From: Sudhanshu Gupta (sudhanshu.gupta@xxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Wed May 29 2002 - 02:03:59 GMT-3
Dave,
Congrats.
I remember myself wathing Matrix for the second time before second day. And nex
t day till I heard the news I cursed myself that I could have used the time for
somethig better.
Congrats again.
-sudhanshu
#7334
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CCIE-Maillist [SMTP:CCIE-Maillist@foxgal.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 9:14 PM
> To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
> Subject: CCIE# 9369
>
> I passed the CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Saturday, May 25, in RTP, NC, makin
g me CCIE# 9369.
>
> This was my third try and it has been a longer than anticipated journey. Long
er than expected as I thought that obtaining a CCIE would be like obtaining my
MCSE+I or other certifications. I was very wrong. I had never heard of the CCIE
prior to May 2000 when I ran across an old friend while investigating Cisco pr
oducts who worked for Cisco and was a CCIE. I thought, "hmm, I should get this
CCIE thing too". I was slightly surprised when he told me that it took him twic
e to pass and it was extremely difficult. I thought that was strange considerin
g he worked at Cisco and had been working as a SE for them, and other companies
, for a number of years. I thought "how hard could it be?" and was again wrong
in my deductions.
>
> I had been working with 3Com LAN/WAN products for about 6 years prior to obta
ining my CCNA in 6/2000. I obtained my CCNP & CCDA in Jan 2001. I passed the wr
itten in 4/2001 and sat for my first attempt in 8/2001 at the Sao Paolo, Brazil
lab (as there was such a long wait). The first attempt showed me that I didn't
comprehend the magnitude or complexity of the exam, at all. However, it was a
good learning experience as then, with the two-day, the proctor sat down with m
e and went over the items that I had done incorrectly during the first day. The
n, I found out that the lab changed to the one day version in October, 2001.
>
> After that, I did many practice labs and read a great deal. In Jan 2002, I ma
de my second attempt in RTP. I left feeling quite confident that I had passed.
I was disappointed again to find that I had not and my percentages weren't even
worth asking for a re-grading of the test. That was yet another wake-up call t
hat this exam is more difficult than any other test I had ever tried. The bar w
as much higher than I thought.
>
> Over the next 3-4 months I did more labs and studying and attempted the lab l
ast Saturday, May 25. I felt that I needed more time but there is no option for
a last-minute reschedule. I went and saw Star Wars the night before with my fa
mily. After sharing a bad breakfast at the Waffle House with my wife, I arrived
at the test site. There was myself and seven other there. From listening to th
e others talk, I believe everyone there was "returning" except for one. The lab
was brutal but fair and doable. My strategy was to take my time reading the en
tire lab, make notes on the tasks as to how I was going to do them and how many
points they were worth. I also drew a diagram that I used during the lab. I ha
d to ask Jeff, the proctor for more paper in the first 30 minutes. He said "alr
eady, you need more paper?". Jeff was very helpful throughout the exam (thanks
Jeff!). He answered what he could and was polite when he couldn't. In the last
45 minutes of the lab I had too many tasks !
> le!
> ft and not as much time as I had wanted. I was in a panic as had a technical
issue that was out of my control. The proctor told me that the issue didn't aff
ect whether I could complete the lab, to pretend I did not have this issue, and
continue the test. This made me feel uneasy. Also, I didn't get to run my "fan
tastic ping script" as I had wanted, causing more uneasiness.
>
> As it was Memorial Day weekend, I had to wait Sunday and Monday without any g
rade. Over that time my head spun with thoughts of "did I forget this, or that?
" and calculating the points that I probably missed and would they cause me to
fail... I know I drove my wife crazy with sudden outbursts of "Oh my gosh, I th
ink I forgot to configure the XYZ on the fladoodle, great! Now I'm surely doome
d!> " I didn't get my report until Tuesday morning. I was amazing to see that I
had passed. Absolutely amazing...
>
> I read all the same books and did most of the same labs that others have done
. I think everyone is familiar with that list. If not, it is in the archives.
>
> First, I'd like to thank my wife and daughter for the patience and support th
ey provided while I spent long hours and in the spare bedroom with the door shu
t. Hopefully I can find some way to repay them for all the things they took car
e of for me and for all the times I had to tell them "no, sorry, I can't go as
I have to stay here and study". Also, I'd like to thank my family for all thei
r moral support. I'd like to thank my boss for supporting me with dollars and t
ime to pursue this venture and my work associates for taking care of things for
me. Thanks to my study partner, David, for his support. Finally, thanks to Pau
l for running this list and thanks to all the people on the list who took the t
ime to answer my questions- you are what make this list possible.
>
> One of the messages that I read on this list that was especially helpful advi
ce was from Gonzalo #8726 (in the archives) who said that the trick to passing
is precision on the test, focusing only on the lab, enjoying the test, knowing
everything, making a commitment, and seeing a movie the night before. Scott #93
40 pointed out that the CCIE lab is a marathon, not a sprint, and should be con
sidered as such. I tried to always keep these things in mind and the advice see
ms to have paid off.
>
> Best of luck to all who are in the pursuit of the CCIE- don't give up, it can
be done!
>
> David Davis
> CCIE #9369
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