I agree, my plans are different in the way of experience/employer first, then go the way of schooling. I have some credits already built up, but I have some falliaces that keep me from finishing school. I have extreme difficulty with Algebra and I've repeated a non-credit algebra course 3 times, even with help from a tudor on the last attempt. After that and forced overtime during a midterm for Data Comm 2 that made me fail despite having a formal letter from the head of our contract stating I absolutely couldn't be there, the professor refused to honor it. With studying for certs, I can do it on my own time and improve my chances of employment, and they would offer programs that allow me to return to school without the obvious conflict of interest. To Each His Own. Do whatever works for you, I just hope everyone else doesn't have to waste time and money trying to get it done.