MCSE questions and advice (need your help people)

[Snipa]

Hey all. I am thinking about getting the MCSE certification but I wanted some questions answered and some advice from real world people.

How long will it probably take to complete? (rough estimate)

Rough estimate how much money are we talking (books,, + 100/per test, etc.)?

Should I get that, or the new MS certification: MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator)? Which would you recommend or think is better?

What books do you recommend? Any better than others?

If I have a fair amount of computer knowledge ( I build computers myself, setup my own network of 4 computers , built a multimedia server, and ftp/file/webserver for myself). and my own network at home, do I really need to take classes or can I do it on my own?

I know this was alot of questions but I really could use some advice. I've checked pages and faqs around the web but I wanted "real world" experience and advice from you people.

I'd really appreciate your time and help.

Thanks in advance,
Snipa

 

[bandXtrb]

I would also like to know ^bump.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Go to booksonline.com and join the club. Get the Exam Cram MCSE kit. Total cost about $25. You will have to get one more book within a year, but they used to have a $5 first aid book ($10 shipping). Your total expense is $40.

Next get the TestKiller (formally TroyTech) guides for $29 each. These are essential, memorize these the week before the test.

TestKiller

Total training cost around $250.00

Test are $125.00 each

Total for Test $875.00

Study 2 hours nightly and take one test a month.

$1125, 7 months, 426 study-hours.

If you cannot discipline yourself to study 2 good hours, 7 days a week, schedule a Franklin Covey Time management course beforehand. (around another $300).

It worked for me.

John

 

[hoihtah]

i don't have mcse, ... yet.
only mcp.

but here's my take on yrou questions.

time frame:
i've seen people get theirs from beginning to end as short as 4 weeks... and as long as years.
it really depends on how much time you can invest in studying.

books
for my very first exam, server, i've read just about every book there's to read
and at the end, i got all the more confused with lots of contradicting informations.
many books do not have accurate info.
heck, from my experience, even MS books are misleading.

as for my book of choice, i liked syngress media's books.
when i first started out, someone recommended me sybex's books...
but i find sybex to be with many errors... costly errors.
don't bother reading those exam cram books, or even dummy books. (as i said earlier, i've read just about every book out there for the server exam.)

i'd say pick up either microsoft's books or syngress's.
and hit them books hard.
once you're done, check out many great websites.
and get a feel for the exam.

honestly, i found petri to be most helpful... and accurate.
he'll even explain how ms is wrong on certain things. in which case, you answer the right wrong answer to get your point.

as for your general computer knowledge, it'll come in handy. but you'll also learn alot.
it's good to have that network of computers. test everything out.

in the end, it's not about passing some exams or getting 4 letters attached to your name... but it's really about what you know... and what you can do.

so rather than focusing on trying to pass the exam,
try to master everything you study.

as for you needing a classroom or self-studying...
i think there's enough resourse out there for you to not need a class room.
but if you're not disciplined enough to hit them books hard, it might be worth your money to take some classes to keep you accountable.

just my two cents.

 

[Pepsei]

this is how i did it...

i purchased all books from sybex except for a training kit from microsoft for 70-218 (managing win2k environment).

i read one book per week and took the test on Monday. so i did it in 7 weeks....

in this order 215(server), 210(pro), 216(network infra.), 218(managing win2k), 217(active directory), 220(design network security), 224 (exchange 2k). this also gives me MCSA in the middle after 218.

the difficult tests for me were 216, 224
avg. tests were 218, 217, 220
easiest tests were 210,215 (scored over 900 on both)

the thing with 216 is that i didn't expect the test to be that hard so i was sweating thru the test and expected to fail when i press the 'end exam' button... i think i just barely passed (no score were given on this one)
with 224 i know it was a hard test, so i didn't sweat much, and knew i probably pass the test at the end. (passing score is 755, i got 800 on it)

the sweet part about this is that my company paid for everything...even the books... because i declined to take the classes (in my opinion, and maybe that's just me, classes just put me to sleep. and i want to get this over with as soon as possible). oh yeah, the MOC from the class is just a waste of trees, you will fail if that's the only study material you use.

now time to find another job.

oh ccna is still the hardest test i've ever taken to-date compare to mcse stuff

 

[bandXtrb]

This is the set of books from Sybex everyone seems to reccommend, right?

..but the Microsoft series or books are more thorough, aren't they? Unfortunately, people complain about the writing being very dry and boring to read, so I'm not too excited about ordering it.

My goal is not only to pass the exams but have as throrough of an understanding of the material as possible.

 

[bandXtrb]

bump for my q.

 

[Pepsei]

<< This is the set of books from Sybex everyone seems to reccommend, right?

..but the Microsoft series or books are more thorough, aren't they? Unfortunately, people complain about the writing being very dry and boring to read, so I'm not too excited about ordering it.

My goal is not only to pass the exams but have as throrough of an understanding of the material as possible. >>


yes, i got the same set of books from sybex... easy to read...not as dry as other microsoft books.
now... people shouldn't rely on books to pass the exams because you won't be able to. they're used to reinforce what you know already.
i can tell you that exam questions are quite different from what you learn in the book, especially microsoft books...

 

[Pepsei]

also, if your goal is just to pass the exam and not learning anything else....
visit the dump sites where they post all the questions on the test...

that's the reason why i think MCSE is still a joke compare to CCNA.
i know people who knows nothing and still pass MCSE because of the dumps....
lamers who give bad name to us legit techs.

i'd wish microsoft would change the questions more often.