[eyeoftheovermind]

I appreciate the real world advice guys it was exactly what I was looking for. Is there a certain process to obtaining government IT work chaos?

MrGraham, I don't intend to use the certs after college but I plan to be in college for the next 4-6 years which to me at least justifies the couple months I'll spend studying to get them. What is so costly about the MCSE certs, I got the exam material already so the rest is....getting copies of the programs I'll be using as an MCSE?

Zippygoose, I do believe that my idea of consulting would be what you are thinking of as contract work. I have at least some work in line though already with firms in the DC area so I'm not incredibly worried.