Hope someone can help me about husbands MCSE

[DuckynKY]

I am so depressed over this. I was led to this forum by accident, but maybe someone here can either point me to reality or make me feel better.

My husband is a wonderful man. We have 3 children together. I am a stay at home mom. We found out last year he had a form of arthritis, and was told his current job in the factory was going to continue to cause him trouble if he stayed there. So after actually very little comsideration, he went and talked to a school about becoming a MCSE. It sounded wonderful.

We took out $9,000 in loans to go to this school. Of course, not knowing how to "work the system" we got loans from Sallie Mae and Microsoft loan company. He has been attending this school for a year. It is not continuous, classes here and there. And he did make a job change in February, to working for a high speed internet company. Same pay as the factory though, as it is entry level.

Here is the depressing part. He is not close to getting his certifications. He tries, and it so smart when it comes to this. He works on a help desk and gets glowing reviews from not just his employer but customers as well. But he took one test and did not pass. He has all the books, studies and takes the simulated lab tests. Yet he has scheduled no more tests. A year ago when he started this, we assumed (maybe because they school led us to think this) that he would be a lot further than he is right now.

I just feel like this will never get any better. If we had only known a few things, we could have gone to a different school and maybe gotten some financial aid, which I do not think we can now because he borrowed the money already.

Someone either give me hope or shock me into reality. I feel so bad.

 

[phatcow]

Relistically, if you fail one test, it should be no cause for dispair. Which test did your husband take first, and what was the score he recieved?

Ideally, you should take the
70210 first.

 

[OutHouse]

not a big deal, a friend of mine failed the IIS test 4 times but passed nt workstation and server and win 98 on the first try and in the sameday.

in my honest opinion certifications are over rated if he knows his way around a network and can get the experience his pay scale will go up.

just dont put too much salt in the certs, they are great to have but not a necessiety.

 

[pioneer77]

Sorry to hear about the failed test. I know a few people who failed one or two tests but then went on to pass all 7 and get certified. He should do well if he's putting that much energy into it. Sad to hear about the classes and money. So many people don't realize taking the courses, while helpful, aren't a necessity to passing MCSE exams. 2-3 HCL compatible computers, a good bit of free time, and the training books are all one really needs. Nothing, and I repeat nothing, replaces hands on experience. Perhaps he just needs to break things more often. That's how all great sysadmins learn.

 

[Viperoni]

Don't worry about failing a puny little test.
Although they are kinda pricey, everybody usually fails one of two.
Reality is, is that the tests are pretty througouh (sp?), and worded kinda tricky, but they definetely are passable.
GL to you and your husband

 

[DuckynKY]

Thank you all so much for the encouragement - I have been getting so depressed from all of this, you have no idea.

As far as the money goes, I just wish we had waited and examined a little further. I am sure with his medical condition, we could have certainly qualified for some kind of financial aid or something. But we jumped into it, and I regret that.

He has also told me that at 37, he has almost forgotten how to study. He does not tell anyone else that, he fears they will think he is silly. Someone told him about a website (I think braindump?) that would assist him. He has been going there.

I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes, fearing that he is losing faith.

Thanks to everyone for your help - I truly feel a little better.

 

[CinderElmo]

Look at the brightside...with NO experience your husband was able to switch careers BIG-TIME and not suffer a pay cut. Very few people could do the same. Tell him to come here and chat and check out the tech support forums...good places to throw questions at people and learn the problems others are facing.

Check the details on the school your husband went through...many have guarantees that say you WILL pass the tests or you can keep going for more training/classes at the school. Individual results may vary, especially if it isn't a national chain of some sort. Some also let you take the tests as many times as you want at no cost until you pass...

I am not sure what they have been teaching him but ideally you should do the training for one test and then take that test. It shouldn't have been a year before he took his first one. Hopefully they didn't teach him all the courses and THEN have him go back and take the first test.

There are tons of sites with practice questions as well as excellent "cram" type books that should help in his test taking. As someone said earlier though, there is NO substitute for in-the-field experience. The combination of his recent schooling and the help desk should eventually yield passing test grades. Just have to be patient. At least now he knows what to expect on these tests.

Contrary to what people will tell you...this stuff ain't easy if you are a new recruit. It won't be easy but it will eventually come together. What test did he fail?

 

[Mday]

first of all, it's only a test, nothing to be worried about. from the looks of the reviews, it seems your hubby is a natural =)

anyway, he should take lots of practice tests.

also, with winxp on the horizon, microsoft is going to steer MCSE certs towards that new OS. so even if he does pass the overall w2k core tests, he may have to retake a winxp test to maintain certification.

what test(s) has he taken?

also, work experience is better than paper certifications =) your husband working and getting good reviews is a great thing =)

 

[Mday]

as for the arthritis, new treatments make living with it much easier than 10 years ago. =)

duckynky, cheer up, and don't be depressed. =)

 

[DuckynKY]

He took the 70-210 test.

I just love him so much, I hate to see him lose faith.

As far as the school, he can take the classes all he needs to until he passes the tests.

And your good thoughts are appreciated. I just don't know who else to ask.

 

[IJump]

I have been working with networks in one way or another for eight years. I am sure that if I ever tried to take the MCSE tests, I would fail at least one the first time. I don't know too many people that haven't failed at least one on the way to becoming certified. At least now he knows what to expect from first hand experience.

He could also try the Network+ exam by CompTIA. www.comptia.org. That is a good "Entry Level" networking certification. He could pass that and build some confidence.

 

[ride525]

<< He has also told me that at 37, he has almost forgotten how to study. >>



Hey, I got a Masters Degree in economics at age 48 ! Tell him he can study smarter now, that he is older.....

 

[JLindo]

To be honest with you, I wouldn't look at failing one test as that much of a setback. A little over one year ago, I left the restaurant industry after 10 years there to get in the IT business. I got lucky I suppose but I've also busted my tail to learn everything I could as it sounds like your husband has done. Failing a test can really be a blessing though if you think about it. You have to learn how the questions are going to be presented. Besides which, much of the information that Micro$oft will pump his way may not be the way they do it in the real world! It is the way Micro$oft thinks it should be done and you have to test on that. Is it fair? Maybe maybe not, but it is the way it is. Tell him not to worry about the tests. Many of us have failed one along the way. Focus instead on the way his work does things and keep learning! Best of luck.