Computer Science +/- CCNA?

Nazbit · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:24

SiD the Turtle said:
I think I heard about some kind of Cisco training app which has all of the routers etc so that you can practice on them without having to buy tens of thousands of pounds of kit. Probably similar to the software interfaces we use to administer the kit remotely.

I dont suppose you know where I can find this?

[TW]Fox said:
Think carefully about whether Uni is right for you.

If you intend to just treat it like college and pick up everything from lectures, you will almost certainly fail.

I didnt mean that I wasnt dedicated to getting my degree, I simply meant that as there is a choice with the CCNA I would rather learn in a classroom led environment than on my own from books.

newbiejim said:
BTW this site is superb for CCNA, dont be put off by the crap look , and well worth the subscription, think it was £10-ish

link

Cheers

AndrewP · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:36

I've a CompSci degree (well, joint with Maths), graduated 2 years ago and I'm now doing my CCNA in a similar setup to the college course you picked out, except its 2 semesters a year, so pretty slow-paced. Sit my Sem 2 exam on Monday. Overall its been fairly easy so far but its been a good way to learn the stuff, and we have to keep pace with less technical people. It costs £250 a semester but my work is paying, remember the costs of the course will be offset by (probably) not needing to buy yourself hardware to practice on.

Regarding overlap with a degree, its going to depends on what modules you do at uni, I've not repeated much, but my mate who did a straight CS degree had already done routing protocols before.

I've heard from most more experienced IT pros that its been devalued by so many people having it, being able to cram it in a week in a 'bootcamp' and then forget it all, but I've learnt plenty of useful stuff so far. We'll see how useful it is in the job market next week, as I've applied for a new job that involves a bit of networking and CCNA is my only proper experience in that field

.

Nazbit · 2 Jun 2006 at 11:56

Yeh thats a good point, although the course itself may seem quite expensive, buy the time I have bought books and software, maybe a few bits of hardware to practice on then there probably isnt much difference.

I think I will buy the book, and see if I can tackle it on my own in my first year, and if I cant or I run in to problems, then I can enrole in to the college course on the 2nd year of my degree.

Lummux · 2 Jun 2006 at 17:42

remember you have to renew it after 3 years so it would be foolish to do it to early as it will run out,

Stellios · 2 Jun 2006 at 17:48

Lummux said:
remember you have to renew it after 3 years so it would be foolish to do it to early as it will run out,

Do you? Might do it in my final year of uni then if i have time. No point doing it in the first year as i probably wont need ti until im out of uni.

Psyk · 2 Jun 2006 at 17:52

Lummux said:
remember you have to renew it after 3 years so it would be foolish to do it to early as it will run out,

That means mine will have expired after I finish uni (also doing a comp sci degree). Probably no point in renewing it though, I don't even want to work in that area.

Hellsmk2 · 2 Jun 2006 at 18:05

This has probably already been mentioned but if you managed to get an MCSE whilst at university, it would have more than likely expired by the time you finish your degree. If you want to get an MCSE, the time to do it would be on your placement year , and towards the end of the year too.

I know you say you're lacking in confidence to do it without a course, but really... don't do a course. University will prepare you to do it without paying through the teeth for it (if you're a half decent student that is

) and it's much more interesting to teach yourself. You'll have a much more pratical knowledge of it than someone who gets spoonfed just what they need to know for the exam (which is all a course will do, regardless of what they say they'll do).