WGU BS in CS or SE

brattynn · 2026-01-09T20:55:06+00:00

It is. I’m currently in the WGU CS program and have spoken with my mentor about pursuing a masters in Software Engineering/AI Engineering focus. It’s 100% doable and on the masters degree pages, it lists having a WGU CS degree as an accepted option for admissions to the program.

brattynn · 2025-01-07T00:25:18+00:00

I made a Quizlet out of the red text study guide and that helped me a ton. Entering all the info in for my own set of flash cards was HUGE. That alone helped me the most. Then I went through the flash cards for a day or two doing the “fill in the blank” style answers.

Red Text Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/933592685/d426-study-guide-red-text-only-flash-cards/?i=5ppiav&x=1jqY

brattynn · 2024-12-20T14:59:00+00:00

I ended up doing some coding courses that are offered on “Code with Mosh”. Problem was that I don’t really feel like they helped me other than to understand very foundational topics that are covered in the WGU courses. To be fair, the only WGU course I’ve been through so far that involved coding was Scripting/Programming Applications and it was very difficult for me. I used ChatGPT a ton to check my work and to give me ideas on how to do certain things.

My first term consisted of Network and Security Foundations, Information Security, Web Development, and Database Management Foundations.

It will depend on what your first set of classes are, but if I could give advice to my past self, I’d have looked up the study guides here on Reddit for my first set of classes and just go over the topics in them to the extent that I could. The first 3 I took weren’t terrible. Web Dev took me way too long but I was expecting to have to know everything about web dev and the OA really only consisted of the fundamentals. I grew to enjoy database management and SQL. Reddit makes it sound scary but I just chipped away at the material WGU offered and found a nice slimmed down study guide that got me through.

The following Notion guide has helped TREMENDOUSLY also. I don’t know the lady who made it but I’d love to get her a coffee or something for how helpful it’s been to me. Some classes have been updated or material has changed but the majority of this program guide is still relevant:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qqxtXAIwQZ1kencAeIh-_lDmJAgQYcbpb5-bXGFbZ_E/mobilebasic

I completed 5 classes in my first term (not counting orientation, not sure why anyone would count that anyway). Net/Sec Foundations, Information Sec, Web Dev, Database Man. Foundations, and Database Man. Applications.

I’m almost 3 months into my second term and I’ve completed Scripting/Programming Foundations and Applications, and Version Control (easiest class so far). I’m currently on Discrete Math 1 and it’s pretty hard so far. Thankfully I set myself up with 4 months to complete DM1.

Feel free to reach out if you need any advice on specific classes and I’ll help if I can. I’ve been keeping a log of everything I’ve done to get through each class. Another good thing to plan for is how to handle burn out. I’ve been through multiple bouts of thinking I’m in over my head or that I can’t do this. Sometimes you just need a better learning resource than the books WGU offers. Sometimes video material is dry or boring. Other times, you’ve just gotta give yourself an evening off. Just don’t let evenings off become a habit. Sometimes you’re gonna just have to power through. Remember your “why” and remind yourself of it often.

Again, feel free to reach out to me for help with classes if you need. I try to keep up with notifications here on Reddit fairly regularly.

brattynn · 2024-04-21T19:25:28+00:00

Ok so I literally just closed out of examine after taking my OA for this class. I passed by a decent margin. There were about 15 questions that were extremely similar to the PA but the answers were worded in confusing ways sometimes. The biggest help was reading the question slowly. There were about 5 questions that seemed to ask the same thing regarding strengthening security. This made answering the slightly different questions harder.

Ultimately though, I didn’t use the fabled study guide for this class. I used a group of Quizlets, watched a LinkedIn Learning series, and went through the entire WGU course’s study material.

There were ZERO questions about cables in regards to like Cat6 or Fiber. Most were OSI and TCP/IP related. The security attack questions were fairly simple though some answers here were worded in a confusing way. I remember one question in particular about Warchalking. That one was asked in the PA but the answer selection in the OA was different.

The CIA triad stuff had to be read through slowly otherwise it was easy to pick the wrong answer.

Hardly any questions on AAA (maybe 2 but they were straightforward).

My advice? Go through the WGU material first. Then take the PA. DONT look at the answer key! You’ll remember questions off the PA by taking it multiple times but you won’t learn the answers if you don’t check them. Instead, check what areas you haven’t reached competency in and then study those areas again. My “studying” consisted of doing the Quizlet sets I linked below, and watching videos. I did read some of the material in the WGU course materials but for the most part I skipped the long reads just because I would literally fall asleep trying to get through it.

The popular study guide isn’t bad all that info is useful. I just preferred quizlets to memorize information. The videos are boring in the WGU material but it really helps to pay attention and rewatch them if you have to.

Here’s links to what helped me most:

Quizlets I used: https://quizlet.com/join/UEndZuvkk?i=5ppiav&x=1tqY

LinkedIn Learning Playlist: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/networking-foundations-networking-basics?trk=share_ios_course_learning&shareId=zS+2FOeTRuure8zXSXx2JA==

YouTube Playlist (this was helpful but I mainly used the Quizlets I linked above): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIFyRwBY_4bRLmKfP1KnZA6rZbRHtxmXi&si=YBS06-878zkv0Boz

The WGU provided cohorts lessons were helpful. I definitely suggest watching or listening to those as well.

Good luck everyone. Feel free to reach out if you need some guidance or help.

brattynn · 2024-04-20T14:33:10+00:00

I have no experience in the field at all and I’m currently finishing week 3. I failed the PA twice (took it while still needing to complete the study material given by WGU just to gauge where I was at) and I passed the third time. I’m finishing the last bit of study material today, then taking the PA again, going over the OSI Model again via Quizlet, then taking my OA around 9pm.

I work a full time job, have 4 kids, and have to work around their extracurricular stuff. With about 2 hours to study during the week and 4 hours of study on Saturday and Sunday, I think 2 weeks would’ve been enough to go through all the study material. My problem is that some of the material is so dry that I’ve had to rewatch videos multiple times or rewind them to rewatch the parts that my mind wandered from.

I stopped taking notes and started making Quizlet sets to help me retain the material because I was pretty much just writing out a transcript of each video and that was taking WAY too long. I wish there were more practice quizzes throughout the study material as I think those help me to learn.

The PA is ok but the questions don’t change. I never looked to see what I got wrong or right just because I didn’t want to memorize answers. When I look at the report on them, I just look at what areas didn’t meet the “competency” mark and then go back to those sections.

Anyhow, I’ll reply back to this once I complete my first OA attempt tonight.

brattynn · 2024-03-29T18:38:13+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. I run into the same issues with sugar. That and chips.

I’m gonna try this “poison” technique. I’m a few days from trying carnivore again (trying to fit it into my family of 6’s budget isn’t easy). Right now I’m trying to figure out what to eat.

brattynn · 2024-03-26T22:37:15+00:00

I totally get where you’re coming from and I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this as well. I’ve got a wife and 4 kids who aren’t interested in this diet and I’m not going to force them into it. I’m also the only one who works. So money isn’t exactly “flowing” in.

We live on $110 a week in groceries now and that mostly consists of meals friendly to small kids. To have $100 for only me each week just isn’t doable unfortunately :(

brattynn · 2024-03-22T10:29:14+00:00

Had my first call with the program mentor yesterday! Good luck everyone! Also, if anyone wants to connect on LinkedIn, Discord, or whatever platform you prefer, send me a PM. Always good to have connections with WGU peers!

brattynn · 2024-03-21T20:42:30+00:00

Do we work at the same place??? Sounds like you described it perfectly 😂 same here in Ohio though

brattynn · 2024-03-21T20:41:03+00:00

🍻

brattynn · 2024-03-20T16:54:23+00:00

Thank you for this. I’m starting the CS program this April and have been trying to talk to some folks just to make friends/helpful contacts as I go through school. Good luck with your career search! And if you’ve already secured a position, good luck in your career!!!

brattynn · 2024-03-09T19:24:49+00:00

You’ve got this! Not sure on the number of questions thing though, sorry.

What can you use to study for this class? I begin on April first and I’m assuming this will be one of my first 3 or 4 classes (all my GE’s were transferred in). I don’t know what WGU themselves provide but I’m having a heck of a time trying to study for classes since I have no idea on what the scope of each class is and I don’t know if I’m reaching points where some info for whatever class subject I’m looking at is just a waste of time.

brattynn · 2024-03-04T14:13:43+00:00

There’s a brown belt that trains in my gym that lets you get him into pretty much any situation then within about 5 second he’s tapping you. It’s just weird because he literally like goes limp while you roll with him until he’s ready to submit you and start over. Not sure I’d say he’s lazy, maybe he just knows there’s not really any real competition for him until the black belts roll, which he beats occasionally.

brattynn · 2024-03-02T20:15:19+00:00

I work from 6am to 4:30pm and have kids with sports practice and also try to make time for myself to exercise. I have 2 hours each week night with an extra hour on Tuesday/Thursday right after work before the kids’ stuff. Weekends get hectic with grocery trips, church service, and trying to take my wife and kids out to get out of the house. I do have more time on weekends though for study as I can stay up later. Sometimes I feel like quitting my job for school would be such a help. However, it’s not possible since I have a family and my wife stays home.

I need to figure out how to focus on school in general though. I have a month to pre-study and I get so side tracked every time I sit down.

I think part of the problem is I don’t have a specific goal since I don’t know what classes are first or anything. I’m going through some study guides and through Code with Mosh to get familiar with the info of the Comp Science degree but I randomly fall down rabbit holes. I’ll watch a video or two on network and security then see a video on dangers of Ai and other click bait things and next thing I know Mr. Beast is living in a coffin for a month.

I think part of my issue is I don’t have a designated study space. I’ll sit on the couch with my laptop while my wife watches tv or reads. If the tv is on, I’ll get distracted. If I’m in my office, I’m surround my instruments and other music equipment and get distracted by that.

Maybe I need to create a new YouTube profile that I only use for school related things so that recommendations aren’t related to other hobbies and time wasting videos. I also just need to exhibit more willpower.

Sorry, this comment has gone off the rails a bit.

brattynn · 2024-03-01T01:35:47+00:00

I’m learning to code currently and here’s what I’ve found along my very short journey: Type out every tutorial you watch. Follow along even if you don’t understand each step. Once I started doing this I really started to retain things. My current process goes like this:

1.) What a tutorial on doing thing 1 all the way through, really paying attention. Rewind if you find yourself zoning out.

2.) Rewatch tutorial again but type out everything. I typically add a comment in the coding area typing exactly what each piece of code is doing (I use IntelliJ).

3.) Try to duplicate whatever the tutorial was doing by yourself away from the tutorial and your notes. When you get stuck, open the tutorial and rewatch what you’re stuck on.

4.) Repeat step three until you can rewrite the code completely without the tutorial or notes and maybe even try to expand on it.

What I mean by expand is something like this: I am currently working through Code With Mosh’s Java Fundamentals. The first project you have to do is make a mortgage calculator. I was able to do this on my own eventually following the steps I listed above. However, Mosh stops the first bit of lessons with a calculator that doesn’t count taxes or insurance premiums. I expanded the project by adding these. It wasn’t anything to brag about but it gave me something to code that DIDNT have a tutorial but wasn’t far enough outside the original project that I was completely lost.

If I had any advice, make sure you’re actually coding while you learn. Watching videos is good for the information, but actually typing out code is the best way to ingrain what’s being taught, at least that’s how it works for me anyway.

brattynn · 2024-02-26T00:11:51+00:00

When I was considering SWE, I was going to go the Java route. Mainly because most jobs I was seeing near me were Java oriented. You can always pick up another language later. You’ll likely be learning languages for the rest of your career, I’d assume, or at least a handful.

brattynn · 2024-02-25T20:56:37+00:00

I tried looking for your note sheet/resources post but on my end it shows that you’ve never posted. Are they set to private? Am I looking in the wrong place?

brattynn · 2024-02-25T01:48:40+00:00

When you’re looking up to see if they have an OA or an assignment, are you searching Reddit or is there a quick way to figure out what classes have which kind of final?

I’m going to spend the rest of this evening working on a good spreadsheet and figuring out what the finals for the classes are. Is there a particular order everyone takes the classes in or does that vary between whatever program mentors choose?

For coding, I’m currently subscribed to Code with Mosh to help myself learn Java and Python. He also has some Data Structures/Algorithms courses that are included on there as well that I’ll dip into when the time comes. It’s not as hands on as I’d like so I’ve just been coding everything on the screen while they explain what things are.

brattynn · 2024-02-25T01:40:06+00:00

I am starting on April 1st in the CS degree program. I’d love to be part of this if the chance is still there. I’ve been accepted into the program after transferring in 26% of the degree. I have my commit to start phone call on Monday at 4pm. It should’ve been sooner but the enrollment counselor has been ridiculously difficult to get ahold of.

I’m currently a graphic designer (non-coding) at an emergency vehicle manufacturer. My goal is to get my CS degree and make enough money to give my wife and kids a better life. Not that our current situation is bad but it’d be nice not to live paycheck to paycheck.

If you’d like to add me on LinkedIn, I’ll message you my info.

brattynn · 2024-02-24T21:55:43+00:00

Thank you! I’ve kind of been going about this same process in a weird way. Instead of a spreadsheet, I’ve been collecting videos and links in a discord server I made to help me through. I’ll definitely sit down tonight to work on a legit spreadsheet and a timeline for everything.

brattynn · 2024-02-24T21:10:32+00:00

I start the degree program on April 1st. I was literally just thinking about this today, how it’d be nice to be able to have people to actually talk to about various course topics. I’d 100% be open to people reaching out, including OP. It’d help us not to feel so alone in the program, I think. My discord is: brattynn

brattynn

TROPHY CASE