Considering degrees to advance career or continue with certs

Dakinggamer87

After I finish my Cisco CCNA I've been seriously thinking about going back for my Bachelor's/Master's degree still undecided it would only take me about 2 years at most maybe a year and a half with my transfer credits for the Bachelor's longer for Master's degree these are what I'm considering from WGU:

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology—Network Administration or Security then move onto
Master of Science Information Technology—Network Management

I keep going back and forth on it would likely need to be online-based since I work full-time now but I debate do I really need it at this point of where I am in my career:

I currently have:
Associate's of Applied Sciences degree, Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
5 IT certifications (A+, Network+, MCP, MCSA, CCENT, CCNA(hopefully soon)
6+ years of work experience (PC Technician, Desktop Support, Systems/Network administration and engineer roles)

Thoughts TechExam members? I just want to get some opinions I know at the end it's my call.

The only reservation I have is the financial side not necessarily the time. I considered maybe waiting till I'm in a role with benefits such as tuition reimbursement/assistance. A master's degree is also a personal goal of accomplishment that would be great to have under my belt.

Danielm7

Go for your BS, apply for financial aid and see if you are eligible for anything. Certs are great and with WGU you'll actually get credit for them, but 5-10 years down the road if you haven't renewed everything you've worked on suddenly they aren't as valuable where the BS will be beneficial for the rest of your working life.

Polynomial

I'd hate to lose jobs 5-10 years down the road because you don't have at least a bachelor's. Although the value of just a bachelor's continues to decrease. Graduate degrees is where you want to be these days.

spiderjericho

Yeah, if you're going to WGU, just do the general IT B.S. Certs are nice but, you'll finish quicker if you avoid the Security and Net Admin tracks.

Dakinggamer87

I was considering the Security track more between the two since I already did Network/Systems Administration with my previous degree which would have felt redundant. So I figured I would go after something new plus I could brush up my Linux and Security knowledge along the way.

Dakinggamer87

I decided I'm going to start the BS:IT Security this Fall then transfer into the Master's degree shortly after I finish.

Psoasman

That sounds like a good plan. I also transferred in an AAS and it cleared most of the lower level courses for me. With the CCNA and your other certs, you should clear the lower level certs, like the MTA's too.

DoubleNNs

If you have higher level certs, you don't have to take the MTAs?
Would a CompTIA cert clear out MTA classes as well?

Ivanjam

@DoubleNNs - your Net+/Sec+ should also clear MTA Networking/Security Fundamentals.

geno1904

DoubleNNs

If you have higher level certs, you don't have to take the MTAs?
Would a CompTIA cert clear out MTA classes as well?

https://kb.wgu.edu/display/2/index.aspx?c=&cpc=&cid=&cat=&catURL=&r=0.775514960289001


Click the link. Then Click the first PDF on the right. It will tell you what certs you need to transfer credit for each class.

geno1904

[h=2]Dakinggamer87
Considering degrees to advance career or continue with certs[/h]Check out the link I provided above. Get the certifications you need for you BS degree then transfer them in WGU. I plan on getting all the required certs for network design/management and transfer them in along with my AAS degree.

Dakinggamer87

@Psoasman: How was your experience at WGU?

DoubleNNs

geno1904 wrote: »

DoubleNNs

If you have higher level certs, you don't have to take the MTAs?
Would a CompTIA cert clear out MTA classes as well?

https://kb.wgu.edu/display/2/index.aspx?c=&cpc=&cid=&cat=&catURL=&r=0.775514960289001


Click the link. Then Click the first PDF on the right. It will tell you what certs you need to transfer credit for each class.

The link didn't work, but I found the correct PDF anyway. Thanks!! That helped a ton!

I'm just a little concerned.. I know with actual college classes, even if the class COULD fulfill the requirements for multiple classes, they only attribute it to the class that matches the best.
Are you sure a SINGLE cert can knock out MULTIPLE classes if transfered in?

Additionally, are the certs for the degrees on the WGU website accurate? I thought they were changing most, if not all, of the MS exams to in-house exams? None of the degrees on the website show this change.

Psoasman

Dakinggamer87 wrote: »

@Psoasman: How was your experience at WGU?

Very good. I was able to finish up in 14 months and that was with a switch from the Network Admin emphasis to the regular IT degree. If you are self-directed, you can make good progress, especially with the knowledge you have. For example, in community college, I had to write EVERYTHING in APA format. WGU requires APA for their papers, so that made it easy to write out papers.

Dakinggamer87

Thanks for feedback!!

I'm very self-motivated and determined especially since I started self-studying for certifications.

geno1904

DoubleNNs wrote: »

The link didn't work, but I found the correct PDF anyway. Thanks!! That helped a ton!

I'm just a little concerned.. I know with actual college classes, even if the class COULD fulfill the requirements for multiple classes, they only attribute it to the class that matches the best.
Are you sure a SINGLE cert can knock out MULTIPLE classes if transfered in?

Additionally, are the certs for the degrees on the WGU website accurate? I thought they were changing most, if not all, of the MS exams to in-house exams? None of the degrees on the website show this change.

Yes every where you see your cert you will get credit. Get with an enrollment counselor in IT at WGU.

DoubleNNs

geno1904 wrote: »

Get with an enrollment counselor in IT at WGU.

Funny thing is I have been talking w/ an Enrollment Counselor. For the past 2-3 months even. But it seems like I don't get much info out of those talks.

Edit: Instead of hi-jacking this thread, I think I'll post elsewhere.

Dakinggamer87

I wanted to post an update on my WGU status for the BS-IT: Security degree. I have started the enrollment process, currently waiting on my company reimbursement, and final paperwork/transcripts to process then I will be ready to start!!

Dakinggamer87

So I have taken the assessment exams and now waiting to see if I'm accepted. I will be getting company reimbursement VMware is awesome. Most of my certifications will be eligible to transfer into the degree!!

If all goes well I will start Feb. 2014 for my BS: IT-Security degree

CCNTrainee

Being as advance as you are, I would finish the BS Degree. Thou if you are going for a Masters, I would take my time on it and invest into a different college, one that has a reputable academic program, like Cambridge Mellon or Capital College like people suggest on here.

Dakinggamer87

Started at WGU this month with my first term classes:

IT Fundamentals I - WFV1
Project in Web Development Fundamentals - EUP1
Web Development Fundamentals - EUC1
Project Management - TPV1

zxbane

Good luck!

Ivanjam

@Dakinggamer87 - congrats and good luck!

N2IT

Good luck you can do this!

Dakinggamer87

Thanks everyone!!

jcauffman

Hey Dakinggamer87, I too am looking at attending WGU. Did you stick with your goal of attending WGU in the fall? If so what has your experience been like. I've taken a few online courses before and the teachers were no help at all. Is that the case at WGU?

TomkoTech

jcauffman wrote: »

Hey Dakinggamer87, I too am looking at attending WGU. Did you stick with your goal of attending WGU in the fall? If so what has your experience been like. I've taken a few online courses before and the teachers were no help at all. Is that the case at WGU?

Do a little reading on wgu. You don't have teachers. And everything is self-taught and self-paced. You will have a mentor throughout your studies that checks in on you weekly to make sure you are staying on task. And then there are mentors for each class that you can reach out to. But if you are looking for an online course that spoon feeds you WGU probably isn't what you are looking for. For the IT/Business side of things it is aimed at people who have the years of experience but lack the degree. You are on your own to take the materials they make available(and whatever other sources you want to use) to study and prepare for the exams/assignments.

Dakinggamer87

TomkoTech wrote: »

Do a little reading on wgu. You don't have teachers. And everything is self-taught and self-paced. You will have a mentor throughout your studies that checks in on you weekly to make sure you are staying on task. And then there are mentors for each class that you can reach out to. But if you are looking for an online course that spoon feeds you WGU probably isn't what you are looking for. For the IT/Business side of things it is aimed at people who have the years of experience but lack the degree. You are on your own to take the materials they make available(and whatever other sources you want to use) to study and prepare for the exams/assignments.

This is the approach at WGU. I ended up just starting this month as I had to push it back due to a new job change and other certifications I was trying to finish up before I started.

Dakinggamer87

Passed my first class at WGU I'm now moving onto my Project Management class for the Project+ certification!!

TomkoTech

Congrats. Let me know how the Project management class goes. I'm leaving it off my first term, but hopefully it's one I can add once I finish up the first 18 cus that are required.

Dakinggamer87

TomkoTech wrote: »

Congrats. Let me know how the Project management class goes. I'm leaving it off my first term, but hopefully it's one I can add once I finish up the first 18 cus that are required.

It was very dry and boring!! It took me 5-6 weeks to finish the course but I would read the Sybex book from WGU and take notes on the terms.