Need some advice on jumpstarting a career
 

So, I'm trying to decide on the best way to get into being a linux admin. I'm 25 with some college and ive being working in computer related jobs for the past 5 years, mainly desktop support. I currently work for a linux box retailer, mainly just loading software, dd'ing drives, and building computers. I've been using linux at home exclusively for about 5 years now and am pretty comfortable with my system, gentoo for 5 years.

The couple options I was thinking of are to either:

1) Take some classes at local cc, which would probably have to be beginners level linux and networking classes and some lamp related courses. And then after a year transfer to one of the uni's here; USC, UCLA, Cal State L.B. This, obviously, is a long route towards a career but would probably leave me the most prepared.

or

2) Go for some certs, lpic-1 I can probably pass with a little studying, maybe lpic-2, security+, networking+, or I could try and do rhce. If I go for lpic-1 and then try to get some low level admin job where I can learn on the job or on my own, I don't know if this seems reasonable or not.

or

3) Get some books and learn on my own at home then take rhce.

I'm not sure if tech schools are worth the time and money; ITT, Devry, etc. Id' like to hear some opinions on what the best options would be.

Thx for any help

I'm not sure about the US specifically, but in the UK purely academic courses lag significantly behind current technology, and aren't always reflective of actual practise. Programming courses are good for getting the fundamental principles down, but admin and networking are more hands-on disciplines.

The LPI curriculum is very good as far as it goes, and you can learn it at home and just take the exams, so it's probably worth looking at. Having said that, there isn't a recognised qualification for *NIX administration - the usual job prerequisite is real world experience. Most such jobs also involve servers, rather than desktops. The easy way to get server experience is to run your own :) - you can rent a VPS for fairly little, and install whatever you like on it.

The best suggestion that I can give you is to do as much as possible of what interests you, and join an open source project that focuses on something you are keen on - this will expand your knowledge and get you in touch with other people that have the same interests, some of whom will be deeply experienced. If you have a passion and follow it you will learn what you need, and the opportunities will come too.