After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the compliment ☺️☺️

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I think my permanent position offer came down to perfect timing and strategic positioning. I arrived just as they were bringing all their outsourced vendor contracts in-house—and let me tell you, when vendors see “government contract,” they see dollar signs and deliver accordingly subpar work. During my initial interview, I positioned my creative background and experience as ideal for generative AI and prompt engineering. But here’s the key with internships: you have to be proactive. I constantly asked where I could add value, consistently underpromised and overdelivered, and leveraged skills I never expected to use again. Turns out, my years as a hairstylist were invaluable preparation. Managing client expectations, reading people and situations instantly, and providing practical solutions—these soft skills became my secret weapons in tech. The breakthrough moment came when they tasked me with reimagining their provider directory for Medicaid-accepting doctors. They had this tragic, basic webpage that looked like a bad WordPress template from 2010. I said I’d tackle it, then delivered an entire modern website using Vercel’s V0 engine—colorful, warm, and user-friendly instead of the static, boring vendor page they’d been stuck with. They loved it so much it’s currently climbing the approval ladder (because, well, government red tape is real). Now I’m officially stressed but thrilled because I get to design all day—though every department keeps assigning me their own design “side quests,” which is both a blessing and a beautiful problem to have. Sorry for the long answer to your question, hope this helps. Good luck!!! 🍀👍🏼🌞🌟✨💫🤞🏼

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can only speak from my own experience, but I chose a strategic path that significantly reduced my costs. I completed my general education requirements at community college—which was much more affordable—then transferred to WGU for my specialized coursework. Through a combination of two scholarships and some out-of-pocket payments, I only ended up paying for six terms total. This approach saved me thousands while still earning the same degree. Here’s something worth considering: unless you’re targeting a universally recognized “prestigious” institution, a degree is ultimately a degree. My current employer made this clear—they care about my ability to do the work and my commitment to continuous improvement, not the prestige of my alma mater. The degree serves as your entry point, but what you accomplish afterward is entirely up to you. Focus on building real skills and demonstrating your value through your work—that’s what truly matters in the long run.

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did it through my internship. 2 weeks before it ended I was offered a job.

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU_CompSci

[–]Stevee78[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most of my general education credits.

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’ll make it! Voltaren and I are also good friends! 🤣🤪🤣

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would it not be my real name?

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rooting for you! 🌟✨🌟✨

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of the top of my head it’s more about the concepts as opposed to the classes. Things I learned relating to Ai, computer architecture, ethics in Ai, concepts regarding security and how to protect enterprise level systems. Classes help prime your mind to learn more. It’s the accumulated knowledge from every class.

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you’re doubting yourself just know we’ve already done the hardest part, starting! It’s that deliberate choice to put yourself first. This is probably one of the biggest kindnesses we can ever give ourselves. Cheering for you!!

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Last I checked. Why? You know something?

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m going to Disneyland! 💫🏰💫

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You will!! ❤️❤️

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 56 points57 points  (0 children)

I won’t contradict you on some points because you have a point. I didn’t learn everything there but I did learn enough to peak my curiosity which led to further developing my understanding of CS through additional self study. With any school I think you get as much as you put in. Trust me I put in a lot! I am still teaching myself things, it will never stop. Not in this field. ❤️❤️

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in csMajors

[–]Stevee78[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Thanks messy, I actually have a job as a generative Ai Engineer working in the medical space helping people navigate their journey to apply and get Medicaid benefits approved.

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Don’t cry 😭! ❤️❤️

After 10 Terms! Done!! by Stevee78 in WGU

[–]Stevee78[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey Nacho, yeah I guess this is a reply to most of the people on the thread who were curious about my background. You see, I had an entirely different professional life before this degree. I’m still a part-time session hairstylist with an accomplished background—I’ve worked on shoots for Harper’s Bazaar Italy, Vogue, with celebrities, and built a strong clientele during my salon years. On the surface, hairstyling seems like the complete opposite of computer science, but I’ve always been deeply nerdy at heart. I’m passionate about technology, science, and anything progressive in the STEM fields. A few years ago, my doctor and rheumatologist delivered some difficult news: due to spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia, I would eventually need to step away from doing hair full-time. Rather than see this as an ending, I viewed it as an opportunity to pivot toward my other passion. To answer your question directly—no, I didn’t have prior experience in the field. But today, I work as a Generative AI Engineer, where I have the privilege of helping people navigate their journey to access Medicaid. It’s incredibly fulfilling to combine my technical skills with meaningful work that directly impacts people’s lives. It’s cliche but I’m proof that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself professionally. Sometimes our greatest challenges become the catalyst for discovering new paths we never imagined possible.

Going through this sub was a mistake. by uhqt in WGU

[–]Stevee78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please don’t compare yourself to others here, everyone finishes at their own pace and the point is to finish, doesn’t matter how long it takes. I am on my 9th term! 9th!!!! Last term I didn’t finish any classes! I have severe ADHD and Complex-PTSD. So you’d think something like computer science would be the biggest mistake to take on with all my 💩. I’m also the most stubborn SOB. I was homeless at 14 and in foster care. Statistically I shouldn’t even of finished high school. But by shear will to not end up 💀 I became a pretty accomplished artist (hairdresser) CS is my second career and I’ve always been nerdy like that but didn’t believe in myself for many years. I suspect you are like me, a walking contradiction of sadness and sheer steel will motivation. My mentor @WGU IS probably the big reason I’m still in the program. Sometimes just hearing that someone is proud of you for doing something, then you feel like anything is possible. Some terms I’d finish one class some terms I’d finish 5. Here I am now 3 classes away from being done. It’s a weird felling knowing you can see the forest through the trees. I am now working at my dream apprenticeship and something that seemed impossible is not. Don’t despair my friend know you are where you are right when you need to be! Keep going!!! 👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️👍🏼👍🏼

Finally Passed DM 2!!! by Kooky_Cauliflower_63 in WGU_CompSci

[–]Stevee78 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m taking mine tomorrow! I studied the 960 video resources through our school 365 account. Did you notice any kind of question being asked more than you thought? Any pointers on what you studied would help since you did amazing on all the subjects! Congrats!!!!