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Back to school

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by jellimonsta

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Hi Ho Hi Ho it's back to school I go!!....
OK, here is my dilemma. I have recently been considering going back to school to eventually get my Masters. I have done 4 years of tech school in the UK but now live in the US, I have my MCSE and CCNA and have been working in computer networks for 3 years.
I am not sure whether or not any credits from my UK schooling will transfer to an accredited college here in the US, likewise I am also unsure if I will receive credit for work experience. I am probably looking at going for the CISSP within the next year as I feel security is paramount to any issue within a corporations IT infrastructure.
I am thinking of going back to college and I will have to go the Associates, Bachelors and then Masters route.
I am not sure though what topic of focus I should focus on, I am probably thinking I will just go Business Admin, and hopefully some day with my experience, certs and an MBA will be able to transition into a CIO or CSO position.
I am not atall interested in doing the CIS route, but I have to choose a topic or major that will be pertinent to my company and they will compensate me very lucratively for my schooling.
I would be very appreciative for any advice or suggestions from the wise ones!
TIA.
Mike

3 replies

by timwalsh

It sounds like you've figured out where you want to go, which is something many of us are still trying to figure out.

The only way to find out whether your UK credits and work experience will be useful is to ask once you've chosen a school. The level of acceptance of foreign credits will vary from school to school (for private schools) and from state to state (for state-run schools). Much will depend on whether they offer a program similar to the one you studied under in the UK. For thoseschools that offer credit for work/life experience, I think there is a fairly standard formula they use to determine what they give you. It may be more a matter of IF rather than HOW MUCH.

Getting the credits and how useful they may be to your endeavor may be a different story depending on the route you steer through college and your majors. An example: I attended a yearlong foreign language course while in the military. Using all the accepted formulas, it is worth 60 credit hours. However, unless I choose a foreign language major for that particular language, I can use 5 for my Humanities requirement and another 3 for electives but the rest essentially go unused.

I agree that more and more security is the hot spot as far as career potential. If you haven't already, make sure you look at the experience requirements for the CISSP. If you meet the requirements, I think the CISSP is a good way to go.

Unless you are a manager-in-training, your company probably won't fund your MBA (at least not directly (I'm assuming your company's education reimbursement policy is like most, i.e. they will pay as long as the training can be related to your CURRENT position). (continued)

by timwalsh

). Talk to the people who control the funding. You may get surprised as far as what they will allow you to do (if you are viewed as someone with strong leadership / management potential, they may very well allow you to pursue a strictly business-oriented path.

However, you may have to use an indirect route - maybe something like the following: IT-related major through your Associates and Bachelors degrees, choose Business as a second major or a minor during your Bachelors degree, transition to business as your only major as you start your Masters.

I do agree that the MBA is the way to go for a CIO position since the successful CIO needs to understand Business at least as well as he knows technology, if not better.

Once you've chosen a school (and been accepted), visit your assigned advisor early so you can explain your goals (MBA and CIO), and any limitations (company-funded education). Then your advisor will be able to help you map out how to get from where you are to where you want to go.

I wish you luck with your plans.

by jellimonsta

Tim, thanks for your response. I appreciate that you are always willing to offer insight and knowledge. I did speak to my HR persons and they sound as though the company will pay 90% towards schooling as long as it is a subject that will benefit a position that can be accommodated in the company.
Therefore, they think a BS in business admin with the goal of an MBA is a fairly safe bet for funding. I just wondered if anyone out there would think another major would make more sense. I too realize that the MBA would be the way to go should I wish to advance to a CIO position some day (that position is more political that technical in my opinion).
I just thought it would be a good idea to get schooling in an area separate from the technology sector in preparation for the 'belly up'. Being as technology is moving towards automation and self sufficiency, being a net admin is not going to cut it long term in my opinion.

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