Degree vs MCSD certification?

[JustMe12345]

A friend from Australia wants come to the States for a few years to gain experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here is his background:<br>- he is 9 credit hours short of finish his CS degree<br>- he has been employed for the last 15 months (working with Access and Visual Basic)<br><br>To increase his marketability, would it be better to:<br>a) finish his degree<br>b) get MCSD certification<br><br>If he goes with MCSD certification, any guesses on how long it would take?&nbsp;&nbsp;He would be working full time and doing the certification on his own time.&nbsp;&nbsp;I know a lot depends on how focused he is on completing it, but even a vague idea would be helpful.<br><br>Thanks!

 

[Alt255]

Hmmm, I'm just guessing here, I think your friend would benefit by finishing his degree and obtaining MCSD certification at the same time or, possibly later.<br><br><i>Tomarrow</i> is a long time from <i>now</i>. Tell your friend that it is a very bad move to rush into the future without a map. Draw the map first, then decide your course.<br> <p> <br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href=

http://vorpalcom.netfirms.com>another

temporary Vorpalcom home page</a><br>Send me suggestions or comments on my current software project.

 

[Zelandakh]

Definitely finish the CS degree. Apart from the fact that MCSD from scratch is 4 months hard graft, you are wasting a lot of time and effort.<br>

 

[rotorhead]

Bear in mind, too, that an MCSD expires - or rather, you have to maintain your certification by taking more exams as they come out (hence the reason why I didn't get my 4.0 track MCSE, it's gone as of the end of this year!).<br><br>A degree is permanent.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only that, but as I understand it (I've only been in the US for a couple of years now), you can use your existing degree to get OTHER degrees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Definitely a better bet, even though it'll cost you more in both money and time.<br><br>The Degree.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hands down.<br><br>Darryl <p>Darryl Hadfield<br><a href=mailto:hadfield@mail.com>hadfield@mail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Zelandakh]

According to the MCSE site, the NT 4 MCSE is not retired until Dec 31 2001.

 

[rotorhead]

Okay, the MCSE 4.0 track is retired as of December 31, 2001, given.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, the exams for 2000 are still forthcoming, and you can't take 4.0 exams after 12/31/00.<br><br>While the MCP is a fantastic program and ensures certification holders have a solid grasp on the technology, hwoever, it's still a constant upgrade process that requires a cash infusion every time you buy more study books and take more exams.<br><br>A degree is permanent, though, which is why I agreed with Zel.'s comments about the degree instead of the MCP. <p>Darryl Hadfield<br><a href=mailto:hadfield@mail.com>hadfield@mail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Karl Blessing]

This is my simple two line point of view<br><br>degree - put more work into it, although the material is obselete by the time you graduate. Degree isnt good if you already have all the general knowledge<br><br>certification - better if you are looking to be up with the newest technologies, and is more likely to be a headhunder target <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[elizabeth]

Every area is different. Ask a few employment recruiters in your local area which make him more employable.

 

[Karl Blessing]

depends what certifications you are going towards, and ultimitly what are your goals, if you need to get the basics of computer technology I would go with a degree , you'd get more out of it if you chose your courses right, some tools advance so quickly or can have much additional knowledge, that its best to pay 100$ or so to take the exam, providing that you study on your own (check book reviews to avoid paying for a book which &quot;says&quot; its intended for the exam, I've come accross numerous Microsoft Press books for the exams which helped very little or wernt helpful at all)<br><br>And I dont feel you should waste the money on courses intended for certification if you plan to just pay for the exam. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[longtimegeek]

My vote has to be for the degree. I have to repeat what was said in an earlier post - the degree is permanent and never expires.&nbsp;&nbsp;It also proves that you can finish what you started. <br><br>If your friend drops out of the degree program there will be a lot more than 9 credit hours required to finish it anywhere else. No degree program transfers 100% to another school.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[elizabeth]

I have found a number of schools are willing to transfer all the credit hours of another accredited institution, but often they will not allow you to use more than 50% transfer credits towards a degree, the rest are counted as electives. The better way is to check with the original school if you could take the 9 credits at some other school and transfer the 9 credits towards a degree at the original school.<br><br>Another wrinkle is that many schools change their requirements over time. Some will ot accept credits over 5 years old at another school, 10 years old at the same school, etc. Also major requirements can change and a course taken to fulfill a major requirement can become too old and only be worth elective credits. If your friend intends ever to get a degree, now's probably the best time. What's the big rush to start working, you're friend will be doing that for 45 to 50 years once s/he starts! On the other hand, I dropped out of college for 3 years. I started as a.Spanish major, then Studio Art. I returned and finished as a Business major. A change for the better as far as practicality but it turns out I should have been a Computer Science major! <br><br>If your friend doesn't mind going to school while working, s/he may want to get the cert, get employed, and get the employer to pay for finishing the degree.