Pursuing a career in networking

**nemesisrobot** · August 10th, 2006, 12:55 AM

I'm currently a Junior in High school, and I am seriously considering a career in network management and administration. I'm currently working on my CCNA (My school's IT department is part of the Cisco academy) and I am at a loss at what to do after I graduate from high school.

I live in Hawaii and the Pacific center of advanced techonologry training is located here, at the Honolulu community college. Now I could choose to go here, earn an Associate's, and move on to a four year college like at the Univesity of Hawaii to earn my bachelor's degree (which I noticed a lot of companies are looking for anyway).

OR

I could go to an expensive private school like DeVry

I'd like some input from you guys to determine my plan of action. I am leaning towards my first choice because it seems much more appealing to me because it's close to home, I could earn my CCNP afterwards, get a job and then put myself through school at the university.

Also, I realize that certification's aren't all that matters in a career like this. What else would you guys reccomend me learning? Probably familiarize myself w/ different OS's aside from Windows such as Linux/Unix, Mac OS, Sun? What else?

**The Real Bingo** · August 10th, 2006, 01:05 AM

If it was me, I'd go the community college route. Cheaper, closer, and I'm pretty sure the first two years at DeVry or anywhere else would be the same anyway.

Hawaii, ey? I should've applied there for astronomy...instead I'm stuck in the Great Northeast learning finance. Oh well!

**nemesisrobot** · August 10th, 2006, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by The Real Bingo

Hawaii, ey? I should've applied there for astronomy...instead I'm stuck in the Great Northeast learning finance. Oh well!

Yeah I love it here. I've been to a few other places on the continental US but i got homesick really quick =/. It's the reason why the first choice is so appealing.

**SeanC** · August 11th, 2006, 01:20 PM

Go Community College then go University. The College courses should count to get you bys in some of your first year University courses.

Use that time to get the basic certs (A+, Network+). I wouldn't get the CCNA until you're nearly done school since they expire after (I think) 5 years and you have to retest.

**GroundZero3** · August 13th, 2006, 08:55 AM

Ewwwww UH, what a horrible school. (no offense, i used to live in Hawaii and have/had friend who went to UH). But i guess if you are planning to continue your education get what you need done and get out of there)

My question is what experience do you have with computers/networking in the real world? Are you currently working in the field? I only ask this because just getting your degree is not going to get you a job these days. Since you are in highschool you need to get into a part time job, volunteer, do whatever you can to get experience under you. Learning what they teach you in school is alot different that what actually happens in the real world.

With a degree and real world experience, i wouldnt just limit myself to Networking. Look into servers and programming. This should help make you marketable!

good luck!

**Epyon9283** · August 13th, 2006, 09:40 AM

I got a BS in Network and Communications Management from Devry. I've been stuck doing tech support since I graduated in 2004. It sucks.

**nemesisrobot** · August 14th, 2006, 03:17 AM

Sadly, I currently have no related work experience (yet). I am looking for internships and such, and I'm applying for a job at BestBuy (I figured any work experience is a good one).

As far as a career in networking goes, what would you guys reccommend that I major in? Computer engineering, or computer science, etc?

Also, specifically, what other things besides a Cisco cert and a degree would make me more marketable?

Thanks

**GroundZero3** · August 14th, 2006, 06:00 PM

None of those degrees really have anything to do with Networking.

**nemesisrobot** · August 15th, 2006, 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

None of those degrees really have anything to do with Networking.

Yes I know that, but you also said that I should look into other things to make myself more marketable and you said

Look into servers and programming.

which is why i asked about getting a degree in computer science =/ (Unless you meant that I should learn that stuff on my own?)

**GroundZero3** · August 15th, 2006, 08:06 AM

I know people with degrees in history and english who are in the computer field. Computer Science will help you with the programming. So go for that if you are wanting to learn programming.

Depending on the school some computer science degrees make you take an intro to networking/intro to computer course. Other than that its mainly focused on C++/Java and Math.

The only real way you will learn about servers is actually working on them. Getting to know the operating system and setting them up to do things you want them to do. Those technical schools i feel are a joke. They take all these people and teach them about computers but once they graduate they have a hard time getting a job. Why you ask? Because they have never done anything outside a classroom.

**nemesisrobot** · August 15th, 2006, 10:57 PM

Cool thanks =)

My prior career choice was actually programming, so I know the basics of what that's all about, and know a bit of C and C++, so I think I will get a degree in that. I looked over some of the courses offerend at UH's Computer Science program, and some of them do go into a bit of networking and such, so I saw that as a good thing.