[AccessD] OT: What are you lot doing now and then?

Just as a matter of interest US Educational Commission for Foreign 
Medical Graduates (ECFMG) exams
are like this long scenario and multiple questions.

Randall Anthony wrote:

>Steve,
>"Brain Dumps" are usually sites where people submit questions and
>answers from past exams they've taken.  Some are free, some are pay for.
>I found some of them useful because they helped me study more in-depth.
>
>
>For instance, in one course the materials and study guide seemed to
>cover everything in a conceptual manner, but when it came time to take
>the test, the test questions were framed in an operational manner.  M$
>exams (in my limited experience, 2 down, 2 to go) are really set up to
>make you fail.  The questions are long (2, 3 even 4 paragraphs to set up
>the scenario), and multiple answers, ie., there are eight selections,
>pick the right four.
>
>As far as using my comments, feel free.  I'm looking forward to see what
>you come up with.
>
>Randy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
>[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Steve Erbach
>Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 7:35 AM
>To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
>Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: What are you lot doing now and then?
>
>Randy,
>
>  
>
>>>The information and materials presented in the courses are very
>>>      
>>>
>good,  however, in order to pass M$ exams, I highly recommend using
>third party study guides and brain dumps as study aids. <<
>
>All right, I'll bite: what's a 'brain dump', eh, Precious?
>
>Steve Erbach
>
>
>On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 08:23:53 -0500, Randall Anthony
><randall.anthony at cox.net> wrote:
>  
>
>>Steve,
>>
>>I'd concur with the advice you were given.  It definitely helps to get
>>the job.  Unfortunately most of the companies I've worked for did not
>>pay for keeping up your skillsets, the attitude being "I'm not going
>>    
>>
>to
>  
>
>>pay for your training so you can get a payraise by going to work for
>>someone else".  However, there seems to be a change in that attitude.
>>Most of the classes I've taken so far have had people that were there
>>via their company, because they had to learn new technology in their
>>job.  Especially in the ASP.Net and VS .Net classes.
>>
>>Others have posted that most companies expect OJT to fill the bill.  I
>>don't mind that, that's how I learned VB and ASP.  But, when you are
>>supporting Access2.0, SQL 6.5, and ASP, it's kind of hard to learn
>>    
>>
>.Net
>  
>
>>when the company won't or can't afford to buy upgrades.
>>
>>After going through most of the process of this certification, I am
>>going to make it a point to keep up with new tech via certs, or at the
>>least A+ certs, in order to avoid my present situation from happening
>>again.  I like being an Access developer, however, diversifying my
>>portfolio, so to speak, should increase my marketability and
>>portability.
>>
>>As for courses, yes I've attended 8 out of 9 courses setup to take the
>>exams for MCDBA.  The cost included books, training materials and exam
>>vouchers, and is about $1k per class.  I took a professional loan via
>>    
>>
>a
>  
>
>>financial institution specializing in student loans like this.
>>    
>>
>Compared
>  
>
>>to the cost of an online/accelerated MBA at around $30K, or the more
>>prestigious executive MBAs offered around here (William & Mary, UVA)
>>    
>>
>at
>  
>
>>about $125K, I think it's a relative bargain.
>>
>>A note of caution.  The information and materials presented in the
>>courses are very good, however, in order to pass M$ exams, I highly
>>recommend using third party study guides and brain dumps as study
>>    
>>
>aids.
>  
>
>>I hope this information helps you out.
>>
>>Randy.
>>    
>>

-- 
Marty Connelly
Victoria, B.C.
Canada