As you guys know, i am still in high school(senior year). I have to decide(in few months) if i want to go to big university or a small college(like ivy tech or  something). In big university you have to take some required classes that are not related to what i am going to do. In small college you just take the classes that are focused or related to your career. What do you guys recommend?

I understand that i will have to get some certs and experience too.

whats the best way to enter this career, what would get me a job?

(i don't care too much about learning the material, because i just learn it, and there are courses, and there is Google)

Any reply(thats related) would be very helpful.

Hey Pizza1337,

Here's what i would suggest. If you are heading in that direction, always go for a 4 year degree. I know there are good examples of lots of pentesters not getting a 4 year year degree but honestly you will hit a lot of glass ceilings not having one. it doesnt realy matter all that much from where you get it, just get it.

Try to find a college with a network security program, or lots of electives in that area or pick a major that's related. Do you want to do do practical pentesting? Try and find a networking or IT degree, are you interested in developing exploits or tools? Take Computer Science. There are lots of programs that have security electives. Take at least one per semester/quarter, to keep your interest.

I know some guys at UCSB (the team that competes as shellphish) and they have had a running hacking club ever since they won Defcon. Do that, try and compete in ccdc competitions if you have it in your region.

Lastly look for summer internships with security places that do pentests or assessments. Learn all the industry tools, do all the training you can find on the net, and start writing your own scripts. Even if they are just simple things you think are cool, they show passion for the field.

Start a website or blog, go to cons, and come here when you have questions.

i know thats a lot but, sorry, must have brain dumped there =P

My advice, look at a 4 year school, and the community college (2 year schools in the area). Find out what classes will transfer to the 4 year school from the 2 year.

Don't take your time, but try to save money by starting at a 2 year school. Transfer over, and then try to move on to a Master's if you wish.

You could be able to take some of the money you save and apply them to certs.

Jhaddix said you'll hit a glass ceiling without a 4 year degree. It's not so much a glass ceiling, but it's hard to get past HR without a 4 year degree. I also know that some places won't hire you as anything more than a contractor without a 4 year degree.

As Ketchup said, it's less about the size of the school, and more about it's reputation. The higher degree, the more it matters (from my experience).

The degrees in the states work in two categories:

Undergrad: which contain Associate (2 year) and Bachelor (4 year) degrees
Graduate: which contain Master and Doctorate. (The way I understand grad, never got past undergrad, is you have to have a Masters before you can go for a Doctorate).

J0rDy

Its useful for some other things to. Some research positions outside of academics, and places like NASA want them. (I know NASA does from personal experience).

good to know. (there goes my chance of joining NASA ) how about government?

thanks for the info. note i do not live in the US so i am just interested in the way of education/government operating.

I am not really interested into gov jobs.

I am more interested in military jobs. I know navy and army has security testing jobs, one of my friends worked in army before, and i talked to a navy recruiter.

anyone worked for military before? is it good to work there?