Cyber Your WayReviews of symposia.com

Where to even begin? I'm writing this review as one of the first few batches of enrolled students a year and seven months later & this is my experience. I enrolled in Symposia’s bootcamp (formerly known as Techpreneur's Club) in November 2023, having been drawn in by an interview with the company’s founder on the TechTual Chatter YouTube channel (which, as of writing this review, has since been removed), along with their polished social media marketing and promises of a clear path into cybersecurity. Like hundreds, if not thousands, of others, I was sold on the idea of receiving quality training, career support, and job placement assistance. Unfortunately, the reality was far from what was advertised. For a staggering $35,000—an amount that Symposia's marketing downplayed by presenting the fee as a "student loan," when in fact it is a personal loan—I expected rigorous instruction, personalized mentorship, and assistance with obtaining industry-recognized certifications throughout, if not by the end of the program. Instead, what I received was a loosely structured online program with content that could be easily found for free on platforms like YouTube or through tools like ChatGPT. They do not offer degrees and do not cover the cost of certifications, which are essential for breaking into the cybersecurity field. Symposia initially promoted itself as a GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance)-focused bootcamp, but the business model appeared to be more geared towards profit than education. In some instances, students were placed as unpaid interns with small companies Symposia partnered with, meaning their tuition essentially subsidized free labor. It is safe to deduce that my (and others') $35,000 helped fund the company’s growth and, by extension, the benefit of its leadership (the founder, the sitting CEO, those apart of the "founding team"). The so-called "mentorship" provided throughout the program was superficial at best. While they claim to assist with job placement, much of the effort is outsourced to a small overseas team who applies to LinkedIn EasyApply jobs on students' behalf using tools like Huntr. The assignments completed during the course are framed as part of your "portfolio," but without certifications or recognized experience, they carry little weight in the job market. The job placement support, one of their most heavily marketed promises, felt more like an afterthought. Once you sign the contract, which is heavily weighted in their favor, you’re essentially locked into the agreement. The loan structure defers payments for 18 months, which they use as a selling point, but you’re still on the hook for the full $35,000 regardless of the program’s outcome--job or no job. Perhaps most troubling is the demographic they target: individuals who are emotionally or financially vulnerable, often seeking a career change in hopes of a better life. The fact that the full cost of the program isn’t readily available or disclosed on their website is a red flag. Even more disheartening is learning that the cost for new students has since been significantly reduced compared to when I or others enrolled, despite the program offering virtually the same resources and course materials. There have been no new or already established partnerships, no offers/discounts for industry certification assistance, and no tangible improvement in the program’s structure that warranted a $35,000 price tag in the first place. What Symposia presents as a golden ticket to a better career is, in reality, an overpriced program that overpromises and underdelivers. If you're truly serious about breaking into cybersecurity, I strongly recommend doing thorough research. I, along with many others that've enrolled, am here to warn you: Do NOT let Symposia pressure you into enrolling in their program. Instead, explore more affordable and reputable resources, such as Gerald Auger’s Simply Cyber or Aaron Lang’s GRC Lab, both of which provide high-quality, accessible training. You do not need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to succeed in this field. Avoid falling for the marketing hype. Symposia is not worth the cost. There are better, more transparent, and far more effective ways to break into cybersecurity—at least within IT in general.

Didn’t even make it past the phone conversation with one of their representatives, this man was rude and asking me to make myself available on a date I wasn’t. And basically saying I pretty much did have my priorities together because I didn’t agree to cancel my plans to schedule another zoom meeting with the same man who never showed up for the first initial Zoom appointment we already had previously scheduled , I would never sign up with a company so unprofessional. This was the number he called me from (832) 225-3609) and after we had words I hung up and blocked them, they still called me back again today from a different number (832) 637-6432 which I answered and told him after that past conversation I wouldn’t dare be interested in anything with this business, so I’m blocking this number now as well.

I’m currently working in tech, specifically in software sales, and I landed this role through another program that was significantly more affordable and efficient than Symposia. It helped me get results quickly, which is something I can’t say about my experience with Symposia. To be honest, I’m frustrated with how much I paid for the curriculum, especially considering how little value I feel I received in return. The program did not meet my expectations in terms of support, outcomes, or relevance. In my current role, pursuing something in GRC no longer makes sense — I have a much stronger opportunity to earn over $100K in my current path than I would by pivoting. Unfortunately, it feels like I’m stuck choosing between continuing a course that doesn’t align with my goals or walking away and being left with the debt. Neither option feels fair or reasonable.

I enrolled in Symposia’s bootcamp in November 2023 with high expectations, given their promises of quality training and job placement support. Unfortunately, my experience did not align with those claims. For $35,000, I expected structured learning and hands-on mentorship that would enhance my career prospects. Instead, much of the material covered was information readily available through free resources or platforms like ChatGPT. Additionally, Symposia does not pay for any industry-recognized certifications. The biggest issue was job placement support—Symposia heavily markets the promise of a job at the end of the program, but in reality, they provide minimal guidance. The staff showed little investment in students’ success beyond collecting tuition. The career support felt like an afterthought rather than a real pathway to employment. For anyone considering this program, I strongly recommend researching alternative options.

This program is definitely not worth it. Took their training in 2023/2024 and within the 5 months thereabout that I was there, not one single person got a job that was posted. The bait of paying after you get a job makes it look like a good /legit deal. However, wether you get a job or not, you start paying once your grace period ends. Please do your proper research before committing to this company. PS: Be weary of the reviews. I thought I did proper research by going on linkedIn to verify the people that got a role. Turns out some of those people work for the company one way or another. PPS: Did you see any of the reviews on here mention that they evetually got a role??? By the way, they used to be called Techpreneurs and changed their name to Symposia in 2024.

If you’re reading this, chances are you either (1) came across Symposia’s social media ads (Instagram, TikTok) promoting an easy path into cybersecurity or (2) heard about someone landing a cybersecurity job after going through their bootcamp. Before you get swayed by glowing "5-star" reviews, you owe yourself full transparency and a critical look at what’s really being offered. As someone who completed their bootcamp, I can confidently say it is not worth your time, effort, or the staggering financial commitment they expect you to make. There are far superior, more affordable alternatives available if you take the time to research and engage with real cybersecurity professionals. Let’s talk about the price. It is arguably clear that Symposia's ads do not mention or talk about the cost of their bootcamp. The cost? $35,000 (plus fees). They frame it as a "no upfront cost" opportunity by encouraging you to take out a loan and assuring you that you won’t need to make payments for 18 months. But let’s be clear: getting into cybersecurity in 2025 does not need to cost you $35,000. Instead of locking yourself into a massive debt for an online bootcamp that only launched in 2023, consider free and well-structured resources from experts like Gerald Auger (Simple Cyber) and Aaron Lang (GRC Lab) on YouTube. With proper research and dedication, you can break into cybersecurity without an overpriced program that overpromises and underdelivers. Don't let Symposia's marketing hype dictate your career choice. Explore better options and make an informed decision.

I recently attempted to coordinate a meeting with the program's CEO and Directors, and unfortunately that has not been successful. Despite multiple attempts to arrange a suitable time, there was a lack of consistency in communication and scheduling. The primary issue was the inability to align on a mutually convenient time. Several proposed meeting times were completely incompatible with my availability, and when I expressed that, no effort was made to accommodate my schedule. Instead, it felt as though the responsibility was placed on me to rearrange my commitments, which is both unreasonable and unprofessional. This lack of consideration has not only wasted time but also created an impression that my availability or participation isn't truly valued. In the end, the inability to set up a simple meeting has been disappointing and has left me questioning the program's organizational effectiveness. This has been an ongoing experience, this is not the first time this has happened and it probably will not be the last.