Thinkful is a new company that offers intensive courses on topics ranging from coding to leadership skills. The goal is to give students a chance to develop their talents and get ahead in life.
Thinkful was founded in 2012 by two Stanford graduates who wanted to create a better way to teach software development. They started out offering classes at local universities, but now they offer programs around the world.
Thinkful has created a unique approach to teaching programming through video lessons. Students watch short tutorials and then complete assignments that require them to apply concepts learned in class.
This method allows students to focus on learning rather than memorizing facts.
Let’s read this detailed and well-written Thinkful Review to learn every aspect of it.
Who Exactly Are Thinkful?
Thinkful is an online coding school that provides learning resources to help people learn how to code.
Founded by Darrell Silver and Daniel Friedman in 2012, Thinkful quickly grew into one of the most popular platforms for learning software engineering. Today, it serves thousands of students across the world.
The company focuses on providing quality education for beginners and experienced developers alike.
They offer classes in web development, data science, project management, design, and much more. Students are able to choose from different programs based on their interests and skill level.
The platform offers online courses, allowing you to access lessons from anywhere in the world.
You can choose to take courses full-time, part-time, or even while working. Students are placed into classes based on skill level, experience, and availability.
Thinkful provides personal support and 1-to-1 mentoring, ensuring every student gets the attention he or she needs. You’ll work directly with the instructor throughout each course, and receive feedback via video chat, email, and phone calls.
Is The School Worth It?
Thinkful is one of the most popular education startups out there today, offering over 2,000 videos covering topics like coding, data science, product management, marketing, and finance.
But while Thinkful does offer some of the best educational resources around, it isn’t perfect. In fact, Thinkful doesn’t even guarantee job placement.
So what makes Thinkful different? Well, think about it this way: If you’re paying $10,000-$15,000 for a four-year degree, why wouldn’t you want to know whether your investment will pay off?
Thinkful is honest about how well their programs work, and they provide clear career stats on every course. They also make sure that students are getting quality feedback and support throughout the program.
Do Thinkful Offer Job Placements?
Thinkful offers a variety of educational options, including online courses, intensive boot camps, and paid internships. But it doesn’t just provide education; it also helps students find work afterward.
In fact, according to Thinkful’s own numbers, over 80 percent of its graduates are employed within six months of graduating. Here are some of the companies that hire Thinkful grads:
- IBM – $100k+ salary
- Google – $80k+ salary
- Ubisoft – $50k+ salary
- Microsoft – $40k+ salary
- Facebook – $35k+ salary
- Twitter – $30k+ salary
According to Thinkful, over 80 percent of its graduates are employed within six months of graduation.
Of those, nearly half work at top tech companies like IBM, Google, and Microsoft. Other big names include Ubisoft, Twitter, and Amazon Web Services.
The coursework itself is designed to ensure students learn how to code in Python, R, JavaScript, and SQL. Students typically spend about five hours per week studying outside of class.
They also receive weekly assignments and quizzes.
Thinkful offers a number of different degree options, including a bachelor’s program in Data Science, a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Programming, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity.
All of these courses take around 12 weeks to complete.
Do They Offer Job Guarantees?
Thinkful offers a full refund if you don’t find work within six months of graduating, or if you’re making less than $40,000 annually.
This policy applies to students who are still enrolled in one of Thinkful’s programs. The refund does come with some caveats, such as needing to graduate within the stipulation timeframe and passing any background checks required.
Thinkful says it does not offer unpaid internships.
How Much Does The Online School Cost?
Thinkful is one of many companies offering online courses. But it stands out because it doesn’t just offer classes on basic coding skills like HTML and CSS, but also on topics such as data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
You don’t even need to know how to code to enroll — most of the courses are designed for beginners.
And while there are plenty of other free online education platforms, Thinkful is unique in that it focuses exclusively on teaching people about technology careers.
The majority of Thinkful’s courses are offered via monthly subscription packages. Some students choose to take the full 12 months of instruction upfront; others opt for shorter terms, such as six months or three months.
If you decide to sign up for a longer term, you won’t actually start paying until you finish the program, which generally takes around eight weeks.
Most of Thinkful’s courses come with a set price tag, ranging anywhere from $6,200 to over $17,600. However, there are a few exceptions.
Read more about Thinkful price plan’s here.
For example, the Data Science Bootcamp costs $5,500 but includes access to Thinkful’s entire library of free online courses.
How Can The Fees Be Paid For?
Thinkful offers several different payment plans depending on what you want out of your coding Bootcamp experience. If you don’t have enough money saved up to cover tuition, Thinkful offers scholarships and installment plans.
The most effective way to pay for Thinkful is upfront, but it’s important to note that there are no hidden fees.
Students pay $5,500 upon application and receive a refundable deposit of $1,250. After completing the program, students must pay off the remaining balance over the course of four months.
Students who qualify for financial aid can apply for a scholarship, which covers the entire cost of tuition. To receive a scholarship, students must complete a FAFSA and submit proof of eligibility.
If you do not qualify for financial aid, Thinkful offers three different installment plans. Each plan requires a monthly commitment of $400 per month.
- Plan A: 30% down + 10% interest $4,800 total due at signup
- Plan B: 20% down + 5% interest $2,100 total due at signup
- Plan C: 10% down + 2% interest $945 total due at signup.
Loan Financing
Thinkful, a startup that offers online courses, recently announced it has partnered with Ascent and Clime, a financial technology firm, to offer students loans for their education.
Thinkful says it provides thousands of free coding classes every month and allows anyone to learn how to code for free.
The program, called Thinkful Loan, lets people apply for a $2,500 loan for college tuition, books, and living expenses.
Students are able to pay off the loan over three years, starting with a monthly installment of $50 per month. If they complete the course within six months, they can refinance into a lower interest rate.
Students must be enrolled in a Thinkful class and have completed at least half of the coursework. They must show proof of enrollment and attendance, along with proof of income and residency.
Scholarships
Thinkful is offering students $500 to apply for one of its free online courses. Students must be female and under 30 years old to qualify.
They are also required to complete four hours of work per week. If you successfully pass each assignment, you’ll receive a certificate upon completion.
The program is designed to help women enter the tech industry. It provides $1,200 for those interested in full-time employment in the field.
Those who want to learn how to code can take advantage of Thinkful’s free web development boot camps.
These programs teach HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, Python, PHP, iOS Development, Android Development, SQL, Git, Agile Methodologies, Design Thinking, UX/UI, Project Management, and much more.
Installments
Thinkful offers courses online for $10 per week. You don’t have to pay upfront; you can take it out in monthly installments. This isn’t like taking a class at your local college, where you might spend thousands of dollars over four years.
With Thinkful, you can start with just $2,500, and you’ll graduate with a degree that could help you land a job making six figures. Plus, you won’t have to worry about student loans.
There are lots of free resources online, but Thinkful stands out because it provides real-world experience. They partner with companies like Airbnb, Lyft, Stripe, WeWork, and YC to provide students with work opportunities while learning.
Because of this, Thinkful graduates typically end up getting jobs working in tech.
Discounts
Thinkful is offering students a discount code for its coding school. To receive it, you’ll need to apply directly via the site. Students are eligible for up to $2,500 off tuition.
The code works on both full-time and part-time programs. Veterans, women, and nonbinary individuals are eligible for additional discounts.
Thinkful is keen on making sure everyone can afford its education programs. This includes students who are veterans, women, nonbinary people, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+.
In fact, it offers significant discounts to these groups of students. For example, veterans receive up to $2,500 off tuition, women receive up to $1,750 off tuition, and nonbinary students receive up to $1125 off tuition.
Where Do They Offer Courses?
Thinkful offers free online courses and workshops in over 20 different cities across the United States. You can choose from a variety of topics ranging from web development to data science.
If you want to take advantage of these offerings, check out Thinkful’s locations tab on their website. This will allow you to find local events and meetups where you can practice what you’ve learned.
What Courses Do They Offer?
Thinkful was launched in 2012 to help people learn how to code. Today, it offers nine different courses for prospective tech employees. Each course covers a specific skill set, such as data science, data analysis, UX design, web development, etc.
There are over 50 hours of video tutorials per topic, plus interactive quizzes and homework assignments. Students pay $25 monthly or $300 annually to access the entire library.
You can study to become a Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Software Engineer, Digital Marketer, User Experience Designer, Technical Project Manager, or even a Business Development Executive.
One course alone covers everything needed to land a job in tech. If you want to specialize further, there are over 40+ courses in each category.
Students can view every syllabus on the Thinkful website if they enter their email addresses. This allows students to track progress and see what topics they still need to cover. They can also download PDF versions of each lesson to use offline.
What Is The Schedule Like For Thinkful?
Thinkful offers several different types of programs, including intensive courses, online classes, and a Bootcamp. Courses are offered in over 20 languages and cover everything from web development to data science.
The startup teaches students how to code, build apps, design interfaces, write documentation, and much more. Students can choose one of three schedules — part-time, full-time, or a combination of both.
Part-timers work four hours per week, while full-timers commit 10 hours per week. Those interested in a hybrid schedule can work five hours per week during the day and commit eight hours per week at night.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for ways to improve your coding skills, think about signing up for Thinkful. You’ll learn new programming languages, gain valuable experience, and get paid to do so.
Plus, you’ll be able to pursue your career goals while earning extra cash.
Visit Thinkful’s website to sign up for a free trial. After completing an application form, you’ll have access to all of their courses.