[Computer Technology Schools] -
Computer Technology Schools
Discuss Computer Technology Schools
Posted by: Larry
Hello,
Over the past few years, we all have seen technology have a huge impact on our daily lives. From the market recession, to all the layoffs, to many people needing to "re-educate" themselves to people wondering what to do next.
I decided to start a forum to discuss which technology schools and universities are helping people succeed and obtain their goals.
The goal of this discussion is to help answer and talk about these questions and others:
1) What is the best college for technology degrees and why?
2) Is there a real difference in one computer school versus another school?
3) How has your college or university helped you in your career?
4) What can schools do now, that they are not currently doing to help solve problems that "technology" should be able to solve.
I hope this forum can be useful to our members and visitors.
:)
Posted by: dethangel
i would definately recommend going to any school that has a cisco academy
Posted by: FLRichInTx
Does anyone have any specific experience with any technical schools?
Posted by: mac_mogul
Does anyone know of Technical schools around or near or in Oklahoma? I've tried looking but I can't find any. I thought maybe I'm not looking in the right places.
Thanks fer any help :)
Posted by: dethangel
im taking classes at wichita area technical college, and i know you hate me mac mogul, but we do have a large mac lab, lol
thats in wichita kansas BTW
Posted by: Larry
Hi mac_mogul,
try this link, this school has some technology degrees, classes, programs.
[URL=http://bluean.com/clk/schnaueinuldaktandglep]Oklahoma Technology School[/URL]
good luck
Posted by: chesman
I am taking a computer support specialist course. two year program, and it is very good indeed. the courses that we have done are:
Hardware fundamentals
Hardware troubleshooting
Network fundamentals
Netowrk Analysis and design
Internetowkring (Cisco networking course)
DOS
Unix
VB 6
Windows 2000 Server
Exchange Server 2000
Novell netware 5.0/5.1
Microsoft office
Advanced microsoft office
just to name a few.
College of the North Atlantic
northatlantic.nf.ca
Posted by: Slam'n Systems
Is there any good Computer Schools around New York that you know of that are good? Or a business type of college cause Im looking to start a computer business in a month but really get it going in about 5 years by getting some shops and stuff
Posted by: LordDjinn
I am currently going to ITT...They offer a lot of different courses.
Posted by: BVR
I am a Cittone Instiute student. They hae a few branches in North East. I am taking NSA course for eight month we cover
Net+
A+ Hardware & Software
server & inferstructure.
they are also paying for some of the cert test besides the diploma you get.
Posted by: digital_darknes
I go to Texas State Technical College for my Associates in Computer Systems Networking/System Administration. It is a pretty good school. You wont find any 4 year degrees having to do with networking although there should be one. Im CCNA though and all of the stuff is very basic so far. I just finished my first semester.
Posted by: and_justice
In the fall I will be at the University of Alberta for a BcS in Computers. This will take 4 yrs. Im not really sure at this point which direction in computers is for me.
There is also a Cisco Academy in the same city. But does Cisco live up to all the hype?
Posted by: XT
anyone know of any robotic engineering schools in canada preferably ontario that also offer computer cources?
Posted by: _x3_
actually ive been recently accepted to NBCC Moncton, in NB, Canada.
It's a Cisco training center and has everything anyone could ever ask for! heres the link!:
[url]http://www.nbcc.ca[/url]
[url]http://www.moncton.nbcc.nb.ca[/url]
Posted by: RyansTech
anybody have experience at tech schools in Chicago? I am looking at the new IIT, and Devry (one of my companies clients) but I just can't make my decision until I talk to someone who can honestly tell me that they got what they deserved from their tech school, there are too many that just aren't worth the money or time.
Posted by: jayhawker01
I go to Devry. Email me if you have any questions
[email]cherokee01_@hotmail.com[/email]
Posted by: ctracer
i go to Michigan Tech we have 5 different computer specialized degrees and a robotics team and by the end of 2005 our new computer science building is going to be finished. And of course if you live in the dorms you get to play or at least watch most games being played at least 3 weeks before they reach the market
Posted by: nehi
im a senior in HS right now, and just wondering what colleges you think would be good to look at. im talkin anywhere in the US.
i have been looking at these so far:
MIT (to transfer too after a year or 2)
RIT (rochester)
WIT (wentworth)
Miami (ohio)
any others you think i should look at
Posted by: Toshiro
Anybody know some good tech schools in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area? I'm only a Junior in HS so I've got time, but I need to know where to start looking...
Is ITT as good as the commercials make it look?
What about Devry? I've heard good things....
Posted by: bizfanatic
hands on cisco acadamy, that is..
Posted by: wead
i goto Devry in NYC and lemme tell you that out of all the tech schools out there Devry is the most respected. They teach you what you need to know and most grads are more well rounded than grads from other schools. I would suggest Devry to someone else. They do rape you with tuition costs tho. I have family in the tech business and they only hire people from Devry.
Posted by: Sir_Vincent
I'm very new to these forums...
I live down here in Savannah, GA and currently attend Savannah Technical College and my current target is the A+ CompTIA Networking Certification.
Posted by: NIN
Currently I am gradutated with an associates degree and I was wondering if that is enough. I have been looking at mid to high level jobs and most of them require BS degree.
Is it worth it to spend 4 more years getting my BS or just get expericence and work my way up. I do have an entry level job just as an operator. So I have a starting point, but to get what I want I may need that better degree.
I notice that I can go to another business college the has a bs in IT, but they are more expensive than the business college I graduated from. How much wait do most of those places hold. Most of these programs are 3 years in length and most of these places will take my credits.
Posted by: NIN
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sir_Vincent [/i]
[B]my current target is the A+ CompTIA Networking Certification. [/B][/QUOTE]
The A+ is not really a networking cert. it is a computer technician cert. Athough it has networking portion. CompTIA has a network+ that I actually got before my A+.
Posted by: Sir_Vincent
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by NIN [/i]
[B]The A+ is not really a networking cert. it is a computer technician cert. Athough it has networking portion. CompTIA has a network+ that I actually got before my A+. [/B][/QUOTE]
All I know, is 'A+ CompTIA Networking Certification' is the name of the program.
Posted by: Tora
Yeah I plan on going to ITT for hardware. That's what my buddy is doing and I love two things(well more than two things but there are two things I'd go to school for) Animation and Computer Hardware and Software. I'm leaving The Art Institute for Itt at least that is the process in which I am going through at the moment.
Posted by: Alex81388
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sir_Vincent [/i]
[B]All I know, is 'A+ CompTIA Networking Certification' is the name of the program. [/B][/QUOTE]
I think that you are talking about the Network+ certification. But the A+ is the standard before it,you dont HAVE to take it, but its a small base to have.
Posted by: fongy
I got my BS of Information Systems Security from Westwood College of Technology. Its a pretty good technical college. If you like more hands on and less lecture, I would highly recommend it. If you want to know more about the school or if its located in your state you can go here [url]http://westwood.edu/[/url] but like all colleges, university, and technical that raise tuition every year and if your lucky every two years.
I forgot to said that a lot of ITT student transfer to Westwood and found it to be overall better then ITT.
Posted by: bigstanklo
I go to St. Vincent College here in PA. I'm in my 2nd of 4 years for a Bachelors degree in IT. I love it here but I have to wait till next year to get into the actual databasing and networking stuff. So far its been all C++ and Assembler programming. But topics are great and interesting.
Posted by: IntelUser101
i was wondering if there was any comp tech schools in paradise valley arizona..gimme a holler if there is any close to me
Posted by: Amoebia
Illinois institute of technology (iit) is a nice school alot of my friends go there
Posted by: SizzlinSean
Does anyone know of any technical/business colleges in the north Texas area? I'm thinking of majoring in MIS, and I'm getting to the point where I need to figure out what colleges I'd like to apply to.
Posted by: elitesoldier
guys if you need information regarding certifications check this website, it is very helpful.
[url]http://certcities.com/[/url]
Posted by: beans4000
i think that as long as you get a degree from a techincal school you are ok... The main thing you need to concetrate on is alot of self studying becuase ultimately you skill set has to come from a solid working knowledge of whatever feild you are working in
Posted by: NIN
I have an associates degree at a business college. Are you saying that I just need the work experience and self study?
Posted by: Gigabite
Im going to ITT-tech for associates in multimedia. And maybe go 2 more after that for game design. ITT tech is like $37,000 but government paid like $8,000 so I will have to pay off like $29,000 which is alot, but you have 10 years after graduation to pay it off so that's like 200 or so per month. Would be nice to get a job at a local TV station or something like that.
Posted by: Brentb2607
Just to forewarn some of you, If you are seriously considering beginning the development of an IT career know these important FACTS!
1.) Never consider under any circumstances enrolling in an Online curriculum, let me explain why... In such a Technical oriented field as information technology you cant expect to have the required skills for a sucessful career by just reading books! "Hands on Training" and "Instructor based environments" will be the only thing to prepare you and to help educate you correctly for a successful career beyond mediocrity in the IT industry! Do not argue with this FACT, those who have the logic and ambition to be successful will understand. Those who dont will pursue other alternatives and sadly will be incapable of grasping some vital concepts and fundamentals.
2.) Explore the many different outlets to feed your desire to be educated! Do not settle on the first school you visit or hear about on some sleazy infomercial. Speak 1 on 1 with the instructors and students. Then ask yourself does this program meet my desires and aspirations to help me ultimately achieve success in my career?
3.) Ask about special relationships the School has with other Colleges and organizations. It is important to get credit for classes that count towards a degree through a community college. Leadership Organizations are also very important, they not only give you discipline and Skills that you will use the rest of your life, but they also appeal to employers a great deal.
4.) Last and most important! Have a Plan with your professional Career and education as you go through the motions. Set goals for yourself and address your "Pro's and Con's" in the field that you either enjoy or dont.
5.) I'm going to leave you with a powerful conviction I have acquired through a great mentor!
[B]"Never accept mediocrity as your disposition, always demand more of Yourself!"[/B]
Posted by: Cindy
I have taken several classes at [url="http://www.dataschenk.com"]Dataschenk[/url] which is near Nashville, Tennessee and I highly recommend them. They don't have slick talking salesmen. The instructors are very good. I still email questions to the SQL guy and he helps me even though I took that class over 2 years ago.
Posted by: raross
The best tech schools are the real Institute of Technology and Polytechnic Institute of tech schools. Basically all private schools I guess!
Posted by: Gigabite
ITT tech is a private school, I have no idea how good will it be. Im hoping after I get my associates in multimedia, I will be able to find a decent job and then continue for 2 more years for bachelor's in game design and digital entertainment. I've heard ITT tech has limited trasnferrability of credits, which isn't good, so Im hoping for the best. I really don't want to drop out now, even though I've only been going for 2 months. I'll try to finish these 2 years and see what comes up next.
Posted by: raross
Yeah thats the only thing bad about 2 year schools is that the career credits dont transfer, only basic courses (english, history etc). They also dont look to good in the IT industry, but it is better then nothing. A lot of kids dont understand how fun and exciting 4 year schools are specially if you're willing to work hard and work with professors. Most of the time if you're interested enough, they will see how hard you're willing to work and allow you to work beside them in some new research project etc. It's great job experience, specially something you can put on your resume. It becomes fun if you're interested.
Posted by: slimer
I got an EE Bachelors of Science degree and am having a lot of trouble finding a job. I've noticed that a lot of the two year programs have more practical stuff that shows up on engineering job descriptions than the 4 year I went to. The engineering department won't tell you this.
A 2 year technician degree can get you into a lot of places, and it really helps if you can pick up internships while you're in the school. Also having a personal connection in the industry you want to get into can make a really big difference. It seems like having a lot of friends in the industry is more important than your actual ability when trying to find a job.
I'd bet that if you wanted to design/produce/sell a game your quickest way would not be to go to college for a PhD. I believe this is a waste of time actually unless you want to teach at a university. In my Bachelor's program there is a lot more busy work and stuff designed to distribute grades than useful practical information like you'd see in a 2 year degree. I bet a PhD program has a disproportionate amount of busy work as well.
If I had a crystal ball and could see into the future and wanted to be a game designer, I would find a company that makes video games and tell them that I want to work in the environment and find out the easiest way to get into the company. If they said a two year degree, I would go for it and if there were classes that crossed over and could be applied to a bachelor's also take these instead of the easy alternative just in case to save time and money later on. Then you'll be a technician or something in a game environment where you can pick up a lot of knowledge from the people writing the games, maybe even enough to make one with the help of other technicians working at the same company or in a similar situation.
Find out from companies how to get in quick. Ask the companies what they want, not the school. The school will lie to you because they want your money. Right now it looks like technician jobs are easier to get than engineering jobs and employers will hire people with technician degrees over people with engineering degrees for these positions. The engineering jobs are hard to get because the employers value experience much more than education and there are people who have been laid off, etc. with years of engineering/programming experience that the companies can hire. Try to get experience and make friends in the industry so you've got a lot of personal connections.
If I could go back in time I would do exactly this. I also think it would be awesome to find a group of guys who were ready to start writing game code in their spare time with whatever free or inexpensive tools are available to the PC owner.
Posted by: raross
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by slimer [/i]
[B]I got an EE Bachelors of Science degree and am having a lot of trouble finding a job. I've noticed that a lot of the two year programs have more practical stuff that shows up on engineering job descriptions than the 4 year I went to. The engineering department won't tell you this.
A 2 year technician degree can get you into a lot of places, and it really helps if you can pick up internships while you're in the school. Also having a personal connection in the industry you want to get into can make a really big difference. It seems like having a lot of friends in the industry is more important than your actual ability when trying to find a job.
I'd bet that if you wanted to design/produce/sell a game your quickest way would not be to go to college for a PhD. I believe this is a waste of time actually unless you want to teach at a university. In my Bachelor's program there is a lot more busy work and stuff designed to distribute grades than useful practical information like you'd see in a 2 year degree. I bet a PhD program has a disproportionate amount of busy work as well.
If I had a crystal ball and could see into the future and wanted to be a game designer, I would find a company that makes video games and tell them that I want to work in the environment and find out the easiest way to get into the company. If they said a two year degree, I would go for it and if there were classes that crossed over and could be applied to a bachelor's also take these instead of the easy alternative just in case to save time and money later on. Then you'll be a technician or something in a game environment where you can pick up a lot of knowledge from the people writing the games, maybe even enough to make one with the help of other technicians working at the same company or in a similar situation.
Find out from companies how to get in quick. Ask the companies what they want, not the school. The school will lie to you because they want your money. Right now it looks like technician jobs are easier to get than engineering jobs and employers will hire people with technician degrees over people with engineering degrees for these positions. The engineering jobs are hard to get because the employers value experience much more than education and there are people who have been laid off, etc. with years of engineering/programming experience that the companies can hire. Try to get experience and make friends in the industry so you've got a lot of personal connections.
If I could go back in time I would do exactly this. I also think it would be awesome to find a group of guys who were ready to start writing game code in their spare time with whatever free or inexpensive tools are available to the PC owner. [/B][/QUOTE]
A two year engineering associate better then a four year degree? I would have to strongly disagree with you on that. I have had so many friends graduate from a community college with a comp engineering assoicate or a computer "technology" associate degree and they end up working at a cable company doing tech support or installing cable. Personally its a waste of time. Looking at the curriculm from a engineering associate degree and a four year engineering degree they are totally different. The associate degree looks elementry compared to the four year degree. Take a look at the courses, none of them go indepth about ANYTHING.
Thats why no one gets hired and thats why it is a waste of your time and money!
Posted by: Prelude92
i attended Devry in houston and finished w/ an associates in Electonics and computer tehcnology. during my time there i learned basic technologies in circuits, pc's, and networks. i really liked it. the cons were that i attended the school when i opened so scheduling and classes were very hard to get. i fought to get the classes i wanted (actually a classmate of mine did). in all it was a very good program that teahes very important subjects. i just wish the state approved the school for the ccna academy :(
Posted by: raross
You got 2 associates in electronics and computer technology? The only problem with Community college is they only teach you the basics and the employers dont really credit them much at all. Atleast you do have a better chance at getting a job with only a 2 year degree then with just a hs diploma. But the 4 year or masters people will still beat you out in any advanced job you try to apply for.
Posted by: Prelude92
to be honest i dont see what us the specialization in my degree is... the way i see it, it's just a degree that will let employers know i am knowledgeable in the technology field. if i want to accel i will have to pursure other forms of showing what i am capable of. i.e. certification tests...
Posted by: DaPunnisher
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by LordDjinn [/i]
[B]I am currently going to ITT...They offer a lot of different courses. [/B][/QUOTE]
I graduated from ITT Tech with an AS in Computer & Electronics Engineering Technology. From my studies I learned 90% electrical thoery and 10% computers. At the time I was most interested learning to fix computers. During that time I landed a killer internship at Harley-Davidson and passed A+, Network+ and 70-210.
I now work as a Network Admin for a School District which I got through osmosis because the old network admin left. At the time I was a desktop support tech. Honestly, I would not have been qualified for the position if I were to have applied for it from the outside.
So I guess what i'm saying from my experience is that if you are seriously interested in a high level engineering job, get you BS unless you are happy with just PC repair and minor network tech duties and don't mind working in the trenches and climbing up the latter. Maybe you could get lucy like me, but it is extremely rare!
Posted by: raross
I agree, a lot of kids hear these stories and think they dont have to go to school now because someone else got into IT with just a 2 year degree. It is better to be safe then sorry :)
Posted by: IBMan
i go to NWTC in central wisconsin and we have cisco academy there
Posted by: Prelude92
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by IBMan [/i]
[B]i go to NWTC in central wisconsin and we have cisco academy there [/B][/QUOTE]
it's to far :/
Posted by: M4A1
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by digital_darknes [/i]
[B]I go to Texas State Technical College for my Associates in Computer Systems Networking/System Administration. It is a pretty good school. You wont find any 4 year degrees having to do with networking although there should be one. Im CCNA though and all of the stuff is very basic so far. I just finished my first semester. [/B][/QUOTE]
They should offer it, but most colleges and universities offer engineering/cs, which is the closest you're going to get to System Admin/Networking.
Posted by: raross
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Pratik [/i]
[B]They should offer it, but most colleges and universities offer engineering/cs, which is the closest you're going to get to System Admin/Networking. [/B][/QUOTE]
How are those even related? Engineering is well engineering and System admin/Networking is well networking.. They are very different, they offer IS degrees which is information systems, or even a MIS degree.
Posted by: M4A1
True, but most colleges doesn't even offer IS degrees. I was saying in a sense that as a computer engineer, you'll take courses such as Computer Networks or what have you. That'll be the closest you'll get to even scratching the surface of the job of a System Admin. I was just saying that if you want System Admin job, you're better off going to a technical school.
Posted by: raross
Engineering really has nothing to do with networks or networking. Computer engineers are mostly going to look at how these devices work from a totally different abstration point that a network admin would and I doubt they would even do that. IS degrees are much more common then engineering degrees for the simple matter of cost. Engineering is a far more costly degree then IS is. There are very few uni's that have engineering programs compared to IS.
Posted by: M4A1
Are you kidding me? You'll find an ENGINEERING department in almost any university. You probably won't find it the majority of colleges. I'm an engineering major, trust me. A lot of research in the engineering field is done in the University, too. Why would they not have program? If they have engineers that do research at the University, they will most likely (99%) have an engineering department. I don't know if you know, but Professors aren't under the payroll of the University to TEACH kids (only a small portion), but to do research. They do teaching on the side.
Posted by: raross
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Pratik [/i]
[B]Are you kidding me? You'll find an ENGINEERING department in almost any university. You probably won't find it the majority of colleges. I'm an engineering major, trust me. A lot of research in the engineering field is done in the University, too. Why would they not have program? If they have engineers that do research at the University, they will most likely (99%) have an engineering department. I don't know if you know, but Professors aren't under the payroll of the University to TEACH kids (only a small portion), but to do research. They do teaching on the side. [/B][/QUOTE]
I know it is done in the university, I never said it was not. I am saying out of 5 uni's probally only 1 has an engineering program and out of 10 only 1 has a program worth attending. I am also an engineering major. Likewise most uni's have IS programs.
Initally you said engineering was like networking which it is not and if you're an engineering major then you should know that :).
Posted by: raross
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by raross [/i]
[B]I know it is done in the university, I never said it was not. I am saying out of 5 uni's probally only 1 has an engineering program and out of 10 only 1 has a program worth attending. On another note, the "real" world class engineering programs are mostly all private. anyways, I am also an engineering major. Likewise most uni's have IS programs.
Initally you said engineering was like networking which it is not and if you're an engineering major then you should know that :). [/B][/QUOTE]
Posted by: abhiace9
you guys dont follow the us news rankings ,do you?
Posted by: abhiace9
why are u guys so much after the certifications...
i mean wud it not be enough to have jus a pure BS in ur area of specilization enough?
back here in this south east asia, the 4 year courses are most reputed...
me planning to take up a masters in comp science in USA for the fall 2006.
most of my uni are taken up from us news rankings and the kinda research going on...
i dont have ne of those cerrtifications with me on my resume..
will it affect?
Posted by: Cindy
A BS says that once upon a time I made grades that were acceptable to the university in the technologies that were relevant at that university and at that time.
Certifications are the product vendor saying that I have proven my competence with a particular technology.
So both are important.
Also, depending on your age and many other factors, degrees are not always a good decision. But, getting certifications never ends because technology is always changing.
Also, universities very often are teaching technologies that were popular 5 years ago. They are not expected to be "leading edge".
Will it affect? I think certifications help, but are often not a deal-breaker.
Where I work, degrees are not as important as certifications, but we are probably not typical. If we need a guy to create or manage a Microsoft network, we want some one who has proven himself with Microsoft servers and has a personality that will work well with the rest of the team. We don't really care about much else. But, like I said we are probably not typical. But I hope you see our point.
Posted by: nehi
well, if you read through this forum on page 2 you saw i was in HS and didnt know where i was goin to go. well i am now in my Second quarter at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) in Rochester, NY. i reread through most of the old posts. RIT offers a lot of the things people want to go into. Business, CE, CS and all that stuff. but we also have a Networking major, Applied Networking & Systems Admin. but there are many concentrations that go with this major, the one i am goin to do is Network Security.
the nice thing about RIT is that you get time out in the field while you are still in skool. we have required co-op that you do with any company that will take you. its for a quarter, but your do it like 3 - 5 times. so you can get up to a Year of within the field that you want to get into. and in most cases, the company that your co-op with will ask you to come back after you graduate.
if someone has any questions, just PM me
Posted by: NIN
Depends on the job your looking for. Some require a BS degree and won't even look at your resume if you don't have it. an Associates degree will get you a helpdesk/user support position if your lucky and use a bit of social networking. Certs do help but don't do much unless you have experience in the area you get the cert in. If you want to get into work easy and start getting experience this is the wrong field. it is too flooded and you really have to compete with alot of people that have been in the field longer than you.
Posted by: DaPunnisher
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]Also, depending on your age and many other factors, degrees are not always a good decision.[/B][/QUOTE]
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTT? You are joking, right? Why wouldn't a college education be a good decision? I guess if you wanted a career as a dishwasher it wouldn't be! :p Time to bust them suds, beeeatch!
Posted by: Cindy
College didn't teach you common sense (no chance anyone I know would go to BestTests even if the site did work, which it doesn't) and it didn't teach you manners, either.
There are many, many people who have achieved great things without the benefit of a college education, so the dishwasher thing is really idiotic.
Starting college may not be the best decision for a 45 year old with a large family to support, for example. There aren't enough career years left to recoup the investment in money and time away from family. That same 45 year-old can, however, get certified in the technologies he is already using.
You appear to be about 15 years old, but some people have other considerations and prohibitive responsibilities.
Posted by: Chankama
I think the most fundamental reason why employers ask for a college/university degree is b/c typically the intelligence level of those with a degree is significantly higher than those who do not.
Some jobs just want you to HAVE a degree period. They don't even care if it's even in a related field. Why would an employer take a chance with a person who doesn't have a college degree when they can just simply hire someone who has one? The mere fact that they graduated from college indicates that they have some form of intelligence. The same can't be said about the person who's never been there.
As for character development, common sense, "street smart" (whatever that means), NOT going to college doesn't really help these things. I mean why do people even use this as an excuse to justify not going to college? :eek:
It is also true that there are a number of people who are creative and intelligent and geniuses - in the classical sense - who has never been to university. But these are exceptional cases - NOT the norm.
More so than the financial situation, people who don't go to college don't go b/c they simply can't handle it. From high school take the students who has over 75% vs the people less than 75% average, and see the "college rates".
I mean c'mon. THere are TONS of people in university who are taking loans and barely surviving financially. These guys are not rich.. :confused:.. Yet they find a way.
So NOT going to college b/c of the financial situation are also exceptions to the rule IMO. Exceptions being single mothers and older people with families as someone already said.
In this day and age, there are very few reasons why people under 25 should not be able to go to college/university.
Posted by: Cindy
I got a BS and then an MBA years ago, so thanks for the compliment.
But your statement regarding the intelligence level of those who went to college vs those who did not tells me that you are very young and very, very naive. There are tons of very smart people who did not go to college. Some of them lack drive, which is not at all the same as intelligence.
And tons of really stupid people were able to get degrees.
Government agencies, for example, are full of employees who are college-educated near-morons.
Also, at least in the US, it is the single mothers who can go to college - free. Childless women (unless they are in a minority group) are likely not eligible for anything but loans that will pay tuition only. Single moms and minority women can go anywhere they want, free - and get all their living expenses paid too.
It seems it is the women who lack enough sense to control their own reproduction are the ones who get the easy free college education.
Posted by: Cindy
Oh, and regarding this statement you made:
[QUOTE]
As for character development, common sense, "street smart" (whatever that means), NOT going to college doesn't really help these things. I mean why do people even use this as an excuse to justify not going to college? [/QUOTE]
When I made the remark about common sense, I did not mean to imply that those who did not attend college have more, I meant to imply that DaPunnisher doesn't have much.
Posted by: Chankama
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]But your statement regarding the intelligence level of those who went to college vs those who did not tells me that you are very young and very, very naive.[/b][/quote]
I have my Bachelors, I have my masters (well waiting for the degree, submitted my thesis couple weeks back), and I have 3 years of professional programming/software development experience. I am 24 years old btw. Naive you say? Do elaborate.
You seem to have some difficulty carrying out a proper debate. No where in my original message did I question your intelligence or your maturity. I addressed your (and others) arguments on their own merit. The mere fact that you are speaking of my "maturity" and "naivety" without just cause, speaks volumes about your own character.
Address the points on their own merit. All you are doing is repeating what you've said before without addressing what I've said subsequently.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]There are tons of very smart people who did not go to college. Some of them lack drive, which is not at all the same as intelligence.[/b][/quote]
As I've already said before, there are SOME very intelligent people who has never gone to college. I am speaking of North America only btw. The economics of other countries (e.g. south asia) are vastly different. But not "Tons". Give some examples and what they've done, if you can.
YOu speak of drive. Well, even people who go to university suffer from that. You think all the people in university are there b/c they have drive?
I lost drive for a couple of years myself. Yet my average still stayed above 70%. When I got my drive back, I went back into the 90%. I've had enough friends who just lost their drive and got bored after a couple years of university as well. Still they graduated. Lack of drive is not an excuse. Even without drive, a smart person can be in university and graduate successfully.
A less intelligent person, without drive, won't survive - or get into university in the first place. And some people who have drive early on will work like dogs, and will never get anywhere in life. They will realize this early on and will simply give up.
And for the record, I didn't go to a crap university. University of Waterloo is the best in Canada and one of the best in North America in computer engineering, computer science, and math.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]And tons of really stupid people were able to get degrees.
Government agencies, for example, are full of employees who are college-educated near-morons.
[/B][/quote]
That may be. But, they are still more capable than many people who don't have their degrees. High school IMO is the great equalizer in a sense. Every person is on the same playing field. The bottom line is that the most people that go to university have better marks in high school than the others.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]Also, at least in the US, it is the single mothers who can go to college - free.
[/B][/quote]
So lets strike them from the "they have a reason not to go to college" list as well.
The bottom line is I paid for myself through university. Ungrad and grad. Same goes for my friends as well. I just don't see the big deal. The government and banks can help you with loans, that you will pay back when you graduate.
Posted by: Cindy
[quote]
Give some examples and what they've done, if you can.[/quote]
Bill Gates
Steve Jobs
Paul Allen
Richard Branson
Larry Ellison
Dave Thomas
Ted Turner
Henry Ford
Albert Einstein
Walt Disney
John D. Rockefeller
Mark Twain
Charles ****ens
Thomas Edison
Benjamin Franklin
Ray Kroc
Several US presidents
The Carneys
Tiger Woods and many other athletes
Posted by: Chankama
Again these are individual people. I was more hoping for "classes" of individuals. As I've said before, there are exceptions to the rule.
And I was talking of the "modern day" situation. Not back when. Obviously, many people "back in the day" did not go to college. The geniuses pioneered their respective fields with their own research while the average person didn't have much of an education. The general knowledge level of the average individual back then was significantly less than now. The reason? Further education. "These days", it is better to go to college after high school. And the average intelligence level of university ppl is much higher than of people without a uni education.
Companies don't have time to sit down and "evaluate" you individually thoroughly - unless u are exceptional in something. They depend on the educational system to do this. They assume that in "general", and quite correctly, that the further the education a person has (high school vs university), the more knowledge he has and more "intelligent" he is likely to be. After all, "smarter" people TYPICALLY tend to go to university - as we can see by the admissions rates from high school. People with [color=red]higher marks[/color] typically go to university to further "enhance their knowledge". Consequently, these are the [color=red]smarter[/color] people as well.
Posted by: Cindy
There are smart people in many different walks of life. It is profoundly sad that in your arrogance you cannot see or admit this. Don't confuse intelligence with knowledge. So much of what you say leads me to believe that you think that good marks in high school prove you're smart and bad marks prove you're not. My goodness, it is high school, not rocket science.
Perhaps the people in Canada are more homogenous, but here in the US there are many different belief systems, many social and cultural reasons why some quite bright young people might not go to college.
I do feel bad for you because your parents were unable or unwilling to help you with tuition and living expenses.
North America is a continent, not a country. It does include Mexico. Are you saying Mexicans are dumb? Not many of them go to college. Even the ones who are residents or citizens of the US - not many go to college. Can you really deny that there are social and cultural factors involved? This is why I said you are young. I apologize for that, but it does seem you judge everything by how it is in your town and your high school.
Posted by: Chankama
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]It is profoundly sad that in your arrogance you cannot see or admit this.
[/B][/QUOTE]
Again, I see that you are going down this road. Is it THAT difficult for you to carry a discussion without doing this? :confused:
For the record, I didn't say ANYTHING about myself until you forced my hand. I was merely "responding" to your comment that suggested that I am naive and "very young" - for essentially disagreeing with you. :rolleyes:. You are the one that felt the need to mention you have an MBA out of nowhere, for absolutely no apparent reason. Does you having an MBA give your argument any more weight? Of course not.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[b]Don't confuse intelligence with knowledge.
[/b][/quote]
I didn't. And I hope you don't either. In fact, I actually highlighted two words in "red" in my previous message to make sure that you don't make that confusion.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[b]So much of what you say leads me to believe that you think that good marks in high school prove you're smart and bad marks prove you're not. My goodness, it is high school, not rocket science.
[/b][/quote]
It is most definitely not rocket science. It IS high school. The easiest of all endevours. Without sounding "arrogant", it should be said that a "smart" person should be able to finish it without much effort at all. You think all the people that get high marks in high school actually "work for it"?.. lol..
As I made it explicitly clear in my previous message, the reason why I picked high school as a comparison point was b/c that is where everyone is in the same boat. I believe that is as a fair comparison point as you can get. I mean for goodness sakes, HOW can someone who claim that they are intelligent possibly do bad in high school?!
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[b]I do feel bad for you because your parents were unable or unwilling to help you with tuition and living expenses.[/b]
[/quote]
Don't be. They offered. But, I didn't take it. Once I entered college, I didn't want to be a burden to them. I worked, I paid my tuition, and when I couldn't, I took governmental/bank loans. This is not a difficult concept. Every kid who wants to go to university can do this. In fact, that is what most of my friends did.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[b]North America is a continent, not a country. It does include Mexico. Are you saying Mexicans are dumb? Not many of them go to college. Even the ones who are residents or citizens of the US - not many go to college. Can you really deny that there are social and cultural factors involved? This is why I said you are young. I apologize for that, but it does seem you judge everything by how it is in your town and your high school. [/B][/QUOTE]
I apologize for my generalization of "North America". Since there are many Canadians and US ppl on this website, all of us usually refer to {US, Canada} combination as "North America". I didn't mean to include Mexico when I said that.
As for the Mexicans living in North America, it is unfortunate if they don't go to university. Or Black people living in gangster style neighborhoods. Or white people living in farm land.
Certain ones own beliefs as to what is important in this world plays a huge factor. For the above mentioned groups, it is probably not education. Are they stupid? Of couse not. They simply have different priorities in life. Not due to lack of choice, simply b/c they don't know any better. But that doesn't say anything about their intelligence.
And even in those particular groups, some of them would have gone to university. Take the average intelligence of the group that did go to university, vs the group that stayed behind, and who do you think would score higher points?
Within "each" such group that you can possibly think of, the subgroup that have gone to university would have a higher level of intelligence than who had not. And if you take a collection of such groups, then the people from all the groups that have gone to university, will be more intelligent.
In all of my messages, I was careful in using the words "on average" (or a variant of). Of course there smart people who have never been to university. But, I was speaking from a global viewpoint, so to speak. And employers find this a sufficiently important measure that if a person does not have a univeristy education, they immediately lose points.
Posted by: Cindy
[quote]Are they stupid? Of couse not. They simply have different priorities in life.[/quote]
That's my point.
It's not fair to judge people's intelligence by whether or not they have a degree. And, I hope you will forgive me for this, but I find it arrogant to do so.
And I disagree with this on more than one level:
[quote]the most fundamental reason why employers ask for a college/university degree is b/c typically the intelligence level of those with a degree is significantly higher than those who do not. [/quote]
I have made it clear that I think it is unfair to judge intelligence with such a simple criteria, but I also disagree as to why many employers prefer degreed workers.
It is knowledge, research skills, and exposure to teamwork that employers feel a degreed worker will be more likely to have. All the things that colleges are supposed to provide.
Now if you said that employers prefer Harvard degrees because only smart people will have one, well, I would have to say I cannot argue. But it doesn't take an exceptionally smart person to go to a university. I am reminded of this every time I go to my nephew's high school for a program. The majority of the faculty members are quite inarticulate and seem terribly shallow to me. All are degreed of course, yet I think they would never make it in the corporate world.
Posted by: raross
I think both of you have good points. Cindy is correct, because there are a lot of smart people without degrees. Although in todays world you will not be able to do anything without one, so In that aspect the other guy is right. Forty years ago, not everyone needed a degree, but in todays, if you dont get a 4 year degree you will be working that dish washer job (or just about). It is so hard to get experience now a days even with a degree, so you can imagine it is just about impossible to get experience without one.
Posted by: NIN
You are not getting the picture. He wasn't calling people that don't go to college stupid.
He simply said that people with a degree have something to show to employers and may have more knowledge than someone who doesn't. After all, they had to go though hours of studing to get it. It will set you apart from the thousands of other resumes. Also, someone who works that hard is most likely more serious to continue his hard work in the workplace.
Raross, you hit the nail on the head with that last post.
Peace,
Tom
Posted by: Cindy
Show me where you are getting this:
[quote]He simply said that people with a degree have something to show to employers and may have more knowledge than someone who doesn't.[/quote] That sounds like what I have been saying, not what he has been saying.
THIS is what he said:
[quote]the intelligence level of those with a degree is significantly higher than those who do not. [/quote]
Posted by: DaPunnisher
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]It's not fair to judge people's intelligence by whether or not they have a degree. And, I hope you will forgive me for this, but I find it arrogant to do so.[/B][/QUOTE]
You flame my website then you flame me, yet you claim it's not fair and arrogant to judge a person's intelligence? Pretty ignorant if you ask me! You should be pointing the finger at yourself, sister!
Posted by: Cindy
Aboslutely without provocation, you called me a b-word. Now you are accusing ME of flaming?
Posted by: Chankama
Well.. I've been busy for a couple of days, and wasn't able to reply to this thread.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]Show me where you are getting this:
That sounds like what I have been saying, not what he has been saying.
[/B][/QUOTE]
Actually, I did say that as well. People who go to university obviously have more knowledge. Remember that message that I highlighted in red?
Even after I mentioned words like "on average" or "typically" in all of my messages and said that there are "some" people who are really intelligent and without a college education (obviously) - you continued to debate with me. So naturally, it is safe to conclude that you were taking a population viewpoint as well.
[color=blue]So, with all the fluff aside, what you are essentially saying that the people that have a university education are not necessarily more "intelligent" than the people that doesn't have one. [/color]
That being said, let me first say that University does not necessarily improve ones intelligence. No one in this thread has said that. However, the people that "enter" university IMO "on average" *$*, are more intelligent than the others to "begin with". University entrants typically have higher marks in high school (in general) and they have a higher thirst for knowledge (some of them). If you think high school is not a good measure of a person's intelligence, we can debate about it yet again. It just so happens, high school is where all the people are on the same playing field. Management students, Engineering students from [Crap] University, Engineering Students from [Amazing] University, Life Sciences students, High school dropouts, community college students, etc. etc. etc.
*$*(I said "on average" b/c not ALL smart people enter university)
Back in the day, the thirst for knowledge of some people could not be satisfied by going to university - since there probably weren't many around. So people did their own research - which in turn created the foundatations of modern science and mathematics and astronomy, etc. These days, instead of reinventing the wheel, the "smart people" who have a high thirst for knowledge, simply go to university.
As I've said before, only "some" people go to university due to their thirst for knowledge. Others go b/c they want to find a job. Well, the thing is, to enter university, you need good marks. "Good marks" is a relative measure of course. But for every dumb university student, there is a dumber person who doesn't have a university degree.
Don't compare the smartest people WITHOUT a uni education with the dumbest people WITH one. Compare the smartest people with a university education with the smartest people without one. And the dumbest people with a university education with the dumbest people without one.
Obviously, there are many highly intelligent people without much formal education. But "on average", who do you think will win out? I mean really. Why is this even a debate. Please don't say, "I was talking of individual people", b/c u weren't.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]I have made it clear that I think it is unfair to judge intelligence with such a simple criteria, but I also disagree as to why many employers prefer degreed workers.
It is knowledge, research skills, and exposure to teamwork that employers feel a degreed worker will be more likely to have. All the things that colleges are supposed to provide.
[/B][/QUOTE]
Employers know that if a person has a degree, the [color=red]probability[/color] of that person having a higher intelligence is greater. They are better at problem solving. This is not a revelation. In fact, many employers are really interested in a person's problem solving abilities. Of course, they are interested in their knowledge and team work stills as well. But, don't tell me that their problem solving skills are not important. Ever wonder why some employers don't even care whether your degree is related to the work? You might say team work skills and research. Well you get that in high school too. I mean high school is 12 years, and university is 4?
As for your comment about the "Latino" population, I already addressed that as well. Even in that population, the people that went to university should have a higher intelligence than those who didn't - on average. It maybe that the average intelligence of the non-university people in the latino population is "higher" than of the white population - due to socio-cultural issues. However, there just isn't enough people in that particular population to shift the intelligent score "mean"s significantly close to each other. Obviously, I hope you can see this. If not, let me know.
Posted by: DaPunnisher
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cindy [/i]
[B]Aboslutely without provocation, you called me a b-word. Now you are accusing ME of flaming? [/B][/QUOTE]
This was no attack, my dear, merely a provacative exclamation to end my sentence. A term of endearment, if you will. I think somebody is being a bit self concious. :amazed:
Posted by: FrankLDS
I am going to Kaplan University, online. I knew absolutely nothing two weeks ago and now I understand some of what you are talking about.
I am taking two course: Academic Strategies for the IT Professional and Introduction to Information Technology. The second class has a great textbook: Understanding Computers Today and Tomorrow. I highly recommend it.
Posted by: Loyola
I have an AAS in Computer Information Systems, CCNA certified, and A+ certified. I have been sending resumes out to no end. I have no luck. Should I count my losses or keep the old chin up? If anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated. I'm thinking of just becoming an English teacher, but that means more college...happy happy joy joy:) :)
Posted by: raross
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Loyola [/i]
[B]I have an AAS in Computer Information Systems, CCNA certified, and A+ certified. I have been sending resumes out to no end. I have no luck. Should I count my losses or keep the old chin up? If anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated. I'm thinking of just becoming an English teacher, but that means more college...happy happy joy joy:) :) [/B][/QUOTE]
If you can go to college, I would. But in the meantime keep your head up and keep trying. It is very hard to get real IT experience when most of the companies require a degree. But it all depends on your situation. If you have the money and backing, then I would suck it up for 4 years and get the degree.
Teaching is a very rewarding job to some. But most of the jobs are in the southeast (as I am told). It is almost impossible to get a teaching job up north which is where the top education/pay lies. Another downside to teaching is most states require a masters to even teach at the highschool level. I believe they allow you to teach in the south while obtaining your masters through night classes though.
Posted by: printerzone
i heard itt is good
Posted by: Guava
I got my best IT training from a private technical school. My degree in CS seems to help me get in the door for interviews, but they always ask about certifications. Seems as though the MCSE may be something you may want to add. If not, maybe at least pass the XP test to get the MCP.
Posted by: StylinGolfShoes
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is aa very good university that focuses on technology. They also have a five year program where you get a bachelors degree in computer Science in 3 years then get your MBA so you have the job security of an MBA (higher paychecks, work in management, etc.) and a degree in a field that you love(computers) also if the technology field shrinks then an MBA can get you working in almost any financial field (which pay well and are hard to outsource) in banks, venture capatalist groups, financial and accounting departments in large companies etc.
Posted by: Quantum Bit
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by StylinGolfShoes [/i]
[B]Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is aa very good university that focuses on technology. They also have a five year program where you get a bachelors degree in computer Science in 3 years then get your MBA so you have the job security of an MBA (higher paychecks, work in management, etc.) and a degree in a field that you love(computers) also if the technology field shrinks then an MBA can get you working in almost any financial field (which pay well and are hard to outsource) in banks, venture capatalist groups, financial and accounting departments in large companies etc. [/B][/QUOTE]
You have stated several fallacies. Let me clarify. If you get a 4 year computer science degree and work in software engineering you will be making more then a guy with an MBA and you will have plenty of job security. Just look at the job stats for software engineering (#1 job in the US, with 50% growth rate over next 10 years). Compared to a guy with an MBA which everyone and everyones uncle has an MBA. If you did not know, MBA is what the majority of people with graduate degrees have obtained. So this does not make you stand out from the rest, it simply makes you blend in to the more established crowd of business professionals.
Now if you were to work as a manager instead of an engineer you would be shuffling paper work and not working with "computers" (Software engineering). People usually take this path because it is the easier of the two. Business classes are 10x easier then math classes.
Hope this helps
Posted by: gwar87
I dont know if it is just me but, any school/college that has to advertise dosent seem like they're a top of the line school. I am mainly talking about Devry, ITT Technical Institute and computertrainning.com. So anyone who has attended or is currently attending, are theses school's as good as they say they are.
Posted by: Quantum Bit
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by gwar87 [/i]
[B]I dont know if it is just me but, any school/college that has to advertise dosent seem like they're a top of the line school. I am mainly talking about Devry, ITT Technical Institute and computertrainning.com. So anyone who has attended or is currently attending, are theses school's as good as they say they are. [/B][/QUOTE]
You are exactly right about the advertising. These schools do not have proper accreddiation. This is because the faculty who teaches at these schools are not qualified or educated. To say the least, you are throwing away your money and time.
Posted by: gwar87
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Quantum Bit [/i]
[B]You are exactly right about the advertising. These schools do not have proper accreddiation. This is because the faculty who teaches at these schools are not qualified or educated. To say the least, you are throwing away your money and time. [/B][/QUOTE]
Thats what I thought. If I decide to go to at computer tech school, it will not be one I hear about on TV.
Posted by: pjam76
If you get a BS in computer science and then want to get an MBA, by all means go for it... It'll probably help you out in the long run.
Many Software Engineers eventually wind up in a management type role down the road anyway.
While it won't help you all that much now, by the time you have years of experience, it'll work out for best.
Many people get a job, work a few years, then get their employer to pay for their MBA or Masters... Maybe your employer won't pay all of the tuition, but anything is better than nothing..
ANd after you have 6-8 years of real world experience and go for some Project Lead, Project Management type roles, you will look more impressive than just some BS degree holder.
If you have 8 years of experience, a BS and an MBA it is bound to help you out in the long run.
But just to get an MBA up front, it most likely isn't going to help you get a job or more money just because you have that MBA.
Posted by: ceejay187
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wead [/i]
[B]i goto Devry in NYC and lemme tell you that out of all the tech schools out there Devry is the most respected. They teach you what you need to know and most grads are more well rounded than grads from other schools. I would suggest Devry to someone else. They do rape you with tuition costs tho. I have family in the tech business and they only hire people from Devry. [/B][/QUOTE]
I went to 2 different Devry's. The one in jersey because i lived in staten island at the time and it was closer to my house. Then they got me a job in queens.. so i transferred to the one in long island city, ny. The one in jersey was a university and truthfully it was a better school! I got my A.S. there. The equipment was newer and there was more of range of electives you can take there where as in NY, they only had like 3 humanities classes. I did have ONE excellent teacher in ny and at graduation i made him take a pic with me.. He was the one who actually got me into the networking side.. Meanwhile i graduated with my B.S. in CIS... and now i really dont like programming. Devry got me my job where i am also currently working. So i guess they have been good to me..
the only thing i regret is not taking classes that i could of at a community college and then transferred them over. I would of saved SO MUCH FREAKIN money that way!!!! Like someone said earlier.. its like almost $7k a semester.. and they are 3 semesters a year for three years.. so just imagine how much i owe on student loans!!!! So to anyone who plans on going to devry.. check out their curriculum and take the classes needed at a community college and then transfer them over.. trust me.. u will be saving yourself THOUSANDS of dollars.. well if u didnt get financial aid like me...
I am now going for my MSCE.. and thats what my boss here at my new company got hired on only... So basically yep. .u need both ur certs and a degree.... but at least im getting my certs for free thru a program called workforce..
for all u ppl in ny u should check it out.. if ur making less than 54k u can get approved... thank God i went for the classes before i got this job.. because i wouldnt be approved for it now =)
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sir_Vincent [/i]
[B]I'm very new to these forums...
I live down here in Savannah, GA and currently attend Savannah Technical College and my current target is the A+ CompTIA Networking Certification. [/B][/QUOTE]
I started at savannah tech but the liberty campus one... it was so bootleg lol i was only there one semester before moving back to ny
Posted by: ElsaBorzoi
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by fongy [/i]
[B]I got my BS of Information Systems Security from Westwood College of Technology. Its a pretty good technical college. If you like more hands on and less lecture, I would highly recommend it. If you want to know more about the school or if its located in your state you can go here [url]http://westwood.edu/[/url] but like all colleges, university, and technical that raise tuition every year and if your lucky every two years.
I forgot to said that a lot of ITT student transfer to Westwood and found it to be overall better then ITT. [/B][/QUOTE]
:cool:
I just started that very program at Westwood, and like it very much. I started to investigate online schools for a bachelor program almost immediatelyafter enrolling in a nearby tech college for Computer Networking Technology, two and one half years ago. It took me till last March to finally decide on Westwood. They have the most percentage time actually spent in computer classes.
:D
:cool:
Els
Posted by: superdave1984
I went to ITT Tech and got an associates in computer network systems. Expensive, but I think it was worth it. The only thing I would have wanted that they didn't offer was a certification course where you would be specifically instructed on different certs. But after two years you should know enough to pass some of the tests anyway. The downside is you have to take trig, economics, and a couple other classes that pretty much suck.
Posted by: M4A1
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by superdave1984 [/i]
[B]The downside is you have to take trig, economics, and a couple other classes that pretty much suck. [/B][/QUOTE]
How do those classes "suck"? They provide you with a well-rounded education. Every business leader/successful person is knowledgeable in all areas, not only in their field.
If you've taken accounting/economics, you can understand the business aspect of what your job entails.
If you've taken English and you're an engineer/IT professional/any other, you can provide a clear and well-thought out idea to management/co-workers/customers.
What good is an engineer if s/he cannot communicate effectively? Believe it or not, there was a recent survey of HR personnel and engineering managers and they the majority of them responded as "communication" as the most important factor when determining who gets hired and who gets kicked to the curb. I don't have the source right now, but I believe it was about 74% that considered that the top quality they look for.
So, I would re-evaluate how you take your look on other [i]important subjects[/i] that make you a more well-rounded and knowledgeable person.
Posted by: Siyamak
I've been in a Cisco network academy for a semester now, and I would have to say it is definitly better than any regular class I've taken. I attend a technical high school in the morning, then go to my local school in the afternoon. I spend two and a half hours in the Cisco class a day.
We (the class) have just finished IT Essentials 1 last semester and we plan to have a good portion of the class pass the A+ certification by the end of this month. We have also started the CCNA 1 course this semester. Over the summer I will enter an internship at my school to get experiance, then go back my senior year to complete CCNA 2 and 3 (most likely 3 and 4 for me since I plan totake CCNA 2 over the summer as well.)
Our workspace is decent, mostly compaqs with pentium IIs running Windows 2000 Professional. We are getting a major upgrade over the summer or fall though, since the school administration views our class with high regard. Not to mention we are responsable for keeping all the computers in the building working while simutaneously doing our school work.
If I graduate from this class I get half of my hours needed for an associate's degree in college (26 hours or close to that.) This is unique to our academy though, and we were recently featured in an article for it a month or so back (I think it was a Cisco newsletter or something.) I'm graded on a higher scale then the rest of my classes, so I currently have above a 4.0 on my GPA since I have A's in all my other classes.
The Best Buy stores in the area actually call our teacher for recomendations when they are hiring for the Geek Squad or tech department. While our teacher also teaches the same courses at a local college, students in our class (those who have A+ Certification) are recomended as well, and in the past some have actually landed a job there because of it (those that fail normally do so under customer service questions.)
We are expected to wear plain collared shirts and decent pants, next year we will have to wear uniform cisco shirts. Once a month we must dress up in a suit and tie. Our curiculum is entirly online but there are books and CDs for students who don't have Internet access at home. The online curriculum features a few animated movies and clips, along with more detailed labs, but any still photo or table is usually printed in the text book as well.
Everything in the class is free, including the course, since it is run by a public technical high-school. However, we have to sell water each morning to raise money for our shop and certification exams. Also, if a student begins falling behind or shows lack of motivation over a long period of time he can be kicked out.
If the Cisco final for the IT Essentials course isn't passed with a 70%, then a student cannot even return second semester to start CCNA 1. This year was an exception due to the implementation of the new A+ exams, and anyone could continue so long as their instructor allowed it. This should not be the case in the future.
All-in-all it is a very good class so far and well worth the work for the benefits I get out of it. I'll take 26 college credit hours after graduating high-school any day. Hopefully I can land a job that will pay for me to continue school into college.
Posted by: andyb250
I've never been to a techy school, but I did do a two week MCSE boot camp one time. If you are a tech newbie - DO NOT DO A BOOT CAMP. The classes go so fast that you will not be able to keep up and you won't learn anything. I DO recommend them to someone who has a few certz previous and alot of hands on experience who doesn't need a full school but still needs some quick details. The teacher I had was very good, but don't expect the tests to be graded properly. If you think you passed and they say that you didn't then contest it.
Posted by: andyb250
I have to post this because it is such a cool story. I worked for alot of small computer shops from grade shool on up until now. The small shops were great and I had alot of hands on experience - that is basically all it was!! I was never able to make any money because I couldn't get my foot in the bigger companies. Finally I decided I had to get some certz so I could get my foot in the door. I went and took the A+. I was so scared. I thought everyone else knew so much more about computers then I did. The lady escorted me back to the test room and I just about had a heart attack until my 1st question. Then my 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th.....etc. I honestly took the test in like 5min. It was sooooo easy. When I came out of the test room the lady thought I had given up - she asked me what was wrong? I told her nothing - I was fine. Then my test printed out at her desk. I think I got what equated out to a 90%. She said she'd never seen anyone take the test so fast and do so well. The moral of the story is - don't be afraid - you know it!! Go do it!!
Posted by: Quantum Bit
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Siyamak [/i]
[B]I've been in a Cisco network academy for a semester now, and I would have to say it is definitly better than any regular class I've taken. I attend a technical high school in the morning, then go to my local school in the afternoon. I spend two and a half hours in the Cisco class a day.
We (the class) have just finished IT Essentials 1 last semester and we plan to have a good portion of the class pass the A+ certification by the end of this month. We have also started the CCNA 1 course this semester. Over the summer I will enter an internship at my school to get experiance, then go back my senior year to complete CCNA 2 and 3 (most likely 3 and 4 for me since I plan totake CCNA 2 over the summer as well.)
Our workspace is decent, mostly compaqs with pentium IIs running Windows 2000 Professional. We are getting a major upgrade over the summer or fall though, since the school administration views our class with high regard. Not to mention we are responsable for keeping all the computers in the building working while simutaneously doing our school work.
If I graduate from this class I get half of my hours needed for an associate's degree in college (26 hours or close to that.) This is unique to our academy though, and we were recently featured in an article for it a month or so back (I think it was a Cisco newsletter or something.) I'm graded on a higher scale then the rest of my classes, so I currently have above a 4.0 on my GPA since I have A's in all my other classes.
The Best Buy stores in the area actually call our teacher for recomendations when they are hiring for the Geek Squad or tech department. While our teacher also teaches the same courses at a local college, students in our class (those who have A+ Certification) are recomended as well, and in the past some have actually landed a job there because of it (those that fail normally do so under customer service questions.)
We are expected to wear plain collared shirts and decent pants, next year we will have to wear uniform cisco shirts. Once a month we must dress up in a suit and tie. Our curiculum is entirly online but there are books and CDs for students who don't have Internet access at home. The online curriculum features a few animated movies and clips, along with more detailed labs, but any still photo or table is usually printed in the text book as well.
Everything in the class is free, including the course, since it is run by a public technical high-school. However, we have to sell water each morning to raise money for our shop and certification exams. Also, if a student begins falling behind or shows lack of motivation over a long period of time he can be kicked out.
If the Cisco final for the IT Essentials course isn't passed with a 70%, then a student cannot even return second semester to start CCNA 1. This year was an exception due to the implementation of the new A+ exams, and anyone could continue so long as their instructor allowed it. This should not be the case in the future.
All-in-all it is a very good class so far and well worth the work for the benefits I get out of it. I'll take 26 college credit hours after graduating high-school any day. Hopefully I can land a job that will pay for me to continue school into college. [/B][/QUOTE]
LOL.. YOU have to sell water wtf!!! lmao, that is the most ridiculous story I have ever heard!
Posted by: Siyamak
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Quantum Bit [/i]
[B]LOL.. YOU have to sell water wtf!!! lmao, that is the most ridiculous story I have ever heard! [/B][/QUOTE]
well, the school itself certainly isn't going to pay for everything. It is a public high school afterall. Each morning six people (two for each wing of the school) go from door to door and ask classes if they want water. We usually make around 20-30 dollars each day, sometimes 50. The highest our class has sold so far was around $90 since someone bought a subscription (there are two types of subscriptions, a monthly and a year.) In the mornings the juniors sell and in the evenings the seniors sell. We keep the water in a refridgerator in a closet in class, then transport it in coolers when we sell.
Sure it takes around 15-30 mins of our day, but we (the students) don't have to pay out of our own pockets for certifications, textbooks, diagnostic tools/software, computer parts, etc.
Posted by: M4A1
Weird, but definitely worth it. Good luck! :):):):)
Posted by: Techno_lingo
I'm in North Carolina, and I was wondering what would be the best IT school to go to. I've read pretty much all the posts in this thread, so I take it that regardless of where I go, I need to get certs and go for 4 years, but where is the best place to go??? I was thinking about going into computer science and then maybe game design, or software engineer. Where would be the best place???