System Administrators - College or Career?

Chicks_Hate_Me asks: "I'm a Senior in High School right now and I'm graduating soon (hopefully!) and I was wondering what the hell I should do? My teachers are all telling me I should go to college, but they don't know much about computers so they automatically assume that I wan't to be a programmer or an engineer. I want to be neither, in fact, I want to become a System Administrator. Is college really the best option? Or should I concentrate on getting certification, experience, and taking a few junior college classes on the side? I've already gotten a few job consultancy offers in the area. What has the experience been for any of you out in the tech industry? For you that went to college, did it truly help? And for you that didn't go to college, has it been harder for you to find a job? Also, if you believe that I should go to college, what should I major in? But if you think I shouldn't, what certifications would hold valuable in the future, and what kind of job positions should I take now?" The never ending question. College is a valuable experience for most, but it's also expensive and time consuming. Might that time be better spent in the job market now rather than later (current conditions notwithstanding)?

to prepare for sysadminhood..

[mpweasel]

I suggest you start early by ripping the wings off flies while telling them, "sorry, new security policy"

--
Bwahahahaaaa
Martin, sys admin bastard

Re:System Administrator

[FilthPig]

What are you going to do when "System Administrator" is the title of a program rather than a job?

Install it, configure it, upgrade it, and fix the hardware that it runs on. Fool.

Do you really want to Sysadmin?

[SPiKe]

Choose no life. Choose sysadminning. Choose no career. Choose no family. Choose a fucking big computer, choose hard disks the size of washing machines, old cars, CD ROM writers and electrical coffee makers. Choose no sleep, high caffeine and mental insurance. Choose fixed interest car loans. Choose a rented shoebox. Choose no friends. Choose black jeans and matching combat boots. Choose a swivel chair for your office in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose NNTP and wondering why the fuck you're logged on on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting in that chair looking at mind-numbing, spirit-crushing web sites, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last on some miserable newsgroup, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up lusers Gates spawned to replace the computer-literate.

Choose your future.
Choose sysadmining.

Re:College degree opens alot of doors

[The Wing Lover]

Plus it Shows u have enuff dedication to get threw college to get one.

Which college did you go to? I want to make sure I don't hire any grads from there.

Re:Definately go to college

[rbeattie]

And if you go to college, you might actually be able to spell "definitely."

-Russ

Re:Go to college

[ScuzzMonkey]

Yeah... you don't want to be a sysadmin, anyway, if you're well-adjusted and normal.

If you're not, well, it's not something they can teach you in school, but you'll get a chance to read up on Machiavelli and other cool medieval sysadmins, so it's worth it for that if nothing else.

You'll get laid in college.

[joshamania]

Reason numero uno to go to college. Sex. I had more sex in college than ever and I sometimes think about going back just for that. You'll meat shedloads of people and have a lot of fun, but for the money, the sex is the biggest reason to go.

The two 'C's

[swb]

• Cunnilingus Future success is often dependent on the success and happiness of one's personal life. If you can't do this right, don't expect a fulfilling personal life.
• Chemistry Most people would call this "learning how to drink", but I think that's just a subset. Its important to learn what are the right combinations and quantities of booze and drugs to take, and more imporantly, how to function before, during, and after consumption. You won't accomplish much in life if you can't work with a hangover or don't know what or how much to take or not take to prevent one.

These are two of the biggest lessons I learned in college. I learned a bunch of other crap about politics, math, history and science, but its kind of hazy and not very applicable most of the time to my full-time job managing a computer network.

I wan't to be a programmer

[gonerill]

> I wan't to be a programmer

This sentence makes the decision for you, I'm afraid. Go to college. And pay more attention in high school English class while you're still there.

Re:Learn how to Learn Your Trade in College

[cheezedawg]

Yes- screw student loans. Thats why you get off your butt and work. A grunt programming job can more than pay for tuition, room and board. Plus lots of employers offer tuition reimbursment- they pay the tuition for you! And don't forget about the tax credits that you get... Student loans are only needed to fill the gaps. I am finishing grad school now with $0 student loan debt and some money saved up for a down payment on a house. It can be done.

go to college

[martinflack]

A couple hundred posts from other wise Slashdotters will tell you why to go to college to better your career. It will make you more attractive to employers, yada yada yada.

My advice - go to college. But for these reasons:
1. Beer parties
2. Doing stupid shit with people you barely know
3. Road trips
4. Sororities (no, not being in them)
5. Girls exploring their female assertiveness
6. An excuse for lousy clothes (I'm a student)
7. Student discounts for another 4+ years
8. Awesome buddies that will be different from those you made in high school
9. A happier mom