an essential aspect of data science.
It starts with Data Science Fundamentals and this is followed by Exploratory Data Analysis (perfect for those who want to pursue a career as a data analyst). Classical Statistical Modeling covers the role of statistics in data science and it will come after data analytics. You will also have a taste of Machine Learning Models as well as Advanced Topics and Trends in Data Science.
UX Design Immersive
There is an ever-rising demand for UX Designers. The UX Design Immersive at General Assembly trains UX Designers and helps them find high-paying jobs. The immersive UX Design Bootcamp at General Assembly is full time and it is divided into six units plus the prep work.
The prep work teaches students UX Fundamentals. It is followed by UX Foundations, Design Iteration and Development, and Working With a Product Team unit. You will also gain some real-world experience from the UX in the Real World unit and enjoy one-on-one career planning during the final unit, UX Career Planning.
Data Analytics
While the Data Science program has a course for data analytics, this stand-alone Data Analytics offering is more extensive. It’s perfect for people who want to major in data analytics without taking a deep dive into every aspect of data science. With data analytics skills, there is hardly any limitation to where you can work.
This program makes you proficient with the programming language SQL for data analysis. You will also become proficient with Tableau and Excel, two valuable concepts that will make you indispensable in the workplace.
Front-End Web Development
The prevalence of remote work in recent times has contributed to a surge in the demand for front-end web developers in different parts of the world. The Front-End Web Development program at General Assembly teaches students everything they need to know about designing front end applications.
You will learn how to style and structure websites using programming languages like CSS, and HTML, while understanding the vital role of JavaScript in web development. Even if the course is for front end web development, students who complete the bootcamp know how to build websites from start to finish.
Product Management
The Product Management program at General Assembly aims to give existing product managers additional skills and resources. However, newbies are welcome to join if they are looking for a well-rounded program on product management.
Students learn how to use Agile to manage workflow and ensure that the product offers value. They also learn to use metrics to motor the life cycle of products from the beginning of development to the end. You will also learn transferable skills like excellent communication and leadership.
General Assembly Campuses: Where Can You Study?
General Assembly has campuses in over 30 locations and the number is increasing every day. All courses are currently online until further notice.
- Adelaide
- Austin
- Denver
- Atlanta
- Houston
- Boston
- Buffalo
- Brisbane
- Paris
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Washington
- Dallas
- Detroit
- Edinburgh
- London
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Toronto
- Manchester
- New York City
- Melbourne
- Minneapolis
- Sydney
- Nashville
- Phoenix
- Raleigh
- St. Louis
- Salt Lake City
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Singapore
- Seattle
General Assembly Schedules: When Can You Study?
Full-Time
The schedule varies by program and location. However, the full-time programs last for 10 – 13 weeks. It is available for Software Engineering Immersive, UX Design Immersive, and Data Science Immersive courses.
Part-Time
The part-time programs are perfect for workers who want to learn new skills. The part-time classes take place in the evenings and weekends. These are accelerated courses that run for one week. The courses include Data Analytics, Product Management, Front-End Development, and UX Design.
Flex
The Flex program is self-paced. It is completely online and learners are allowed to learn on-demand. Register for data analytics and many other programs and you will also get access to some courses that are not available full-time or part-time.
General Assembly Tuition
Tuition cost at General Assembly varies from program to program. All the prep courses are free and online but the main ones come with fees. For the main courses, you can apply for tuition financing. You may even get a sponsorship if you are eligible.
General Assembly Financing and Payment Options
- Employer Sponsorship. The employer sponsorship program at General Assembly allows you to learn a new skill without spending any money. Your employee will pay your tuition and in return, you will use the new skills to advance the company’s workflow.
- Catalyst Program. With the catalyst program, you can start learning without making upfront tuition payments. You will only be required to pay your tuition after you get a job that pays a minimum of $40,000 a year.
- Social Impact. If you are from a low-income or underrepresented community, you may be able to get discounts from the social impact program.
- Installment Plan. Students who opt for installments need to be willing to accept possible tuition increments. Rather than paying their tuition upfront, they can spread it out into two or more installments. The longer the duration, the more money you will end up paying.
- Upfront Payment. With this option, you will pay the full tuition at once. For students in select US states, the upfront payment comes with a discount of $450 for immersive full-time courses. Students in part-time programs get a discount of $250.
- GI Bill. In some General Assembly campuses, veterans can enjoy major tuition discounts with GI Bill. This option covers Software Engineering, Data Science, and UX Design courses.
- Loan Financing. General Assembly partners with some lenders to provide interest-free loan financing to qualified students. The payback rate is as low as $206 per month and students will only have to start paying back when they are employed.
- See Her Excel. This program offers tuition discounts for women in tech. Qualified candidates can apply for this discount from the official General Assembly website.
General Assembly Admissions: How to Get In
Getting into General Assembly requires commitment. You will need to pass the rigorous admissions process before you can start taking classes. If you want to get admitted, you need to be well prepared for the application submission, project, and final interview.
General Assembly Application
First things first, submit an online application directly from the website for the program of your choice. This should be straightforward since the website has a lot of information to guide you through the registration process.
Make sure you read all the resources available for the project you choose before you click on the apply button and start filling out the form.
General Assembly Interview
After submitting your application, you will get a project and you would need to turn in the completed work in three to five days. An advisor will call you and discuss the result of your project with you.
The meeting lasts for around 30 to 45 minutes and it is the official interview that helps the school decide if you are a good fit. It is also a good way for the interviewer to know if you worked on the project by yourself. After that, you will either be admitted or turned down.
General Assembly Admission Rate: What Are My Chances of Getting In?
The acceptance rate at General Assembly is about 15 percent. So, you are going to be facing a lot of competition. You must be at the top of your game during your project and the interview.
If you have a passion for tech and you already have a background in the industry, you will have a higher chance of getting in than someone who does not know tech.
General Assembly Outcomes: Will I Find a Job?
Yes, there is a strong chance that you will find a job right after you graduate from General Assembly. The tech institute has a solid job placement service with over 19,000 hiring partners across the globe. According to their latest report, 91.4 percent of students landed their first job after 180 days of graduation.
Job Placement Services at General Assembly
General Assembly has an excellent job placement service dedicated to ensuring that everyone gets a good job shortly after graduation. These services include one-on-one career coaching, resume building, and incredible networking opportunities.
General Assembly only provides personalized career support to students who excel during the program. These students get a chance to have conversations with industry leaders in their respective fields.
Should You Apply to General Assembly?
Yes, you should apply to General Assembly. It is one of the most popular tech institutes for fast-paced immersive training in software engineering, data science, data analytics, product management, front end web development, and full stack web development.
- Extensive Curriculum. General Assembly has an extensive curriculum for all its programs. It doesn’t matter if you opt for the full-time, part-time, or on-demand learning program.
- Career Support. The institute provides career support and has an impressive job placement rate. However, only the best group of students have access to personalized career support.
If you are looking for a bootcamp with the most in-demand tech courses, a wide range of payment options, and more than 20,000 instructors, General Assembly might be just right for you.
Although the bootcamps are located in major cities around the globe, all courses are currently online, where you will still be taught by world-class instructors.
Anonymous
The program was a great experience. Coming from a quantitative averse background, I was delighted by how much I learned. The tools are current and the instructors take great care in making sure you understand the lessons. My only pushback is the end certification you receive should be designed a little more thoughtfully to look like an actual certificate instead of a letter of completion.
December 5, 2019
Anonymous
It has been an amazing 10 weeks.
I strongly recommend to consider this as an option to change career if you are thinking about it.
The daily support and coaching through the course is great, as much as the constant feedback received.
February 13, 2020
Anonymous
Pros:
– focus on applicability
– experienced instructor
– friendly campus
– kind staff
Cons:
– N/A
May 1, 2020
Anonymous
I actually found GA through this website earlier this year while deciding which bootcamp to attend. My background is from the networking side of tech (3 fortune 500 companies & 2 silicon valley e-com companies) and I’ve dabbled in software development (php) for a couple years. I went through the reviews and after contacting about 6 other schools (UC Berkeley, Wynncode, LeWagon, Hack Reactor, Boise Code Works, and Skill Distillery) I picked General Assembly.
My honest review is the instructors are passionate about coding and can teach anyone the fundamentals of Full Stack Development. People in my class ranged from college students to the restaurant industry. Everyone was dedicated to learning and put in the hours to learn various languages and frameworks over 12 weeks. Like anything else in life, you’ll get out what you put into it. I came during class hours, after class hours, and on the weekends as well. I knew literally nothing about Javascript 3 months ago and now I can write full CRUD applications in React, Express, and vanilla JS. There were always instructors available to help and many of them stayed to help students when they were “off the clock”.
Overall, if you’re looking for a coding bootcamp you will not be disappointed with GA.
May 3, 2020
Anonymous
I found the GA UX Research & Design PT Course very enjoyable. I learned a lot and I feel that the curriculum gave me a solid understanding of the UX Research & Design process from end to end. Marcella was a great teacher and made all of the concepts understandable and applicable to where we all were in our professional careers. She was always available for extra help and advice which I really appreciated. It was a lot of work and in my opinion required more of a time commitment than the course syllabus suggested. Because it is a PT class it moved very quickly which caused me to get behind a few times throughout the course. I also found the curriculum to be a bit disjointed and unorganized. This is primarily because the online pre and home work did not seem to match up with the 2 day a week in class schedule. There were a few times I had to go back and review because sections were out of order. Overall, it is a good course that would definitely be 5 stars with some fine tuning.
July 9, 2020
Anonymous
The 1-week course on Product Management was an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and exchange experiences with senior people who are already on this field. The learning flow and dynamics, combining theory and practice, was really helpful to absorb and retain knowledge.
September 9, 2020
Anonymous
I made the switch to product design after contemplating the career move for a couple years. I was nervous about making a change, and put it off until I exhausted all other options. I completed the full-time UX design immersive course because I wanted to get more formal training and experience in the field, in a short time frame.
Pros: GA stood out to me because of the timeframe (only 10 weeks!) and career coaching (which is amazing). Having an in-person experience was important to me because UX design is so collaborative, you’re working with tons of people and different teams, so an added bonus was the diversity of our class and learning how to work with a lot of different people. I think the class was super practical and hands-on, we started doing real UX work day 2. The main instructor was amazing, I don’t think I would have had as much success if she wasn’t the instructor.
Cons: I would have liked more focus on the engineering collaboration with design, since handing off and working with engineers is such a huge component of a UX or Product Designer’s day-to-day. I think we did a pretty good job covering the basics and most important methods and tools, but in the short time frame we didn’t get to develop a super large toolbox.
September 17, 2020
Anonymous
I took the Part Time Data Science course in DC from 6:30 to 9:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I had very little data science background prior to this course and was extremely pleased with how it turned out. I was exposed to a wide breadth of core data science topics and now have a solid base from which I can pursue further learning. I’m by no means an expert but that’s not the point of the course. I came in looking to improve my Python skills and learn the basics of machine learning, and that’s exactly what I did. I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to get a solid baseline in Data Science.
November 13, 2020