Student Experiences at Western Governors University (WGU)

earweed

Math is just a matter of practicing and learning a few rules and how to manipulate them. I wish some of the things I'm studying now were as easy for me to understand as math.
Getting ready for my 70-640 and group policy seems to be my main weak point right now.

chmorin

earweed wrote: »

Math is just a matter of practicing and learning a few rules and how to manipulate them. I wish some of the things I'm studying now were as easy for me to understand as math.
Getting ready for my 70-640 and group policy seems to be my main weak point right now.

The 'ease' of things is a matter of perceptive. I'd much rather learn more about group policy.

earweed

Doing extra reading and stuying on it. Doing every practice exercise in the MS Press book and the Sybex book along with doing the simulations in my Labsim/testout cbt. Starting to understand better how ,and why,to manipulate it.
The point is that learning "new" things requires study and practice. If I had experience with server 2008 before taking this course it would be easy for me.

Hyper-Me

earweed wrote: »

Math is just a matter of practicing and learning a few rules and how to manipulate them. I wish some of the things I'm studying now were as easy for me to understand as math.
Getting ready for my 70-640 and group policy seems to be my main weak point right now.

Math is, logically, the easiest thing there is. Because you dont have to go into the test knowing the answers, because everything you need to get it is on the test itself.

What makes it hard for me is that I find zero interest in it whatsoever, so it makes it hard to *click* on my level of thinking.

When i install a piece of software with a GPO (or whatever) I see a result, and therefore it means something to me.

When I simply Log4^12 + Log5^16 it leaves me going "Why the hell did i do that, ill never use it"

chmorin

Hyper-Me wrote: »

Math is, logically, the easiest thing there is. Because you dont have to go into the test knowing the answers, because everything you need to get it is on the test itself.

What makes it hard for me is that I find zero interest in it whatsoever, so it makes it hard to *click* on my level of thinking.

When i install a piece of software with a GPO (or whatever) I see a result, and therefore it means something to me.

When I simply Log4^12 + Log5^16 it leaves me going "Why the hell did i do that, ill never use it"

+1 I Agree totally! This is me!

themagicone

I'm excited! Most of my paperwork is in and I have a May 1st start date. My enrollment counselor told me that the EWB class should only take a few days if you're good at computers. Just need to get financial aid squared away and them to get my transcript.

jahsoul

themagicone wrote: »

I'm excited! Most of my paperwork is in and I have a May 1st start date. My enrollment counselor told me that the EWB class should only take a few days if you're good at computers. Just need to get financial aid squared away and them to get my transcript.

EWB took a few hours...lol...

Congrats on starting!!! From my pov, the school is awesome. I'm loving it.

petedude

I wish WGU would fix their form letters. It looks really unprofessional (almost spam-ish) to get E-mail from one person when another is listed as the sender.

SCIONTX

I agree. It looks quite tacky.

jahsoul

Just to the CIW Foundations pre assessment. smh.

53% (16/30). I split every topic down the middle. Welp, I guess I have to get to studying these encyclopedias.

earweed

It was my first cert as well and I had to read them all. It's a very broad subject. It's a mile wide and an inch deep, but you'll learn a few things.
I probably spent more time studying for foundations than I did for the A+, but I already had experience working with computers.

snokerpoker

I'm off to a great start. This month I was able to complete EWB, LAE1, WFV1, and LAC1. I am hoping to continue at this pace so I can finish my degree in a year and a half.

LisaKayKing

I am Lisa King. I am currently at the end of my 2nd year with WGU. I am working on a Bachelor Degree in IT with Major in Network Design and Management. I am also a 47 year old mom, with a full time job at a security company as IT Professional and wow, so little time to study but staying on course.

wayers22

LisaKayKing wrote: »

I am Lisa King. I am currently at the end of my 2nd year with WGU. I am working on a Bachelor Degree in IT with Major in Network Design and Management. I am also a 47 year old mom, with a full time job at a security company as IT Professional and wow, so little time to study but staying on course.

I am 27 years old and work a full time job. I have been married for just over a year now. I plan on starting within the next two months - after I finish up Security+ and Project+.

I was worried about the work load. It helps to see others with a full plate of work handle things. I dont have any kids yet, but I could only imagine how tough it would be.

Hyper-Me

WGU's scheduling methods frustrate me to no end. That and the fact that my usual testing center (a college) shuts down for a month at a time a couple times a year.

petedude

51 activities? Man, EWB is a bigger deal than I thought.

snokerpoker

Hyper-Me wrote: »

WGU's scheduling methods frustrate me to no end. That and the fact that my usual testing center (a college) shuts down for a month at a time a couple times a year.

Have you checked out the webassessor proctoring method? This will allow you to use a webcam and take all objective exams (minus the IT certifications) at home. If you sign up for this, you can schedule objective exams two or 3 days in advance instead of having to wait two weeks and go the prometric testing center (or college) every singe time.

Hyper-Me

snokerpoker wrote: »

Have you checked out the webassessor proctoring method? This will allow you to use a webcam and take all objective exams (minus the IT certifications) at home. If you sign up for this, you can schedule objective exams two or 3 days in advance instead of having to wait two weeks and go the prometric testing center (or college) every singe time.

I thought this was only done in rare circumstances. (no testing centers in the area, disabled people, pregnant women, etc)

I've also heard bad things about it. Apparently if you move ever so slightly they shut the test down because they think you are cheating. They also shut the test down if there is any background noise whatsoever.

azjag

I had the same issue when I first started the enrollment process in dec of 08. My counseler went on vacation for the week between xmas and new years. I planned to start on Jan 1st. After several phonecalls somebody else completed my enrollment. Frustrating yes but 14 months later my degree is done. It

snokerpoker

Hyper-Me wrote: »

I thought this was only done in rare circumstances. (no testing centers in the area, disabled people, pregnant women, etc)

I've also heard bad things about it. Apparently if you move ever so slightly they shut the test down because they think you are cheating. They also shut the test down if there is any background noise whatsoever.

I've only used it once and it wasn't that bad. Even if they have to stop it so they can get a better view, your still at home.....

veritas_libertas

Just passed CLC1 (Reasoning and Problem Solving). A little more difficult than I suspected it would be.

66.67% of the semester completed!

Hyper-Me

Did it tell you what score you got on the CLC1? Much harder than the pre assessment?

veritas_libertas

Hyper-Me wrote: »

Did it tell you what score you got on the CLC1? Much harder than the pre assessment?

Not much harder, be sure to go through the basic questions and answers provided in Skill Soft.

No it doesn't give your score, though I wish it would.

On a side note, I thought about what you said about just doing the MCITP:EA, and I think your right. I'm going to just do the MCITP:EA even if it costs me an extra semester.

bwcarty

You can get your score for CLC1 on your AAP. Click on the "Pass" link and expand "Show Coaching Report." You'll get your overall score there, and there's a link that gives you a breakdown by question type.

Personally, I thought that one was 80-90% common sense and the rest was a bit of terminology. The online modules are plenty to get you through it.

I'm off to take the MGC1 (Management) assessment tonight. I haven't studied at all, but I scored 80% on the preassessment thanks to my 10 years in corporate America.

petedude

Y'all:

How long did it take you to get cleared for your EWB assessments? Granted, I've only been waiting a day or so now, but I'm anxious to get moving.

veritas_libertas

petedude wrote: »

Y'all:

How long did it take you to get cleared for your EWB assessments? Granted, I've only been waiting a day or so now, but I'm anxious to get moving.

Have you had your phone call with your mentor yet? Your mentor is your advocate so contact him or her.

petedude

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Have you had your phone call with your mentor yet? Your mentor is your advocate so contact him or her.

Done the initial phone call. I'll give it until Friday morning to schedule, then I'll call my mentor if I still don't see the assessments posted.

veritas_libertas

petedude wrote: »

Done the initial phone call. I'll give it until Friday morning to schedule, then I'll call my mentor if I still don't see the assessments posted.

I would do it today, no point on slowing down your progress. The EWB only takes two days at the most to complete. Then you can start working on your other classes.

veritas_libertas

Well I passed LAE1 today and I only have ABV1 (Windows 7) to finish for this semester.

earweed

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Well I passed LAE1 today and I only have ABV1 (Windows 7) to finish for this semester.

Congrats! Are you gonna add another class?