arshisvang

Thanks for the response. I did well in symbolic logic, but my coursework was pretty limited, so I don't really think that will get my anywhere, unfortunately. No insult taken. I've certainly thought about just going directly for a CCNA or those sorts of qualifications, and transitioning through certs. What has struck my interest the most thus far is cybersecurity and networking. Frankly, I'm more interested in the hardware side than the software side, and I've even thought about electrical engineering programs, because of that, but the same sort of barrier exists there, as well. I'm not really looking to go into tech support, in the long run. I'd like to be working with broader elements than that, in terms of putting together systems or working with security matters. But maybe aiming for that would be the most efficient way to move toward larger things? When you talk about night classes, what specifically would you recommend? (Also, I work a 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. shift currently, so finding classes for a person like me is pretty difficult, since most are designed for people with 9-5 jobs. Do you know of any places that offer morning classes for things like this?)

My situation is this: I have an undergraduate degree in philosophy and little technical coursework on my resume. I've been out of school for about eight years now, and it's not really an option (financially or timewise) for me to pursue another undergraduate degree or take a plethora of courses as a nondegree student. Faced with that, it's still my goal to find a way to make a transition into the field of computers. As far as the qualifications I do have, I recently took the GRE and scored 800 verbal and 680 quantitative. (This shows my lack of technical background and distance from everyday use of math.) My GPA from years ago is 3.05, though I think that reflects youthful laziness more than actual ability. So, to get to the point ... Do you guys know of any programs designed for someone like me? I've heard of UPenn's MCIT program (though I'm not sure if my GRE Q score is high enough to get in there), and John Jay in NYC has a forensic computing MS that seems interesting and has an optional bridge program for nontech undergrads. But I'm having a difficult time finding many other schools with opportunities such as those. Besides that, are there other, more traditional programs in which someone can be accepted provisionally and take prereq courses as a graduate student (which would allow for financial aid) in preparation for the regular coursework of the program? For that matter, is financial aid even really available for most master's candidates, aside from tons of loans? Thanks in advance for any input.

Hi, all, I'm considering applying to John Jay's MS program in Forensic Computing. I know this is a pretty hot field at the moment, and mostly I'm curious to hear from anyone who has been through the program. Does it give you a solid foundation to get a good position after graduation? Do they keep up-to-date with the latest technology, and can someone expect an employer to consider a degree from this program competitive? I'm not trying to knock CUNY, but I'm just wondering if a potential employer will see this degree and turn their nose up, as compared with, you know, Carnegie Mellon or something. At the same time, my undergraduate degree isn't in a technical field, and their bridge program for nontech majors is very appealing, especially when I'm not in a position to afford to take a plethora of nondegree coursework to make up for my lack of math in order to qualify for most master's programs in the computer field. Also, can anyone offer any comments on the admissions and financial aid prospects? I recently took the GRE and scored 800 verbal, 680 quantitative (still waiting on analytical), which I feel like would be a fairly competitive score, but it also clearly shows how long it's been since I've taken a math course and my lack of a technical background. I appreciate any input you guys have. Thanks, Chris