The Ada Volunteer Program creates opportunities for tech professionals to use their skills to support underrepresented new developers. Our volunteers are critical community members who bring their expertise to our school in a range of roles that contribute directly to student success.
Volunteer Opportunities
PRIVATE TUTOR
Ada tutors work individually with students who need more support with the curriculum.
Time commitment: 1 hour/week
Duration: 5 months
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Ada teaching assistants come in for weekly afternoon shifts to help out students who need help with their projects.
Time commitment:1-4 hours/week
Duration: 5 months
INDUSTRY MENTORS
Mentors meet with students to give insight on tech culture, job hunting, networking tips, interviewing, and more.
Time commitment: 2 hours/month
Duration: 5 months
ADMISSIONS VOLUNTEERS
Admissions volunteers have the option to review applications, interview applicants, or both. Application reviews are remote, and volunteers can select how many applications they would like to review. Interviewers must be available for a block of 3 hours at a time.
Time commitment: Mostly flexible
Duration: 1-3 months from September-November and/or March-May
MOCK INTERVIEWERS
Mock interviewers help prepare students for internship interviews by simulating technical whiteboard interviews. Students go through technical questions with interviewers and learn how to think through problems. Interviewers need a technical background and experience conducting technical interviews.
Time commitment: 4 hours/session
Duration: Typically October-November and/or April-May
Testimonials
Scarlett Stephanie
By far the best thing about volunteering with Ada is meeting and welcoming newcomers to the software development community (and getting to be a part of the Ada community myself!)
Vanessa Naff
I live for that eureka moment on a student’s face, when their eyes brighten and they feel that empowerment of new understanding.
Kai Curtis
Volunteer FAQs
Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions during volunteer onboarding meetings. If what you’re looking for is not below, please feel free to email volunteer@adadev.org.
I am interested in being an Ada volunteer! Where do I get started?
Please click on the Join Us button at the bottom of the Volunteer Page to fill out the form. The goal is to learn a bit more about you and what interests you about joining the Ada community. Then our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch to schedule a brief onboarding meeting.
I don’t have any teaching experience. Can I still be a teaching assistant or tutor?
Absolutely! Tutors and TAs are not required to actually teach students the curriculum. Instead, the role aims to help students work through tasks or projects exploring different approaches or perspectives. Co-learning can also be very helpful to students’ understanding of concepts and we appreciate when volunteers can learn alongside students.
How will I know what curriculum the students are studying?
Volunteers working directly with students and supporting the classroom phase (TAs/Tutors) all have access to Learn, the student platform that contains curriculum details for each unit.
How many students are in each cohort?
Ada is growing! C17 admitted 120 students and C18 is admitting 168 students across three campuses: Seattle, Digital and Atlanta. Do note that Atlanta students have the same classroom hours, 9:30 – 3:00 ET.
How old are the students?
The community is very diverse and ages vary. Most students are between 22 and 69.
How old are the students?
The community is very diverse and ages vary. Most students are between 22 and 69.
What is the difference between each campus?
Seattle is the inaugural campus, located in the International District. All students in this campus live in the Seattle metropolitan area. Digital students are spread out across the US. Atlanta campus is based in Atlanta, currently digital and will have a physical campus starting next year.
Are there any in-person opportunities to volunteer?Â
Due to COVID restrictions and safety measures put in place to keep the community safe, only staff and students are allowed at the Seattle campus. In the future, we hope to welcome volunteers back into the space.
I do not have any technical knowledge. How else can I get involved?
There are other opportunities for volunteers to get involved. For example, volunteers have supported the Admissions team with final interviews, helping build the next cohort at Ada. Additionally, other teams (e.g. Internship & Career Services team, Equity & Policy team) recruit volunteers to be panelists and/or support with other development sessions that benefit students. We encourage you to still apply and visit this website to learn more about Ada’s teams.Â
What is the Code of Conduct and why do I need to sign it?Â
The Code of Conduct ensures that everyone we bring into the Ada community is aware of our values, mission and what is expected of volunteers. We are mindful and intentional about who will be working with students from diverse backgrounds and want to create a fulfilling, encouraging, and supportive environment.
I am a cis-het white man in tech. Is it okay if I volunteer?
Of course! Your experience and career path, while it may look different than a BIPOC person’s journey, can provide valuable insight to students. Your experience can contribute to preparing students for entering the tech industry.
How can I best support students as a mentor?
While mentoring tends to naturally evolve to fit what the student/intern needs, we emphasize that mentors are a resource and NOT an obligation. Some common topics you may discuss include questions or concerns specific to industry, networking opportunities, and how to navigate a new team. You might also talk about freelancing or how to determine if you prefer front end or back end development. Other mentors share their journey into tech from a non-traditional background or delve into more identity-based conversations. Overall, we encourage students to guide their work with their mentor and prompt both parties to collaborate.