Bob Carswell

Viki,
I don't think that will compile, try:
Count your garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall.
From:
Count your garden by the flowers
Never by the leaves that fall;
Count your days by golden hours;
Don't remember clouds at all;
Count you nights by stars not shadows
Count your life by smiles not tears.
And to bring you joy this day
Count your age by friends not years.
BC

You're right, that's a lousy score. Go back and take it again!
Just kidding You're in the club now. Congratulations.
BC
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform

BINGO!
You hit the nail on the head. No wasted effort. Your certificate is worth exactly that of the guy that pulled a 98%, and you�ve got all those spare hours to spend on your next certification.
Part of the game here is �level of effort�. Sure, you and I both can memorize every single constructor in the language, but the game is to memorize just enough and get the concepts down.
Congratulations!!!
BC

[This message has been edited by Bob Carswell (edited December 11, 2001).]

Great feeling, isn't it? Relax and enjoy it, then start planning your next certifcation.
My suggestions:
IBM Certified Developer - XML
Sun Certified Web Component Developer
But don't shy away from these others,
Cisco Certified Network Associate (excellent intro to TCP/IP)
CompTIA I-Net+ (basic HTML, file types, etc.)
BC

I would love to take courses and then take the certification exams, but�
I recently made a request for the Oracle e-Learning FastTrack program for Java Developer. Basically, it is two weeks of Intstructor Led Training, plus e-learning CD-ROM�s, along with test vouchers, and other items. It covers the entire jCert initiative. Here�s the link:
http://www.oracle.com/us/education/trng_methods/elearning/
I was turned down. It was too expensive - $7500 with the current discount.
However, I do give my company some credit. It subscribes to SmartForce e-learning. From what I can tell I have access to all of the SmartForce e-learning material. There were five modules on Java and many on other certification programs I�ve used. The retail price on this stuff is ridiculous.
So from one standpoint my company supports training, but within limits.
BC

What is the value of the SCJP2 certification?
I�ll throw my two cents in.
My opinion is that there isn�t any difference between certification and any other education credential.
Obviously SCJ2P is not a B.S. in Computer Science, but they are comparable. Apples and apples is what it looks like to me.
I have a BS in CS and the SCJP2 certficate (actually, mine hasn�t arrived yet, but I passed the test last Friday). Anyway, from my experience, I didn�t go through radically different processes in obatining the SCJP2 certificate and passing various programming classes that were required for my degree. I read and I programmed.
In fact, I read somewhere that 50% of IT certifications are obtained after taking a formal class. My own personal experience is that textbooks were always superior learning vehicles than my time spent in a classroom. With the advent of the Internet, learning speeds up because it is easy to verify and crosscheck anything you don�t understand. The point is that certifcation is an education credential. Not more, not less.
BC

I don't know about everyone else, but I've stopped using the www.2test.com registration for Prometric testing. I register the "same-day" at the test center. I only became aware of this after it was recommended by the test center staff.
Basically, I walk into the test center, whatever time they're open and request a test. They logon to Prometric register me, take my VISA card # and download the test. It takes all of about two minutes. I'm taking the test within 5 minutes of entering the test center. I log on to www.2test.com after I'm done just to make sure I'm in the system and it has never failed. Note, I have received several certifications in this manner.
NOTE: This assumes the test center has room for you. The one local test center I use, WashTech in Tysons Corner, VA never has more than one or two testers and there must be 10 test stations. So BEWARE. Of course, I think there are 10 test centers in Tysons Corner alone if I ever had a problem.
BC

I'm curious as well.
I notice that most, perhaps all except Microsoft, keep their numbers under wraps. If anyone has any idea or guesses as to why the different vendors keep the numbers of certifcate holders confidential, I would like to know.
BC

What does everybody think is the college equivalent of the SCPJ2P exam, if such a thing can be determined?
I think it�s worth 5 undergraduate college credits! Just to start the debate.
I have a BS in Computer Science from 1989. Call me Grandpa if you want. During my program we completed "Intro" programming language courses in FORTRAN, Pascal and COBOL. From what I recall, and I�m reaching here, because I took these courses sometime in �86 and �87, the SCJP2 is definitely more difficult than those courses.
Also, does anyone know of a link that has some thoughtful analysis on the college equivalent of the different IT certifications?
Thanks,
BC
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform

IMHO, the exam is slightly easier than a random 60 questions from JWhiz. But, I didn't do any 60 question mock tests in JWhiz to compare my score. I just did a series of 10 question tests in JWhiz, and they were all customized - say 10 questions just on Expert Threads, so I don't feel fully qualified to say one way or the other.
BC

You might want to look at another path, here's the one I'm working towards...
OCP DBA 8i, XML, SCJ2P, OCSD, OCED. If you don't recognize all of those, OCSD is Oracle Certified Solution Developer and OCED is Oracle Certified Enterprise Developer.
I have cleared OCP DBA 8i, XML and SCJ2P and I've just started my reading for OCSD. I'm a DBA with a Computer Science degree and I want to be a developer and leverage my Oracle DBA strength.
BC

...and through the hoop.
Thanks to all, I passed with 69%.
This exam is difficult. This was my second attempt. On the first I got 57%. That was exactly 30 days ago, and I�ve been studying non-stop ever since. I mostly just followed the advice on this board, RHE, JWhiz, Marcus Green mock exams, etc. This is my seventh certificaiton, so I have a pretty good idea about how to study and assess the level of difficulty from the posts on the Internet.
Still, this was a difficult exam. The only exam I�ve taken that�s even close to this one is PL/SQL from Oracle (part of OCP DBA 8i), and even that I passed on the first try. As a matter of record, this is the only test I�ve failed. So from someone who has the following certifications, OCP DBA 8i, IBM XML, CCNA, CCDA, I-Net+, Net+, I feel confident proclaiming that this is one worthy certification to hold.
BC
SCJP2

Congratulations, Fabrizio, I hope to join you tomorrow. I�m taking the test again in the morning.
I may be counting my chickens before they�ve hatched because I�m looking forward and considering the Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD), the Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD), and the Oracle Certified Solution Developer (OCSD). SCJD and OCSD are very different and are probably both worth pursuing if you are inclined in that direction.
I should also mention that I�ve looked into several Masters degree programs. I have a BS in Computer Science. And although my boss would rather I pursue the Masters degree, I have concluded that certification is a more direct path to the knowledge I�m seeking. I�m not trying to open a debate on this board, but having taken several Graduate courses (4), the return for the time spent vs. the knowledge acquired is not half what it is for certification. Certification keeps me focused and gives me the incentive to do the tough reading while all on my own schedule. I�m convinced this is the future of education. I wish I was, but I know I�m not, one of those guys that can just pick up a book on JavaBeans and read it cover to cover. Certification gives me the push and the reward.
I may go for all three of the certifications I mentioned, but I�m leaning toward doing the Oracle Certified Solution Developer first. That would entail the UML test from IBM, along with a test in JDeveloper from Oracle. After that I would like to go after Sun Certified Web Component Developer, then possibly do Oracle Certified Enterprise Developer (OECD), but I see a lot of value in the Sun Certified Java Developer as demonstration of practical knowledge.
Robert
OCP 8i DBA
CCNA, CCDA, I-Net+, Net+, IBM XML

Perhaps some of you aren't aware, but it may be possible to receive a discount on the SCJ2P exam.
I failed (57%) the SCJ2P exam last month. I did so by using my company partner agreement with Oracle Corporation. Oracle offers the SCJ2P exam in their offerings. The certificate is still from Sun, and it is transferrable to any of the jCert partners if you want to pursue a higher certification. The discount my company receives is 35%, so I paid only $97.50 for the exam. Of course, I'm going to have to cough of another $97.50 on Friday when I make my second attempt. Wish me luck, I've certainly studied hard enough.
I knew about this from using it with the DBA exams I took with Oracle. For those of you that think they might be eligible, call the Oracle Partner Network and see if your organization is eligible and ask for the Promotion Code. They'll check their database and see if your company participates and at what level.
The number is: 800.323.7355