Tips Would Be Appreciated

Hi,
I've been watching this site as I've been studying for 70-
315. I'm a middle-aged, recent (within years) single-mom
who has been studying computers since my divorce (I was
a "stay-at-home" mom, & haven't worked in 20
years...which might sound nice until all of a sudden at
my age I have to stand on my own & support my kids with
no work history). I've accumulated some language certs in
other, (outdated) languages & finally have arrived
at .NET, which is what I was looking for all along (but
am self-taught, so had no "career counseling").
I have been learning the massive amount of info to pass
this first exam leading to MCSD sitting at my home
computer (Visual Studio, C# (and darn it Visual
Basic .NET to learn databases...why is it that most
learning material on databases are written using
VB?...ASP.NET, ADO.NET, T-SQL, XML...spending THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS on worthless Microsoft Press books & MOC
books, only to finally find Kalani's, which would be
independently sufficient...wish someone told me that!)
not seeing the sunshine (almost) for the last 8 months,
apart from raising my kids conscienceously. It's amazing
to read some posts that say it only takes 3 weeks to
study properly for these exams...I can't even FATHOM
that.
Ok, so this whole introduction is leading to my
questions. I included the intro so you'd know my devotion
& my desperate need to provide for my kids. I am
scheduled for the 70-315 exam in about 10 days & I'd like
to get some of you guy's opinions of how to maximize the
time left to prepare for the exam.
What practice exams, sites, whatever, besides Kalani,
would you all suggest? Are there "chats" or whatever for
people studying for this exam, to talk with people in the
same life I'm at...or, is this it? It'd be great for it
to be more in "real-time"...
Also, out of curiosity, the people that post to this are
from what...all over the world?
Thank you all for reading my long-winded story. All input
would be greatly appreciated.

"Orbit"

Orbit

Hello Orbit,

Kalani's book is sufficient. Do all the step by step. and al the exercises.
Time your study, and do all the questions from every chapter, time your
answers. There are 15-16 q's after each chapter, you should do these in 7 -
10 mints. and all shld be correct. do it at least 2 - 3 times. once you
finish your study, take one day gap, and do the practice exam, given at the
end of book, but before, do the all flash summary, time your exam. As Amit
mention, if you do 15 - 17 wrong, you shld be ok to take exam. Then proceed
for the exam given on CD. which is a real exam, even if you did not score
above 70 - 75 do not disappointed(for this read other people's msgs. on this
newsgroup), go for the MS exam, and I am sure you will do it.
About, Visual Basic, and Basic, then I am a C/C++, C# developer, since last
10 yrs. and I know what you are saying, just think, it is Bill Gates
favorite computer language. Even if you work, on Visual C++, you will not
find a single example, on MSDN, all are VB, C#, J#. \"/
If you want more practice q's. visit the following sites:

measureUp.com
Transcender.Com
http://www.techexams.net/mstechnotes.shtml

Best Luck to You.
MCAD (70-316, 70-315, 70-320)

"Orbit" <> wrote in message
news:3d9d01c42a60$173e4380$...
> Hi,
> I've been watching this site as I've been studying for 70-
> 315. I'm a middle-aged, recent (within years) single-mom
> who has been studying computers since my divorce (I was
> a "stay-at-home" mom, & haven't worked in 20
> years...which might sound nice until all of a sudden at
> my age I have to stand on my own & support my kids with
> no work history). I've accumulated some language certs in
> other, (outdated) languages & finally have arrived
> at .NET, which is what I was looking for all along (but
> am self-taught, so had no "career counseling").
> I have been learning the massive amount of info to pass
> this first exam leading to MCSD sitting at my home
> computer (Visual Studio, C# (and darn it Visual
> Basic .NET to learn databases...why is it that most
> learning material on databases are written using
> VB?...ASP.NET, ADO.NET, T-SQL, XML...spending THOUSANDS
> OF DOLLARS on worthless Microsoft Press books & MOC
> books, only to finally find Kalani's, which would be
> independently sufficient...wish someone told me that!)
> not seeing the sunshine (almost) for the last 8 months,
> apart from raising my kids conscienceously. It's amazing
> to read some posts that say it only takes 3 weeks to
> study properly for these exams...I can't even FATHOM
> that.
> Ok, so this whole introduction is leading to my
> questions. I included the intro so you'd know my devotion
> & my desperate need to provide for my kids. I am
> scheduled for the 70-315 exam in about 10 days & I'd like
> to get some of you guy's opinions of how to maximize the
> time left to prepare for the exam.
> What practice exams, sites, whatever, besides Kalani,
> would you all suggest? Are there "chats" or whatever for
> people studying for this exam, to talk with people in the
> same life I'm at...or, is this it? It'd be great for it
> to be more in "real-time"...
> Also, out of curiosity, the people that post to this are
> from what...all over the world?
> Thank you all for reading my long-winded story. All input
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> "Orbit"

Lord2702

HEY, THANKS "LORD"!!!!!!!!!! I'll let you know


>-----Original Message-----
>Hello Orbit,
>
>Kalani's book is sufficient. Do all the step by step.
and al the exercises.
>Time your study, and do all the questions from every
chapter, time your
>answers. There are 15-16 q's after each chapter, you
should do these in 7 -
>10 mints. and all shld be correct. do it at least 2 - 3
times. once you
>finish your study, take one day gap, and do the practice
exam, given at the
>end of book, but before, do the all flash summary, time
your exam. As Amit
>mention, if you do 15 - 17 wrong, you shld be ok to take
exam. Then proceed
>for the exam given on CD. which is a real exam, even if
you did not score
>above 70 - 75 do not disappointed(for this read other
people's msgs. on this
>newsgroup), go for the MS exam, and I am sure you will
do it.
>About, Visual Basic, and Basic, then I am a C/C++, C#
developer, since last
>10 yrs. and I know what you are saying, just think, it
is Bill Gates
>favorite computer language. Even if you work, on Visual
C++, you will not
>find a single example, on MSDN, all are VB, C#, J#. \"/
>If you want more practice q's. visit the following sites:
>
>measureUp.com
>Transcender.Com
>http://www.techexams.net/mstechnotes.shtml
>
>Best Luck to You.
>MCAD (70-316, 70-315, 70-320)
>
>"Orbit" <> wrote in
message
>news:3d9d01c42a60$173e4380$...
>> Hi,
>> I've been watching this site as I've been studying for
70-
>> 315. I'm a middle-aged, recent (within years) single-
mom
>> who has been studying computers since my divorce (I was
>> a "stay-at-home" mom, & haven't worked in 20
>> years...which might sound nice until all of a sudden at
>> my age I have to stand on my own & support my kids with
>> no work history). I've accumulated some language certs
in
>> other, (outdated) languages & finally have arrived
>> at .NET, which is what I was looking for all along (but
>> am self-taught, so had no "career counseling").
>> I have been learning the massive amount of info to pass
>> this first exam leading to MCSD sitting at my home
>> computer (Visual Studio, C# (and darn it Visual
>> Basic .NET to learn databases...why is it that most
>> learning material on databases are written using
>> VB?...ASP.NET, ADO.NET, T-SQL, XML...spending THOUSANDS
>> OF DOLLARS on worthless Microsoft Press books & MOC
>> books, only to finally find Kalani's, which would be
>> independently sufficient...wish someone told me that!)
>> not seeing the sunshine (almost) for the last 8 months,
>> apart from raising my kids conscienceously. It's
amazing
>> to read some posts that say it only takes 3 weeks to
>> study properly for these exams...I can't even FATHOM
>> that.
>> Ok, so this whole introduction is leading to my
>> questions. I included the intro so you'd know my
devotion
>> & my desperate need to provide for my kids. I am
>> scheduled for the 70-315 exam in about 10 days & I'd
like
>> to get some of you guy's opinions of how to maximize
the
>> time left to prepare for the exam.
>> What practice exams, sites, whatever, besides Kalani,
>> would you all suggest? Are there "chats" or whatever
for
>> people studying for this exam, to talk with people in
the
>> same life I'm at...or, is this it? It'd be great for it
>> to be more in "real-time"...
>> Also, out of curiosity, the people that post to this
are
>> from what...all over the world?
>> Thank you all for reading my long-winded story. All
input
>> would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> "Orbit"
>
>
>.
>

Hello Orbit,

Don't forget the MSDN site http://msdn.microsoft.com/.
If you are not already using it, make sure to use the google search engine
http://www.google.com when you're stuck - many certification-related
questions have been asked before, and this is an excellent way to find the
replies!

Best of luck,
Maria

"Orbit" <> wrote in message
news:3d9d01c42a60$173e4380$...
> Hi,
> I've been watching this site as I've been studying for 70-
> 315. I'm a middle-aged, recent (within years) single-mom
> who has been studying computers since my divorce (I was
> a "stay-at-home" mom, & haven't worked in 20
> years...which might sound nice until all of a sudden at
> my age I have to stand on my own & support my kids with
> no work history). I've accumulated some language certs in
> other, (outdated) languages & finally have arrived
> at .NET, which is what I was looking for all along (but
> am self-taught, so had no "career counseling").
> I have been learning the massive amount of info to pass
> this first exam leading to MCSD sitting at my home
> computer (Visual Studio, C# (and darn it Visual
> Basic .NET to learn databases...why is it that most
> learning material on databases are written using
> VB?...ASP.NET, ADO.NET, T-SQL, XML...spending THOUSANDS
> OF DOLLARS on worthless Microsoft Press books & MOC
> books, only to finally find Kalani's, which would be
> independently sufficient...wish someone told me that!)
> not seeing the sunshine (almost) for the last 8 months,
> apart from raising my kids conscienceously. It's amazing
> to read some posts that say it only takes 3 weeks to
> study properly for these exams...I can't even FATHOM
> that.
> Ok, so this whole introduction is leading to my
> questions. I included the intro so you'd know my devotion
> & my desperate need to provide for my kids. I am
> scheduled for the 70-315 exam in about 10 days & I'd like
> to get some of you guy's opinions of how to maximize the
> time left to prepare for the exam.
> What practice exams, sites, whatever, besides Kalani,
> would you all suggest? Are there "chats" or whatever for
> people studying for this exam, to talk with people in the
> same life I'm at...or, is this it? It'd be great for it
> to be more in "real-time"...
> Also, out of curiosity, the people that post to this are
> from what...all over the world?
> Thank you all for reading my long-winded story. All input
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> "Orbit"

Maria

Orbit wrote:

> Hi,
> I've been watching this site as I've been studying for 70-
> 315. I'm a middle-aged, recent (within years) single-mom
> who has been studying computers since my divorce (I was
> a "stay-at-home" mom, & haven't worked in 20
> years...which might sound nice until all of a sudden at
> my age I have to stand on my own & support my kids with
> no work history). I've accumulated some language certs in
> other, (outdated) languages & finally have arrived
> at .NET, which is what I was looking for all along (but
> am self-taught, so had no "career counseling").
> I have been learning the massive amount of info to pass
> this first exam leading to MCSD sitting at my home
> computer (Visual Studio, C# (and darn it Visual
> Basic .NET to learn databases...why is it that most
> learning material on databases are written using
> VB?...ASP.NET, ADO.NET, T-SQL, XML...spending THOUSANDS
> OF DOLLARS on worthless Microsoft Press books & MOC
> books, only to finally find Kalani's, which would be
> independently sufficient...wish someone told me that!)
> not seeing the sunshine (almost) for the last 8 months,
> apart from raising my kids conscienceously. It's amazing
> to read some posts that say it only takes 3 weeks to
> study properly for these exams...I can't even FATHOM
> that.
> Ok, so this whole introduction is leading to my
> questions. I included the intro so you'd know my devotion
> & my desperate need to provide for my kids. I am
> scheduled for the 70-315 exam in about 10 days & I'd like
> to get some of you guy's opinions of how to maximize the
> time left to prepare for the exam.
> What practice exams, sites, whatever, besides Kalani,
> would you all suggest? Are there "chats" or whatever for
> people studying for this exam, to talk with people in the
> same life I'm at...or, is this it? It'd be great for it
> to be more in "real-time"...
> Also, out of curiosity, the people that post to this are
> from what...all over the world?
> Thank you all for reading my long-winded story. All input
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> "Orbit"

Kalani is very good (there are none better for 70-315), but he has some
shortcomings.

1. You need to know how to use XPathNavigator (Kalani's 70-320 book has
good info on this)

2. You need to know the basics of Code Access Security (again, Kalani's
70-320 book has good info on this)

3. You need to study harder sample questions. I like Transcenders
myself. Kalani's sample questions are good, but they're easier than the
actual test questions. They can give you a false sense of confidence.
If you keep taking the 3 Transcenders tests until you consistantly
score in the 90's, it will give you a well-earned sense of confidence.
Don't bother with the Transcender flash card software. If you don't use
Transcenders, then try MeasureUp.

I recommend you hold off a little longer to handle the above 3 items. I
know it doesn't seem right to study the 70-320 book before you go for
the 70-315, but trust me when I say you'll be happy if you do it this
way - at least for those 2 specific areas mentioned above.

The 70-315 test is a very hard test, but you'll feel very good when you
pass it.

One last piece of advice - try to get some friends that are into .NET.
It makes studying easier. You can make frieds easier if you get a
throw-away email account from msn or yahoo, and post that address here.
Once you make contact with people who want to help you, you can decide
if you want to give them your main email address. Don't post you main
email address here - you'll end up getting a lot of SPAM!

Good Luck. I admire your drive and motivation.

Eric

Eric

Well,

That three week figure comes from dummies like me that assume that everyone
is already a programmer and has a degree in computer science. I don't know
how you can get up the gumption to do what you are doing but GOOD LUCK!

There are tons of posts about how to get positions after you get your
certification. That is why I'm posting. I'm echoing Eric's sentiments.
Get out there and meet people. I'm serious. Do you have a .NET users group
available to you? I'm about to give a presentation to mine and I've made
TONS of contacts (not that I'm looking for a job but it helps to know as
many people as possible). I use them to ask about implementations that I
haven't thought about. You can wow them with your ambition and problem
solving. I'd rather a person who knows how to solve problems than someone
who can quote the method call of the DataView object that get all the
Children of a current record. It's useful but if you don't know where you
apply it you are useless to me. They can be a springboard for employment
because we don't want you to go through all this effort and not be able to
get the job that you want/need to support your family.

I understand the stresses. I didn't really have to study for the .net exams
(used it since the alpha releases) but I am getting my MBA at night. I have
total respect for your courage and wish you all the luck in the world.

Al Manint, MCSD (VB6), MCSD.NET (C#), MCDBA (7, 2000)

Al Manint

Hey thanks, Eric. I just ordered the 70-320 book. I
appreciate the heads-up.


>-----Original Message-----
>Orbit wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I've been watching this site as I've been studying for
70-
>> 315. I'm a middle-aged, recent (within years) single-
mom
>> who has been studying computers since my divorce (I
was
>> a "stay-at-home" mom, & haven't worked in 20
>> years...which might sound nice until all of a sudden
at
>> my age I have to stand on my own & support my kids
with
>> no work history). I've accumulated some language certs
in
>> other, (outdated) languages & finally have arrived
>> at .NET, which is what I was looking for all along
(but
>> am self-taught, so had no "career counseling").
>> I have been learning the massive amount of info to
pass
>> this first exam leading to MCSD sitting at my home
>> computer (Visual Studio, C# (and darn it Visual
>> Basic .NET to learn databases...why is it that most
>> learning material on databases are written using
>> VB?...ASP.NET, ADO.NET, T-SQL, XML...spending
THOUSANDS
>> OF DOLLARS on worthless Microsoft Press books & MOC
>> books, only to finally find Kalani's, which would be
>> independently sufficient...wish someone told me that!)
>> not seeing the sunshine (almost) for the last 8
months,
>> apart from raising my kids conscienceously. It's
amazing
>> to read some posts that say it only takes 3 weeks to
>> study properly for these exams...I can't even FATHOM
>> that.
>> Ok, so this whole introduction is leading to my
>> questions. I included the intro so you'd know my
devotion
>> & my desperate need to provide for my kids. I am
>> scheduled for the 70-315 exam in about 10 days & I'd
like
>> to get some of you guy's opinions of how to maximize
the
>> time left to prepare for the exam.
>> What practice exams, sites, whatever, besides Kalani,
>> would you all suggest? Are there "chats" or whatever
for
>> people studying for this exam, to talk with people in
the
>> same life I'm at...or, is this it? It'd be great for
it
>> to be more in "real-time"...
>> Also, out of curiosity, the people that post to this
are
>> from what...all over the world?
>> Thank you all for reading my long-winded story. All
input
>> would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> "Orbit"
>
>Kalani is very good (there are none better for 70-315),
but he has some
>shortcomings.
>
>1. You need to know how to use XPathNavigator (Kalani's
70-320 book has
>good info on this)
>
>2. You need to know the basics of Code Access Security
(again, Kalani's
>70-320 book has good info on this)
>
>3. You need to study harder sample questions. I like
Transcenders
>myself. Kalani's sample questions are good, but they're
easier than the
>actual test questions. They can give you a false sense
of confidence.
>If you keep taking the 3 Transcenders tests until you
consistantly
>score in the 90's, it will give you a well-earned sense
of confidence.
>Don't bother with the Transcender flash card software.
If you don't use
>Transcenders, then try MeasureUp.
>
>I recommend you hold off a little longer to handle the
above 3 items. I
>know it doesn't seem right to study the 70-320 book
before you go for
>the 70-315, but trust me when I say you'll be happy if
you do it this
>way - at least for those 2 specific areas mentioned
above.
>
>The 70-315 test is a very hard test, but you'll feel
very good when you
>pass it.
>
>One last piece of advice - try to get some friends that
are into .NET.
>It makes studying easier. You can make frieds easier if
you get a
>throw-away email account from msn or yahoo, and post
that address here.
>Once you make contact with people who want to help you,
you can decide
>if you want to give them your main email address. Don't
post you main
>email address here - you'll end up getting a lot of SPAM!
>
>Good Luck. I admire your drive and motivation.
>
>Eric
>.
>

Orbit