Help me plz

[Cuith]

I need some help determining what Major I need to work on when I go to school. I've been looking through some, but I really can't decide which one I need. I'm thinking Computer Networking Administration, but I can't figure out if it covers everything I want to get out of school.

When I get out of school, I'd like to get a job in which I'd be doing computer repair, diagnostics, managing the network and servers, and possibly even building computers. I know that there are not many companies that have computers built for employees, but instead they are ordered pre-made from whatever company.

In High School I had a volunteer job for the school in which I built and upgraded computers for teachers, made and ran the networking cables throughout the building, and set up servers whenever it needed to be done. I was the person that managed the network, website, and revoked computer privileges for breaking the ToS. I actually got to walk into a teacher's classroom (a couple of times, actually) and take their computer from them (with the Principal and the Computer teacher with me, of course) for pirating music through the school's network.

I would really like to do something like that again, but as a career. I don't really care about taking people's computers from them. That was just neat to do as a senior in high school.

I don't know any programming, but I think that if I learned some in school it would probably help my chances of getting into a career like this.

Is anyone here in school for Computer Science or Networking? What kind of careers would I be eligible for with a Bachelor Degree in one of these programs?

I'm 22 years old, and I work in Construction. Its not fun, and its hell. I've been doing this for 2 years next month, and I REALLY don't want to make it to 3. I've been working out and training to get into the Police Academy, but I think I would be much happier working with computers. I've got the application on my desk, I just don't know what to put down. I could have already graduated with a Bachelors Degree if I had just started college after I graduated high school. Depressing.

 

[Blasto121]

sounds like your high school history is the same as mine, I would suggest that if you go with Computer science not to stop at a B.S. but move it up to a masters you are much more eligible for the jobs you want at that level.

The B.S. level is an odd level, your to smart for most low level tech spots, but not smart enough for the good ones.

As for me I sit with 3 two year degrees

Computer Programming
Computer User Support
Computer Networking

not the best but all I could afford.

if you do plan on computer science you will be learning all the basics about computers, plus how to program them, how the circuitry works to a certain extent, and how to do basic to advanced networking.

Keep in mind, a technicians greatest asset is work experience, doesn't matter how much education you have work experience seems to be all that counts.

 

[Cuith]

I was planning for the Bachelor's Degree for now, just because I'll be starting school so late. If I feel that I can get my Masters Degree, I plan on going all the way with it.

What you're saying is that Computer Science is pretty much a bit of everything mixed together?

 

[Blasto121]

pretty much, its a little bit of everything.

its not easy to find a job with just networking, or just computer repair. You need to be rather versatile. Only after a while can you specialize, a good example is say working at a university, they could use a person to start with a lot of base knowledge over time you may migrate to a more specialized area like say networking, from there you could say specialize in Cisco routers.

 

[Cuith]

Well, I went and spoke with one of the guys in charge of the Computer Science program at the college I'll be going to. Its definitely what I want to do.

Filled out my application to start in January, and all I gotta do now is get a transcript (from like 500 miles away..I hope they don't make me send a check for $3..srsly) and send in my application with the application fee.

I was thinking about doing night school, so that I could keep my job, but I really hate my job. I make $9 an hour, and a TINY (read: not even 1%) amount of commission from each job I do. I'm thinking about getting a job at the Geek Squad, since you don't have to have experience and I've been told they will pay for your certifications. Its not going to be *good* experience, but at least I'll have a little for when I graduate. Then I'll, hopefully, be able to get a job as soon as I graduate with my BS.

I've also been told that working with the Geek Squad is more like a sales job than anything, with a little bit of computer work on the sides. I don't really mind, though. They pay more than I'm getting now, and when I work my way up the ranks there it'll probably be more focused on repair than sales.

 

[PBarnum]

I am going to school for a Computer Science degree. After I am done with my community college (Because it is cheaper) I will hopefully transfer to UCI.

 

[Cuith]

I thought about doing that, but this school I'm applying for is seriously like right down the road. Its like IU and Purdue together, and I'll be in the Purdue part of it. I figure it'll just be easier for me to do it this way. I've put it off for way too long, and even now that I've filled out my applications I'm hesitant about sending it in. Thats just how I am. Not sure why, but I need to get over it.

I also will be looking at buying a laptop. I don't really know much about buying a computer, since I usually just buy the parts and build them myself. Since I can't really do that with a laptop, I guess I'm going to have to buy my first computer.

I don't really know how much I'll have to spend, but I'm guessing somewhere around $1500. Possibly less than that. I'm not really looking for a cheap laptop that I can only use for simple things. I'd like to be able to do some gaming on it from time to time, but I don't need a high end gaming laptop either. Something like 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM, and 2.2GHz would probably be fine. Don't really care about integrated graphics, but it would be nice to find one without it. Anyone got recommendations? What brands should I look at and which should I stay away from?

 

[Sabre]

I am going to school for a Computer Science degree. After I am done with my community college (Because it is cheaper) I will hopefully transfer to UCI.

Cheaper AND easier...I'm goin the same route, getting my gen ed done at community college, then transferring to CSUF for a Mechanical Engineering degree.