MS Degree Achieved!

Hello All,

After almost two years of working on it, I finally finished my MS degree as of this morning. This was definitely a bit more taxing on me than my undergraduate degree or the majority of my certifications because I found the course material a bit more dry and boring. I actually got REALLY close to quitting a couple of times there but now that it's done, I'm glad I finished.

In the long run, it'll make my resume look just a bit nicer and if I ever want to make the transition into management, It'll make that easier as well.

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Comments

MrAgent

Congrats! I cant wait to finish mine. Ill be done this coming December.

Asif Dasl

Congrats! - that's quite an achievement! I'd say you are delighted to be finished.

MSP-IT

Congratulations, Iris!

The last part of my B.S. has taken me a lot less time than I thought it would. If all goes right, I'll be starting that same M.S. by June. Hopefully I'll be able to push through the dry material. Compared to the undergrad program, what are the course completion assignments like? I know there are the two certification courses, but I haven't been able to get as much information about the program as I'd like.

Iristheangel

Thanks!

This is going to be the first time in 5 years where I'm not splitting my focus between certifications and school. It's going to be strangely relaxing to be able to use my study time for just one certification at a time. I'm probably going to be a LOT less stressed trying to fight deadlines for school while struggling to get enough time to study for my certifications. That's been a really big struggle for me in the last year and a half. It was a lot easier at my old job because I had a lot more downtime at work but at my current job, there was no downtime and I'm lucky when I work only 50-60 hour weeks.

Iristheangel

@MSP-IT - I'm going to be completely honest with you: I *loved* the undergrad program at WGU but I was seriously dragging my feet during the MS program. A lot of the reading material is required and extremely dry and boring imho. The course completion assignments weren't unfair by any means but a lot more writings, reports and regulation which is pretty typical of a MS degree. I don't think that turned me off as much as just the reading material itself. There were times where I reread the same pages over and over again and was just so bored that I wasn't really soaking in the information.

cyberguypr

Congrats!!!

EngRob

Congrats!

100k

Great to hear I have 4 more classes and I am done with my Undergrad. Was thinking about doing my Masters but I really dislike management. Did it at my previous job and the stress involved in managing people can make you lose faith in humanity....

Zazzler

Iristheangel wrote: »

Hello All,

After almost two years of working on it, I finally finished my MS degree as of this morning. This was definitely a bit more taxing on me than my undergraduate degree or the majority of my certifications because I found the course material a bit more dry and boring. I actually got REALLY close to quitting a couple of times there but now that it's done, I'm glad I finished.

In the long run, it'll make my resume look just a bit nicer and if I ever want to make the transition into management, It'll make that easier as well.

Congrats! Was this through WGU?

Iristheangel

Yep. Through WGU.

bobloblaw

Congrats!

Where are you gonna go get your PhD?

shodown

Great job. How much do you think you spent total out of pocket for both your degrees? You did WGU right?

MSP-IT

Iristheangel wrote: »

@MSP-IT - I'm going to be completely honest with you: I *loved* the undergrad program at WGU but I was seriously dragging my feet during the MS program. A lot of the reading material is required and extremely dry and boring imho. The course completion assignments weren't unfair by any means but a lot more writings, reports and regulation which is pretty typical of a MS degree. I don't think that turned me off as much as just the reading material itself. There were times where I reread the same pages over and over again and was just so bored that I wasn't really soaking in the information.

I'll be interested to see what the provided material entails, as the subject matter defined in the program outline seems very itneresting. Although I'm sure WGU provides proficient material, I've been inclined to look outside the provided resources to meet the assignment requirements for course completion. I've done that a lot with the undergrad material.

Iristheangel

Hahaha! No Ph.D for me! I'm absolutely done with formal school.

I'd rather seek out a couple CCIEs and get them out of the way

I think that would be more beneficial to my long-term career

NotHackingYou

Congratulations!

Iristheangel

shodown wrote: »

Great job. How much do you think you spent total out of pocket for both your degrees? You did WGU right?

Yep. Did WGU.
For my undergrad degree, I received a $600/semester scholarship and I graduated in 1.5 years. That's $2290 x 3 = $6870
For my graduate degree, I paid about $3,000/semester and graduated in 1.5 years. That's $3,000 x 3 = $9,000

So total for an undergrad and graduate degree, that would be $15,870. I didn't end up having to pay for my undergrad though because at the time I had a job that had tuition reimbursement so I'm left with about $9K of debt for two degrees and a whole bunch of certifications.

wompy

Congrats!

N2IT

Awesome! I loved that feeling when I completed mine! Gratz well deserved!

colemic

Congrats! I am thinking about getting a 2nd masters... but haven't made my mind up yet.

the_Grinch

Congrats!!

Chitownjedi

Congrats, glad all the hard work paid off! It usually does

daviddws

Congrats on finishing. You will be happy and relieved for a couple months !

shodown

Iristheangel wrote: »

Yep. Did WGU.
For my undergrad degree, I received a $600/semester scholarship and I graduated in 1.5 years. That's $2290 x 3 = $6870
For my graduate degree, I paid about $3,000/semester and graduated in 1.5 years. That's $3,000 x 3 = $9,000

So total for an undergrad and graduate degree, that would be $15,870. I didn't end up having to pay for my undergrad though because at the time I had a job that had tuition reimbursement so I'm left with about $9K of debt for two degrees and a whole bunch of certifications.

Thats good value. You can get that paid off in now time and with all the degree's and certs thats a pretty cool deal.

krjay

Congrats!

zxbane

Congrats Iris! I am pursuing a MBA with a concentration in Info Sys Management myself and have roughly 1 year left. I was thinking of going for a Masters in Info Assurance as well eventually but I definitely plan to take a break too, or like you said strictly focus on certifications at that point. Trying to balance studying for both certs/school at the same time can be a hassle.

wgroom

Great job. I graduated with my MBA in 2005, and was never so glad to be done with school! Certifications are at my own pace, and that is so much easier. This will open doors in your future that you will be thankful for. Congratulations!

Dakinggamer87

Congrats Iris!!

JustFred

Awesome, congratulations.

maybe time for a nice two weeks vacation

abnmi

Congrats Iris.

Master Of Puppets

That's great, congrats!