A sincere plea from the cowgirl :(
Kathy Sierra
Cowgirl and Author
Rancher
Rancher
Posts: 1589
5
posted 14 years ago
Fellow cowboys and cowgirls... I would like to ask all of you to help me so that we can move forward with the business of preparing folks for the exam -- either the beta, or the final. I understand your frustration with the beta process, but Kimberly and Bert and I (and even Evelyn) have NOTHING to do with this. 
We have made your comments known at Sun, but we are much too low on the food chain to have any control over this.
However, given that Kimberly and I have seen the loss of many of our friends to layoffs, I have mixed feelings when I see Sun trying to save money.
This forum is obviously the most likely place on javaranch to express your feelings and complaints about the way the beta is being conducted, but you're talking to the wrong people! Kimberly and I do not represent Sun in any *official* way -- we're just here to help you pass!
And I would like to sincerely ask that you try to remember that the beta exam is a chance to get something for *free*. So it comes with certain restrictions, but we encourage anyone who has a problem with these restrictions to PLEASE wait for the final exam. In other words, do not go out of your way to try to study now if this will cause you serious problems if you do not get in to the beta.
If you happen to be one of the people for whom it is worth studying and trying to get into the beta, because you plan on taking the exam anyway, then this is a great opportunity for you and you have almost NOTHING to lose by trying.
Most of you who get a voucher *will* be able to take the exam!
Believe me, the testing will not stop on the first day-- and it is almost impossible for me to believe that anyone in the first week or 10 days will not get in. Plus, those who took the survey should get their vouchers first, so you should have first pick at the scheduling. This is NOT an ideal way to handle this, I agree. But that's what we're stuck with. And so far on this new forum, about 90% of the posts have been complaints, and that won't help us get anyone to pass the exam.
If you need to express these feelings, please do. We understand, and this is obviously the most likely place to do that. Just keep in mind that we do not represent Sun!! Kimberly does not work at the Sun Ed headquarters, and I am no longer employed at Sun. (Bert and I are just contractors now.)
And I would just really like to ask you all for your help in moving this forum towards something that will help those of us who are here, and especially those who are going to try to take the beta. You have VERY little time to prepare, so we should get to it!
For example, I would like to propose that we simply start going through the objectives, top to bottom, discussing what is *meant* by the objectives, and which areas of the spec you should be studying.
Please refer to the objectives I posted in the Exam Details topic.
So, if we all work together here, then at least some of you will pass this beta
and the rest of you will be prepared when the exam is finally released.
Thanks folks, for not beating up too much on Kimberly and Bert and I. If you help us get moving in a more positive direction, I promise that we will do everything we can to help you with this exam.
100 angry posts is more than one cowgirl can handle without feeling depressed. Even the cows are starting to become sad, refusing to eat. What would the rule round-up game be like if the cows simply lie down and give up?
Anyway, if you want to pass this puppy, you better hurry up and start asking questions
Kimberly wrote some KILLER questions, and trust me on this -- you're a lot better off if she sticks around to help... I was one of the exam developers, and I'm not sure *I* could have answered all of her questions. And, well, MY questions aren't exactly a walk in the park either
Cheers to all of you,
Kathy
We have made your comments known at Sun, but we are much too low on the food chain to have any control over this.
However, given that Kimberly and I have seen the loss of many of our friends to layoffs, I have mixed feelings when I see Sun trying to save money.
This forum is obviously the most likely place on javaranch to express your feelings and complaints about the way the beta is being conducted, but you're talking to the wrong people! Kimberly and I do not represent Sun in any *official* way -- we're just here to help you pass!
And I would like to sincerely ask that you try to remember that the beta exam is a chance to get something for *free*. So it comes with certain restrictions, but we encourage anyone who has a problem with these restrictions to PLEASE wait for the final exam. In other words, do not go out of your way to try to study now if this will cause you serious problems if you do not get in to the beta.
If you happen to be one of the people for whom it is worth studying and trying to get into the beta, because you plan on taking the exam anyway, then this is a great opportunity for you and you have almost NOTHING to lose by trying.
Most of you who get a voucher *will* be able to take the exam!
Believe me, the testing will not stop on the first day-- and it is almost impossible for me to believe that anyone in the first week or 10 days will not get in. Plus, those who took the survey should get their vouchers first, so you should have first pick at the scheduling. This is NOT an ideal way to handle this, I agree. But that's what we're stuck with. And so far on this new forum, about 90% of the posts have been complaints, and that won't help us get anyone to pass the exam.
If you need to express these feelings, please do. We understand, and this is obviously the most likely place to do that. Just keep in mind that we do not represent Sun!! Kimberly does not work at the Sun Ed headquarters, and I am no longer employed at Sun. (Bert and I are just contractors now.)
And I would just really like to ask you all for your help in moving this forum towards something that will help those of us who are here, and especially those who are going to try to take the beta. You have VERY little time to prepare, so we should get to it!
For example, I would like to propose that we simply start going through the objectives, top to bottom, discussing what is *meant* by the objectives, and which areas of the spec you should be studying.
Please refer to the objectives I posted in the Exam Details topic.
So, if we all work together here, then at least some of you will pass this beta
and the rest of you will be prepared when the exam is finally released.Thanks folks, for not beating up too much on Kimberly and Bert and I. If you help us get moving in a more positive direction, I promise that we will do everything we can to help you with this exam.
100 angry posts is more than one cowgirl can handle
without feeling depressed. Even the cows are starting to become sad, refusing to eat. What would the rule round-up game be like if the cows simply lie down and give up? Anyway, if you want to pass this puppy, you better hurry up and start asking questions
Kimberly wrote some KILLER questions, and trust me on this -- you're a lot better off if she sticks around to help... I was one of the exam developers, and I'm not sure *I* could have answered all of her questions. And, well, MY questions aren't exactly a walk in the park either
Cheers to all of you,
Kathy
snaggle tooth
Greenhorn
Posts: 2
posted 14 years ago
Kathy,
I agree 100% with you. You should be congratulated on your efforts and not chastised.
Lets be frank here: not much in this life is free, so take what you can get. As Kathy says, if you're not happy with the beta process, then feel free to pay $150 to do the exam in August.
So please: lets try and be constructive about this opportunity and extract something worthwhile from it.
Anyway, onto exam preparation! With about 3 weeks to go, I'm interested in knowing what to concentrate on and where my efforts should be directed.
Cheers
snaggled (MCP,MCSE,SCJP,SCJD)
I agree 100% with you. You should be congratulated on your efforts and not chastised.
Lets be frank here: not much in this life is free, so take what you can get. As Kathy says, if you're not happy with the beta process, then feel free to pay $150 to do the exam in August.
So please: lets try and be constructive about this opportunity and extract something worthwhile from it.
Anyway, onto exam preparation! With about 3 weeks to go, I'm interested in knowing what to concentrate on and where my efforts should be directed.
Cheers
snaggled (MCP,MCSE,SCJP,SCJD)
Bert Bates
author
Sheriff
Sheriff
Posts: 8945
17
posted 14 years ago
My two cents -
This is going to be a hard exam, and a REALLY hard beta! Even though my questions will be a walk in the park
, the other 250 questions won't be. The most likely scenario will be that on the beta exam you'll get about 150 questions, and about 4 hours. (They divide the questions up into 2 sets - each beta participant will get 1 of the 2 sets.) So that means you'll get less time per question than on the real exam. Plus, some of the questions you get will be REALLY hard. So hard that they'll be thrown out of the real exam. Plus, it's harder to focus for 4 hours than to focus for 2 hours! Plus, the range of objectives is very broad!
So, in a nutshell, I second Kathy's request. It's a real challenge, so let's focus on learning the content! (And of course have some fun too!)
-Bert
p.s. I also want to thank Kimberly for being here, having her here is a BIG opportunity for us all!
This is going to be a hard exam, and a REALLY hard beta! Even though my questions will be a walk in the park
, the other 250 questions won't be. The most likely scenario will be that on the beta exam you'll get about 150 questions, and about 4 hours. (They divide the questions up into 2 sets - each beta participant will get 1 of the 2 sets.) So that means you'll get less time per question than on the real exam. Plus, some of the questions you get will be REALLY hard. So hard that they'll be thrown out of the real exam. Plus, it's harder to focus for 4 hours than to focus for 2 hours! Plus, the range of objectives is very broad!So, in a nutshell, I second Kathy's request. It's a real challenge, so let's focus on learning the content! (And of course have some fun too!)
-Bert
p.s. I also want to thank Kimberly for being here, having her here is a BIG opportunity for us all!
Spot false dilemmas now, ask me how!
(If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
Al Newman
Ranch Hand
Posts: 716
posted 14 years ago
OK, Kathy. Enough bitching already. Time to go memorize 556 pages of EJB specification! Rotza-ruck! 
SCJP1.4, SCWCD
Jamie Shi
Ranch Hand
Posts: 46
Kathy Sierra
Cowgirl and Author
Rancher
Rancher
Posts: 1589
5
posted 14 years ago
Thanks Jamie
Alfred, you are SO overreacting here. I mean, you were counting the table of contents in your page count. Not to mention the list of figures on page 23. By my reckoning, it's down to only about 530 pages.
Ok, seriously, let's start with what you do NOT need to learn. I'm going to start another topic right now and give you a starting list of things you can cross off your study list! It's just a starting point, we'll narrow it down more over the next days and week(s).
cheers,
Kathy
Alfred, you are SO overreacting here. I mean, you were counting the table of contents in your page count. Not to mention the list of figures on page 23. By my reckoning, it's down to only about 530 pages.
Ok, seriously, let's start with what you do NOT need to learn. I'm going to start another topic right now and give you a starting list of things you can cross off your study list! It's just a starting point, we'll narrow it down more over the next days and week(s).
cheers,
Kathy
Gustavo Torreti
Ranch Hand
Posts: 84
posted 14 years ago
C'mon, Ladies and gentleman,
There are too much work to be done before the beta exam comes, and it is running as fast as a lightning.
We are honored with the unique opportunity of getting good answers to good questions. Both instructors and greenhorns here got tons of experience to share.
Shall we not waste our time painting the game cows blue... We are here to reach the stars with them in our rope.
Regardz to all,
[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: Gustavo Torreti ]
There are too much work to be done before the beta exam comes, and it is running as fast as a lightning.
We are honored with the unique opportunity of getting good answers to good questions. Both instructors and greenhorns here got tons of experience to share.
Shall we not waste our time painting the game cows blue... We are here to reach the stars with them in our rope.
Regardz to all,
[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: Gustavo Torreti ]
You were trained to handle mission impossible; 'difficult' should be a walk in the park for you.
