Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

Ivanjam

OG Maverick wrote: »

Would it be worth it for me to knock out the MTA certifications before contacting them or just wait and do them as part of the program (I know they will be very easy for me)?

No, not worth it - just add them to your first term so you can get the required 12 credits out of the way quickly and then accelerate the program - Vroom!

OG Maverick wrote: »

I'm really hoping since I have all of the CompTIA, an Associates, and 3+ years related work experience that I'll be able to eliminate a fair amount of credits.

I would think so too. I started out with only a few certs and no college credits (A+,N+,Sec+ and a few MTA's) and transferred in 38 credits, so you should get quite a decent amount.

OG Maverick

Ivanjam wrote: »

No, not worth it - just add them to your first term so you can get the required 12 credits out of the way quickly and then accelerate the program - Vroom!



I would think so too. I started out with only a few certs and no college credits (A+,N+,Sec+ and a few MTA's) and transferred in 38 credits, so you should get quite a decent amount.

I did forget to mention that my employer will pay for any certifications I receive. They do not cover 100% of the tuition though, so does this change your opinion on if I should knock them out now or while in the program? Would it just be throwing some of my money/semester time away spending time while in the program to earn them as opposed to getting them beforehand for free?

I also overlooked that the program will earn me the Project+ which I do not have yet, so I don't have all of the CompTIA certs I need for WGU.

Ivanjam

OG Maverick wrote: »

I did forget to mention that my employer will pay for any certifications I receive. They do not cover 100% of the tuition though, so does this change your opinion on if I should knock them out now or while in the program? Would it just be throwing some of my money/semester time away spending time while in the program to earn them as opposed to getting them beforehand for free?

I also overlooked that the program will earn me the Project+ which I do not have yet, so I don't have all of the CompTIA certs I need for WGU.

Go right ahead and do the MTA's and Project+ on your employer's dime!

Psoasman

OG Maverick wrote: »

I'm really hoping since I have all of the CompTIA, an Associates, and 3+ years related work experience that I'll be able to eliminate a fair amount of credits.

I transferred in my AAS and some certs, getting credit for over 60 CUs. If you degree is an AS, you should clear nearly all the lower level courses.

About7Narwhal

I had a very rough start to my college career and my grades weren't the best (a ton of withdrawals and one or two lovely F due to incomplete). Now that I am working on IT AAS my grades have been good. Do you guys think that would affect my acceptance if I applied?

Also, even with all of the good reviews on the site, weren't you guys worried about going to an online school or have I been brainwashed by the last generation into thinking online collages are evil?

SteveLord

Are they sticklers about the 5 years for certs? I was thinking of revisiting WGU and just realized I got my A+ in April of 2008. Poop.

TLeTourneau

If your AAS is from an accredited school and you complete it you should be fine but you can talk to an enrollment counselor. I have no problem with it being an on-line school, their model was a draw for me. They are regionally accredited and my employer recognizes them, that's what mattered.

Psoasman

I went to a community college that offered both full online and in-class courses. Many scholls are doing this now. It makes scheduling easier for students. My schedule at work changes 3 times a year, so traditional school setting don't work for me.

I am self-directed, so wgu worked well for me. Graduated with an accredited degree in 13 1/2 months with zero debt. I am sure there will always be people againstbonline education and that's ok with me.

kgb

SteveLord wrote: »

Are they sticklers about the 5 years for certs? I was thinking of revisiting WGU and just realized I got my A+ in April of 2008. Poop.

They have to be sticklers to it or not bother have the restriction.

osJoe

Does anyone know what the WGU math requirements are? I'm looking to start the BS-IT program with a concentration of security, I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and take statistics at my local college or if it is even needed for this program?

slinuxuzer

Does anyone know what the process is like with WGU to change programs. Specifically I want to know if I have certifications that are already on the books with WGU, and are now five years old, will they be fine transferring to the new program.

atl_libra

osJoe wrote: »

Does anyone know what the WGU math requirements are? I'm looking to start the BS-IT program with a concentration of security, I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and take statistics at my local college or if it is even needed for this program?

AGC1 - Foundations of College Mathematics / One course in mathematics to waive as transfer

GAC1 - Finite Mathematics
HHT1 - Finite Mathematics: Applications
QLT1 - Quantitative Literacy: Quantitative Problem Solving and Applications

Three classes above can be waived by transfer if you have one course in Finite Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics or Mathematics Modeling. One course in either College Geometry or a course at a level higher than College Algebra (Calculus, Trigonometry, Linear Algebra).

*Taken straight from student handbook that was effective May 1st.

DoubleNNs

Where do you get that student handbook?
My transcript is currently enroute to WGU now, but I'm wondering what classes can be transferred for what. Also, since my start date is August 1st, I'm wondering what I should try to get out the way over the summer before transferring in.

atl_libra

DoubleNNs wrote: »

Where do you get that student handbook?
My transcript is currently enroute to WGU now, but I'm wondering what classes can be transferred for what. Also, since my start date is August 1st, I'm wondering what I should try to get out the way over the summer before transferring in.

See attached PDF

Transfer.pdf

DoubleNNs

Awesome. Thanks.

A little hard for me to make sense of tho lol.

I have ~ 80 credits from university and 3 CompTIA certs. I'm just hoping to get about 65-70 credits transferred in. But it seems like that might not happen - my school only needed us to take 2 writing courses and I took 1. WGU seems like they need 4. =[

Does anyone know if WGU accepts AP credit with scores of 3's? lol

atl_libra

Yeah. Some of it is clear cut...some not so much. I still never got a solid answer from them, if I could take the CLEP exam for some of these General Ed courses and waive them.

azjeep

I am thinking of enrolling at WGU.

I have a couple of questions for people that have gone through or are already enrolled. I am looking at the BS in IT, Network Administration Emphasis. I am a little intimidated by college as I have avoided it since high school!! haha. I have about 13 years of progressive IT experience.

My only cert is an A+ from 2006. Is that transferable or does it have to be more recent than that?

My 2nd question. My boss wants me to get a CCNA so he is having me take a 2 week CCNA class in the next couple of months. Where in the WGU program is the CCNA cert? Is it near the beginning or the end?

Reason I ask is due to my lack of excitement of school. I think that if the CCNA cert was at least halfway through the program, I could fly through it because of my experience. However, if the CCNA cert was 1st year, then I might struggle a little more.

The program looks very solid. I actually had my job re-write their education reimbursement policy so that I could do this program. Our old policy stated that you needed to receive a "letter grade" in order to have them pay for it.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

boredgamelad

There's no rigid structure to the courses at WGU. You can take them in almost any order as long as it's approved by your mentor.

As for whether your certification can be transferred in, I refer you to this page: Transferable IT Certifications

SteveLord

Certs have to be less than 5 years old to transfer.

gecco

Hi, being that this was more than 3 years ago, I was hoping that you could speak to your experience there since this post? I assume your now have your MS? I am heavily considering that degree or a competing degress from ECU (Eastern Carolina University) or other UNC school, however lately I am being advised that an MBA with an IT Security emphasis may be of more value. Wanted to get your opinion and open a dialogue if we could. I have been in the industry since mid 1990s and am a Senior Level engineer at a large telecom. I really love to teach and eventually want to give training classes and maybe work for a training company, or online university teching bachelor's level or associate level classes. Also, think it will help me with other positions...will be doing CEH and CCNA Security this year...CISSP next year (which I understand WGU patterns their curriculu, after?)
How was your experience at WGU, and did you really learn anything or was it about getting the degree relatively painlessly?


Thanks in advance!

Burgman

If anybody would like to refer me let me know please. Thanks.

sethmo

SteveLord wrote: »

Certs have to be less than 5 years old to transfer.

My CCNA expired in April 2012. It is less than 5 years old, but since it is expired, it doesn't count right?

OG Maverick

I believe I saw a thread somewhat recently that they will be changing some of their classes so that tests are 'in house' instead of getting a real certification. Does anyone have any info on this? I'd like to knock the rest of the certifications before starting WGU, but it would be terrible if I earned them only to find out they will no longer transfer as credit for the course(s).

Bundiman

sethmo wrote: »

My CCNA expired in April 2012. It is less than 5 years old, but since it is expired, it doesn't count right?

I think its 5 years from you you take the exam or last renewed the cert. that fact it just expired tells me you earned or renewed it four years ago so it should still be good. So with that being said you should be good to go. It does not state that it has to still be active just achieved in the last five years.

dpjackal89

I am thinking of getting my master's degree from WGU. Can someone fill me in on what that would be like? What are the classes like? Do they just make you write reports or something? Do you take each class 1 by 1 or a bunch at the same time?

demonfurbie

dpjackal89 wrote: »

I am thinking of getting my master's degree from WGU. Can someone fill me in on what that would be like? What are the classes like? Do they just make you write reports or something? Do you take each class 1 by 1 or a bunch at the same time?

which masters ya wanting

sanrus

Hello. I am looking to start WGU as soon as possible. As I understand the term starts every month so I guess I will have to start 1st July. I have AS Degree in Computer Engineering Technology with MSCE specialization. I have A+, Network+, and Security+. Now, I have 2 weeks vacation which I want to dedicate to study. I know WGU can credit my certificates and I think I can get another certificate while I am waiting for 1st July. What certificat should I go for? CCENT, 70-640, or maybe any Comptia certs?

Thank you

Danielm7

sanrus wrote: »

Hello. I am looking to start WGU as soon as possible. As I understand the term starts every month so I guess I will have to start 1st July. I have AS Degree in Computer Engineering Technology with MSCE specialization. I have A+, Network+, and Security+. Now, I have 2 weeks vacation which I want to dedicate to study. I know WGU can credit my certificates and I think I can get another certificate while I am waiting for 1st July. What certificat should I go for? CCENT, 70-640, or maybe any Comptia certs?

Thank you

If you aren't signed up to start on 7/1 yet you won't be able to make it in, they'd need all your forms, transcripts, etc, already. As for the certs check on WGUs site to see which ones transfer in and which would match the exact degree you want to get then you can study for that. Since your tests would be paid for by WGU when you are enrolled it might be worthwhile to just study up to the point to where you are going to start class, then start and take the test right away and not have to pay the exam fee.

sanrus

Danielm7 wrote: »

If you aren't signed up to start on 7/1 yet you won't be able to make it in, they'd need all your forms, transcripts, etc, already. As for the certs check on WGUs site to see which ones transfer in and which would match the exact degree you want to get then you can study for that. Since your tests would be paid for by WGU when you are enrolled it might be worthwhile to just study up to the point to where you are going to start class, then start and take the test right away and not have to pay the exam fee.

Thanks for quick response. That makes sense to take exam to save $$$. What can I do to prepare for WGU? I know that during term it depends on me how many CU's I will get. Maybe I should just study CCENT/MCSA exams?

DoubleNNs

sanrus wrote: »

Hello. I am looking to start WGU as soon as possible. As I understand the term starts every month so I guess I will have to start 1st July. I have AS Degree in Computer Engineering Technology with MSCE specialization. I have A+, Network+, and Security+. Now, I have 2 weeks vacation which I want to dedicate to study. I know WGU can credit my certificates and I think I can get another certificate while I am waiting for 1st July. What certificat should I go for? CCENT, 70-640, or maybe any Comptia certs?

Thank you

What exam you take prior to enrolling really depends on what specialty you want to take as well as time/cost savings by taking them yourself as opposed to w WGU.

The vender certs are actually cheaper than the CompTIA certs and seem to take longer to study for, so I would assume you pick one needed byt he specialty you want to enroll in and pursue that. Almost all the specialties seem like they use the project+, but the exam is expensive and wouldn't take too much of the term to study for so possibly wait until you're enrolled to do that.