InsideTech

Hello, all.  A small introduction about myself.  I'm 19, currently finishing up high school through an online service (TRECA Digital Academy) and am very interested in the IT field, specifically networking but also general hardware support.  I only have my A+ Certification, though I'm planning on studying for Network+.  Currently I'm employed part-time at a community drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, working two days a week maintaining/upgrading servers and assisting staff with computer issues.  It's a relatively small business, and the head (only) IT admin is a fellow church member.

Anyway, I will be attending the local community college for 2 years to cover English, Math, Science, etc, then transferring to a four-year college/university to focus on my major.  My questions to you, the experienced IT guys and gals:  What classes should I take?  What other certifications would I need to be properly certified in IT Networking?  Are there any other steps I'd need to take in order to be ready for working in an IT enviroment?  I'm very ambitious, have been working with computers and electronics since I was 12, but my weak point in life has always been my lack of finding the starting point.

Any help is appreciated in advance.

I would suggest going to a technical college for networking if that what you want to do. I don’t think any major university will teach you the fundaments as well as the hardcore networking. I attend one that offered the Cisco and just by learning the Cisco command you can pretty much get around any switch/ router/ firewall. Another thing I would recommend you do if you are looking for networking is learn you access list and how they work, very helpful. The school I attended was very thorough in the windows side of networking also.

eric996 says ...

CCNA, CCNP, Net+

Community colleges here in Sacramento have certified Cisco classes so thats nice. Networking, learn your lan/wan TcP/IP. Of course, you will have to learn those to obtain a Network + cert.

ugh, learn subnetting and then teach me please ;-)

I have an Associates in computer networking, but I had to start off as a helpdesk/desktop guy (and actually, I am still there). But they do consider us junior network admins since we clear sticky MACs in cisco switches and switch vlans and the like. Pretty fun stuff.

I like learning the networking stuff on the job. Gives you a real life situation and you learn how to deal with and troubleshoot it. Lots of schools only teach theory which doesn't help if you have little experience applying it.

Take your classes and get into a good company. You can always move up and the network admin may just be retiring....

Well...if you want i have some subnetting notes you can take a look at. message me your email and i'll send it.

-Animuso