My Version of the WGU Story....

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  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    WGU is pretty clear about what they allow, between the transfer guidelines and partnerships. CLEP is pretty straightforward as is DSST. They accept ALEKS as ACE credits, but might be good to check ahead of time with your EC.

    Straighterline is is a partnership with certain classes guaranteed to transfer, which was verified by my EC.
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Knocked out another this morning. I just passed the CIW Database Design Specialist exam (1D0-541).

    I know the CIW exams are much maligned, but I can definitely say this covered databases far better than the Microsoft MTA Database Fundamentals that I passed for the first database class at WGU. Just a comparison from someone who did both.

    Next step is the CIW Web Design Specialist (1D0-520). Hoping to take that one either Friday or Monday.

    So that brings me to:

    Completed:
    Intro to Humanities - Complete (Short Fiction) - 3 credits
    Intro to Geography - Complete (Intro to Psych) - 3 credits
    Intro to Biology - Complete (General Biology) - 3 credits
    Natural Science Lab - Complete (General Biology Lab) - 2 credits
    Network and Security - Foundations - Complete (Security+) - 3 credits
    Network and Security - Applications - Complete (Security+) - 4 credits
    Intermediate Algebra - Complete (Aleks ACE Credit) - 3 credits
    College Algebra - Complete (Aleks ACE Credit) - 4 credits
    Introduction to Statistics - Complete (Aleks ACE Credit) - 3 credits
    Data Management - Foundations - Complete (MS 98-364 MTA: Database Fundamentals) - 3 credits
    IT Foundations - Complete (A+ Exam 220-901) - 4 credits
    Organizational Behavior - Complete (StraighterLine) - 3 credits
    Introduction to Communication - Complete (StraighterLine) - 3 credits
    College Composition I - Complete (CLEP) - 3 credits
    College Composition II - Complete (CLEP) - 3 credits
    Integrated Physical Sciences - Complete (DSST Astronomy) - 3 credits
    Scripting and Programming Foundations - Complete (SL Intro to Programming C++) - 3 credits
    IT Applications - Complete (CompTIA A+ Exam 220-902) - 4 credits
    Data Management - Applications - Complete (CIW Exam 1D0-541) - 4 credits

    Pending:
    Web Development Foundations - In Progress (Microsoft MTA 98-375 or CIW Exam 1D0-520) - 3 credits
    Operating Systems I - In Progress (Microsoft MCTS 70-680) - 4 credits
    Operating Systems II - In Progress (Microsoft MCTS 70-698 ) - 4 credits

    Remaining:
    Business of IT - Project Management - (Project+ PK0-003) - 4 credits
    Networks - (Cisco CCENT Exam 100-105 ICDN1) - 4 credits
    Fundamentals of Interconnecting Network Devices - (Cisco CCENT Exam 100-105 ICDN1) - 6 credits
    Interconnecting Network Devices - (Cisco CCNA Exam 200-105 ICDN2) - 6 credits

    Transferable to WGU: 92/123
    Completed: 61/92
    In Progress: 11/92
    Remaining: 20/92

    Updated cost per credit: $22.79
  • Dakinggamer87Dakinggamer87 Member Posts: 4,016 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Great progress keep it up!! icon_thumright.gif
    *Associate's of Applied Sciences degree in Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
    *Bachelor's of Science: Information Technology - Security, Master's of Science: Information Technology - Management
    Matthew 6:33 - "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

    Certs/Business Licenses In Progress: AWS Solutions Architect, Series 6, Series 63
  • jdancerjdancer Member Posts: 482 ■■■■□□□□□□
    jibtech wrote: »
    Knocked out another this morning. I just passed the CIW Database Design Specialist exam (1D0-541).

    I know the CIW exams are much maligned, but I can definitely say this covered databases far better than the Microsoft MTA Database Fundamentals that I passed for the first database class at WGU. Just a comparison from someone who did both.

    This. CIW database exam is much truer to database design than other database exams at the entry level, IMO.
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    jdancer wrote: »
    This. CIW database exam is much truer to database design than other database exams at the entry level, IMO.

    The same also appears to be true for the CIW Site Designer compared to the HTML5 App Development MTA (98-375). The CIW gets down to legitimate theory and fundamentals, where the MTA is pretty focused on code memorization. (Identify the two css values that will do... blah blah blah....)

    The database was my first CIW exam. So far, I like it more than the Microsoft equivalent. Perhaps other exams may change my mind.
  • EvoluvinEvoluvin Member Posts: 11 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I am also curious on how to find the classes WGU will accept as credits for their classes. I would like to get as much as I can done before starting WGU. I currently do not have any college experience. Although I have plenty work experience and a few certs. Any recommendations would be helpful!
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    I would be more than happy to help. Just need to know which degree program you are looking into. The transfer evaluation guidelines are a great first resource for how to "pre-accelerate".

    I will put a link up later, but right now I am delivering a boat up the Chesapeake Bay for a race starting on Friday. Little bit ugly today for much other than reading and quick replies.

    In fact, when I get to shore, I will also post a link to the race and our spot Tracker for anyone interested in following.
  • EvoluvinEvoluvin Member Posts: 11 ■■■□□□□□□□
    jibtech wrote: »
    I would be more than happy to help. Just need to know which degree program you are looking into. The transfer evaluation guidelines are a great first resource for how to "pre-accelerate".

    I will put a link up later, but right now I am delivering a boat up the Chesapeake Bay for a race starting on Friday. Little bit ugly today for much other than reading and quick replies.

    In fact, when I get to shore, I will also post a link to the race and our spot Tracker for anyone interested in following.

    I am thinking of going with BS IT Security or BS Cybersecurity.

    I will try to find and take a look at the transfer evaluation guidelines! Thank you for the help! I have been putting a degree off for a while now. The company I work for offers 10k a year in reimbursement. Although the position I am currently in and have been in for the past 2.5 years, "requires" a Bachelors AND 8+ years experience. Needless to say, when I started I had 3-4 years experience and no Bachelors. I got lucky. But the industry looks for degrees and certifications. I know my CEH, Sec+ and ITIL have to help with covering some credits. Thanks again for the help!

    Also, where up the Chesapeake are you delivering the boat and what race? I travel to Ocean City, MD most weekends in the Spring/Summer and will be heading there Thursday for the MDW. If I remember correctly, I believe there is a yearly MDW boat race in Cambridge Maryland. I could be mistaken. Nonetheless, hope it is a safe trip!
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    I race on a 41 foot Tripp sailboat. We are based out of Portsmouth, and tend to race offshore up and down the east coast. This race is from Annapolis to Hampton. Next Friday, we will be racing from Annapolis to Newport, RI.

    Right now, I am passing the Calvert Cliffs power plant near Solomons, MD.

    The link for the IT eval guidelines is:
    https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/Admission/Transfer-Credit-Evaluation-Guidelines-for-Information-Technology/ta-p/155

    This thread is for the BSITSec, so it may also help. Feel free to reach out with any questions. The people here are extremely knowledgeable and friendly!
  • EvoluvinEvoluvin Member Posts: 11 ■■■□□□□□□□
    jibtech wrote: »
    I race on a 41 foot Tripp sailboat. We are based out of Portsmouth, and tend to race offshore up and down the east coast. This race is from Annapolis to Hampton. Next Friday, we will be racing from Annapolis to Newport, RI.

    Right now, I am passing the Calvert Cliffs power plant near Solomons, MD.

    The link for the IT eval guidelines is:
    https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/Admission/Transfer-Credit-Evaluation-Guidelines-for-Information-Technology/ta-p/155

    This thread is for the BSITSec, so it may also help. Feel free to reach out with any questions. The people here are extremely knowledgeable and friendly!

    Thats awesome! I'm about 15 minutes from Annapolis. Good town, Main st. is a hot spot! A lot of good restaurants etc.

    The link you provided appears to show exactly what I need. I'll be following along with your updates closely.
    Along with specifically seeing what sites you're using to complete some of the classes to get a head start.

    Thanks again! Good luck with the race!
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    For the math classes, ALEKS is hard to beat. For the other general education classes, I have been pleased with StraighterLine. If you have the knowledge in place, CLEP and DANTES/DSST are hard to beat. After that, it is pretty much certifications.

    StraighterLine and WGU have a partnership and StraighterLine lists out the classes that are guaranteed to transfer over:
    WGU - College of Information Technology Course Equivalency Guide | StraighterLine

    Also, if you transfer 4 or more classes from SL, WGU deducts $50 per class from your first term tuition.

    Thanks for the good wishes. Next to Thomas Point now, and looking forward to some warm, dry sleep. This weather sucks.
  • nachodbanachodba Member Posts: 201 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Wow this is making me want to give WGU another go.
    2020 Goals
    work-life balance
  • jdancerjdancer Member Posts: 482 ■■■■□□□□□□
  • Thepro21usThepro21us Member Posts: 16 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Great progress and great information. I wanted to go back to school but didn't want to spend 4 years doing it. Thanks again for this info and keep up the good work.
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Whew. Its been a while. Let's see.... the past three weeks....

    Raced sailboat from Annapolis, MD to Hampton, VA...

    Crashed car while driving back to Annapolis...

    Raced sailboat from Annapolis, MD to Newport, RI.

    Replaced front end of crashed car.

    Replaced airbag and clockspring on crashed car.

    Sent airbag module off to be reprogrammed.

    Completed transfer evaluation issues.

    Completed intake interview for July 1 enrollment.

    As of now, I am a July 1 student at WGU, for the BSITSec. I thought about pushing a few more certs through, but at this point, it is just delay. Thank you all for the support, and I will be posting here throughout the process.

    On a side note.... three interviews today. Finally, my luck is starting to change. If I had known a car accident would have changed everything, I would have burned the house down months ago!
  • shimasenseishimasensei Member Posts: 241 ■■■□□□□□□□
    jibtech wrote: »
    Whew. Its been a while. Let's see.... the past three weeks....

    Raced sailboat from Annapolis, MD to Hampton, VA...

    Crashed car while driving back to Annapolis...

    Raced sailboat from Annapolis, MD to Newport, RI.

    Replaced front end of crashed car.

    Replaced airbag and clockspring on crashed car.

    Sent airbag module off to be reprogrammed.

    Completed transfer evaluation issues.

    Completed intake interview for July 1 enrollment.

    As of now, I am a July 1 student at WGU, for the BSITSec. I thought about pushing a few more certs through, but at this point, it is just delay. Thank you all for the support, and I will be posting here throughout the process.

    On a side note.... three interviews today. Finally, my luck is starting to change. If I had known a car accident would have changed everything, I would have burned the house down months ago!

    Great update, when is your targeted completion date for the BSIT?
    Current: BSc IT + CISSP, CCNP:RS, CCNA:Sec, CCNA:RS, CCENT, Sec+, P+, A+, L+/LPIC-1, CSSS, VCA6-DCV, ITILv3:F, MCSA:Win10
    Future Plans: MSc + PMP, CCIE/NPx, GIAC...
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    One session, without question.

    Ideally, finished mid-October, but definitely by 1/1/2018.
  • TjaljewTjaljew Member Posts: 22 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Sorry about your car; i hope you are okay
    wish you all the best in WGU.
    Keep us updated
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Tjaljew, thanks for the concern. I am okay from the accident, and am well on the way to having the care rebuilt. It should be on the road and happy by Tuesday.

    Quick update. As of around noon today, I am officially admitted and cleared to start! I finished Orientation (ORA1) about 30 minutes ago. Given my break for lunch (love me some Popeye's...), it took about 3 hours to complete.

    I finished organizing my courses in the Degree Plan tab, and I am now going through the details on each of them. Introduction to IT (C182) will be first, along with Critical Thinking and Logic (C16icon_cool.gif. I resisted the temptation to put everything into the first term, though that is clearly my plan. I will wait to do so, until I have a mentor assigned. :)

    Here we go! Let the journey begin!
  • shimasenseishimasensei Member Posts: 241 ■■■□□□□□□□
    jibtech wrote: »
    (love me some Popeye's...)

    Don't forget the freshly brewed sweet tea + cajun fries!
    Current: BSc IT + CISSP, CCNP:RS, CCNA:Sec, CCNA:RS, CCENT, Sec+, P+, A+, L+/LPIC-1, CSSS, VCA6-DCV, ITILv3:F, MCSA:Win10
    Future Plans: MSc + PMP, CCIE/NPx, GIAC...
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    My personal weaknesses are red beans and rice, along with mashed potatoes with cajun gravy.

    So much yum.
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Not sure what the normal protocols are, but I found that Intro to IT (C182) was activated for me today.

    I have knocked out the pre-assessment, and am currently working through the modules, until I get a course monitor assigned, so I can take the actual assessment on 7/1.

    Is it fairly normal to have access to the pre-assessments and all of the course modules, once orientation is completed?
  • Rylee1246Rylee1246 Member Posts: 60 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Yes. You should have full access to your entire degree plan. I was able to spend the second half of December prepping that class then took the final in the first or second week once school officially started on Jan 1st. Take advantage of the time!
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Rylee1246 wrote: »
    Yes. You should have full access to your entire degree plan. I was able to spend the second half of December prepping that class then took the final in the first or second week once school officially started on Jan 1st. Take advantage of the time!

    Doing exactly that. Just got the notification that I passed Orientation, and I got a mentor assigned. I should be through all of the modules for Intro to IT today, and will start working on the next class. It would be nice to line up assessments in the first week.
  • InCryptableInCryptable Member Posts: 36 ■■□□□□□□□□
    With your Security+ cert, in the Hampton Roads area (with all the DoD contractors), I would think you'd be an easy hire as the DoD contractors have to fill seats to meet their contract requirements. I've seen quite a few contractors just put people in seats (who had certs)...just because they met the DoD 8570 requirement but did not fully understand the job requirements - and then they'd be trained up quickly.

    Looking at job sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, etc....Security+ jobs are all over the Hampton Roads/Tidewater area - Is the degree holding you back that much?
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Three months of effort, and no luck in the DoD or private sector. The bigger holdup is the lack of a clearance. Degree, CISSP and clearance. At least two are required.
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    6/18 update...

    I finished working through Intro to IT (C182), and started working my way through Critical Thinking and Logic. After a few hours, it seemed like a great deal of common sense, aside from some vocabulary pieces. This afternoon, I decided to try the pre-assessment, and just see where I landed.

    Yeah, I'm fine.

    So, here is where we are:

    Completed:
    Orientation (ORA1)

    Waiting for Assessment:
    Introduction to IT (C182)
    Critical Thinking and Logic ( C168 )

    Working on:
    Spreadsheets ( C268 )
    Web Development Foundations (C779)

    Next up:
    Business of IT Applications (C179)

    Now that I have some exposure, I am feeling pretty confident. I think my biggest challenge will be the CCNA and CCNA:Security stuff. I am pushing everything else hard, to give myself plenty of time for those.

    Quick note: I was already studying for the CIW test for Web Development Foundations, before getting access. I still have a few things I want to review prior to the test, but it is pretty much waiting for the assessment as well. I will say that the Web Development Foundations covers a LOT of material. Not sure how the assessment will be structured, but the material is a lot to cover.
  • disipdisip Member Posts: 11 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Really interested in how accelerating the CCNA stuff goes. LMK
  • jibtechjibtech Member Posts: 424 ■■■■■□□□□□
    disip wrote: »
    Really interested in how accelerating the CCNA stuff goes. LMK

    I think that will be the most interesting part. I don't know that the CCNA will accelerate well. Instead, I am accelerating everything else, to give the CCNA as much time as possible.
  • disipdisip Member Posts: 11 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Definitely. Still curious how long it ends up taking!
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