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MCSA SQL Server 2012 Certification Path: 70-462 SQL Server 2012 Administrator I'm halfway through the 70-462 SQL Server 2012 Administrator book, which is part of the MCSA certification path. Thankfully, I've had practical experience with much of what the book covers. Building a web app from scratch and deploying several vendor solutions on SQL Server has given me a solid foundation. Reading the book now feels like second nature, and I think it will enhance my understanding even more. Study Plan Overview I aim to finish the book quickly and sit for the second exam, possibly as early as this coming Friday or next week. While this material is more DBA-focused, I believe it’s valuable to learn, even if it’s not my professional goal. Study Schedule 1/19 - Chapter 1 1/20 - Chapter 2 1/22 - Chapter 3 1/23 - Chapters 4, 5, 6 1/24 - Chapters 7, 8, 9 1/25 - Chapter 10 1/26 - Chapter 11 1/27 - Chapter 12 1/28 - 2/4 - Exam Prep 2/5 - Exam - Failed (678 / 700) 3/5 - Exam - Fail...

Rewarding Myself with Headphones Current Collection Once I pass all my exams for the MCSA, I plan to reward myself with a nice pair of headphones. Currently, I own only the Audio Technica M50x, which have served me well, but I feel it's time to expand my growing collection. I’m willing to spend $250 and have begun evaluating options like the ATH M70x, MSR7, and Sony MDR-1A as potential candidates for my next set. Before making a decision, I wanted to catalog my current collection and identify areas for expansion. Excluding the M50x and WM77, the rest of my assortment consists of basic headphones, which I may eventually retire as my collection improves. Currently, I'm leaning towards the MSR7, but I understand that choosing based solely on specs can be misleading. I would like to try each of these models and a few other brands before finalizing my decision. Build Quality Considerations One area I hope to improve upon is the overall build quality of my headphones. I'm looking...

Shopping Mall Headphone Purchase The Situation While studying for my next exam at the shopping mall, I realized I forgot to bring a pair of headphones. Rather than make the two-hour drive back home, I decided to buy a basic pair of headphones. I came across the iLive IA54B for $10 at Sears, which fit my needs perfectly. Basic Specifications Frequency Range : 20 Hz - 20 kHz Sensitivity : 100 dB Impedance : 32 ohms Connector : 1/8" Stereo Adapter Sound Quality Given the $10 price tag, expectations should be tempered. Initially, the sound quality was poor, with exaggerated bass and nearly non-existent mids. Certain tracks that typically showcase high and mid frequencies were nearly imperceptible. After adjusting the EQ on my iPhone 5 to 'Treble Boost' and setting the volume to 65%, the sound improved significantly. They became halfway decent, allowing for enjoyable listening with tracks from Adele, Led Zeppelin, and Layla. I would be curious to see how these headphones perfor...

Final Chapter Completion of 70-461 This is it—the final Chapter 17, focusing on Further Optimization Aspects of the 70-461 Querying Microsoft SQL Server. I'm determined to finish strong today and begin my exam practice. Next Steps With about a week of focused practice, I plan to take the real 70-461 test. Wish me luck as I prepare for this important milestone.

Nearing Completion Current Focus I'm closing in on the end of my studies with Chapter 16, which covers Cursors, Sets, and Temporary Tables. The finish line is in sight as I work through this material.

Taking a Break Refreshing Moment I’m enjoying a Gloria Jean's Signature Iced Coffee during this break. It's a nice way to recharge before diving back into my studies.

Progress Update on MCSA 70-461 Current Status I’m currently working through Chapter 15, which covers Indexes and Statistics. It's proving to be quite deep and takes some time to read and understand. Goals I'm aiming to reach Chapter 17 by Sunday. If that doesn't happen, I hope to complete it by Christmas. Despite the pace, I feel I'm making good progress and am almost done with the material.

Certification Progress Update and Career Goals I'm making solid progress in my MCSA 70-461 studies. Even with a couple of breaks, I’ve managed to complete 75% of the book and am on track to finish it within a month (from November 22 to December 22). The pace has been steady, and I’m feeling confident about tackling each part of the MCSA in about 6-7 weeks. That should have me wrapping up the entire MCSA certification process in around 18-21 weeks —perfect timing to start working on the MCSE. Key Goals and Timeline March 2016 – MCSA Certification : Complete all MCSA exam portions, including practice exams. June 2016 – MCSE Certification : Focus on higher-level SQL Server capabilities and complete the MCSE. Rest of 2016 – Coding Focus : Deepen my development skills outside of SQL, tackling areas not covered by formal exams. With five years of hands-on experience, these certifications will solidify my knowledge and introduce me to concepts I might not frequently use in my day-to-d...

Approaching the Final Stretch: Chapter 14 - Query Performance Tools I'm now into Chapter 14 , covering Query Performance Tools —an essential part of the MCSA 70-461 journey. This chapter focuses on optimizing SQL queries, a key skill for ensuring efficient and scalable database operations. Chapter 14 Focus Execution Plans : Learning to analyze and interpret execution plans for performance insights. Indexing Strategies : Exploring index use to speed up queries while minimizing resource consumption. Query Optimization Techniques : Techniques to refine SQL statements and reduce query costs. Looking Ahead With just a few chapters to go, I’m getting close to wrapping up the MCSA material. The final push is on, and I’m excited to bring everything together for the exam.

Back to MCSA Studies: Chapter 13 - T-SQL Routines After a brief break, I’m back on track and tackling Chapter 13 of the MCSA 70-461 material, which covers T-SQL Routines . This chapter dives into creating and managing stored procedures, functions, and other essential T-SQL routines, critical for building efficient and reusable code in SQL Server. Chapter 13 Focus Stored Procedures : Writing reusable routines to simplify complex tasks. User-Defined Functions : Creating custom functions to streamline calculations and data manipulations. T-SQL Best Practices : Ensuring routines are efficient, maintainable, and follow best practices for reliability. Path Forward Refreshed and ready, I’ll keep pushing through the remaining chapters, aiming to finish strong.

Progress Update: MCSA 70-461 Certification – Chapter 12 Although I’m a bit behind schedule, I’m steadily moving forward and have now reached Chapter 12 in the MCSA 70-461 study guide. This chapter focuses on essential skills like Transactions, Error Handling, and Dynamic SQL —core components for building reliable and flexible SQL queries. Chapter 12 Focus Transactions : Understanding how to manage and control data consistency with transaction boundaries. Error Handling : Learning strategies for capturing and managing errors to improve query stability. Dynamic SQL : Exploring the use of SQL statements generated dynamically to handle variable data scenarios. Moving Forward I’ll continue building on this foundation and aim to pick up the pace as I move into the final chapters. Keeping the momentum going!

MCSA Study Progress: Chapter 11 - Other Data Modifications I've now reached Chapter 11 in my MCSA study journey, diving into Other Data Modifications . After pushing through the foundational chapters, I’m looking forward to mastering these more advanced data handling techniques. Current Focus Chapter 11 : Covering complex data modification strategies, including advanced updates and data manipulation techniques. Plan Moving Forward With this milestone, I'm motivated to continue the momentum. The next chapters will likely build on these skills, so my goal is to stay consistent and make steady progress.

Productive Weekend Study Plan: MCSA Certification Prep I took Friday off to catch up on my MCSA studies. With a solid plan, I’m aiming to power through multiple chapters this weekend to stay on track for certification. Current Progress: Chapter 8 I'm currently halfway through Chapter 8, focusing on MCSA Tables, and pushing to wrap up Chapter 9 by tonight. If all goes well, I’ll try to get a start on Chapter 10. Weekend Goals The objective is ambitious but doable: clear out the remaining seven chapters by Sunday. Here’s the rough plan: Friday : Finish Chapters 8 and 9, start Chapter 10 Saturday : Complete Chapters 10–12 Sunday : Finalize Chapters 13–15 Staying Focused Breaking down my study into clear milestones helps keep the pace up. With a strong push, this weekend will be a significant step toward reaching my MCSA goals. Let’s make it happen!

MCSA Certification Progress Update As of December 2, I'm working through Chapter 7, covering XML, in the MCSA materials. Progress has been a bit slower than I anticipated, as XML concepts are taking more time to master. Plan to Regain Momentum Looking ahead, I'm optimistic about Chapters 8 and 9, which cover Tables and Views —topics that should be more straightforward. Here’s the updated approach: Current Focus : Complete Chapter 7 (XML) Upcoming Chapters : Aim to accelerate through Chapters 8 and 9 over the next few days With a renewed focus, I’m hoping to make up for the slower start and get back on schedule.