[coffeecodecouch]

    We shouldn't have named our company "Hacker School."
    Both parts of our name have caused us trouble: Hacker
    because so many people take it to mean a person who
    breaks into computers rather than a clever programmer.

Why would that matter? Everyone who's interested in Hacker School is a hacker and understands the true meaning of the word.

[nicholasjbs]

That was initially our assumption, but we've learned that there are some people who are interested in (and ultimately great fits for) Hacker School who don't primarily interpret the word as we do.

Also, while most people who come to Hacker School understand our use of hacker, many of their families and friends don't. And that's caused Hacker Schoolers a surprising amount of annoyance ("What do you mean you're quitting your job and moving to New York for Hacker School?!")

[coffeecodecouch]

Sorry for the late reply, I was temperately banned after my comment got downvoted twice.

> Also, while most people who come to Hacker School understand our use of hacker, many of their families and friends don't. And that's caused Hacker Schoolers a surprising amount of annoyance ("What do you mean you're quitting your job and moving to New York for Hacker School?!")

That's a really great point, I hadn't though of that. I'm still glad you chose that name though, if you hadn't I probably wouldn't have been interested enough to read through your website and ultimately decide to apply in the future.

If you were to re-make Hacker School with the knowledge you have now, what would you name it?

[nicholasjbs]

I don't know. We've considered a number of names but haven't found one we really like. We're open to suggestions :)

[dragonwriter]

> Why would that matter? Everyone who's interested in Hacker School is a hacker and understands the true meaning of the word.

No, not everyone who is a hacker (in the clever programmer sense) understands the word primarily in that sense. And, furthermore, not everyone who would be interested in what Hacker School offers is already a hacker (in the sense at issue), though presumably going to Hacker School would make it more likely that they would be.