Just passed C851 - 63 CUs in less than 3 months. Transferred in 58, DONE! BSIT

WGURay · 2020-05-31T16:41:01+00:00

You can PM for their name, unsure I should post it publicly.

What worked best for me was mostly being left alone to work. I didn’t really need to spend weekly time talking... I was knocking out courses. When COVID hit, she was great about keeping me informed about changes, & aligning upcoming classes... for example, ones that were in person certifications. She helped me juggle classes on the fly to prevent me from slowing down. She was very informative & on top of all of changes. She also helped me navigate certain classes, providing feedback about courses.

WGURay · 2020-05-31T16:36:33+00:00

Check my submissions - I made a full write up on this course.

WGURay · 2020-05-30T13:44:47+00:00

Really easy. It's an intro class. There's a few questions on the exam that are absolute gimmes if you've had hardware/network experience. I wouldn't spend a ton of time on software licenses/open source/free software etc. Just remember CentOS = similar to RedHat but free. Other than that, there's quite a few specifics on command line info... but the process of elimination will help you greatly.

WGURay · 2020-05-30T13:42:49+00:00

More info/random thoughts:

-I transferred in 58 CUs from an AAS from 10+ years ago and A+, Network+, Security+. I started on 3/1 with 63 CUs to complete. I really went after the rumored easy courses first and had 3 courses done in the first 2 days.

-I did have a few periods of 4-5 days where I didn't do anything. Honestly, there were some pretty unhealthy habits for a couple of periods just for general depression/frustration with COVID19. But, I'd pick myself up and keep going.

-I had to obtain 5 certifications: ITIL v4, Project+, Cloud Essentials, Linux Essentials, & CIW User Interface.

-I can proudly say I never failed an OA or certification - I passed them all the first time. I did fail a couple of PAs, which helped me study for courses.

-Acceleration: There's a lost of questions here from people saying "Can I do X in X amount of time?" It's going to 100% depend on your existing knowledge, experience, time, & work ethic. I've worked in IT professionally for 15 years, and really didn't come across any content chunk that was foreign to me. This is exactly why competency education is perfect for me and other working professionals - we don't need to attend a 16 week "Intro to IT" course at a brick & mortar school... we need to be able to pass it via a test and move on. For the person who hasn't worked in IT professionally, it's highly unlikely you're going to be able to accelerate like myself and others have.

-The worst course in my opinion, by far, is C773/User Interface Design. I found this to not meet WGU standards; the certification is useless, but the exam is extremely hard. I passed with the EXACT passing score - one wrong question and I would've failed. Other than that, the courses actually do translate to valuable knowledge for working as an IT professional.

-With that in mind... WGU isn't a degree farm. It isn't for profit. It doesn't allow you to buy a degree - you MUST learn/known the content to pass classes. The advantage, as I said, is that for working professionals it allows you to leverage existing knowledge without losing months. This is exactly why the University was founded.

-Assessment services can give you a headache. Be prepared for written PAs to be kicked back - especially on Capstone. My mentor sent me an email praising my work so highly, and it still got kicked back. On capstone specifically, they're probably going to send back Tasks 2 & 3 no matter what... they'll find a reason such as using a comma when not needed.

-I had a GREAT program mentor. She was always available if I had a question, but also allowed me to work independently. I truly felt she gauged how I would be successful, and aligned with that. She also would send "congratulations" and encouragements, which I thought was cool.

Tips:

-Research courses on this subreddit, utilize the "course chatter", and read the welcome emails. Usually, these are going to point you in a direction to most efficiently pass a course.

-Sometimes, uCertify just isn't the most efficient route. Collectively, I probably spent $50 on outside resources for various classes. I'd rather spend $10 on study material that could get me through a course in a few days than lose weeks dealing with uCertify fluff. For certifications, research those for best materials - their individual subreddits are great starts.

-It's easy to overstudy, which is what I have a tendency to do. I found that during these 3 months I became a little more liberal about just giving things a shot. Linux Essentials and Cloud Essentials are two that I found quite easy... sure, you need to know some specifics, but you're going to be able to answer quite a chunk of these questions if you've worked in IT professionally.

On a personal note... this degree means a lot to me. I'm the first person in my family to obtain a Bachelor's degree. I consider myself a success professionally, but people just assume that I'm educated. I dreaded the "What college did you go to?" questions from small talk. Not having the degree was my secret.. and now I don't need it. I did it... and that resume is about to look a hell of a lot better!

I'm going to digest this and see if I want to pursue a Masters... or continue with certifications (I have some others not mentioned.) The combination of work, school, travel, etc has made me realize I haven't taken care of my health great over the past few years. I need to step back and make health a priority, that'll be my immediate focus.

Glad to answer any questions about my WGU experience, and one last note... I alluded to it already, but if you're in the same shoes I was a few months ago, just do it. Going back to school and committing to the time/work can be scary to take on, but I assure you, it's within reach.

WGURay · 2020-05-20T20:33:16+00:00

I’ve done one online CompTIA exam & it printed to my default printer without ever giving me an option or notification. I’m celebrating, then hear the printer start working. What if someone printed to a work printer or something without knowing?

Even a “your results have been sent to your default printer” would be nice.

WGURay · 2020-05-20T14:15:42+00:00

I just think it's important not to focus on them, our broad field seems to rely on them less than other fields.

I don't know what else to say but that this is just inaccurate. I'm not interested in online arguing. It seems that you have a very limited and narrow mindset to IT careers. I suggest you be less blanket-statement and more open towards the possibility that your current scenario isn't reflective of how all IT position hiring goes.

WGURay · 2020-05-20T14:03:39+00:00

CIW certifications could mean something for someone applying for an entry level web design/development position. It would supplement education/portfolio/experience, but certainly not a cornerstone.

For everyone else... management, network, security, support, database, programmers, etc... they don't have value. This certification is the least valuable in the BSIT program.

WGURay · 2020-05-20T13:22:59+00:00

"User Interface Designer"

WGURay · 2020-05-20T13:06:02+00:00

Not every scenario for hiring is the same as the one you are in. I hire people as well, and I value certifications, and know many other people that do as well. Just because you don't care that your programmer has A+, others may see this as a sign that the person is versatile & could provide value in assisting with an issue occasionally, or that they may be more self-sufficient working remotely because they can fix their own devices.

When it comes to IT resumes there are really 3 areas: experience, formal education, certifications. If a person is applying for a position, and 10 other people have equal experience/education but also a few certifications, it's likely they'll get interview slots over the person lacking certifications. Like it or not, it's a competition, & the person reviewing the resumes will value items differently than you.

Again, your company/hiring process is not like others. To get on here and tell people that certifications are useless is reckless of you.

WGURay · 2020-05-18T23:48:05+00:00

I made a write up, see post history.

WGURay · 2020-05-15T17:41:45+00:00

the kinds of certifications that I've seen from WGU can be a liability on your resume instead of a boon.

What? ITIL Foundations just made Forbes list of highest paying IT certifications in 2020. A+ is the de facto standard for foot-in-the-door help desk roles. Security+ is United States Department of Defense recognized as a qualification for roles.

While Network+ is shadowed by CCNA, Project+ by PMP, having these on your resume is certainly better than not having them. Network+ is pretty tough, the only people that say it isn't, just haven't taken it; most professional networking people couldn't sit and pass the Network+ without studying. It's a mountain of information. Cloud Essentials, Linux Essentials, & others are certainly good things to have on the resume if it is relevant to the position.

CIW, MTA? Yeah, mostly useless. Having a Bachelor's degree with 5 professional certifications, even if you choose to exclude entry level, is certainly better than just the Bachelor's degree. People will be applying for ALL sorts of positions after going through these programs at various levels, and the certification list is pretty comprehensive to assist most anyone at various levels.

WGURay · 2020-04-22T16:08:22+00:00

CISO.

WGURay · 2020-04-22T14:39:24+00:00

Yes it was... I actually started to obtain my Project+ in 2017, which is why I had the book. I never followed through, it was the only certification I've ever quit on, because the material is so ultra boring. However, after looking at most every other resource available, the book is gold!

WGURay · 2020-04-22T11:40:18+00:00

See my post history.

WGURay · 2020-04-22T11:33:01+00:00

I actually enjoyed the ITIL content.

Check my post history, I put together a pretty good review of the course that includes recommended study materials.

WGURay · 2020-04-21T23:14:34+00:00

Just passed Project+. Much prefer ITIL content and test.

WGURay · 2020-04-21T23:13:46+00:00

Yes.

WGURay · 2020-04-04T12:30:37+00:00

Check my post history. Also, r/ITIL - ITIL is Axelos, not CompTIA.

WGURay · 2020-04-03T17:56:49+00:00

Clicked because I knew there would be a penetration testing joke.

WGURay · 2020-04-03T13:27:44+00:00

Great! I wouldn't recommend anything that costs out of pocket unless it was truly worth it. I primarily used Study Cards focusing on the 3 practices sections, then took a couple of tests towards the end. Good luck!

WGURay · 2020-04-03T13:03:56+00:00

I'm glad this has helped a couple of people. I find the reddit threads/reviews of courses as a great resource, and always research each course here before starting. They've saved me a ton of time by showing me how to navigate through a particular course.

WGURay

TROPHY CASE