(not another) Computeach query

Discussion in 'Training & Development' started by KevinThorpe, Oct 4, 2006.

  1. KevinThorpe

    KevinThorpe New Member

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    Hi All,

    I'm new to this place so first of all hello.
    The reason I stopped by is because I am thinking of re-training in IT and have been in touch with Computeach who have pointed me in the direction of the MCDBA course.

    I have some experience with computers and my current job title is Systems Co-ordinator. However I have no actual qualifications in this sphere and do not actually do anything that someone else could not be trained to do in a few days max. For example, my role involves providing website administration but non of the techie 'behind-the-scenes stuff' just using companies pre-made editing interface.

    I have had a play around on www.sqlcourse.com and have completed both the 1 & 2 courses but obviously I realise there will be more to it than these basics.

    I don't have any experience in networking so wondered if anyone has any advice about signing up to the Computeach MCDBA course.

    Because I work with computers and also have a degree (all be it in Comms and Media production), Computeach have offered to defer me from the COMPTIA A+ part of the course and go straight onto the main part of the MCDBA course. Do you think this is wise...will I need this groundwork and knowledge to do the rest of the course?

    I am quite fond of becoming a database administrator and becoming an SQL Server professional but am I doing the right thing or getting in too deep? The course wil cost me in excess of 4k with Computeach:eek:

    Many thanks for any advice you can give!
     
  2. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    Kevin, from what I have heard about the MCDBA, you are getting in way too deep for your first cert.

    Start by self studying the A+ and Net+ IMHO your existing qualifications do not negate the need for these entry level certs. They will prepare you well for the IT world by giving you a solid understanding of what computers are and how they communicate over a network. It's important to start at the beginning and work your way up. What is being suggested to you is that you specialise before you have learnt the basic ropes.
     
    Certifications: C&G Electronics - MCSA (W2K) MCSE (W2K)
  3. Theprof

    Theprof Petabyte Poster

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    I agree with bluerinse, it was the a+,n+, and mcp certs that gave me that basic foundation inorder for me to performe more advanced tasks.
     
    Certifications: A+ | CCA | CCAA | Network+ | MCDST | MCSA | MCP (270, 271, 272, 290, 291) | MCTS (70-662, 70-663) | MCITP:EMA | VCA-DCV/Cloud/WM | VTSP | VCP5-DT | VCP5-DCV
    WIP: VCAP5-DCA/DCD | EMCCA
  4. KevinThorpe

    KevinThorpe New Member

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    Thanks for your speedy response and advice. I spoke to my computeach rep today and cancelled my application. He was pretty peeved as I had pretty much all but signed on the line but thankfully I came on here first and think I have made the right choice.

    Also, they were very pushy, setting tight time constraints and deadlines as to when I had to decide (within 2 working days) otherwise I would not be eligible to approach Computeach for another whole year. I don't think this kind of pressure is good...especially since I was still at the research stage and only wanted to find out what Computeach could do for me.

    I think i will do a bit of reading just to dip my toe in and see if database adminsitartion is what I really want to do.

    Thanks again.
     
  5. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    sqlcourse.com is fantastic - and free!

    What you choose depends on what you want to do.
    The guys have suggested A+ and N+ which is good for getting into IT, but if databases really rock your boat, you may want to consider Access, as in MOS.

    It isn't high level, but it teaches sound principles which you can later apply to MCDBA.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  6. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

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    Kevin

    Phew! Glad others were around to post and help you realise the MCDBA is a lot of hard work!

    As a qualified MCDBA, with 18 months' experience as a production DBA, I think I can safely say that it is by far the hardest cert I've ever studied for. Its certainly not something that can be taken lightly, and you would definitely be better off taking something like the A+, N+ then 'core four' Windows exams first.

    Did you find SQLCourse easy? If you did, then you may well be one of those lucky souls who finds that database theory comes easy to you - this will certainly help if you decide to study for your MCDBA in the future. I've known people who were absolutely fantastic at Networking/Sys Admin/Security/Programming etc who were hopeless when it came to DB work - they just couldn't get their heads round it.

    Personally I was stuck somewhere in the middle - I had a bit of experience as a DBA when i started my course - but not much, and it was a steep learning curve!

    Good luck with whatever route you take - I'm glad you dodged the CompuTeach bullet!
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  7. mattgrey

    mattgrey Nibble Poster

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    A few days back I had computeach send a chap round to me to explain the courses they offer. After reading a lot of the comments about computeach I was rather dubious about having the guy come round. But I have to say he was excellent. He explained how they work, the time scale to expect, what courses I could do and what career paths they would open up. He was not pushy, he listened to me and left me with all the info I needed to make up my mind in my own time. No deadlines or anything like that.

    The course was a lot of money, £6350:eek: for A+, N+, MCDST, MCSA and MCSE consecutively. All exam costs incl.

    A lot of bad experiences I have read about them tend to be related to the person selling the course not computeach themselves. Just thought I would add this to balance out all the bad comments about them!

    They are expensive, but the course seems very comprehensive, you are almost guaranteed to pass, any resits are NOT charged to you, and you get to away with them every now and again, all expenses paid:biggrin !
     
    Certifications: none yet!
    WIP: A+
  8. Sparky
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

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    Questionable :biggrin
     
    Certifications: MSc MCSE MCSA:M MCSA:S MCITP:EA MCTS(x5) MS-900 AZ-900 Security+ Network+ A+
    WIP: Microsoft Certs
  9. mattgrey

    mattgrey Nibble Poster

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    I did say 'almost'!:D
     
    Certifications: none yet!
    WIP: A+
  10. Sparky
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

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    LOL fair enough :biggrin
     
    Certifications: MSc MCSE MCSA:M MCSA:S MCITP:EA MCTS(x5) MS-900 AZ-900 Security+ Network+ A+
    WIP: Microsoft Certs
  11. Baba O'Riley

    Baba O'Riley Gigabyte Poster

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    Of course you're guaranteed a pass. Even a chimp can pass a multiple choice exam with enough attempts at it!:D
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+
    WIP: 70-270
  12. Keimos

    Keimos Byte Poster

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    Hi Kevin,

    zebulebu is nearly spot on.

    Just a few minor adjustments.

    You do not need the A+ to do databases. (It will help for day to day stuff and can be of benefit but it is not necessary) You do need Network+ or a similar course to give you a good grounding in networking.

    Top priority is a Foundation course in Relational Databases and SQL.

    Have the above knowledge before even contemplating the MCDBA or other equivalent qualification.

    Keimos
     
    Certifications: Microsoft Office Specialist
  13. esduffers

    esduffers New Member

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    Hiya,

    just spotted your experience and there are things you should be aware of for the MCDBA. There isn't a guaranteed exam pass, they just pay for 1 resit per module. You have to travel to Birmingham for the classroom sessions which is extra expense. These classroom session are review and revise sessions, so you dont get practical experience. All computeach do is send you the books and throw in some elearning. Employers dont want people who have just read about it. They want people who have some kind of practical hands on experience. You're probably better off choosing a company that includes more practical instructor led training.Also the computeach MCDBA is based on sql 2000, the old version. You really should be looking at sql 2005 as its the latest one.

    If as you say they are deferring you from the A+ straight to MCDBA, what exactly is included and at what price ?

    Eric
     
  14. witch

    witch New Member

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    I just had the computeach rep around this morning and tbh the price made me look on the web before committing and came across this forum - which I am eternally grateful for.

    He recommended that I became a programmer again because I used to write text based games in the 80s in BASIC and later in PASCAL. But what I really want to do is web developing (not just the cosmetic stuff that anyone can do with dreamweaver but to get really stuck in to the nitty gritty). I am also pretty interested in learning more about running servers.

    As a result he recommend their LAMP course. The course included A+(OS) to help me try and get into a first ladder IT position and then followed by a lot of basic looking courses before doing ZendPhp certificate, MySQL, Apache and +Linux. It sounded like the route I want to get into and I can always do programming at a later date in the future, but at £5,000 it is beyond my current means - and with £17k in student loans already, I am reluctant to take a cdl without checking things out more first.

    His sales pitch was really impressive but my current specialism is propaganda techniques and I got the impression that the companies he was listing who employ computeach graduates don't specifically employ computeach graduates but people with the said certificates.

    The trips to Birmingham are extra expense on top of the course fees. He did recommend I contacted the cdl companies today but gave no specific date I had to apply before. Yet he did say that they only take on 6,000 applicants a year, suggesting I was being priveleged. Also mentioned that although most people he talks to want to be game programmers, I was probably one of the few who could do it - however, I think this was just because I mentioned I was a gamer and designed in BASIC in the past (a means to try and sell a course to me).

    I am still a noob beyond what I already know from the 80s and early 90s but I have been teaching myself xhtml, css and dabbling with a little php on the forum I have ran for the last year. I am also on my third self build computer and am pretty competent inside a computer now.

    After reading a bit on this forum, I kind of think I could probably teach myself A+ but I am a bit more concerned about the rest. I am also guessing that doing N+ afterwards is not going to be a bad thing.
     

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