Student Experiences at Western Governors University (WGU)

Arysta

I passed ORC1 with absolutely no study. I didn't even look at the course of study. Glad I didn't have to waste months on that bullsh*t like I'd have to at a B&M school.

Excellent1

Arysta wrote: »

I passed ORC1 with absolutely no study. I didn't even look at the course of study. Glad I didn't have to waste months on that bullsh*t like I'd have to at a B&M school.

Agreed. I have looked at the CoS for MGC1 and ORC1, because I have to wait until Thursday to take the exam (waiting on OLP scheduling). I don't think I needed to, though, as I scored in the 70's and 80's on the pre-assessment. These look to have a low cut score, so it should be doable without much hassle.

I'm studying project+ now while waiting for the OLP courses to be done. Might sneak a test in by the end of the year on project+ just to have it done. That would put me at 52 CU's in the first 4 months. Not sure if I can swing it with work, though.

jmasterj206

Excellent1 wrote: »

Agreed. I have looked at the CoS for MGC1 and ORC1, because I have to wait until Thursday to take the exam (waiting on OLP scheduling). I don't think I needed to, though, as I scored in the 70's and 80's on the pre-assessment. These look to have a low cut score, so it should be doable without much hassle.

I'm studying project+ now while waiting for the OLP courses to be done. Might sneak a test in by the end of the year on project+ just to have it done. That would put me at 52 CU's in the first 4 months. Not sure if I can swing it with work, though.

52 credits in 4 months? I just don't know how you guys are doing that. Well done.

Excellent1

jmasterj206 wrote: »

52 credits in 4 months? I just don't know how you guys are doing that. Well done.

Thanks, but I'm taking the courses that are easier for me first, so it's sort of skewed in my favor. Things will slow way down when I hit the MS certs, but I'm trying to knock out as much as possible as I can. Right now is the slow period where I work, so I know that when thing pick back up there won't be much time for studying. Spring/summer/fall is brutal--12 hours a day, 6 days a week, sometimes 7, depending on what's going on.

I don't mind a manufacturing environment, but I'd love to be on the IT side of the fence doing it rather than a production manager. Maybe someday.

simtech

Excellent1 wrote: »

No worries--I appreciate it, man.

I knocked out LET1 in 2 days without the book, but I could have done it in one if I'd had it. I think there are some things in the book that would be interesting to read, so I ordered it off half.com for 17 bucks. I'll read it at some point in the future, as sad as that sounds.

Just as a heads up again for anyone who might be taking it soon, the CoS has links to the website that you can take chapter summary quizzes for the Organizational Behavior 12th edition. Well, you can also download powerpoint presentations from each chapter on this site. If you take the link given and change the 12 in the linke to a 13 or 14 (for those respective editions), you can get some additional information. For example, the 14th edition has some summary outline info that makes a good quick review of some of the information (such as the errors and biases in evaluation performances, etc.).

Since I'm almost done with the last class AKV1, I'm thinking to add LET1 and MGC1. I passed ORC1 two weeks ago. For LET1, did you just write one paper and submit to get the result pass or fail? How does this performance test work? Thanks.

Arysta

Excellent1 wrote: »

Agreed. I have looked at the CoS for MGC1 and ORC1, because I have to wait until Thursday to take the exam (waiting on OLP scheduling). I don't think I needed to, though, as I scored in the 70's and 80's on the pre-assessment. These look to have a low cut score, so it should be doable without much hassle.

I'm studying project+ now while waiting for the OLP courses to be done. Might sneak a test in by the end of the year on project+ just to have it done. That would put me at 52 CU's in the first 4 months. Not sure if I can swing it with work, though.

Yep, I got 70something on ORC1 and, I believe around 84 on MGC1 pre-tests... which I took while watching tv haha. My mentor told me to just go ahead with it and take my chances -- said I probably had enough life/work experience to already know the basics. The cutoff scores are so low, you can get a bunch wrong and still pass.

I'll probably get close to 40 CU's this term, and that will include at least 3 certs. I have a lot of B&M experience (have a B.A. in English) and this is such a nice relief from the endless amounts of busy work I'd have to do because people in my classes were slower learners than me.

Excellent1

simtech wrote: »

Since I'm almost done with the last class AKV1, I'm thinking to add LET1 and MGC1. I passed ORC1 two weeks ago. For LET1, did you just write one paper and submit to get the result pass or fail? How does this performance test work? Thanks.

LET1 is 4 essays submitted via Taskstream. The first three are 2-4 page requirement and the last is 3-5. I finished them in two days, so they aren't difficult. Provided you have the book and a few free hours, you could probably knock them out in easily in a day. Don't read the community forums, though. From reading some of the posts, I was expecting a grueling trip through the lower planes of hell. I had to revise one task to include a definition that was somewhat vague in the rubric, but otherwise there were no issues. Just follow the rubric and utilize the website referenced on the CoS to get the powerpoint summary information to help supplement the book (or substitute for the book if you don't have one).

erpadmin

Yeah, you guys definitely did it for me...I will take the three management courses beginning next term. From what I'm reading, I should be done with the three of them within 2-3 weeks, easy. Then I'll do the math/science plus AKV1. Assuming the LET1 book gets here before the new year, I will spend January reading/skimming it and then when February rolls around, will take LET1/ORC1/MGC1 and get those tasks done straightaway.

Term 2 is shaping to be my big one.

demonfurbie

i set my mcg1 exam for the 29th

i should do fine by just reading the chapter summeries i scored a 74% on the pre-assessment

then next ill do orc1 and let1 but i will deff buy the book for them

Excellent1

erpadmin wrote: »

Yeah, you guys definitely did it for me...I will take the three management courses beginning next term. From what I'm reading, I should be done with the three of them within 2-3 weeks, easy. Then I'll do the math/science plus AKV1. Assuming the LET1 book gets here before the new year, I will spend January reading/skimming it and then when February rolls around, will take LET1/ORC1/MGC1 and get those tasks done straightaway.

Term 2 is shaping to be my big one.

You'll murder LET1 in short order, given the background you have, I'm sure.

I got an email from my mentor today congratulating me on getting LET1 done. I replied back with a comment along the lines of not enjoying Taskstream courses, but that I wanted to put them behind me. She replied back with an interesting comment that the Taskstream courses are all of the ones that in "T". I probably overlooked this in EWB or something, but I was unware of that fact. Just wanted to share it, in case it's helpful to anyone else in assisting plotting out which taskstream courses they want to knock out next.

erpadmin

Excellent1 wrote: »

You'll murder LET1 in short order, given the background you have, I'm sure.

I got an email from my mentor today congratulating me on getting LET1 done. I replied back with a comment along the lines of not enjoying Taskstream courses, but that I wanted to put them behind me. She replied back with an interesting comment that the Taskstream courses are all of the ones that in "T". I probably overlooked this in EWB or something, but I was unware of that fact. Just wanted to share it, in case it's helpful to anyone else in assisting plotting out which taskstream courses they want to knock out next.

That is an interesting fact. Under that logic, I only have three left. I'm curious though how Capstone and Tech Writing are to be handed in then? Is it really e-mailing my mentor whatever tasks for those?

The one thing that does bother me about the Taskstream courses is that you don't know who is grading you or where they're grading you from. I believe the spirit of the Sixth Amendment should apply not just to a court of law, but also to the one grading me if I ever needed to face or confront online the one who graded me instead of going through a 3rd or 4th party.

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

erpadmin wrote: »

That is an interesting fact. Under that logic, I only have three left. I'm curious though how Capstone and Tech Writing are to be handed in then? Is it really e-mailing my mentor whatever tasks for those?

I never sent my mentor anything during Technical Writing, IT Portfolio, or Capstone. The papers, and any exhibits, are turned in to taskstream just like the other courses.

simtech

Excellent1 wrote: »

LET1 is 4 essays submitted via Taskstream. The first three are 2-4 page requirement and the last is 3-5. I finished them in two days, so they aren't difficult. Provided you have the book and a few free hours, you could probably knock them out in easily in a day. Don't read the community forums, though. From reading some of the posts, I was expecting a grueling trip through the lower planes of hell. I had to revise one task to include a definition that was somewhat vague in the rubric, but otherwise there were no issues. Just follow the rubric and utilize the website referenced on the CoS to get the powerpoint summary information to help supplement the book (or substitute for the book if you don't have one).

Great, thanks for the tip. I might buy the book this time.

erpadmin

simtech wrote: »

Great, thanks for the tip. I might buy the book this time.

My LET1 book is leaving OH. Should be heading east as I type this.

If His Excellency is correct, LET1 will be my second term's EWB...(class done in one day on the first day). I usually did all my tasks consecutively, instead of concurrently. With LET1, I will do the concurrent and see how that goes...I would have skimmed a good deal of the book by that time. ORC1 will be done within the first 7 days...lol.

Excellent1

erpadmin wrote: »

That is an interesting fact. Under that logic, I only have three left. I'm curious though how Capstone and Tech Writing are to be handed in then? Is it really e-mailing my mentor whatever tasks for those?

My guess is that the Capstone / Tech Writing are the exceptions that disprove the rule. I looked at all the other courses, and the "T" is an accurate indicator of Taskstream use. I was just passing it along as something my mentor told me of and that I hadn't hear before.

Excellent1

erpadmin wrote: »

His Excellency

I actually earned that as a nickname about 10 years ago, and it was sarcastically applied. I have no delusions of grandeur.

And I'm sure you'll do well on LET1. The tasks are straightforward and short. You also have managerial / HR speak in your background, which will help tremendously.

I have been giving performance evaluations for over a decade, so I might have a slight edge on you in that regards (I'm not sure if you have direct reports in your current role), but there is nothing in the material that is intricate or difficult to remember. Of course, the x factor in any taskstream course is the grader you get, so hopefully that doesn't slow you down.

While I am not the worst writer in the world, I am also honest enough with myself to know that I'm not that great either. If I can be successful, anyone reading this has a good shot at it. Anyway, just my take on it.

erpadmin

Excellent1 wrote: »

I actually earned that as a nickname about 10 years ago, and it was sarcastically applied. I have no delusions of grandeur. .

I'm being more facetious than sarcastic. It really is all in good fun. (With a name like Excellent1, how can I not? )

Excellent1 wrote: »

And I'm sure you'll do well on LET1. The tasks are straightforward and short. You also have managerial / HR speak in your background, which will help tremendously.

I have been giving performance evaluations for over a decade, so I might have a slight edge on you in that regards (I'm not sure if you have direct reports in your current role), but there is nothing in the material that is intricate or difficult to remember. Of course, the x factor in any taskstream course is the grader you get, so hopefully that doesn't slow you down.

While I am not the worst writer in the world, I am also honest enough with myself to know that I'm not that great either. If I can be successful, anyone reading this has a good shot at it. Anyway, just my take on it.

I've had performance evaluations done to me off and on for over a decade (my previous job did not use them...that place was a mess in and of itself.) I was part of two interviews (both were not good.) I knew the questions to ask and those to avoid.

I have no direct reports, and I hope to change that within the next 2-5 years.

simtech

erpadmin wrote: »

My LET1 book is leaving OH. Should be heading east as I type this.

If His Excellency is correct, LET1 will be my second term's EWB...(class done in one day on the first day). I usually did all my tasks consecutively, instead of concurrently. With LET1, I will do the concurrent and see how that goes...I would have skimmed a good deal of the book by that time. ORC1 will be done within the first 7 days...lol.

I like how you put LET1 like a second EWB. That means I can even add more classes this first semester. I have 'till April. I can't wait to finish this AKV1, too many things to memorize plus I don't like this programming as much.

jmasterj206

I think LET1 is a little harder than you guys are giving it credit for. It is still 4 papers. The first 3 are 2-4 pages while the 4th is 3-5 pages. Most of it deals with scenarios you are given and have to apply what you have learned from your studies. You will also find that the grade times are on average 2-3 days. I found that the graders were pretty thorough on this one (or it may have just been mine, because I got nitpicked on everything). It still took me a week and a half with grading times to knock out this class.

erpadmin

jmasterj206 wrote: »

I think LET1 is a little harder than you guys are giving it credit for. It is still 4 papers. The first 3 are 2-4 pages while the 4th is 3-5 pages. Most of it deals with scenarios you are given and have to apply what you have learned from your studies. You will also find that the grade times are on average 2-3 days. I found that the graders were pretty thorough on this one (or it may have just been mine, because I got nitpicked on everything). It still took me a week and a half with grading times to knock out this class.

I am going by what the others have said, but based on them and you...3-4 pages isn't a lot (at least for me). The only issue I had was with LUT1 in regards to written presentation...one call to the course mentor set me straight on that one. I thought I could just copy and paste from my LAT1 paper....apparently, that was not going to fly.

I won't know if you or His Excellency are correct until 2/1....both of you make valid points. (Plus, I did heed what you had stated about LAT1...lol) From all accounts, though...LET1 seems to be a joke compared to LAT1.

jmasterj206

It is not hard by any means and with everything it depends on the graders. It for sure isn't LAT1, but I can't say it is EWB either.

jblake1986

I am looking to get a referral into the IT MBA. Can anyone help with this? Also I have finished my bachelor degree, but am waiting for graduation in April. Will just my transcripts be enough to get me in?

jmasterj206

jblake1986 wrote: »

I am looking to get a referral into the IT MBA. Can anyone help with this? Also I have finished my bachelor degree, but am waiting for graduation in April. Will just my transcripts be enough to get me in?

I would get a hold of an enrollment counselor jblake. Your transcripts I would guess would be fine, but since you don't officially graduate until April I would talk to them to sort that out. If you need a referral I can help you out with that.

apr911

I finished LET1 this weekend. Added the course to my AAP Thursday, requested direct referral to the taskstream tasks.

It was approved and I had access by Friday night.

Jumped on Friday night around 7 pm and started work.

Submitted task 1 about 10 minutes till to 10 pm (Total time ~3 hours)
Submitted task 2 about 15 minutes after 12 am (Total time 2.5 hours)
Submitted task 3 about 15 minutes after 3 am (Total time 3 hours)

Was tired so I turned in. Didnt get the opportunity to work on task 4 on Saturday due to work, so I wrapped up task 4on Sunday.

Task 4 took the longest time at 4-5 hours but then like his excellency, I didnt have the book which I assume would have made this task easier.

I got my scores back for tasks 1-3 between Sunday morning and Sunday night. I got Task 4 back just in time for my weekly call on Tuesday morning.

-APR911

P.S. Anyone know if you can refer yourself? I want to move right on to the MBA IT Management course when I finish the BS:IT-Sec and would obviously like to find some way to save $60

themagicone

I'm sure that there is a way around the fee to apply for the MBA. That is my plan also. The MBA in IT Management seems a better fit than the Infosec one. I'm hoping to be done with my BS in October next year and then jump right on the MBA.

jmasterj206

I'd agree with your timeframe on LET1 apr. You really don't need the book except for task 4 which it was helpful. Task 2 was probably the easiest of the bunch. My grading times were a lot slower though. They were all about 3 days each. I wonder if with the holidays the graders aren't as busy. Also for those of you that are looking at taking it soon use the community posting by Alan Jones that better explain the tasks. I found that some of the TS scenarios and instructions are kind of vague.

Oh, and erpadmin if you want a class like EWB you should take INT1 if you have to take it. That would probably have to go down as my easiest Taskstream based class.

Excellent1

jmasterj206 wrote: »

Oh, and erpadmin if you want a class like EWB you should take INT1 if you have to take it. That would probably have to go down as my easiest Taskstream based class.

Could you elaborate, please? I'm looking for filler between now and the end of the month, and I am on the fence about this one. If it's that easy, I'll have my mentor drop it in there.

Regarding LET1, I apologize if I came across as making it sound too easy. It's not easy in the sense that anyone can do it quickly, but for those of us with life experience in the requisite areas (as many of us have), along with an average writing ability, it's a quick course. My graders were thorough on this class as well (I had Task 3 returned for a definition that was implied rather than explicitly stated), but even with that one return and not having the book it was a 36 hour turnaround start to finish.

I have MGC1/ORC1 scheduled for Thursday. Hopefully there are no surprises there, but I'm going to knock off a couple of skillsoft modules just to have an edge going into them. After that, sounds like maybe INT1 by the end of the year. I was going to toss in project+, but no dice on a testing center.

erpadmin

jmasterj206 wrote: »

I'd agree with your timeframe on LET1 apr. You really don't need the book except for task 4 which it was helpful. Task 2 was probably the easiest of the bunch. My grading times were a lot slower though. They were all about 3 days each. I wonder if with the holidays the graders aren't as busy. Also for those of you that are looking at taking it soon use the community posting by Alan Jones that better explain the tasks. I found that some of the TS scenarios and instructions are kind of vague.

Oh, and erpadmin if you want a class like EWB you should take INT1 if you have to take it. That would probably have to go down as my easiest Taskstream based class.

With the holidays, I can't afford to chance doing any class....in the middle of a bunch of work right now and while we have our forced week off next week, I'm going to be entertaining my folks. While I'm not doing that, I want to jump right in to my AIV1 studies and reading the LET1 book (which is now in the USPS sort center near my house, so if not tomorrow, then the day after that is when I should have it in my hands.) I probably didn't need the book, but from the reviews I saw on Amazon, it seems like a decent read.

I just realized that 2/1 is a work day (Tuesday)...gonna have to see how I swing doing that in one day. Might have to vacation that one...lol. I know I'll do the ORC1 preassessment (one of them) that evening.

I do have to take INT1, but I'm gonna get rid of these management courses. It really does sound like they can be done in 1-3 weeks. That'll be fine, I suppose.

themagicone

Should we have LET1 day? See who get's is done first? LOL. I know it's not a race but I just had to have a laugh with it. It's on my list too and I was trying to avoid it. But after reading the reviews everyone is giving it seems that it's going to be not that bad. I'm doing ORC/MGC next week + 70-680 (the death of me I think). I could easily get LET1 in on 2/1. Going to be laid up because of back surgery once again so going to have plenty of free time in about 4 weeks. If I do get that done all I'll have left is programing classes, Cisco and then capstone stuff.

Excellent1

themagicone wrote: »

Going to be laid up because of back surgery once again so going to have plenty of free time in about 4 weeks. If I do get that done all I'll have left is programing classes, Cisco and then capstone stuff.

I hope the surgery goes well. Let us know how it goes. Best wishes on a quick recovery.