ARE Bootcamp Reviews

5 Rating 25 Reviews

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About Young Architect:

Young Architect began collecting customer reviews on Reviews.io in June 2025.

About Young Architect:

Since 2013, we've helped over 20,000 emerging architects on their path to licensure. Through our coaching and online programs, we've created 200+ hours of video content and 1,000+ practice questions, designed to support your success.

Our flagship program, the ARE Boot Camp, offers an innovative approach to preparing for the ARE:

Learn exactly what to study, when to study it, and how to align your preparation with NCARB’s objectives. It’s a method found nowhere else, and a big reason why Young Architect continues to be a leader in the ARE test-prep industry.

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Kern Grimshaw

Verified Reviewer

“I would like to show my appreciation and gratitude to Michael and the entire Young Architect team. If it’s one take away from being apart of this initial bootcamp, I would say it’s laying the foundation. The support through encouragement and resources needs has pushed me to keep going. Aside from having the drive and wanted to complete this journey, ARE Bootcamp has been the game changer throughout the process. Thus far, I have completed PCM, PJM, and CE exams with the past 6 months. The journey continues on to the second half. Thank you again. I would highly recommend Young Architect if you are either looking for the initial push to starting, or if you are working towards the completing your exams.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 days ago

“The ARE Bootcamp was hands-down one of the most effective and empowering experiences I’ve had in my exam journey. It’s a 10-week, high-impact program packed with a weekly syllabus, hundreds of curated study resources, and a clear structure that took all the guesswork out of my studying. Before I joined Bootcamp, I wasted a lot of time spinning my wheels trying to figure out what to study. I loved that Bootcamp gave me weekly priority lists and a syllabus that built on itself over the ten weeks. The syllabus sequencing and approach kept me focused, organized, and constantly moving forward. I always knew exactly what I should be working on, and that kind of structure is invaluable when preparing for something as intense as the AREs. The real game changer to my studying and learning was Bootcamp's meet-ups. These meetings are held almost-daily, and are led by fellow bootcampers, who are learning together and teaching the matrerial to each other. It created an incredible sense of community and collaboration. Learning from each other, hearing different perspectives, and reviewing key concepts in a group setting made the material stick in a way that solo studying never did. I didn’t just memorize info, I actually understood and learned the material. By the time exam day came, I felt prepared, confident, and able to recall what I’d learned without second guessing myself. The Bootcamp helped me develop not just knowledge, but this confidence I didn't have before. It’s worth every penny and then some. If you’re serious about passing and want to feel supported every step of the way, this is the program you’ve been looking for.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 days ago

Saipriya Rao

Verified Reviewer

“I was really frustrated after failing the PCM exam. It felt like I was spinning my wheels without making progress. Then I discovered YA, and it was a total game changer for me. The platform was streamlined, the practice questions were exactly what I needed, and for the first time, I could focus on what truly mattered for the exam. That clarity led me to join the YA boot camp. I passed PCM right away after that and connected with an amazing group of people in the boot camp—many of us were in the same boat, struggling to get through the exams. Some of us made it through, while others had to pause their journeys due to life circumstances. But the community remains strong, and even after two years, YA continues to share all the materials with me. Now, I'm ready to move forward and finish what I started and I'm grateful I still have access to the support and resources I need. I'm ready—and excited—to reach the end of this journey.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 days ago

Jeff Addison

Verified Reviewer

“As someone who struggled to find the right material to pass the ARE exam and stay motivated after being beaten down by failure, if you are willing to apply yourself weekly this Bootcamp is the way to success. Mike, his team, and fellow bootcampers motivated me and straighted out my prioritioes from the beginning. It is not just about passing the tests, its about beinga competent professional that can confidently navigate the vast field of architectural practice that we all enjoy. This is not a quick fix, you must do the work and crosstrain. This bootcamp will navigate you through the process. Put in the work and reap the results of success. Thank you Mike, Lorenzo and Team!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 days ago

Aaron Crandall

Verified Reviewer

“I passed my Pro-Practice NCARB A.R.E. with the help of Michael Riscica & ‘The Young Architect’s Bootcamp’. Before signing up for Y/A I purchased other, online, study resources that all but promised exam success. Unfortunately that was not my experience. My 1st A.R.E. experience left me feeling as though 1/3 of the material I saw on test day was not covered in other study companies programs. Young Architect’s Bootcamp gave me the boost I needed to; restart studying, find a community of Professional Peers, reduce test anxiety, & pass the A.R.E.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 5 days ago

“Joining the Young Architect Academy - ARE Bootcamp was the best decision I have made for my ARE journey. Mike and his team make this experience incredibly beneficial. All the materials, support, and guidance in the ARE Bootcamp make the difficult ARE process more manageable. Becoming part of the community and studying with other supportive people who are on the same path of licensure was the greatest gift to achieve my goal. The ARE Bootcamp's objective is not only to help people pass their ARE exams; it is also to make better and more knowledgeable future architects. I am extremely grateful to the Young Architect Academy - ARE Bootcamp for all the lessons, training, and support!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 days ago

Bradley Rubenstein

Verified Reviewer

“I'll be honest - I was pretty stubborn when I first heard about ARE Bootcamp. Mike had done a lecture at my architecture school, and I followed Young Architect on Instagram and saw the Bootcamp posts. I thought I could figure it out on my own, you know? I tried studying solo after graduating, thought I was on the right track, but I kept failing exams. One day I reached out through the chat on YoungArchitect.com, and less than 10 minutes later, I had Mike on the phone. He basically told me "...we're gonna start over, we're gonna have a reset." There was one slot left in the next Bootcamp - 10pm on a Sunday - and I jumped on it. Best decision I ever made. I had only taken Technical Exams before and kept failing, but starting fresh with Pro Practice in Bootcamp changed everything. The Meetups were the missing link for me. It's real people learning together, teaching each other, and everyone feeding off each other's strengths. You go into a meetup knowing nothing about some topics and leave with a better understanding than you thought possible. After Bootcamp, I passed four in a row. Four in a row! all three pro Practice on the first try, and then PA which was the first exam I ever took. When it came time for Technical exams, it was a no-brainer to sign up for Technical Bootcamp. I knew the system worked. The most valuable thing I learned was that it's OK to fail and it's OK to take a break. Around my third exam, work got really crazy and I had to take a two-month break from studying. I thought I was doomed, but when I came back, the community was still there. I picked up right where I left off and passed that exam I thought was impossible. What makes Bootcamp special is that it's not just 10 weeks - it's forever. The friendships I made, the study groups that continued long after bootcamp ended, the support system that's always there when life gets in the way. We're all texting each other, helping each other through the tough spots, celebrating every win together. I started with Young Architect in April 2022, and I'm now a Registered Architect in New York State as of January 2025. It took almost three years, but Mike and the Bootcamp community were with me every step of the way. This program doesn't just help you pass exams - it makes you a better professional and gives you lifelong connections in the architecture community. If you're on the fence about joining, don't be stubborn like I was. You'll regret not joining sooner, trust me.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 1 week ago

“So far the bootcamp has been nothing short of amazing. The lessons that are given during the bootcamp, paired with the study sessions that happen almost everyday, allow for lessons to be reinforced in my mind and that helps me out with stiching everything together and have a better understanding for the tests. I have been able to keep a constant study schedule which has also helped me alot. I think the makers of the bootcamp know that is a challange and activly tro to make the curriculum to overcome that challenge.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 1 week ago