Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

Madmd5

zabe1 wrote: »

hey guys, quick question. What type of resources does WGU give you? I know they give an ebook for the course, but do they give a testout account or a lynda account or udemy account for network admin route? or is it just text material and no video material? I understand they give 2 vouchers.

I asked my enrollment counselor about what were the resources I get, and he was pretty much clueless about it and said well its on the portal, but I do not want to sign up yet until i have a few certs under my belt so I dont have to take some classes.

I just need to know what resources you get.

zabe1, it really depends on the class. I recently graduated with B.S. IT - Security emphasis. Typically you have access to an eBook, as well as third party software for learning material/labs. All of my Cisco classes has access to CBT Nugget videos as well. A lot of my classes were certification classes so they also included practice exams to gauge your readiness. I'm surprised your mentor didn't have any idea.

Legacy User

The provide full access to skillsoft videos.

zabe1

Madmd5 and Demar thank you for your help.

Madmd5. What other 3rd party items did they offer

Madmd5

zabe1 wrote: »

Madmd5 and Demar thank you for your help.

Madmd5. What other 3rd party items did they offer

With the CCNA classes, you had the option to download and use Cisco Network Simulator which has numerous labs. Boson practice exams were given. I personally bought used hardware off eBay to play with.

zabe1

Wow nice. Thank you

CiscoSandwich

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm planning on starting WGU next month for a M.S. program, but what's better between Cybersecurity or IT Management for future career chances? I'm having a hard time deciding. Seems like most people here went Cybersecurity. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

JGDaily

I'm planning on starting October 1st if all my steps are aligned. I have another call with my enrollment counselor on Monday morning.

FerretJAcK

I just started at WGU. I have some questions about FA disbursements and refunds. So I am considered a new student. They have that my loans will disburse the 21st and my grants will disburse the 5th. Though on my paperwork from StudentLoans.gov they say my disbursement date for my loans are the 1st. Yesterday... I am confused as to why there are two disbursement dates for my loans. If anyone can explain that would be great.

Now I am set up to receive my refund to my bank. 1) How long does it take WGU once the disbursement is on the account to refund? 2) Has anyone been a first time student and got their refunds right away instead of having to wait the 30 days? I've been in college before. 3) How long does it take for the refund to go into your bank account?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

HolyPuck

I think I may have asked this in the wrong thread so I'll throw it in here.

Thinking about starting at WGU in the BS IT-Sec. My background is in this area, and I have already transferred in about 50 CU's. Still debating between this and CISSP. Any thoughts?

Would this be better to do now, or work on my CISSP? I'm already an Info Sec Engineer, so the experience issue is no problem. I do not have a bachelors degree which I know will hamper me in the future.

Thanks.

TLeTourneau

HolyPuck wrote: »

I think I may have asked this in the wrong thread so I'll throw it in here.

Thinking about starting at WGU in the BS IT-Sec. My background is in this area, and I have already transferred in about 50 CU's. Still debating between this and CISSP. Any thoughts?

Would this be better to do now, or work on my CISSP? I'm already an Info Sec Engineer, so the experience issue is no problem. I do not have a bachelors degree which I know will hamper me in the future.

Thanks.

I'd do both focusing on the one that gets the best ROI to start with. For me it was the degree as it impacted my wage increase with promotions, I'll hopefully be passing the CISSP exam in a few weeks.

mzx380

I am about to have my first meeting with my counselor in preparation for my 12/1 start date at WGU for the MBA:ITM. Does anyone have any tips on anything I should ask? I'll be paying for my degree out of pocket FYI

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks

zabe1

Hey guys

I'm thinking about the Net Admin BS route. I have an A.S in Computer Science, so a good chunk will transfer into the BS program. I want to know if I get the MCSA 2012 server certifications, will that wave a bunch of classes?

I read WGU and it does not specifically say 1 cert per class or anything, and counselor does not seem to know as well...


It seems like a no brainer, cause 3 certs for MCSA satisfies for 8 courses (40 CUs) from WGU

NETWORKS
NETWORK AND SECURITY APP
OS
OS 1
OS 2
NETWORK POLICIES AND SERVICE MGNT
SERVER ADMIN
NETWORK RELIABILITY AND FAULT TOLERANCE

Am i wrong?

PJ_Sneakers

It depends, I think. But that's how it worked for me. I had each class taken care of individually but the MCSA took care of multiple classes.

SoCalGuy858

I just received my evaluation back for the BSIT Security program, and WGU awarded 49/123 credits based off of education, certs, and other items (CLEP, ACE, etc.). Hopefully I'll be starting in the next month or two! Here's what I've got left:

Organizational Behavor and Leadership (3)
Introduction to Humanities (3)
Introduction to Biology (3)
Integrated Physical Sciences (3)
Natural Science Lab (3)
Critical Thinking and Logic (3)
Scripting and Programming - Foundations (3) - MTA: Software Development Fundamentals
Data Management - Foundations (3) - CIW Database Specialist / Database Design Specialist
Web Development Foundations (3) - CIW or MTA?
Business of IT - Project Management (4) - CompTIA Project+
Data Management - Applications (4) - CIW Database Specialist / Database Design Specialist
Operating Systems I (4) - CompTIA Linux+
Operating Systems II (4) - CompTIA Linux+
Fundamentals of Interconnecting Network Devices (6) - CCENT
Interconnecting Network Devices (6) - CCNA
Designing Customized Security (6) - CCNA Security
Technical Communication (3)
Spreadsheets (3)
Principles of Management (4)
IT Capstone Written Project (4)

I'm not sure if it's possible to get this much done in one 6-month term, but I'm really hoping so. From the evaluation sheet I received, it looks like certain certs will fulfill multiple requirements (i.e. Linux+, CCNA, CIW Database Specialist). Has anybody out there taken this much on successfully in one term?

Can't wait to get this behind me!

MichaelR

Hello SoCalGuy858- I just finished the BSIT_Security degree last month. I looked over what you have left and I would plan on at least 4 terms.
CCNA Security is tricky in itself as the Official Cert Guide won't get you passed. Multiple sources for sure for that class. I work full time rotating shifts
so I probably would take longer anyway, but if you don't have a job right now maybe get er done in 3 terms. When you talk to your student mentor they will have your background and be able to give you a good estimate on the length of your degree plan. Student mentors are invaluable. Good luck!

SoCalGuy858

Thanks for the input, MichaelR!

An additional question for those in the loop...

I may have to delay my start for a few months. If this actually becomes reality, does anybody know what WGU's response would be if I went ahead and knocked out some other certs that are part of my degree plan, but I didn't have at the time of my evaluation? Can I - theoretically - turn these certs into WGU during the term, despite having done them after the evaluation?

PJ_Sneakers

I believe you can get credit as long as you have not officially started.

Juju413

Hello everyone & Happy New Year,

Just joined WGU and took my first pre assessment test. I was wondering once I take my final assessment exam, Will both be the same.

Not the same as the same as the pre assessment test but the same as in if I take the final assessment exam the first time and fail it will the second one be just like it or will it have a whole different set of questions.

Thanks

leboratorical

My Google-Fu isn't good enough to find the answer to this: How can I tell how many credits will be accepted for certs?
I'm trying to work out the wisdom of getting further along in the cert track to lower the amount of credits required vs just doing the course. I can't find a decent way to get answers.
Also, has anyone ever had any luck in trying to use other exams for credit? I've just done the CISM exam (NOT confirmed pass/fail yet, and CISA or CRISK sound like it may possibly fit better on my career track.

Rylee1246

Their website has a list of possible certs you can try to transfer over. Each cert may have different credit value. A ccna would be two different 6 credit classes. A comptia a+ or Linux + are two different 4 credit classes. Network and security + are each a 4 credit class.

jcundiff

leboratorical wrote: »

My Google-Fu isn't good enough to find the answer to this: How can I tell how many credits will be accepted for certs?
I'm trying to work out the wisdom of getting further along in the cert track to lower the amount of credits required vs just doing the course. I can't find a decent way to get answers.
Also, has anyone ever had any luck in trying to use other exams for credit? I've just done the CISM exam (NOT confirmed pass/fail yet, and CISA or CRISK sound like it may possibly fit better on my career track.

ISACA is not credited by them at this time... so I got nothing for the CRISC certification... CRISK doesnt exist

jcundiff

SoCalGuy858 wrote: »

Thanks for the input, MichaelR!

An additional question for those in the loop...

I may have to delay my start for a few months. If this actually becomes reality, does anybody know what WGU's response would be if I went ahead and knocked out some other certs that are part of my degree plan, but I didn't have at the time of my evaluation? Can I - theoretically - turn these certs into WGU during the term, despite having done them after the evaluation?

They give credit for certifications (specific ones) earned in the past 5 years... unless you use their vouchers, and are enrolled in the course they cover, BEFORE taking the exam, I dont believe you will get credit for them

leboratorical

jcundiff wrote: »

ISACA is not credited by them at this time... so I got nothing for the CRISC certification... CRISK doesnt exist

Thanks for the advice... and the correction!

kbrunlvl6

Doing my app for the BS IT Security, is the written essay underneath the readiness assessment going to be a long one? Just trying to knock things out as I have time while waiting for my last transcript to come in. Also how does one submit proof of certifications, do I request a transcript from CompTIA also? Thanks!

reddishB

SoCalGuy858 wrote: »

Thanks for the input, MichaelR!

An additional question for those in the loop...

I may have to delay my start for a few months. If this actually becomes reality, does anybody know what WGU's response would be if I went ahead and knocked out some other certs that are part of my degree plan, but I didn't have at the time of my evaluation? Can I - theoretically - turn these certs into WGU during the term, despite having done them after the evaluation?

as long as u havent started the term officially,u can ask for credits for the certs even if it is AFTER the evaluation.

jcundiff

kbrunlvl6 wrote: »

Doing my app for the BS IT Security, is the written essay underneath the readiness assessment going to be a long one? Just trying to knock things out as I have time while waiting for my last transcript to come in. Also how does one submit proof of certifications, do I request a transcript from CompTIA also? Thanks!

you should be able to login to the CompTIA certification site and download a PDF of your CompTIA transcript

cptpizza

reddishB wrote: »

as long as u havent started the term officially,u can ask for credits for the certs even if it is AFTER the evaluation.

I am curious as to what would happen if you got the cert on your own after you started. CompTIA does not allow you to take the same exam after you have already passed it. That said it would be a waste to do it after since they give you the exam vouchers.

kohr-ah

cptpizza wrote: »

I am curious as to what would happen if you got the cert on your own after you started. CompTIA does not allow you to take the same exam after you have already passed it. That said it would be a waste to do it after since they give you the exam vouchers.

Ask your student mentor and find out.
They give you the vouchers to go pass the exam but I am not sure if they give it to you until the end of the course when you are supposed to go take the exam.
I guess I'll find out on Monday when I ask mine.

reddishB

cptpizza wrote: »

I am curious as to what would happen if you got the cert on your own after you started. CompTIA does not allow you to take the same exam after you have already passed it. That said it would be a waste to do it after since they give you the exam vouchers.

That would be waste of time and money for you If u pass the exam AFTER enrolling since they won't give u any credit for that

reddishB

What is the best way to study WGU classes when I'm not at home in front of my computer?

A Smart phone or a laptop that I can carry around would help me with that?

Thx