Bootcamp FAQ's
If your question or concern is not answered here, or, if you just want to talk with a real person about your personal situation, please call us at 850-656-MCSE(6273) or toll free at 800-826-7817.
Special Note About the MCSA/MCSE Schedule
Over the years we have had many requests to adjust the schedule so that students could have Sundays off. With the increased complexity and demands of the current camps we have agreed that it makes good sense to give all parties concerned a little rest. We have now set the schedule so that each Sunday is a free day. We simply slide the seventeen days of instruction to include two additional days for a total of 19 days. This allows a day of attending worship, doing some catch up self study, being with family, or just exploring the area for those who are new to Tallahassee and Florida.
We make the process as easy as possible by making a total commitment to you from everyone involved at Focus Learning Systems. From highly experienced instructors who's only focus is their students success, to a staff that makes sure every detail is attended to so students are free to apply their full attention to absorbing new material without distractions.
Who sets the standards for Accelerated Training?
Answer!
No one. When the instructors at FLS began teaching in a bootcamp environment over eight years ago, there were few others around. Now, there are bootcamps everywhere, along with a plague of paper MCSE's. The opportunities for abuse are rampant; from large MCSE mills that process students in one door and out the other, to inexperienced instructors that just prep for the test, to plagiarized or stolen materials, cramped motel room setups, shared computers, or a non existent support system of knowledgeable staff ready to help with all the extras.
At FLS we simply do not operate that way. To borrow a phrase, we have been creating our student's success "One Student At A Time" since 1998. We think the only measure of a training program that really counts, is the opinions of those who have gone before you. We are proud of our reputation for high quality, we are proud of our students success rate, and most of all, we are proud of what our past students have to say.
FLS has hundreds of MCSE graduates from all across the US as well as Canada, Asia, South America, Africa, and numerous countries within Europe. Our students come from fortune companies like Compaq, Dell, Microsoft, NCR, and dozens of others, as well as from the ranks of individuals who knew what they needed, and wanted to spend their money in the most effective way. Their successes are what our reputation is built on. We go to great lengths to make sure that every detail about your experience with FLS is so perfect that you to will become one of our future spokespersons.
What about Windows Vista and Longhorn?
Answer!
New courses and exams that include Windows Vista are emerging. As soon as they are fully implemented by Microsoft, we will weave them into our training. Longhorn is still quite a way off. Microsoft has promised a one exam upgrade path for Vista. A solid background in XP is the best foundation for Vista. Since XP will remain the dominate client OS in corporate America for a long time, and since Vista is built on mostly XP technology, training on XP makes sense for now.
What about Security+ in the MCSA and MCSE Bootcamp?
Answer!
We carefully researched all of the possible paths to certification a person can take. By including CompTia's Security+ training and test, you will have a huge headstart. You will not only be gaining the multiple certifications of MCP/MCSA/MCSE and Security+, but you will then be only one test away from your MCSA:Security or MCSE:Security certification.
There are so many other choices, why Focus Learning Systems?
Answer!
Because your chances of leaving here with what you came for are better than if you went anywhere else! At FLS, we work very hard to distinguish ourselves from the majority of others who simply cram your head full of test prep with the hopes you will retain enough to get through an exam. We don't do that! We strip out the fluff and the overlap between courses, we arrange material in a steady building block fashion, and we present that material in a carefully crafted, clear, concise and understandable manner. We teach to objectives and concepts, not exam questions. When you leave FLS, you will leave with skills, useable knowledge, and a very high probability of having passed the exams.
Are there prerequisites for attending your Bootcamps?
Answer!
Yes. Our camps are not for new entries into the IT field. A candidate must already be well versed in basic networking knowledge, both client side and server side. That basic knowledge is best gained by a year or two of Windows server background, or lacking that, a solid Novell or UNIX/Linux background.
If you do not fit into any of those categories, a bootcamp may not be the best choice for you. We will not hesitate in advising you not to attend if that is the case. What we will do is offer you an alternative, such as taking a standard non-accelerated course. It is in no ones best interest to have you attend and not absorb the knowledge or pass the tests. After some time spent gaining experience, students should then consider returning for a full bootcamp. We will grant a substantial rebate of the price spent on a standard course towards the expense of a full 12 or 17-day MCSA or MCSE bootcamp.
What kind of pass rate?
Answer!
The pass rate for the January 2007 camp was over 90%. We won't guarantee you a 100% pass rate, but with deeply experienced instructors and our custom created study material that is not available anywhere else, you will have a far better chance of passing everything and walking out with the certifications you came for than if you tried any other method or went anywhere else!
I have some good experience, but I don't want to just skip all the basics.
Answer!
Just because we expect students to have a good networking background does not mean that we just skip over all the basics. One thing we have noticed about bootcamp students is that no matter how extensive their backgrounds may be, they are almost always missing little bits and pieces of knowledge that might be considered part of those "basics". Clearing up those areas without dwelling on them is part of the job.
What is the environment like where I will be taking classes?
Answer!
FLS was designed from the beginning to be a distraction free environment. Each of the four classrooms is big and roomy with individual lighting and temperature controls. Every classroom has a huge five feet of desk space per student, so there is plenty of room to spread out all of your materials, personal laptop pcs etc. No cramped hotel room setups here! There are also big ergonomic chairs, a high quality close up visual display system and a dedicated Gigabit network in every classroom. All of the computers are recent model Dell OptiPlex's with at least 2.8 ghz dual core processors and 2 gig of ram. Plus, you have full time high speed Internet access at all times.
FLS has a kitchen for student meal preparation and breaks. Each morning our students enjoy home cooked breakfasts and at lunch we either cater food in or go to a local restaurant. There is our fantastic coffee machine that brews every cup fresh and even makes cafe mocha or hot chocolate on demand.
We are located in a quiet park like campus in a brand new office building. There is a pond complete with fish, hawks, herons and an occasional alligator. We have a brand new Staybridge extended stay hotel immeadiately across the street from us. Students frequently comment that this is the nicest training facility they have ever been to. We have done our best to create a distraction free environment so that students are able to focus on the task at hand, learning.
How late does class go each day?
Answer!
Class always begins at 8:30 am and typically runs until 5:30 or 6:00 pm depending on the material being covered that day. There are plenty of snacks and drinks at all times and we take frequent breaks to keep the circulation flowing. The classroom remains available 24 hours. Sundays are off to give you a chance to recharge and relax. We understand the dynamics of learning and try not to push students past a point where they are no longer able to absorb. Before each test we will have done extensive review and preparation as a group. We also encourage impromptu student study sessions at the hotel, around the pool, or after hours in the classroom.
What are your guarantees?
Answer!
We don't inflate the price of our camps in order to offer you "free" exam retakes. All of our students are always invited to re-sit any portion of a camp or course they choose to. In the event that you do not pass an exam, we will work with you to identify the areas that need re-enforcement. We will provide you with updated custom study guides relating to the exam you missed as they become available. We guarantee you the highest quality staff, environment, and equipment that can be found anywhere. We guarantee that if you come prepared to work hard, we will work just as hard to ensure your success!
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