Portnov Computer School

Guys, this is a life changer place. They give you rods and teach you how to catch a fish! The rest is up to You!
All you need is commitment, hard work and it will definitely pay off in a very short period of time.
Along with your dream coming true, you will find yourself surrounded by interesting people; Mikhail (owner) is very smart, has a great entrepreneurial skills and along with the subject you will learn how to sell yourself, which is important in today’s competitive environment.
Sofia (director of operations) is extremely helpful with internship placement, operational workflow and she is very personable.
Alex (networking instructor and head of project) is very knowledgeable, super friendly and motivating.
I don’t want to miss anybody, all of them are really good and I just enjoyed their classes before significant turning point of my career. I found my dream job in almost a heartbeat after graduating! Keep up the awesome work!

Notice: the following may sound like someone paid me to write this review. I promise they didn’t. I’m just that excited about Portnov Computer School; so excited, in fact, I have already told my friends as well as 5+ complete strangers who I felt I needed to make aware of this wonderful step up in life.
It seems today our country’s most renowned universities are selling a dream with less and less reality to back it up. At the least, this has been my personal experience, but I think we all know a few BA graduates working at Starbucks and similar. University filled me up with interesting ideas, and even taught me valuable ways of thinking, but when it came to putting those thoughts to use in service to others, they provided only one solution: spend thousands and thousands more on a Masters or PhD to become an underpaid Professor like them. That’s a high-​risk financial proposition (even though our society still presents college as the safest road to financial stability), and it just wasn’t for me.
Portnov Computer School has done all it promised and then some. I really appreciate that they have designed a program that cuts away all the unnecessary information and only provides the essentials for succeeding in the internship (which is guaranteed to all students). My internship, in turn, gave me all I needed to succeed in my first job. Isn’t that how ALL higher education should be? I think so.
Speaking of my first job, I absolutely love it! This is the kind of manager, work-​life balance, work environment, and level of pay I have been seeking for 7 years now, ever since completing my BA. And yet it’s perfectly clear to me that this is just the beginning. Also, even though I’m in my first year, my Manager relies on my expertise of certain parts of the software and even comes to me for my ‘sign-​off’ before he proceeds forward to the next phase. The most satisfying part of the job is seeing the final product and knowing that the app would have looked or behaved a little (or maybe a lot) differently if it wasn’t for your feedback (whether written or spoken).
As for QA as a career path, I love that every day is different and new. I’m constantly being challenged to stretch my mind and think in new ways, and I am surrounded by wonderfully encouraging people who love to support one another in learning. Oh, and there’s free food everyday, and I get payed to play ping pong on an almost weekly basis!
Now, people who attend Portnov Computer School come from every walk of life (technical and non-​technical), but I should also mention that I was an Anthropology/​Psychology major in University, which means I did NOTHING with computers in school (except for my non-​programming computer class in 6^th grade). It turns out that Anthro, Psychology, as well as any Humanities major is useful for a career in QA because at the end of the day, the quality of a mobile app or web application is about the human on the other end. Often, I see the QA Engineer as an Advocate for the end user, so it’s good to have a sense of how people think, an understanding of cultural differences, and overall cultural awareness. Furthermore, even though several QA get away with less than quality written English, it helps if you can write a report with proper grammar and without spelling errors (it will set you apart). If written English is not a strength for you, there are other ways to set yourself apart. Knowing a second language is extremely valuable to QA departments because they have customers all over the world. Programming skills set one apart as well, but they are not necessary.
My final word of advice is that if you’re interested in the program but need more info before making a decision, go to their website and email them. Ask specifically for when the next class starts. The first day of class is free and they go through everything you’ll need to make your decision. There is also plenty of time to ask questions.

I studied here, and I like the school very much. It is great, and unique in several aspects.
First, it is reliable and trustworthy. You can be sure that nobody will try to cheat you there. Portnov and his staff do even more than they actually agree initially. If they have a way to do something they can to help you, they’ll do that, sometimes in their own time, not paid. You can rely on them, just make sure you also keep to your side of agreement.
Second, their experience and professional level is surprisingly high. I was taught by the people that actually work at solid technical positions in the well-​known companies of the Bay, who at the same time have ability and willingness to teach.
Third, the school (besides the professional subjects) actually teaches you how to find and get a job. Not the smart ass advises where you should boast and behave like you are the best, and mask some weird advantages when you’re asked about weaknesses — but actual practical advise, backed with years of experience and common sense (which is rare in this field :)).
Fourth, the school staff really cares about you. Yes they do. Not that they come and do for you all you have to do yourself. They really want you to be able to become independent. And if you want to refresh your knowledge, you can come back and take same courses again free!
So, the school provides you with information, equipment and opportunities. It’s up to you to use them right.
I personally wasn’t the brightest student and intern, but still was able to get what I needed from them — professional knowledge, practical advises, internship experience, as well as useful tips for the job search. Now I work full time at a great company, and I’m sure that this is substantially thanks to Portnov school.

I am a well seasoned Senior QA. I have been in the Software testing game for over 10 years. I needed to upgrade my skills to include more in-​depth knowledge of automation testing tools. This school employs highly regarded, professionals who are not just talking heads. These people have day jobs in the industry. These are industry leaders, experts and lettered professionals. The instructors are hands on and accurate. As for the owner of the school, he stakes his professional life on each graduate. Now, that is saying something! I respect and adore my instructors. Tough and through. Smart and friendly, even the ones who act gruff!
I give this school big props. It has earned my respect. I would say this is one of the best scholastic experiences I have ever had. They have taught me cutting edge techniques and time saving short cuts. If you are in the QA industry, you know that short cuts to create robust testing is priceless! I know I am getting the training that I need to stay competitive and marketable.
When I’m in class, I feel happy. That’s how damn good it is in class. I’m getting the training I need to continue my career as a Software QA. As for Sofia, all I can say is she is smart, sweet, kind and helpful. She is a true gem! I don’t want to forget Olga, who will hold your hand and listen to any self doubts you have. She is helpful and reassuring. She keeps the front office moving. Also, the tech support of Nikita. Anytime I had any technical issue that I could not resolve, Nikki was there to fix it.
Really, this school is a win-​win for both the student and our ever changing industry. Portnov is truly as good as it gets!