A couple questions about WGU

[allvia]

I've been doing tons of research on the big 3 to determine which I should choose to complete my degree. In the end, I was surprised to see that WGU might actually be my best bet. My main reason is purely financial. It's structure would allow me to use a whole lot more of my Pell Grant towards it. The savings for me would be massive. I do have a few questions though.

• I understand that, once enrolled, you can not send any more credits or transcripts to them. If I were to apply now (so that I can see how they are applying the credits I currently have), but then wait to enroll, would I still be able to send them more transcripts?
  

It is free to apply and have them evaluate.  Applying is not the same as enrolling, so once you apply and get your evaluation you may transfer in more credits up until to enroll to start.

• I currently have 83 credits and have taken pretty much all of what most colleges would consider core requirements. However, WGU seems to have some very different Gen Ed. required courses than I've seen before (geography, spreadsheets, probability & statistics, etc). I read something on their site that made it sound like if you had an associates degree, that they would consider your general ed. req. fulfilled. Is that accurate? I'm wondering if it would be worth it to me to first get an associates degree before enrolling. I'd appreciate hearing any of your experiences with this. It's so hard to know exactly what's even definitely needed. I wish they had stuff broken down on their site like TESU does.
  

Some courses will be required for the program - Geography is a gen ed, and can be filled by another science gen ed they feel aligns. However, statistics is likely a requirement - so you would have to transfer it in to them or take it through them (I'd recommend transferring it in, but if you don't have it now you can take it after the evaluation of your existing credits). Based on how many credits you already have I would say would NOT be practical to get an associates first. I saw your list of credits in another thread and it is unlikely that you'd be missing anything that an associates degree would 'buy you'; and if you were missing something it would be cheaper and cheaper to earn the missing credits than to manage to gain an associates degree. Note that WGU is quite quick in doing their credit evaluations so you would not have to wait long once they receive your transcripts to see where you stand. It seemed many of your existing credits would fit a business degree nicely - management or marketing (as you had listed a few marketing/advertising courses), but they would be helpful in letting you know which your existing credits fit which best

• Has anyone found a good resource that shows what alternative credit they accept? I found an equivalency page for Saylor, but haven't found anything else.
  

For alternative credits they do take ACE (but I have heard that like TESU, they do not accept Shmoop). They do not accept NCCRS (so that eliminates options such as onlinedegree and Davar)

• And lastly, if any of you are completing your degree with WGU, I'd love to hear about your experience so far. How difficult is this path in comparison to study.com/clep tests, etc?
  

I did not do my Bachelor through them in the end (although I applied, and went through the process), as I wanted different schools listed on my resume for bachelor and masters (it was a personal preference, and I will be getting my master through WGU).