Passed 70-297 - Got my MCSE!
swat
Member Posts: 22 ■□□□□□□□□□
I know I haven't posted much on TE since I started 291/293 last year, but I've been plugging away. It's been quite a roller coaster/whirlwind the last year when I kicked it up a notch, and I have to say, it's a great sense of accomplishment to finally finish something I started over 7 years ago (but that's my fault for slacking off!)
2003 (June): 70-210
2008 (Jan): 70-290
2009 (Apr): 70-291
2009 (Aug): 70-293
2009 (Dec): 70-236
2010 (Mar): 70-294
2010 (May): 70-297
Everyone here has been a great help, it's great to get other's opinions on what to focus on as we deal with such a wide range of topics.
Getting to the specifics, for 297 I was a bit nervous because some said it was tougher in comparison to 298. I did very well on 294 though (and not so well on 293 - barely passed) so I figured I would stay in the same frame of mind.
The biggest thing was overcoming not the material, but my own lack of reading comprehension. I tend to read too quick and miss out on details, so I had to train myself a bit to really focus on what I was given. Taking advice from some on the board, I read through the case study relatively quick, and hit the questions right away - knowing the questions up front was a great help as it helped to identify just where to grab the info you needed from case study.
It's a bit of a blur, but I think there was about 7 case studies. 6 of them had a 22 minute time limit and around 8 questions, and the last one had only 5 questions and a 15 minute time limit.
Lots on top level OU creation, asking how many domains/forests required, DNS security and placement, GC and FSMO placement, as well as some NT4 migrations (what to upgrade, creating necessary trusts, etc). Lots of questions on replication, as well as a bunch on IAS/RADIUS. Know your MS-CHAP v2, EAP-TLS, and when to use a CA, etc.
I'm very glad it's done so I can take a break - I've already booked a course for the 2008 upgrade later in September, so it will be nice to finally get away from the NT4 migration stuff
Good luck to anyone else starting or near the finish line for this path - it's a great feeling of accomplishment once you're done!
2003 (June): 70-210
2008 (Jan): 70-290
2009 (Apr): 70-291
2009 (Aug): 70-293
2009 (Dec): 70-236
2010 (Mar): 70-294
2010 (May): 70-297
Everyone here has been a great help, it's great to get other's opinions on what to focus on as we deal with such a wide range of topics.
Getting to the specifics, for 297 I was a bit nervous because some said it was tougher in comparison to 298. I did very well on 294 though (and not so well on 293 - barely passed) so I figured I would stay in the same frame of mind.
The biggest thing was overcoming not the material, but my own lack of reading comprehension. I tend to read too quick and miss out on details, so I had to train myself a bit to really focus on what I was given. Taking advice from some on the board, I read through the case study relatively quick, and hit the questions right away - knowing the questions up front was a great help as it helped to identify just where to grab the info you needed from case study.
It's a bit of a blur, but I think there was about 7 case studies. 6 of them had a 22 minute time limit and around 8 questions, and the last one had only 5 questions and a 15 minute time limit.
Lots on top level OU creation, asking how many domains/forests required, DNS security and placement, GC and FSMO placement, as well as some NT4 migrations (what to upgrade, creating necessary trusts, etc). Lots of questions on replication, as well as a bunch on IAS/RADIUS. Know your MS-CHAP v2, EAP-TLS, and when to use a CA, etc.
I'm very glad it's done so I can take a break - I've already booked a course for the 2008 upgrade later in September, so it will be nice to finally get away from the NT4 migration stuff
Good luck to anyone else starting or near the finish line for this path - it's a great feeling of accomplishment once you're done!
Comments
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smg1138
Member Posts: 94 ■■□□□□□□□□
Congratulations on completing the MCSE! I hope to get there myself someday.
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earweed
Member Posts: 5,192 ■■■■■■■■■□
Congrats on the accomplishment. I'm going straight for the MCITP:EANo longer work in IT. Play around with stuff sometimes still and fix stuff for friends and relatives. -
swat
Member Posts: 22 ■□□□□□□□□□
Congrats on the accomplishment. I'm going straight for the MCITP:EA
Same here, hopefully 649 isn't too brutal. Aren't upgrade exams particularly tough? -
Devilsbane
Member Posts: 4,214 ■■■■■■■■□□
Better late than never. CongratsDecide what to be and go be it. -
motogpman
Member Posts: 412
Congrats on getting your MCSE!-WIP- (70-294 and 297)
Once MCSE 2k3 completed:
WGU: BS in IT, Design/Management
Finish MCITP:EA, CCNA, PMP by end of 2012
After that, take a much needed vacation!!!!! -
getitngo
Member Posts: 44 ■■□□□□□□□□
Congrats on getting it your MCSEIn Progress:
Degree in Engineering -
Ahriakin
Member Posts: 1,799 ■■■■■■■■□□
Well done!
We responded to the Year 2000 issue with "Y2K" solutions...isn't this the kind of thinking that got us into trouble in the first place? -
snadam
Member Posts: 2,234 ■■■■□□□□□□
congrats swat!**** ARE FOR CHUMPS! Don't be a chump! Validate your material with certguard.com search engine
:study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security -
earweed
Member Posts: 5,192 ■■■■■■■■■□
I've heard they're tough but if you've learned the material through the MCSE it shouldn't be too hard for you.Same here, hopefully 649 isn't too brutal. Aren't upgrade exams particularly tough?No longer work in IT. Play around with stuff sometimes still and fix stuff for friends and relatives.
