Comment inline
""Jim McDowell"" wrote in message
[EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> I assume you are on a legitimate quest for information and not just trying
> to start another flame session on this list, so I'll open myself up and
give
> you my honest opinion.
>
> Similar situation for me in 1988. I got the advanced degree and I'm sorry
I
> did. Should have gotten a CCIE (assumming I could've done it). I've been
> working on certs mid 90s.
>
> My reasoning:
>
> 1) Age is important when you're looking for a job. People will disagree,
> but...it does matter. Certification attempts to "train" you to solve
> specialized problems now. Degree attempts to "educate" you to build a
> "judgemental database" that can be applied to more general problems in the
> long run. Few degree programs provide "specialized skills" that are
needed
> in the workforce now (engineering degree may be an exception to that, in
my
> humble opinion).
Nope, not even the engineering degree is useful in the real world. I
graduated with honors with 2 bachelor's degrees in engineering from a famous
school, and those degrees don't help me do jack-squat in the real world.
It just looks impressive on a resume, that's all. But on the job,how many
times do you really have to whip out a 3-page multivariable fluid mechanics
equation within 30 minutes, using just pencil and paper - which is what the
engineering degree basically boils down to.
I might say that the computer science degree has some real-world
applicability. But not much, judging from my old college classmates who
majored in CS who tell me just how little they draw upon their college
education.
Depressing, I know. I think this is why so many college students spent time
trying to find the easiest majors and the easiest courses within those
majors, and the easiest professors who will teach those courses, etc.
They'll copy each other's homework and projects willy nilly (I think CNN.com
had an article where one college professor of CS discovered that 80% of
programming projects turned in by his students turned out to be
plagiarized), and basically cut every corner to get that sheepskin. Sure,
laziness is part of it, but I think there is more. I think that students
realize that what you learn in college is quite frankly not very relevant in
the real world, and that the college degree is useful as a passport to a
job, nothing more. Companies want employees to have a degree, so students
get them.
>
> 2) Many people don't see the difference between "training" and
"education".
> There really is a difference.
>
> 3) Most importantly, there is more to working than "I make a zillion
> dollars a year and I have blah, blah, blah working for me." What do you
> really like to do?...because you might be doing it for the rest of your
life
> (maybe you'd rather run a charter boat operation out of the Virgin Is.
than
> ever see a router or have to deal with some employee's personal problems).
> Masters in IT is a technology "lite" degree (big picture), as oppossed to
CS
> degree, EE degree or, for that matter, CCIE (I think). Do you like
project
> management (where can I find someone to solve this routing problem)? Or
do
> you like being up to your ears in detailed, problem solving (how can I
solve
> this routing problem)? Of course, there are always some gifted folks that
> can do it all.
>
> Lastly, advanced education doesn't guarantee you a management position any
> more than CCIE guarantees you a great networking position, anymore than
> being someone's boss guarantees you personal satisfaction. There simply
are
> no guarantees.
>
> Finally, advise is cheap...just ignore the advice and flip a coin. You've
> got a 50 percent chance.
>
> Jim McDowell
> BSEE San Diego State University
> MSSM University of Southern California
> MCSE
> CCNP
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi. After 20 years in the U.S. Navy, I'm changing career to IT. I just
> finished my BS in Information Technology. Which do you think is better:
> 1)pursue a Master's Degree in IT, or 2) to study for CCNA and MCSE at
> Community College. The Navy is willing to spend money for scholarship for
> these; it's just a matter of (my) choice. And I have to use this before I
> retire in 20 months. I need an advise from you folks.
>
> Thanks,
> Val
Message Posted at:
http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=11396&t=11349
--------------------------------------------------
FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html
Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
