career and the rest of my life

[superfreak]

Hi, im 17 i dropped out of highschool sadly. anyways ive been into pc's since i was 10 years old, ive been building them, have done web design, graphics designs ( photoshop, 3dsmax, psp... mostly do digital art, and abstract ) im good with networking and wanna get into programing next. my question is i know i gotta get my g.e.d but after that i was thinking A+ CERT. and maybe CISCO CERT. but what i want to know from you all.. is their options for me at 17 with just a g.e.d i can start doin or prepare for when i turn 18 to get a career in pc's that will start me off payin well and that i can progress in rapidly if im good enough.... i just dont wanna be living at home the rest of my life so. i would like to go I.T.T but i read i need like 30-60 credits of college and i havnt or prolly wont be able to go to college

 

[dhaynes]

Superfreak,

I'm no expert on computer careers in IT, but I would have to say that there is probably nothing you can do right now besides reading up and learning more things on your own. That sucks that you dropped out of high school, but hopefully at some point you can take some classes at a community college so you can go to I.T.T. in the future. Not going to college isn't going to prevent you from having a well paying career, but it certainly will make it a hell of a lot harder.

 

[Jerkstore]

Sadly there is nothing you can do in one year to get a good paying IT job just like that...if there was then I would have done it

Get your GED, get a a student loan and go to college for programming or whatever your field of interest may be...I'd suggest reading A LOT about hardware and software and get your A+ and apply for a tech job at a local shop to support your college

Unfortunately at such a young age, and the choice you've made as far as dropping out of highschool....you are very limited to your options as education should be your number one concern for the IT field....just learn from your mistakes and try hard and things can work out for the better

 

[Xycron]

Try and get a job under the table[ussally i don't romate illegal actions but its prabally sersoisly your best choice IMO] working for a small, or singlely owned buisness while taking 1 or 2 collage classes with your new found money, 3 if you can afford, it and push it if you half to. Prepare to work you ass off for the next several eyars of your life. It'll be worth it once your done though.

 

[superfreak]

alright, thanks for your input guys.. i was just kinda sitting here and was like wow what the hell am i gonna do so i figured id ask, and maybe find someone on here who was or is in the same position and get some input on what they did.

 

[Jerkstore]

well currently I'm on my 5th year of college and I've started my own computer store (tired of working for the man so I just became the man)...I've always got good marks in school though with next to no effort, so I'm not in the same boat as you there...but I'm a full time student running my own company with about $100 to my name until Feb.

I know what it's like to have no cash...but life gets shitty sometimes and there's nothing you can do about it other than fight it out....and believe me....I KNOW life gets shitty!! been there, done that, probably doin it next week

If you find a path with no obstacles, then it probably doesn't lead anywhere.

 

[SFR]

Right now I am a software developer and tester for a "material management software" company... Is it my dream job? ..pretty damn close. I'm designing, coding, testing, and creating operations guides... It pays almost twice what I was making at a grocery store, there are no more late hours, and no more stocking shelves!

I goofed off in high school. I spent too much at parties. While most of the people with my test scores went to "University of California" schools or went to great colleges out of state, I went to Junior college for 2 1/2 years with the goal of becoming a sports writer for a newspaper....

After 2 1/2 years and only 30 credits to show for it, I finally realized all the years of messing with computers and creating little dinky software programs should pay off.


I enrolled in Coleman College (at the time I.T.T. was involved in some scandals.. and costs about 60k... and you are limited in what you can transfer from other colleges) After 7 five week classes (an 8-unit class in the morning and a 4 unit class in the afternoon) I completed with a core degree.

The reason I like Coleman College is that they teach you what you need to know to get a job first (core degree) and then you can get a job in the IT world while you take all of the general ed classes (AS, Bachlors and the Masters degree)...

I was a D student in High School and a C student in Junior College. I think the reason I was able to dramatically turn around my life was because I was determined to move out of my parents house and NOT get stuck working at a grocery store the rest of my life.

... anyway, the reason I shared all of this is because it CAN BE DONE. The first step is realizing that you want a change. Set some goals. Find out how to reach those goals. And finally, meet and surpass those goals.

Forget about your high school experience and start fresh. Get your high school diploma. Find a college you trust and you will be able to get the IT job you want in a few years. Dont rush it, you are only 17 years old. Time is on your side (...Rolling Stones song)

 

[LaptopExtreme]

Forget about your high school experience and start fresh. Get your high school diploma. Find a college you trust and you will be able to get the IT job you want in a few years. Dont rush it, you are only 17 years old. Time is on your side (...Rolling Stones song)

Yup, get yer butt back in school, I would understand if someone was on their 10th year in a community college, but someone who can't even finish HS?! High school is nothing, shouldn't be problem just get it over with, the last year of HS should be your best. Who knows, you might be the next Bill Gates, but a lot of things are against you. You'll have more chances at being the head Fry cook at a McDonalds when you're 40! I've seen so many people getting pregnant at an early age, dropping out, getting into trouble and later in life having to start all over again. There's no need to do this, that's what college is for. You're young, get it done, and stay on track. Stay in school people...

Hopefully I haven't offended any 40 year old McDonald Fry cooks on this forum....