NITLC vs Computeach

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This is following on from my Newbie thread, but basically I have just had interviews with these two "leading" training providers. To sum up, I thought both salesman were good in different ways, and quite interesting (although the NITLC man lied about Computeach in some aspects!). I am probably going down the MCAD route (maybe MCDBA, not sure), and the costs are around £2900 NITLC vs £4700 Computeach, which is a big difference. Without having seen the quality if the materials they send you, or experienced the support they offer, the main difference between what they offer is that Computeach provide all software and the use of their virtual lab so you don't need 2 PCs, whereas for NITLC you need to provide the software and have 2 PCs to network. Also from what I have been told they are a bigger operation. For example, NITLC have 15 tutors, and Computeach 52. However, one little lie I was told by NITLC was that Computeach only have 4 tutors! Or maybe the Computeach man was lying?!

My decision will probably be MCAD with NITLC. However, I would like more info about the actual course material, which to me is the important difference between paying and self-study. If there is good material to teach you and guide you in a structured way then great, if not then it seems a waste (excepting the tutors etc). Firstly is there a substantial amount of material, or is it just a series of headings then go and read the manuals? Is it any good, anything like lecture material at uni? Is there any way of getting hold of it without paying?!

To calrify an issue I read somewhere on this forum yesterday about payment, the career development loan is interest free for 2 years, then you do have the option of paying the whole original sum off in one go and therefore pay no interest at all.

 

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Another difference is that you pay for resits with NITLC.

 

Certainly at the time I used my CDL (several years ago now) the interest for the initial 2 years was paid by the government, then thereafter by you. Not sure if it's still the case now tho ....

 

That's right, so if you pay it off in one lump sum after 2 years you essentially get an interest free loan for 2 years, and the bank is happy because the gov pay them the interest. I got the impression from something I read here yesterday that maybe the deal doesn't allow you to pay it off all in one go, or that you somehow end up paying more anyway. Either case is wrong, I just thought I'd point it out as it had confused me initially.

 

I am doing my course with NITLC. I chose them over Computeach, the course was cheaper and they have a far better reputation in my opinion. I would have got an MCSE with Computeach, but with NITLC on their TSE course, I get an A+, Network+, MCSE and a Cisco qualification. I only started a couple of weeks ago, and have nearly completed the foundation block. The course materials so far have been excellent. The student net is very well laid out. I haven't needed to contact a tutor yet, but I am sure they will be quick and accurate in their responses. All in all I am very happy with my selection of training provider. Choosing who to spend your money with is hard, but take your time and make the choice that is going to be right for you. Computeach might be bigger, I don't know, but bigger is not always better. There is an old saying, The Best Things Come In Small Packages. Bigger can mean more experience in providing their services, and Computeach have been training people in IT for many years. As for the two Computer requirement with NITLC. You already have one computer right ? I bought a second-hand one from E-Bay for £70. Compaq Deskpro, P3,keyboard and monitor etc. It wont start a new revolution in computer performance, but does the job. That's my experience, I hope it helps you in some way to decide who to train with.

 

Again, when I had mine, I could pay the bank off in a lump sum at the end, as we found there was an unaccounted-for ISA we didn't know about, so just used that in a oner.

 

Thanks guys.
Nightwalker - thanks for your reply, it's reassuring to know the course material itself is good. I have a bit more reading around to do first, but will probably go with NITLC. Good luck with your course, and hopefully see you around!

 

No problem Aardvark. Keep us posted when you have decided.

 

Hi there. Ive heard that the person who runs NITLC used to work for Computeach. ive also read on other forums that there fantastic centre is 90% rented off. Ive also heard that there training material is photocopied manuals and Microsoft press books. what scared me the most was that apparently they have not had there end of year reports published. Ask both Computeach and NITLC what percentage of students actually complete there courses. I have decided to just buy the books and do it that way. The rumour is that 90% of students dont complete courses with distance learning and a bigger percentage than that never get IT jobs.
Hope this helps

 

When the guy from Computeach came around last week, he mentioned that the guy running NITLC used to work for Computeach. Apparentley the MD from Computeach sacked him due to some disagreement?

How true that is i don't know, just what the sales man quoted!

NITLC did say they sent out Microsoft Press Books but nothing was photcopied, it was all originals.

 

Is there something wrong with Microsoft press books that I am not aware of? If you were studying for a MS product, wouldn't you want their books? In addition, I rather have photocopy material that was up to date than manuals that were out of date.

 

I think the 90% is probably a little too high I would expect a lot more people to finish the course. As for getting an IT job let nobody fool you IT is an extremely competitive market and is VERY hard to get into. It the catch 22 situation no job without experience and no experience without a job, mix into that companies desires for people to have IT certs and hey presto you have yourself a hard job of getting your foot in the door.

Believe me there is nothing more humiliating than having to take a junior IT position to get into IT with 13 years experience with PC and thats what I had to do in my first year. It makes me laugh when I see these companies say that there is something like 100,000 IT positions that need filling, that is complete rubbish and they also forget to tell people that these positions are probably data input and similar low grade jobs.

 

74% of all statistics are made up.
And no, it didn't help much.

 

You must be mad to pay £4000.00 for Microsoft press books which you can go out and buy from a shop for little cost. As for support,there are loads of forums out there who can give brilliant help for nothing. If you fail its cost the price of an exam. Please do the sums 4000 students per years, one recruitment person who I bet is just a tutor. Before you sign ask the questions that are important, but get them on headed paper signed

 

It's not just for MOS books...it also includes 4 workshops at 4 days a piece, access to Learnkey and CBT Nugget CBTs, access to Recruitment help, access to practice tests, access to a great exclusive community forum, oppurtunity to meet new people etc etc...It's not about the sums KES123, it's about doing the homework...something that you seem to have overlooked before launching your keyboard based verbal assault on NITLC.

 

I'm happy to say that CertForums is proud to consider itself one of these, despite the pointless speculation we see here.

Factually incorrrect, as any Providers I have spoken to through my own studies and from working here use out-sourced recruitment agents.

Stunning. Bet several of the 1000+ Members we have here wish they'd thought of that wisdom.

 

It's been a while since I had mine but you need to be a bit pro-active with it. Remember that it's interest free for two years.
However, the bank doesn't come after you to start your monthly repayments until after the two years are up...

 

Like I said, that was a while ago.