Hi Padma,
Congrats
here is my view of teh scenario
----------------------------------
SCJD ----------------------------------
AS Wenting pointed out, SCJD would be a better option if you want to go into core java development. ALso if you dont have any experience, then this would be the BEST exam to take !!!

.
I am not sure if you have read thro the description of the exam, but you are required to develop a application right from scratch !!. So you would have to go through the entire soiftware development process.
So completing this assignment would indicate to the employees that you would be able to write code very close to production level. The exam also is graded on Documentation, OO design,
Thread synchronaization (locking) and GUI !!!
And I did read in an article, (i think from certmag.com) that it can substitute for 3 - 12 months experience. So if you are looking for a job, i would suggest you to go ahead with this !!!
well, said that comming to scwcd and scbcd ..
Before I start --> Teh only big difference between SCJD compared to SCBCD & SCWCD is that you wont be writting any application in teh latter two exams. So it might not be really useful in terms of job search compared to SCJD !!
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SCWCD
----------------------------------
SCWCD is relativley easier to take then SCBCD. Ands it covers
servlets and
JSP. There is no book written by kathy for this. But the book
"SCWCD Exam Study Kit: Java Web Component Developer Certification
by Hanumant Deshmukh, Jignesh Malavia, Jacquelyn Carter"
is more than sufficient to clear the exam.
Sun is comming up with an upgradd version of this exam very soon. So you might want to postpone your plans for scwcd to take the new exam !!
----------------------------------
SCBCD
----------------------------------
SCBCD is comparitivley tougher to take. But there is a book written by kathy and bates for that "Head First EJB" which would make the process a little more easier
I am looking for a job right now. I have no experinece

. and I didi realsie that SCWCD and SCBCD dont really help you get a job like SCJD.
So I am currently preparing for SCJD
well, one more suggestion is :
If you have little bit more time, try taking the OOAD exam from IBM. This is a wonderful exam (its very tough though). But it will really help you in becomming a good OO programmer and I think it hold more value than teh otehr java certifications.
Doing teh SCJD after this would also help you design better and understand the technical stuff the experienced gurus speak abt

(
patterns !!)
And as far as simulators go, you dont need a simulator for scwcd if you are getting teh book I mentioned. For OOAD and SCBCD , whizlabs is the BEST !!!
hope this helps

[ March 16, 2004: Message edited by: Hari Vignesh Padmanaban ]