I've been doing alot of searching and researching on IT degrees and certs. I have discovered quite a few so called "boot camps" for IT certification. I am interested in MCSE, CCNA. Does anyone have any experience with these boot camps? Some of them are pretty expensive, but guarantee a passing grade. Are they legit, and are they worth the money?
They are legit, but you won't necessarily learn much. They basically teach the test, and do a very good job of it. You'll learn enough to pass the test, but not much more. I always went the self-study route, but this obviously takes longer. If you have the time, you should try one exam via self-study (get a good book and practice exam software) before committing to the boot camp route.
Given the current IT job market, the value of simply passing the exams is questionable, at the least. (Do a web or usent search for "paper MCSE" to see some opinions on this.) From what I can tell, it all depends on your experience. If you have a lot of real-world experience and just want the credential to back it up, a boot camp might be worth it. (Though there are probably much cheaper -- though somewhat slower -- alternatives [perhaps your local community college.]) If you are just starting out in the field, you would likely be far better off getting an entry level job and learning while you work.
They are legitimate. I have experience with two of them. When I participated in the boot camps, I didn't have to repeat any of my exams. The boot camps that I attended were as follows: 1. Global Knowledge (CCNP) http://www.globalknowledge.com 2. Intense School (CISSP) http://www.intenseschool.com
