Student Experiences at Western Governors University (WGU)

petedude

demonfurbie wrote: »

i broke down and hired a java tutor for the two java classes so i can get them done with out going into a new term

edit: hiring a tutor has been great i just ask the questions i have issues with and he gives me an explanation and a little code to show me how it looks in java

LivePerson.com as well as some other tutoring/expert services can be handy for this as well. Some of the folks on LivePerson won't even charge you if they can tell you're a student in need of an assist.

djfunz

Well it's been an interesting ride for the last couple of months. I started July 1st and it hasn't been an easy start. Financial aid was a bear to get past because they kept me in a loop with the NSLDS. Once that hurdle was finally jumped, I was able to get started. It wasn't really until about the 15th that I finally has the resources opened up and felt I could get going with everything.

The Critical Thinking course was harder than expected and I had to study for about 2-3 weeks until I felt that I was ready to attempt the test.

IT Fundamentals was a breeze as expected except all the HTML and Web Design material I had to basically learn from scratch. I have a couple years experience and my CCNA so the networking portion was cake and the Business portion was common sense in my opinion.

So, here I am on College Mathematics and this is harder than some make it seem. I haven't had any real math exposure for 12 years, so there's a lot I'm learning from scratch again. The Kahn Academy has been a real help and the entrance exams I had to take to get into WGU, allowed me some time to brush up as well. So far so good though. I expect to take the exam sometime next week.

Well, that's all for now. Just a quick update on my progress.

demonfurbie

petedude wrote: »

LivePerson.com as well as some other tutoring/expert services can be handy for this as well. Some of the folks on LivePerson won't even charge you if they can tell you're a student in need of an assist.

exactly who i went with

they guy i picked was fair priced, didnt charge me by the hour just by the class and answered all my questions even the simple stupid ones

N2IT

Holy cow!

My first task ever that was accepted on the first try. Supply Chain Task 1. Almost done with Task 2, should be submitted today or tomorrow.

N2IT

JCT2 Tast 2 has been submitted. 1 more task to complete supply chain (Can't wait this material is fairly rough)

Risk Management is next and this should be fairly easy. I've been studying for the RMP for about 2 months now including the PMP and CAPM.

paadams

demonfurbie wrote: »

exactly who i went with

they guy i picked was fair priced, didnt charge me by the hour just by the class and answered all my questions even the simple stupid ones

How do you choose someone on Liveperson.com? Looked at the site but not sure where to go. Just found this forum a while back and I think I'm going to need help with KET1 and KFT1.

demonfurbie

i just posted an ad for need java help - tutoring

Somnipotent

I received my transfer evaluation an hour ago... looks like I have 52 CUs to complete for my BS degree. My AS waived ALL of my GenEds and my current certs waived a majority of my core classes related to the security emphasis. I'm psyched to start in a few weeks. I want to knock out as many CUs as I can with a goal of under two terms (one if I really apply myself).

petedude

demonfurbie wrote: »

i just posted an ad for need java help - tutoring

Can't remember the exact steps, but there was a place where you could search by skillset-- did a search on Java and found tutors.

Iristheangel

demonfurbie wrote: »

i just posted an ad for need java help - tutoring

Check out Craigslist. I found a broke grad student who tutored me at $10/hr. Two weeks later, I was finally at a level to do the tasks.

demonfurbie

i feel alot better now that i see im not the only one who needed to use a tutor for ket/kft

Iristheangel

Oh yeah, I struggled through it. I bought a few Java books but I still got lost at points. Those are some demanding performance assessments

westtex

Hi Everyone,

I am seriously considering WGU for a second Bachelors and 1st Masters. Can someone explain the class/study environment? I gather you are given study materials for each class, but are you given access to labs and sims? Do we need to provide our own lab environments for each cert?

How do you think it compares with just studying for each cert on your own? I realize this method you dont earn a degree at the end, just curious..

Thanks

spiderjericho

Westtex, I'm attending WGU for my second Bachelor's and possibly Master's (but I'm not liking what I hear about their security and network Master's Program course work).

They provide you with a study guide, practice tests, a community that have gone through the same experience and possibly labs.

I just got done with the materials for CUV1, CIW Web Design Associate, it includes the official study guide, practice tests and labs (theyre included in the study guide).

I'd prefer self study. There are drawbacks to different study methods. With WGU, I read all 34 chapters in probably 6 days (some with more free time or who discard sleep might do it quicker), but I felt like its a quantity versus quality approach, as the main allure of the program besides certs is how fast can you go. But I think it's a great program for older learners and much better than University of Phoenix (and other degree mills).

But as far as getting your second degree, go for it. It's a quick way to obtain one. Since I had a Bachelor's and many of the certs, I only have seven classes to complete, which is doable in one six-month term.

westtex

thats what I was hoping for, get credit for my certs and renew my ccna and get a 2nd degree from the deal. Plus it will help me get the training my employer isnt paying for, so for the price it seems really attractive. Im just leary of the learning experience, I like alot of labs and hands on as opposed to reading.

spiderjericho

Well, I can only speak on CUV1 right now. The only other certs I have to take are DFV1, Microsoft Web Design Fundemantals and BOV1, JavaScript Specialist. Personally, I'd rather study at my own pace without worrying about being on track or hitting deadlines.

Maybe someone else can comment about the lab experiences with the Microsoft, CompTIA courses. I know they just started to offer the Cisco IOU labs on the Learning Network, which I'm sure are good.

Psoasman

spiderjericho wrote: »

Maybe someone else can comment about the lab experiences with the Microsoft, CompTIA courses. I know they just started to offer the Cisco IOU labs on the Learning Network, which I'm sure are good.

The Microsoft course labs were from LabSim - I am not sure if they are still using LabSim. I thought LabSim was pretty good, overall. The "facts" make great study notes and the built-in labs are ok. Some of the presenters leave a bit to be desired - one of the guys talking about Cert services scowled the entire presentation.

For CompTIA, I only had to do the Project+ and the book for it is fine. I'd advise using the Sybex book, too.

Watch out for uCertify with any of the courses, as the questions can be missing the answers, have the wrong answers listed and / or are poorly-worded.

The main thing to remember about WGU is that you are in charge of your own education. The mentors are there to assist you, but students need to be proactive in obtaining the necessary resources and help.

kgb

WGU is still using Labsim. I'm doing Net+ class right now.

The way I feel about uCertify is this: It's good for the knowledge, but your time would be better spent on other resources if you are purely focused on the exam. I have 0% desire to be a network guy (I'm a developer) so all I really care about is passing all those networking exams so I can get to the programming classes and finish. I really don't need to remember the steps in creating an unattended.xml file. If I was ever faced with such a task, I'd spend the 1min and google it.

I find Labsim to be pretty good. I also have been purchasing the MeasureUP practice exams for the MTA exams. So far, they've been helpful as well.

KeithC

WGU has changed the learning resources for the Microsoft Server 2008 classes that started on May 1st. They consist of the WileyPLUS Microsoft Official Academic Course books the Microsoft IT Academy virtual labs and still Ucertify. I think the book is horrible as it's not updated for R2 and only has additional notes from the course mentor on the updated material (there is barely any content on RMS or FS for example) and the virtual labs are the same as in the book.

Hypntick

Glad I still had labsim use then. Anyone know what they offer for the C|EH? I'm reading the all in one book now and going through some CBT nuggets vids, just curious to see what else is available from the school.

jober

dcren21 wrote: »

You will get a bill that only lists your program = $2890 and then the $145 resource fee. Total is $3035. Those will be the only 2 items or charges on the bill. So you wont have anything hidden on there or something not to expect. They do charge a promise to pay fee or processing fee or something like that which I think is like $50 per term. Not 100% sure, but you wont have random unexpected fees or charges.

I remember you saying you start Aug 1st like me. Have you had any contact with your mentor yet and have you had any access to Ed w/o Boundaries?

Somnipotent

I had to call the enrollment department to have my profile cleared by admissions so that EWB would open up. They said it should be done by EoB today.

spiderjericho

So I took the CIW Web Design Specialist exam today. I passed, but just barely. I was a little disappointed with my performance. But I have to be realistic with myself. I didn't do any practice exams on Saturday, Sunday or today. And I've been occupied with my sick daughter the last few days. Normally, I'm a perfectionist. But I have to set realistic expectations and try to juggle things.

Edit: Also, forgot to mention, I took the new CIW Network Associate exam. It's 25 questions and like a half hour. The questions are pretty basic networking questions. If you've passed Net+ or CCNA, then you can pass the exam without studying.

My weak area on the exam was Web Design, ironically. I'm taking a week off from school work (and told my mentor last week), as I'm currently in ITIL Services Offering and Agreements.

Next week, I'll dive head long into BOV1 and probably won't rush into the cert exam without more practice. I have four months to complete BOV1, Tech Writing, Capstone and DFV1 in order to complete my Bachelor's. I think I can realistically complete it.

And I'll be happy, since I feel like I'm biting off a little more than I can chew with work, school and my daughter's situation (she needs to get a heart transplant and has been in a hospital for two months). SIGH.

westtex

wow, thats alot on your plate, sorry to hear about your daughter (God Bless).

thanks for posting your experiences, it is appreciated.

CBaer

Just got my transcripts review, and my GSLC cert waives the Security+ course. I'm thinking of keeping the class anyway for the certification, if that flies with the mentor. Do you guys think that would be worthwhile? Or is the Sec+ not worth it?

Will be starting next Wednesday, just waiting for them to open up the Education without Borders module. Had 7 classes waived from prior college, and I'm hoping to keep my nose down and get this done in the next year and a half.

Thx.

spiderjericho

Thanks Westtex, it is a lot. But life doesn't stop. I just hope normalcy can come for my daughter since all she knows is a hospital bed.

And Cbaer, it all depends on whether you Perceive a value with Sec+ and don't mind increasing the time you'll be at WGU. Having said that, Sec+ fulfills 8570 requirements for the government and is a basic cert required by some businesses, so it can't hurt. I'd say the value has diminished since they started the CE program and three year recertification process.

lelei

I had Security+ waived due to CISSP, but was thinking about doing it as well. I was told that I can have the course opened later on, so I plan to see how quickly I progress and if it looks like I have some extra time then I'll do it. If its going to cause me to run over, I'm just going to pay out of pocket for it instead.

I would say if its not going to push you over into an additional semester go for it. If it looks like its going to push back your finishing date by much then just do self study and pay for the exam out of pocket.

spiderjericho

It depends on math. None of us know how many courses we can complete in a term, so adding it may or may not have any consequence.

Like I said, IMO, there's more value in Sec+ then most of the CIW certs. I personally think the CompTIA trifecta are good certs and any tech should have them in their tool box.

JDimmock

Thanks to reading about people's experiences here, I've decided to enroll. Right now I'm slated for starting the BS-IT degree on Sept 1.
I've been deciding whether I want to do a blog while in school, covering the general WGU experience and any tech-related projects I may do as well. I figure once done, the site could serve as a landing page for my resume.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Krones

Yesterday, I rocked the CIW foundations exam 1D0-510. This was my first certification exam so of course to soothe my concerns I over studied big time. I was a bit disappointed with the test but I figure the A+ will not be the bench warmer test. I used the uCertify materials which in retrospect is complete overkill but if you have not worked in IT or with computers very long the material is beneficial. I definitely recommend W3Schools to bone up on html and css. For a free practice exam and guide, MC MCSE: is a great site.

I have to wait for my exam results to post online and finish up the enrollment process. Hopefully, I will be starting at WGU in September. I did not have any certs or 3 years IT job experience, so the option was to take 2 high level networking courses or pick up a certification and the foundations is the easiest/quickest of the bunch. Up next on my chopping block is the A+, I hope I can knock that out in the first month.