considering MCSD

I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs out
there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will most
likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of interest
in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to just
go for it.

My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
experience. In my current position as a data manager at
a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
does.

I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
science.

On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty quick
at picking up technical concepts in general, and the idea
of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do a
little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
my favorite part of my job.

(Wow, this is getting long - sorry).

Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I have
been attracted to the software development engineering
career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
both excellent people skills and excellent programming
knowledge.

All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.

I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
experience under their belt.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Marvin

Marvin Palmer

Hi Marvin,

Probably i'm not the right person to give you some opinion
since i'm only MCP in 70-315, but i highly respect someone
like you who has a really high desire to learn something
new and explore it. There is no such word as 'too late' in
order to explore something.

in order to be a MCSD, i would highly recommended you to
pursue the MCAD first since MCAD is a subset of MCSD. in
MCAD, you need to learn the knowledge either using C# or
VB.NET in developing web applications or windows
applications. while in MCSD, you need pretty decent
experience in designing a solution which will be tested in
70-300. while you're learning toward your certification,
you will slowly gain enough skills in order to be a web
programmer or windows apps programmer, probably to be a
MCSD, you will need to gain some experience in designing a
solution, but with your MCAD, you will be confident enough
to apply for programmer position so that you will get a
chance to contribute toward designing an application.

while i'm working here, i just realized how important is a
software engineering degree in order to practically solve
or divide a problem, while a MS certification is just a
language mean as a tool to help you solve the problem. a
tool is just a tool without any specific basic concept in
engineering a software. but don't be despair, as you will
regain some experience while you're working toward your MCAD.

with MS certification, employers will at least put more
preference to candidates with certifications in their
belts, compared to other candidates without any experience.
because MS certs candidates have shown their deep intention
in equipping themselves with decent and important
knowledges about MS stuff, so that employers will be pretty
sure and confident that the candidates will be adapted
easily with software engineerin projects.

please don't hesitate to ask more questions such as where
to get started to learn toward MCAD/MCSD such as books,
hints etc. because everybody here will help you with that
stuff.

good luck and hope my opinion can give you some insight.

Rgrds,
hadi
>-----Original Message-----
>I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs out
>there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will most
>likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of interest
>in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to just
>go for it.
>
>My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
>experience. In my current position as a data manager at
>a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
>nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
>does.
>
>I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
>knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
>science.
>
>On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
>program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
>advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
>been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty quick
>at picking up technical concepts in general, and the idea
>of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do a
>little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
>my favorite part of my job.
>
>(Wow, this is getting long - sorry).
>
>Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
>skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I have
>been attracted to the software development engineering
>career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
>both excellent people skills and excellent programming
>knowledge.
>
>All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
>idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
>first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.
>
>I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
>prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
>experience under their belt.
>
>Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Marvin
>.
>

hadi

Thanks so much.


>-----Original Message-----
>Hi Marvin,
>
>Probably i'm not the right person to give you some
opinion
>since i'm only MCP in 70-315, but i highly respect
someone
>like you who has a really high desire to learn something
>new and explore it. There is no such word as 'too late'
in
>order to explore something.
>
>in order to be a MCSD, i would highly recommended you to
>pursue the MCAD first since MCAD is a subset of MCSD. in
>MCAD, you need to learn the knowledge either using C# or
>VB.NET in developing web applications or windows
>applications. while in MCSD, you need pretty decent
>experience in designing a solution which will be tested
in
>70-300. while you're learning toward your certification,
>you will slowly gain enough skills in order to be a web
>programmer or windows apps programmer, probably to be a
>MCSD, you will need to gain some experience in designing
a
>solution, but with your MCAD, you will be confident
enough
>to apply for programmer position so that you will get a
>chance to contribute toward designing an application.
>
>while i'm working here, i just realized how important is
a
>software engineering degree in order to practically solve
>or divide a problem, while a MS certification is just a
>language mean as a tool to help you solve the problem. a
>tool is just a tool without any specific basic concept in
>engineering a software. but don't be despair, as you will
>regain some experience while you're working toward your
MCAD.
>
>with MS certification, employers will at least put more
>preference to candidates with certifications in their
>belts, compared to other candidates without any
experience.
>because MS certs candidates have shown their deep
intention
>in equipping themselves with decent and important
>knowledges about MS stuff, so that employers will be
pretty
>sure and confident that the candidates will be adapted
>easily with software engineerin projects.
>
>please don't hesitate to ask more questions such as where
>to get started to learn toward MCAD/MCSD such as books,
>hints etc. because everybody here will help you with that
>stuff.
>
>good luck and hope my opinion can give you some insight.
>
>Rgrds,
>hadi
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs
out
>>there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will
most
>>likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of
interest
>>in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to
just
>>go for it.
>>
>>My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
>>experience. In my current position as a data manager
at
>>a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
>>nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
>>does.
>>
>>I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
>>knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
>>science.
>>
>>On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
>>program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
>>advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
>>been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty
quick
>>at picking up technical concepts in general, and the
idea
>>of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do
a
>>little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
>>my favorite part of my job.
>>
>>(Wow, this is getting long - sorry).
>>
>>Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
>>skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I
have
>>been attracted to the software development engineering
>>career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
>>both excellent people skills and excellent programming
>>knowledge.
>>
>>All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
>>idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
>>first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.
>>
>>I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
>>prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
>>experience under their belt.
>>
>>Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Marvin
>>.
>>
>.
>

Marvin Palmer

Marvin,

I may be in the same boat as you. I decided to get my MCAD. I am a "jack of
all trades" in the IT industry. I know a little of most things to be
dangerous. Haha

I am A+ certified with a strong back ground in support, especially Windows
2000 and XP.

My group is mainframe programmers and I am the Level 1/2 Support for the
group. There are rumblings around here that we may take on .NET stuff. So,
having already played around with VB .NET, I decided to try for my MCAD.

I am starting with my companies CBT's in 70-305..and I also have a good book
simply called INTRODUCING MICROSOFT .NET...it is a good book to give you the
basis of the .NET system. Then I will move on to focusing on VB and ASP...

I will be honest, I didn't really understand classes and such until I read
that INTRO book..it has helped a lot.

If you would like to talk more, let me know...we can exchange email
addresses.

Brian

"Marvin Palmer" <> wrote in message
news:029c01c4e251$53fbb650$...
>I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs out
> there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will most
> likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of interest
> in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to just
> go for it.
>
> My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
> experience. In my current position as a data manager at
> a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
> nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
> does.
>
> I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
> knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
> science.
>
> On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
> program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
> advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
> been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty quick
> at picking up technical concepts in general, and the idea
> of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do a
> little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
> my favorite part of my job.
>
> (Wow, this is getting long - sorry).
>
> Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
> skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I have
> been attracted to the software development engineering
> career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
> both excellent people skills and excellent programming
> knowledge.
>
> All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
> idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
> first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.
>
> I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
> prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
> experience under their belt.
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Marvin

Brian

to be honest.. get a foundation course in computing at least..

I did a software engineering degree at uni... and this has helped my career
more than anything else..
specially the theoretical side.. if use get a good grounding then start to
look at certs like mcsd..

After my degree i left it a year (whilst working in programming) then did
the mcsd (vb6 / sql serv 7) route
then went on to do the mcad and mcsd.net in the past year (c#/sql2000
route)..

In all of these the basic theory can be applied throughout all of the
certs.. ie the OOP and design



"Marvin Palmer" <> wrote in message
news:029c01c4e251$53fbb650$...
> I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs out
> there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will most
> likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of interest
> in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to just
> go for it.
>
> My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
> experience. In my current position as a data manager at
> a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
> nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
> does.
>
> I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
> knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
> science.
>
> On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
> program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
> advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
> been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty quick
> at picking up technical concepts in general, and the idea
> of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do a
> little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
> my favorite part of my job.
>
> (Wow, this is getting long - sorry).
>
> Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
> skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I have
> been attracted to the software development engineering
> career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
> both excellent people skills and excellent programming
> knowledge.
>
> All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
> idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
> first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.
>
> I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
> prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
> experience under their belt.
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Marvin

Syanide

Hey, Brian.

Sure, would like to talk further. I actually tried to
email you at posted address and it came back.

Marvin
>-----Original Message-----
>Marvin,
>
>I may be in the same boat as you. I decided to get my
MCAD. I am a "jack of
>all trades" in the IT industry. I know a little of most
things to be
>dangerous. Haha
>
>I am A+ certified with a strong back ground in support,
especially Windows
>2000 and XP.
>
>My group is mainframe programmers and I am the Level 1/2
Support for the
>group. There are rumblings around here that we may take
on .NET stuff. So,
>having already played around with VB .NET, I decided to
try for my MCAD.
>
>I am starting with my companies CBT's in 70-305..and I
also have a good book
>simply called INTRODUCING MICROSOFT .NET...it is a good
book to give you the
>basis of the .NET system. Then I will move on to
focusing on VB and ASP...
>
>I will be honest, I didn't really understand classes and
such until I read
>that INTRO book..it has helped a lot.
>
>If you would like to talk more, let me know...we can
exchange email
>addresses.
>
>Brian
>
>"Marvin Palmer" <>
wrote in message
>news:029c01c4e251$53fbb650$...
>>I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs out
>> there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will
most
>> likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of
interest
>> in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to
just
>> go for it.
>>
>> My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
>> experience. In my current position as a data manager
at
>> a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
>> nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
>> does.
>>
>> I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
>> knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
>> science.
>>
>> On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
>> program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
>> advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
>> been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty
quick
>> at picking up technical concepts in general, and the
idea
>> of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do
a
>> little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
>> my favorite part of my job.
>>
>> (Wow, this is getting long - sorry).
>>
>> Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
>> skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I
have
>> been attracted to the software development engineering
>> career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
>> both excellent people skills and excellent programming
>> knowledge.
>>
>> All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
>> idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
>> first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.
>>
>> I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
>> prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
>> experience under their belt.
>>
>> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Marvin
>
>
>.
>

Marvin

This may not be germaine to this board, but I am just
wondering if anyone has input as to recommendations for
institutions offering software engineering degrees
preferably online.

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi Marvin,
>
>Probably i'm not the right person to give you some
opinion
>since i'm only MCP in 70-315, but i highly respect
someone
>like you who has a really high desire to learn something
>new and explore it. There is no such word as 'too late'
in
>order to explore something.
>
>in order to be a MCSD, i would highly recommended you to
>pursue the MCAD first since MCAD is a subset of MCSD. in
>MCAD, you need to learn the knowledge either using C# or
>VB.NET in developing web applications or windows
>applications. while in MCSD, you need pretty decent
>experience in designing a solution which will be tested
in
>70-300. while you're learning toward your certification,
>you will slowly gain enough skills in order to be a web
>programmer or windows apps programmer, probably to be a
>MCSD, you will need to gain some experience in designing
a
>solution, but with your MCAD, you will be confident
enough
>to apply for programmer position so that you will get a
>chance to contribute toward designing an application.
>
>while i'm working here, i just realized how important is
a
>software engineering degree in order to practically solve
>or divide a problem, while a MS certification is just a
>language mean as a tool to help you solve the problem. a
>tool is just a tool without any specific basic concept in
>engineering a software. but don't be despair, as you will
>regain some experience while you're working toward your
MCAD.
>
>with MS certification, employers will at least put more
>preference to candidates with certifications in their
>belts, compared to other candidates without any
experience.
>because MS certs candidates have shown their deep
intention
>in equipping themselves with decent and important
>knowledges about MS stuff, so that employers will be
pretty
>sure and confident that the candidates will be adapted
>easily with software engineerin projects.
>
>please don't hesitate to ask more questions such as where
>to get started to learn toward MCAD/MCSD such as books,
>hints etc. because everybody here will help you with that
>stuff.
>
>good luck and hope my opinion can give you some insight.
>
>Rgrds,
>hadi
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I was hoping to get some perspective from some MCSDs
out
>>there. I am considering pursuing the MCSD. It will
most
>>likely be a stretch for me, but I have a lot of
interest
>>in software engineering, so I am thinking I need to
just
>>go for it.
>>
>>My concerns are that I don't have any real formal
>>experience. In my current position as a data manager
at
>>a medical center, I do some limited database work, but
>>nothing as sophisticatted as what I imagine a true DBA
>>does.
>>
>>I have some understanding of Access, virtually no
>>knowledge of VB or .NET, and no degree in computer
>>science.
>>
>>On the upside, I love working on computers, I used to
>>program in junior high and high school as a hobby (used
>>advanced basic and pascal languages). I have recently
>>been teaching myself some HTML. I feel I am pretty
quick
>>at picking up technical concepts in general, and the
idea
>>of designing system solutions is exciting to me. I do
a
>>little bit of this now in my current position, and it's
>>my favorite part of my job.
>>
>>(Wow, this is getting long - sorry).
>>
>>Last point, I have some pretty strong communications
>>skills and enjoy working with people in teams, so I
have
>>been attracted to the software development engineering
>>career b/c it's my understanding that you have to have
>>both excellent people skills and excellent programming
>>knowledge.
>>
>>All that said, am I crazy? - does this sound like a bad
>>idea? I do plan to get really solid in Access and .NET
>>first before pursuing the MCSD core curriculum.
>>
>>I am also curious to hear feedback as to the job
>>prospects out there for MCSDs who don't have lots of
>>experience under their belt.
>>
>>Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Marvin
>>.
>>
>.
>

Marvin