How to Ace Your LaunchCode Application

The initial application collects: 

• Basic Information (personal info and your professional/education history)
• Program Preferences (choose your first and second choice)
• Weekly Planner (shows how you'll manage class and study time)
• Essay Questions (help us understand your readiness and motivation)

What Will Get You Automatically Rejected

❌ Previously graduated from LaunchCode
❌ H1B visa required
❌ Criminal record (varies by program/employer)
❌ Outside service area (except for eligible military applicants)
❌ Currently working in a coding role (does not apply to QA, PM, IT support, HelpDesk)

Why We Ask for Essays

• Helps us understand how you handle major life changes.
• Shows your preparation for a tech career.
• Gives you a chance to communicate any concerns about program participation.
• We also ask about your previous experience, including if you already have a job in tech
  Note: We limit enrollment to learners who are not currently in a job in tech in order to make more opportunities available for others trying to break in. 

What We Specifically Look For In Each Essay: 

Essay 1 (Accommodating a significant life change)

• Grit & Resilience: Show us that you took proactive steps to adapt. Strong responses describe how you created new habits and routines to navigate the change effectively. The best answers also highlight how you leveraged additional resources (like support systems, tools, or strategies) to make the transition smoother.
• Change Management: Clearly explain how the change impacted both you and others in your life. The strongest responses go beyond simply acknowledging the change—they also reflect on its broader effects and how your adjustments influenced those around you.
• Prioritization: Show us how you balanced your own needs with the needs of others before making decisions. The best responses demonstrate thoughtful planning that considers both immediate and long-term priorities.

Essay 2: (What actions have you taken to prepare for a career in tech?)

We want to understand what steps you've already taken toward a career in tech and how you see this course helping you grow.

• Passion: Show us that you understand how specific skills—like technical knowledge, professional skills, time management, or interview preparation—will help you succeed in a tech career. The strongest responses clearly connect at least two of these skills to future success.
• Communication: You must list at least three specific course elements AND explain how each one will personally or professionally benefit you. Simply listing course elements without explaining their impact is not enough—make sure to connect them to your growth and future success in tech. Exceptional answers will list more than three elements!
• Drive: Show us the concrete steps you've already taken toward a tech career. Strong responses mention at least two actions, like researching the field, speaking with tech professionals or LaunchCode alumni, coding independently, etc.
• If you’ve only taken one step, that’s okay—just be sure to clearly describe it. We’re looking for signs that you’re actively preparing for this transition, not just thinking about it.

Essay 3 (Previous participation with LaunchCode)

We want to ensure that you have not previously graduated from a LaunchCode course. If you have previously participated in but did not complete a LaunchCode course, we want to understand how this opportunity will be different from your last attempt.

Essay Structure & Best Practices

• 3 short-answer questions (max 150 words each).
• Be specific – provide clear examples and details.
• Use structured responses (STAR method where applicable):
  • Situation – Context of your experience
  • Task – Your role or challenge
  • Action – Steps you took
  • Result – Outcome of your actions

What Makes a Strong Response?

✅ Thoughtful & detailed answers

✅ Clear examples demonstrating readiness for change

✅ Evidence of career research & preparation

✅ Address potential challenges & solutions

Why It Matters

• LaunchCode programs require a significant time commitment.
• We evaluate how well you plan to balance class, study, and life responsibilities.
• Shows attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.

Planner Requirements

• Use Excel or Google Sheets to create a 7-day schedule with 30-minute blocks.
• Plot class times based on your first class choice 
• Label and color-code:
  • Class Time (Red) – Must be reserved, conflict-free and accurate 
  • Study Time (Blue) – Ensure it meets the required hours:
    • Full Time Software Development: 10+ hours/week
    • Part Time Software Development: 20+ hours/week
    • Data Analysis: 20+ hours/week
      
    • W+ Part Time Software Development: 10+ hours/week
• Include life activities (work, meals, family time, commute, etc.).
• Upload as a PDF (no XLSX or CSV files).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Missing or insufficient study time
❌ Missing or incorrect class times
❌ Overlapping commitments with class/study time
❌ No clear organization or structure

What to Expect

Covers

• Logical thinking
• Basic math & critical thinking
• Check out a 3-question sample test at https://hr.gs/LCSample
  

Time-Sensitive

• You must complete it within 14 days of submitting your initial application.
• Expect an email with the link within 1 hour of submitting your application (check spam/junk folders).
• If you don’t receive it within 24 hours, contact enrollment@launchcode.org.
• Once you have completed the assessment, you will receive a confirmation email that opens with “Hello, Thanks for completing the HackerRank Problem Solving Assessment as part of your LaunchCode application!” 

Best Practices

✅ Set aside a distraction-free 90-minute window.
✅ Use a reliable internet connection.
✅ Take your time – accuracy over speed!

Why We Use Willo

• Helps us understand how you think.
• Gives insight into your problem-solving approach.
• Provides a sense of your communication skills.

Process Overview

• 2 Questions
• Each response is capped at 2 minutes.
• If you are still talking at the 2-minute mark, your recording will stop so please make sure to be concise and finish your response within that time
• You can record multiple takes before submitting.
• Must be completed within 14 days of completing your application form and is released to you once you complete your Hackerrank evaluation.
• We recommend that you don’t delay Hackerrank, as it will result in a delay in releasing your Willo invitation and shorten the amount of time you have to complete it. Complete your Hackerrank within one week so that you have one remaining week to complete Willo. 

What We Specifically Look For In Each Video

Video 1 (Handling failure)

• We want to hear about a time you faced a setback, how you handled it, and what you learned.
• Grit: The best answers show that you actively worked through the challenge by using multiple strategies to persist. Strong responses include at least three specific strategies you used to keep going.
• Accountability: We’re looking for a clear explanation of how you addressed the failure and what steps you took to prevent it from happening again. The strongest responses go beyond just fixing the problem—they show awareness of how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
• Self-Reflection: The best responses demonstrate honest self-awareness by identifying the root cause of the failure, your role in it, and how it could have been prevented. We’re not looking for perfection—we want to see that you can learn and grow from mistakes.

Video 2 (Navigating and resolving conflict)

• We want to understand how you handle interpersonal challenges and work toward a resolution.
• Conflict Resolution: Strong responses describe a real conflict that ended in a compromise and include strategies for preventing similar issues in the future. Basic resolution tactics—like active listening, suggesting solutions, and getting buy-in from others—should be clearly explained.
• Communication Skills: We want to hear specific communication strategies you used. The best answers mention at least three strategies, such as setting expectations, communicating boundaries, asking clarifying questions, or following up. Avoid negative patterns like blaming, avoidance, or shutting down.
• Ownership: The strongest responses demonstrate self-awareness and empathy. A great answer identifies the root cause of the conflict, acknowledges your role, and considers the other person’s perspective. Blaming others or claiming you’ve never had a conflict won’t score well—we want to see how you approach challenges constructively.

Best Practices

✅ Find a quiet space with good lighting.

✅ Speak clearly and stay within the time limit.

✅ Use the STAR method for structured answers with good details.

✅ Plan at least 40 seconds per answer – avoid being too brief.