Student Experiences at Western Governors University (WGU)

This thread is intended for students to write about their experiences at Western Governors University.

Please keep it civil, and do not spend your time bashing the school, and its policies. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you have a problem you need to take it up with your professor or mentor. Please no Flaming on this thread.

You can ask for help with a referral (used to avoid paying the application fee) on the following thread: http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/55634-wgu-refer-friend-thread-those-seeking-referral.html

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Comments

erpadmin

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Why are you interested? I'm just curious

I might want to log on to it to grab a paper in case I don't have my thumb drive with me or access to my laptop where my papers are at. Just wanted to know if we had it forever, or it goes away at some point.

petedude

erpadmin wrote: »

I might want to log on to it to grab a paper in case I don't have my thumb drive with me or access to my laptop where my papers are at. Just wanted to know if we had it forever, or it goes away at some point.

I'd recommend signing in just before you complete your very last task, and saving everything you've submitted prior. That's what I plan to do, anyway.

petedude

Just because I felt like it, I thought I'd put this update in a separate entry.

Occasionally, WGU lets students complete the Capstone ahead of other classes-- but you have to be close to finishing. I'm one of those cases.

Submitted Capstone this week. . . passed. Submitted Portfolio yesterday. . . passed.

Got a text message from my mentor today about Portfolio, and that he has signed me up for my last course, GUT1. Should've heard me this whole evening while out shopping with my wife and kids-- "one more class! yes!".

Excellent1

Congratulations, petedude! Has to be a good feeling. I just finished up GUT1 myself and I can tell you that I felt a nice sense of accomplishment from getting it done. I'm sure you'll knock it out quickly.

never2late

Received my diploma in the mail yesterday. Very gratifying moment knowing the time and effort I put forth to achieve this personal milestone. Thanks to all who helped with words of encouragement and advice.
Also received my CCNA-Security cert and a letter recognizing having achieved the CNSS 4013 training standards. A really good day and hopefully many more to follow.

swild

I have started the process of getting started and so far, I'm not so impressed. The only person I have talked to is the enrollment counsler and I have had to tell him many things repeatedly. I talked to him last night and he said he would call me today. Still waiting on them to find one of my transcripts before I can have a transfer evalutation. I have had to have one school send out 2 copies of my transcript because they couldn't find the first one. I have 90 semester hours and 4 certs that I am starting with, so I am hoping to get this done in one term. I hope my mentor is better than the enrollment counsler.

XeeN

I just completed my intake interview. I begin class on November 1st, 2011! 11/1/11 =P

Jourdsh

swild wrote: »

I have started the process of getting started and so far, I'm not so impressed. The only person I have talked to is the enrollment counsler and I have had to tell him many things repeatedly. I talked to him last night and he said he would call me today. Still waiting on them to find one of my transcripts before I can have a transfer evalutation. I have had to have one school send out 2 copies of my transcript because they couldn't find the first one. I have 90 semester hours and 4 certs that I am starting with, so I am hoping to get this done in one term. I hope my mentor is better than the enrollment counsler.

Enrollment mentors are not the best indicator of the experience you will have at WGU, which sucks because they are your first contact. I hope you continue with the process, it gets better.

Jourdsh

XeeN wrote: »

I just completed my intake interview. I begin class on November 1st, 2011! 11/1/11 =P

Congrats, the first term goes by pretty fast, can't believe my first term ends in a month.

Pilotreborn

IT Security Emphasis

Hey guys been a while since I have been on the forums, I have seen you all in the WGU forums though

. I am about a month and a half from finishing my second term at WGU. I have completed A+, Project+, CIW Web Foundations Associate, CIW Web Design Specialist, and just recently completed a certification for my work AirWatch Mobile Device Management Support. I am studying for the CIW Database Specialist exam now and hope to get this knocked out before the end of the term.

Then Ill jump into the Java cert and then slam on the networking, the 3 Cisco cert's and Security.

KrisA

XeeN wrote: »

I just completed my intake interview. I begin class on November 1st, 2011! 11/1/11 =P

WOW - I didn't notice that. ..... I as well completed the intake today and will be starting 11/1/11 (So easy to remember).. here's to the roller coaster to come

skelldog

Has anyone tried the contact taskstream button?
I have submitted HHT twice and both times they feel I have no examples of rounding and truncation.
I have an appointment with the course mentor Monday, but he has emailed that he may need to reschedule.
I got solid 3's and 4's for the rest of the paper, so I must be misunderstanding what they want.
If anyone is comfortable PM'ing me any suggestions I would appreciate it
Thanks

Psoasman

Been going through the application process. Just waiting for transcripts to be sent and finish up verification. I have my intake interview this tuesday. I had planned for a December 1 start, but might be able to start November 1, if my stuff gets done in time.

Jourdsh

Psoasman wrote: »

Been going through the application process. Just waiting for transcripts to be sent and finish up verification. I have my intake interview this tuesday. I had planned for a December 1 start, but might be able to start November 1, if my stuff gets done in time.

Good luck Psoasman! Nice to see a fellow Washingtonian at WGU.

swild

I have my intake interview scheduled for tomorrow. It took a month for me to get one transcript to them, I had it mailed twice and finally faxed. Hopefully I will be able to start next month. It all depends on financial aid. I should be able to get in for free with all the scholarships and grants. I may just have to wait a little longer.

Thxlbx

Getting towards the end of my term. Only have the last task of LET1 to submit. Anyone have any tips on this, as everything I have heard say it is the hardest of the bunch by far. Hoping to knock it out tomorrow (I have a five hour block of time set aside for it). Thanks!

erpadmin

Thxlbx wrote: »

Getting towards the end of my term. Only have the last task of LET1 to submit. Anyone have any tips on this, as everything I have heard say it is the hardest of the bunch by far. Hoping to knock it out tomorrow (I have a five hour block of time set aside for it). Thanks!

Make sure you discuss the Value of Common Criteria in good detail as well as the critical incident method. I lacked a little bit on both for my first paper and had to do a revision.

Make sure your paper match the rubrics as well as not looking rushed and you'll have a passing paper on the first attempt.

Jack2

Last class for this term and MGC1 is out of the way! Beat the cut score by almost 30%

KrisA

I am looking over all of the signatures in this particular thread, and I must say after seeing my transcript my signature will be lacking. Better late then never I guess.

Transferred
BRV1

Thxlbx

erpadmin wrote: »

Make sure you discuss the Value of Common Criteria in good detail as well as the critical incident method. I lacked a little bit on both for my first paper and had to do a revision.

Make sure your paper match the rubrics as well as not looking rushed and you'll have a passing paper on the first attempt.

Thanks for the tips! Am working on it now, and should be finished in a couple of hours. Not too worried about it, once I nail down what the ruberic is looking for. I scored pretty high on the other papers, and have not had to revise anything yet (knock on wood), so hopefully this one will be the same way!

spiderjericho

So I have begun the application process for WGU. I want to undertake the IT Network Administration track. A generous forum member graciously referred me to WGU. I just need to send my Cisco, Microsoft, Comptia, ISC, EC2, CIW transcripts (most importantly my transcript from the college I got my first degree from). My only issue is I was hoping to get a free ride, but my esteemed employer just changed the tuition assistance program. I can only get a maximum of $875. I'm hoping I can qualify for a scholarship and possibly FAFSA. Edit: So I have to take the initial assessment. I'm worried about the math part, since I haven't taken math in more than a decade. I completed College Algebra and Statistics but it was back in the late 90s.

KrisA

spiderjericho wrote: »

So I have to take the initial assessment. I'm worried about the math part, since I haven't taken math in more than a decade. I completed College Algebra and Statistics but it was back in the late 90s.

I believe is has to be completed by everyone, and on your second question, if you can still count to 10 the math will be cake. It is not hard by any means, common sense math IMO.

Psoasman

spiderjericho wrote: »

So I have begun the application process for WGU. I want to undertake the IT Network Administration track. A generous forum member graciously referred me to WGU. I just need to send my Cisco, Microsoft, Comptia, ISC, EC2, CIW transcripts (most importantly my transcript from the college I got my first degree from). My only issue is I was hoping to get a free ride, but my esteemed employer just changed the tuition assistance program. I can only get a maximum of $875. I'm hoping I can qualify for a scholarship and possibly FAFSA. Edit: So I have to take the initial assessment. I'm worried about the math part, since I haven't taken math in more than a decade. I completed College Algebra and Statistics but it was back in the late 90s.

The FAFSA is what you fill out to determine your eligibilty for financial aid. I just got mine done last week. I qualified for some grants and loans. WGU will get that and determine what aid you can get.
As far as the math goes, the last time I took algebra was in the late 90's. It is basic stuff like 2x=12, etc.

spiderjericho

Yeah, I just completed the initial assessments. I spent probably an hour and a half. After taking the exam, I'm probably more worried about my score in the reading part than math (mind you my recent degree was in Communications/Journalism). I'm still waiting to hear from school regarding what financial aid I qualify for. I also sent my certification transcripts today. All that remains is to send the transcript from the school I completed my AA degree from. My enrollment advisor has called me several times in the last day and sent numerous e-mails. If the school always provides that kind of assistance, I'd say that my experience at WGU will be positive. Right now it's the waiting the game. I don't plan on starting immediately, so I hope I can knock out Linux+/LPIC in the mean time.

cvuong1984

Just about to start INT1, (INC1 was transferred over), anyone in or was my situation have any pointers or tips on how to tackle INT1?
Read through the 3 required tasks and seems like a pain.

erpadmin

cvuong1984 wrote: »

Just about to start INT1, (INC1 was transferred over), anyone in or was my situation have any pointers or tips on how to tackle INT1?
Read through the 3 required tasks and seems like a pain.

Just go back to grammar school and forget how simple INT1 is. Your experiment will be about the Scientific Method. If you go to the INT1 communities they will give you ideas about what to choose for your first tasks (talk about an ecosystem, find something scientific that was discussed in history....)

Then use the WGU library to get sources that will talk about them and use the search feature that will talk about what you want to discuss.

Trust me....you'll knock that out in a couple of hours....it's was so simple that I actually hated this course...just knock it out and move on.

I was in the same boat you're in....I didn't have to do INC1 either. From what folks told me, it appears we were spared even more grief.

One thing though...follow the rubrics.

spiderjericho

So I got a reply from FAFSA regarding aid, and because I already have a BA, I do not qualify for financial aid. Hopefully, I can qualify for a scholarship. I'll have to talk to one of those financial advisors on Monday.

Thxlbx

Tried to update my sig with my completed courses, but it won't let me change my sig, says I can only have 5 lines. I am not adding any lines, and already have more than five. Is there a way around this?

Jack2

Thxlbx wrote: »

Tried to update my sig with my completed courses, but it won't let me change my sig, says I can only have 5 lines. I am not adding any lines, and already have more than five. Is there a way around this?

I had this problem too and reported it yesterday without any resolution yet. Mine would not update when set to only 4 lines. I received the same warning. Maybe the Admins can set the bar a bit higher.

erpadmin

Well ABV1 has been slain! I wrote the good stuff right here:

http://www.techexams.net/forums/windows-7-exams/71307-70-680-passed.html

JMJ, as I said in that post, you really were right...but I could not break 800, let alone get 900.

I spent a good hour, hour and 15 maybe on that exam making sure I was comfortable with my answers.

I'm also having signature issues and I will contact

about it at a later time...

In about two weeks, I'll be taking the 70-643...I was studying for that earlier, but all of those 680 failures spooked me. I'm pretty confident about the 643 and 647.

I can't believe it really is almost over!!

I'm gonna rest now and enjoy some DS9.