Our Graduates' Comments

Finally, I would like to thank the staff of Computer Institute, especially __ for all the times I bothered him on Sat. for a computer and the correct software to practice on.  Also, the receptionists and counselors for supplies given to me.  I personally like the almost family like environment here and will defiantly come back here to take the classes on Oracle and CCNP.

As for taking the PL/SQL exam, read the exam guide, the one CI provided, remember the topics (it is a great book, if somebody can remember and understand the book, no problem to pass the exams).  Do the exercises that CI provided.  It's better to do twice.  During the exam, don't be intimidated by the long exam questions, read the last sentences of the questions first, so you will know how to read the long code, most of the code in the questions are just bulky stuff for correct answer.  It you can't answer the question in one minute, mark it, go to another one.  It's OK to miss a few.

Thanks to everyone in CI."

First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Vahid the right directions he has given me.  Really I am lucky to have him as my instructor because he made the subjects very interesting it feels not to skip his any lecture.  Thank you very much Mr. Vahid.  I will be back get more knowledge from you.  You are the best.  Thank you.  

Please feel free to give my name, address, and phone number as a reference to the new students.  In fact I want to write a letter of appreciation to the Computer Institute for the excellent job they did before, at the time of studies and ever after the classes, and specially to you for helping me find my first job in my new career.  Thanks.  Hope to hear from you soon.

I start looking around the job market now, there are many openings.  I listed you as my reference on the resume.  Thank you in advance for your help in this aspect.  By the way, my legal name is ___ while my common name is ___, so don't be surprised when somebody call you and ask about _______.  

Best regards for your teaching, will keep you posted on the progress of my exams and job searching.! Take care.

I have got a job with Oracle Corporation and am very pleased with the career prospects.  The knowledge gained from the course is very useful in my job responsibilities in serving Oracle customers.

I would like to express my appreciation for my instructor for his help in completing this course.  He was dedicated, diligent, and helpful in conducting this course and tried to explain database concepts in sufficient detail, especially for the benefit of those, who apparently did not have enough industry experience.  He supplemented his lecture with distributing working sql scripts, developed in the class as exercises to help us learn routine automated DBA tasks.  This material will prove very useful in application and execution of our day-to-day tasks, working as DBA.

I would like to be kept posted on future courses at Computer Institute, as and when available.

For now, I would like to thank you and your staff for all assistance.

I am interested in attending classes in CISCO and UNIX.  Please advise me of dates you will be teaching these classes."

Sincerely,

And yes I'm working with _____.  He's the one who's in charge of training me right now.  He's indeed really nice and kind.  He once told me that he was the one who told you there was an opening position here.  I should thank him too.  And to help you update my record, here is my information:.  

Title: Technical Support Engineer

I had to meet with 5 people at that time.  They asked me everything. My suggestion for answering the interview questions is to be honest and be yourself and do some homework about the company (this helps).

Haha! Without Computer Institute, I would be sitting here reading about successes instead of living them.  Thank you. 

The network is small, about 45 nodes but it is an NT 4.0 network, with all the duties and responsibilities that go with keeping a network green and growing.  I'm lucky enough to get a 3 week turnover with the outgoing administrator.  When I finally get myself established there, I will send you my work e-mail address."

My special thanks also goes to Mr. Roughani who gave me this vision about information technology and various security aspects which surrounds it.  His extensive knowledge and experience with computers and specifically NT was evident throughout the discussions during the course.  He shared some technical notes that I have not been able to find in any reference material.  He is really good at what he does and he is an asset for CI.  I wish the students at CI take full advantage of his skills.  It really amazes me when I look at graduates from CI and the extent of their expertise compared to some of the other engineers graduating from other local schools.  At the end, please convey my thanks to all administrative staff and keep up the good work.  God bless you and thank you again."

Update on 2/99: Hi!  Everything is great and busy!  I'm consulting IBM, ORACLE and many other people, both known and not known companies!   They're located in HongKong, Canada, Germany, California, etc.  I've also done such a good job helping one programming manager, whose problem was life/death situation, and I walked him through every step perfectly.  He wanted to commend me by writing directly to the CEO and my manager, which he later did and boy was I proud!  My manager said that I should keep a copy for future reference as well!  Everybody congratulated me!  I'm usually successful but not everybody you help takes the time to do something nice like that.  Besides that, I've run the show alone in the office quite several times with everything hanging on my "expertise."  I'm doing the Intranet Web pages, revising the technical FAQ's for main website, burning our software CD's etc, so I'm quite busy!  Regards.  MB

Finally I have been employed by IPC Technical Services in Gaithersburg.  I will be working in a government building on 17th Street N.W. and will start on Tuesday, the 16th of Feb 1999.  The salary is very good, and much better than I could have dreamed making by being a carpenter or mechanic.

Anyhow, pass on to all students.  I have taken several of the exams more than once.  Now, I have A+, NT Workstation and NT Server .  I am still studying for the other 4 exams.  Tell everyone do not give up.  It is important to have at least ONE computer to practice.  If at all possible have two.  It makes learning and reinforcing of skills much quicker.  As I have only been doing this for 18 months, that is great.  So thanks again to all at Computer Institute."

Taking coursework at Computer Institute was instrumental in changing my luck. I had been out of the computer field for five years, and didn't find it easy to get a job until I took classes at Computer Institute to update my skills. Additionally, please give my regards to Professor Lansky. His ability to share his obviously sound knowledge about current database technology is something special. He really helped me both to gain current knowledge to improve my programming skills, and to gain confidence to follow through on my desire to re-enter the computer technology field. I was truly delighted after two weeks of work at AMTI when I found out that my new officemate had taken coursework at Computer Institute. She and I are both proud to have been associated with this training institute."

Update: 4 months after the above email was received:

"CACI International in Chantilly, VA is my new employer since Jan. 4th 1999.  It is the same company where I worked before but my paycheck is coming from CACI instead of going thru Crius.  My new salary is $______.  I have scheduled to take a Intro to Cisco Router Configuration (ICRC) class in April and CACI is paying for it.  Isn't that wonderful?  Thanks to everyone at CI.  Keep in touch.  Thanks."

I have to take time and thank everybody at Computer Institue for helping me to achieve my goal. Thank you so much Dr. Seyed, Dr. Lev, John, Prasad, Hojat, Victoria, Lida, Hassan, Tammy, and Dimitri and all the staff at the Computer Institute.  Thank you so much for all your kindness and for helping me to help myself."

Update:  After talking to him, we asked him to get in touch with Norwoods School because they really liked him.  On November 20, 1998, Paul Schuncke emailed our Placement Director that he started working for the Norwoods School as a Network Engineer.

Update: 2/99 How are you doing?  I moved on to a different part of the project.  Now, I am in Database Engineering group.   New place, new people, more stress.

I was also interviewed for the Jr. NT Admin position, but they wanted people with more experience or at least with an MCSE, which I haven't gotten yet.

I wrapped up my first week this Friday and I tell you, I never thought I'd see so many different HP Laser printers in one week (and I had to troubleshoot them!)   I've taken out and replaced three system boards, and so many other various tasks.   It's enough to start with, right?  Thanks again to you all, especially to Amrit and Jay."

For a guy with no computer program background at all, what I was offered is a miracle and the miracle is all yours, Lev.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for all your patience with me and your excellent way of teaching.  Thank you again."

Now, if you have no background in computers and you take the Oracle classes, get in the Oracle environment any way you can.  Once you have a year or two experience, you can get a better job (higher salary) fairly easily.   You also have to project a very knowledgeable presence."

Currently, I work for the Corporation for National Service on developing the Trust Fund automated system using Oracle tools including SQL*Plus, PL/SQL, Developer 2000 and Designer 2000.  I am gaining the new knowledge and working experience constantly, but the basic foundation has been created under your supervision.  I am very grateful to you and CI for this great learning experience.  I hope to stay in touch with you in professional and personal matters."