Starting Classes soon for IT Degree..

[Antec-User]

I'm so excited! Granted, I just got laid off, but I'm going to go to school full time and live off my GI Bill until this economy settles down. And I need some schooling behind me.. My Grunt Trade labor has gotten me this far..

I'm going to start with an Associates degree and go from there. If I want to pursue the Bachelor's, I'll do it when the time comes.

I've gotta brush up on my math skills, but no big deal.. I'm thinking maybe Fiber Optics in the future.. We'll see, I've got time.. And I don't think 28 years old is too late to start. lol

 

[oldskool]

Congrats ! And no, 28 is not too late.

 

[wafflehammer]

congrats man! :] sounds like fun

 

[Lexluethar]

Congrats, it is never too late to start an education.

 

[Antec-User]

Question: I was thinking something along the line of Fiber Optics, but I love computer hardware. I'm just unsure what I can do with it.. As far as the Hardware side of things.. Ideas?? Network and server setup?

 

[oldskool]

I use fiber optics every single day where I work. I install them, test them, repair broken endfaces, etc. I install ST's, and multi-termini connectors using multimode fibers. I use blown optical fiber (BOF) and "standard" fiber cables. After saying all that ... you might think I could get a job somewhere in the IT world doing that.

My first hunt basically concluded that unless you have a Bachelor's degree along with fiber experience, it is hard to get into anything other than what I am doing, which is installing these things in military applications (USNavy). My suggestion is you get that Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline because you will need a heap of physics, calculus I, II, III etc. among other things.

It is a tall order, but you can do it if you really have the discipline, money, aptitude, and time to take that route.

Regarding networking hardware and servers, like to be a network administrator it isnt engineering so much as what you would need for fiber optic design and engineering. In other words, not as much math, but it is still a Bachelors Degree that you would need to get somewhere. There are exceptions, some people climb the ladder in other ways, but these days you will need a B.S. to start.

If you go to the US Bureau Of Statistics you can put in a search for say "network admistrator" or "system administrator" and get a brief description of what those types of jobs entail, wages, 10-yr outlook, etc.

Good luck, Antec, and again, congrats on your decision to go to college.

 

[Antec-User]

^ thanx for the advice.. I'm gonna go for a B.S. in Computer Engineering.

 

[oldskool]

Excellent news, good luck !