Finished!!!

techie2012techie2012 Member Posts: 150
in IT Jobs / Degrees
I have finally completed the B.S. IT:Security program at WGU. icon_cheers.gif Overall I was satisfied with the experience. My mentor was very helpful and cheerful along the way. The course mentors were always willing to help wherever they could as well. The only thing I could say that was negative about my experience was TASKSTREAM icon_twisted.gif. I transferred in an A.A.S in Network Administration, A+ and CCNA and that completed about 3/4 of my program if not more. It is amazing that I was able to start my program in November and finish 8 months later as opposed to 2 to 3 years going to a University locally. Another amazing aspect....I maybe only spent 30% of what I would have had to pay for tuition going to a University locally.

I am not sure what I want to do at this moment. I have asked some Senior Network Engineers if I should wait on getting my Masters when I have more experience and they all seem to think I should. I have about a year and a half of experience as a Network Engineer, 3 years as a Network Technician and 2 years as a Computer Technician. I just turned 24 and I would like to achieve a Senior role at least by 27 or 28. In my opinion I feel as thought I should get my masters now and apply it to acquiring a position when I reach that point instead of waiting until I reach that point and then getting it. Also I am looking for a masters in telecommunication management as I am kind of leaning away from the security aspect until later on in my career, like my 30s to 40s. I feel like that will give me the opportunity to know (in the real world) why and where security is needed and what is involved with making that happen.

Anyone on here have any advice of what I should do?
(CCNP: Switch) Passed!
(CCNP: Route) Goal: 11/15/12 Progress: 75%
(CCNP: TShoot) Goal: 12/15/12 Progress: ​50%
(Perl Scripting) Ongoing :study:
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Comments

  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Congrats!!
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
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  • demonfurbiedemonfurbie Member Posts: 1,819 ■■■■■□□□□□
    congrats

    i think masters also depends on age, if your over 30 id say go ahead and get it out of the way while your in school mode, if else (sorry im in java class hell) get a few highend certs then get a masters end if
    wgu undergrad: done ... woot!!
    WGU MS IT Management: done ... double woot :cheers:
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  • gadav478gadav478 Member Posts: 374 ■■■□□□□□□□
    congrats man... good job... and it's good to hear that mostly everything transferred over for you...
    Goals for 2015: CCNP
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  • IristheangelIristheangel Mod Posts: 4,133 Mod
    If you can balance work and school, you might as well go for it now. It's a lot harder to stop that school momentum and try to pick it up later. BTW, congratulations!!!
    BS, MS, and CCIE #50931
    Blog: www.network-node.com
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  • petedudepetedude Member Posts: 1,510
    demonfurbie wrote: »
    congrats

    i think masters also depends on age, if your over 30 id say go ahead and get it out of the way while your in school mode, if else (sorry im in java class hell) get a few highend certs then get a masters end if
    Iristheangel wrote: »
    If you can balance work and school, you might as well go for it now. It's a lot harder to stop that school momentum and try to pick it up later. BTW, congratulations!!!

    Both of these answers are good. :D

    Depends on where you're at and what you're after. If you have kids or some other urgent need to advance quickly, dive into the master's ASAP. If not, wait and get the experience plus a few more certs.
    Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
    --Will Rogers
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  • DevilryDevilry Member Posts: 668
    I suggest going ahead and getting it now while you are young, I think you have enough experience. If you wait til later you never know what life throws at you, spouse.. kids.. layoffs...etc. Get it while life is good and easy, it will pay off.

    Also, like suggested above.. hard to get the momentum going again.


    btw: CONGRATS!!!
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  • jmasterj206jmasterj206 Member Posts: 471
    Congrats Techie. Why not finish your CCNP and then go into a Master's program? That would give you some time to research schools unless you already have one in mind?
    WGU grad
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  • 4_lom4_lom Member Posts: 485
    Congrats!
    Goals for 2018: MCSA: Cloud Platform, AWS Solutions Architect, MCSA : Server 2016, MCSE: Messaging

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  • XcluzivXcluziv Member Posts: 513 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Congrats man!!!!
    LINKED | GTECH | NOTHINGBUTSHAREPOINT - BLOG AUTHOR

    "TRY NOT. DO. OR DO NOT. THERE IS NO TRY" - Yoda

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  • Dakinggamer87Dakinggamer87 Member Posts: 4,016 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congrats!! icon_cheers.gif
    *Associate's of Applied Sciences degree in Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
    *Bachelor's of Science: Information Technology - Security, Master's of Science: Information Technology - Management
    Matthew 6:33 - "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
    Certs/Business Licenses In Progress: AWS Solutions Architect, Series 6, Series 63
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  • HypntickHypntick Member Posts: 1,451 ■■■■■■□□□□
    Grats on the pass, wonderful feeling isn't it
    WGU BS:IT Completed June 30th 2012.
    WGU MS:ISA Completed October 30th 2013.
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  • lunchbox67lunchbox67 Member Posts: 132 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Iristheangel wrote: »
    If you can balance work and school, you might as well go for it now. It's a lot harder to stop that school momentum and try to pick it up later. BTW, congratulations!!!

    Agreed ... do it now before life gets in the way.
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  • dcren21dcren21 Member Posts: 71 ■■□□□□□□□□
    I would do it now like was suggested since you are still in school mode. That would better prepare you for the eventual life curveballs that are going to come your way.

    Congrats by the way
    WGU B.S. IT - Security (Start Date 8/1/12) : Transferred | Required | In Progress | Completed
    AGC1 BBC1 LAE1 LUT1 QBT1 INT1 BVC1 RIT1 INC1 CUV1 BOV1 GAC1 HHT1 DHV1 CSV1 QLT1 IWC1 IWT1 DJV1 KET1 TPV1 CVV1 CJV1 KFT1 SBT1 RGT1 CTV1 CNV1 CQV1 COV1 AXV1 CPV1 WFV1 CLC1 MGC1 BNC1
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  • ValsacarValsacar Member Posts: 336
    I agree with going into a Masters sooner rather than later, but there is a lot of benefit in doing your CCNP first (still study mode, so not a major shift).

    You'll want to think about what masters to do, do you want to be a Sr. Tech or a Manager? If you want to go management an MBA with a focus on tech/network management would be a good choice, if you want to stay more tech then look for something in network management or design.

    I know you said you don't want to go into security, but don't ignore it. Keep up with network security, just having (and maintaining) a basic level of knowledge will benefit you.
    WGU MS:ISA Progress:
    Required: NOTHING!!!!!
    Current Course: NONE
    Completed: COV2, LKT2, LOT2, FNV2, VUT2, JFT2, TFT2, JIT2, FYT2, FMV2, FXT2, FYV2, LQT2
    Started 01 May 2012, Degree awarded 29 Oct 2013
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  • hiddenknight821hiddenknight821 Member Posts: 1,209 ■■■■■■□□□□
    Congrats! My turn is very soon.
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  • techie2012techie2012 Member Posts: 150
    Thanks for all of the advice everyone!icon_thumright.gif I think I am going to complete my goal of the CCNP and while doing so, look for a masters program. I will definitely be referencing the list of masters programs thread.
    (CCNP: Switch) Passed!
    (CCNP: Route) Goal: 11/15/12 Progress: 75%
    (CCNP: TShoot) Goal: 12/15/12 Progress: ​50%
    (Perl Scripting) Ongoing :study:
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  • whatthehellwhatthehell Member Posts: 920
    Congratz!
    That is awesome that it only took 8 months!
    Do you mind if I ask how much the program cost you in total?
    2017 Goals:
    [ ] Security + [ ] 74-409 [ ] CEH
    Future Goals:
    TBD
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  • techie2012techie2012 Member Posts: 150
    Thanks! The program cost me a little over 6.2k for the 2 terms I attended.
    (CCNP: Switch) Passed!
    (CCNP: Route) Goal: 11/15/12 Progress: 75%
    (CCNP: TShoot) Goal: 12/15/12 Progress: ​50%
    (Perl Scripting) Ongoing :study:
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  • someasiandudesomeasiandude Member Posts: 85 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Iristheangel wrote: »
    If you can balance work and school, you might as well go for it now. It's a lot harder to stop that school momentum and try to pick it up later. BTW, congratulations!!!


    true story!
    A.S. - Computer Networking Student (Spring 2014)

    CompTIA A+ (passed 10/2012) ----> CompTIA Net+ ----> CCENT :study: ---> CCNA ---> ???
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  • UnixGuyUnixGuy Mod Posts: 4,570 Mod
    Congratulations! good job icon_cheers.gif


    If I were you I'd get CCIE, and get a senior position. MSc can wait :)
    Certs: GSTRT, GPEN, GCFA, CISM, CRISC, RHCE

    Learn GRC! GRC Mastery : https://grcmastery.com 

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  • Cold TitaniumCold Titanium Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 82 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Hi,

    I'm in a similar position with an AAS and the CCNA looking at getting the Security degree from WGU. You state that it took you 8 months. How many hours per week did you study? I just wanna make sure I can swing it with a full time job.
    2014 Goals
    • Pass OSCP (In Progress)
    • Obtain employment in IT Security
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  • techie2012techie2012 Member Posts: 150
    I don't think I studied more than 16 hours collectively on anything other than CCNA:Sec and the KFT1 programming class. I actually should have completed my degree a couple months sooner but during my first term while preparing for Project+ and Sec+ work was kind of crazy and I procrastinated a bit. There are some classes you can finish in a week or less and some that might take a couple of weeks or even a month like KFT1 if you are new to Java. However the program is definitively doable. If I can do it, i'm sure you can.
    (CCNP: Switch) Passed!
    (CCNP: Route) Goal: 11/15/12 Progress: 75%
    (CCNP: TShoot) Goal: 12/15/12 Progress: ​50%
    (Perl Scripting) Ongoing :study:
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  • NotHackingYouNotHackingYou Member Posts: 1,460 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Way to go!
    When you go the extra mile, there's no traffic.
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  • INeedCertsINeedCerts Member Posts: 5 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations icon_cheers.gif. Im trying to get started at WGU
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  • Cold TitaniumCold Titanium Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 82 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Cool, thanks! I wonder if I can get out of that Java class. I have done about a year or two's worth of classes at a 4 year school as well. When I took Computer Science I back in the day it was over Java.
    2014 Goals
    • Pass OSCP (In Progress)
    • Obtain employment in IT Security
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  • Mike-MikeMike-Mike Member Posts: 1,860
    I would say go for the Masters, get that when you're young, I'm almost 33, and I wish I was done with all this by now
    Currently Working On

    CWTS, then WireShark
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