Boot Camps........??? 1

[Juandaman81]

HI,

Last week, Our Technical Manager decided to hand in his notice after 9 long years at our company (I know your watching pagy). I'm the next in line to take this job, but they want me to get to his level fast, he's currently an MCSE(2003). they suggested a "boot Camp".?????????

Has anyone used this method before, i passed the 70-270 exam before xmas, but haven't started 70-290 yet. They say they can get u an mcse in 14 days, i just can't beleive that is really the case.

any input would be very helpful

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[dyarwood]

Personally I have never used one and never would (given the choice). The exams are not that hard to study for IF you have the knowledge. If you don't have the knowledge then working on your own through examples will give you better experience than just being told. Put the time in and it will be better in the long run I would say. I also think employers look favourably if they can see you have worked in your own time to get your certs.

 

[Wishdiak]

They say they can get u an mcse in 14 days, i just can't beleive that is really the case.

I have a hard time believing that as well, but under certain circumstances (7 days a week, 60 hours per day) it may be possible to cover all of the material in a classroom in 14 days.


Passing all of the exams within a 14 day period is another matter entirely.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[Lilliabeth]

I don't think they will attempt to cover any material at all. I think they'll spend 14 days helping you memorize answers to sample questions. It is hard to imagine that that's what your employer has in mind.


Lilliabeth
-Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?-

 

[PJamesD]

Which company are you referring to that is offering the 14 day mcse?

Depending on the bootcamp (some are better than others) If already possess a good amount of knowledge of all the subjects covered, then a bootcamp is an excellent way to get certified. It will emurse you in study, & you'll have no distractions. Studing in your own time takes forever, what with day to day life to juggle. If you're already very experienced & knowledgable of subjects covered, a decent training centre offering bootcamp style training will enable you to 'fill in the gaps' in your knowledge, and do all the exams and get certified.

A good training centre will teach you the subject material, - not rely on braindumps, - but of course it stands to reason that all training given will be VERY exam focused.

If you're learning from scratch, or even have many weak areas, then you're only going to get so much out of a bootcamp. You'll still learn loads, but do not expect to come out certified.

 

[NickFerrar]

I did my MCSE 2003 in a 14-day bootcamp.
Was it just memorising exam questions/answers? Nope
Was it like a normal Microsoft training course? Nope
Was it hard work? Hell yes
Was it worth it? Certainly was to me, of about 12 ppl on the course though only 2 of us passed all the exams.

People that think of bootcamps as some sort of place you go to get braindumps and cheat your way to a qualifications really need to try one.

Of my 14 days I worked 18-20 hours each day the first week and around 16 hours a day average the second week. It's exhausting but at the same time I found it suprisingly easy to maintain concentration (I usually fall asleep after a couple of hours on a standard 5-day MS course as it moves at such a slow pace as it's geared towards a wide-range of experience).

Make no mistake unless you have a a few years real-world experience or spend months getting up to speed beforehand (in which case what's the point of a bootcamp) then you almost certianly fail at a bootcamp.

As an example, if you don't understand something first time around you can usually get the instructor to cover it again, if it still doesn't click though you'll have to take it off-line or study up on it yourself, there's just not time to keep going over stuff only one or two people at the bootcamp don't understand. Classroom time for me was 8am until 9pm with an hour for lunch and 30mins afternoon break. Outside of that we were given several chapters of books to read overnight or practice exams etc to take (Self-Test or Transcenders, not braindumps ).

I don't want to make it sound overly intimidating but a bootcamp really isn't an easy option. I'd had years of experience and several NT4/2000 exams before I did mine and still found it tough. The guys on the course with less experience just got overwhelmed early on and once you fail an exam you never really recover (i.e. do you spend time going back over old stuff and resit or do you forget the failed exam and move on with the rest of the class).

I did a 7-day Exchange bootcamp later and that was much more relaxed (just 2 exams, I sat the 2nd a day early and left after 6 days anyhow which was common practice). So if you're still a bit unsure if you can keep up with a 14-day MCSE camp maybe try a short MCSA camp.

The only reason I did a bootcamp though was I found it hard to self-study and motivate myself so after dragging things on for months I did the bootcamp and haven't regretted it since.

 

[Juandaman81]

Off to boot camp at the end of june.... i am really worried about the chances of me passing, especailly 70-291....

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

Well turn your worry into study time.

It's pretty simple, - there's no secret about it, - the more TIME you spend reading up on a particular exam, the easier time you'll have when sitting it.

Simple (!!) as that

I found 290 quite straight forward, as that's was my area for quite a while (& quite fundermental in server support), - as for 270 XP, - I have very little experience, - & consequently I found the 2.5 hours sitting the exam a struggle (I put the time in though & still passed it!).

As for 291, - it's mainly DNS, ISA, DHCP & subnetting.

Use your time now wisely, - you'll be kicking yourself come July if you dont!!!!

 

[Juandaman81]

Hi all,

just thought i'd let you know how its going.... been here since sunday night.. the class has to take 70-270 in a couple of hours (i already passed that last year ) so i'm using this time to a)say hi to you lot and b)try and get ahead on the 290 exam which is friday.

This really isnt an easy option, but i'll only get out of it what i put into it!!


further updates to follow - if i ever get out of the class room again!!!



If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

Hi,

are you at trainingcamp?

Who's your trainer? Dave or Waheed?

 

[Juandaman81]

yes i am -

dave is the trainer.. very impressed so far.



If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

Dave's a great lecturer, he's been doing it years, definitely knows his subject matter.

A few people had a little concerns in regards to his patience on the course I sat on! He didnt seem to like questions!

Good luck for the rest of the course, - the food there's great too isnt it!

 

[Juandaman81]

the foods a nightmare - it said all on the website it tries to stick to healthy eating..... whats healthy about bacon and egg breakfast rolls??? (sorry if i'm making anyone hungry ;-) )


did you do your mcse here then?

is it only gonna get worse for me?!

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

Yes, I did an MCSE there.

As for getting worse, - well, that depends on how much preparation you did before hand

Out of a class of about 15, I believe about 2 or 3 or us passed all 7 exams. Many people got 3 - 5 passes.

It's all good though, - as you've already found out, - it's very intensive, but you learn loads!

Hang in there, - good luck!

 

[Juandaman81]

cheers


i'll ask dave some questions now...just to see if he likes them or not!



If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

haha! I'm sure he'll be fine, - was probably having an off day!

 

[Juandaman81]

UPDATE

2/17 FAILED 70-270

290 tomorrow.... time to panic :-(

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[Cstorms]

If you already took the 270 why did you take it again, that could have been a couple hours going over 290 material (although the NTFS permissions and groups questions are relevant)... Start hammering down on backup procedures and the like for 290 but I am sure your bootcamp has the inside scoop on this. Dont panic, just spend every minute in the books/videos/notes.. Good luck

 

[Juandaman81]

i didnt do the XP exam,

look up!!!! or down, i just pasted it for you!!

"just thought i'd let you know how its going.... been here since sunday night.. the class has to take 70-270 in a couple of hours (i already passed that last year ) so i'm using this time to a)say hi to you lot and b)try and get ahead on the 290 exam which is friday."

i think i'm ok with the backup procedures, i'm struggling a little with the domain functional level stuff at the mo..... got about 18hrs to get it mastered!



If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

 

[PJamesD]

No need to panic, - that's teh worse thing you can do. Strickly you dont need that exam for the MCSE anyway, you've already got a client exam.

I failed 270 the first time around, - but I had little experience of XP to be honest, - most of my work is server based. The first time I got 688 (probably failed by one question!) - next time I got 890

I honestly found 290 much easier than 270.

Keep calm, keep & just enjoy it. Panicing or worrying won't do you any favours!!