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I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Judy

Hi Judy,

There really isn't a "best practice" - you can take the exams in any order
and over any time span. You might start with the subject area you're most
familiar with.

--
Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Visual FoxPro MVP
www.cindywinegarden.com


"Judy" <> wrote in message
news:17ba01c4c1d2$9b83de20$...
>I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
> MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
> and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Judy

>-----Original Message-----
>I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
>MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
>and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I would suggest do 70-229 first because you will need to
know SQL anyway.

The you do the Windows or Web apps, depending on your
experience

After that you do Web Services exam.

At the end the Architecture one.

The .NET exams have lots in common: try first to
understand what .NET Framework is, ADO.NET, learn about
security and delployment. Then you study for each exam's
specifics.

>Thanks,
>Judy

Danut
MCSD.NET Early Achiever
MCAD Charter Member
MCDBA
SCJP
MCSD VC6
MCP

After architecture one, MCSD expires.Then start MCSD.NET 2005.
After MCSD.NET 2005 expires, start MCSD.NET 2006...
Then you have
MCSD.NET
MCSD.NET 2005
MCSD.NET 2006 ...




"Danut P." wrote:

> >-----Original Message-----
> >I was wondering what's the best way to start taking the
> >MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams first
> >and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> I would suggest do 70-229 first because you will need to
> know SQL anyway.
>
> The you do the Windows or Web apps, depending on your
> experience
>
> After that you do Web Services exam.
>
> At the end the Architecture one.
>
> The .NET exams have lots in common: try first to
> understand what .NET Framework is, ADO.NET, learn about
> security and delployment. Then you study for each exam's
> specifics.
>
> >Thanks,
> >Judy
>
> Danut
> MCSD.NET Early Achiever
> MCAD Charter Member
> MCDBA
> SCJP
> MCSD VC6
> MCP
>
>
>
>
>

Yea, if you spend 1 year for each exam then I guess you
are right.

IMHO the main benefit of studying for a certification is
that you learn how to better do your job. That assuming
you do not use brain dumps and you really study.

In my case it did not only help me learn .NET and SQL but
also in the end contributed to my promotion and a good
salary raise.

Danut P.
Sr. Software Engineer


>-----Original Message-----
>After architecture one, MCSD expires.Then start
MCSD.NET 2005.
>After MCSD.NET 2005 expires, start MCSD.NET 2006...
>Then you have
>MCSD.NET
>MCSD.NET 2005
>MCSD.NET 2006 ...
>
>
>
>
>"Danut P." wrote:
>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >I was wondering what's the best way to start taking
the
>> >MCSD exams. Is it good to start with elective exams
first
>> >and go to the core exams. Any help is greatly
appreciated.
>>
>> I would suggest do 70-229 first because you will need
to
>> know SQL anyway.
>>
>> The you do the Windows or Web apps, depending on your
>> experience
>>
>> After that you do Web Services exam.
>>
>> At the end the Architecture one.
>>
>> The .NET exams have lots in common: try first to
>> understand what .NET Framework is, ADO.NET, learn about
>> security and delployment. Then you study for each
exam's
>> specifics.
>>
>> >Thanks,
>> >Judy
>>
>> Danut
>> MCSD.NET Early Achiever
>> MCAD Charter Member
>> MCDBA
>> SCJP
>> MCSD VC6
>> MCP
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>.
>

Hi Judy,

In my case, I started with the subject that interested me most and that
I knew relatively little about, .Net Solution Architect. I like to
learn new things, so it gave me an insentive to study. I don't know
that I would recommend starting with that exam though. Now I am stuck
having to take all five exams before I get either my MCAD or MCSD.
Tod Birdsall, MCP
http://tod1d.blogspot.com

Hi Tod,

I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?

--
Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Visual FoxPro MVP
www.cindywinegarden.com


"Tod Birdsall" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> ...I started with ... .Net Solution Architect. ... Now I am stuck
> having to take all five exams before I get either my MCAD or MCSD.

"Cindy Winegarden" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi Tod,
>
> I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
> Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
> MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?
>

I think he means that since he has already taken 70-300, to get his MCAD, he
will have taken all the required exams plus 70-300. I think he is under the
impression that the four exams are required for MCAD, and that you take
70-300 to go from MCAD to MCSD.

I can understand where this confusion comes from, because I have seen this
misconception before. I even have an Osborne MCAD/MCSD that says this. It
made the mistake in saying you needed a Windows Apps AND a Web Apps exam
instead of saying you need one OR the other for MCAD.

"Schfooge" <> wrote:

>
>"Cindy Winegarden" <> wrote in message
>news:...
>> Hi Tod,
>>
>> I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
>> Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
>> MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?
>>
>
>I think he means that since he has already taken 70-300, to get his MCAD, he
>will have taken all the required exams plus 70-300. I think he is under the
>impression that the four exams are required for MCAD, and that you take
>70-300 to go from MCAD to MCSD.
>
>I can understand where this confusion comes from, because I have seen this
>misconception before. I even have an Osborne MCAD/MCSD that says this. It
>made the mistake in saying you needed a Windows Apps AND a Web Apps exam
>instead of saying you need one OR the other for MCAD.
>

Actually he maneuvered himself into this position by

a. taking 70-300 first
b. taking 70-320 last

70-300 does not contribute to the MCAD credential, meanwhile
70-310/70-320 is mandatory for the MCAD (no substutitions
allowed). Hence he will obtain the MCAD and MCSD.NET
credentials at the same time. By simply swapping his last
two choices (70-229 and 70-320) he could achieved his MCAD
earlier.

"UAError" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "Schfooge" <> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Cindy Winegarden" <> wrote in message
>>news:...
>>> Hi Tod,
>>>
>>> I'm confused. I thought 70-300, "Analyzing Requirements and Defining
>>> Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures" was one of the required exams for
>>> MCSD. Are you talking about some other exam?
>>>
>>
>>I think he means that since he has already taken 70-300, to get his MCAD,
>>he
>>will have taken all the required exams plus 70-300. I think he is under
>>the
>>impression that the four exams are required for MCAD, and that you take
>>70-300 to go from MCAD to MCSD.
>>
>>I can understand where this confusion comes from, because I have seen this
>>misconception before. I even have an Osborne MCAD/MCSD that says this. It
>>made the mistake in saying you needed a Windows Apps AND a Web Apps exam
>>instead of saying you need one OR the other for MCAD.
>>
>
> Actually he maneuvered himself into this position by
>
> a. taking 70-300 first
> b. taking 70-320 last
>
> 70-300 does not contribute to the MCAD credential, meanwhile
> 70-310/70-320 is mandatory for the MCAD (no substutitions
> allowed). Hence he will obtain the MCAD and MCSD.NET
> credentials at the same time. By simply swapping his last
> two choices (70-229 and 70-320) he could achieved his MCAD
> earlier.0

Actaully, he should still be able to get his MCAD first.
I took a peek at his blog, and his order is:

1. 70-300 (already taken)
2. 70-315
3. 70-316
4. 70-229
5. 70-320

Seeing as he only needs one of 70-315 & 70-316 for MCAD, he can leave one of
these to the end and get his MCAD after his fourth exam, and get his MCSD
when he writes the fifth. MCSD only requires 3 exams altogether, so there
is no way to get yourself painted into a corner where you have to take 4
more exams to get your MCAD.

You are right in saying that if he continues to leave an exam he has to take
for both as his last exam (ie. 70-320 or 310), then he won't get either
cert until after the fifth exam. However, it seems to me that he is still
able to change the order of his exams to get the MCAD after 4 - unless he
has already written 1-4 and 70-320 is the only one he has left.