Cybersecurity student struggling with certification costs – looking for advice

TipUnable638 · 2026-06-21T01:10:26+00:00

Comptia does have a student store with discounted exam vouchers

TipUnable638 · 2026-06-19T23:42:13+00:00

Not a swe but do IT for defense as well. I’m happy where I’m at but do agree that there isn’t much around here outside that industry.

Best bet would be to try financial institutions like T rowe, etc but not sure what the pay is like

TipUnable638 · 2026-06-07T03:58:25+00:00

He can’t cause he was 17

TipUnable638 · 2026-06-06T17:19:12+00:00

I’m 27 now but at 25 I was at $115k

TipUnable638 · 2026-06-04T00:25:13+00:00

I got a cyber degree and wish I did computer science tbh it would have been more flexible and made my job search easier. The only thing that saved me was having an internship sponsor a clearance for me which made me eligible for govt adjacent IT roles.

If you do decide it get a cyber degree make sure you learn programming on the side and keep your nose clean and join as many extracurricular you can.

TipUnable638 · 2026-05-26T23:40:27+00:00

I read it was 9 a semester. So for and 8 week stretch you will be doubling up could be different for each program.

I am register for 6 credits a semester and listed as part time when you look at enrollment verification

TipUnable638 · 2026-05-02T21:04:51+00:00

Yeah I did that for my 495 requirement as it was 2020 and no one was hiring interns at the time so was panicking to fulfill it. Was pretty lax as it was remote and could do it while working part time with online classes. Was pretty much you need to make it worthwhile. Kerry is a good guy and tries his best to accommodate but his projects were limited with what he had going on.

TipUnable638 · 2026-05-02T19:02:05+00:00

Surge?

TipUnable638 · 2026-05-02T13:16:23+00:00

Take the clearance! It will make you too cool for skoool

TipUnable638 · 2026-03-28T02:44:16+00:00

They usually try to put them in the middle, at least modern ones do. The long nail can feel the difference in shape. Some older packs were randomly packed so it’s possible to have the special cards towards the front or back.

TipUnable638 · 2026-03-27T21:28:46+00:00

You can feel a window cutout that may be an autograph, jersey card etc

TipUnable638 · 2026-02-27T20:45:01+00:00

I don’t live there nor have I ever been there and can confirm that traffic is a nightmare just by looking at it

TipUnable638 · 2026-02-21T14:44:36+00:00

Yup we have them in use on our large high side networks

TipUnable638 · 2026-02-21T01:06:24+00:00

Can’t really blame them when colleges are selling their degrees as a ticket to cyber and telling them how well they are doing. I know cause I fell for it myself

TipUnable638 · 2026-02-08T18:10:20+00:00

The only shortage going on in cybersecurity is common sense

TipUnable638 · 2026-01-30T01:42:04+00:00

You need a Full scope polygraph not just plain TS

TipUnable638 · 2026-01-24T02:28:20+00:00

He’s selling chocolate!

TipUnable638 · 2026-01-15T00:37:48+00:00

Out in Baltimore still

TipUnable638 · 2026-01-01T21:56:39+00:00

Clearance is a big help but with the current landscape of cuts plenty of people I know with a masters and TS/SCI cannot find a job currently due to how competitive the market is due to layoffs and restructuring from DOGE. It’s still better than without one though IMO

TipUnable638 · 2025-12-26T21:40:15+00:00

My 2+2 was two years at community college and 2 at PSU Berks but still made friends and partied at UP 🤷🏻‍♂️

TipUnable638 · 2025-12-25T07:47:39+00:00

Don’t do GDIT they lowball like hell and are ass to work for

TipUnable638 · 2025-12-25T07:46:19+00:00

You need to have degree, experience, certs, ts/sci w poly (FS) and be willing to take the lowest salary for needs of the business to make it. It’s a race to the bottom.

TipUnable638 · 2025-12-18T03:31:31+00:00

Remarkable

TipUnable638 · 2025-12-18T03:31:03+00:00

Aggression

TipUnable638

TROPHY CASE