Any advice for a future dba, about getting started.

Hi, I'm finishing my undergraduate degree in Computer Science. I am than going to go to graduate school and getting a masters in computer systems management, with an actually emphasis in database technology. During that year or so of graduate school I'm gonna try to intern a few days a week with a DBA (if possible).

My question is when I do get my master's what is it best to start as? (i.e systems administrator, programmer, etc). I know there are very little entry level DBA jobs, I believe its more of career you enter after years of experience.

Starting as Oracle PL/SQL developer is best and then moving onto Junior DBA or whichever comes first..

Go and get a certification like Oracle OCA
-- That will show other people you are serious about it
-- That will give you a glimpse about what are you going to get into.
Download into your home computer Oracle software and build your own lab
Practice
Practice
Practice
Good Luck!

Start out as either a SQL developer or sy, administrator stemand move into DBA from there. SQL developer is probably an easier path into DBA as you'll already be working with Oracle.