Attn. HappyScrappy

[Anabolic Booster]

Hello,

You seem to be knowledgable about this stuff judging by your reply to my last question so I would like your opinion on this web developer program if you don't mind. It's a 52 week program and it costs somewhere around $18,000 Cnd. The woman at the IT college obviously claimed that the program is incredible but I'd like an unbiased opinion. This is the program. Do you think it looks good?



E-Commerce Web Developer
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Web Fundamentals
HTML, DHTML, CSS, Internet Basics 3 weeks
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Microsoft Certified Professional
CompTIA Network+
2151-Microsoft Windows 2000 Network & Operating System Essentials
2152-Implementing Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional & Server 8 weeks
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Programming Fundamentals
Introduction to Programming with Java Script 4 weeks
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Microsoft Scripting
VB Script
Active Server Pages
Internet Information Server (IIS) 4 weeks
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Web Design Graphics
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop 4 weeks
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Web Design Tools
Microsoft Front Page
Macromedia Dreamweaver
Allaire HomeSite
Adobe GoLive 4 weeks
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Web Design Animation Plus
Macromedia Flash
XML (Extensible Markup Language) 4 weeks
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Web Design & Marketing
Website Design Fundamentals
Marketing Websites
Site Design 4 weeks
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Linux & Apache
Linux Operating System Training
Apache Web Server Training 4 weeks
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Database Administration & Programming
Relational Database Fundamentals
Administering a Microsoft SQL Server Database
Programming a Microsoft SQL Server Database 8 weeks
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[the nature boy]

18K? that's a lot. Do you have any college experience? do you have a degree?

 

[HappyScrappy]

not sure I'd why XML is in the animation block - and the web editors are a waste - most just use TextPad - other than that - it looks really solid for the money ($12K US by my count).

for one java class that lasts 4 weeks it can cost $5K at developmentor or those places.

assuming they teach well, then that looks pretty good.

 

[Anabolic Booster]

18K? that's a lot. Do you have any college experience? do you have a degree?

My college history is pretty bad.

I took one year of a 2 year business marketing program... After one year I realized that it wasn't something that I liked at all and didn't want to put anymore money into it.

Right now I'm taking a little 6 week computer support & maintanence course, so I'll have A+ Certification once I'm finished that. (No jokes on A+ please

I realize that A+ Cert. isn't anything special so I'm thinking that this web development program might be a decent idea.

 

[Anabolic Booster]

not sure I'd why XML is in the animation block - and the web editors are a waste - most just use TextPad - other than that - it looks really solid for the money ($12K US by my count).

for one java class that lasts 4 weeks it can cost $5K at developmentor or those places.

assuming they teach well, then that looks pretty good.

There is a shorter 34 week web development program that exludes the following from the program:

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Microsoft Scripting
VB Script
Active Server Pages
Internet Information Server (IIS) 4 weeks
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Linux & Apache
Linux Operating System Training
Apache Web Server Training 4 weeks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Database Administration & Programming
Relational Database Fundamentals
Administering a Microsoft SQL Server Database
Programming a Microsoft SQL Server Database 8 weeks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So it's 4 months shorter, and something like 5k cheaper. Is this stuff above really important, and worth the extra 5k and 4 months of school?

 

[the nature boy]

my advice to you is to beware of those kind of places. they promise you the world, however if you hate the school or cirriculum, it's very hard to get your money back. I've heard nightmare stories. And a lot of those places promise job placement with XXXXXXXXX amount of dollars when in reality they can't promise jack shit. I'm skeptical. Do some research on the company, see if you can talk to people that have taken the class. If they're reluctant to let you talk to some references then I'd be worried.

Don't know if you want to but I'd go back to college and get an IT related degree if that suits you. Sadly a college degree still holds more weight than a development program class. But web development, or application development is always a good choice. There are way too many networking dorks out there (me being one of them).

In short, my advice is to be very careful in selecting a class of this type. I don't know about you but 18K is a lot of money, and training places like these are a dime a dozen and are mostly out to make a buck and don't give a shit about people. Just my .02

 

[Anabolic Booster]

Thanks very much for the advice Nature Boy... I am really reluctant about spending 18k on this program. That is a ton of money to me. The woman at the school was promising the world, just like you mentioned. She was telling me that with this diploma, I would be welcomed with open arms into the US and get paid fat cash to work there. I don't believe that for a minute. She made it seem like the US is having some sort of a national shortage of web developers. And she also mentioned that the Americans love to hire Canadians. I don't believe that for a second. This lady made it seem like the US regards Canada as a hotbed of IT talent which has to be total horse shit.

So even though this woman was obviously exagerating about everything... I'm still a little optimistic that I could pay them 18k for one year of web development training, and then be able to get a decent job doing something that I enjoy.

 

[the nature boy]

She was telling me that with this diploma, I would be welcomed with open arms into the US and get paid fat cash to work there. I don't believe that for a minute. She made it seem like the US is having some sort of a national shortage of web developers. And she also mentioned that the Americans love to hire Canadians. I don't believe that for a second. This lady made it seem like the US regards Canada as a hotbed of IT talent which has to be total horse shit.

So even though this woman was obviously exagerating about everything... I'm still a little optimistic that I could pay them 18k for one year of web development training, and then be able to get a decent job doing something that I enjoy.

Not only is that woman a liar, she's a bad liar. Americans love to hire canadians? WTF? Why would that matter. Nonsense. I've met a lot of technical guys from canada, but it's mostly because they went to good universities and such. And there is a shortage of developers, however since money is tight MOST (not all) are looking for experienced deveolpers.

If I were you, I'd go back to school. I don't know how old you are, but a degree is better than a cert if you have no experience. There's something about a college degree that holds more weight. Not that a certification is worthless. Plus I think not having a degree will hurt you down the road, when you want to move up. Again this is the general rule, there are always exceptions. Besides college is a great place to meet friends, future business contacts, and women.

Now if you're dead set against going back to college, then do some research on other programs like the one you're looking at. those guys sound like crooks to me. There are less expensive places I'm sure. Besides, what happens if you don't like web development? You're fucked if you sign up for a year. Where ever you go, do RESEARCH! I can't state this enough. How long have they been in business, are they accredited. Check and see if they've had complaints filed against them. Talk to students that have graduated. As always, BUYER BEWARE.

BTW, good for you for trying to bettter yourself. There's nothing wrong with an A+ cert, you have to start somewhere. Plus it gives you some sort of background. However schools like the one you've mentioned are theives that want to take advantage of people trying to better themselves. Which is shameful if you ask me. Good luck.

 

[Anabolic Booster]

one again, thanks nature boy for a very helpful post. you've brought up a lot of good points, and the more i think of it, the lady i spoke with today at the college seemed more like a saleswoman than anything else. the big problem i guess is that there doesn't seem to be too many places to learn web development where i live. also, i would never ever get accepted to university with my highschool and college history so i have to stick with this plan of going to a joe blow IT college. oh well... i am going to take your advice and do lots of research on this place and take my time making any decisions. i might even ask if i can sit in on a class so i can get a first hand look at what goes on there.

thanks again for the advice!.... very helpful.