CCNA Certification or Study Abroad? (college undergrad)
ciscoman2012
Member Posts: 313
Let me give a scenario and see if you guys can help me out.
I'm 21 years old, college undergrad (junior) at University of North Carolina Greensboro. I'm an ISOM (Information Systems / Operations Management) major with a current GPA of 2.75.
I was planning on Studying Abroad in Mannheim Germany (University of Mannheim) in the Fall of 2011. Now I am having second thoughts on if I really want to go through with this or not.
If I don't go Study Abroad, I could work on acquiring my CCNA or CCENT certification in hopes of landing a career at Cisco Systems after graduation. With my Dad working for Cisco, I could possibly get a foot in the door and at least have an interview after college.
With that being said, should I go through with the Study Abroad or work on my certification? If I didn't Study Abroad, I could focus on bringing my GPA up to above a 3.0....since I could take those classes at my home university and they would actually COUNT towards my GPA versus just being a pass/fail grade.
Hoping to acquire some good feedback from all you IT professionals that are out in the REAL world.
I'm 21 years old, college undergrad (junior) at University of North Carolina Greensboro. I'm an ISOM (Information Systems / Operations Management) major with a current GPA of 2.75.
I was planning on Studying Abroad in Mannheim Germany (University of Mannheim) in the Fall of 2011. Now I am having second thoughts on if I really want to go through with this or not.
If I don't go Study Abroad, I could work on acquiring my CCNA or CCENT certification in hopes of landing a career at Cisco Systems after graduation. With my Dad working for Cisco, I could possibly get a foot in the door and at least have an interview after college.
With that being said, should I go through with the Study Abroad or work on my certification? If I didn't Study Abroad, I could focus on bringing my GPA up to above a 3.0....since I could take those classes at my home university and they would actually COUNT towards my GPA versus just being a pass/fail grade.
Hoping to acquire some good feedback from all you IT professionals that are out in the REAL world.
Comments
For me, I would love to study abroad. You never know what direction that could take you, and the memories would last you forever. You can still study for your CCNA over there as well. Travel is a great learning experience.
what this man said. You can always study for the CCNA anywhere, anyplace, anytime. You can also study lets say 50% of the exam while your abroad.
2022 Goals:
Certs: EnCE (in progress), eCPTXv2 (in progress), eCMAP, eCRE
Course: BC Security - Empire Operations 1 (Jan 28th), Zero Point Security - CRTO (course completed), Zero Point Security - C2 Development in C#
The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
My parents are really pushing me to do the study abroad, and the funny part is I already have everything set to go and leave in August.
I am just having second thoughts now as my girl friend dosen't particulary want me going overseas and being away from her for 4+ months, and I kind of don't want to do it either.
I feel like my reasonings for going to Study Abroad are also different than many other students. Instead of wanting to go to gain cultural knowledge, foreign experience, etc. the only reasons I am wanting to go are to:
1. Knock out my foreign language requirements AND
2. Help differentiate myself more on my Resume.
With that being said, if Study Abroad dosen't Significantly help differentiate me I don't feel like it's worth the hassle to go through. Some people love studying in new places and meeting new people, but I'm afraid I'm going for the wrong reasons.
I have give or take a weeks time to either continue with the Study Abroad or pull out and work on a certification as well as bring up my GPA.
I would really hate to graduate college with a sub 3.0 GPA as I feel it would be very detrimental to me when looking for a job in IT.
Welcome to all feedback..and thanks for your opinions guys! Wish I would have a few people to say "f*ck study abroad, employers just look at it as a big party", then it would make it a lot easier to back out and not feel like i'm quitting or taking the easy way out.
Forgot to say in the title that while I'm working on my CCNA, I'm splitting it up and doing the two tests separately. So you could say I'm working towards my CCENT for now, CCNA is a long-term goal.
Should I focus on A+ or Net+ before I do the CCENT?
From my understanding of Germany, there are alot of folks over there that do speak English. I would imagine this would be true if you're in a metro-area, like Berlin or Munich.
To the OP if I were both you and your age, I would totally do a study abroad in Germany. Especially during a fall semester....Oktoberfest!!
(In seriousness, you have time for Cisco....you might not have time for a well rounded opportunity a study abroad program in Europe provides.)
As for your GPA, when I graduated years ago I don't recall any job asking for my GPA. And I didn't have a 3.0!
Study Abroad experience on a resume?
or
IT certifications like CCENT/A+/Net+/CCNA etc?
The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
3rd reason: Beer
The CCNA will be there when you get back.
What's your GPA in just your major courses? That's the work-a-round a lot of people use on a "new graduate" resume -- the preemptive "Major GPA" to hopefully avoid the mentioning the actual GPA (especially if you Minored in Beer).
Put it this way....
I see two resumes in front me. All are identical in every way except one has done a study abroad program in another country. The one who has not has a slightly higher GPA.
If I were a hiring manager, I'd lean more toward the guy who studied abroad. Having an understanding of a different culture in your background yells volumes to companies looking for ways to introduce "diversity." (HR would view you as less of a headache in that regard...even if you don't personally give a ---- about diversity, on paper it looks like you are well rounded.)
As I've said, do this man! Cisco will still be here when you get back! Also remember...if it's in a different area code...it doesn't count!
GPA in just my major courses is around 3.0-3.2 range?
And I don't really drink so beer isn't a big reason for me wanting to go Germany.
Studying abroad is a great experience, and you really shouldn't make excuses because you're not sure what to expect over there. In fact, that should motivate you - the adventure! At the end of the day though, it is your choice. Keep in mind, 1 semester away from home will zoom by. Before you know it you'll be back in the states.
Americans are Europeans living in denial. You have a bankrolled opportunity to live and study in Germany and a dad that works at Cisco. Forget the GPA, far too many people are hung up on that. Pack your bags and come across the pond. The experience will be life changing for you and for the better. If your girlfriend understands, cool. If she doesn't come anyway. You will be way hotter to her when you return as you will be worldly and changed for the better by the experience in terms of your confidence. Germany is full of chicks anyway.
Good luck with the studies.
The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Summa Cum Laude - April 2011
The only difference between brilliance and stupidity is that brilliance has limits.
Thanks for pushing me to go over here guys! I feel it was worth it even if I haven't gotten as much CCENT studying done as I would have hoped for. The classes over here are no joke! lol
What?? lol