Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

Cisc0kidd

Most universities offer no scholarships for graduate degrees just working stepends.

Danielm7

Cisc0kidd wrote: »

Most universities offer no scholarships for graduate degrees just working stepends.

Also no pell grants. The gov will help pay for your BS, but beyond that it's on you. To be fair really, I'm not sure if school gift funds should be going to someone for their 2nd masters degree from the same school when there are plenty of other students who could use it more for their BS or first MS.

Cisc0kidd

Especially when you consider how inexpensive their graduate degrees are. $3k to $10k vs $40k to $100k or more.

ratbuddy

Danielm7 wrote: »

Also no pell grants. The gov will help pay for your BS, but beyond that it's on you. To be fair really, I'm not sure if school gift funds should be going to someone for their 2nd masters degree from the same school when there are plenty of other students who could use it more for their BS or first MS.

Pell should be capped by amount, not degree. Unfortunately, Pell favors people who stay in school a really long time. Why should they get more taxpayer dollars? If I can get two bachelors and two masters degrees in a couple years, why not let Pell pick up the tab?

Shdwmage

ratbuddy wrote: »

Pell should be capped by amount, not degree. Unfortunately, Pell favors people who stay in school a really long time. Why should they get more taxpayer dollars? If I can get two bachelors and two masters degrees in a couple years, why not let Pell pick up the tab?

Pell grants are a max of 600% rewarded. Which means if you go to school full time for 6 years you are maxed anyhow.

Danielm7

https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell

"A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.)"

Unless I'm missing something, I don't think you can get pell grants for an MS program.

colemic

Danielm7 wrote: »

Also no pell grants. The gov will help pay for your BS, but beyond that it's on you. To be fair really, I'm not sure if school gift funds should be going to someone for their 2nd masters degree from the same school when there are plenty of other students who could use it more for their BS or first MS.

'Who could use it more'? Really?

As a non-entitled white male, who has virtually no other scholarships available, why shouldn't I be able to get a piece of the pie that WGU offers to graduate students? Especially for a specific degree program? Since this is technically my 6th college degree (3 associates, 1 bachelor's and now 2nd master's) I shouldn't qualify for financial assistance or scholarships?

How about the fact that I have never in my life gotten any kind of grant (just student loans), again not qualifying for any other scholarships because of my race and gender?

I worked very hard to be where I am at today. I am just as deserving of a scholarship as anyone else.

Shdwmage

colemic wrote: »

'Who could use it more'? Really?

As a non-entitled white male, who has virtually no other scholarships available, why shouldn't I be able to get a piece of the pie that WGU offers to graduate students? Especially for a specific degree program? Since this is technically my 6th college degree (3 associates, 1 bachelor's and now 2nd master's) I shouldn't qualify for financial assistance or scholarships?

How about the fact that I have never in my life gotten any kind of grant (just student loans), again not qualifying for any other scholarships because of my race and gender?

I worked very hard to be where I am at today. I am just as deserving of a scholarship as anyone else.

Pell grants aren't scholarships. It was a law passed a few years ago that messed with Pell grants, pushed from both sides of the isle. They were specifically designed for low income students. I think part of the notion was getting a job with the degree so you'll be above where you have access to the grants anyhow. That being said, I don't know your situation and what you do or don't deserve. Only stating what I believe the overall program was designed for.

There may be scholarships available for masters programs, I just don't know what they are. Have you tried sites like fastweb.com?

TomkoTech

I think the point being made is one that someone who doesn't have a single master's would be more deserving than someone who already has at least 1. Not to mention these are usually based on financial need. If you are making 50k+ a year you are hard pressed to prove you have a financial need greater than someone who just finished their bachelors and has a job making under 30k a year.

Why did you never use the Pell Grant? That doesn't require any special considerations for getting bachelor's other than financial need(no race or gender requirements).

As for being denied what ever that specific scholarship was you obviously didn't meet some criteria for it.... I don't see one currently listed that would indicate it's the one you are speaking about.

colemic

I have never in my life qualified for a Pell grant... and when I graduated HS in 1998, I had a twin sister also going off to college, and both my parents were teachers. We were theoretically above the 'line', but certainly not in reality... the system never worked for me. The only way I could ever afford to go to school was through students loans.

btw I was never referring to Pells, only (specifically) the scholarships that WGU has available... doesn't seem to be listed anymore, but I definitely got a rejection letter. Was quite surprised.

Danielm7

TomkoTech wrote: »

I think the point being made is one that someone who doesn't have a single master's would be more deserving than someone who already has at least 1. Not to mention these are usually based on financial need. If you are making 50k+ a year you are hard pressed to prove you have a financial need greater than someone who just finished their bachelors and has a job making under 30k a year.

That was exactly my point, if someone is going for a 2nd or 3rd masters degree, vs. someone going for their BS or their first and only MS, I'd rather see scholarship funds go to the person who needs the qualifications to get a job or start a new career vs. someone who might be trying to balance out their resume more or go for qualifications on the tech side and the business side, etc. Most scholarships aren't based on who has worked the hardest, not that I've seen anyway, but more on who can demonstrate the greatest financial need.

colemic, it's not a personal attack at all, and I'm sorry if you take it that way. You've got a laundry list of high level certs in your profile, a BS and a masters degree, do you think funding for a 2nd MS would benefit you more, or someone who doesn't have any degree and is trying to get into the field?

colemic

I apologize for being a grumpus this morning, I know it wasn't personal... it's just frustrating though.

As for your question, the basic question is who benefits more? And my answer to that, depends on what criteria you use to determine that. Although my degree and certs have benefitted me, I have a way-low-for-my-profession salary, and my wife is a stay at home mom, and we have one on the way... so from my perspective, it doesn't make sense to judge past achievements as being the criteria for a scholarship.

I just want them to be competitive, and honestly, a significant percentage (if not outright majority) have stipulations that I don't meet, some based on heritage, some based on financial need. I am ok with financial need... but don't take away from me because I have worked hard in the past. Maybe I'm just viewing it wrong, but at the moment, that's how I see it.

Cisc0kidd

While I am sympathetic to your frustrations, grants and scholarships are instituted with specific guidlines you don't meet. You have done great and I bet will continue to do so. I think that is outstanding but I also understand their rejecting your application.

colemic

Cisc0kidd wrote: »

While I am sympathetic to your frustrations, grants and scholarships are instituted with specific guidlines you don't meet. You have done great and I bet will continue to do so. I think that is outstanding but I also understand their rejecting your application.

Thanks, I appreciated that.

Nemowolf

Just filled out my 14-15 FAFSA and received zero aide. Im working on my first bachelors and I am probably going to drop out once i finish this school year. Sigh.

DoubleNNs

Why do you think you're going to drop out?
And do you have an idea why you didn't get any aid? (I'm thinking about filling out my own FAFSA sometime this week to start WGU in the fall.)

Nemowolf

DoubleNNs wrote: »

Why do you think you're going to drop out?
And do you have an idea why you didn't get any aid? (I'm thinking about filling out my own FAFSA sometime this week to start WGU in the fall.)

Living in California means i "make too much money" compared to the majority of students even though I live paycheck to paycheck and cut any extra stuff from my budget. The idea of making 60-70k sounds great except they don't take into account higher tax rates cutting 30% off the top, housing rates that eat another 30-40% and the rest of my bills that take about 25-30%. I am literally breaking even some months and eating into savings others. Just hard to accept that response that there are students with substantially more need than myself.

TomkoTech

Do you own your home or rent? 30% of your income is a bit extreme for just rent/mortgage. Most financial advisers would say you shouldn't spend more than 50% of your net pay on housing, utilities, transportation, food, insurance, child care, tuition and minimum loan payments. Is moving to a more affordable area possible? There are apartments in downtown Cleveland that I would love to live in to be closer to work. But $1500 a month rent isn't justifiable for me.

As for students with substantially more need, there are people who live at or under the poverty level going to school. How many single moms with 2 kids working as a waitress do you think are going to school?

As for dropping out. WGU is really affordable. Have you considered getting a student loan? Yes the Pell Grant would be great, but you should be able to get the entire degree covered for under the cost of most school's single semester. Loans when you don't need them are definitely a bad idea. But if you can finish your bachelors and only incur $12k in debt I would think it's worth it.

kaneohe7

For those that have completed both Finite Math (GAC1) and Biology+Lab (CDC1 and CDP1) What were you impressions of the course and the time that you needed to put in to complete the course/s? I understand it depends on the individual, just looking for opinions. Reason being is that I just completed my first term at WGU and had a tough time with algebra and got closer to the end of my term than I should have and was trying to setup an easier second term due to my schedule in the coming months and didn't really want to take a term break at this time.

ratbuddy

GAC1 is a one week course. The exam is only 20 questions. Bio, I can see taking a month if you only put in 10-15 hours a week.

Mr. Meeseeks

TomkoTech wrote: »

Do you own your home or rent? 30% of your income is a bit extreme for just rent/mortgage. Most financial advisers would say you shouldn't spend more than 50% of your net pay on housing, utilities, transportation, food, insurance, child care, tuition and minimum loan payments. Is moving to a more affordable area possible? There are apartments in downtown Cleveland that I would love to live in to be closer to work. But $1500 a month rent isn't justifiable for me.

$60k * .7 = $42k
$1,250 * 12 = $15k (my mortgage)
That's about 36%... and that mortgage is not even in some of the higher cost of living areas in California. He is in the Bay Area so it will actually be a lot higher mortgage payment... Nemowolf could actually be paying half his post-tax income to housing expenses alone.

Cisc0kidd

I agree with the idea of taking a loan and finishing the degree vs dropping out. I doubt there is a less expensive option.

Nemowolf

Mr. Meeseeks wrote: »

$60k * .7 = $42k
$1,250 * 12 = $15k (my mortgage)
That's about 36%... and that mortgage is not even in some of the higher cost of living areas in California. He is in the Bay Area so it will actually be a lot higher mortgage payment... Nemowolf could actually be paying half his post-tax income to housing expenses alone.

Just to get an idea of my finances as they balance out:

I pay 1800 in rent and utilities for a moderate income controlled 750 sq ft, 1 bedroom apartment in a nice area. Using the same math as you applied, I calculated that i lose 43% to taxes and such so my actual math works more like this:

60k x .57 = 34.2
1800 x 12 = 21.6
About 63% of my post-taxes income going straight to housing and nothing else.

Moving to a more affordable rent area has crossed my mind but that incurs its own negatives because the places I can afford tend to be across bridges that charge currently 5+/day in toll fees effectively doubling my monthly car expenses with gas.

hougeek

I was able to bring in quite a bit due to certifications - only some basics and capstone were needed:





PT
WFV1
IT Fundamentals I
3

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
AXV1
IT Fundamentals II
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
CPV1
IT Fundamentals III
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
CUV1
Web Technologies
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
CSV1
Operating Systems
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
CRV1
Networks
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
CTV1
Security
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
TPV1
Project Management
6

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
AHV1
Directory Services
6

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
AIV1
Network Design and Management
6

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
BHV1
Configuring Applications Infrastructure
6

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
BIV1
Enterprise Administration
6

Objective Assessment
Transfer




1
BOV1
Web Programming
4

Objective Assessment
Transfer




PT
DFV1
Web Development Fundamentals
3

Objective Assessment
Requirement Satisfied




PT
DHV1
Windows OS Fundamentals
3

Objective Assessment
Requirement Satisfied




PT
CWV1
Network Fundamentals
3

Objective Assessment
Requirement Satisfied




PT
DEV1
Security Fundamentals
3

Objective Assessment
Requirement Satisfied




PT
BVC1
Geography
3
Preassessment
Objective Assessment
Requirement Satisfied

TheChameleon

That's awesome. I hope some of my certs will reduce the requirements when I join hopefully later this summer. I'm trying to get them done before joining. Anyone heard of them giving credit for ITIL, Cloud+ or CASP? If I get Project+ done by mid month and maybe Network+ I could be ready to go to join. Not sure I need to do A+ and Network+. I'm hoping to satisfy as many requirements but I'll likely be stuck with the General Ed since I'm starting from scratch.

So far:

ITIL, Security+, Cloud+, CIW Web Security Professional, CIW JavaScript, CIW Foundation. Soon: Project+.

typfromdaco

Hey guys, I am trying to get my wife enrolled in WGU for the Bachelors in Business Management, but I know that there is an admission fee waiver. Does anyone have a code for the waiver? Thanks for the help!

Qord

typfromdaco wrote: »

Does anyone have a code for the waiver?

PM'd you.

typfromdaco

Got it, thanks! I have a question, is she required to take every class in order of the downloadable pdf, or can she jump around? Thanks!

Danielm7

The class order doesn't matter, you can take them in whatever order you want. They want you to do the capstone at or near the final as it is supposed to be the culmination of all your past learning.

tom_dub

I spoke to an adviser who informed me that I currently don't meet the pre requisites for admission to WGU

My credentials:

- 2 years work related IT experience
- 72 college credits (mainly gen ed, no high level IT courses)
- 2 IT certs from 8 years ago...now expired, i-Net+ and A+, these were studied for 2 years at a special high school for technology, not sure if that would count as "experience"

The counselor recommended that I either get an AS degree in IT, one more year of experience, or some high level certs like CCNA or MCSP to have a chance.

This is kind of baffling to me because I work with colleagues who have less credentials than mine and were still accepted. Should I just apply and cross my fingers?