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

Find more posts tagged with

SAVE $250 on Your Boot Camp — Use Code "EXAM26"

Exclusively for TechExams members for Infosec Boot Camps starting before April 30, 2026

View Boot Camps

Comments

coffeeluvr

cvuong1984 wrote: »

I used Darril Gibson's book for Security+ (Note: make sure you get the 2012 version, I believe the 2008 Sec+ Test ended 1/1/12)
But I just read the book and did a few practice test, was able to answer about 90% of 2 tests, took the exam and passed.

I also used Darril Gibson's book for Sec+. The questions in Darril's book were harder than the questions on the cert exam...lol

ogrimmm

I was wondering if someone has a copy of the previous pdfs of degree plans for the Network Admin and general IT track. I need the ones prior to this last change. I'm kicking around the idea of switching and my mentor said I could choose between the older degree plan (I started in Oct 11) or the current one.

simtech

erpadmin wrote: »

Mine just says Bachelor of Science -- Information Technology

BTW, congratulations!! I think you are the first of my referrals to have finished!! Well done!!

Thanks, man. Congratulations to you too! I think we finished about the same time.

veritas_libertas

ogrimmm wrote: »

I was wondering if someone has a copy of the previous pdfs of degree plans for the Network Admin and general IT track. I need the ones prior to this last change. I'm kicking around the idea of switching and my mentor said I could choose between the older degree plan (I started in Oct 11) or the current one.

I don't, but your Mentor should be able to provide that to you.

veritas_libertas

I just passed a pre-assessment for WSV1 with a 78%. Barely passable, but passable none the less.

Time to actually start studying for it

NOLAJ

usagent27 wrote: »

i want to get a head start.

What books should i use for the Project +, Security +, and CIW (WF1) i figure that while i'm waiting i can study and then just bang those out.

also whats the name of the book for LAE1?

Thanks!

As other have mentioned, you really can't go wrong with anything Darril Gibson.

Fwiw....Books 24x7 has the CompTIA Security + book. Published this year.

NOLAJ

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I just passed a pre-assessment for WSV1 with a 78%. Barely passable, but passable none the less.

Time to actually start studying for it

I don't have WSV1 on my degree plan. What is that?

LinuxRacr

NOLAJ wrote: »

As other have mentioned, you really can't go wrong with anything Darril Gibson.

Fwiw....Books 24x7 has the CompTIA Security + book. Published this year.

^^ This. With only this book as my study material, I passed the Security+ with only 3 weeks of intensive studying, and prior knowledge/experience.

In other news, I know I'm late to the party, but CONGRATS to Excellent1 on finishing the degree at WGU!

veritas_libertas

NOLAJ wrote: »

I don't have WSV1 on my degree plan. What is that?

CIW Web Design Specialist

NOLAJ

veritas_libertas wrote: »

CIW Web Design Specialist

Yuck!!

veritas_libertas

NOLAJ wrote: »

Yuck!!

No kidding

swild

That class is CUV1 for me. I'm almost to the end of volume one of that CIW text book.

I don't understand why they keep changing the course names without changing the courses themselves.

Jack2

After passing the Project+ Today I think I finally have my head out of the clouds and can get back on track with the rest of my courses! This course book was a DOG(UGLY DOG)!

Whoo Hoo!! all of the CompTIA's out of the way!

Psoasman

I am close to wrapping up my study for the 642 exam. I've gone through various resources like LabSim, uCertify, MS press book, and technet.

uCertify for the 642 sucks. Some of the questions are so elemental and obvious. Here's a rough example:

You want to adjust the zone type on DNS, what do you do?
1. Install DHCP
2. Reinstall DNS without any zones
3. access the properties of the zone
4. Create an IPSec policy

the answer is obvious. Some of the questions are missing information or aren't spelled right. The drag and drop questions often have server 200 listed as an answer. So it is server 2000, 2003, 2008? After 3 of these questions in the first 15 questions, I pretty much gave up on uCertify.

LabSim is good. I am finding the questions challenging and actually harder than the vendor exam.
The MS Press book questions are about the same difficulty. I do like the Learning Tab, where you can go straight to Technet to get more specific information on the topics.
For this course, it definitely helps to have multiple resources and lab, lab, lab, lab, and then lab some more.

petedude

veritas_libertas wrote: »

CIW Web Design Specialist

Passed that with the Foundations books and uCertify. Didn't even take the new ones out of the shrinkwrap . .

petedude

Psoasman wrote: »

uCertify for the 642 sucks.

Bummed to hear that. I had high hopes for uCertify as supplementary material for 642. Well, at least I have Examforce floating around someplace.

jmasterj206

petedude wrote: »

Bummed to hear that. I had high hopes for uCertify as supplementary material for 642. Well, at least I have Examforce floating around someplace.

I'd stronly suggest looking at Kaplan or Transcender practice tests for that one.

joehalford01

Psoasman wrote: »

I am close to wrapping up my study for the 642 exam. I've gone through various resources like LabSim, uCertify, MS press book, and technet.

uCertify for the 642 sucks. Some of the questions are so elemental and obvious. Here's a rough example:

You want to adjust the zone type on DNS, what do you do?
1. Install DHCP
2. Reinstall DNS without any zones
3. access the properties of the zone
4. Create an IPSec policy

the answer is obvious. Some of the questions are missing information or aren't spelled right. The drag and drop questions often have server 200 listed as an answer. So it is server 2000, 2003, 2008? After 3 of these questions in the first 15 questions, I pretty much gave up on uCertify.

LabSim is good. I am finding the questions challenging and actually harder than the vendor exam.
The MS Press book questions are about the same difficulty. I do like the Learning Tab, where you can go straight to Technet to get more specific information on the topics.
For this course, it definitely helps to have multiple resources and lab, lab, lab, lab, and then lab some more.

Good to know, I'm working on AHV1 right now.

bmtuser

Hey guys!

I was wondering if anyone has finished their term early, and if so did WGU refund you a portion of the term. I started my second term Jan 1 and only have three classes left which should be done by the end of the month. It kind of seems surreal that I am that close to my degree.

Thanks!

KeithC

bmtuser wrote: »

Hey guys!

I was wondering if anyone has finished their term early, and if so did WGU refund you a portion of the term. I started my second term Jan 1 and only have three classes left which should be done by the end of the month. It kind of seems surreal that I am that close to my degree.

Thanks!

You will only get a refund if your term is under 12 CU. It may be different for the Military folks but you should check with your mentor if there are any perks.

Arysta

Psoasman wrote: »

Agreed. It would be beneficial to have FAQs about the actual courses: hints, tips, tricks to succeed. BTW: my mentor said that they are getting rid of LabSim for the Cisco courses and moving to something else. I am very curious as to what. Apparently the course mentors are concerned about students "relying on LabSim too much for the exam"

This is good news. I've never been a big fan of LabSim. I tend to get annoyed at the slow pace and just rely on the texts after going through a few sections.

demonfurbie

i dislike labsim as well, the info seams good but its slow paced and the tests at that it offers seams to test exactly on the info in labsim and at least as far as ive seen its nothing like the real tests, at least for microsoft

Psoasman

demonfurbie wrote: »

i dislike labsim as well, the info seams good but its slow paced and the tests at that it offers seams to test exactly on the info in labsim and at least as far as ive seen its nothing like the real tests, at least for microsoft

I agree with this. You can basically look over the notes they provide and then use those to answer the test questions. I find the questions harder than what's on the vendor exam, mainly due to their often being one word that differs. that makes it more of a reading comprehension test. That said, I do like the sims you can do, I have gotten the most benefit from doing those and reading through the notes.

petedude

jmasterj206 wrote: »

I'd stronly suggest looking at Kaplan or Transcender practice tests for that one.

Thanks. I don't completely mind the notion of shelling out just a little more for some good practice tests, but I would have liked to save money if possible.

Just call me cheap.

demonfurbie

Psoasman wrote: »

I agree with this. You can basically look over the notes they provide and then use those to answer the test questions. I find the questions harder than what's on the vendor exam, mainly due to their often being one word that differs. that makes it more of a reading comprehension test. That said, I do like the sims you can do, I have gotten the most benefit from doing those and reading through the notes.

i even take it a step further and print them out and highlight as i read

Psoasman

demonfurbie wrote: »

i even take it a step further and print them out and highlight as i read

I do the same. I've got a huge binder with those notes from the 640 and 642, so far. Thank God for printers at work

NOLAJ

Psoasman wrote: »

I am close to wrapping up my study for the 642 exam. I've gone through various resources like LabSim, uCertify, MS press book, and technet.

uCertify for the 642 sucks. Some of the questions are so elemental and obvious. Here's a rough example:

You want to adjust the zone type on DNS, what do you do?
1. Install DHCP
2. Reinstall DNS without any zones
3. access the properties of the zone
4. Create an IPSec policy

the answer is obvious. Some of the questions are missing information or aren't spelled right. The drag and drop questions often have server 200 listed as an answer. So it is server 2000, 2003, 2008? After 3 of these questions in the first 15 questions, I pretty much gave up on uCertify.

LabSim is good. I am finding the questions challenging and actually harder than the vendor exam.
The MS Press book questions are about the same difficulty. I do like the Learning Tab, where you can go straight to Technet to get more specific information on the topics.
For this course, it definitely helps to have multiple resources and lab, lab, lab, lab, and then lab some more.

Good luck!! I'm taking the 70-642 next week.

Books 24x7 has a LOT of material for the 70-642.

bmtuser

KeithC wrote: »

You will only get a refund if your term is under 12 CU. It may be different for the Military folks but you should check with your mentor if there are any perks.

Thanks for the info! I guess I can take my time on TWA1 and CPW2.

usagent27

Ok so i have been trying to get enrolled and my enrollment guy seems like now he is dragging his feet. i have requested my transcripts. They still haven't gotten my college ones (only a history class was on it) can i be enrolled if i tell them no to worry about that one class? i only have a few days left before the cutoff...i'm starting to get discouraged.

Psoasman

usagent27 wrote: »

Ok so i have been trying to get enrolled and my enrollment guy seems like now he is dragging his feet. i have requested my transcripts. They still haven't gotten my college ones (only a history class was on it) can i be enrolled if i tell them no to worry about that one class? i only have a few days left before the cutoff...i'm starting to get discouraged.

Yes, you can enroll without that class.