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Looking at schooling options for getting an associates degree in applied science

CathyCat

CathyCat

Junior Member
I want to take some educational courses and learn computer electronics and technology but am not sure where are the best scools for this that will lead to good job placement afterwards. My interests are in learning to build and maintain desktop computers, laptops and trouble shoot systems and gain a good working knowledge of network administration. I have currently looked at Devry University and will be meeting with an admissions counselor at ITT Tech here in Houston tomorrow. I am reading online that ITT Tech may have a questionable background. I would love some suggestions from anyone who is currently in these fields as to the best schooling options. I will need financial aid and possible student loan options. I figure this is the best place to ask!
 
ITT Tech is pretty expensive, from everything I've heard. If you are going for an Associate of Applied Science, I think your best bet would be either Houston Community College or Lonestar College, assuming you have a campus near you.
 
Agree with Mloot, a local community college would be your best option. The expense will be far less and your degree will be fully accredited.
 
You can get an excellent basic education at your local community college.

I'm not sure where you are in Houston, but I've toured some of Lone Star College's Lab Facilities and found them to be very impressive.

While you can get a similar diploma at ITT or at Devry, you will end up paying five to ten times as much for it...

Be careful of any offers of "financial aid" that consists of loans... When it comes time to repay the loans, many people have regrets.

Best of luck,
Uno
 
In general, community college >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for-profit schools (UoP, DeVry, ITT, etc)

Some HR people will go so far as to say they automatically toss any resume with a for-profit school on it.
 
i've met some pretty sharp folks from ITT and Devry. look into a 2 yr comm college instead. will be much cheaper as stated.
 
kami333 said:
In general, community college >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for-profit schools (UoP, DeVry, ITT, etc)

Some HR people will go so far as to say they automatically toss any resume with a for-profit school on it.
Click to expand...

I've never heard that. And while I agree those schools are ridiculously priced, usually the person who graduates knows their stuff. I've worked with a few IT guys from ITT and Devry and both were pretty knowledgeable. Problem with traditional schools is that graduates always have gaps the school wants filled in using internships.
 
Go to community college. It is better than a non community college. While you're at community college, look for internships, or try getting a few certificates.
 
what about wharton county junior college, they have a campus in sugarland and offer a IT AAS.

and you could apply for scholarships to cut the cost.
 
Community colleges have great teachers as they are there only to teach and not do research; plus it is super cheap and people take degrees from one very seriously.
 
Here, take a look at this program:

http://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/information_technology_degree

Its a bachelors and you'll end up with all these certs:


  • CIW Web Foundations Associate
  • CIW Web Design Specialist
  • CIW JavaScript Specialist
  • CIW Database Design Specialist
  • CompTIA A+
  • CompTIA Network+
  • CompTIA Project+
  • CompTIA Security+
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Windows OS Fundamentals
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Windows Server Admin Fundamentals
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Networking Fundamentals
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Security Fundamentals
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Web Development Fundamentals
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Software Development Fundamentals
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Database Administration Fundamentals
If you get just go for an associates degree its almost worthless. A bachelors plus all those certs and you should have a better chance at getting a worthwhile job.

The cool thing about WGU is that its competency based, so if your term is full of easy classes you can accelerate through them with lots of time to spare, and just take more classes without any extra charge. So you could end up with a full bachelors degree in just as much time as its takes to get an associates degree, if you're serious about it.
 
Really do appreciate all the information. I went to the nearby Wharton Junior college here in Sugar Land, let me say that it was a bit stressful and confusing. I am almost 50 and havent been to school for almost 20 years. I specifically want to learn how to build a computer do maintenance on a computer, understand the various operating systems and gain knowledge on network administration. I would love to fast track some of this but dont want to skip crucial certs or degrees if it lands me in a dead end job going no where. Apparently Wharton is a bit limited, or the counselor I was dealing with didnt comprehend what I really want. She was pointing me to programming and told me they didnt actually teach building computers which I found odd. They have a PC technical support cert with intro to computing, learning PC operating systems, programming and logic design, and intro to database and web page programming. I am going to contact their Technical school in Wharton and hopefully get more information. I did fill out and app online and will have to provide my disability documentation (as I am currently disabled), and apply for financial aid. I am trying to set up an appt with D.A.R.S (Department of assistive rehabilitation services) to see if the state can also fund the schooling I require.

I will keep you all posted and again thank you so much for all the helpful info!
 
CathyCat said:
Really do appreciate all the information. I went to the nearby Wharton Junior college here in Sugar Land, let me say that it was a bit stressful and confusing. I am almost 50 and havent been to school for almost 20 years. I specifically want to learn how to build a computer do maintenance on a computer, understand the various operating systems and gain knowledge on network administration. I would love to fast track some of this but dont want to skip crucial certs or degrees if it lands me in a dead end job going no where. Apparently Wharton is a bit limited, or the counselor I was dealing with didnt comprehend what I really want. She was pointing me to programming and told me they didnt actually teach building computers which I found odd. They have a PC technical support cert with intro to computing, learning PC operating systems, programming and logic design, and intro to database and web page programming. I am going to contact their Technical school in Wharton and hopefully get more information. I did fill out and app online and will have to provide my disability documentation (as I am currently disabled), and apply for financial aid. I am trying to set up an appt with D.A.R.S (Department of assistive rehabilitation services) to see if the state can also fund the schooling I require.

I will keep you all posted and again thank you so much for all the helpful info!
Click to expand...

I dont think i have ever seen a class on how to build a PC. its actually pretty easy and probably why i have never seen a PC building class offered by a college. you buy parts and put parts together, load and OS and your done. there are tons of youtube videos that you can watch for free on how to build a PC.

here is one by newegg.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw

what kind of disability do you have? is a mobility disability? because the only people i see fixing PC's are the techs we cal in to do warranty work on our corporate machines. they have to drive here, haul stuff into the building, sometimes upstairs... im just thinking that maybe the councelor that you were talking to was trying to steer you into more of a stationary desk job position because he knew the physical demands. as an example the tech support guys at my company are never at their desk they are all over the place, up on ladders, crawling under desk, moving pallets of new workstations off the dock into the warehouse.
 
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If you are even contemplating going to any college make sure you fill out a fafsa
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

As a non traditional student you will qualify for many grants, but they are usually on a first come, first serve basis depending on what you qualify for. You will need to put any school that you may go to in the fall.

There may be a certificate program at some of the community colleges that is more geared toward what you want to do, you just need to shop around.

Best of luck.
 
I specifically want to learn how to build a computer do maintenance on a computer, understand the various operating systems and gain knowledge on network administration
Click to expand...

People learn in different ways, but you could start on some of this just by getting books from a local library.

If you have a good network connection at home you can download a free version of Linux like Ubuntu and run that from a CD drive or flash drive. You could also install it on a "virtual machine" using free software from VMWare or Microsoft (the old Virtual PC software is free now).

You could also get a second, old computer cheap to install things on that. We have a FS/FT forum here, or places like Dell have cheap off-lease PCs ( http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/ )
 
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TakeNoPrisoners said:
Community colleges have great teachers as they are there only to teach and not do research
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That doesn't necessarily mean they are better. I took a programming course at a CC once and the teacher sucked ass. Turned out he only took the job because he kept getting fired/laid off from actual programming jobs.

I also took a law class... taught by a lawyer who was disbarred. To be honest he actually knew his shit, but had a horrible reputation as a lawyer, and didn't really give a shit about teaching either. He admitted several times it was his last resort job.
 
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Good luck finding a school. There are plenty of community college/junior colleges in the area - UH, HCC, WHJC, UH-CL, San Jac., etc. As someone said above, be sure and fill out the FAFSA. There is plenty of money out there for those who look.
 
OutHouse said:
I dont think i have ever seen a class on how to build a PC. its actually pretty easy and probably why i have never seen a PC building class offered by a college. you buy parts and put parts together, load and OS and your done. there are tons of youtube videos that you can watch for free on how to build a PC.

here is one by newegg.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw

what kind of disability do you have? is a mobility disability? because the only people i see fixing PC's are the techs we cal in to do warranty work on our corporate machines. they have to drive here, haul stuff into the building, sometimes upstairs... im just thinking that maybe the councelor that you were talking to was trying to steer you into more of a stationary desk job position because he knew the physical demands. as an example the tech support guys at my company are never at their desk they are all over the place, up on ladders, crawling under desk, moving pallets of new workstations off the dock into the warehouse.
Click to expand...

Yes this might be an issue for me let me explain, My main disabiltity is type II Bipolar with comorbid conditions of which are adult ADD. Its been a long haul with years of therapy and medications to get me grounded again. My IQ is high so its not a matter of intelligence but managing severe mood swings and dealing with people at the same time. To add to the mix I have had several spinal surgeries and have spinal stenosis with disk degeneration. I can lift stuff and manage to haul 25lb cat litter and groceries ok, but I am on quite a bit of ongoing pain medication as well as the medications to control the mood swing issues. Concentration is going to be challenging and I may require additional time for testing or course work and some additional tutoring. I know this is a lot of personal information to put online but I know my situation is not unique. My desire is to work again, to do something that I have a genuine interest in and be good at it. I feel it is never to late to go back to school.
 
DaveSimmons said:
People learn in different ways, but you could start on some of this just by getting books from a local library.

If you have a good network connection at home you can download a free version of Linux like Ubuntu and run that from a CD drive or flash drive. You could also install it on a "virtual machine" using free software from VMWare or Microsoft (the old Virtual PC software is free now).

You could also get a second, old computer cheap to install things on that. We have a FS/FT forum here, or places like Dell have cheap off-lease PCs ( http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/ )
Click to expand...

This sounds like some good advice and will look into thank you!
 
Stay away from ITT.

They will size the tuition based on the maximum amount of loans/grants they can qualify you for.

No matter what the TV ads show; the retention rate after 2-3 years by the original employer is lousy.

Go to a local JC.

I have a Masters and checked out ITT for an ex-son-in-law. They tried to sell me a bunch of BS for an 18 month "Degree" that had no transferable credits to a true 4 year school and only 1/4 could apply to a JC if pushed
 
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