My WGU Experience - BSci-NOS

[justdavey]

Hello,

Thought I'd document my own journey through WGU.  To date, nothing but good things to say, but I like to think threads like these were the reason I was prepared and had the right questions to ask and the process down pat.  Thanks to everyone who has shared to date.

My journey started last August, a friend of mine started at Capella University and I had looked into going there to get a bachelor's degree.  In reading the boards here and at techexams I found out about Western Governors University and all the credits that could transfer into the degree. 

I'm in Canada so I had to get an external firm to send WGU a course equivalency for some previous university classes I had taken.  
I have IT related certifications: ITIL Foundation,CCNA R&S, CCNP, CCDA, PMP, CISSP, CISM
Thank goodness I found this board and was able to finish off Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra and Pre-Calculus before ALEK's ACE accreditation went away.
I did classes at Straighterline:Intro to Religion, General Biology, General Physics, Information Technology Fundamentals, Organizational Behaviour.
To accelerate and knock off some IT related clases I did the following certs before enrolling: A+, CIW Web Found Associate, CIW Database Design Specialist, Linux Essentials, Cloud Essentials 

In all I imported 84 CUs and was left with the following classes to complete:
Critical Thinking and Logic
Introduction to Communication
Natural Science Lab
English Composition I
English Composition II
Scripting and Programming Foundations
Spreadsheets
Principles of Management
Technical Communication
Designing Customized Security
Emerging Technologies
IT Capstone

Almost one month in and have completed 11 CUs.  If all goes well I'll complete English Composition II this week and go onto the more technical focused classes.  My student mentor has been great and the different class instructors I've interacted with have been awesome to help out on some of the finer points of what's being asked for in the rubric.  Looking forward to see what others experiences have been as well and share more information!

[quigongene]

Were all your certifications within the last 5 years?

[justdavey]

Were all your certifications within the last 5 years?

Yes and No.  I've had the Cisco ones over 10 years now, but have recertified multiple times.  Kicking myself for not going to CCNA: Security sooner.  Just easier to do CCNP: TSHOOT to recert.

Other ones were all within 5 years.

[quigongene]

My CISSP is a teenager now, so I'm sitting for the CISA before I enroll.

[justdavey]

In that respect, my CISSP is still a toddler, although I did get it done before the adaptive testing came in. Had to kick my ass to finally schedule. I did the CISM right after with the ISACA bank of questions as the material overlapped incredibly. Never had a hankering for audit even though my job these days has me in them constantly.

[quigongene]

Never had a hankering for audit even though my job these days has me in them constantly.

Me either, but since the CISSP won't count for anything as it's too old, the CISA seems to have the 2nd highest "test out" rate (after the CISSP) at 13 CUs, I'll take the CISA.

[justdavey]

Oh! Had not seen the equivalancies. It's great that they're recognizing ISACA certs, I find them more challenging than the EC-Council ones. The ISACA chapter where I live is really active so it's a great networking tool for other infosec professionals and I keep going back to use alot of the docs and tools for COBIT on the site.

[quigongene]

https://www.wgu.edu/admissions/transfers...tions.html

It does drive me bonkers that they keep calling the CRISC "CRIST" >:O .

[justdavey]

https://www.wgu.edu/admissions/transfers...tions.html

It does drive me bonkers that they keep calling the CRISC "CRIST" >:O .

LOL - Come for the security... stay for the theology.

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Progress post.

Finished:
English Composition II                           Took about a week to get through both tasks.
Scripting and Programing - Foundations   Did it in a day.

Also submitted Emerging Technologies in between both of these and am awaiting evaluation.  Going on 2.5 days 

Working on C268 Spreadsheets.  It's kicking my ass.. soooo long.  I thought I was ok in MS Excel but am learning a few things...  and others i'd rather forget *cough*Pivot Tables*cough.

If I can get through these i'll be left with:
Principles of Management
Technical Communications
Designing Customized Security (CCNA:Security)
IT Capstone

I received an email yesterday morning that my task 1 essay in English Composition I was nominated for an Award of Excellence by the evaluator.  It's the little things I guess. :
  
Still love WGU.  My student mentor is still great, unless I hit a roadblock i'm hoping to finish in a bit more than a month.  Hope this helps someone in their choice.  I like that I can accelerate through the stuff I know and still be challenged and figure things out from the manual or the course instructors where I cannot.  No need to wait for class and have issues getting ahold of a TA or professor.

[ChilliDawg]

I am considering WGU, myself for possibly Masters.

Could you folks tell me how they do testing.  Who do they Proctor through?

Are they really self-paced?

Thanks