Finished degree in one semester (WGU)

Well I did it. I graduated from WGU in one semester (6 months). When I first started in June, I thought I was being a little ambitious when I told my mentor that I wanted to graduate in one year. Halfway through my semester my mentor then suggested that I try to finish my degree within this semester. Apparently, I was working at a fast enough pace. If he needed to, he could extend the semester an additional month.

Just to give a little background on what I transferred in: I had an AS degree in Networking Services Technology from the local community college, MCSA, MCTS: Windows Vista, A+, and Network+.

These are the classes I had to complete at WGU:

EWB2 - Education Without Boundaries
ORC1 - Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior and Leadership
MGC1 - Principles of Management
TPV1 - Project Management (Project+)
TSV1 - Security I (Security+)
WSV1 - Web Technologies (CIW Web Design Specialist)
LET1 - Leadership Concepts and Applications
WDV1 - Database I (CIW Database Design Specialist)
WFV1 - IT Fundamentals I (CIW Associate)
TWA1 - Technical Writing
PFI1 - IT Portfolio
CPW1 - IT Capstone Project

Total CU's: 57

The funny thing is I actually started out with only 51 CU's to complete. Since my MCSA already waived the TSV1 class I asked my mentor to take it off my transcript and add it back to my program so that I could take the Security+ exam on their dime. I wanted this certification before the Dec 31st deadline so I could have it for life.

I just wanted to let you guys know what's possible with hard work and determination. Like most of you, I work fulltime. I honestly would have never been able to do this if it weren't for these forums and I owe everyone here a lot of thanks. A special thanks to veritas_libertas for referring me and getting my application fee waived. It feels awesome to be done and have only spent $3k to finish my BS degree and a couple other certs. I'll actually be getting almost all of that back when I file my taxes and take advantage of the American Opportunity Tax Credit

With the leftover funds I have available, I'm planning on starting my Masters in Computer Science at the local state university here (University of Central Florida) at the end of next year. First I need to finish the MCSE and LPIC exams.

If anyone has any questions regarding the program or the final projects (Technical Writing, IT Portfolio, Capstone) let me know.

P.S. I didn't know if this would be appropriate enough to warrant a new thread, but the other two WGU threads are monstrous enough as it is. Mods please let me know if this should be deleted and I'll add it to one of those.

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Comments

jmasterj206

Congrats. Maybe your story will get me motivated again. I have reached "the wall" for this semester.

eansdad

Good Job...and Congrats

Why not the masters programs from WGU?

petedude

Congrats.

I have a similar workload but it's taking me 9 months to finish rather than 6. Drats.

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

eansdad wrote: »

Good Job...and Congrats

Why not the masters programs from WGU?

As much as I don't agree with this perspective, I do realize that there still is a stigma attached to online degrees. Getting my Masters at a B&M school should erase this. My plan was to get an accredited BS degree as cheap as possible since I'm already planning on getting a Masters.

erpadmin

Dude, you are my friggin' hero!! That is seriously impressive and as jmj mentioned, stories like this will make sure that when I hit the wall, I don't let life get me down. I was fortunate that I was done with CUs before taking on anymore, and 22 CU in one semester will not make or break me.

(It's not a race).

Having said that, well done sir! I too am looking at the B&M route for a Masters (Rutgers-Newark or NJIT) after I'm done with WGU.

Did you take out any loans? I'm wondering if I can get that tax credit as well even though I utilized loans (I plan on paying it back quickly anyway).

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

erpadmin wrote: »

Dude, you are my friggin' hero!! That is seriously impressive and as jmj mentioned, stories like this will make sure that when I hit the wall, I don't let life get me down. I was fortunate that I was done with CUs before taking on anymore, and 22 CU in one semester will not make or break me. (It's not a race).

Having said that, well done sir! I too am looking at the B&M route for a Masters (Rutgers-Newark or NJIT) after I'm done with WGU.

Did you take out any loans? I'm wondering if I can get that tax credit as well even though I utilized loans (I plan on paying it back quickly anyway).

I agree that it isn't a race, but I'm a cheap SOB and when I realized that I could get it all done in one semester I started putting the pedal to the metal. Nope, I took out no loans. Payed the 3K all up front.

howiehandles

Did you have any problems having Central Florida accept your BA from WGU? That's my biggest concern with them, as I too would like to pursue a Masters from a "traditional" university after I complete my Bachelor's degree.

erpadmin

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote: »

I agree that it isn't a race, but I'm a cheap SOB and when I realized that I could get it all done in one semester I started putting the pedal to the metal. Nope, I took out no loans. Payed the 3K all up front.

The loan was strategic decision. I didn't borrow an excessive amount and I knew I could pay it back in a reasonable amount of time. At worst, I could do the 10 year route as I'm a civil servant, but even with that, there may not need to be a need since the amount is so low.

Cheapo or not, great job yet again!

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

howiehandles wrote: »

Did you have any problems having Central Florida accept your BA from WGU? That's my biggest concern with them, as I too would like to pursue a Masters from a "traditional" university after I complete my Bachelor's degree.

Haven't yet applied, however I'm not worried about it. The degree from WGU is regionally accredited and I've read from other students that they've been able to transfer to B&M universities (state and private) with no issues.

erpadmin

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote: »

Haven't yet applied, however I'm not worried about it. The degree from WGU is regionally accredited and I've read from other students that they've been able to transfer to B&M universities (state and private) with no issues.

I'm counting on that too.

Please keep us informed if/when you apply to UCF (or anywhere else that's B&M).

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

erpadmin wrote: »

I'm counting on that too.

Please keep us informed if/when you apply to UCF (or anywhere else that's B&M).

Will do. I won't be applying until Jan or Feb of next year, but I'll let you guys know then.

mikej412

Congratulations on a job impressively well done!!

snokerpoker

This is awesome! Congrats. I love it when hard work pays off in the end. Good luck pursuing your Masters!

Psoasman

I must say I am impressed with what you achieved. Well done!

colemic

Congrats on getting your degree!

I share your frustration with the stigma of an online Master's, but at this point, I don't have the time, nor patience to muddle through a B&M program, and since no one even remotely where I plan to move to has a B&M IA Master's, I will probably go the WGU route.

Again, CONGRATS on an awesome achievement!

tpatt100

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote: »

As much as I don't agree with this perspective, I do realize that there still is a stigma attached to online degrees. Getting my Masters at a B&M school should erase this. My plan was to get an accredited BS degree as cheap as possible since I'm already planning on getting a Masters.

I kind of agree with you, I might have to go back to the state university near my house to pursue a business masters later. The WGU will help me now and the future but if I do break into a much higher bracket I might invest in a degree from a B&M school.

Pratt2

Anyone know of any nationally accredited programs with cost comparable to WGU?

Mike-Mike

this thread has really got me thinking about WGU, aftering spending 14 g's for 3 quarters, I think I would be better off at WGU

Reseven

Wow. What can I say. I'm impressed.

Excellent job!!! Congratz!!! Way to go man!!!

veritas_libertas

Congratz!

colemic

Pratt2 wrote: »

Anyone know of any nationally accredited programs with cost comparable to WGU?

I don't know that there is any real difference between regional accreditations and national accreditations, since Dept of Education doesn't differentiate between them (as in, it's all the same to them) but you can search here. My guess is more than likely, you won't find anything near that price that has a national accreditation.

U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs

Kind of apples to oranges anyway, since WGU is so non-traditional to begin with.

rogue2shadow

Well played!

howiehandles

Cool, because that's my biggest concern. While WGU is nice for the BA, as I can't tell you how many doors have closed because of my lack of formal education. I would like to get a Masters degree from a school which most people, outside of this board, would recognize as a traditional school. I'm not knocking WGU, but we all know of the stigma online only schools carry. As well, the school I'm targeting for my Masters is a school which I've always wanted to attend, but being a private Catholic university, it is quite a bit more expensive than WGU, as are most daycare centers

petedude

colemic wrote: »

I don't know that there is any real difference between regional accreditations and national accreditations, . . .

Regional accreditation is still often considered "the gold standard". National accreditation is OK, depending on the accreditor (e.g. ACICS-- the accreditor of ITT and similar could be considered a lower quality than DETC).

I've heard of hiring spots requiring only regionally accredited degree applicants. Lately, the ones I've heard of have been in academia and in certain governmental offices. Other than that, NA degrees should suffice-- in other words, for 70%+ of posts a DETC degree will satisfy requirements.

powerfool

howiehandles wrote: »

Cool, because that's my biggest concern. While WGU is nice for the BA, as I can't tell you how many doors have closed because of my lack of formal education. I would like to get a Masters degree from a school which most people, outside of this board, would recognize as a traditional school. I'm not knocking WGU, but we all know of the stigma online only schools carry. As well, the school I'm targeting for my Masters is a school which I've always wanted to attend, but being a private Catholic university, it is quite a bit more expensive than WGU, as are most daycare centers

Dude, which school? I am pretty much in the same boat, but I went to a small B&M private school for undergrad. I am shooting for Notre Dame.

erpadmin

howiehandles wrote: »

Cool, because that's my biggest concern. While WGU is nice for the BA, as I can't tell you how many doors have closed because of my lack of formal education. I would like to get a Masters degree from a school which most people, outside of this board, would recognize as a traditional school. I'm not knocking WGU, but we all know of the stigma online only schools carry. As well, the school I'm targeting for my Masters is a school which I've always wanted to attend, but being a private Catholic university, it is quite a bit more expensive than WGU, as are most daycare centers

I entirely agree with this.

Also, in addition to what you stated, from a separate discussion I had on the very topic of "real" schools [traditional B&M] versus an online school like WGU, recruiters tend to care about the last school you went to. If that's true, then a B&M school can only help in making me stand out when going for a management job (or at the very least, get me a nice adjunct professor gig or two).

What does not impress me about WGU's MBA program is that it is not AACSB-accredited. There are some folks that swear it doesn't matter, but considering the fact that you have Tier-III schools like UMASS-Lowell that have an AACSB MBA program, I would think that would have to account for something. What impressed me about WGU's BS programs was that it was regionally accredited, the "gold standard" as was previously mentioned.

That's how I can sell a WGU BS, but I couldn't sell (or buy, in my case) a WGU MBA.

erpadmin

powerfool wrote: »

Dude, which school? I am pretty much in the same boat, but I went to a small B&M private school for undergrad. I am shooting for Notre Dame.

Personally, I would go Seton Hall but I would not like to die in debt.

qwertyiop

Pratt2 wrote: »

Anyone know of any nationally accredited programs with cost comparable to WGU?

The only one I can think of is the one I was accepted to. Davenport University is about $3k a semester

petedude

erpadmin wrote: »

Personally, I would go Seton Hall but I would not like to die in debt.

Tell me about it. One of my favorite programs is the University of California Irvine MBA. . . but if I read correctly, total cost for their main program is $85K. . .

earweed

qwertyiop wrote: »

The only one I can think of is the one I was accepted to. Davenport University is about $3k a semester

That's the closest I've found also but the total cost will still be higher than WGU as that 3K is for a certain number of classes whereas you have the option of speedtraining through WGU and getting your degree faster.