Networking Question for the Professional

[SJSWING]

Ok so here goes, I went to my first Tech. College this weekend for a open house. I am looking to pursue a career in Computer Networking. The college seemed great, the staff was friendly but the prices seemed a little high. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good Technical College for this career field.

The college I went to this past weekend was TESST in Beltsville. Not to long of a drive, only took about 1.5 hours on a Saturday, which I know would be worse during the week due to rush hour. But another questions I have is...

They will pay for me to take one certification test. My question is which certification test should I go for to make sure that I am receiving the best pay possible for a entry level computer networking career.( At least I am thinking it would be entry level since I am just completing school and have no OTJ training relating to it.)

Any insite that anyone could give would be great. I want to make sure I am getting the best bang for my buck and the best pay possible when the Associates degree crosses the desk.

[onebdzee]

I don't think that TESST or any other of those "technical schools" have an actual Associates degree program...they are a "certificate program" school

To get an Associates(or any other degree) you have to go to an actual college and take all the undergraduate courses....My suggestion is to check out one of the community colleges or Universities....most have online degree programs that are about half the cost

If you do choose to go with one of the technical schools, pick one that has job placement at the end of the program

Oh....psy 202, sucks!

[donmagicyourmom]

if you want a cert, i would go with a CCNA (cisco certified network associate). This does contain some proprietary information only for use on cisco hardware but that is what you'd most likely see in the field. Even if you never see the cisco IOS, the cert contains all you would need to know about TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, RIP, IGRP and other networking protocols you see on any brand hardware. this is a great first networking cert if you're going in this field.

Originally Posted by SJSWING

Ok so here goes, I went to my first Tech. College this weekend for a open house. I am looking to pursue a career in Computer Networking. The college seemed great, the staff was friendly but the prices seemed a little high. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good Technical College for this career field.

define computer networking .....


you could spend your days pulling low voltage Cat5e or Cat6 and you would be "Networking" Computers ...

Are you thinking about sitting is a server room in a Data Center, creating user accounts, setting email ... checking on backups

You could be working a help desk assisting users with checking their email ...

There are Guys that work on Routers all day doing vlans and such ... more of a WAN / LAN Tech, primarily working on Cisco ... although their are quite a few more devices out their besides Cisco ... but they are like the Gold Standard

[Gwydion]

Seconding CCNA

[CrashTest]

CCNA is a good place to start. No school necessary. Plenty of at-home material is available.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Nucklesack

Capitol College up in Beltsville. Not only will you recieve a degree it is an industry recognized college for quality education.

Look at who you are going to be competing with for jobs, and get a better education and experience than they have.

Try going up against someone with a BS, or an MS in Comp Sci, or IS with 2 years experience in an intern program, with a 'degree' from ITT Tech, or with just a certification.

A friend of mine went to a 2 year program in VA, and realized after he graduated all the jobs were going to 4 year grads from reputable coleges. Shortly thereafter he went back to school and got a 4 year degree in Resp Therapy.

[CrashTest]

Originally Posted by donmagicyourmom

if you want a cert, i would go with a CCNA (cisco certified network associate). This does contain some proprietary information only for use on cisco hardware but that is what you'd most likely see in the field. Even if you never see the cisco IOS, the cert contains all you would need to know about TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, RIP, IGRP and other networking protocols you see on any brand hardware. this is a great first networking cert if you're going in this field.

Just so you know, IGRP is Cisco proprietary and is no longer supported or part of the IOS.

[bobbyb]

Originally Posted by Nucklesack

Capitol College up in Beltsville. Not only will you recieve a degree it is an industry recognized college for quality education.

Originally Posted by Nucklesack

While the Cert maybe nice, it wont hold water without experience. And unless you have experience you'll easily be lost in the terms and concepts. There are experience network guys who still struggle with Subnetting, cant imagine it would be an easy concept for a fresh fish.

there are so many tools to help with that, and with so much NAT'ing going on these days, all you need is a public IP for the firewall ... and away you go

may be a couple more IP's if you have public servers ........