Question Concerning MCSA

[arashi_kage]

First let me say I understand that certs only mean something to the people doing the hiring. In the little podunck town in Ohio I live in, they skip over you if you don't have the certs. So I now have to figure out which would be most useful. I am considering trying for Network+ & Server+ or CCNA or MCSA. Either way I am going to be doing this as a self-study. This question falls along the line of Abby_Normal's. What are some good books for the MCSA. I have read some serious bad reviews about Microsoft's Self-Paced Training kit books for the 70-270 & 70-284 exams but good reviews for the books on 70-291 & 70-350. The same goes for the Sybex series of books, some really good, some incredibly awful. I was wondering if anyone has these books and what they thought about them or if anyone has other books that they thought were good. Currently I am planning on buying a combination Sybex & Microsoft books.

[jason_zhangwz]

Re: Question Concerning MCSA

If you just want to get MCSE+Security exam, I think Sybex book is enough.
I used to use sybex book to pass all the exams.
Good luck.

[ciph3r]

Re: Question Concerning MCSA

I am taking my MCSE now and i have used the MS Training Kit books exclusively and have done pretty well with them. As a fellow who is also taking the test i would advise you to get hands on with the OS.

Can i ask why you are going with the MCSA, when you could go with the MCSE? i know there are more tests, but you are that much more marketable.

Also I would follow up the MCSE/MCSA with a CCNA cert. It provides a great networking foundation.

[renderman]

Re: Question Concerning MCSA

Unless they've changed things, and your bright enough, you can usually get by buying the exam cram books and brain dumps online. Screw actually going through the workbooks, just cram.

I passed the MS proxy server exam with a 95% without ever having touched or seen the product.

As noted by others, a Cisco cert is probobly worth more of your time and money to get.

[arashi_kage]

Re: Question Concerning MCSA

Thanks for the info guys. I'm doing the MCSA mainly because I'm a poor college student so money is a big object. Plus I'm cramming school, studying for certs, and work into my tiny little brain as it is. I don't know how much Microsoft I can handle. I think I will definitely look into some Cisco certs now too. Thanks again everyone.

[bpitt]

Re: Question Concerning MCSA

I JUST passed my Network + exam this past Friday, I went to a class all week and sat for the exam on Friday. I passed. As did the other 4 people in my class. We used the Sybex books and the instructor downloaded the "testking" practice testing software from Comptia onto our laptops. A LOT of the testking questions were on the exam. Just a hint.