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Thinking of joining this academy before going to WGU.

Scamceno

Apologies, this is longish...

Basically my plans have been hit by a huge curve ball due to unforeseen circumstances, and some very bad decision making on my part. Basically im financially in a hole right now(not to deep anymore). This relates to my studies because I was studying for the A+ and it killed my motivation since I wouldn't be able to take the test anytime soon. As a result I started slacking and I have even forgotten some stuff I learned.

Now I have a few PC skills, but none I think are strong enough to land me a job, so I am going to look elsewhere or just do odd jobs for locals and friends for the experiance. I need a 2nd job asap though so I am not going to be picky.

Ok now the point of this thread is this academy I saw in a free book at a gas station a friend works at. Its called the Computer Training Academy. The site is cta5.com. The ad says it'll have you "career ready"(I know everyone says this). The thing that caught my eye though was it gets you certified apon completion of the courses. These include A+,MCSE,Network +, Linux +,CCNA, CNE Novell, and more.

The ad also stated you can enroll now and get 4 certs for the price of one. Also it says its GI BIll approved, and their partners and providers section is full of legit companies. Now I am thinking I can get financial aid to help pay for this stuff, plus 4 for 1(assuming I pass them) is a hell of a deal considering the school isn't bogus. It also advertises being career ready in 6 months. My concern is I can't find much about it online, probably because there are only 2 campus'. So I am not finding reviews or more then 1 user experiences at the school.

I am thinking if the courses can be completed in a reasonable amount of time I may do it since i'd need at least 1 cert to get into WGU anyway. That was my original intention with getting my A+. This way I may be able to multi cert myself and transfer all of them into there later and work towards my BS degree. Anyways does this sound similar to any "academy's" anyone here has visited?

I would get more information from them but I can't til later on today. Maybe I should save the money and just self study for these things? I mean I won't lie, the classes would help force me to whip into shape. Plus i'll have at least a teacher to help me understand certain things, not sure about how peers will work with a program like this. So TE community, any words of wisdom?

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Comments

NetworkVeteran

it gets you certified apon completion of the courses. These include A+,MCSE,Network +, Linux +,CCNA, CNE Novell, and more.

Nobody can "get you certified"--in the end, you alone have to take and pass the certifications exams.

I may do it since i'd need at least 1 cert to get into WGU. Maybe I should save the money and just self study for these things? I mean I won't lie, the classes would help force me to whip into shape.

Whether you're able to learn independently or require a teacher is a personal question. I would be wary of believing, "I'll have at least a teacher to help me understand certain things", unless you know precisely who will teach these courses. The quality of the instructors varies between schools. If you can't meet them personally, I'd at ask what the qualifications of their teachers are. Not some aggregate, "Many of them have..", but rather specifically the teacher(s) you would get in your key classes.

Danielm7

Well, I don't know if it's just the side of me that has done too much wordpress development, but if a company can't put up a website without having /wordpress/ in their url and change their permalinks I assume it either just went up or they have no idea what they are doing. I'm also leery of anyone who posts average salaries on their site but I don't think that's really what someone should expect when they get out with no work experience. If they are taking you from no experience to "These include A+,MCSE,Network +, Linux +,CCNA, CNENovell, and more." within 6 months I don't know how much of the material you're really actually learning.

The "partners" they listed just means they bought a training course through them or they are training you for their certifications as far as I know.

They say, "As a student you receive a laptop computer with award winning Laptop Based Training (LBT), which includes the best instructional design and graphic learning systems, state-of-the-art simulations and exam preparation software to create an unparalleled learning experience. Also included is a set of authorized study manuals for the selected courses of study. You have the convenience of studying at your home or in an environment of your choosing, and when your schedule allows."
So do you even get a teacher? I mean if that is the big selling point vs self study, it sounds like this is self study anyway?

It would probably help everyone decide if you could tell us what they are actually charging you for the course?

Scamceno

Nah the teacher isn't the selling point, I honestly don't need one but in my college experiences it does move things along faster is all. Was more of a bonus then anything.

@NetVet I get what you are saying, in the end im going to have to put in the work. Im ready for that, I suppose I just got a little hyped that I may have found a way to get things going now even with the situation I've gotten myself into. I may really just have to do one thing at a time and worry about getting my IT stuff going later.

@Daniel lol you kinda supported what I just said to NetVet about me perhaps just getting to excited. Im normally a patient person but I already feel like I have wasted so much of my time. I suppose I'll ignore it, I did see it in a pennysaver type ad. I just wanted to be sure before I wrote it off, as it did sound like a great opportunity. I'll make a new plan, I will get this stuff done one way or another. I am just going to have to be patient until I can actually afford the examination. Sadly that is a long ways away with the way things are looking right now.

Many thanks to the two of you, people like you are the reason I am so in love with this forum.

dbrink

How much does it cost? I can't even find the cost anywhere....

Scamceno

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No clue I'd have to call them in a bit, its not on the site.

Valsacar

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That's a "RUN, RUN FAR AWAY" for me.

Plantwiz

You will likely find, if you have the discipline (or just make a basic daily study schedule for yourself and stick to it) you can buy two or three books and save yourself a TON of money and earn your own certification. The ad you posted screams to me 'run' as well. Up to you, but I think you will find you will be pestered by some of the most determined marketing folks to try to guilt you into paying more and more money for their courses and in the end you could have accomplished the same with your own text books and schedule.

If you want to pursue WGU, there are plenty of people on this site who can give you suggestions about how they chose to pursue their degree, and long-term, this to me is more desirable than the 'get 4 certs for the price of 1' gimmicks. I know a couple people who have fallen for the gimmicks and were out $25K and really had nothing to show for all that 'training' including NO IDEA what to do when a live situation was in front of them.

Try to gain some job-shadow experience or volunteer at some non-profits and help someone who has more experience and is willing to let you tag-along for a few months.

cyberguypr

From what I can find this seems to be your typical $10k+ training joint. Will you get training? Most likely. Will you get certified? That's totally up to you. Is it worth the money? Doubtful.

I got a kick out of the partners thing. Danielm7 is absolutely right. They just copy+paste text from all those websites. Best one is the DoD: "On behalf of the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense, we welcome you to Defense.gov, the official web site for the Department of Defense".

Icing on the cake: the "Enroll" section is nothing but a credit application. BTW, did I mention it is NOT secure?

This makes up for some good reading: Review: LTS Career Training - Topix

As Plantwiz said, in the age of ebooks, trainsignal, CBT Nuggets, and virtualization certifying can be done cheaper than ever. If you do need instructor-led training you may be better served by going to a community college for a few hundred bucks per course.

Scamceno

I see, thank you everyone for your input.

asurania

Dude;

In all honesty..academy I think would be a waste of time.

Step 1. Go to www.trainsignal.com - $50 a onth
Step 2. Do your basic certification - A+, CCNA, MCSE
Step 3. Get work experience in IT
Step 4. Pick a specialty - Exchange,Storage, vitalization etc
Step 5. Get Certified in your specialty
Step 6. Get a Degree - WGU

I followed that steps for the most part. I am now approaching the $100k/year mark. And In all honesty just the IT experience is
the only roadblock above. Everything else is all on you...

the only thing that matters now is your certifications to help get that experience, the certification also gets you credits for your degree at WGU which is also important.

Good Luck

asurania

Also Side note WGU you get the financial Aid, and most of the certification like A+, MCSE, CCNA is covered, and for the ones not covered which is in addition to the degree you can pay the student price

Scamceno

Well that may not be a bad planned if your nearing that mark lol. I think i'll dig around that trainsignal site for a while. Seems I just need to stay motivated and be patient, I suppose my opportunity will come when I make it come. Im going to step my game up, I need to get myself organized and make a plan and stick to it by all means. Asurania thanks for the little guide.

As for the WGU I was aware of that but since I needed one to get in the offer sounded attractive. But what you all said makes sense, I need to just crack down and keep up wiith my studies until I can save enough to pay for my first exam. After I pass my first one I can use that to get into WGU. But since this academy is likely a waste of time and precious precious dollars, I'll just wait until I can pay for it on my own.

asurania

Just a tip
You an do the Microsoft windows 7 exams instead of A+ for WGU entrance requirement. It is $150 a lot cheaper then A+

Scamceno

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Wasn't aware, but I must ask will it give me any relevant skills that I can use on a job? Well I mean of course it is but I mean by itself. If not what would be a good compliment to it, the A+ perhaps since its a windows cert?

I just want to maximize the use out of whatever I am investing my money into.

asurania

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Honestly Windows 7 is more relent then A+....
Also A+ is brutally easy.....and when i mean easy is that you could walk in and pass the exam without really studing, or doing a one night cram session.

Windows 7 exam you actually learn stuff that you will use in a helpdesk/desktop support.

I actually learned stuff and I am in a Very Senior Role.

If i was a employer i would pick the person with the Windows 7 exam over A+

Also Keep in Mind, probably better to get WGU to pay for your A+ exam, then your Windows 7 Exam

I

asurania

if I had to pick two exam
Wndows 7 and CCENT (do the new version) - folowed by CCNA
you could also do Windows 7

personally A+ i don't see the value in it

Also you might want to contact WGU and ask them if there doing the MCSA on Windows Server 2008 or 2012

Scamceno

Ah I see..... I'll do make sure to call them. And hmm cool its nice to know it'll have practical use. That's all I wanted to know, I think i'll change my focus and get that exam done instead. Thanks again bro for all of the useful advice. Now to head over to those boards and find out all the material i'll need to get started.

Backpacker

I believe all the IT degrees have Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Windows OS Fundamentals involved in it.
My certs are almost 15 years old so that is the one im getting to pass admissions.I ordered the CCENT 100-101 from Cisco Press and they gave me a free Safari Books subscription for 1 month.Look for Microsofts Operating System Essentials by Tom Carpenter.I havent taken the test yet but I did read the book and it seems pretty straight forward.
So for under 30 bucks you can get your MTA study material and a hard copy for your CCENT

[h=3][/h]

Scamceno

awesome backpacker, thanks.

Scamceno

Just to be clear you were referring to the 70-680 correct? The website seems to have the 680 and 685 listed with the MCSA as the cert you get. Is that what they mean or do you take the 680 alone, or the 685 alone for the MCSA? The confusing part is that they have it listed as step 1 then step 2. But asura gave the impression that it was 1 exam. I wish the website was a little more straight forward like Comptia's lol.