Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

sanrus

DoubleNNs wrote: »

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.

I want to do network admin path, and I know that I need to have both MCSA and CCNA for the degree. I see u wrote earlier that they did not get a lot of credits transferred. Lets see how much they will transfer for me. I spoke to the enrollment counselor today and she told me to submit application and send transcripts and next week they will tell me how much credits they can transfer.

joneno

Hi geeks/motivators,
I also decided to take the leap of faith by enrolling at WGU, my start date was June 1.
I'm a little disappointed that I cant jump into classes right away. My mentor Deborah Best
told me that I technically can't start until June 6(after our second conversation). I'm not complaining,
I'm just pumped/ready to get my degree and probably jump into one of their MS degree when I'm done.
FYI, I transferred 54 credits into the BS IT: Network Admin path. Any advise is welcome...thanks in advance.

NotHackingYou

@joneno Welcome! I think the best advice I got toward a degree at WGU was to do something toward your degree every single day, even if it's just 5 minutes. Good luck!

joneno

Thanks Carl,
I have 2-3 hours at work to study and I recently started taking the train to DC.
I was able to get a chapter done on Odom's ICND 2 OCG book. I'm trying to get
as many CU this semester as I can. Hopefully, when I get the 2nd conversation
with my mentor done I can have a solid schedule to work with.

DoubleNNs

sanrus wrote: »

I want to do network admin path, and I know that I need to have both MCSA and CCNA for the degree. I see u wrote earlier that they did not get a lot of credits transferred. Lets see how much they will transfer for me. I spoke to the enrollment counselor today and she told me to submit application and send transcripts and next week they will tell me how much credits they can transfer.

I actually still have no idea how many credits they're going to transfer in for me. My enrollment counselor said that they want to hold off on my transcript evaluation until I finish my certs this summer. I'm not starting until Aug/Sept and he knows I'm currently working on the CCENT/CCNA.

Does anyone else know if it's possible to get my college credits/current certs evaluated and then add my CCENT after the evaluation, but prior to my start date? My enrollment counselor is very much against moving my admission process forward to the next step.

NotHackingYou

@DoubleNNs - IIRC, I was not allowed to transfer anything in after the evaluation.

sanrus

DoubleNNs wrote: »

I actually still have no idea how many credits they're going to transfer in for me. My enrollment counselor said that they want to hold off on my transcript evaluation until I finish my certs this summer. I'm not starting until Aug/Sept and he knows I'm currently working on the CCENT/CCNA.

Does anyone else know if it's possible to get my college credits/current certs evaluated and then add my CCENT after the evaluation, but prior to my start date? My enrollment counselor is very much against moving my admission process forward to the next step.

I have 88 credits. They told me if I want to add certs after evaluation, I have to wait for another month to start a term. I think I am just going to study Project+, 1D0-520, 98-349. Whatever I can before the term starts. That way I can knock them out easy during term.

joneno

I took a lot of Biz class at a brick and mortal school; with a week of study I knocked out project+.

Lugz

I have a few questions about the wgu class experience.

First, how does the typical wgu class compare to a brick and mortar or "standard" online class? I'm currently enrolled in online classes for information assurance through another online school, and am wondering how wgu would compare. My classes are eight week courses. Each week I have a discussion board post, some weekly assignment, and the continual work towards an end of course research paper. Do wgu courses follow a pattern similar to my current classes?

Second, is wgu really appropriate for students that don't have tons of experience? I have IT experience, but I also have tons to learn. I doubt I'll be able to test out of any of my classes. I'm truly entering wgu as a learning experience, and not as a means to acquire my degree as quickly as possible. Is wgu right for me?

third, can mentors be used for help and assistance for my classes? Or are they basically just student advisors? Am I on my own as a student, with no analog to asking my professor for help?

thanks.

TLeTourneau

For the first question, you select the courses for your six month term with the help of your mentor. Once you have your course selected you take them at your own pace. It is all self study and you must be disciplined to succeed.

I can't really speak to the second question as I started with many years of experience. The more experience the better though.

There are two types of mentors, student mentors and course mentors. Think of course mentors as subject matter experts for the course in question. They are there to help with specific questions about the materials and concepts. They will also advise about requirements for completing the assessments. The student mentor is the advisor that will work with you throughout your degree program advising you on course selection and other aspects of your progression.

milieu

WGU has a very individual, non-regimented approach. You can finish the course in a week if you want, or you can take months. Your mentor will encourage you to finish at your pace, and make sure that you achieve satisfactory progress, but other than that, it's entirely self-driven. I finished off 20 units in about 2 months, then stalled out the entire rest of the term because my work schedule was too busy.

Typically, each class consists of a lot of readings, online videos, and exercises that you complete on your own.. At the end, you either take a certification test (i.e., the Microsoft Technology Associate exam "Web Development Fundamentals in C#") at a local testing center, or take a WGU test at home proctored using a web cam. A few courses have a project instead of a test.

As to your second point, I think WGU would be very appropriate for a person somewhat new to IT. I actually have a programming background, and almost no experience with IT stuff like networks, A+, security, etc. So some of the material was painfully easy, but a lot of it was really good introductory level IT work. I've learned a lot already, and I'm only about 1/3 through.

Mentors work more to help you complete your education. Think of them like a school counselor, except they're actually helpful. If you can't figure out how to pay tuition, or if you need to take a leave of absence, or you're unable to log into a class, you talk to them. Each course also has a course mentor who is much more like the class teaching assistant, and is willing to help you with the specific course. There's also online forums at WGU for talking about classes.

Lugz

Okay, well it sounds like wgu will be a perfect fit for me. I was worried that this school was only intended for professionals who are seeking a degree, and not for people who actually need to learn the material from basically scratch.

I was also a bit nervous about the Class structure. I thought maybe they just said... Okay, go get your A+and didn't provide any type of curriculum to help teach me what I need to know.

I believe that both my concerns have been addressed. Thanks

sanrus

Hi. Im looking at BSIT Network Design pdf and I don't see any MCITP cerst mentioned there. All the network design courses have "Proctored, computer-based objective assessment". Does that mean that WGU have their own test? Or will I actuelly be able to get certs like 70-642 lets say?

OG Maverick

Is there a limit to how many certs you can transfer in towards your degree?

Bundiman

Think you can only transfer in 70 credit max.

PurpleIT

Bundiman wrote: »

Think you can only transfer in 70 credit max.

I transferred 90.

gunbunnysoulja

My CIS associates degree from a community college, along with CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+ transferred in 82. Had I of completed Project+, I would of transferred in 88.

DoubleNNs

Is it possible to transfer credits into WGU in BETWEEN terms?
If I finished term 1 and decided to take a 2 month break in between, could I complete a cert or 2, transfer them in, then resume the next term afterwards?

Or what happens if you complete a term but are 1 cert away from graduation? (i.e. fail a MS test and don't have time to study and retake it before the term ends) WOuld you be able to simply pay for the cert out of pocket and take it, or would you be required to pay an additional 3k just to take that 1 last cert?

Psoasman

I don't think you can transfer certs in between terms. I have heard they have pro-rated tuition, if you are close to being done - can't remember the number of CU's, I'd check with your mentor.

kgb

As Psoasman suggested, check with your mentor. But, I do believe they prorate once it's below 12 CUs, since 12CU's is considered full time.

Darthn3ss

Ugh, does anyone know what the trick is for scheduling an exam with prometric?

The link to email prometric goes no where, and

edit: well, after an hour of trying, they finally let me schedule it.

draught

Recent circumstances have shown me I really need a B.S I have my A.S in computer networking technology so hopefully that will remove any wasteful GE requirements for a degree at WGU.

My question and problem now is deciding between the Network Administration emphasis or the Network Design and Management. I'm leaning toward Network administration because I'm close to getting my CCNA, but I see that's what's covered in Network Design would likely be of greater benefit.

Any opinions on this one? I'm hoping their adviser will help me decide, I'm just the getting the enrollment process started so far. I hope I can start in July need to get those transcripts sent out today.

Danielm7

draught wrote: »

Recent circumstances have shown me I really need a B.S I have my A.S in computer networking technology so hopefully that will remove any wasteful GE requirements for a degree at WGU.

My question and problem now is deciding between the Network Administration emphasis or the Network Design and Management. I'm leaning toward Network administration because I'm close to getting my CCNA, but I see that's what's covered in Network Design would likely be of greater benefit.

Any opinions on this one? I'm hoping their adviser will help me decide, I'm just the getting the enrollment process started so far. I hope I can start in July need to get those transcripts sent out today.

I think if you feel that the Network Design would be of greater benefit long term I'd go for that, you can also take the CCNA on your own on the side if you want.

nosoup4u

Defiantly contact them on the program changes to the design and management. They've moved away from a lot of certifications for that track. I transferred out of it into Network Administration because of the changes.

Edit: the website is outdated http://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/information_technology_degree_networks_design


However if you click on the programs pdf http://www.wgu.edu/wgu/prog_guide/BS_IT_NTDM.pdf (updated
5/27/13), you'll find they removed nearly of the vendor certifications for in house exams.

Kaii

Hi guys does WGU capable of accepting students from Philippines now?

Psoasman

Unfortunately, they do not at this time. This is from the admissions page:

"Thank you for your interest in WGU. At the present time, WGU is only accepting applications from individuals living in the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as from U.S. military personnel and their families at overseas installations. WGU is also now accepting applications from Canadian residents in certain select geographic areas. (An Enrollment Counselor has more information about which areas are eligible to submit applications.)

Unfortunately, we have discovered that we cannot always guarantee that the educational experience for students living outside the United States will meet our high standards for quality and convenience. It is our expectation that these issues will be resolved in future years. We wish you well in your educational pursuits and regret that we cannot help you at this time."

Kaii

Psoasman wrote: »

Unfortunately, they do not at this time. This is from the admissions page:

"Thank you for your interest in WGU. At the present time, WGU is only accepting applications from individuals living in the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as from U.S. military personnel and their families at overseas installations. WGU is also now accepting applications from Canadian residents in certain select geographic areas. (An Enrollment Counselor has more information about which areas are eligible to submit applications.)

Unfortunately, we have discovered that we cannot always guarantee that the educational experience for students living outside the United States will meet our high standards for quality and convenience. It is our expectation that these issues will be resolved in future years. We wish you well in your educational pursuits and regret that we cannot help you at this time."

thanks sir, hope they will at near state future

DoubleNNs

There's this ad that I always get at the top of this site. Says certs can waive 25% of your bachelors degree at WGU.

There isn't a limit to how many certs you can transfer in, is there?

Psoasman

I think the 25% is an average. You have to take a certain amount of CUs at WGU, I don't know the exact number, but remember reading some people have transferred in over 80 CUs, leaving around 40-45 CUs to complete.

Depending on your certs, you can clear a lot of courses. If a person wanted to do the Network Admin emphasis and had a CCNA and the MCITP:SA/EA, that would clear most of the MTA, along with the server courses and the 2 courses for the CCNA.

Lugz

Got sort of an odd question here. I'm currently in the admission process for WGU. With the special requirements for the IT program in place, I'm a but worries that I won't be accepted. So, I'm wondering if the following scenario would be a "loophole" around these requirements.

Currently, the IT Management degree path has no special requirements, so being accepted shouldn't be a problem. My plan is, in the event I'm not accepted, to initially enroll in the ITM degree path. Then, I will focus on the IT courses exclusively for first semester , culminating in me earning my A+cert. Then, the following semester I will change degree paths to IT, using my newly acquired cert to meet the IT requirements,

So, does anyone know if that strategy would work?