Hello all,
For others' background I am a software engineer at a FAANG company with almost 3 years of experience. I've gotten quite bored of my job and am interested in transitioning to machine learning. I started looking into bootcamps and was recommended Interview Kickstart by someone. In particular they have a program called SwitchUp, which is targeted towards people that want to make a transition to another career. And I'm particularly interested in the ML one.
To summarize the course:

The Material

• Purports to get you knowledgeable in machine learning from scratch, focusing on topics that will be relevant to ML work in FAANG+ companies
• Hands-on assignments
• Support and mentorship from hiring managers, ex-professors, engineers, etc.
• Placement assistance, like resume/LinkedIn prep, mock interviews, etc
• Negotiation support

See the screenshots from their webinar that I attached for some more detail
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https://preview.redd.it/jblqhw57u94b1.jpg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe78d5082c3548f8db5e7be996af373ac4634a64
https://preview.redd.it/m477i5c9u94b1.jpg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60647ba3df8eb9f504ef4efaeb3ffdca5f44f002
https://preview.redd.it/16k0a3nbu94b1.jpg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4cf7284429546f509d6168579d49d7eb30f46bf4

Student expectations:

This course is designed for working professionals, with ~15 hours of time to dedicate a week. Though you can go at a slowefaster pace per your own discretion.

The cost:

$12k if paying upfront (though there's a promo for $9k right now), with 50% money back guarantee.
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Here is a link to a Google doc with much more detail for those that are interested
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Reviews

Here are the reviews for Interview Kickstart in general:
Yelp
CourseReport
As you can see, the reviews are quite mixed.
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My ask

Do others think that this course would be worth it?
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My own take is the following:
I think I can learn most of the material by myself as there are tons of great resources out there. But I think most of the value would come from the interview/placement assistance resources. If the course lands me a job even a month or two earlier or helps me get a better offer, then it's worth it in my opinion.
Thanks in advance!

Today ChatGPT read 1128 top news stories and gave 8 of them a significance score over 7.
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https://preview.redd.it/hbg05jklhe4b1.png?width=1292&format=png&auto=webp&s=b45d535e02fc5c06eefd6c148f51884161da2bf3
After removing duplicates and repeats, here is today’s significant news:
[8.6] UN climate official warns world at "tipping point" in climate crisis — The Guardian
The world is at a "tipping point" in the climate crisis that requires all countries to put aside their national interests to fight for the common good, the UN's top climate official has warned. Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, pointed to recent findings from scientists that temperatures were likely to exceed the threshold of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels within the next five years. Stiell was addressing representatives from nearly 200 countries gathered in Bonn, the UN's climate headquarters, to discuss how to forge a "course correction" that would put the world on track to meet the aspirations of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and limit global heating to 1.5C.
[7.5] Binance faces investor exodus following SEC lawsuit, crypto value impacted — Reuters
Investors have withdrawn approximately $790 million from cryptocurrency exchange Binance, in the last 24 hours, following a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC accuses Binance of evading U.S. laws through deceptive practices, such as inflating trading volumes and diverting customer funds. Binance, in response, insists it has cooperated with the SEC and will defend its platform vigorously. This legal action, coupled with previous lawsuits, contributes to a shaky period for Binance and has had a noticeable effect on the value of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Binance's own BNB.
[7.4] Mycorrhizal fungi play larger role in carbon storage than previously thought — The Conversation
New research suggests that mycorrhizal fungi, which live in symbiosis with plants, could play a significant role in storing carbon, helping to offset carbon emissions. The fungiform vast underground networks, exchanging nutrients and water for carbon-rich sugars from plants. It's estimated that these fungi absorb around 36% of the world’s annual carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Although the fungi also naturally release some carbon back into the atmosphere, their net contribution to soil carbon storage is substantial. Despite the lack of data from certain ecosystems and regions, the findings indicate the importance of these fungal networks in the carbon cycle. Preserving these networks, particularly in the face of deforestation and land-clearing, could offer an additional avenue for tackling climate change.
[7.4] Rich industrialized countries could owe $170tn in climate reparations by 2050 — The Guardian
A new study published in the journal Nature Sustainability has calculated that rich industrialised countries responsible for excessive levels of greenhouse gas emissions could be liable to pay $170tn in climate reparations by 2050 to ensure targets to curtail climate breakdown are met. The proposed compensation, which amounts to almost $6tn annually, would be paid to historically low-polluting developing countries that must transition away from fossil fuels despite not having yet used their “fair share” of the global carbon budget. The compensation system is based on the idea that the atmosphere is a commons, a natural resource for everyone which has not been used equitably.
[7.4] Canada faces unprecedented wildfire season — Toronto Star
Canada is facing an unprecedented wildfire season, with officials warning that by the end of August, the country could have more scorched forest than ever before. The situation is the result of a convergence of factors, including climate change, which is delivering conditions conducive to more frequent and severe wildfires, and large-scale weather patterns that are fanning the flames. There are significant fires burning in every single province and territory. Already this year, there have been 2,214 wildfires that have blackened more than 3.3 million hectares of Canadian wildland, more than five million football fields’ worth.
[7.2] Dam destruction in Ukraine prompts mass evacuations and potential large-scale devastation — CNN
The Nova Kakhova dam on the Dnipro River in Kherson, southern Ukraine, was destroyed, prompting mass evacuations and fears of large-scale devastation. Ukraine accused Moscow’s forces of committing an act of “ecocide.” The critical dam spans the Dnipro River, a major waterway running through southeastern Ukraine, and there are multiple towns and cities downstream, including Kherson, a city of some 300,000 people before Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour. The dam is a critical piece of infrastructure, holding around 18 cubic kilometres in the Kakhovka Reservoir, about equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah. It also supplies water for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which lies upstream and is also under Russian control.
[7.1] Reserve Bank of Australia raises interest rates to 11-year high to tackle inflation — news.com.au
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has raised interest rates to an 11-year high of 4.10%, up 0.25 percentage points, in a bid to tackle inflation. The move means that the average borrower with a $500,000 home loan could now be paying $1,134, or 49%, more a month. Economists were split on whether the RBA would raise rates, with some citing the decision to lift the minimum wage as a cause for concern. The RBA's governor, Philip Lowe, defended the increases at a parliamentary hearing last week.
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