College or Self Learning

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Hi,

I am considering doing a couple of Microsoft Office Specialist Word/Excel/Outlook/Access/PowerPoint to my CV as my line of work is in administration.

I would like people's view whether I should pay to take a class with others go through their materials and then go for exams or self learn it through buying cheap DVD's on eBay and learning at my own pace and booking to exam? Last time I done a course through college it was crammed with so many people and the tutor didn't have much time to teach us individually plus travel time was quite a bit.

Although, they would know what is required to pass the exam and tutorials I imagine would be specific to that.

Thanks.

 

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Everyone learns differently. However, those who do best in IT are usually those who have the drive, determination, persistence, passion, and ability to self-study on their own. Plus, as an added bonus, it's far cheaper. On the other hand, training classes can sometimes give you the opportunity to network with other techs. Whether that is worth the cost or not is entirely up to you. Having an instructor available to answer questions can be an advantage... but that same purpose can be fulfilled by the members of this very forum, some of whom are instructors and authors.

Be careful with those "cheap DVDs on eBay". Most of them include braindumps and/or pirated copies of copyrighted material. Braindumps can get you decertified for life, and pirated training material is just plain illegal. Stick to legit training materials. Books can typically be resold, but computer-based training and practice exams typically cannot... not legally, anyway. The only place to get those sort of products legally is directly from the publisher or as part of a training course.

Hope this helps.

 

I like the idea of going through the training videos as I have found them more helpful than the tutors as these forums give far more info than teachers I tell you. I find networking with others to be a distraction. The last course I done Autodesk CAD there where many conflicts on how to do something and it turned out there was more than 1 way to do things and it was right, but the tutorials they had were incorrect!

I prefer self learning but I do have learning funds available to use for any courses before September this year. Think I will use it for something use and go the self learning route. I hate traveling.

 

I passed 20 Microsoft Exams. All through self-study. Want to see my transcript?

www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/transcripts.
transcript 890484
password: 12345678

1. Watch video will be a great way to start.
2. Do practice tests
3. Try the functions yourself.
4. Buy test voucher with a 2nd shot.
5. If you fail the 1st time, try to find answers yourself by going through help functions.
6. Read your score report, focus effort on the weak areas.

I actually have a free class coming up

http://www.nrclc.com/live_online_training.html

De-mystify Microsoft Office Specialist(MOS) 2007/2010 Certification Sat, Apr 2, 2011 4 PM- 5 PM PDT Free Register
•Learn how to get certification in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OutLook and Access.
•Understand the process involved in get Microsoft Certificate
•Take a look at the study guide, practice test and sample question
•Learn how to become a Microsoft Certified Instructor

Get certified or get left behind!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy9jVopzqSc

 

don't you think its a bad idea to post your username and password details on an open forum?

 

That's not actually her username and password-- It's just the login to see the transcript not the login to the MCP account.

 

Not if you're someone who is just interested in spamming.

In any case, Gosh is correct.

 

I wouldn't want anyone to have any info on my mcp login wether it was transcript page or not. The more details you give out wether how little gives someone a better chance of getting more detailed info about you.

 

To be fair these transcript codes are designed to be shared, usually with employers or potential employers.

The ID is system generated and has nothing to do with your MCP ID, and you choose the password.

Anyone sensible would not put anything in there that relates to their MCP ID, or is even close to it.

I have needed mine a couple of times to prove that I really was an MCT.

 

Yeah this is the case here

In regards the OP, another thing to consider the one advantage of going to college would be making new contacts/friends who may benefit you in the future in some way (either through friendship or opening doors)

 

So, just for clarification from the mods/admins/owners, is her post considered to be forum spamming or not?