How should I do it...

jasoni

Hi guys..
This is my first post to this site.
Im 23 and from South Australia and need everybodies help plz..
Ok I am currently undergoing training for my CCNA at a TAFE here (similar to a university) and should complete that in August (including my tests)..
Previosly before that i have completed a Bachelor Of COmputer + Information Science
Now i want to look at doing my MCSA in 2003 firstly and hopefully get to my MCSE...

I work full time but can sqeeze in around 15 hours study time a week towards my CCNA so it will be the same for when i study for MS.
I was wondering whether it would be worthwhile for me to get the microsoft study guides with the trial version of 2003 server or should use another company for the study guide?

How long will it take (approx) for me to do each test... i hear people saying a test every 2 months.. would that be correct for me based on 15hrs study a week??
Can my CCNA count as an elective subject?
Please guys give me some professional guidance as i know many of you have walked down this path...

lordy

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I work full time but can sqeeze in around 15 hours study time a week towards my CCNA so it will be the same for when i study for MS.
I was wondering whether it would be worthwhile for me to get the microsoft study guides with the trial version of 2003 server or should use another company for the study guide?

From what I have read so far the M$ guides are quite good. You can read through some of the "I passed" threads as a lot of successul people list their used materials there.

How long will it take (approx) for me to do each test... i hear people saying a test every 2 months.. would that be correct for me based on 15hrs study a week??

Well, I personally would say that a test every 2 months is a tight shedule when you are working full time. But if you keep focused this is quite doable. It always depends on the knowledge you already have too.

Can my CCNA count as an elective subject?

No, unfortunately not. The only certificates that count as electives are from CompTIA and the only one of them that makes sense to me is Security+. If you do Sec+ you can use it as an elective and it again counts on the road to MCSA:Security, if you want to do that.

Hope this helps,
Lordy

janmike

Welcome to the forums!

Good luck on the Cisco exams!

The Microsoft study guides should cover everything that you need. But if you have a lot of experience working in a W2k or W2k3 domain, you might get by with a cram guide like ExamCram2 or Michael Meyers Passport for 70-290. Generally you should use more that one study guide just to be sure that you have all the bases covered. You can get the M$ evaluation kit for W2k3 here, http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/trial/evalkit.mspx
if you don't use the M$ guides. One person who posts here recommends the Sybex study guide followed up with the ExamCram Guide--says it works every time.

There are also study guides that you can use on TechExams, http://www.techexams.net/technotes.php

How long you have to study depends on your ability to absorb the information that you need. Since you are presently involved in an academic setting, 2 months per test may do it--as long as you don't burn out, and as long as that 15 hours-per-week is solid study time.

CCNA is not listed as a M$ cert elective.

See MCSA here http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/

See MCSE here http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/

Well, this is my opinion/experience/etc. Best of luck to you!