Education Qualifications for a Network Admin?

Volkov137 asks: "As I ponder where to go after high school for a future job in Network Administration, I have a couple of choices. Either go to a University and get a 4-year bachelors degree in Computer Networking and Administration, or go to a 2-year trade school that will be much more focused on what I need to know. Is the University really worth paying for, and will it mean anything more in today's IT world? Also, how important are certifications (Network+, Cisco, Linux+, etc) when entering this job market?"

Comments

Better idea.

[Seumas]

I have a better idea.

Jump right in somewhere that is willing to hire you. Work hard, establish a good chunk of resume material from that company and then move onward if necessary after a couple years. Nothing beats real world experience and I've found that people who learned what they know through their own passion and desire (and real world implementation) tend to be far more enthusiastic and adaptable and quick to learn new concepts and skills and frameworks than people who just sat in a chair at a university or trade school for a handful of years, learning soon to be outdated material from professors or instructors who rarely implement their own knowledge in a real environment.

Not to mention, things in the real work environment are rarely anything like what you've learned in school and you'll have to be broken of your old habits.

Re:Goto a University

[Jeremy.DeGroot]

I'd say go to a university, and take a few business courses along with your network administration courses. If you can make sound business cases for why you need equipment or personnel, your professional life will be so much easier. Also, should you ever decide to do a start-up, the business knowledge may very well prove invaluable. And as the parent said, it broadens your thinking and helps you grow as a person. Take some art or philosphy courses too, mabye. You'll discover things that you never knew you were interested in and be a more interesting person for it.

Re:Univ gives options

[JohnFluxx]

I love computers and love coding. I try to do what open source coding I can. I got a 1st in computer science and then.... I decided to do a PhD in engineering.

I'm now researching making holograms while studying physics in my own time. I rarely use a computer except to read slashdot and hobbiest coding (which is the best sort of coding).

Funny how life changes. A degree can open up your options.

Re:Goto a University

[porcupine8]

well, except the people that spent the four years you were getting an IT education getting four years of their own real world experience.

It always annoys me when people present college and "real-world experience" as they they were a mutually exclusive dichotomy.

How do you think many people pay for college? You don't have to get a crappy job in the school cafeteria. Plenty of people find "real-world" jobs that they can work at part-time while getting their four-year degree. Yes, in total you'll have a bit less experience than the people from two-year schools, but you won't be completely bereft of it.

Disclaimer: I know nothing about computer network, I just know plenty of people who held real jobs that they could actually put on their resume during college, including myself.

Re:Univ gives options

[porcupine8]

That is really the best point of all. Going into college, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do. After working in two labs doing that, I realized that I was wrong. I'm now on my way to a field that I had never considered at 18 (though it's related), and I'll be getting my PhD in something I hadn't even heard of then.