My WGU and 2013 Certification Journey

Hello everyone.

I start WGU on Feb. 1, 2013 in their B.S. in Information Technology - Network Administration program, and this thread will be my experiences as well as tracking my progress. I am also tying in my 2013 Certification goals, and listing my previous certifications just to have everything in one place. This thread is basically for me, but of course anyone is welcome to comment, ask questions, and motivate me!

About Me
Age - 23
Location - Louisville, KY
I am currently employed as a Systems Engineer for a Microsoft Gold Partner Consulting firm (which explains why I have so many Microsoft certifications -- my employer pays for vouchers), and I love what I do. I am on the Systems Management team where I primarily deal with Microsoft System Center products (ConfigMgr, VMM, App Controller, and DPM are my specialties), as well as Virtualization (App-V, Hyper-V) and storage. I have an application repackaging background so software & OS Distribution is probably my strongest skill set. I will say that my salary is in the low-mind $60k/yr range, and I am looking to be over $75k/yr before the end of 2013 (be it at this current job or with a new company).

Current Certifications
Microsoft (date achieved):
MCTS: Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deployment (06/17/2011)
MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration (09/09/2011)
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7 (09/30/2011)
MCSA: Windows 7 (04/16/2012)
MCTS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuration (04/25/2012)
MCTS: Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (06/14/2012)
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization (06/20/2012)
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization (07/25/2012)
MCITP: Virtualization Administrator on Windows Server 2008 R2 (07/25/2012)
MCSA: Server 2012 (11/13/2012)
MCSE: Private Cloud (11/13/2012)
MCSE: Server Infrastructure (12/03/2012)
MCTS: Configuring Windows 8 (12/06/2012)
MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure (12/27/2012)
MCTS: System Center 2012, Deployment and Configuration (01/01/2013) - Passed exam on 09/31/2012
MCTS: System Center 2012, Monitor and Operate (01/01/2013) - Passed exam on 09/16/2012

CompTIA (date achieved):
A+ (11/05/2010)

Other (date achieved):
CDP (Certified Double-Take Professional) (08/30/2012)

2013 Certification Goals
Microsoft:
MCSA: Windows 8 (Exam 70-688 left)
MCSA: SQL Server (Exams 70-461, 70-462, 70-463 left)

CompTIA:
Security+ (will get with WGU)
Project+ (will get with WGU)

Cisco:
CCENT (will get with WGU)
CCNA (will get with WGU)

CIW:
Web Foundations Associate (1D0-510) (will get with WGU)
Site Designer (1D0-520) (will get with WGU)
JavaScript Fundamentals (1D0-635) (will get with WGU)

GIAC:
GCWN (GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator)
GSEC (GIAC Sercurity Essentials)

Western Governors University
Program:
B.S. in Information Technology - Network Administration

Transferred In:
AIV1 - Network Design and Management
AJV1 - Server Administration
AXV1 - IT Fundamentals II
CPV1 - IT Fundamentals III
CSV1 - Operating Systems
CWV1 - Network Fundamentals
DEV1 - Security Fundamentals
DHV1 - Windows OS Fundamentals
AHV1 - Directory Services

To Complete:
AGC1 - Foundations of College Mathematics
WFV1 - IT Fundamentals I
BBC1 - Communications Foundations
BNC1 - Organization Behavior and Leadership
BOV1 - Web Programming
BVC1 - Geography
CLC1 - Reasoning and Problem Solving
COV1 - Fundamentals of Interconnecting Network Devices
CQV1 - Interconnecting Network Devices
CTV1 - Security
CUV1 - Web Technologies
DFV1 - Web Development Fundamentals
GAC1 - Finite Mathematics
HHT1 - Finite Mathematics Applications
INC1 - Integrated Natural Sciences
INT1 - Integrated Natural Sciences Applications
IWC1 - Literature, Arts and the Humanities
IWT1 - Literature, Arts and the Humanities: Analysis and Interpretation
LAE1 - Language and Communication: Essay
LUT1 - Language and Communication: Presentation
QBT1 - Language and Communication: Research
QLT1 - Quantitative Literacy: Quantitative Problem Solving and Applications
TPV1 - Project Management
MGC1 - Principles of Management
SBT1 - Technical Writing
RBT1 - IT - Network Administration Capstone Written Project

Completed:
N/A

My goal is to finish up my B.S. degree in 2.5 years (5 terms). Think it's doable? I'm pretty sure I can knock out the Sec+, Project+, and the 3 CIW courses in 1-2 months, since I know a lot of the content already...just haven't tested for them. Basic classes (math, science, geo, etc) shouldn't be too difficult for me either. My CCNA classes are the two that I will probably spend the most time being thorough on, and the english/lit classes are the ones that I will hate the most (several page papers over topics that don't interest me). What do you guys think?!

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Comments

nosoup4u

You'll finish that way quicker, I give it a year (two terms)

Good luck sir.

tycoonbob

nosoup4u wrote: »

You'll finish that way quicker, I give it a year (two terms)

Good luck sir.

Now that's optimistic! I'd love to finish in a year, but I don't think I will be able to with working and everything else. But thanks for the boost of confidence!

f0rgiv3n

Good for you for setting the bar high man! I'm looking at all those Certs your going for... NICE! The GIAC and CCNA certs are pretty big ones to accomplish, then with those others tacked on... Wow.

Good luck my friend, and be sure to allow time for the knowledge you learn to settle into those brain cracks.

Codyy

Wow man, impressive! I'm 23 as well and my resume isn't even remotely close to yours, this is motivating. I start(hopefully) at WGU March 1st, definitely looking forward to it.

gabypr

Nice amount of MS certifications up there man. With those certs + your University preparation you should reach a salary of $75k or more easily. Even you could aim for a systems architect position. Good luck!!!

tycoonbob

Thanks everyone. I have learned a lot over the past 5 years or so that I have been in IT, and I am only moving up. The degree is really the missing link, but I soon hope to have it along with some other vendor certifications.

Hopefully WGU won't be too tough on me, and I can push through it pretty quick. I would love for it to be a single year (2 terms), but I don't see how that would be possible working full time and with everything else in my life...but who know. I know those term papers are what will slow me down the most!

netsysllc

You could probably do the Comptia and CIW certs in no time. The papers are the time consuming part for me.

tycoonbob

Yeah, I know the Sec+ will take a week or less of brushing up on. I studied for it at one time, but never bought a voucher. Not sure what to think of the Project+ cert, but I would assume it's fairly simple as well. CIW...from what I see, it should be cake.

Valsacar

Keep in mind, at least 2 weeks prior to start (IE probably next week) you'll be able to see all of your course materials on the MyWGU site. You can also see what the tasks are, you can access the books, etc. The only thing you can't do is turn in work. On my official start date for my program I turned in all the tasks for 1 course and half the tasks for the second course.