I'm a student, and I'm looking at getting the AWS Associate Solutions Architect cert and the Red Hat certified Systems Administrator cert.
Are certifications such as these (not these specific ones, but in general) well-regarded in real life? I will have learned a lot by the time I can pass the exam, so it's worth it in a practical sense I guess. What are your thoughts?
There isn't really a good answer to this. That is, a general answer. It really depends on a lot of details about the specific case. I know some people and companies that put a lot of stock in things like RHCE or AWS Solutions Architect certifications. Others don't much care one way or the other.
I will have learned a lot by the time I can pass the exam, so it's worth it in a practical sense I guess. What are your thoughts?
Two thoughts:
1. Treat the certification process as a learning opportunity and don't worry so much about the value of the certification in and of itself. Use the process to force you to dig into knowledge areas that you haven't explored, build new skills, etc.
2. It is my belief that, at worst, having certifications is a neutral thing. That is, very few, if any, employers are going to want you less because you have certifications. And some percentage will value you more if you do, so on balance they probably have some value.
3. Whatever negative connotations go with certifications are, in my experience, mainly rooted in the stereotypical "person who knows nothing about the topic, studies brain dumps obsessively for a few months, passes the certification, and still knows essentially nothing about the topic". So don't be that person. Make it a point to actually learn and understand the material, and find ways to communicate that fact to prospective employers. Eg, don't rely on just a piece of paper, thinking that is sufficient to get (and stay) employed.