College - Need Advice

[JacobM5727]

Hey guys, i need help in deciding my future
i decided to go back to school, i took 3 classes earlier this year, but im gonna go back now full time and finish.

my major is:

- Computer Network Technology

what i will have at the end is:

- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Network Technology
- A+ Certification

and 1 more thing, but i have to choose. here are the options:

- Microsoft System Engineer Windows 2000 (MSCE)
- Cisco Network Administrator (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- UNIX Network Administration

i dont know which one of those is best. whats the difference between CCNA and CCNP? would the UNIX track be better, since i can see it being useful as well?

thanks guys

[SeanC]

Well, I'd pick either the CCNP or the MCSE.

If you want to get into Unix administration then the Unix one is definitely the way to go.

Pick Cisco for networking. Microsoft if you want to be a MS network admin (Windows/Exchange/IIS/SQL Server).

Sorry it doesn't help much but you have to decide what you want to do with your career and then decide from that.

Sean

[JacobM5727]

whats the diference between CCNA and CCNP?

[Martoch]

CCNA

VS

CCNP

[JacobM5727]

thanks martoch, that says:

"The CCNP has as its prerequisite the CCNA"

but i can choose either according to the college... does that mean if i do the ccnp, i get the ccna too?


i would rather be a sys admin then a network admin
it says ccna is better for that.. if i wouldnt get both with a ccnp, i think i woud go ccna

[phenious]

Means you will study for it probably... but CISCO wont give you the real Cert. till you get the CCNA then go for the CCNP.

-: phenious :-

[grandchehaw]

Just to clear it up a little....In order to go for the CCNP you need to have your CCNA. So yes you would have both. You only have to pass one test to become a CCNA. You have to take four tests to become a CCNP.

[phenious]

And on top of that only 2 People are given the ok to test for CISCO and that is Prometric and View. So I dont think your school can give you those certs unless they convince one of the people listed above to test at your school or you all take a trip to their place like my High School did.

-: phenious :-

[jynxedu]

From what I have seen out and about, a MCSE carries more weight than a CCNA.

One of the major pointers I give to all of the youngins just starting out is to get some kind of experience. (Other than your madscientist-ish designs at your dwelling)

I have dealt with CCNP/CCDPs that attended a bootcamp (no offense to those that dwell here) who were mystified by a broadcast storm from NetGear dumb hubs on a network. The same can hold true for MCSEs.

You have to start some where and it's not always bad at the bottom if you have great ones to work for.

Just my two cents.

[CMonster]

Keep going at least until you get your bachelors -an AS is like a high school diploma these days. If you have you BS you could go to work right away for the FBI as a special agent/IT (after a screening test and a background investigation) but they won't even look at you with only an AS