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

Danielm7

bladematthewslp wrote: »

For those who are enrolled or have completed an IT program at WGU, how do you receive instruction? Are there videos of teachers to watch, do you have to read a book for everything and take a test, or is there another method of receiving the needed instruction to pass the course?

For the IT courses it's mostly books, videos and labs. The videos aren't really the "instructors" per say, but more things like access to testout, labsim, CBT Nuggets, etc. You really don't even have instructors in a traditional sense at WGU, you have course mentors, but the only time you even talk to them is if you ask them a question, otherwise it's on you to learn the material.

stryder144

zidian wrote: »

Definitely pay close attention to that. I didn't review mine eval thoroughly and during my second term found a class my eval gave me credit for, but was still on my degree plan. I was lucky that I hadn't started the class yet, but could have easily taken a class I didn't need.

That is exactly what I just found. I have my Network+ cert and one class, Networks, is on my degree plan. When I looked a bit deeper, I found that the outcome for the class is sitting for, and award of, the Network+ cert. So, tomorrow when I speak to my student mentor, I am going to mention it and see if she can get it updated. It would be nice to get another 4 CUs out of the way before starting next month.

TheChameleon

After finding this site and seeing all these references to classes and WGU, I might join the club. Question, if I want to create a shorter track, can I just do all the certs ahead of time and be left with the general education? Aren't most of WGU IT Core and IT just related to certs?

So depending on the track, if I did all the CIW, CompTIA A+ Security+, Network+, and what Project+, I could transfer in about 60+ credits?

TomkoTech

Why would you do that though? If you feel you could pass the certs with little to no studying then doing it through WGU makes more sense. You could do all of those 60 credits worth of Certs in the first few months of your first term and not have to pay for the exams.

If it's going to take you time to study for them, then you really aren't saving yourself any time. The only way it makes sense is if it you will take a long time to study for each cert and doing it that way would save you the money on tuition.

TheChameleon

I'm not saying that it would be little to no effort. I do work full time in a high stress environment so there is no assurance that I could do all those certs in the first few months and not even sure that is humanly possible. The information I see is that WGU is about 3k per term and could go as high as 26k to complete. So the more time you take, the more it costs?

So for example if I already have Security+ and all the CIW certs, then there is only dependency on the degree track as to how many others are needed and hopefully they won't keep upping the requirements! If I took the Network Design and Management track (Seems to take less certs than General track now), then I could try to complete one cert a month on my own with a book and Skillsoft.

So lets say that I could complete 1 cert a month. Why wouldn't this be cheaper to get the certs first than risking enrolling and adding more terms if I didn't complete? Wouldn't this avoid taking the classes required for the certs as well? This way I could do the certs at my own pace, hopefully be done by August and then enroll in WGU. The general education could take me longer to complete or less but I assume doing it this would save lots of money.

It would cost me $1500-1700 for all the certs on my own time without $3k per terms hanging over my head.

CompTIA Security+ (Done)
CIW Web Foundations Associate (Done)
CIW JavaScript Specialist (Done)
CompTIA A+ (Month 1-2) $300+
CompTIA Network+ ( Month 3) $240
CompTIA Project+ (Month 4) $269
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Windows OS Fundamentals, Networking Fundamentals, Security Fundamentals (Month 5-6) $375

This way next year I could enroll in tuition assistance with my company since its too late this year but already have worked through some of the program before enrolling.

TomkoTech wrote: »

Why would you do that though? If you feel you could pass the certs with little to no studying then doing it through WGU makes more sense. You could do all of those 60 credits worth of Certs in the first few months of your first term and not have to pay for the exams.

If it's going to take you time to study for them, then you really aren't saving yourself any time. The only way it makes sense is if it you will take a long time to study for each cert and doing it that way would save you the money on tuition.

TomkoTech

You would have to talk to an enrollment counselor. You can transfer in up to X amount of credits. I think you need at least 30 completed there for the degree but I could be mistaken. At any rate yes you can take the certs first and transfer them in.

TheChameleon

Thanks, it would be nice to only have 30 remaining, I hope that is possible and seems fair if you have done the certs, I've effectively tested out of the course. That way I could finish in a couple terms and hopefully keep going from there. We'll see, since I haven't even started yet.

I probably want to get the certs done before talking to a counselor since their job is to sell their product and get you enrolled and paying $$. If I get all the certs done in < six months, I'm assuming they can't disregard them to make me go for additional terms.

Once I finish the ITIL Foundation, I'll see how quickly I can do Project+ or Network+ which will give me a gauge. If I am able to do both next month then I can likely finish A+ and the Microsoft exams the following month and enroll for August.

TomkoTech wrote: »

You would have to talk to an enrollment counselor. You can transfer in up to X amount of credits. I think you need at least 30 completed there for the degree but I could be mistaken. At any rate yes you can take the certs first and transfer them in.

Danielm7

TheChameleon wrote: »

I probably want to get the certs done before talking to a counselor since their job is to sell their product and get you enrolled and paying $$. If I get all the certs done in < six months, I'm assuming they can't disregard them to make me go for additional terms.

Don't confuse WGU with a for profit school. They shouldn't try to sell you on anything. If you do all the certs beforehand I don't see why they'd decide to disregard them.

iBrokeIT

TheChameleon wrote: »

I probably want to get the certs done before talking to a counselor since their job is to sell their product and get you enrolled and paying $$. If I get all the certs done in < six months, I'm assuming they can't disregard them to make me go for additional terms.

This is what I decided to do. I got the MCITP:EA which transferred in for 40 credits and the Security+ for another 6 credits. You are going to have to get those credits one way or another so why not do them on your own time at your own pace vs being on the clock at WGU. One thing WGU doesn't try to do is sell you on their classes and programs. They make it very clear up front if you are not able to self study you are not a good fit for them.

TheChameleon

I looked into the MCITP:EA, it appears that they should have given you more credit than 40. Do you know which courses this cert erased? I'm trying to figure out if Microsoft or getting the other certs is the best path (Linux+ or A+, Network+ etc).

iBrokeIT wrote: »

This is what I decided to do. I got the MCITP:EA which transferred in for 40 credits and the Security+ for another 6 credits. You are going to have to get those credits one way or another so why not do them on your own time at your own pace vs being on the clock at WGU. One thing WGU doesn't try to do is sell you on their classes and programs. They make it very clear up front if you are not able to self study you are not a good fit for them.

iBrokeIT

TheChameleon wrote: »

I looked into the MCITP:EA, it appears that they should have given you more credit than 40.

Do you have any factual material from WGU to back that up or are you just going off of your own opinion on what should go down?

The MCITP:EA transferred into WGU:
AJV1 - 6
EAV1 - 4
EBV1 - 4
DVH1 - 3
CRV1 - 4
ABV1 - 6
AHV1 - 6
AIV1 - 6

Total 39, sorry was 1 off

This was transferred in for the BS IT-Net Admin track start date of June 1st 2014. More than 40 credits for the new BS IT - Net Admin degree?
Specially which classes am I missing that the MCITP:EA should have counted towards?

jsmxav

DPG wrote: »

I found out that this is true. Completing CUV1 or BOV1 will satisfy both EUP1 and EUC1.

Does this happen automatically or do you have to do something to get EUP1 and EUC1 waived? I completed CUV1 recently but the other two courses are not marked as waived or completed in my degree plan.

ratbuddy

Just send your mentor an email asking to receive a 'requirement satisfied' for those two classes.

jsmxav

ratbuddy wrote: »

Just send your mentor an email asking to receive a 'requirement satisfied' for those two classes.

Thank you, I e-mailed my mentor as you suggested and everything was taken care of!

RIP_Leroi

I just received notification of my capstone being approved last night, and just submitted my graduation application. I'm planning on attending the ceremony in Salt Lake City on July 12th, so hopefully I can see some of you folks there. I am sharing my experience, so hopefully it will provide motivation or guidance for those students who are just starting out, or maybe struggling with with they are at.

I'm 33 with a wife and a 4 year old and have always regretted not finishing college when I lived at home with my parents. I went on-and-off to community colleges in person, and online. I even tried University of Phoenix for a brief time, but I always had the doubt in the back of my mind that I would never finish my degree. However, when I found WGU, it was a breathe of fresh air, and completely different than any other college experience I've had. There were no due dates, and you could work as much as you wanted, taking breaks along the way. I genuinely don't believe I would have finished at a traditional university because of my work/life commitments.

I always scoffed at the idea of an employers requiring a degree before you could get a job interview, because I felt like I was doing the job, and wouldn't gain anything additional from a degree. However, I now can understand where they are coming from. It may not necessarily have anything to do with the skills you learn from college, but for having the tenacity to finish what you started. Working full time and having a family takes a tremendous amount of time and there were days where I seriously considered quitting, but I was some how able to push through. It almost seems silly as a grown man, but the sense of pride and accomplishment is almost overwhelming right now.

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and most of my family still lives there. I can't even imagine how great it's going to be going back there and standing in front of my friends and family in the graduation ceremony. There is one person in my family that received their associates degree, but I think I'm the first person to finish a bachelors degree. Not to carry on, but I wish the best for all of you who are working towards your dreams as well, and I can tell you that the pain is absolutely worth the reward in the end.

Danielm7

Congrats RIP! I'm in a semi similar situation and I just finished my BS too. It really is a ton of work when you're working and still trying to be a great husband and parent but it is totally worth it.

coffeeluvr

@RIP_Leroi...Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing your story.

jabney

RIP_Leroi wrote: »

I just received notification of my capstone being approved last night, and just submitted my graduation application. I'm planning on attending the ceremony in Salt Lake City on July 12th, so hopefully I can see some of you folks there. I am sharing my experience, so hopefully it will provide motivation or guidance for those students who are just starting out, or maybe struggling with with they are at.

I'm 33 with a wife and a 4 year old and have always regretted not finishing college when I lived at home with my parents. I went on-and-off to community colleges in person, and online. I even tried University of Phoenix for a brief time, but I always had the doubt in the back of my mind that I would never finish my degree. However, when I found WGU, it was a breathe of fresh air, and completely different than any other college experience I've had. There were no due dates, and you could work as much as you wanted, taking breaks along the way. I genuinely don't believe I would have finished at a traditional university because of my work/life commitments.

I always scoffed at the idea of an employers requiring a degree before you could get a job interview, because I felt like I was doing the job, and wouldn't gain anything additional from a degree. However, I now can understand where they are coming from. It may not necessarily have anything to do with the skills you learn from college, but for having the tenacity to finish what you started. Working full time and having a family takes a tremendous amount of time and there were days where I seriously considered quitting, but I was some how able to push through. It almost seems silly as a grown man, but the sense of pride and accomplishment is almost overwhelming right now.

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and most of my family still lives there. I can't even imagine how great it's going to be going back there and standing in front of my friends and family in the graduation ceremony. There is one person in my family that received their associates degree, but I think I'm the first person to finish a bachelors degree. Not to carry on, but I wish the best for all of you who are working towards your dreams as well, and I can tell you that the pain is absolutely worth the reward in the end.

Congrats RIP. Your story just gave me the kick in the arse i needed to go back to WGU and Reapply so i can get that same feeling.
I still have 60 credits to go but i'll Get r done.

NOLAJ

lelei wrote: »

I'm a bit late in responding, but I am currently enrolled in this program. I can try to answer any questions you have, if you still have any

Lol, sorry for the ridiculously late response, but thanks for the offer!! I was actually able to get everything squared away. Still on pace to finish in 1 term as well

! Starting Business Strategy Game for JHT2. Have you taken this course yet?

amcnow

It's been a long time since my last post on this forum. A lot has happened in my life the past year. I just returned from my second term break, only to find out WGU is forcing a change in my curriculum.

The issue I'm having is this change actually tacks on a couple more CUs needed for me to graduate (increasing my needed CUs from 15 to 17). This also leaves me with a completed course from the old curriculum that effectively doesn't transfer over to the new curriculum. This may not seem like much, but my time is currently at a premium (especially with everything going on in my life right now).

EDIT: I just learned GIAC retired the G2700 exam. This explains the need for a change. This, however, doesn't explain why said change makes things more difficult for me.

EasyPeezy

NOLAJ wrote: »

Lol, sorry for the ridiculously late response, but thanks for the offer!! I was actually able to get everything squared away. Still on pace to finish in 1 term as well ! Starting Business Strategy Game for JHT2. Have you taken this course yet?

I will be interested in doing the MBA IT Management as well.... Did you guys have to do any prior certifications... or get exempt from any part of the course?

NOLAJ

EasyPeezy wrote: »

I will be interested in doing the MBA IT Management as well.... Did you guys have to do any prior certifications... or get exempt from any part of the course?

From WGU's site (Here).....
[h=3]WGU Admission Process[/h]Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. Applicants must also submit a resume showing at least three years of significant professional experience. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor who can help you understand what is required of you.

NOLAJ

@RIP_Leroi Thanks for sharing! I can definitely relate. You will enjoy it immensely, and deservedly so. Congrats!

Excellent1

Been a while since I posted, just thought I'd give a few thoughts about the MSISA experience. I finished up at the end of April, which was right at the regular 2 year mark. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, my Master's program was not as smooth as my Bachelor's. The passing of a sibling, my mother's cancer, the birth of my daughter, along with moving to a new town and changing jobs twice--these things are part of life, but are certainly a challenge to deal with in the span of 2 years.

Working full time and completing the required coursework is no joke. For me, the biggest challenge of the Master's program was my lack of enjoyment of the material. The information was extremely important and certainly worthwhile, but I prefer digging deeper into the technical aspects of IT as opposed to the more abstracted managerial and policy side of the business. It's hugely important, and I learned a lot that will be put to direct use in my career, but I wasn't quite as eager to hit the books for Sarbanes Oxley regulatory compliance as I was to hit my lab for practicing route redistribution . . .

Anyway, it's done and I'm grateful that I did it. As a brief bit of encouragement to others that may be in a similar situation--I am in my late 30's and had previously always worked in manufacturing. I started as a machine operator, but over a period of a couple years, worked into low level management, where I remained for the past 12 years. I was respected, capable, and known for my work ethic and my ability to meet KPI's and maximize resources. The problem, though, is that I was dying inside. I hated it. I was in that position because my approach to my career had been very reactive as opposed to proactive.

Stepping out and going to WGU was not easy, but it was an important step for me. I'm now in a position where I develop software (desktop and web apps) for a manufacturing company. It's not easy, but it's amazing how much fun it is to go to work now. Since finishing school, I am 100% focused on learning everything I can on programming, and we'll see what the future holds. If I can do this, anyone can--but you have to want it. Good luck to everyone.

amcnow

Quick update on my scheduling situation...

My mentor set up a meeting for us with the course manager. At the conclusion, she offered to escalate my case to see what could be done. After further review, WGU decided I can simply replace FYV2 (retired G2700 exam) with DBC2 (in-house exam). I'm allowed to keep COV2 (CCENT exam) because I made a previous attempt. I scheduled both of these courses for this term to avoid future complications.

I'm satisfied with the result. Switching to the new program just wasn't beneficial for me.

Itrimble

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the Network Design & Management program. I have a couple of questions that have come to mind since I started on my WGU journey. My biggest questions is does anyone know why we don't receive vouchers and all of the exams are in house? The vouchers they do give are for the MTA exams, which are very entry level.
Does anyone have a good reason for this ? I am currently a student at WGU and 4 of my classes are Microsoft related:

70-680 Windows 7
70-640 Server 2008 Active Directory
70-643 Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Exam
Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (Exam 70-642)

When I look at the Microsoft website, it states Most MCITP certifications will be retired by July 31, 2014. Please check the retired certifications and retired exams pages for specific retirement dates. Your retired certification will remain on your transcript.

Does anyone know if WGU is going to update these classes to Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 technologies?

Danielm7

My mentor told me before the reason for a lot of the cert exams was because WGU hadn't developed an in-house class for them yet. If you're looking for more of the MS certs doesn't the network admin one offer the MCSA 2008? As for them updating, only WGU would know that, but for real world you're going to find a lot more people running server 2008 and windows 7 for awhile now.

eric281

I received a passing grade on my capstone today. That completes my BS: IT Network Design & Management in a little under 6 months. I still can't believe I'm really done.

srabiee

Congrats! I have 11 CU's to go and then I'm done.

coffeeluvr

@eric281..Congratulations!!!