college time.. what to do (sorry long post)

[Gabzor]

finally time to transfer out of community college (i've been taking it slow)

Also i'm based off in california, so i don't know if most of you will understand

well this semester was all bad.. (my professor got fired, got some terrible replacement) but i dropped out (taking an online class which i'm almost done with already) and i can transfer next semester (depending on what school, still need mostly math, and language)
also got refunded for dropping the class, no effect on my record, just more school..

well my major as of now was mechanical/general engineering.. but honestly.. i'm kind of retarded at math (no offense to anyone)
and engineering is a "live and breathe math" kind of thing..
not to mention how competitive it is and highly impacted (from all the foreign transfer math geniuses) [you need to get passed liner algebra to even get in thats the class after calculus 3 if some of you guys are wondering]

clearly computer science/game design is not my major as it requires a ton of math.


i looked a couple uc's (college fair today)
some offer some amazing classes i've never seen before
such as B.S in network engineering, computer hardware engineering, computer technology , computer robotics..

honestly i'm thinking about switching to network engineering, it seems more of an IT, as it is in collaboration with CISCO from the school

http://www.ce.ucsc.edu/academics/undergraduate/bandt

heres a link..

facts are, i've worked at a shop for a while, but i got "laid off" but honestly i didn't like working there.. because they didn't do it right... most of the work was half assed, and they would treat customer's computers like crap.. wasn't honest, and didn't pay too great either..

right now i'm just doing my own thing on the side (computerwise), but i work at a coffee shop.. i actually make more money than fixing computers can ya believe that?

honestly i'm okay with pc's (thanks to TN and google ) i mean generally its not too hard.. macs, i havn't done much except probably replacing hardware/reinstalling osx

laptops.. generally its the same as a desktop.. but i'm not too great at taking them apart (i'm scared of breaking them) but if i go slow i can do it..

soldering, i'm good with wires, but i haven't soldered anything else.. no ac adapters, no capacitors.. nothing.. just some wires here and there


honestly, i'm not that great with computers compared to most of the world but hey.. like i said i haven't had anything that hard..

i heard/read a bunch of stories about IT's but most i know haven't even gone to college.. at most got an AA in something like liberal arts or photography and passed the ccna/cne etc and their not doing too bad actually.. well some of them.. some of them wait tables

honestly i don't know any bit of networking that high of a level, such as managing a switch, i've gotten lucky as most of my clients are basic things.. i just started to get started with a few clients with exchange server and server 2003/2008

but still its nothing big.. its basic rdp/terminal services, etc.. although i don't know much about terminal services or active directory or the usual server mumbo jumbo.

but honestly, nothing else seems to interest me.. well besides bio major stuff, but fact is i know i'm not going to be a doc.

my fallback plan is trade/tech school, and fix medical equipment/work for electric company.. hopefully i can get into aerospace/airplanes.. i mean i love cars but the job security for a car mechanic isn't too great (i've asked around) and its getting too easy..

i love physics, how things work and all that, but in the end of the day its all math.. and my mind just doesn't seem to see the "mechanical picture" like those who are good with mechanics do, even when fixing computers, i kind of have a checklist/process of elimination/with experience.


i wish i knew computer science, like foolishIT and could be able to write impressive programs like D7.. but its not my thing, never was never will be.. if i look at code, my brain just kind of farts at me.. and my memory was never too great for all the functions, etc.


i can't really go to the marines/airforce, because i have so many major injuries in my medical record..(also can't become a cop/firefighter :/)
i've tried the marines, but they wouldn't let me continue due to injuries, and risk of liability.. same with the airforce.. i have a cousin whos a pretty high ranked officer, hes been in there for a ton of years, and he says honestly go to school.. which i'm not very good at

i know the airforce is all about computers here they even have a cyber division.. but its really impacted, but it really helps alot for jobs (top secret clearance)

and collegewise, i got offered a partial scholarship to NYU (new york university)
but still it was way too expensive.. and it was for photography, and they required i major in photo for minimum of 2 years..

as much as i love photo, i don't want it being my major as the majority of photographers are rock bottom broke and struggling unless they know all the right people..

honestly i'm just looking for opinions/other people's experiences/stories
just so i can get some guidance.. i know i still have to make the choice.

 

[strollin]

You might consider going for various certifications that should qualify you for at least an entry level IT job such as desktop support where you could work your way up.

The link you posted to UCSC and the Networking degree states that it requires the same math, physics and programming classes as the Computer Engineering program so I don't think you would like that. BTW - did you know the mascot for UCSC is the Banana slug?

IT is a large field with lots of possibilities. I personally have a BS in Management but work in IT as a software engineer. My 2 sons both work in IT, one has some college credits but no degree, the other has an AA degree and is working toward a 4 year degree.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

I didn't finish my IT degree but am still taking the occasional class to finish my biz degree, the IT one I realized was completely useless after you have 5+ yrs of complete IT experience.... plan on getting some certs some day, but to be honest I like the business side more than the IT side (still love it though), I'd rather hire the people with the degrees and high level certs.

I'd say go to school for IT networking, and pick up at least an entry level cert like maybe the A+ and then look for a helpdesk job, from there you can move up.

 

[Gabzor]

thanks.. im probably a semester away from an AA if i wanted, but my school doesn't offer any computer related stuff.. so maybe i do have to go to an IT related college

the only ones i know are like ITT tech or something like that though :/

banana slugs! haha i don't really care as long as i get the diploma/job

sprinter - how did you get IT experience?
i mean people don't just hand out it jobs do they?

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

thanks.. im probably a semester away from an AA if i wanted, but my school doesn't offer any computer related stuff.. so maybe i do have to go to an IT related college

the only ones i know are like ITT tech or something like that though :/

banana slugs! haha i don't really care as long as i get the diploma/job

sprinter - how did you get IT experience?
i mean people don't just hand out it jobs do they?

Try a tech school 90% of them have a 2 year IT networking degree program.

I gained some experience from school, but a lot was self-taught (amazing what happens when you want to learn something).

Check around, I've had a number of interns that were great, but they did already have part of a 2yr technical IT degree, also personality is the #1 thing, I hire far more based on personality, customer service and just the overall person than on IT background, IT can be taught people skills are harder.... If you're goal is to sit in a server room all day IT skills are key, if you want to work in an IT service provider or technology solutions provider it's 30% technical, and 70% customer service and overall personality.

 

[NOOB_TECH]

thanks.. im probably a semester away from an AA if i wanted, but my school doesn't offer any computer related stuff.. so maybe i do have to go to an IT related college

the only ones i know are like ITT tech or something like that though :/

banana slugs! haha i don't really care as long as i get the diploma/job

sprinter - how did you get IT experience?
i mean people don't just hand out it jobs do they?

Try WGU, I know a bunch of guys that go there. It’s all online, but you get credits for the certs you pass, it’s reasonably priced, and you get a regionally accredited degree.

http://www.wgu.edu/why_WGU/overview

http://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/programs

 

[red12049]

Do what you love....and it doesn't sound like that love is for computers/IT.

Take that scholarship and get your degree, you can always go back for another in a different field. In the meantime, you will have learned how to go to college, and play the game there. Might make the second time a bit more worthwhile for you.

Good luck.

Rick

 

[Gabzor]

Do what you love....and it doesn't sound like that love is for computers/IT.

Take that scholarship and get your degree, you can always go back for another in a different field. In the meantime, you will have learned how to go to college, and play the game there. Might make the second time a bit more worthwhile for you.

Good luck.

Rick

actually i do at the end of the day, its fun even though its hard and its kind of all i know :/

i was thinking about it.. but honestly i'd rather try to keep it instate, i mean nyu is a bit wayyyy out of budget

sprinter - i actually want to be the guy in the back of a server room.. i'm not bad with people, but i'm not great either.. also alot of my former jobs left me too many bad experiences with weird customers



thanks for the comments/suggestions so far..

 

[strollin]

...
Take that scholarship and get your degree ...

Just a note of caution regarding that partial scholarship. My daughter was offered something similar to a photography school in S. Calif. The "scholarship" is offered to anyone and basically puts a small dent in the first year. Even with that scholarship the degree program would have cost over $100K.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

i wish i knew computer science, like foolishIT and could be able to write impressive programs like D7.. but its not my thing, never was never will be.. if i look at code, my brain just kind of farts at me.. and my memory was never too great for all the functions, etc.

FoolishIT isn't that good of a programmer and he will tell you the same but he is a very skilled technician theres no denying that part. If you did have any interest in that you don't need to go to college to learn some basics. Theres plenty of books that can help you. Learning the basics of coding is never a bad thing and it gives you a better understanding of software in general.

 

[Gabzor]

haha well he was just an example.. but i will look into it.. i had a programming class in highschool.. it was very boring for me.. but then again it was java..

also i could never memorize all the functions and stuff like that..

strollin - i know haha i calculated the nyu costs, it would come out to about me being about half a million in debt after i graduate

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

haha well he was just an example.. but i will look into it.. i had a programming class in highschool.. it was very boring for me.. but then again it was java..

also i could never memorize all the functions and stuff like that..

strollin - i know haha i calculated the nyu costs, it would come out to about me being about half a million in debt after i graduate

Could try something like http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-2E-Real-World-Programming/dp/1449380344 which dives right in to potentially useful apps.