Questions About Readiness For SCJD2

[Matt DeLacey]

Hey All,
I passed the SCJP2 about 1.5 weeks ago with a score of 76%. I don't think the score adequately represents my knowledge, but I guess no one does. The things I have going for me are that once I set a goal I work very hard to achieve it, and I love to read and learn and study. Now, I wonder if it is reasonable to go ahead and tackle the Developer's Exam? I planned to study RMI and Networking and hit concurrent access control really hard over the next 4 - 8 weeks and then go for the Developer's and I planned on taking about 6 months to complete the programming portion (I have a full-time programming job during the day [in C/C++] so I can only devote 2 - 4 hours per night, except weekends more). Does this sound like it is anywhere in the ballpark of being reasonable? I've almost finished reading RHE's coverage of the Developer's exam, and I feel like it's doable if I work hard at it, but I'd like to hear all your thoughts. Regardless of whether or not you think it's possible, I'd like to hear 1.) your story of how you went from SCJP to SCJD, and 2.) what you think IS reasonable. Any and all input would be VERY much appreciated.
With Respect,
Matt

[ram kumar]

hi matt
well can i join with you for the preparation for SCJD and could you please tell me where to start with???
ram

[Matt DeLacey]

Ram, IMHO, the best thing to do is look around you. First of all, you should definately check out Sun's site, where it gives sample exam questions, objectives, and general info. Then, I would reading some text like RHE where it talks about the prograqmming portion and the exam so you can kno what to expect. Then, maybe brush up on any areas of weakness. Then, just buckle down and do it. Don't know what else to say. Many of the posts on this forum have links to excellent sites. I have been to several. Read some posts, find some links, follow them.

With Respect,
Matt DeLacey

[robert zhang]

Can I ask a stupid question? What does RHE mean?
Thanks.

[Matt DeLacey]

It' not a stupid question....I should be more clear. I assume most people used the book The Java 2 Certification Study Guide by Roberts, Heller, and Ernest to study for SCJP2, but that's not a fair assumption. (If you look at the first letters of the authors names, you'll get RHE).
Anyway, won't anyone out there answer my intial question. Are there any actual SCJD on here or is it all aspiring SCJD???

[Vladan Radovanovic]

Ok Matt, here is what I have to say.
6 months to do it is plenty of time but then it is hard to expect that You will every day put Your work into it. Are You going to leave any time for Your life and anything else? The estimation is that You will need from 100-120 hrs to complete it. I think I have spent more but I didn't know RMI at the time. Also now there are two groups out there that has beaten few design issues to the death. If you just browse the groups it will cut Your time for 1/3. The assignment is nice, challenging and time consuming. It tests You on few different topics. However I think that the certification will soon start to lose it's value. It should be an individual effort however due to groups a lot of people are going to be certified and nowhere near of being a real developer. But then at the same time I am not the real developer too (yet). I am recent grad( that has done quite a bit of Java in school) that did the certification just to kind of demonstrate that I am capable of writing "few lines" of code on my own. On the other side, I have barely passed programmer exam with 73%. Does that reflect my real knowledge. Just like You, I say No Way. It is more the reflection of how long I have prepared for it. On the other side, I got 91% on developer. Does that score reflect my real knowledge. I would again, disagree. But then ... I will attempt architect exam in few weeks or so. Anyway, I don't know what is the reason that You want to do it . If You are doing the certification so You can easier transfer to Java field I would suggest that You try to transfer right away. I think real world experience is more valuable than any certification. And if You really WANT to do it I say You go for it. With C++ background and I don't know how many years of experience, it should be no problem for You. It is very reasonable and very possible. Actually You SHOULDN'T have any doubts what so ever. Even the knowledge of RMI and threading that You need to know is not that great either. Doug Lea's book on threads is overkill for this assignment. Also, You don't have to be a SWING gury but have to develop decent gui. RHE book actually gives you a good idea what is the exam about.
So ...
I hope I helped a little.
Please if anyone disagree with my post, do not attack me. This is just my $0.02.
Vladan

[Matt DeLacey]

Vladan,
Thank you very much. I found your post to be very informative and inspirational. In general, I think many people want to be perceived as "elite", so in their hearts, they sometimes aren't as encouraging as they should be. I am grateful that you are not this type of person. It is refreshing to see someone who has been there, and who is willing to share their experiences and encourage those behind them along. This shows great maturity. I have had a number of experiences when I was working toward SCJP where people where discouraging (but in all honesty there was also A LOT of people who were great). You are right when you allude to the fact that it is not realistic that a person will work on the project EVERY night for six months. This is how I broke it down. I know I am somewhat weak on networking and concurrent access control, so I had planned to take about 4 weeks to work on that. Then, I wanted to download the project. I had heard that 120 hours was in the ballpark, but I figure it will take me somewhat longer. Well, I supposed that if I worked 5 nights a week for 2 hours, then that would be approximately 40 hours/month. In 3 months, that would give me 120 hours. But then, as you said, it's not realitic to think you will work on it every single night, so I doubled that and came up with 6 - 7 months. Anyway, I am encouraged by your words (which is nice, because I WANTED to be encouraged). Thanks for your sharing your wisdom and experience.

With Respect,
Matt

[Majid Khan]

Matt
There a lot of people aspiring to do scjd!
u have a focus on your job so get about doing it !
cause thinking about it and doing it are two different things
atleast u will learn a lot of java