Exams you wish you had done

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Nope.

 

I have no choice; I am a (willing) hostage.

 

Physics A-level, and probably a masters in software engineering or computational finance instead of 15+ useless certs

 

For some reason i always look back and think "maybe i should have done that exam back then??" Some would have taken me in a different direction, others would have just been for me. Things like C&G 236, C&G239 which woul have taken me into electrical testing, C&G224 TV and Video servicing module (wasnt allowed to do this part of teh exam as an apprentice had to do control systems). In It it would have been MCSE, MCSA after doing A+ N+ etc many years ago and not now.
Unfortunatley my comapny dont pay for training or exams, so any i do now are doen off my own back.

 

This, seeing as I've ended up working on a 2000 domain it would have been bloody useful!

I wish I'd finished my BTEC as well but I was young and stupid and pissed off with the world.

 

Well, it's not a cert as such...

I've been a student with the OU on-and-off now since 2000.
I've done a number of courses with little or no structure - just what I felt like at the time.
Back then, working out a qualification path with the OU was a bit like some kind of Masonic ritual - the microsoft certifications actually make sense in comparison:

'T615 will count as 60 points towards a Bsc in IT providing no more than 30 points are taken at level 2 and the student has completed the now discontinued M109 before its final presentation and attends a day school on or before 12th September 2011'

Meh

But now, they've got a handy little tool on the website that takes what you've got and then tells you what you need to do in addition to get whatever qualification you want. It might seem obvious, but it never is.

I was also put off the the OU rule that you can only count points from a course for up to a year after the course is retired. My first one went a while back and I got annoyed that I had pretty much wasted a year. I then discovered (via the handy tool I mention) that this is only the case when persuing a named degree, so I switched my course to an open degree and all my expired points count again. Happy days.

Regret? That I hadn't discovered this sooner. I'd have a degree by now. Ten years ago I remember thinking 'gosh, the OU is so slow - it'll take me six years to get a degree.' Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing.

 

I attended university twice, and dropped the courses within the first year of each. Convinced myslef, that i wanted to get into primary Teaching, which really isnt me...........


I wish now looking back, I had followed my heart, and took more confidence in myself to do a degree in Computing....................rather than being a drop out twice and having a debt that ill be paying until im 80


But hey you live and learn, and yopu can do something about it...........and next sept, after getting a little money together, ill be studying for a degree in a computing or something similar at the OU

 

Not IT related but.. Helicopter Pilots exam, looking into now days it's very expensive (even more to be a commercial helicopter pilot). I would love to learn to fly, even better would be to teach others to fly.

 

Two things I wish I had done... neither of them related to certification exams:

I wish I had done work as a research chemist back when I was in college. But if I had, I wouldn't have been doing what I am doing today, so I have no regrets.

I wish that I had gone to a state university when starting out instead of trying to struggle with private university tuition. I got just as good of an education at the state school as I got when I went to the private school.

 

I wish I had knuckled down a bit more when I did a CCNA course which was spread over a year.
I think there was too much to do in the time we had too.
At least I can be happy in the knowledge that no one on the course passed either. lol

 

It is possible to 'game the system' a little :-

1. You can take many level 1 modules at once and just aim for the basic pass and skip some TMA's. Just doing enough to pass will lighten your load, allow you to take more modules at once and gain maximum credit in minimum time. Since most IT level one modules are probably fairly easy and likely have no exam this is quite feasible. Also I don't think level one pass marks count toward degree classification.

2. As mentioned go for an unamed degree, makes it easier to get the points because less rules, however slightly less marketable because will probably have to explain what it is to people.

3. Get credit for prior learning or experience. You can apply to be assessed and get credit for previous courses at other places etc.

4. Get credit for MCSA style certs.

5. Take 60 point courses as these will get you more points faster.

6. Go for a foundation degree or without-honours degree.

7. Look for courses that people reviewed as easy points.

So being ruthless and working hard some people could maybe get an OU degree of sorts in two years part time.

However in reality most people will want to study more earnestly or won't be able to claim that much 'free credit' and are likely to take 4-5 years part time.

There are also many universities that offer online masters which could be completed in around two years.

 

In all honesty: Certs, should have taken the exams for 70-290,291,293,294 when I did the courses back in '06-'07.

In even more honesty: I should have taken Art instead of Chemistry or Physics at A-level and then done a degree in Computer Graphics/3D (or similar title) instead of Computer Science, I keep wanting to let my arty side out.

 

If you're interested in more technical aspects of computer graphics a maths or physics degree is pretty much essential. Writing the RenderMan 'hair', 'cloth' or 'fluid' modules is likely to have been undertaken by someone with a PhD in computer graphics and a lot of Mathmatics talent.

Few Art courses cover much related to 3D content creation or digital media, but they would help you develop creative and artistic talent.

Technical drawing or design is probably a closer fit for most types of 3D design work.

Nothing stopping you from picking up Maya, AutoCAD or SolidWorks and getting into design or animation in your spare time. There are student and unemployment offers available. Alternatively look at cheaper alternatives like Blender or Sketchflow.