Starting WGU Advice

wink-

Goal: To be a web developer

I already went engineering school, racked up 154 credits but when it came time to finish, I panicked and never did. 2 credits shy. I'm much more mature now 10 years later. I'm currently working a decent job, but I know the owner will pass soon and I'll be stuck with no job and no degree.

I've been developing applications at work using php, javascript, and our legacy VB erp system. I also handle almost all of the IT issues, I've been running some PowerEdge servers, virtualized with KVM.

Anyways, I want to get a degree. Hopefully from WGU. I used to have A+ and Linux+.

Would it be worth it for me to take A+, CIW Javascript Specialist, CIW HTML5 & CSS3 Specialist, and Database Specialist prior to enrollment or should I enroll first and then pass all those tests? I could probably even do the Oracle Java Associate test too.

Also, does anyone have experience getting an MS from a different school with a BS from WGU?

cloudyknight

I assume you're looking at the Software Development Program? CompTIA and Oracle are the only certifications in that program. Should you get them before you start? Unless it takes you a very long time to study for them it will be cheaper to get them during the program.

The program only has one web development program and it sounds like you've long surpassed it. If you've already got the chops and just need to leverage them with the degree this is the way to go. Otherwise, it's not the most direct path to being a web developer.

Danielm7

Can you take your last two credits to wrap up your last degree?

wink-

According to the website for Software Development it says that I would earn my A+, Network+, Project+, Security+ and the 2 Oracle Java Certs. And according to http://www.wgu.edu/popup/transbssd I could take some CIW's tests and have them transfer over.

So in efforts to save some money, maybe I should just take some of the CIW's at $150/ea and let WGU pay for my CompTIA's? Or maybe I should take the Microsoft equivalents of the CIW's, seems like for some reason companies love the IIS stack.

wink-

Unfortunately its a thesis project and would require me to be on campus for 2 semesters which I can't afford to quit my job and go do

Russ5813

Have you started building a portfolio? A couple friends of mine are programmers and they've told me that their employers don't really care about certs-- they just want to know that you can do the work.

Transfer credits will vary, depending on the college. You can call up an advisor at the university you're interested in and they should be able to give you an idea of what will transfer.

wink-

I wish I could show my projects from work, but since we interface with Primes and have ITAR restricted material I can't. I do have a few web apps I need to polish up, the backend is solid, my frontend is meh. I'm going to re-release an app on the Play Store this summer, that will be nice to have in my portfolio.

Russ5813 wrote: »

Have you started building a portfolio? A couple friends of mine are programmers and they've told me that their employers don't really care about certs-- they just want to know that you can do the work.

Transfer credits will vary, depending on the college. You can call up an advisor at the university you're interested in and they should be able to give you an idea of what will transfer.