Question about college's in the Seattle/Olympia (Tacoma, Lacey: credit, find a job)

[sjvirchow]

I currently live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and after I graduate high school next year, want to pursue a career in Information Technology, specifically Network Administration and/or Telecommunications.

Nebraska is NOT a technology state by any means. I've always wanted to move to Washington, mainly to get away from Nebraska, and love the Olympia/Lacey and Seattle areas. A college that really attracted me for the degree's it offers in IT, was South Puget Sound Community College. I would of course have to go out of state for this, but the tuition isn't too bad for out for out of state students like me. From there, I would continue pursue a bachelor's and/or masters degree in an IT/Communications field.

Does anybody have any feedback on this, or other college's in the Seattle area that might serve my needs, or insight as to if this plan is a good idea? Could be just a pipe dream, but I've always been told to never give up. At least I have a plan, most high school students don't think about college until the last minute.

[Vinylly]

You might do a Google Search on which colleges have the best IT/Communications programs in the nation. It probably is not Lacy/Olympia by any means, if that's the field you want to get into.

[sjvirchow]

It's a start. It probably beats Nebraska.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by sjvirchow

I currently live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and after I graduate high school next year, want to pursue a career in Information Technology, specifically Network Administration and/or Telecommunications.

Nebraska is NOT a technology state by any means. I've always wanted to move to Washington, mainly to get away from Nebraska, and love the Olympia/Lacey and Seattle areas. A college that really attracted me for the degree's it offers in IT, was South Puget Sound Community College. I would of course have to go out of state for this, but the tuition isn't too bad for out for out of state students like me. From there, I would continue pursue a bachelor's and/or masters degree in an IT/Communications field.

Does anybody have any feedback on this, or other college's in the Seattle area that might serve my needs, or insight as to if this plan is a good idea? Could be just a pipe dream, but I've always been told to never give up. At least I have a plan, most high school students don't think about college until the last minute.

Sorry, don't really have anything to add since I don't know about that field. But why would it be a "pipe dream"? There a a lot of people who are doing what you're wanting to do.

All the colleges here offer courses/degrees for IT. If your grades are great, why not look into University of Washington itself? Your odds of acceptance is actually greater than a local student. UW also has satellite locations in Tacoma and Bothell which also offers those courses as well. We have many community colleges in the Puget Sound Region.

(Also, I noticed in the other thread you mentioned the C.O.L. being lower in Olympia... it is a little lower than Seattle, but Seattle offers more job opportunities.)

[sjvirchow]

I said pipe dream, because I'm afraid that I won't be able to afford going out of state, or that I won't be able to find a job once I move to Washington, or something like that.

I wanted to move to the Olympia/Seattle area, mainly for the job opportunities, especially with not only my passion for technology, but also my passion for aviation, and aerospace.

Community College's here in Lincoln/Omaha are cheap, but only because the Lincoln and Omaha areas have very, VERY high taxes, especially on property tax and telecommunications tax (mainly mobile phones.)

In short, my main concern with going out of state from the start, is that I won't be able to afford it, be able to find a job, or be able to have a good source of income once I get to Washington. Nebraska's great for agriculture, but not for technology.

[seattlenextyear]

There are tons of CC's in the Seattle area. You won't find a shortage of degree programs or classes to take. Most of the students who attend hold full or part time jobs.

[sjvirchow]

I maybe thought the cost of living is more comparable to Lincoln in Olympia than Seattle. But one advantage to the Seattle area is that you don't necessarily need a car, a big plus in my book.

The only schools in Seattle I've looked at are Bates Technical College in Tacoma, and a couple community college's in Tacoma. So far South Puget Sound C.C. is the only one with an affordable out-of-state tuition.

[Inkpoe]

According to CD:

Jan. 2011 cost of living index in Lincoln: 85.8 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Jan. 2011 cost of living index in Olympia: 108.1 (more than average, U.S. average is 100)

You have other options... You could just move here, start working... take 6 credits or less in the meantime, while you wait out that 1 year residency mark. (If you take less than 6 credits, it's the same rate as a resident. Check with the CC.)

But stay away from Bates Technical Colleges, Bryman College, Everest... those kind of schools will always ********* over.

[sjvirchow]

True, I could do that. I just have to be confident, and start saving of course, which I've been doing for about three years. I've mainly been saving for college, not a car, as having a car here, is also, quite expensive. I could always Amtrak up to Washington, and take public transit or walk whenever possible.

[seattlenextyear]

Pierce College in Tacoma is also a community college.