Both types of experience will be helpful, with a slight emphasis on practical experience. Definitely go after a security+ and if you have the free time, try to snag any security or even any tech support/technical sort of part-time job. That job can not only help get you some hands-on tech experience and resume bullets, but some extra spending money to have a good time in school and afford some gear or travel money to cons or party money to hang out with local security geeks.
As far as mentors, you're starting in a good place on this mailing list! Might want to include what school you go to, or whereabouts ya live. :) Lastly, and maybe more importantly, enjoy your time in school. Have fun, take it easy, and work on your goals when you can. On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 10:36 PM, Brandon McGinty <[email protected] > wrote: > List, > I am currently a sophomore in college. > I have been studying firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), > systems hardening, Cisco security (though I do not yet have equipment to > test this), and general network, server, and workstation security. > I am wondering what your collective thoughts are, in regards to > university experience, verses practical experience in the security field. > While university courses certainly give one a more broad understanding > of the world, there is a good deal of preparation before one can take > any security classes. > I'm wondering if there are other possibilities that would help me gain > employment, or at least a foot in the door. > I am in a position where it would be possible to study, and become > certified in several of the current programs, Security+, > CISA, GIAC, and CISSP, to name a few. > I have also considered trying to find some security professionals to act > as mentors, but I am not sure where to start, or if that would be > beneficial. > What are your thoughts? > > Thanks, > Brandon McGinty > > _______________________________________________ > Pauldotcom mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom > Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com >
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