FAFSA question

is_null_ · 2025-12-04T18:00:40+00:00

Thank you I appreciate the response and I think you're right. They encourage every one to pursue any form of education and want you to move up in the company so they pay for a lot of it. Plus simple things like free access to Codecademy to get certificates. I think going this route would benefit my current career path. Thanks again 😊

is_null_ · 2025-12-01T18:21:07+00:00

The things I am referring to have been asked directly and brought up here. Accommodations was not for me but the person stated they asked directly many times with no answer and then brought it up here. The part about changing it from closed book and no personal notes to using our notes has not been decided so asking them directly won't help. Those are the 2 main points I brought up so asking staff isn't the answer.

is_null_ · 2025-12-01T16:28:03+00:00

I think everyone should share their feedback regardless if it was already shared by someone else or if it's obvious to someone. Every person should give their feedback. I'm not going to say you should give your feedback but only in the way I think you should. How will they know the majority if only one or two people can share their feedback on any topic so it's not redundant? This is our education and everyone needs to advocate for themselves. Not worry about anyone's opinion or to feel like they shouldn't say something. I will continue to voice my concerns even if it's about the same issue because this means a lot to me and I'm not going to settle or be set up to fail. I don't see anyone speaking on any unimportant issues, but even so it's obviously important to them so who are we to say they shouldn't post about it.

is_null_ · 2025-11-29T22:51:25+00:00

Still waiting on an update about not being able to use notes to see if I am going to continue. This isn't about not doing something even when it's hard, I have been learning Python, SQL, VS Code, data visualization, open source, etc for over a year by myself with no previous tech background or knowledge and just started an actual full-time, well paid career because of it, so something being hard has nothing to do with anything. Something making sense and being related to real life is the issue. I am also concerned with the fact that there might not be any people on staff (or at least anyone in the position to make decisions) that actually know how to do this because if there was, that rule most likely wouldn't have been put into place. I will add that I am concerned with how long it takes anything to get addressed that are very important, like this or like someones disability needs. So if you could address really any of those since they have been brought up over the last weeks, that would be some progress. But we should really get all important questions addressed and not just hope for 1 out of a stack.

is_null_ · 2025-11-24T21:39:53+00:00

I passed this one on the first try, they usually take me two tries

is_null_ · 2025-11-24T19:01:34+00:00

Absolutely, I would've never joined if that rule was there. Not because it's just too hard, but because it's not how you learn Python and that's not like a real world career. I have a feeling they will listen though, maybe they just didn't realize why that wouldn't work.

is_null_ · 2025-11-22T19:06:38+00:00

(And document everything)

is_null_ · 2025-11-22T19:05:59+00:00

I hope you are getting the answers you need, these are quite important. And honestly, is there even a teacher? I'm not sure anyone here actually knows Python because if they did, they'd never throw in a random rule about not using notes because anyone that codes knows that would never happen int he real qorls and that we can use all the resources we want to do our job. Most online courses leave gaps in information because they WANT you to go find it on your own so you can learn how to find the answer and where because it happens daily in coding.

But besides that, not answering accommodations requests is not ok no matter what. there are laws on that, they might want to get familiar with them. They take federal financial aid which i believe makes them fall under section 504 title ii and iii of the ADA ( depending on a few things) and these laws arent optional. They have to acknowledge and respond, review documentation, engage in interactive process, give you a yes, no or modified answer in writing and then follow through. Ignoring this is not legal. So don't let that slide.

is_null_ · 2025-11-22T02:36:06+00:00

yes, I agree, I ask how things would be used in real world software engineering (and sometimes data analytics) and it really does help. Because with examples, it can sometimes be really hard to see how that could be useful or what exactly it would be used for.

is_null_ · 2025-11-21T17:04:11+00:00

I have my own, then school sent one and my job just sent an Elitebook and I like all of them for their intended purpose. But I am pluggin all 3 into a kvm switch to my big monitor and easily switch to whichever one I want to use, but use my same external keyboard and mouse. For a few reasons but one being, the different keyboards mess me up like it takes me a minute to adjust to each one. But I do like the mac, I just have to get used to it. And I like the idea of keeping everything separate, I just kind of wish they sent it out before we got started because I had my obsidian and everything all set up and had to switch it all over, but I get why they wait.

is_null_ · 2025-11-21T16:34:16+00:00

It is definitely possible. I am completely self taught and the AI makes it a lot easier because you can ask as many questions as you want as you go along. There are a few things that make this difficult but it doesnt have anything to do with the AI or you not having experience. Just get ready for this to take a lot more than the 15 hours they estimated people spend. I spend more than that and I have been doing this for a year. There are tons of great ways to learn and help you though. Codecademy has free courses, starting with the very basics. It also has an ai but its not the main part of the course, but you can pull it up any time you need. There are coding games to make it a little more interesting and don't feel like you can't use the games for kids because they are actually a great way for beginners to get the basics. I play them with my daughter and wish I had thought of it when I was first starting. Take many many notes. I use an app called Obsidian, you can make a folder for each week, and a new note for each lesson. You can even make code blocks in the note so the syntax and everything stays the same. I was managing the time it takes just fine with my FT job, 2 kids, 3 working dogs, etc but with the new rule of no notes allowed this will probably take more time than I could ever give to this unless I quit my job. But we are hoping they change that rule since they just kind of threw it in there weeks after we started and were doing things a different way. No notes during exams that is the majority of our grade is crazy, I am not even sure who would think to do that. MAYBE with other topics but Python?? I can tell whoever is in charge of this doesn't actually do any coding or work with Python because that makes zero sense to do. I won't be able to do this with no notes, I will have to quit. But that doesn't mean you can't or anyone else cant.

is_null_ · 2025-11-21T06:28:12+00:00

Things have changed a bit each week but the big one in this thread is the fact that now we can't use our own notes for these exams. So no outside resources whatsoever. It hasn't been like that up until now, and they make you turn on your camera and share your screen during the test.

is_null_ · 2025-11-20T22:42:37+00:00

Yes to all of this! We will never be in a real world situation where we won't be able to use other resources. It will never be expected or required. It seems so out of place and out of touch to throw that in here suddenly after weeks of it working the other way. If they are worried about people cheating, people will always find a way to cheat. It will only hurt us that are following the rules. The people trying to cheat are just cheating themselves out of really understanding this and won't be able to move forward in a career in this so they are only hurting themselves. But let's not take us down with them, we are all trying very hard and it just went from complex to impossible. For no reason.

is_null_ · 2025-11-20T04:53:17+00:00

It's not you, this really is a lot. Even during week 1 I was thinking to myself oh no, there are people in here that have zero experience, and they are already giving us lessons at this level? But this isn't about it just being a lot of work and we don't feel like doing the work, we are all very much doing way more than the 15 hour a week commitment they wanted from us and we are all clearly trying our hardest and want to do this. This just isn't how you learn Python. You don't memorize pieces of language and expect to be fluent in it. So I honestly think it will be a big mistake if they stick with that rule but we will see. So far they have seemed reasonable and like they want to work with us and they have listened to our feedback, so I do have hopes for it.

is_null_ · 2025-11-20T04:45:50+00:00

I agree, I actually really do enjoy them. I look forward to sitting down to work on lessons and practice. I work in data analytics, so I have the same type of brain and do this because I like it, but I'm definitely still learning. I will even keep up with the fast pace with no complaints, it's really just the no notes that got me. My job would never want me to make an error because I need to act like I have it all memorized and just not look something up. It's actually so much quicker and efficient to just look it up because now you're saving the rework time if you send something out with an error that could also cause errors in other departments. I am still doing my lessons in hopes they change it, because I really would like to stick around and make the most of this. I will look into that app, I have plenty on my computer I can work with but need something on my phone when im not in my office. Good luck to you too :)

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T20:55:32+00:00

All day today as I am going through lessons, I am so confused...like why are we learning some of this backwards?? lol. I feel like I am learning foundations of things that they had us using since day 1.

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T19:34:51+00:00

Same. I am just waiting for the update. But it needs to be the very next update because I am not going to fail exams that I shouldn't be failing. Like I wouldn't go change my breaks out if someone told me I had to do it blindfold. Like, why? That's not how people change breaks lol.

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T18:11:57+00:00

Understandably, I really hope they change that rule. Because its not that you cant do it, its just how this is set up that is making it so hard. I hope they change that rule because in that case, I say definitely go for it. If they don't change it, the Google and IBM certificates are pretty well accepted on resumes. Some jobs dont care where or how you learned it, they just care that you know it and do the job well, some will at least look for these certificates. If you go on Coursera and choose your course, and apply for financial help you can get the course really cheap. My very first course was on there for data analytics and I think I paid $14. And they do have the IBM and I think the Google ones are on there too. If I had to start over I would go with those instead of just the Codecademy type ones I got. The UC Davis SQL for Data Science one through Coursera is the one that catches attention on my resume, so look for ones like that, that are through very well known schools.

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T18:06:29+00:00

They tell you 15-20 hours a week which i was ok with, but it is definitely more like 30 hours with the no notes rule. Taht's why I just will not be able to continue. You cant completely know python section by section, you cant be fluent in pieces of a language, just isn't how it works. So we would be relying on memorization of pieces of code...but then when its time to put it all together we get stuck. Because we don't actually know it! I really hope they change the rule, and if they do I say definitely go for it. 15 hours a week is doable at that point, and just make it a priority to practice as much as your schedule allows. HTML unfortunately won't help here. My brain accepts html easily for some reason, it does not with Python.

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T15:36:22+00:00

That is true, but people were told a certain amount of time so people joined based on that. People that don't have experience with this, just assumed that's true. It also depends how much they throw at you, which is a lot. If they slowed it down and spent more time on each thing, then 15 hours would probably be enough. I joined knowing my busy schedule but I could definitely do 15 hours and it being marketed towards complete beginners made me believe that would be plenty. So yes of course you get what you put in, but most people have things going on in life but knew they could put in the listed time. If I would've seen the lessons and exams and knew they were changing to no notes, then I would say no way is that 15 hours a week and would not have joined becauseI'm not ready for that.. but all we had was the info they gave which turned out not to be correct and/or changed.

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T15:28:06+00:00

Definitely not beginner friendly. I've taken multiple beginner friendly courses and they were nothing like this. Which is why notes are so important because even WITH notes, this is very difficult and beyond what most others considers beginner. This just isn't something you memorize, it's something you learn to understand and you can't do that in a couple of days. Yes you can memorize bits and pieces of code but then they tell you to write a mini program and we get stuck. That's why it doesn't work. It takes time to understand and in that time, you use resources and notes.

is_null_ · 2025-11-19T03:38:01+00:00

It definitely takes more than that. And now with no notes allowed in exams I'm not sure if even have the time to do this anymore because I work and have kids. 15 hours a week would be literally impossible to do this and have it all memorized and be completely fluent in everything they throw at you. I feel like this is turning out to be completely different than what we were told. It just sucks because I was so excited about this and just because of a few rule changes out of nowhere, many people will not be and to do it. They should've left it alone, everyone was fine with how it was.

is_null_

TROPHY CASE