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swild wrote: » My mentor suggested that I should keep some easy passes on hand in case I don't get to finish in one term. That way I will have some easy credits for the next term. I do understand her perspective since I'm sure a lot of people come in saying they are going to finish in one term and then can't follow through. I just had BNC1 added to my AAV to get it out of the way. I think I've proven that I am capable of finishing in one term at this point. I woke up with a rebound migraine this morning so I doubt I will be able to get much studying done. I looked through the KET1 course and all of the "required" exercises on Wiley plus. Glad I know enough to skip all that crap. Downloaded the Task 1 and 2 documents and will hopefully get started on that this afternoon, if I'm feeling better. I'm feeling pretty good having 17 CUs done in only 7 weeks, and another 6 that will be easy to knock out. Still dreading that DJV1 MTA exam.
Psoasman wrote: » I am sort of doing this. I am hoping to complete the AIV1, AJVI, CUV1, and BOV1 this term. I am going to try and get the Cisco out of the way next term - but that's only 6 CUs, and if it takes me longer, it would mess my FA. So, I saved MGC1 and TPV1 for next term. That will ensure I will get my full CUs for FA compliance.
erpadmin wrote: » ...How do you plan at tackling the Cisco exams? Will you use simulators, or will you build a nice lab from hardware obtained from ebay?
spiderjericho wrote: » Hey Swild, Love your thread. I'm going to start my term in April, but we have a similar course path (for the most part). I have 0 programming or web experience. Do you think one would have any issues with DFV1, CUV1, BOV1 just utilizing the WGU tools/books? And did you just take the MGC1 and BNC1 preassessments without studying? Thanks. I plan on using your thread as a guide to help me through my WGU journey.
swild wrote: » I was planning on getting BNC1 out of the way this week, but it looks like the exam is no longer given by Prometric so I have to find a proctor and get it scheduled. If I can get that scheduled and taken by the end of the month, that will give me 20 CUs in 2 months, which puts me right on track for 60 CUs in 6 months. If I finish KET1 in the next week, that will put me at 24 CUs, ahead of schedule. That would help to be able to relax a little.
erpadmin wrote: » I guess you have an issue with online proctoring. I can understand that...a lot of folks might have a hectic household or what-have-you. You can go to either a public library OR your local college/university for proctoring. Your local library might be best. Don't they have a list of approved proctors still?
Turgon wrote: » To the OP, there seems to be pressure on to get things done. Is there a rush? Some reflection time can help the educational experience.
swild wrote: » I can't do online proctoring because I don't have internet at home. I do most of my studying at a coffee shop or at work. They have a list of available proctors and there are 3 that are within an hour of me, one being Prometric. There are an additional two about 20 more minutes away and then the next is 2 hours plus. The rush is purely monetary. My work is paying for one term and I will not be able to afford to pay for a 2nd. Also, I started school 10 years ago and I am ready to have it finished. I agree that reflection is a necessary part of learning, however, the amount of required reflection varies per person. I have always been able to retain boatloads of data that I have read through once, even years later. I find programming to be very boring and tedious so I want to get through it as fast as I can. That's also why I did it first. I am looking forward to the database classes and have a lot of hands on time as a DBA in my job, so I expect it to go quickly as well. the part I want to get to is Cisco. I'm saving the best for last. Another reason I am wanting to finish so quickly is that I am in need of a challenge. I really do like learning and have never been challenged by education. I partied through most of my college years, taking 18 hours per semester, and still maintaining a 3.5 gpa. That is part of the appeal of doing a degree online: I can go as fast as I want, not waiting on other people to catch up. I would love to have gone to a top engineering school, but I just can't stomach the massive amount of debt it would put me in. Now that I am ready to go back to school, I have a family and can't move somewhere that has a better state school. If I went to a traditional school, I also couldn't do it and maintain my full time 9-to-5, so once again we arrive at the crux of education in America: money.
techinthewoods wrote: » Slightly off topic, but related: are there any people trying this (finish in 1 term, or even 2) that aren't transferring in an associate's degree or equivalent? If 1 term is theoretically feasible with the Associates transferred in, is 2 terms feasible without it? Is 1 term possible without it? Thanks.
Agent6376 wrote: » Keep up your focus and you can knock it out. I'm working on my Capstone now and should be done in the next week. The end of my term is March 31st .
swild wrote: » 62 hours so far in 6 months, very nice! Found out my score for BNC1 this morning: 60%. It's a pass so nothing else really matters.
spiderjericho wrote: » Swild did you study or prepare at all besides the practice test? And congrats on the pass. The light seems to be getting closer in the tunnel.
swild wrote: » In my opinion, if you really wanted to finish in one term, you really could, IF you don't have any other commitments, AND have quite a bit of experience or learn very quickly. I have spent plenty of time doing other things including work, family, goofing off with friends, and volunteering. The most time consuming thing I was doing before I started WGU was playing video games. That's also the one thing I haven't touched in about 6 months. The real problem with not transferring in the liberal arts courses, is that they will most likely be the hardest courses you take simply because you will probably not have any interest in them. The most time consuming courses for me are the performance assessments and a lot of the liberal arts are those types. Part of the reason for that is that you have to wait for the submission to be graded before you can actually move on. I would highly, highly recommend getting as many certifications as you can afford before starting into WGU. Just to give you an idea: A+: 8 credits, $356 (2 tests) Project+: 6 credits, $253 Security+: 4 credits, $276 MS 70-680: 8 credits, $150 (This looks like a bargin, but it is by far the hardest) CCNA: 6 credits, $300 (2 tests) So, assuming that you pass on the first time, and can't find any discount vouchers, you are looking at $1335 to get 32 credits out of the way, not counting study materials. Thats 25% of your degree done and a significant leap towards finishing in 2 terms. This is based on the Security track, which is what I know about. This is also a good way to measure how much time you will be able to dedicate to your studies and how long it will take you to finish. You get encouragement and some good resources by doing these through WGU, but in the end you have to do it all yourself. Self study isn't for everyone. If it takes you more than 6 months to get through these exams, you will know that you will not be able to finish in 2 terms. If it takes you 6 months to get through 30 credits, it will probably take 3 terms to get through the additional 90 in order to graduate. Also, this is less than half what a term at WGU costs, so if it takes you 3 months, you break even.
swild wrote: » I couldn't do the web proctoring because I don't have internet at home. Also, I only had 3 classes that could be done at home.
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