Worthiness of College/Univ over Trade Schools in IT Field

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Hey,

I'm going to be going to college at the start of next year, although I haven't exactly figured out where yet. I've applied to a couple different tech colleges, but I'm not very confident that I will get accepted by them; my HS GPA isn't all that it could have been. I was wondering if a BA in IT from a technical school, like Devry, would be worth less to an employer than a similar degree from a more established school, like Virginia Tech or RIT or something. I already have experience with hardware, and will have my CCNA and win2k MCSE before the end of this year.
I was just wondering if it would be a better idea to just go for Devry and get a degree there, or go to a 2 year college, get an Associates in something, and use that GPA to get a BA and maybe an MBA at a more prestigious school. What do you guys think?

Thanks

 

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[Yzzim]

I planned on going to school to get a 2 year degree in Computer Systems Technology (a tech course) but it was way to easy. So now I'm taking my Generals for 2 years at a community college and then transfer to a 4 year university to get my BA in something with computers probably.
If you go to a 4 year college/university you're gonna have to take the generals no matter what, so that's why I'm here at a community college. The teachers are very nice and you can actually get to know them and you're not just a number.

That's all IMO though...

 

[Mday]

C\U makes you look smarter.

trade schools give you actual hands on training.

the best is having both. since being in a trade school limits you to a narrow range of fields, while C\U leaves you some room to work with (since education is so broad)...

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Mday couldn't have said it better. IMO there is no replacement for hands on experience. Although the degree from a C/U does "look" nice, and you should strive to get one. But from what I know about the IT business, most employers are more interested in what you actually know how to do, rather than what a piece of paper SAYS you know. Technical degrees are known for their involvement with "hands on" training. So I agree. A combination of the two would be your best bet, provided you have the extra time and funding.

My .02
JR..

 

[Deicide]

Yeah, that sounds good. I also want to eventually get into management, so a univ. degree is probably a lot more important for that, than an IT position. I think I might go to a 2 year and take a tech program, then go to a four year univ. and get my BA and maybe an MBA.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[StageLeft]

Try and get a univ degree if you can. Its kind of a pain in the butt and in practical terms teaches you very little, but it does look impressive on paper to others and unless you rack up an insane debt getting through I highly doubt that in the future you'll regret having done it.

 

[nippyjun]

Personally, unless you get into a cheap state college I think it's a waste of 4-5 years and a lot of money. Having so much debt from 4-5 years of private college is crazy. You could probably go to tech college for 2 years and get a good job after that. You'd be earning an income after 2 years instead of 4-5 years.