ok, if i dont get into uni, im thinking about becoming a microsoft certified system engineer. has anyone done it, and if so how hard was it?
Looked into it, didn't seem too hard from websites I had looked at. I did the Comptia A+ which is laughably easy and can go towards your MCSE. From what I've heard though it's not worth a huge amount these days and will cost you a fair bit
MCSE is rapidly becoming a mediocre qualification. I've been on since 1998 and passed through experience not based on reading books and cheating with online braindumps, which is entirely possible. This is what's devalued the MSCE, the fact that someone who's barely touched a Windows server or has no idea what an AD Schema is can pass one of their top certifications. The exam isn't hard if you know what you're doing, it's only hard if your only experience of Microsoft is Windows 2000. A lot of employers worth working for now know to look for industry experience if someone claims to tout an MCSE. If you want something to plow your money into, then I'd do a CCIE instead.
and what prey tell is a ccie? im after a qualification that only takes a year, carries a measure of respect (i could to my information technology level 2.... but thats like "this is a hard drive, they store data....." ) and employers now know that any good nerd could pass that course without attending the classes.
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/625/ccie/ You'd be hard pushed to do an MCSE from scratch without attending any courses, unless you just got it out of a book purely for the purpose of passing an exam. Can you do an HND or BTEC? (Granted these are UK quals, but there must be equivalents).. Maybe you could even just get a low level job in IT and work your way up
I know people who have bought some books on 'How to pass an MCSE' and have gone and got themselves the qualification... and these are people who when you ask them about RAID, they are like "what's that?"... in fact, pretty much any question returns some kind of similar response. That will be why the MCSE has lost importance. ::Metz::
Its one of things like A+...It really doesnt mean much anymore but some jobs require it just because its a way to prove that you something on the topic....Also its still fun to put it on your application Some places are makin you take their own test now a days....
