Hey everyone
I have been perusing the forum for a while, I just completed a HND in Computer Foreniscs,now the usual course of action is to complete a top-up of 2 years to obtain a Bsc Hons. The only thing is I find University boring, I have to do 6 modules of which only 1 is Computer forensics so I have 1 hour of forensics a week, the rest of the modules range from programming -> networking -> Computer administration. To be honest I became so stressed last year, I did not have 1 day from october -> april where is did not have assignments to complete and at the same time exams to revise for, the stress actually affected my health.
My parents wont hear anything that doesn't involve me going back to University they are totally opposed to me even looking at other routes, to the point that they are telling people I am "dropping out of Uni" which I'm not as in reality my course is over and I have graduated with a HND I just don't wish to pick up another course, I am also guilt tripped constantly.
I was looking at forensic certification CCE and I am wondering if it is possible to get a job in Comp forensics with a HND + XXXX exam qualifications, or is a Degree the only way?
I have also looked at Open University Networking PGDip that I would do at the same time as any forensic exams. I am willing to put the work in but I dont want to go back to Uni, is it still possible to pursue a career in Forensics?
Many thanks
HLA91
Hi,
I'm due to go into my third year in September so let me tell you what I think about your situation. It's right that YOU decide the best avenue for you, sometimes parents just want their child to go to university, however, it's not them that's going to fail or succeed, it's you!
Looking at what you said about your HND, if that stressed you out, the final two years of a degree may stress you out even more… Look at different routes, firstly, ask yourself where you want to end up… If you find university boring, what is it about university you find boring? Many aspects of this could transfer into a future job having finished a degree course, and you should be aiming for a job you enjoy yes?
Can you choose modules on your degree course? for example, My university allow me to choose three modules a year, and I can choose more relevant ones to go with that. Perhaps you could even change the course totally, some universities allow this (I think)…
Don't underestimate programming, I wish I had chosen more programming courses at university, but remember, the fundamentals of programming are pretty transferable across the different platforms so the knowledge you may have already gained will help you out in the modules to come…
I think the main question you should ask is Where do you want to be in 5 years time?
Regards,
Anthony
I second the notion of not underestimating programming. While a lot of programming courses appear to teach the basics of a particular language, one of the skills you pick up is structured thinking. This is very valuable when performing forensics work, or even when you get higher up the "food chain" and start planning the work.
Given what you've got going on, why look at a certification at this point? Why not follow a more relaxed program of study, particularly given your work load?
Pick something…for example, start with something simple, such as the NTFS file system, the Windows Registry, etc. Start learning all you can about that topic. There are a number of freely available resources for acquiring images, and you can even use tools such as FTK Imager to acquire you own images.
Right now, you're going through the basics of your university program. I completely understand your enthusiasm to get to the point of doing some "real" analysis work. However, be careful…this enthusiasm may lead to impatience, which will affect what you do in the long run…getting impatient when doing the actual work can lead to some pretty serious issues.
Good luck!
If Uni stresses you out then you really need to consider something other than computer forensics.
as others have said the other courses will teach you how computer work.
Well thanks for the replies.
In regards to programming I do enjoy it, I enjoy the challenge etc.. but the main point that annoys me about programming is that all our tutorial notes for the VB (I dont enjoy VB, Python I really enjoy) they were faulty, you would try and follow the step by step that they show you for example using a database the notes were missing points so we were always a few weeks behind.
I really do enjoy Foreniscs and I would hate not not be able to do it, but my fiancée is actually scared of me attempting the degree as she saw what the stress did to me last time, she was due to go home to complete her dissertation but was afraid to leave me on my own. So she is eager for me to continue with forensics but avoiding the hectic timetabled pressure of Uni.
The reason I was looking at qualifications was that if it was possible to continue in the field without a degree.
Why not follow a more relaxed program of study, particularly given your work load?
What are you thinking of?
Well thanks for the replies.
In regards to programming I do enjoy it, I enjoy the challenge etc.. but the main point that annoys me about programming is that all our tutorial notes for the VB (I dont enjoy VB, Python I really enjoy) they were faulty, you would try and follow the step by step that they show you for example using a database the notes were missing points so we were always a few weeks behind.
I hear ya. In my graduate program, I had a course on fiber optics, which used the book written by the professor. The book of errata for the text was almost as long as the book itself, and we had a guest professor come down from Silicon Valley, who would mangle the formulas.
Consider this…taking these courses is the "cost of entry". Eventually, the course will end, and you'll move on. Yes, things are annoying for now, understood. Crack on.
I really do enjoy Foreniscs and I would hate not not be able to do it, but my fiancée is actually scared of me attempting the degree as she saw what the stress did to me last time, she was due to go home to complete her dissertation but was afraid to leave me on my own. So she is eager for me to continue with forensics but avoiding the hectic timetabled pressure of Uni.
The reason I was looking at qualifications was that if it was possible to continue in the field without a degree.
Here in the US, a degree is looked at as another "cost of entry". I've gone through a couple of rounds of hiring team members, and when you have a lot of submissions for a few positions, you need to have a way to categorize applicants. Whether it's right or wrong, the first impression that comes to mind if someone starts a program and doesn't finish it is that they won't be able to meet deadlines. Forensic work isn't all fun and games…it can be boring sometimes, and it can also be stressful, for a lot of the same reasons that university work is boring and stressful. The best forensic examiner in the world is completely worthless if they can't finish an exam, or write a coherent report. I think that most managers would agree that hiring a competent examiner who can complete tasks and work through the arduous process of learning to write reports is much preferable to the best forensic examiner who can't complete work and won't/can't write a report.
Qualifications, certs, and degrees get you passed the HR vanguard when it comes to applying for a job. Ultimately, you're going to have to prove whether or not you can actually do the work, which, I would suggest, is much more important than having alphabet soup after your name.
I have looked at taking the degree part-time to try and ease the pressure but my Uni doesn't offer the course part time. x
Look into other universities around you, and perhaps Open University?
Anthony
OU don't do Computer Forensics, I just looked at a Msc in Computer Forensics in the same Uni I just completed my HND in and it is just want I would like to do but I need somehting more than a HND to be able to get onto that, I am just trying to figure out what and how.
Is there not a course you will enjoy that will get you on to that MSc? Have you looked at other universities local to you that offer a BSc? Some may be different and more suited towards you! doesn't doing a HND take you in to your 2nd year of a BSc? Meaning there is only one year of a hard set year, some of the elements you may not like are probably fundamental to the topic, you may fall in love with them.
Out of interest, what is it you think you won't like on the course your university is offering?
Regards,
Anthony