WGU - Need advice, Opinion Suggestion

Hi After procrastinating for a long time I have finally decided to join WGU, specifically BS in IT (No specialization or Databse may be). I will like your opinion or advice on following points. 1) Admission process - 1a) What to watch out for 1b) What questions to ask 1c) How long does it take to complete the process 1d) Where and how to save money in the admission process 1e) How was your experience 1f) What is accepted and not accepted 2) Finance / Scholorship 1a) Are there any scholosrships available ? 2b) How easy it is to get those 3b) When is the fees payable to WGU 4b) Can that fees be paid in installments ? 5b) Can I pay by credit card ? 3) Transfer of credits 3a) What is the process of evaluating the previous credits? 3b) How soon I can know what has been transfered 3c) Do I have to pay the fees after the credits are transferred or before That is all for the time being. I will post more questions when I think of them Please provide your frank and candid input. Thanks and Best. Happy New year to everyone. --Satish

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Psoasman

Most of the answers to your questions are available on the WGU website, the others are in the threads relating to WGU.

erpadmin

I guess I can give this a shot....

1) Admission process -
1a) What to watch out for
The enrollment process can be a bit of a P.I.T.A., however once you do what you need to do (e.g. apply for FAFSA, if you'll be utilizing loans, get your transcripts from whatever certs and past college work in order and sent to your enrollment counselor, etc.) you'll find that once you are in WGU, you will have a much smoother experience. This site might get you started on your process: College Admission Requirements | Online University Admission | Western Governors University Online

1b) What questions to ask

My advice is to start reading these threads in their entirety and in this order (allocate some free time though...most if not all your questions have been asked and answered there):

http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/51715-western-governors-university-questions-answers-threads-related-wgu.html

http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/52825-student-experiences-western-governors-university-wgu.html

1c) How long does it take to complete the process

Personally, it took me about a month, maybe a month and a half. They had wanted me to start on 7/1, but I had some work/personal matters to take care of and I insisted that I start on 8/1. They had no problem with that. They evaluated my transcripts, financial aid, and whatever else and I was good to go.

1d) Where and how to save money in the admission process

Go here and post that you would like a referral: http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/55634-wgu-refer-friend-thread-those-seeking-referral.html

1e) How was your experience

Go to the second link in "1b)" and read from 8/1 onwards. In short though, so far so good. Hope to be done by the latest the middle of 2012...hopefully sooner, but that's a big maybe.

1f & 3, Transfer of Credits) What is accepted and not accepted

When you deal with an Enrollment Counselor, he can best (for better or worse) go over that in more detail. This might start you off though:

Transferring Credit to WGU | WGU Transcripts | Western Governors University Online

2) Finance / Scholorship
1a) Are there any scholosrships available ?

Look at the bottom of my signature and click on that link. You can also go here: Scholarships | Scholarships Available for WGU Degree Programs | Western Governors University Online

2b) How easy it is to get those

If you meet the requirements, very easy.

3b, 4b, 5b) Affordable Accredited Online University | WGU Tuition and Fees | Western Governors University

I hope this helps you out a bit to get start. Welcome to TE.

swadwekar

[
Thanks. I really appreciate the input. I will read everything you suggested. Happy New Year.

QUOTE=erpadmin;486170]I guess I can give this a shot....

[/QUOTE]

swadwekar

Followup Quetion - I am still reading all the material that you pointed me to. While reading I saw that there are two tracks for IT one is technical track (BS in IT DB/NET etc) and other is management (Information Technology Management). Since i have a Associate in Business Administration I was wondeing which track may allow me to transfer more credits. Please let me know if you have any input on that.

Thanks and Best
--Satish

mypcrepairguy

swadwekar wrote: »

Followup Quetion - I am still reading all the material that you pointed me to. While reading I saw that there are two tracks for IT one is technical track (BS in IT DB/NET etc) and other is management (Information Technology Management). Since i have a Associate in Business Administration I was wondeing which track may allow me to transfer more credits. Please let me know if you have any input on that.

Thanks and Best
--Satish

Your associates will count for all the the lower level WGU classes, If you have any certs these will also count for transfer credit. With that in mind you may be able to pull off a WGU degree in 1-2 years.

swadwekar

mypcrepairguy wrote: »

Your associates will count for all the the lower level WGU classes, If you have any certs these will also count for transfer credit. With that in mind you may be able to pull off a WGU degree in 1-2 years.

Thank you so much for taking time to reply. I don't have any certifications but have a good IT background. Hopefully that will help.

Have a great evening.

swadwekar

mypcrepairguy wrote: »

Your associates will count for all the the lower level WGU classes, If you have any certs these will also count for transfer credit. With that in mind you may be able to pull off a WGU degree in 1-2 years.

Oh BTW: Did you do your certifications before joining WGU or after? Seems like you are making an excellent progress.

Thanks and Best.

mypcrepairguy

swadwekar wrote: »

Oh BTW: Did you do your certifications before joining WGU or after? Seems like you are making an excellent progress.

Thanks and Best.

I was on a cert extravaganza for a while as my previous employer would pay for all passed certs at the time. Then My wife and I moved to WV and the Job market here was not the best, most employers wanted a degree before they would even talk to me. I felt that WGU was the best option as all my (unfinished)undergrad credits (biology) transfered over and most of my certs (A+ net+ Sec+ mcdst) counted to my degree path. My ultimate goal is to obtain MCITP: EA and WGU will also toss in a degree to boot! So far I am liking the WGU action plan, the program is well thought out and they let you take as many courses as you can handle at one time. There was one person that was able to graduate thorough WGU in one term (6months). I think that person ended up doing something like 40+ credits in one 6 month term.
Once I plow through 2 lower level gen ed classes (reasoning and problem solving, along with Leadership fundamentals) I plan on attacking the MS courses fairly heavily once again.

swadwekar

Thanks for sharing all the information. Wish you all the best. Take care and have a great evening.

tomahawkeer

There is a lot of us on these boards that do go to WGU currently. Also, there are a few of us that keep blogs, if your interested in reading them. I've recently started keeping one up to date. Its listed in my sig if your intersted, and im sure there are others that can point you in thier direction as well.

swadwekar

Thanks and I will check them out.