Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

Codyy

Just got this email from my EC, need at least 60 hours to apply.






WGU is pleased to announce a new scholarship offering—the Back-to-School Scholarship (valued at up to $2,000). This scholarship is for new WGU students with previous college experience who wish to further their education and earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree.























The deadline to apply for this scholarship is August 31, 2013.

For eligibility requirements and to apply for the Back-to-School Scholarship, click here.

ITdude84

Hey guys had a quick question, I have read that WGU doesnt utilize a GPA based approach to there grading metrics, they use a Pass/Fail system. Has anybody had any problems with this if/when they chose to go to another graduate school that actually requires a GPA rating? or would you need to stick to WGU MBA program to guarantee compatibility?

Danielm7

ITdude84 wrote: »

Hey guys had a quick question, I have read that WGU doesnt utilize a GPA based approach to there grading metrics, they use a Pass/Fail system. Has anybody had any problems with this if/when they chose to go to another graduate school that actually requires a GPA rating? or would you need to stick to WGU MBA program to guarantee compatibility?

I'm sure others that have done grad work can fill in too, but for reference the "pass" mark for WGU is 80%, so it's minimum a B. I know that's hard to equity if a school insists on a 3.4 GPA or something similar.

EngRob

SteveLord wrote: »

To people who transferred in little to nothing.

How are the general education classes from WGU in terms of difficulty? Do you think it is better to take those at a community college and transfer in? I have been out of the math, science and writing game for a decade now. Although I did pass their assessment without too much of a problem.

I will be basically transferring in nothing so will let you know. I wouldn't bother going to a community college though, you can just knock them out at WGU at a much quicker pace.

DeezyFF

I only had 2 classes that I transferred from my local community college. I got 7 credit hours for them. I have all of the maths, 1 english, and working on the last science class through WGU. The general classes are easy to move through. The English class had 1 assignment, that was to write a 3-5 page persuasive essay. I wrote and submitted it in an hour. 2 credit hours completed. The math classes took a little more time as you had to teach a middle school class how to do certain math problems. If you work well independently you will not have an issue. Also the only classes that take me time to run through would be the certifications. The CCNA took me a month of studying before i felt comfortable taking the exam. Good luck and I hope you guys like WGU.

-hype

Guys quick questions.

I am going to be applying to WGU this week (Trying to see if I can get a referral).

How long is the entire process going to take? Meaning when will I officially start. I just talked to my college about sending them my transcript. And how long does WGU take with Financial Aid? I just sent them the information. Can I expect Financial Aid to "kick in" by the time I start?

I am hoping to start ASAP, possibly Sep 1st? Do you guys think I will make it?

BTW, if you're wondeirng, I'm going to be majoring in BS: IT Net Admin. Taking advantage of WGU to get my CCNA, which will look good alongside my MS certs. I just got my associates in Network Engineering, plus landed my first IT job in May.


Thanks in Advance!!

Danielm7

-hype wrote: »

Guys quick questions.

I am going to be applying to WGU this week

How long is the entire process going to take? Meaning when will I officially start. I just talked to my college about sending them my transcript. And how long does WGU take with Financial Aid? I just sent them the information. Can I expect Financial Aid to "kick in" by the time I start?

I am hoping to start ASAP, possibly Sep 1st? Do you guys think I will make it?

No, I don't think so. If you haven't even applied yet or done your financial aid applications I don't think there is any way it would be done in a week or so. From what I remember they wanted at least a month and even then it's probably pushing it.

DoubleNNs

If you get everything in and completed by Sept 15th, you can start on Oct 1st.

You can still study on your own while you get everything situated and wait to start.

milieu

I don't think that Sept 1 is realistic. It took me about 3 months to get fully enrolled, including transferring credits. At least a month of that was because it took forever to deal with my enrollment counselor (he kept insisting on doing everything over the phone, and not email, and I was slow to figure it out).

You might be able to make it by October 1, but only if you move everything along. Call an enrollment counselor and do the intake right away. Get the transcripts there as fast as you can (pay for priority mail, if possible).

-hype

Already took the Assesments, Sent the transcript, FAFSA, and all my certs. Looks like OCT 1 is probably going to be my start date

What type of tools does WGU provide to attain some of the certs that are in the course?

Danielm7

-hype wrote: »

What type of tools does WGU provide to attain some of the certs that are in the course?

Depends on the course, usually some sort of video training, like learnkey, CBT nuggets, etc, an ebook like the Cisco press book and electronic labs and practice tests. There are also the course mentors that you can ask pretty much anything related to the course.

ooolala

Hi, I've applied to WGU for BSIT in Software. I have a background in web design/programming. Some of my GE requirements are completed and I want to to complete the following before my start date:

Precalculus 3 (College Algebra+ alternative)
Critical Thinking 3 (Reasoning alternative)
Statistics 3

I'd like to know:
1) Does WGU accept Precalculus and Statistics from Aleks with an ACE credit transcript? Has anyone here received transfer approval for either?
2) If I transfer in Precalculus via Aleks or Straighterline (prefer Aleks because it's cheaper) would they still make me take the Foundations Math course? It would really be a waste of time to have to take a Foundations mathematics courses AFTER Precalculus. I don't have an Associate's degree so it wouldn't be automatically cleared and I haven't taken any lower math courses in college.
3) Are the English II, Biology with Lab and Physics with Lab courses time hogs? Is it recommended to buy textbooks for these courses or are the materials included?

Thanks in advance.

serial0l0

Yeah. The 22nd was the last day for finaid, transcripts evals and all that stuff. I made it in for a Sep 1st start date for a BSIT in Net Admin. Thankfully, I don't have to take many basics through them. Unfortunately though a lot of my AAS credits I think wiped out the ability to use WGU to take the MCSA. I'm also really surprised that things like the Directory Services class don't end in a certification. I think it is all AD. -edit- I just looked Directory Services is all MS AD and it does end in an MS cert. The intro video for it says Server 2008 though. I'm hoping they update it to 2012. Anyone know if they do? Another thing I worry about are the changes to the CCNA. It gets a lot harder in October. Will the study materials be up to date for that?

Also, for you guys that are having trouble with your enrollment counselor; The first time you call and they don't answer just hit 0 and get another one. Once they help you with one item you should be able to request that they continue your enrollment. I got lucky with mine but I was surprised by the number of calls we had to have. I hate phone meetings and we had to talk at least once a week. When I say I got lucky I mean I had some Dbag guy originally that was awkward to talk to. We went a few weeks without touching base and when I called back I got some other girl that finished my enrollment process with me.

-hype

serial0l0 wrote: »

Another thing I worry about are the changes to the CCNA. It gets a lot harder in October. Will the study materials be up to date for that?

I am a bit worried as well, especially the lab sims. I'm majoring in Net Admin as well

-hype

How do we go about doing the Bio or Physics Labs?

Are we going to have to go do them at a community college lab? Or can they be done at home?

EDIT:

HAHAHA Another Question:

On the Net Admin Major it lists MCSA: Windows 7 and MCTS: Win 7 as Certs you will acquire through your studies, but the in depth course guide lists only lists 70-646 (Server 08 Admin). What Gives? Has WGU not updated the course guide? Or is it Vice Versa??

Pragmatist

Can you tell me about the prerequisites to get into the BS-IT program at WSU? I have an AA degree and took a couple of computer programming courses way back when (like 18 years ago), and have no other certifications. Does this mean I am not eligible for the program at WSU?

DoubleNNs

You need EITHER a cert or previous college credit I'm pretty sure.

So you should be fine.

Danielm7

Pragmatist wrote: »

Can you tell me about the prerequisites to get into the BS-IT program at WSU? I have an AA degree and took a couple of computer programming courses way back when (like 18 years ago), and have no other certifications. Does this mean I am not eligible for the program at WSU?

Online Admissions | College of Information Technology | Western Governors University Online

AS, or IT coursework or certs in the last 5 years or IT work experience for a resume review. Do you have a few years of real IT experience?

bobloblaw

Would having the A+ knock out the IT Fundamentals I since it encompasses II and III? Along the same lines, would the Security+ knock out the Security Fundamentals?

Also, could the CCENT replace the Network+ in regards to the BS - IT?

Danielm7

bobloblaw wrote: »

Would having the A+ knock out the IT Fundamentals I since it encompasses II and III? Along the same lines, would the Security+ knock out the Security Fundamentals?

Also, could the CCENT replace the Network+ in regards to the BS - IT?

IT Fund I is actually a different cert, you'd need to do that. Having the A+ within the last 5 years should cover IT Fund II and III though. I don't know which one Security Fund is and if that is the Security+ cert, if so and it's still valid it should cover that. I don't think the CCENT would cover the Network+ though. Either way it's always best to just call WGU and ask them, you'd get the most updated info that way.

DoubleNNs

Check the attached file for to see what certs transfer in for what classes.
(I hope it's still current.)

serial0l0

-hype wrote: »

...


On the Net Admin Major it lists MCSA: Windows 7 and MCTS: Win 7 as Certs you will acquire through your studies, but the in depth course guide lists only lists 70-646 (Server 08 Admin). What Gives? Has WGU not updated the course guide? Or is it Vice Versa??

Hey hype,

I think the 1st Win7 class is CSV1 - Operating Systems. It ends in the MS 70-680. (Exam 70-680: Windows 7, Configuring)

I'm currently enrolled in:

CSV1 - OS
CUV1 - Web Technologies
MGC1 - Principles of Management

If anybody has any experience getting through CSV1 in a hurry I'd appreciate any tips you have. Links to other posts are welcomed too..

Here's a screen cap of what I have to complete when I'm done with the three listed above:



I'm interested in any advice or whatever that you guys may have. Thanks,

Casey

t1085ok

I'm applying to WGU but I have a question about the tuition. I understand the flat fee for tuition I just want to know what kind of tuition payment plan they offer. Is it 4 or 6 payments monthly throughout the session or is it a large payment up front followed by small monthly payments or something else. I couldn't find the terms on the website for the deferred payment plan.

allenfeyd

It's 4 monthly payments starting with the first month. There's also $55 fee for enrolling in that payment plan.

DPG

t1085ok wrote: »

I'm applying to WGU but I have a question about the tuition. I understand the flat fee for tuition I just want to know what kind of tuition payment plan they offer. Is it 4 or 6 payments monthly throughout the session or is it a large payment up front followed by small monthly payments or something else. I couldn't find the terms on the website for the deferred payment plan.

They have a split-payment plan. First installment is due the first day of the term. Second installment is due the first day of the 4th month of the term.

jfuller01

Ok, I'm sure people have answered this question before...I had previously looked into the BS-IT Security and decided that I should just go for BS-IT...Looking at the course catalog, there doesn't seem to be any profound difference here.

Any comments, thoughts or whatever would help me. I've submitted my assessment and I'm about to do transcripts this week.

Spaced

While I haven't reviewed the classes side by side, the major difference is that with the security emphasis you will earn two CCNA certs. With the general IT degree, you earn many certs that are helpful to increase your knowledge, but none that employers are looking for. You do get A+ and Security + with both, but CCNA is much more sought after by employers.

Spaced

serial0l0 wrote: »

Hey hype,

I think the 1st Win7 class is CSV1 - Operating Systems. It ends in the MS 70-680. (Exam 70-680: Windows 7, Configuring)

I'm currently enrolled in:

CSV1 - OS
CUV1 - Web Technologies
MGC1 - Principles of Management

If anybody has any experience getting through CSV1 in a hurry I'd appreciate any tips you have. Links to other posts are welcomed too..

Here's a screen cap of what I have to complete when I'm done with the three listed above:



I'm interested in any advice or whatever that you guys may have. Thanks,

Casey

Does the network admin major actually include an MCSA (if so in what? server 2012?) and a CCNA along with MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration? I've been bouncing between this and the security emphasis, but can't seem to decide. If the MCSA and CCNA are included, then network admin would seem more practical for landing that first job. I can work for the CCNA security a lot easier than all the tests for the MCSA. Having both seems to be a more flexible combination when looking for a job instead of just the CCNAs, especially if you are uncertain if you want to go the network engineer route. Thanks for any info!

Leamanaudio

Spaced wrote: »

Does the network admin major actually include an MCSA (if so in what? server 2012?) and a CCNA along with MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration? I've been bouncing between this and the security emphasis, but can't seem to decide. If the MCSA and CCNA are included, then network admin would seem more practical for landing that first job. I can work for the CCNA security a lot easier than all the tests for the MCSA. Having both seems to be a more flexible combination when looking for a job instead of just the CCNAs, especially if you are uncertain if you want to go the network engineer route. Thanks for any info!

I would interested to know this as well.

SephStorm

Hey guys, where is the list of certification to class mappings? I.e CCNA Security= SEC102 or whatever.