MCSA/MCSE cert test from MS

[FlipLikeWilson]

This looked like the best place to ask this. My first post so be gentle

My main question is what are your opinions on these test.

Do you find them easy - hard ?
Are they creditable and accepted?
Please post your feelings about these tests. Thank you


My reason for asking is I have be involved in computers since the commador PET with its wonderful cassette tape drive (heheh that was 6th grade) and I dont really have any work experiance. But so far I am A+, and have passed the 70-210 and 70-215 only 2 left for MCSA.

Also I am enrolled in school for a networking a.a.s. degree but I don't start for another 2 months. I am wondering is it more desirable to have degree or certification. I should have certification by the end of the month. 60 credits for a degree is expensive and time consuming
and wonder if I will just be wasting my time and money.


any opinions are welcome thank you for spending time on my little question

 

[Grym]

The Best Thing to have is hands on, real world experiance.

The cert's get you in the door and so will the degree, but most IT departments will give you a little test when you get in the door to test how much you really know....

the best thing would be to get a PC tech/help desk job and start working your way up....

 

[FlipLikeWilson]

How about the tests?
Do you think they test knowledge adequately?

 

[FUBAR]

There are starting to be a lot of places that won't even look at you without a degree, or a boatload of experience to substitute. Get the degree first.

Example, albeit a somewhat different one... Microsoft's policy in town here (and maybe everywhere) is to not even look at anyone without a 4 year degree... FWIW

 

[Macro2]

They try to trip you up a lot on the MCSE exam but people obiviously pass .
I agree with the guy who suggests the 4 year degree. Minimum. Computer science, electrical engineering, chemistry, biology, math etc. Get the certifications on the way.

Even the certifications aren't enough anymore.

Mac

 

[ojai00]

I agree with the other posts. I was just reading an article yesterday and the person who wrote it was MCSE certified. However, he wrote that anyone could take two weeks to study for the test, pass it, and become MCSE certified. He then asked, how much of the information do the people actually remember after they are certified...1%? I'd say get your degree first, and then get your certifications to compliment it. Most corporations are looking for people who have taken liberal arts classes so that they're not all technically minded. College exposes you to that experience. Hope this helps.

 

[FlipLikeWilson]

Hehe just wished my 1st carear had worked out. (accident)

Ok thanks for the info. The 4 years sounds like a little much hmmmmm? The a.a.s Computer networking degreen is 60 credits and I think I can get it done 2 years. 4 semesters @ 15 crdits each and I have been told that these tests are the finals for some of the classes are these Certifacation tests. So I should be able to test out of a few. Hmmmmmm 4 years of college at 33 years old don t sound to cool.

a.a.s degree not enough?

Ugh well I will just keep pluging along

 

[aircooled]

I got my MCSE when the 4.0 track was kickin', but I haven't updated to the 2000 track (hell I'm still paying for the MCSE 4.0). Funny, I know more about 2000/XP than I ever knew about 4.0 from hands on experience...

On a resume I still put that I'm an MCSE, I figure as long as I'm paying for the loan it'll be on my resume...;-)

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: FlipLikeWilson
Hehe just wished my 1st carear had worked out. (accident)
Ok thanks for the info. The 4 years sounds like a little much hmmmmm? The a.a.s Computer networking degreen is 60 credits and I think I can get it done 2 years. 4 semesters @ 15 crdits each and I have been told that these tests are the finals for some of the classes are these Certifacation tests. So I should be able to test out of a few. Hmmmmmm 4 years of college at 33 years old don t sound to cool.
a.a.s degree not enough?
Ugh well I will just keep pluging along

FlipLikeWilson, 33 years old and 4 years of college doesn't sound too cool, but like you I feel I'm too old to be back in college, but since I'm not happy w/ my current job, I working it out so that I can go back to school for my degree because if I know if I want a job that I'll be happy w/, AI need the degree, hope this helps a bit

 

[ojai00]

Here's an article that I was just reading in Computer User:

Getting certifications before getting a degree can sometimes be like building a house and hten trying to put in a basement. Also, trying to pursue a degree while employed full time is far more taxing than taking certification courses, which often require less time and energy.

Although it seems to make more sense to get the certifications first to get a job, many employers require a college degree for entry-level positions, so you'll be gambling on whether you can find an employer who doesn't mind that you chose certifications over college. It's also true that many firms offer tuition reimbursementm but often in IT departments they prefer to pay for certifications that hone job skills, rather than pay for a bachelor's degree.

But perhaps you don't even have to choose. At some universities, there are programs that include IT fields like network security, so you can emerge on graduation day with a diploma and a few certifications. Talk to the advisors of the colleges you're interested in and ask if you can tailor a degree program to include certifications as part of your academic credits.


The link below has other questions and answers from the same article.
Graduation Day: The Degree vs. Certification Debate

Hope you find it useful

 

[FlipLikeWilson]

lol I was feeling down about this before I posted. Should have never posted it becuase I feel worse now O well mybee they might let me fix computers at Comp USA. Thanks everyone.

 

[Panther505]

I understand how you feel. I spent 8 years in the Army and then got out with some computer experience. Now I work for IBM as a regular.


Most companies (large) hire a large part of their work force as contract workers. Get your certs and start there. The pay will be less then a "regular" job but it will gain you the experience. Demonstrate that above all else the well being of the company is first and foremost in your mind and you may get picked up as a professional hire.

I know it can happen because it did with me! I didn't even have any certifications at the time! Only a desire to work for IBM and a dogged determiniation to get hired. Quite often I find people asking me questions on testing that I would not have expected because stories have been told about how much I know. I don't always know the answers but I can usually make and informed opinion and then go find the answer for them (or point them to where I would look).


I am planning on going back to school here in NC as a career advancer because if I want to go anywhere in IBM I will NEED a degree but I wanted to point out that a degree /certification is not ALWAYS required.

Panther505