These are the most frequently asked questions by prospective students. If you do not find what you are looking for below, please contact admissions@adadevelopersacademy.org.
About Ada
Who does Ada serve?
Ada’s mission is to prepare women and gender-expansive adults to be software developers while advocating for inclusive and equitable work environments. We primarily serve and address the needs of Black, Latine, Indigenous Americans, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+, and low-income people.
Who is included in “gender-expansive”?
Ada uses a national reference for the term “gender-expansive” individuals (also sometimes called non-binary, non-conforming or genderqueer) and Transgender provided by GLAAD: https://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender
Who is considered low-income?
Anyone with an Individual annual income of less than the following:
- Seattle Low Income is below $67k
- National Low Income is below $54k
What programs does Ada offer?
Ada Build Live: An 8-week virtual program to review the coding fundamentals covered in the Ada Build Curriculum. It is open to those who identify as Black, Latine, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian who are generally interested in learning to code or more specifically, want to strengthen their skills for the Ada Core application process.
Ada Core: An 11-month program teaching full-stack web development. This program is not for beginners; students should understand foundational concepts such as using loops, lists, and dictionaries. Students are in the Ada classroom for six core hours a day, five days a week for six months, followed by a five-month paid internship.
How much does the program cost?
All programs are tuition-free. We recognize students have various living expenses they need to pay while in the program. We offer loan opportunities through our lending partners. Read more about financial support options here.
Can I keep working while enrolled at Ada?
We strongly discourage our students from holding any other jobs or similar commitments while enrolled in our programs. Our programs are rigorous and students are expected to work on assignments and study beyond the main classroom hours. We believe students are best set up for success when they can dedicate their entire attention to our program.
Do you offer financial assistance?
We understand that even though our program is tuition-free, students have various living expenses they need to pay while in the program. We offer loan opportunities through our lending partners. Read more about financial support options here.
Can I apply if I do not currently live in the United States?
At this time, we are only able to serve folks who are based in the United States, can stay in the United States during the duration of the program, and have a United States work permit or ability to work in the United States. For more information, please visit our eligibility requirements.
Coding Experience
I don’t have any experience coding. Can I still apply for Ada’s Core Program?
Ada’s Core Program is not for beginners. Students need to understand foundational concepts such as using loops, lists, and dictionaries. Before you apply, make sure you take some time looking into free resources – there are a ton available! We recommend:
● Freecodecamp
● Udemy
● Teamtreehouse (has a free 7-day trial)
● The Odin Project
● Sololearn (has a free 14-day trial)
● Codecademy
Once you get a handle on the fundamentals, expand your knowledge through the Ada Build curriculum. This is a great start to see if coding is for you!
Application Process
Is there a COVID-19 vaccination requirement?
All Ada students are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. If a student believes they need an exemption to this vaccine requirement, you can request an exemption after you are offered admission to the cohort.
When do applications open and how do I apply?
● Ada’s Core Program: March and August
● View current timelines here
Applications remain open for approximately three weeks. The application link is available on our website once it has opened. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates regarding applications and follow us on our social media pages.
What is included on the application?
Students should expect to submit an updated resume and complete several short answer essay questions and data challenge responses. Click here to learn more about what we are looking for in future Adies.
Do I need to complete the Ada Build curriculum before applying?
No, although we highly encourage all students applying to Ada’s Core program to complete the Ada Build curriculum before submitting your application.
After I submit my application, when can I expect to hear back about next steps?
The application process includes three parts: an online application, a technical interview, and a virtual behavioral interview. All phases after the online application are by email invitation only. Our application process happens over a period of four months. Due to the size of each cohort, each phase lasts several weeks.
To learn more about each stage of the application process, click here.
I have a _____ visa. Can I apply?
You must have permanent work authorization at the time that you apply and throughout the full duration of the program. DACA recipients are eligible to apply to the program. If you require or will require sponsorship in the future, you are not eligible for our program. OPT and CPT are not eligible for our program.
If you are unsure about your work authorization status, please check here to verify what documentation you will need to provide to prove your eligibility should you be admitted.
What should I expect for my technical interview?
Applicants will receive the code challenge in advance and will be asked to schedule a technical interview. During the technical interview, applicants will have two options. The first option is to live code a solution to the technical code challenge with their interviewer. The second option is to present their own solution, completed ahead of time, to their interviewer. The technical interview is intended to assess an applicant’s thought process in working through the code challenge, and so for either option, the interviewer may ask the applicant to work out additional approaches, variations, or extensions as part of the discussion.
Can I use notes during my technical interview?
While we recognize applicants may need to reference their notes during the interview, Ada does not tolerate academic dishonesty. Please make sure any notes you are using are your own.
What do I need to prepare for my final interview?
The final interview is a behavioral interview where you will meet with staff, board members, volunteers, or alum. This interview is a chance for us to get to know you better. It’s 30 minutes and more of a conversation than an interview.
Can I reschedule my technical or final interview?
We understand life is unpredictable and there may be circumstances in which you need to reschedule an interview. Due to staff availability, we can accommodate one rescheduled interview per applicant. If you need to reschedule your technical or final interview, you must email us at admissions@adadevelopersacademy.org at least 48 hours in advance.
If you need to reschedule less than 48 hours in advance or more than one time, we may not be able to accommodate your request.
Campus Choice
Can I apply to more than one campus?
Yes, you can apply to two campuses.
Students at the Seattle and Atlanta campuses are required to attend class in person. If you apply for one of those campuses, you are committing to relocate to those cities if you are not currently living there. Please note, Ada does not cover relocation costs. You can learn more about our campuses here.
Can I get a campus tour?
Unfortunately, due to our current COVID guidelines, we are not able to host campus tours at this time.
Internship
What is the purpose of an Ada Internship?
Your internship is a learning experience and a chance for you to learn from those in the industry, not an offer of employment. Our company partners fund the opportunity for you to complete your training, meaning: a chance for you, through hands-on experience to: determine what you like and what you don’t like about tech or software development; and shape what you want, or don’t want in your post-Ada career.
Can I choose my internship?
No, you cannot choose your internship. As part of our commitment to providing a holistic program, Ada will assign you an internship upon successful completion of our classroom programming. Our aim is not only to reduce any stress you could feel in trying to secure your own corporate/tech internship but also to ensure the continuity of this integral professional stepping-stone for our Adies. Here are some examples of companies that partner with us to provide internships.
Will Ada provide me with a job after completing the program?
No. As an Ada participant, you are expected to actively job search to secure your first post-graduation job in tech. Ada does not provide job placement services and cannot guarantee you a job offer.
However, Ada provides support in your job search process through various tactics, including identification of opportunities, resume creation/review, interview preparation, etc. Additionally, all Ada graduates receive ongoing job search support for six months after they’ve completed the program. Ada commits to employing the best career coaches; building dynamic career programming and continuously reviewing our coaching approach to align with the ever-changing tech industry.
Services
Do you offer financial assistance?
Even though our program is tuition-free, we understand students have living expenses they need to pay while in the program. During the classroom phase, we offer loan opportunities through our lending partners. Read more about financial support options here.
During the internship phase, students will receive a stipend for living expenses.
What type of laptop do I need for the program?
These are the laptop tech specs needed for our program:
- MacBook Air with M1 (2020 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (2017 or newer)
- 8 GB RAM minimum
- 64 GB drive space minimum, with 8 GB space available
Ada prioritizes providing loaner laptops to low-income students. These refurbished machines are to be returned one week after graduation.
Is there childcare available?
We offer childcare subsidies for qualifying applicants.
Please contact admissions@adadevelopersacademy.org if you have additional questions not listed here.