Web Developer Associate Degree program at my community college. Worth it?

I hope someone can help with input. I am floundering here.

I'm a 36 year old mom of three who has been doing clerical work all my life. Spent my time home with my kids and never finished college. So, here I am, tired of surviving, trying to figure out what to do.

I have thought about going back to school and becoming a teacher. I would like to explore other options that would require less schooling and more pay.

I want to know what kind of person is best suited for this career, and what kind of academic strengths you need. My strengths are in "words"... I write well, notice details, am a stickler for correctness. I've always been good with words, ideas, details, and design. I have a strong creative side and I'm really very smart but I STINK at math.

I taught myself basic HTML in the early 90's, just for fun. I read all I could and learned quickly. I have no idea if this means I'd be naturally good at anything beyond that though.

The community college offers a 2 year program for "Web Developer" and a shorter one for Web Design. What kinds of things would you tell someone considering this option?

I have struggled to find a Health Care path that would suit me because the pay is great and the demand is great but aside from maybe being an Ultrasound tech, it's just not "me". I like to work with computers, I like to work alone if possible. I'm not a morning person and I am no good at math. What would you tell me?

Hi Chris,

I'm currently pursuing a 2 year program for web development here in DC. It's a second career for me as I was previously a medical student. I went to a career counselor when I was first contemplating leaving medical school (and going the web dev path) and she told me that a web career may not be an ideal career for myself personally BUT the advice she offered me was to try a class first, see if I like it, and go from there...so maybe you could do the same (I have since stuck it out).
A fun little test you might want to take is the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) and see if you have the MBTI "type" of other web developers (again don't be discouraged as I believe I actually don't have the "ideal" type as most web developers).
So anyway my best piece of advice would be to take a class or two and see if you like it...if you do great! but if not then at least you know.

Hope this helps

Brian

chris in San Antonio, Texas said: I hope someone can help with input. I am floundering here.

I'm a 36 year old mom of three who has been doing clerical work all my life. Spent my time home with my kids and never finished college. So, here I am, tired of surviving, trying to figure out what to do.

I have thought about going back to school and becoming a teacher. I would like to explore other options that would require less schooling and more pay.

I want to know what kind of person is best suited for this career, and what kind of academic strengths you need. My strengths are in "words"... I write well, notice details, am a stickler for correctness. I've always been good with words, ideas, details, and design. I have a strong creative side and I'm really very smart but I STINK at math.

I taught myself basic HTML in the early 90's, just for fun. I read all I could and learned quickly. I have no idea if this means I'd be naturally good at anything beyond that though.

The community college offers a 2 year program for "Web Developer" and a shorter one for Web Design. What kinds of things would you tell someone considering this option?

I have struggled to find a Health Care path that would suit me because the pay is great and the demand is great but aside from maybe being an Ultrasound tech, it's just not "me". I like to work with computers, I like to work alone if possible. I'm not a morning person and I am no good at math. What would you tell me?

~~ Absolutely amazing! You sound EXACTLY like me. I just turned 37 with 2 kids and have been in clerical most of my life. I then obtained my MCSE Cert. and worked in the Electronic Data Interchange field with software programmers while only interacting with the IT guys on occasion. I 'loved' this job, more of preventing any problems before occuring. Then did technical support, answering phones and resolving issues, paid $60K per year but didn't like it. It's challenging. Now looking at WEB

Good stuff. I'm doing a very condensed full scope Webmaster class- and only after thorough consideration of MSCE first. I think - actually I know because I did this for a job, that to make it in the relatively oversaturated field of web design (not developing), you need to be a salesperson first. Most designers can't sell, even if they can do pretty good work. just a thought..

Mike in Delray Beach, Florida said: Good stuff. I'm doing a very condensed full scope Webmaster class- and only after thorough consideration of MSCE first. I think - actually I know because I did this for a job, that to make it in the relatively oversaturated field of web design (not developing), you need to be a salesperson first. Most designers can't sell, even if they can do pretty good work. just a thought..

Hi Mike, good comment ... I've pretty much made up my mind to go into Web Development as I don't care for the hands on with hardware or the constant troubleshooting of the actual Computer Science/IT Tech field, and because I'm only 'semi' creative, I don't feel that a design focus would be my thing. I'm somewhere in between. I'm technically savvy, yet prefer 'creating' and preventing and software rather then the actual 'hands on' hardware troubleshooting all the time. I'm a thinker, not a hands on doer per say.

So, I plan to start with Web Development, and possibly also further my skills later on to include Computer/Internet Security which is an even more in demand field to be in.

Brenda in West Palm Beach, Florida said: ~~ Absolutely amazing! You sound EXACTLY like me. I just turned 37 with 2 kids and have been in clerical most of my life. I then obtained my MCSE Cert. and worked in the Electronic Data Interchange field with software programmers while only interacting with the IT guys on occasion. I 'loved' this job, more of preventing any problems before occuring. Then did technical support, answering phones and resolving issues, paid $60K per year but didn't like it. It's challenging. Now looking at WEB

Hey I was wondering if you had a degree in computer science before you took your MCSE? Did you do a bootcamp to obtain your cert? What is a hard cert to get? Alot of math?

eyethinkyourcute said: Hey I was wondering if you had a degree in computer science before you took your MCSE? Did you do a bootcamp to obtain your cert? What is a hard cert to get? Alot of math?

No, actually I didn't. I was previously in the 'finance' field but didn't want to re-enter into it, therefore I pursued a different interest which was in the computer field (MCSE). I went to school for about 1 year, passed the exams. Many people found it difficult and couldn't pass the exams the first and sometimes second time around. I am a good studier and test taker, so I breezed through the exams. No math for MCSE, just technical hardware stuff mainly. Once I optained my MCSE, I got an entry level position as an EDI Monitoring Technician where I worked with both the IT staff as well as the programmers. *Although in my personal opinion, going through school and achieving any specialized certificate should be recognized. It's still education, and even though the certificates expire, in reality you still achieved it, so in reality it's like any degree and just because the certificate expires, doesn't mean your skills expired!
If your actively working in the field, you are continually keeping skills up to date.

I don't think just an MCSE 'certificate' is enough to get anywhere but entry level these days, degrees are preferred in order to move up in the field.

joesmith in Columbus, Ohio said: Brenda,

Youare not an MCSE. There is maybe 1% of the exams that are hardware related. If you are an MCSE, post your transcript.

Joe Smith, of Columbis OH, if you would like to post your re-collection of the exam contents, please feel free do so, correct me if I am wrong in your opinion, doesn't matter to me but don't call me a lier, question or judge me. You don't know me and I have no reason to lie. It's what I remember, and as I said, it's been 10 years!

And go ahead and post your transcript that contains your personal information and address on to the web for everyone to view if your comfortable with that as am not, and will not post my MCP transcript on the web, and I'm not applying for work with you --- This was not a debate or discussion relating to MCSE, and not a job application. Merely a short sentence that came up in regards to my own personal history, experience and opinion based on what I remember. I said technical hardware, yes, more technical. What ever.

Again, it's been 10 years, but it's what I remembered. Your right though, jogging my memory, it's the A+ exam that is hardware focused, MCSE is TECHNICAL systems administration, configurations and troubleshooting (osi layer, etc...) --- I worked with both, as they went hand in hand at one place of employment, so that is why hardware also comes to mind.

Oh, and just as I said, my MCP, MCP+I and MCSE were obtained in 2000 and 2001, all expired a long time ago and I no longer work in the field, so no, I no longer utilize or practice in the field.

I am also interested in getting an Associates in Web Development but I'm not sure if it's worth it too. I'm in my early 30's with a BA in Sociology so for me to get another bachelors would be like starting all over again (because it's in a way different field). However, getting an associates would take much less time and money. I know experience and a strong portfolio carry a lot of weight in the Web Dev. world. But would a BA in Sociology augmented by an Associates Degree in Web. Dev. be enough to be considered for an interview. Also, upward mobility in terms of salary (or will the associates cap me at a lower rate)?

I was in a similar situation not too long ago. I have a BA in Psychology and wasn't really qualified for many jobs other than administrative ones. A few years ago, I decided to return to school for certificates in Web Design and it's really opened up a lot of doors for me. I'm still in contract positions, but I know there's a lot of work in Web Development in a lot of companies.

porcupiny in Santa Monica, California said: I was in a similar situation not too long ago. I have a BA in Psychology and wasn't really qualified for many jobs other than administrative ones. A few years ago, I decided to return to school for certificates in Web Design and it's really opened up a lot of doors for me. I'm still in contract positions, but I know there's a lot of work in Web Development in a lot of companies.

Oh cool that sounds promising then. I'm originally from Santa Monica too... so I'm thinking you went to SMC and/or AET for that certificate? Anyway, I'm worried that a lot of opportunities will only be contract work. Are you doing contract positions by choice or are there no permanent spots with benefits out there?

Actually, I went to Fullerton College since I was living in Orange County for awhile. There are definitely lots of permanent positions for web developers out there, especially in this area. Contracting helps to gain experience when you're still new to the field. This is my 3rd contract position in the past 2 years, but I took a break to take more classes after the first one.

That sounds great, but I have been attending school for two years, focusing on Web Development and I feel that I've only become 'familiarized' with javascript, xhtml, etc.... but really haven't actually learned enough to even ask to get my foot in the door. *I don't know much of anything even after all this time. How does a person get started because it's obvious that it would take a full time job with every day hands on learning one on one to really grasp all of the information and really begin to do anything with it.

?? ... I thought I'd know enough to at least feel confident enough to have an entry level job by now, but I don't. It's been a very slow process. How do I start in the field.?

That sounds great, but I have been attending school for two years, focusing on Web Development and I feel that I've only become 'familiarized' with javascript, xhtml, etc.... but really haven't actually learned enough to even ask to get my foot in the door. *I don't know much of anything even after all this time. How does a person get started because it's obvious that it would take a full time job with every day hands on learning one on one to really grasp all of the information and really begin to do anything with it.

?? ... I thought I'd know enough to at least feel confident enough to have an entry level job by now, but I don't. It's been a very slow process. How do I start in the field.?

Brendaann in West Palm Beach, Florida said: That sounds great, but I have been attending school for two years, focusing on Web Development and I feel that I've only become 'familiarized' with javascript, xhtml, etc.... but really haven't actually learned enough to even ask to get my foot in the door. *I don't know much of anything even after all this time. How does a person get started because it's obvious that it would take a full time job with every day hands on learning one on one to really grasp all of the information and really begin to do anything with it.

?? ... I thought I'd know enough to at least feel confident enough to have an entry level job by now, but I don't. It's been a very slow process. How do I start in the field.?

Now that sounds a bit scary because I haven't even dove in those classes yet. But after some poking around in forums and at the career center on campus, everyone says that you can get your foot in the door by doing internships and freelance work. Build the portfolio while at the same time your racking in the year(s) of experience to add under your belt. Experience in golden, whether its from an actual paying employer or an internship you got through school. Well that's my plan at least... hope it works (for both of us)!

If you enjoy the classes enough, you'll want to test out what you've learned outside the classroom also. As with any career, you really only want to get into it if you have an interest in doing it on your own time as well as for work.

I have struggled to find a Health Care path that would suit me because the pay is great and the demand is great but aside from maybe being an Ultrasound tech, it's just not "me". I like to work with computers, I like to work alone if possible. I'm not a morning person and I am no good at math. What would you tell me?

---- You sound a lot like a programmer.

I have done a degree as web developer. And it paid off very, very well. It should be the developer with PHP, Javascript and HTML. Not the designer.

Programmers are very sort after and paid good.