What route should I head into next?

I have recently gotten my A+ Certification, and I am a bit confused on what I should shoot for now certification wise. I am mainly a hardware person, with pretty good OS knowledge, and in networking I am about 50/50 in...
I'm only 18 and about to graduate from highschool pretty soon, my degree plans are hopefully getting a Bachelors in Computer Engineering, start in community college and get my associates in applied science, and work on the side as I go to a university and get my bachelors over time.

My only thing is, should I get my Network+, or what route should I actually take?

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RouteMyPacket

Krysune wrote: »

I have recently gotten my A+ Certification, and I am a bit confused on what I should shoot for now certification wise. I am mainly a hardware person, with pretty good OS knowledge, and in networking I am about 50/50 in...
I'm only 18 and about to graduate from highschool pretty soon, my degree plans are hopefully getting a Bachelors in Computer Engineering, start in community college and get my associates in applied science, and work on the side as I go to a university and get my bachelors over time.

My only thing is, should I get my Network+, or what route should I actually take?

So what do you want to do?

Networking? Start with Network + or CCENT

Systems? Server + or the beginning MS certifications

The most critical thing is to find work that will support your goals or allow you to get your foot in the door at a place that you can eventually start working with what you want.

Help Desk-> Desktop->Server->Server Infrastructure Administration

Krysune

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

So what do you want to do?

Networking? Start with Network + or CCENT

Systems? Server + or the beginning MS certifications

The most critical thing is to find work that will support your goals or allow you to get your foot in the door at a place that you can eventually start working with what you want.

Help Desk-> Desktop->Server->Server Infrastructure Administration

That's the thing honestly, I am not sure what exactly is out there, or what most of it is called. I do a lot of computer repair on the side for extra money, and I have learned quite a bit of the server side by messing with a few old Proliant's. I enjoy a lot of it really.

NetworkVeteran

Krysune wrote: »

That's the thing honestly, I am not sure what exactly is out there, or what most of it is called.

Do a search on your favorite online jobs site, e.g. Monster.com, and you'll see roughly what jobs are available in your area, what they require in terms of education/certifications/experience, and how much they pay.

Alternatively, do a search for somewhere you might want to live.

They key thing for now is to focus on that degree!

Krysune

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

Do a search on your favorite online jobs site, e.g. Monster.com, and you'll see roughly what jobs are available in your area, what they require in terms of education/certifications/experience, and how much they pay.

Alternatively, do a search for somewhere you might want to live.

They key thing for now is to focus on that degree!

Oh yeah, my main focus is that degree, that's literally my next step after graduation.

Might I ask what the main difference is between Network+ and CCENT, and what would be more logical and better off in the end? I would assume the cisco would be better off in the end, but more so in my case I suppose, because I hear mixed thoughts on Network+ and CCENT, a lot of people say Network+ would give you a foundation before CCENT.

NetworkVeteran

If your final goal is CCNA, then Network+ => CCENT => CCNA or CCENT => CCNA or CCNA directly are all viable options. I went directly for CCNA, but it all depends on your aptitude and existing knowledge about networks (routers, switches, TCP vs. IP, frames vs. packets, etc.) I wager that the middle course is the most popular one.

The Network+ focuses more on how desktops and servers use the network. Imagine someone learning how to book a flight on Delta and the pre-flight instructions about seat belts and oxygen masks. The CCENT/CCNA focus more on the routers/switches that make a network function. Imagine the pilot or co-pilot of those flights!

Krysune

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

If your final goal is CCNA, then Network+ => CCENT => CCNA or CCENT => CCNA or CCNA directly are all viable options. I went directly for CCNA, but it all depends on your aptitude and existing knowledge about networks (routers, switches, TCP vs. IP, frames vs. packets, etc.) I wager that the middle course is the most popular one.

The Network+ focuses more on how desktops and servers use the network. Imagine someone learning how to book a flight on Delta and the pre-flight instructions about seat belts and oxygen masks. The CCENT/CCNA focus more on the routers/switches that make a network function. Imagine the pilot or co-pilot of those flights!

I really appreciate the run down on them.
My cleared up goal of certifications I would like to have followed by a degree would be;
A+ (Already Have) CCNA and MCTS

DoubleNNs

Personally, I think you should go the A+, Network+, then Sec+ route and focus on your degree as much as possible.
1 thing you could do is find the curriculum of the program you'd be enrolling in and start studying the materials in the classes you'll be assigned.

Getting certifications now presents you with a few problems, including:
1) Your certs will be expired by the time you graduate. It can be costly to renew them after they expire and time consuming to keep them up to date while in school.
2) They may have little relevance to the material in the classes you'll have in school.
3) You may begin your degree and realize that you want to go a certain route. Getting anything vendor specific now, and realizing you don't even want to touch that stuff in the future, would just make the cert a waste of time and money.

If you do want to jump into the vendor-specific material however, go for the MCTS/MCSA - i think they don't expire.