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.

 

[RadioPatrol]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[RadioPatrol]

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 ........

 

[itsbob]

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

AND they have classes down here at SMHEC.

SHORT commute to get there.

 

[RadioPatrol]

The bonus is now the tests allow you to use the ? when doing most of the commands, when i first started you actually had to know the commands since the help system wasn't available.

yeah when I first got into this field, the Novell Engineer @ my 1st IT job laid it all out real nice the white board, and i perfectly understood it .... but I cannot remember for the life of me how he did it .... 7 yrs ago




at least everything is switched these days ........ ugh the old day of Cat3 / 5 Collision Domains ....... Arc Net ... Thin Net on Coax ... you had to put the terminators on the ends or the data would run out the end ...

My 1st network was an Apple Talk Network @ home ....over phone lines 230Kbs MAX ... that was fast

 

[GRN96WS6]

Are you looking for a degree? Certifications are nice but they are kind of going by the wayside as the IT boom isn't in the 90's anymore. You will need a Bachelor's degree and then work towards certifications IMO

I'd recommend CCNA then work up from there. I don't think the MCSE and such is that great anymore IMPO.

I went to DeVry and am about to start up my graduate degree again at Keller but I am taking online only since my job sends me places on short notice and I still need to be able to complete my classes. I'd recommend giving them a look if you want a degree. Or UMUC online maybe?

I was never really fond of TESST or Strayer.

 

[CrashTest]

CCNA level subnet question

Q. - Summarize the following addresses with one line

192.168.0.0
192.168.1.0
192.168.2.0
192.168.3.0

A. - 192.168.0.0 0.0.3.255

--------------------------------------------------------------

Slightly harder subnet question

Q. - Summarize the following addresses with one line

72.14.0.0
72.14.1.0
72.46.32.0
72.46.33.0
200.14.0.0
200.14.1.0
200.46.32.0
200.46.33.0

A. - 72.14.0.0 128.32.33.255

 

[SJSWING]

Thanks all that have replied. I was looking at TESST and this was the first step in the search process for finding the right college. I wanted a tech. college due to the fact that I am more of a hands on type person and learn a little better that way. When we toured the campus it was nice, with the classroom setups and what all was covered in the course. They did offer a Associates degree and I am leaning way more towards that then the certificate as there was only about a $8000 price difference between the 2 programs.

I would like to get the BA and realize that is going to be a have to for the next step. Right now I am looking to get the experience under my belt to get my foot in the door at a Contractor on base. I am tired of the retail job, not that it was that horrible, but I have topped out in pay the past 3 years of my work.

 

[PsyOps]

Join the Air Force. They will train you and pay you for it. They provide 100% tuition assistance for you to get your degree, certs and other career training. People coming out of a 4 year enlistment are mostly done with their BS have several certs under their belt and can easily land $60-80k or more.

 

[RadioPatrol]

Join the Air Force. They will train you and pay you for it. They provide 100% tuition assistance for you to get your degree, certs and other career training. People coming out of a 4 year enlistment are mostly done with their BS have several certs under their belt and can easily land $60-80k or more.

 

[SJSWING]

Join the Air Force. They will train you and pay you for it. They provide 100% tuition assistance for you to get your degree, certs and other career training. People coming out of a 4 year enlistment are mostly done with their BS have several certs under their belt and can easily land $60-80k or more.

As this does sound really nice, I am a family oriented individual and can not see myself away from my Wife, daughter, and other relatives for 4 years. I know that does not seem like a good excuse, But knowing my luck, I would get sent over seas and never see them again. ( I know sounds really bad, but that would be my luck.)

 

[itsbob]

As this does sound really nice, I am a family oriented individual and can not see myself away from my Wife, daughter, and other relatives for 4 years. I know that does not seem like a good excuse, But knowing my luck, I would get sent over seas and never see them again. ( I know sounds really bad, but that would be my luck.)

Oh c'mon, they suggested the Air Force, not like they suggested a branch of the military..

You can still wear your pretty skirts and your frilly panties.

 

[RadioPatrol]

Oh c'mon, they suggested the Air Force, not like they suggested a branch of the military..

You can still wear your pretty skirts and your frilly panties.

yeah it is like a 9 to 5er ....

and you can take the wife and kid with you, after tech school

I wish you luck, but Man up and support your country ....