Microverse is a global school for remote software developers that makes a tech education accessible and free of charge - no matter where you live - until you land your first job. But does it deliver on this? Is Microverse legit?
I’m Steve, a student of Microverse, so uniquely qualified to shed light on the legitimacy of Microverse. In this article, I share my perspective of how true the edtech startup’s claims are.
But first, a little backstory on me.
From applicant to full-time student and now writer, currently learning in the final modules of Microverse's technical curriculum, I’ve gained powerful insight into the daily realities of learning at Microverse.
I started my Microverse journey in the free, guided practice sessions. There, I gained immediate value pair programming with other applicants as preparation for the program. As an English-as-a-foreign-language teacher with no prior experience in tech and no Computer Science (CS) degree, I took my time to learn as much as possible about software development.
It took me three months of practice before I considered myself ready to take on Microverse’s and was able to successfully complete i.
To ensure I would be financially supported during the duration of the program, I deferred entrance into the program (upon receiving acceptance) for a few months, finally starting to study in November 2021.
Now, after facing the challenges of learning web development - not unlike challenges faced when learning any new area of study heavy in technical know-how and complexity - overcoming failures and maintaining an attitude of continuous learning and improvement, I am poised to offer my experiential view of Microverse.
There are many unique things that set Microverse apart from other online coding schools, including:
These are fantastic claims, that if proven true, would set Microverse apart as a top competitor among existing online schools and coding bootcamps. Throughout this article we will view evidence of these claims and hear other students first-hand Microverse experiences.
However, let’s deal with one key question in particular to understanding the legitimacy of the learning methodology at Microverse. Is Microverse legit, as there are no classrooms or teachers?
Learning can be tough! In a traditional educational environment, learning is eased through the guidance of an individual who has superior knowledge in the subject matter. This model of learning has its advantages, as well as its shortcomings depending on the subject.
In the world of software development where technology changes at lightning speed, in my view, a new, more hands-on method of learning is required; one where the roles of teacher and student are modified and a student learns how to learn.
At Microverse, students become teachers, and the emphasis is not on being taught, but learning how to learn. Each week a new concept is practiced by way of building a real world project collaboratively.
Living with this form of learning during the time I have spent at Microverse, I can speak to the clear benefits it offers. I am able to learn topics I’ve never before encountered and complete projects consistently within five days. This form of learning is similar to the pace of learning expected in the tech industry, making this teacher-less learning model as close to reality as one can get within an educational environment.
At Microverse, what you learn is targeted to fulfill only what is necessary to be a competent entry level software developer.
As a full-time student at Microverse, you will be learning equal amounts of technical and professional skills interlaced throughout each of their learning modules. It is incredibly valuable to develop one's soft skills at the same time you are developing the craft of software development. Both areas exist and are prevalent in practice, especially when working within remote, international teams.
Many job postings require excellent communication skills, for instance, as one of the areas they are looking for in potential candidates, alongside technical ability. Due to the nature of Microverse's diverse, remote, international student population, these human intelligence soft skills are crafted from day one of Microverse.
Throughout the program, students are consistently grouped with other culturally diverse learners for support and accountability. This makes learning multicultural communication as effortless as showing up for class!
The core program is seven months long followed by job searching. The time it takes a student to complete Microverse and land a job may vary.
The beauty of Microverse is that you are in control of your learning process. On top of this, it is not even necessary to complete all modules of the core program before your public developer profile becomes marketable to hiring managers and recruiters. Once a student has landed their first job in tech, they have achieved the core goal of Microverse. But the support and learning doesn't stop there. Microverse offers career coaching and job search support for life.
Microverse is available w. Originating with an idea that blossomed in the mind of Argentinian founder, Ariel Camus, while spending time in Africa, Microverse has since developed an international student body from 180+ countries. With a low barrier to entry, it doesn’t matter which country you reside in, there is an opportunity for you to apply to and be accepted into Microverse.
In order to get in, here are some insider tips for succeeding at Microverse.
There is no official graduation at Microverse. However, Microverse awards a Certificate of Completion upon successfully finishing the core curriculum. This digital certificate can be publicly displayed wherever you like (portfolio, CV, LinkedIn, or other social media). As shown below, you also receive certificates for successful completion of each module of the Microverse curriculum.
Is Microverse legit? Will I actually find work as a software developer after the program?
Microverse helps you to polish every area of your technical and professional soft skills profile. One of Microverse’s goals is to make you competitive and marketable to prospective employers in the software development job market.
It is up to you to find a job that is aligned with your individual preferences and complete the job searching process under guidance from experienced career coaches at Microverse. Your personal outcome will depend on your individual circumstances. Past work experiences and even the type of work experience you are looking for; remote, onsite, relocation, founder of a startup, can determine your personal job outcome.
Microverse can not ensure that you will land a job within the tech industry, but can give you the tools and professional help necessary to stand out amongst a sea of eager tech job applicants.
Is Microverse legit? Do other current and past students think their time with Microverse is worth it?
To answer this question, I needed a way to truly understand the real impact Microverse offers. To do this, I interviewed Microverse students based on their different levels of program completion.
Interviewees were grouped into the following categories:
Answers that I received from these interviews can further be grouped in response to the following questions:
Tiago Lelinski Marin from Brazil in his second module of the Microverse curriculum, found Microverse through an online ad while searching for profitable online jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Tiago recalls that there was a time when Brazilians living abroad returned home to Brazil as a result of the pandemic but continued working at their jobs remotely. Some of these people continued making their foreign salaries while living in Brazil. “That’s a good reality,” Tiago explained.
Motivated by their stories to find remote work, Tiago decided to explore a past interest to study IT. After completing a few courses and discovering that traditional university studying was not for him, he quit and began looking at other ways to educate himself in the IT field. Tiago turned his search to programming and found Microverse.
Tiago compared about three similar services that promised to prepare students for the profession. After further research Tiago was sold on Microverse as it was the only one that offered deferred tuition payment, payable only upon successful employment with a monthly salary of USD 1000 or more.
So far, Microverse has met Tiago’s expectations and he finds great value in the professional skills offered as a benefit for job searching and his future career. About ten weeks into the program, he encourages students to take the collaboration sections of the program very seriously. He finds this element of Microverse to be one of the most important for his future employment.
Tiago is happy with his experience so far in Microverse and agrees that the journey - up to this point - has been worth it. For the young Brazilian, Microverse is legit!
Dorian Urem from Croatia, also in his second module of the Microverse curriculum, came across Microverse by accident, through an ad on Facebook. Days earlier, Dorian was searching for remote professions and found software development at the top of the list of search results. Dorian considered learning software development on his own. Upon deeper reflection, Dorian thought it better to have a structured environment designed to hold one accountable through the learning process.
When Facebook brought Microverse to Dorian’s attention, he knew he had found what he was searching for. Now a full-time student in his second module at Microverse, the Micronaut, told me that having “people around you makes it easier to hold and maintain interest”. This speaks to the accountability built into the core of the Microverse curriculum.
Dorian further says that through Microverse,;
“I can connect with people I would probably never have the opportunity to connect with otherwise, especially being a person who is not willing to reach out to someone”.
Dorian takes away deeper lessons from his time so far at the remote school explaining, “I am more patient with others and myself. I am learning compassion, collaboration and communication.” For Dorian Urem, Microverse is legit!
Ana, a student from Brazil, was interviewed by fellow Micronaut, Vanessa, for her article about women changing careers to tech. There, Ana shared that she studied law and as much as she enjoyed her first job in law, Ana decided that it would be more satisfying to become a technology professional.
It was during the Microverse Admissions process that she had her first encounter with code. It has been described as "love at first sight" at the start of the "Hello world."
Ana believes that there are endless opportunities for developers in the future. As a legal professional she had never had the experience of having companies reach out to her before.
Further, Ana talked about how being a software developer allows you to work from anywhere in the world. Even though she is still new in the coding world, Ana noted she feels like each day, she gets closer to fulfilling her dream of living abroad. For Ana Hübner, Microverse is legit!
Michael Mesfin is a CS major from Ethiopia who was referred to Microverse from a friend at university. Due to job layoffs during the pandemic, Michael wasn’t able to find a job within his field and almost gave up trying entirely. Instead, he turned to event management and tutoring as gainful employment during that difficult time period.
It wasn’t until Michael had a conversation with a former university friend that he became motivated to return to IT after hearing great reviews of Microverse. Michael was blown away by his first interaction with Microverse stating that:
“Everything from the onboarding, signup, application process, it was so smooth, it was so transparent. So, I was like these people are really focused on delivering the best service, rather than just a bootcamp!”
His first impressions before becoming a full-time student were further exceeded during his time preparing for full-time study in Microverse's pre-course, Level Up. Michael tells me that, “Even when I was in the Level Up session, I could sense that it’s not just a regular bootcamp where they tell you ‘Here, this is what you need to learn,’ and then that’s it, goodbye! They are with you.”
Michael is engaged with his study and diligently networked during his initial weeks in module one of the Microverse curriculum. He says that “the community has been the reason for my success.” For Michael Mesfin, Microverse is legit!
Ma'en Al Khraisha from Jordan, worked in his previous profession for five years before the pandemic hit and his employment didn’t survive. Prior to this, Ma'en worked for a while as a mobile developer in-office at local companies. Because of this past experience he began searching for current trends in web development with hopes to make a return to the field.
While searching for in-demand web development skills, he discovered a need for specializations in frontend and backend development. This sparked a self study of key development topics such as CSS, HTML and JavaScript. Ma'en quickly realized however that it wasn’t possible to learn certain crucial skills on his own–like pair programming–or solving merge conflicts that arise from working on separate branches in Github.
This is when Ma'en discovered Microverse, an online school that offered a ten month long program comprising what he was looking for. A student currently finishing his third module (React) of the program, Ma'en says, “Yes, I think the curriculum is very good”. He highlights how important it was for him to learn how to create a professional Linkedin profile, Angel List profile, and CV. In fact, Ma'en says that, “If I am sitting on my own, I will never force myself to do all of these steps and checkpoints.”
On the other hand, Ma'en also suggests consolidating in one location a list of extra resources to complement the existing technical material that Microverse offers. Maen acknowledges that there are indeed additional materials made available at the end of each curriculum assignment, but thinks these should be included as a part of the main material offering. However, Ma'en summarizes his three month journey with Microverse saying that, “Honestly, Microverse is worth it. The skills I had before joining Microverse, combined with the skills I have now… even for someone who has a background in software engineering. I was nothing...” For Ma'en Al Khraisha, Microverse is legit!
Denis Lafontant, originally from Haiti, where he worked as a civil servant in IT for the country’s police force, wanted a more flexible career to enable him to be with and support his family in the Dominican Republic. Denis began his search and landed on Microverse after trying a few other courses and bootcamps. As a professional who knew what it meant to have a long term career, he also knew exactly what he was looking for in an online school.
He chose Microverse because of the offer for students to learn programming through real practice, like pair programming and building real world projects while crafting your soft skills. Denis started his Microverse journey in November of 2020 and finished his core program in June of 2021. The Microverse alum landed his first job just three months after starting his job search. Finding this job to be a poor cultural fit, Denis landed a second job just one month later.
Denis attributes his success to the many skills he learnt at Microverse but focuses on a few he deems most important:
The beaming alum further explains that, “Most of the time, companies want good soft skills.” He says they want to know ultimately, “Will you be able to support the team? It has to be in all aspects, not only coding.” For this successful Microverse alum who's been successfully employed as a professional in software development twice since, his Microverse experience was completely worth it. For Denis Lafontant, Microverse is legit.
Bruna, a Brazilian full-stack developer who switched careers to software development was also interviewed by Vanessa, for her women changing careers to tech article. Before Microverse, Bruna worked as a Physical Therapy Veterinarian. As a result of her husband's job offer in Canada, the couple decided to relocate.
When they moved, Bruna decided to change careers and enrolled in Microverse in August 2019. As a result of her strong skill set and LinkedIn exposure from her time at Microverse, she was approached on LinkedIn about an open position as a Junior Developer. After interviewing, she accepted the position and has been working as a software developer since October 2020.
Bruna shared that the portfolio she developed at Microverse enabled her to achieve her current position. Aside from that, she also shared that a great part of Microverse is that you learn how to find answers independently from the beginning because there are no teachers.
For Bruna Genz, Microverse is legit.
Habiburahman (Habib) Payenda from Afghanistan came across a statement that caught his eye on Facebook, “Pay nothing until you land a job”. This was his first meeting with Microverse.
Habib was a Computer Science (CS) student who went on to teach at an institute on the topic of Microsoft Office programs. Habib however felt that his university time did not prepare him well for the technical requirements of a job in tech.
He started looking for bootcamps and eventually found Microverse. Habib reminiscently explains, “Now that I am in Microverse, I see the things that I wish I had seen many years ago!”
Habib is happy with his Microverse experience recounting a story showcasing his past life of study, “While studying alone from 8:30am to three or four in the morning, Monday-Friday for two years, I didn’t come across the topics that I am learning now in this one month at Microverse.”
He tells of his learning to design from using Figma templates, collaborating with others in a working environment, and how all of this has been a “great experience” for him.
This dedicated learner believes that the intense Microverse program will help him to achieve his dream of being a great software developer. For Habib Payenda, Microverse is legit!
Is Microverse legit? You mean, does Microverse deliver on its promises?
Claims made by Microverse to offer real world programming experience through pair programming and building real world projects, so far, are highly probable. No job outcome can be 100% certain, though the likelihood of successful employment is visible through the success of Microverse alums.
The question of whether or not the Microverse path is suitable for you will depend on your personal circumstances. From the moment you apply, to the moment you attain your certificate, that’s 1100+ hours of collaborative web development study. Microverse offers immediate and practical value.
Throughout the program you gain practical knowledge of full-stack web development, showcasing a portfolio of projects in high-earning-potential technologies like; HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, React for the frontend with Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and PostgreSQL on the backend. Further, if the English language is not your first, you are also equipped with 1100+ hours of spoken and written practice which carries extraordinary value on its own.
But, do not just take Microverse at their word alone. Based on a sample of past and present Microverse students interviewed, remarkably, 100% of interviewees agree that their time spent with Microverse was worth it.
What do you think, is Microverse legit?
If you would like to excel as a remote professional in software development change your life with Microverse!
Steve Wayde Dames Jr transitioned into web development after five years teaching English as a Foreign Language. He believes collaboration is the key to growth.
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