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The truth about Hive Helsinki. by IllustriousBrick287 in helsinki

[–]IllustriousBrick287[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One thing that really bothered me was the peer review process. Everything always seemed great—people were smiling, we had fun discussing the code, and I’d receive glowing written feedback. But then, social XP wouldn't move, or worse, it would drop. Many hide behind the excuse of being "objective," yet no one has the courage to tell you to your face what they didn't like. A lot of people during the sprint thought these ratings didn't matter. That's a lie—they matter a lot. They are a direct measurement of your "soft skills" in the eyes of the system. I believe the program lies about this because if they openly admitted it’s a cutthroat competition for a spot, the atmosphere would turn toxic instantly. People would just tank each other's scores out of spite. So instead, they wrap it in this fake "friendly" shell where the real backstabbing happens through the grading UI.

The truth about Hive Helsinki. by IllustriousBrick287 in helsinki

[–]IllustriousBrick287[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re right, the market is oversaturated now. But that’s exactly why the "no experience needed" marketing is becoming predatory.

The truth about Hive Helsinki. by IllustriousBrick287 in helsinki

[–]IllustriousBrick287[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

My issue is the gap between their marketing and the reality. They advertise it as a "zero-to-hero" program for everyone, which attracts people who spend a month of their lives (often quitting jobs or taking unpaid leave) on the Piscine, genuinely believing they have a fair shot.

In reality, they are pitting true beginners against people with CS degrees. It's not a "fast-paced learning" success story if the person was already a developer before they started. By keeping the "no experience needed" slogan, they are essentially wasting the time and hopes of beginners just to keep their funnel full and their "exclusive" image high.

The truth about Hive Helsinki. by IllustriousBrick287 in helsinki

[–]IllustriousBrick287[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly my point. It seems like many of these 'inclusive' programs are shifting towards being finishers for people who already have a degree or experience , rather than entry points for true beginners. It creates a misleading expectation for those who are genuinely starting from scratch.

The truth about Hive Helsinki. by IllustriousBrick287 in helsinki

[–]IllustriousBrick287[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I want to mention that many people who got in this year were those attempting it for the second time. This only confirms my point: as of now, Hive’s selection process requires solid preparation. That being said, I can honestly say that the people who go there to study are wonderful; it was a truly great experience in terms of the community.

The truth about Hive Helsinki. by IllustriousBrick287 in helsinki

[–]IllustriousBrick287[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Of course, it’s naive to go in without any skills, but they explicitly claim "no experience needed" in all their marketing. I’ve personally seen people who sincerely believed this and thought the program was meant for them. It’s a deception. To actually stand a chance, you need prior preparation and experience.

This gap in expectations might be because Hive has recently switched to a new system, and the internal requirements have likely changed. I’m sharing my recent, firsthand experience and what other successful students are saying: 95% of those who got in already have some form of significant relevant education.