Alright. I’m a junior in high school.
I want to move in the career path of Computer Networking Technologies or IT Security.
I’m currently taking LAN-121/122 and have already taken LAN-111.
My plan is to go to a community college since their IT program is extensive. I can get the Cisco certificates I want but I’m pretty sure I need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree for the job I want. How would this work? Degrees are based on credit hours, correct?
I don’t think my SAT score matters for this college, this college will accept me.
The majority of community colleges offer only an associates degree (there are exceptions and very few offer a Bachelor’s), but to be competitive in today’s job market, you should aim for a Bachelor’s degree from a 4 year university. You can start off at your community college and then transfer into a 4 year university. In general for a CC, SAT scores do not matter. If you plan to transfer than your CC GPA will be the most important factor.
I would do some more research on the types of jobs you are interested in pursuing to see what the entry level requirements are such as a BS/BA.
Honestly, with today’s job market, you need a bachelor’s degree unless you’re just blowing everyone out of the water in the interview and let’s be honest, that is likely not going to be the case.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be with computer science or computer engineering, but it has to be in something. My company isn’t going to promote anyone up who isn’t at least college educated to be an engineer.
I got my degree in mathematics, but I learned all of my coding at my company. That was okay while my company was still doing that, but now they’re looking for people fresh out of engineering school who have the education/background already when they put out a want ad for entry level engineers.
I don’t really recommend the specific “IT” route. I know someone who went that route and they’re working as a walmart stocker right now and they graduated over a year ago.