Western Governors University Reviews

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Education of a LifeTime

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on November 13, 2009

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I’d no intention of writing a review today. But when I came across some of the reviews here, I decided to reply. If your motivating question is "How quickly can I pass with as little effort as possible?", do WGU, its students & yourself a favor … MOVE ON! WGU is not for you. Or, frankly, for any reviewer talking about color books, too easy tests , bouncing from mentor to mentor looking for one who will tell them the answers, or who don't bother to read instructions (on financial aid pages or elsewhere). To reviewers who complain materials are confusing.... WELL, DUH! The materials ARE often confusing! Expect it! That happens to me each time I’m unfamiliar with content...and need to learn it. If it's clear at 1st glance, chances are there are experiences in my background that made it so. That’s what a competency based model is all about. Don't waste another minute. Pass it! Move on! WGU lets you handcraft your program to fit your goals. Use their course of study as a base, and build from there. My focus has been international and virtual education. Because I am in charge of how and where I use my time at WGU, I was able to pack up my program and take it to a real-time second grade class in China, while still studying virtually in the states. Go ahead ... Name ANY other online teachers college that insists you have tons of supervised in-school experiences before walking into your student teaching classroom ...AND supports you in finding that opportunity! What other university gives you weekly personal mentor support when you need it AND leaves you to study undisturbed for a month when you don't? Having gotten to the 'almost completed' point three other times ... and having to start over because brick & mortars can't accommodate family moves ... I've sufficient experience to make a comparison of WGU, brick & mortars and other online universities. For example, I've human development courses from 4 colleges (non-transfer policies at all). WGU's course is more academically rigorous than that at the state university, more unbiased than the expensive private university, and totally lacking in any of the irrelevant busy work demanded by a highly rated online university. WGU's course did seem a bit hodge-podge at first glance, but it didn't take long to see it was because they were pulling the most relevant materials from multiple learning sources. I reiterate here what other reviewers have already said. If you are a self-motivated learner who is busy working a full time job, raising a family and still want to attend full time... or if you are a full time student who is willing to work hard to accelerate through a 4 year degree in as little as a year ... WGU is for you. Otherwise... choose elsewhere. No Teachers -10 because WGU teaches you to teach yourself.

will recomend only for self regulated learners!

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program, Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
Reviewer: katerinapeltier (Degree In Progress) on October 21, 2009

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I would recomend this University only to self motivated learners. You will not get much help from the "teachers" and you will write and write and write one paper after another. However, it is duable if you have the time to study and are dedicated. I was told that my degree will take me 2 years, and now am going on year 3, taking over 14 semester hours each time. Did not like my first mentor, however, was assigned new one and she is wonderful!

Complete waste of time!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on October 4, 2009

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I have been enrolled in the interdisciplinary K-8 program for a year now. I too have endured mentor changes, course changes and no support from the community leaders/mentors. The tasks are tedious and inconsistent. MOst of which have to be submitted and resubmitted several times before they are passed. They take forever to grade. The course work does not match up with the text information. I too have found that the information that was in my coursework was not the same information I was tested on. I am planning on withdrawing from this program and finding a more traditional program. I would NOT recommend this program to anyone. It is a colossal waste of time and money!

Incredibly Positive Experience with WGU

Master of Business Administration
Reviewer: knbrazil (Graduate) on October 2, 2009

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If you're looking for a quick, easy degree you don't have to work for, you'll be disappointed in WGU.

If you're looking for a degree you work hard to earn and you can be proud of, and if you are capable of thinking and performing at a graduate level, WGU just might be the school for you.

I absolutely loved it. My only regret (I did both undergrad and grad school at WGU) is that they do not offer doctoral programs. However, I certainly had no trouble getting into a doctoral program as a WGU grad.

I have liked it so far

BA secondary Science teacher
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on September 7, 2009

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I just started, but I have been doing online coursework for a while.  The only difference is that there is no structured due dates.  I like this because it gives me the freedom to choose what I want to work on and when.  I have to be self-disciplined, but it is worth it.  

I do have one complaint.  The financial aid department needs to have written policies about when and how students are awarded financial aid. I was in the dark for the first month of my program.  It would have been nice to have policy that stated it would take at least thirty days after starting and I had have a pass for EWB before I could be awarded.  Instead I would call and get the runaround.  It was very frustrating because I use financial aid for books and other costs.

Exceptional school! A+!

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: edwardla (Degree In Progress) on September 4, 2009

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I don't understand why people are saying bad things about this school. I have attended so many college and/or university from the past, and WGU is one of the best! Easy to pass assessments?! Are you kidding? WGU assessments come in many forms, and they are certainly not just multiple choice questions. And with the multiple choice assessments, they still remain on moderate college level. 

The degree itself is respected everywhere with support from large corporations in USA and it has received full accreditation. It is one of the very few non-profit and private universities, so tuition itself is an attraction. This university is highly recommended!

Masters - Learning & Technology

M.Ed. Learning and Technology
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on August 19, 2009

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Like anything else, you get out what you put in.  I just started my second term and I have found that the program has challenged me without overwhelming me.  I also can feel myself growing more muscular everyday in my job as I put the knowledge that I am gaining straight to work.  I am eager to keep going!

The Best School for Me

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: sherrystarling (Degree In Progress) on August 16, 2009

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I can never understand why people are so spiteful on these review boards. If you messed up with a program, don't roast it and turn away newcomers! I know the first time I attended college it didn't work out, but it was MY fault, not theirs. Now that I went with WGU in spite of the reviews I am so happy with my experience. Have I been ticked off at times? Yes, but no more hassels with any other school. I would never been able to finish my degree at a traditional college, but I am more than halfway through and extreemely satisfied. You HAVE to work and you will have deadlines. And for teachers in texas and all states: If you go to school in one state (Utah for WGU) you also have to CERTIFY in the state you want to teach in. It's the same for people who go to college out of state and then move back home. It is standard operating procedure.

Can be great but not for everyone

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: redstar1619 (Graduate) on August 11, 2009

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first of all - WGU is NOT for everyone - WGU is a compliment to experienced professionals lacking degree credentials.  It will benefit the person who has good english. math skills already and who is willing to study very hard ON THIER OWN.  A person who has been in an industy such as IT - is a good example.  WGU may be weak if you have never been in IT for example.  Why give the school horrible ratings when it did not work for you - do you give your past school a poor rating as well because you could not finish it either.  WGU works for those prepared and understand career compliment - and wholly self movitivated or do you work for the other online schools - mostly the latter since anyone can put up a horrible review.  WGU is the future model - compentency based testing on any level is honorable.

WGU is TOPS!!

Bachelor of Arts in Special Education
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on July 27, 2009

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There are a lot of wonderful things I can say about WGU. In fact I said a lot of wonderful things about the school on another review site only to discover that the site was biased and/or "possibly" started by a competing institution. I will simply say that my experience has been wonderful. It is a wonderful University for those who are serious about learning and are able to working in an independent learning environment. For those of you who require a little more attention thee are the community learning threads, frequent chats, live call in sessions, the wgu student hot line and your mentor is always handy. Give the university a call. You will be glad that you did! 

Much Success

Very Satisfied Student

Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems
Reviewer: stevenclphillips (Graduate) on July 21, 2009

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I have to say that I am extremely pleased with Western Governors University. There have been fewer problems with administration than either of the two community colleges that I have attended. In one case, I had to drive to the campus of one college to take a test in the library, on a Sunday! In the other case, I spent a thousand dollars on tuition and books for an operating system that was being eliminated by the vendors. As an IT grad, I appreciate the continually updated subjects - why should I pay good money for obsolete tech? One CC was teaching Windows 2000 long after Windows XP had replaced it!
The problem with the learning resources(if you could call it that) is there is a plethora of material available. This is for a number of reasons. For example, I have a strong background in operating systems. Most of the learning resources were unneeded by myself, because I am familiar with the subject. Others may not be so familiar and would require a course, offered through the University, as well as other material, offered through Skillsoft and Safari Online.
As was mentioned in other reviews, WGU is non-profit - they want to see you succeed and have no desire to "string you along". As was also mentioned in other reviews, I earned this degree - WGU is not interested in being a diploma mill - and I had no intention of buying a vanity degree. Sitting down to take a Microsoft or Sun certification test requires that you know the material thoroughly, otherwise, you will not pass. No BSing the teacher for a higher grade here! Maybe Taskstream can be frustrating at times, but I've had the same problems with other colleges too.
On-line learning is harder than sitting in a classroom.
Would I recommend WGU to another prospective student? I would and have. First of all, as a non-profit college, I can get a high quality education, while not paying for superfluous, peripheral "benefits". Why pay for supporting a football team, when what I need is cost-effective, time-effective, skill-building education?
I need a degree program that works with my schedule, instead of forcing me (and my family) into an artificial schedule of classwork on top of a full time career.
That was the case, even with the online courses at the community colleges, but WGU allowed me to work in my home, at MY speed, instead at of the glacial pace of the brick and mortar schools.
I wish I had known about WGU earlier. I would have had my degree in three years, instead of wasting time in a classroom.
Am I a shill for Western Governors University?
No, just a satisfied graduate!

WGU IS WONDERFUL!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on July 19, 2009

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On June 15, 2009, someone calling themselves anonymous said to not trust WGU because Texas does not recognize the degree. I am currently a 3rd year student at WGU and I am from Texas. Texas DOES recognize the degree. I am sorry that you received incorrect information. The only thing that Texas does not recognize is the teacher certification. Once you complete the WGU program and have taken the Utah state exams, you will have a bachelor's degree and a teacher certification, but the teacher certification will be for the State of Utah. You will have to file for what they call reciprocity in Texas. You can obtain a temporary teacher certification for the State of Texas when you complete the program. Then you are required to take the Texas state exams within a year to be certified in Texas. So, yes Texas does recognize the degree from WGU, just an extra step has to be taken for the teacher certification process. Hope this clears things up.

I am COMPLETELY happy with my experience at WGU and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Mentor doesn't care, just a cheerleader for school

B.S. - Accounting
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on July 18, 2009

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Any concern that I have had about studying at WGU has been discredited by my so-called mentor. Any problem that I have mentioned has been ignored.  I have also been called crazy by this mentor. It sounds like the mentor is reading from a script with rebuttals. The remarks are the typical remarks that are supposedly posted here by students who are very satisfied with WGU. The rebuttals to my concerns have been: WGU is the greatest value, you have to work hard just like anything else in life, I can't do the work for you, I have students who finish in 6 months with 9 kids, if they can do it you can do it. I don't recall ever asking anybody for a handout and I don't appreciate that my stated facts about my own experience at WGU have been poo-pooed. I have never been to an organization that treats their customers so poorly.

Makin it happen

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on July 10, 2009

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So I'm in my 2nd year at WGU n I love it...yeah u have to work hard n yeah it takes a while. When you have a family n a full time job you do what you can.  My mentor is good, if she doesn't know something finds out quickly n responds. I don't know a damn thing about business but with the websites they give you that go along with the books it all comes together. You have to work at it like anything else in life.

Works For Me

B.S. in Business --HR Management
Reviewer: jennifershampton (Degree In Progress) on July 9, 2009

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I am mid way through my degree with WGU and I have had nothing but good experiences. My mentor is extremely helpful, responds quickly and answers all questions. I have done very well on the proctored exams and scored high on each one. I am a good student, but even for those who are not the best at studying, everyone works with you and helps you along. I could have never gotten this degree for this price and with this flexibility anywhere else. I highly recommend.

Not Informative Enough...Underhanded

Math Ed. (5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on June 15, 2009

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I found this "university" and thought that my prayers were answered in being able to get a Bachelor's/Teaching Certification online.  Enrollment counselor contacted me immediately and talked up all the perks and wanted to get the ball rolling immediately, as did I.  DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE.  The information they give are half truths and selective.  I did research and found out that My state board of teacher certification, Texas by the way for all you Texans, will not recognize a Bachelor's Degree from WGU!  This is information that an Enrollment counselor from that university should know!  She did not, or either did not volunteer that she knew, and I was almost done with the process of enrolling.  CAUTION, check with your local State Board of Education to see if they accept this school before you get sucked into their program.  You will save yourself a big headache...not to mention a bunch of work for a useless degree.  Ratings that are higher than 1 are because either I didn't get far enough to experience those things.  The only one that is rated that I did experience besides the 1's was value, the institution is cheap...but you get what you pay for.

WGU - A Good Education and a Great Value

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on June 6, 2009

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I am a graduate of the College of Business at WGU and after over 25 years of industry experience in Marketing Management I can verify that the educational standards and course of study at WGU are comprehensive and relevant. During my career I had attained the position of Director of Business Development, without a Bachelors degree, at a division of a $20B global leading manufacturer of aerospace electronics. Most of my peers hold undergrad and graduate degrees and as such advancement beyond the Director of BD level was unlikely. I graduated with a BS in Marketing Management and I am now pursuing an MBA at WGU and I am now a VP of Marketing and Sales. I accomplished the completion of the degree, received the promotion and I am continuing studies in the MBA program only two years after initially enrolling at WGU in the Spring of 2007 with only 25 credits transferred.

WGU is relevant, credible, accelerated and a great value.

So far so good

M.A in Teaching: Science (5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on June 4, 2009

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I am finishing my first semester at WGU and I have to say I am very impressed. The price is right, supports military families like my own, and the mentors are fantastic. Classes aren't easy but not overly difficult and essays and papers are no harder than at any other university. I went to a school that graded on a curve for my BS and I am glad that this school doesn't do that. I have completed 15 units already being a stay at home mom with two kids. It takes work but is totally doable! I highly recommend!

HORRIBLE

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on May 29, 2009

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THIS UNIVERSITY IS NOT A REPUTABLE OR ONE OF INTEGRITY! This university does like to work with students.  They are in a constant state of change and will change policies and classes mid stream.  The professors will not offer and advice or encouragment and will instruct you to refer to your mentor for answers.  Beware of scholarships offered, they will not give you a scholarship in full, however, they will give you an allotement and then take the money away, because of policies that are not stated up front.  Professors do not read any work submitted to thier online bulletinboard and a computer reads works and generates reports that will wrongly accuse you of plagerism, because something was quoted correctly. This university does not follow thru on any thing and addresses concerns or questions once to passify, then it is put into a drawer and forgotten until the student addresses it, then many excuses will be made and again passification will be attempted.

This school was an awful experience and I would NEVER reccommend this to anyone seeking a reputable university.

Current MBA/IT student

Master of Business Administration
Reviewer: sal_velasco (Degree In Progress) on May 28, 2009

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I would select this school again.  Very inexpensive and regionally accredited.

TERRIBLE

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: jennifer.butler27 (Degree In Progress) on May 21, 2009

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If you are a VA don't even think about going to this school.  I have not received my VA benefits for 3 months due to errors in their processing and finacial aid department.  Now after a year of going to school they just took back some of my financial aid saying I was getting to much because of my GI Bill.  My GI Bill is not for tuition it is for living expenses and my family depends on it right now.  DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER THEM IF YOU ARE GOING TO NEED FINANCIAL AID, THE OFFICE IS TERRIBLE.

Great Value & Support

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on May 12, 2009

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WGU is a wonderful school but fact check before you believe everything written below. All evaluators and mentors have BAs and most have MAs. Previous reviews that stated to the contrary are completely false. Also note that this is a non profit university so people who are insinuating WGU is stringing students along for money are a bit paranoid. Unlike Phoenix or Capella, their bottom line is fulfilling their mission to provide equal access to education for all. But do note that while this school is competency based, it doesn't translate into direct credit for your experience- you still need to demonstrate competency by passing assessments. They are currently doing a complete overhaul of their transfer policies for the BA programs to make them more friendly to students with previous academic experience and re structuring the assessments to reduce repetition with tasks in Task Stream. Your mentor is your best support system and can provide motivation and direction, but your education is still your responsibility and if you tend to procrastinate and not do well without strict deadlines, think about this choice carefully. WGU is also providing content mentors to assist with specific content over the phone and online so there is more academic support for students who need it. They are also the only online school to offer teacher certification in all 50 states in an NCATE accredited program. Do your homework before committing, but WGU is the way to go for busy adults who are COMMITTED to getting a degree and can manage their own learning.

Good so far...

BA - Social Science
Reviewer: wedmonds316 (Degree In Progress) on May 1, 2009

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I think that the school is excellent. For one I like the school because it is affordable and not over priced. And secondly I like the school because the reputation that it has is better than UofP, DeVry, and some of the other schools. Another reason I like the school is because of the structure of the degree programs. I will be able to finish my degree sooner than what I thought. Especially the way it allows you to move at your own pace. That is excellent. I love the mentor. Everything is going well. I would recommend this school to my best of friends!

VERY SATISFIED

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on April 30, 2009

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I AM CURRENTLY IN MY FIRST TERM AT WGU. I HAVE TO SAY I WAS VERY NERVOUS GOING INTO THIS VENTURE BECAUSE OF THE STUDENT LOANS ETC. I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAY AT HOME ANYTHING TO GO HERE. I WORK A 40 HOUR WEEK AND GO OUT ON THE WEEKENDS WITH FRIENDS AND STILL HAVE TIME TO DO SCHOOL WORK. ITS CALLED MAKING IT WORK PEOPLE. READ WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO, COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENTS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO IN TASKSTREAM, WHICH IS WHAT ALL THE COLLEGES I KNOW OF USE, AND TAKE THE PROCTORED TESTS. THATS IT. EVERYTHING IS LINED UP FOR YOU WEEK BY WEEK IN THE GUIDED LEARNING TOOLS AND IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH IT FASTER, FIT IT 2 WEEKS IN 1. MY MENTOR GWEN IS THE BEST. SHES LIKE A FRIEND. SHES NOT STUFFY AND RUDE LIKE MOST COUNCLERS AT OTHER SCHOOLS. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CALLS EVERY WEEK. AS FOR ESSAYS AND SUCH MY GOD WHAT SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE YOU WRITE PAPERS. UMMMM HELLO THATS A PART OF SCHOOL. GET OVER IT. AND IF YOU FOLLOW THE RUBRIC YOU'LL PASS. STAY ON POINT DON'T RAMBLE ON TO FILL SPACE AND ITS THAT EASY. SOME ONE ALSO WROTE ON HERE ABOUT HAVING TO PAY BACK MONEY BORROWED TO GO TO SCHOOL. ARE YOU KIDDING? ITS CALLED A LOAN. FIGURE IT OUT.

Good so far

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on April 24, 2009

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I'm in my 1st month of my term, and I'm already through about 4 classes that would have taken me a semester to get through in a traditional college.  That's why I rate it at a 10 for value.  For $3000 over 6 months, you can accelerate at your own pace, move the program as quickly as you have time to devote to it, and get your degree super fast.  It's not easy - let's put that up front.  But I'm no super-whiz and as long as you devote the time to it, you will get through it quickly.  This program, as with all online schools is not for people who aren't self-motivated.  You've got to be your own disciplinarian.  Don't expect your mentor to hand hold you.  In fact, I've found so far that I've got to lay down the law with my mentor right up front about how I want things done and push them to sign me up for more courses. If you're clear and honest with your enrollment counselor when you sign up and then just push your mentor through your program, this is a tremendous value.

Excellent College for Hard Working Individuals!!!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on April 23, 2009

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WGU is an excellent school for people who have the time to devote to their education.  I completed my BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in a little over a year, I did transfer in several credits but this was still way ahead of time.  I am very proud to say that I graduated from WGU.  My community is very accepting and I have jad job offers at three different schools.  I am currently teaching Pre-K and loving it with the very degree that I earned from WGU.  I am a busy mother of two little boys, one of whom is Autistic and I am happily married.  I lead a very busy life, but I was determined to complete my degree and I did!  Thanks WGU for allowing me to fulfill my dream.  All of the negative responses are typical responses from any college.  I also attended regular universities, and I feel MORE confident in WGU.  I passed all of my Praxis tests with flying colors the first time I took them which is more than I can say for a lot of my coworkers who attended traditional universities.  I am currently enrolled in a Masters degree in Special Education from WGU and look forward to completing it to fulfill even more of my dreams.  I hope they continue to add degrees and branch out to offer EDS degrees!  Thanks WGU!!!

A Different Favorite "golf club" for Every Player!

Bachelor of Arts: Social Science, with Teaching Certification grades 5-12
Reviewer: ejrwheeler.wgu (Degree In Progress) on April 22, 2009

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I have been out of high school "in the working world" since 1981. I have not been in a college environment at any level since 1985. Back then, I had only myself to be concerned with and had no full time job.

Now, I am married, have two sons who are 10 and 9, hold a full time job, and am going to college full time in order to make a career change into teaching. Without the flexibility - which goes both ways - of this education, I would never be able to do it. That said, I am very self motivated and am mature enough to be self directed. For me, this is my favorite "golf club" to use. That old brick and mortar type would never work for me. I am able to attend class for as long as I want to and when I want to as long as I complete my coursework on or before the "date certain" agreed to in advance with my mentor (adviser).

Perhaps the person who puts down this college needs to take an inward look to determine just how motivated and self-directed they are. For that type of person, this is the best value education with the best accreditation available for any type of degree.

Perfect for me!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Morganfarm (Degree In Progress) on April 21, 2009

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I started going to WGU in February and so far it has been amazing. I was a little scared at first but the Education Without Boundaries course really helped me understand the process. It is a simple class but will help you out in the long run. My mentor, Jamie, is excellent. She calls me every Friday at exactly 2:00 and checks up on how I did for the week and asks if I have any questions. You can also move this to a call every 2 weeks if you feel very comfortable but it keeps me on track if I hear from her every week. Its your choice.

I am 19 years old and this was a much more affordable way for me to get my degree. It will be about half as much as a traditional college. This type of online education will work best with well motivated students who can stay on track and not have people tell them what to do. If you need a teacher telling you what work to do everyday then this school is not for you. My enrollment counselor, Anabelle, was also very helpful to me. Sometimes the counselors are hard to get in touch with but if you leave a message then they will get back with you the first chance they get.

I would recommend this school to anyone looking to further their education. Depending on how much you know and how fast you are willing to move through your classes you can get done earlier. I have been there for 2 months and already have almost 6 out of 12 credits. I am going to take my test for the class I am taking now in 3 days.

Another thing that I liked about this school was that they dont have the traditional breaks. Your terms are for 6 months but you can take up to a 5 month long break after that if you want to. If you need a week or two off for a trip or something then you just call your mentor so that they will know you are not going to be doing aby work for those days. Simple as that.

I can not say enough great things about this college! But if you are an easy learner, self motivated, and dont NEED people around to tell you what to do then this school is wonderful for you!

Stick to tradition schools.

Nursing RN to BSN
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on April 11, 2009

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I have been enrolled in the program for three months. I am not on my third mentor. The assignments are vague and sometimes confusing. It has been very difficult to get answers to questions as my mentors have not known the answers themselves and obviously are not familiar with the courses. There are course facilitators who also do not know the course work. It is very painful to try and get any answers and information from anyone. Think twice and look into programs elsewhere.

good value and accreditation

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on April 7, 2009

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I know that some people who attended WGU have left unsatisfied, but I believe this college is/was the best option for me. If your well organised and motivated you can succeed here. What this means-Your mentor goes over your classes for the term(six months) and you start to work, how fast or slow is up to you. Your mentor(school contact) communicates with you on a bi-monthly basis or as needed. If you put the time and effort in, you can finish early and take extra classes.I average an extra two classes a term, since the college charges by the term I was able to take the classes at no cost to me! I have had a few minor glitches, but they were corrected quickly in a day or two. I am 38 years old and before discovering this school thought going back to college was a dream. I would definitely recommend this school, if you are flexible.

WGU offers a good education and is a Great ValueG

Marketing Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on April 4, 2009

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Online education is rapidly gaining greater acceptance globally. Online education requires a disciplined, independent learning capability.

WGU students must be motivated and capable of following the Guided Learning Tools which serve as the path to acquire the knowledge required pass the assessment or proctored exams.

WGU cleaarly positions itself as an institution for mature adults who place high value on their education and are willing to put forth the effort to gain the competancy to meet the requirements of each course.

Motivated, self starters who are willing to make the effort will find that a quality education is available to them at WGU.

Because it is an accelerated program, the advantage for working adults is that WGU allows students to use knowledge they have already acquired to pass assessments/exams at their own pace. I completed the BS in Marketing Management degree in two year while transferring only 25 competency units.

As advertised, WGU is accredited, accelerated and affordable and I truly believe WGU offers a quality education to those willing to take on the responsibility for their own education.

WGU has recently modified the business curriculum to further improve the education you receive.

I am pleased to be starting the MBA program at WGU next month and I look forward to completing the coursework and achieving the graduate degree.

I would highly recommend WGU to any mature, responsible adult who places high value on their effort to reach a goal.

Great School

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 31, 2009

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Clearly none of the above posters actually enrolled at WGU because if they did, they would know that it is accredited by NCATE as well as NWCCU and both are recognized by CHEA and thereby the U.S. Department of Education. This is a great school for people who are self motivated and can learn in a virtual environment. I have been enrolled for five months and have finished eleven classes. That puts me more than one third of the way towards my business management degree. Tuition is the most reasonable of all the online schools as it only costs approximately $6K per year regardless of how many classes you finish. I believe I will have my degree for less than $10K and that is a bargain! If you are in the market for a school, then check out WGU and the WGU Student Hall and see what real students are saying.

K-8 Interdiscipline Works for me

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: amyleestewart (Degree In Progress) on March 29, 2009

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I have read several previous reviews and thought I should write me own. I too am teaching in the private sector and am working on completing the K-8 interdiscipline so I can get my state certification. My mentor has been very supportive and has guided me every step of the way. I feel very confident that WGU is preparing me to receive my certification. The school does state that courses are non transferable to other universities. I like the aspect of being able to continue to teach and take courses.

Recommended Program!

M.A. in Teaching (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 29, 2009

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I would definitely recommend WGU!  After separating from the military and moving around the world with my spouse, WGU is the only university I have found that is very accommodating to military/spouses.  I currently work in a school and even the Principal and Vice Principal have heard of WGU and also recommend their online program over other well-known programs.  Getting in all the paperwork was a bit of a hassle, but after that, everything is smooth sailing.  The coursework is tough but relevant to the topics.  To top it off, WGU is the only online school with national NCATE accreditation...that says a lot in my book!

There is something wrong with you!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: cjmyer2001 (Degree In Progress) on March 18, 2009

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 I have 4 friends who have received diploma's from WGU and were hired after student teaching.  They listed the school and the employer had no problem with where they went to school.  

I myself will finish in one more term and already have two schools who want me.  You have to work hard for your degree and the employers are realizing it.

Jan

Why WGU Is For Me

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 12, 2009

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So many people are talking about how they learn nothing and don't feel it will help them teach their students later. I took a different approach.

I've been teaching in the private sector while trying to earn my degree. After all, the best learning comes from actual experience (something you won't get from a traditional college class either). The argument for and against WGU comes down to people who want a lecture and those, like me, who detest lectures.

Some of us chose WGU so that we can get the certifications and move on. I really don't need some professor telling me how to teach. I've taught. I have letters of recommendations from parents of students, credentialed co-teachers, and school board members that back up my work. WGU is only being used so that I can be certified and recognized by "the system".

Really, it's a matter of conformity. If I could get the credential based on current and past teaching experience, there would be no need for WGU. I need WGU so I can continue to teach and work on the "paper work" part of teaching at the same time.

good fit for motivated professionals

Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems
Reviewer: brad_weston (Degree In Progress) on March 5, 2009

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i believe a lot of the negative people thought they would be given a degree - NOPE - to earn a degree at WGU  - you actually have to EARN IT!!!!! you will not pass a test without studying like crazy........there is no way around it - no charity for effort......sorry, that is why motivated people love it -

You've got be kidding me

BA secondary Science teacher
Reviewer: flashpointe68 (Graduate) on February 11, 2009

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My whole "adventure" started 3 years ago. When I took my first 2 years of college I completed 20 credit hours in one semester. I know what it means to bust my backside. The first term was a joke whit all the useless stuff I had to do. The second term was fine. The third term they notified me 2 months in that I filled out my FA stuff wrong and had to resubmit it or I was going to be suspended. I filled it our and submitted it that night. 3 days later I was suspended and it has been MURDER trying to get back in. By the time I did get back in, it was too late to submit the woork. Seems 2 weeks from end of term is the deadline. By the time they opened my access, it was beyond far too late. Now trying to get back in, no one wants to accept blame for this. Why should it take 3 months beyond the date I got my acceptance letter to let me back in? Now my only chance is to pay for the whole thing myself. I hate that I referred this place to anyone, but that'll never happen again!

The problem is not WGU

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on February 9, 2009

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I am currently in my third term with WGU.  My mentor is fabulous.  For all those with bad mentors, may I say I feel for you.  I would not be able to make it without mine.  I do, however, feel the issue is not with WGU or its staff but with taskstream and its graders.  All of my problems are with the rubrics and graders.  Indeed, the term "all" is appropriate because I have had at least one issue with practically every task.  The issues have ranged from serious to simply annoying.  My only criticism with WGU would be to consider seriously their involvement with taskstream.  I agree the tasks are not easy and are most definately not spoonfed to you, however, they are often graded randomly, subjectively, and many times inaccurately.  My experience with WGU has been on a scale of 1 to 10 a strong 9, but taskstream gets a whoping 1!!!

Disappointed - Poor Curriculum

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on January 25, 2009

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My recommendation: do your homework and ask to see the online content, course structure, and grading process before you sign up at WGU. I am a hard-working student with prior Big-10 university and community college experience. I just finished my first semester (BA - Math Teaching) and have decided to leave based on the poor course content and structure. I do not feel confident that this school would properly prepare me to teach. IMPORTANT TO KNOW: The courses are not designed by or taught by WGU instructors. Instead, the course content is all over the board - it's a hodge-podge of content from different learning sites and excerpts from textbooks. The grading is completely unreliable and inconsistent - there are a pool of graders that randomly grade your papers and assignments. Some pass your work with perfect scores, while others will reject the exact same work multiple times. Unlike traditional grading, where you get a number score and an actual grade, with WGU you will not pass a course until all of your assignments are completed. In my experience, it seemed that their "competency-based" process translated to "100% passing." I am so disappointed that WGU did not work out. I was really was looking forward to getting my degree at WGU because it was the only math teaching program I found that would allow me to earn my degree while continuing to work full time. I will now pursue a different degree at another institution that offers better course content and an actual instructor with a reliable grading process. My only positive experience at WGU: my mentor was really great! I would have given her a 10, except the generic support category on this survey seems to encompass more than advisement. Warning - beware of the financial aid office - it's a complete disaster! I dealt with several people who promised to fix their error and none of them did, even after escalating it to a supervisor.

Western Governers University was a joke!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on January 20, 2009

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I took WGU courses online and it was the most confusing, frustrating time of my entire college experience.  The graders were looing for things that had no relevence to the rubric and when they did not pass your submissions you were given vague reasons as to why making it very difficult to make changes and try to pass it. The easier courses actually had an assignment that said copy this, in your own words and submit it.  I actually felt like I left that course learning nothing at all.  I am retaking that course at a good college because otherwise I'd feel like I would not be prepared to teach that to my future students.  When I told my new guidance counselor about the course she agreed that I should retake it.  The other students were more helpful than the graders, mentors or teachers.  The mentor I had was completely useless, she changed my courses around every few weeks.  I was told to study for a science course and 1 week before I was planning to take the test she decided to change my courses and I now needed to read 2 novels, 2 playwrights, write papers and study for the Literary test which she set for the date of the science test I was studying for.  Now I am paying for school loans for courses that I passed at WGU that my current college doesn't accept.  I would not recommend this "school" to anyone.

I'm happy w/ WGU

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: rseccomb (Graduate) on December 27, 2008

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I see a lot of people who are upset by their experiences at WGU. My personal experience has been pretty good... I've been a student at 2 different universities rated in the top 10, and didn't finish. It wasn't the difficulty that washed me out, in fact, I had a 3.7 GPA @ the one of the world's best engineering schools studying petroleum engineering, and I've found many challenges in the WGU program. Quantitative Analysis was tough, and I worked many hours on each problem. The math and econ stuff was at least as difficult as I had seen in other schools.
I imagine that if you publicly polled all students who went to Harvard, they would also have detractors. I personally didn't let that stuff discourage me, rather, I took a look at the fact that they were accredited regionally, they had similar admission standards as other universities I've attended, and now that I'm 40, what the learning model looked like. I know better today how I perform in certain situations, and found the WGU model to be adequate for me.
I recently left my job, and started looking for work with other companies. Not a single organization has questioned their credential.
The school is not for everyone, if you need a lot of personal attention steer clear. If you want to have 1:1 time with a professor, WGU is not for you. The entire model is about your willingness to pay the price to obtain your degree by learning from a book, and then passing a proctored test that ecompasses the breadth and depth of the topic you are supposed to learn about.
Finally, many have complained about graders. They use a company called Taskstream. Many other institutions use them too (Purdue is one). Are they perfect? No. Do you always agree as a student? Nope...I even was mad a couple of times. Do they get it right? Yes, according to the standard, they do. Does it take some time? It does, but 5 days was the max for me.
If I were starting again today, I would look at accreditation, acceleration, cost, and would make the same decision I made before. Do your research...

Its your approach.

Master of Business Administration
Reviewer: russ_wilburn (Degree In Progress) on December 23, 2008

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There seems to be a mixed review of the school itself.  I truly believe that if you are not satisfied with the school before you start, then don't go.  If you feel confident in your ability to maximize resources to your benefit and use the topics covered to study and learn from, then you can truly make something out of it.  For all the "brick and mortar" graduates here, I would put you on the same level.  I know plenty of people who attended traditional schools that don't have a clue what is going on and it is the same for online.....I have done both and from several online courses and inclass room from the University of Houston, local community colleges, and distant online only.  All are the same....all have successfull people that will use their education to benefit themselves and there are also those that will complain the whole way through.  From my experiences WGU is excellent.

WGU is a great college...

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: khenson7 (Degree In Progress) on November 24, 2008

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I have always had the desire to go to college, but during my senior year of high school I got pregnant.  I wanted to stay at home with my baby and be a full time mommy and wife instead of being a part time college student and having a part time job.  With WGU I am able to work at my own pace which is convenient because I do my work at night when my daughter is asleep.  I was able to test out of subjects that I already knew!  Of course I had to complete the work for it- like 7 tasks and then was able to refer for my test. (Which I did when I was half way finished with the tasks so I wouldn't lose time!)  Anyways, at the rate I am going I will have this degree in 3 years instead of 4!  I am so proud and excited that I will be a college graduate while I was a full time mommy and wife.  I have a nice mentor who helps me with any problems that should arrise- very seldom do any.  I would highly recommend WGU to anyone seeking a college degree! WGU is harder for some people because it is a college that you have to stay devoted and focused on because there aren't any classroom settings or teachers so it is easier to stray away from the importance of your work.

Perfect fit for me

Math Ed. (5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on November 19, 2008

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I am in my fourth term at WGU.  This school fits my needs perfectly since I have children and many other obligations during the day.  The math classes are very challenging.  I read a review earlier that anyone off the street could pass the exams at WGU. I am SURE that this person either has never taken a WGU math exam or is already a math scholar.  I have had problems that I have taken to people with masters degrees in math and they are impressed with the difficulty.  WGU is like any other college in the respect that you get out of it what you put into it.  If you are taking classes strictly to pass, and you don't want to put any extra effort into your studies, then don't be surprised when you graduate and you can't teach your way out of a paper bag.  I highly recommend WGU to serious, self-disciplined students.  I would however add that if you are unable to learn visually, the math program will probably kick your butt since most of the learning resources are written material.

Think Real Hard Before You Start

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on November 14, 2008

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Leave this off of your resume.  Even if the state governor is listed as one of the founders of this so called college, does not mean it is accepted in that state.

The non-traditional compentancy credit is not accepted at most businesses.

Good if you have strong math background

M.A. in Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, or 5-12)
Reviewer: apacecca (Degree In Progress) on November 12, 2008

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If you have a strong math background, GO FOR IT!  WGU would be a great value!!

I am in my 4th term.  This program has suited me very well- I have a strong background in math and have been able to really accelerate my program- this school is a great option for folks that want the degree and already know alot about the material.  You pay by each 6 months- if you can squeeze in lots of credits, you can save a lot of money, I have!

If you need alot of math review, you will probably struggle in this program.  Mentors have to limit what they say about specific tasks- the point is to learn it yourself.  That is frustrating when sometimes the suggested 'materials' do not cover what is needed for the tasks!  I've had to do lots of research outside of what is provided.  Thank goodness that I have a friend with a high math degree that can help point me in the right direction.

If you have a strong math background, GO FOR IT!  WGU would be a great value!!

WGU is Wonderful!

Bachelor of Arts: Social Science, with Teaching Certification grades 5-12
Reviewer: dgibbons82 (Degree In Progress) on November 10, 2008

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I know some folks have a difficult time with WGU, but I love it! I've been a student there for two years. I began in their IT program and learned enough about the field to land a nice job in the industry. BUt I decided I did not like IT, so I changed my major to Social Sciences secondary education.

I am glad I changed majors because I have always wanted to become a teacher. The Social Sciences program is GREAT, because I do most of the learning on my own, although it is completely guided and organized. I can honestly say that I have learned more from WGU courses than from any other course offered either online or at a brick and mortar university.

For example, one class for American history (1865 - present) consisted of 12 essays! I ended up writing over 100 pages of material for this class. Sounds like a lot, but I retained nearly everything I wrote about, which is only going to help me in the future. Also, WGU is a go-at-your-own pace kind of program. I switched to part-time work a few weeks ago, and have been able to spend 40 hours a week working on one course at a time. Do the math. After two weeks, I have completed 1.5 courses. This is equivalent to spending the same amount of time in a traditional classroom, but I get to complete the course as fast my brain will allow! This means I could easily turn a 4 year degree into a 2 year degree or maybe even less.

So if you're debating about attending WGU, I say go for it. The tuition is dirt cheap when compared to traditional universities. By the time all is said and done, I'll walk across the stage in Salt Lake, earn my degree and only have about 10K in student loan debt!! That's less than a year at a traditional university! And the best part is that in order to earn that degree, you have to have the equivalent to a B average, which makes selling yourself to prospective employers a snap.

Ying and Yang

M.A. in Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, or 5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on October 3, 2008

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Like with all things there are good and bad with WGU. For the record, I am a very self motivated student with a high academic record having graduated cum luade with a BS from a traditional college after graduating 19th in my class of 350 from high school. Having established that I am an independent learner capable of carving my own path, WGU has some major limitations. The graders and the whole system seem to be geared to passing Praxis tests rather than instilling and guiding the acquisition of knowledge. The whole assessment process is ridiculous. Comments are vague and unhelpful most of the time. I often have to supplement learning resources because they are severly lacking... thank goodness for my personal tutor since mentors/tutors/guides will NOT answer any question related to assessment questions..... what is that about? I don't want to cheat! But how am I suppose to figure anything out if you won't answer a few questions about the assessment questions? Everything that the assigned texts teach about teaching are completed ignored in this setup. I have also had to fight my mentor almost every step of the way to proceed at a quick pace. Having said that, I do enjoy working at my own pace, and the nugget of information is there to be learned. It's just frustrating trying to crack the nut every day to get to the information. Probably not for you if you are completely new to the content material. It probably would have been a lot easier for me if I had not been quite so rusty with Mathematics. However, I am still completeing my second BS in under 3 years. So I do not find it all bad...

Awesome Program

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: sjjwhite (Graduate) on September 24, 2008

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I Graduated from WGU and would recommend it to anyone who is diciplined enogh to take the incentive to do their class work on their own.  I could not have finished my degree any other way because of time and family commitments.

WGU

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: dred0218 (Degree In Progress) on September 24, 2008

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I am near completion with WGU. I wanted to say this in response to those saying WGU is a scam and employers frown on the school. I work in business administration at a local public school district. In the past three years, we have hired several WGU graduates and enrolled several WGU students into our student teaching program. Prior to enrolling into the school, I contacted Texas A&M and asked if they recognize WGU courses as transferrable since it is pass/fail. I was told by the department head, WGU courses are considered passing at 80% or higher and all passing courses transfer to their program. I then asked if I wanted to obtain my Masters from Texas A&M after I completed my studies with WGU and was assured WGU is recognized just as any other traditional university. I then saw a representative from WGU on CNN talking to several representatives from Ivy League schools about their online programs. WGU is legit but for your own piece of mind, do your own research prior to enrolling. And yes, some of the courses you can google the questions and find answers, but I WANT to learn and have taken the time to research textbooks and truly understand the concepts. My only complaint has been my mentor. She is highly educated, but not very organized and forgets meetings, doesn't give me 100% of her time when we speak on the phone and it takes me emailing her superiors in order to get responses from her. If I wasn't almost done, I'd switch mentors, but with it being this late in the game, I don't need much from her other than approving my request to take the final assessments.

Thank God for WGU

Bachelor of Arts: Social Science, with Teaching Certification grades 5-12
Reviewer: jamesnrhodes (Degree In Progress) on July 22, 2008

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After reading many of the reviews here, I am going to chime in with my two cents.

WGU is not an institution for students that need their hands to be held throughout their degree program. The courses require you to read and actually do research for your essays. Yes, there are a lot of essays to be written, but quite honestly I feel essays make you work to understand a subject more thoroughly. Believe me, I have learned things I never knew before about US history though my research.

The mentors are quite excellent. Since I am a disciplined person, my mentor just calls me up to check up on my progress. Also, if I do have any questions she is readily available through e-mail or a telephone call during the daytime.

I am disabled (permanent cane use) from a military accident in Canada. Being able to take an accredited degree online is a bonus for me. I don't have to undergo the daily grind of traveling to a brick and mortar university. WGU saves me time and money by being able to study in my computer/study room.

I secured employment as a substitute teacher because of my degree program at WGU. Since I am teaching courses only in my field - Social Studies (Economics, Geography, US History, World History, etc.) - I am getting valuable classroom experience BEFORE going into my Demonstration Teaching phase. When I am ready for that I will have about four years of classroom experience. I expect to do well in the DT phase, because I have been able to apply things I have learned in my Foundations of Teaching courses. Getting to apply this stuff is so cool IMHO.

A regular history teacher has even told me that I have extensive and impressive knowledge about American history and politics. He was shocked when I told him I hail from Canada. Other teachers have told me that I would pass my student teaching phase with flying colors. This all just validates my decision to become a secondary Social Science teacher.

For the people that are whining about minor issues, WGU is going through some major growing pains - they now have over 10,000 students. Since I started in the summer of 2004, I have seen many changes happen. Some I agree with and some I don't - I don't expect to agree with everything they do. For me, the important thing is that WGU has more accreditation than most brick and mortar universities. This is why I chose to take my degree through them. Getting NCATE accreditation was the icing on the cake IMHO.

Online post-secondary education is the future folks. Get used to it... Online education requires a different mindset than a brick and mortar university. You have to be organized and disciplined in order to get work done. Thanks Apple for iCal, because that program keeps me VERY organized. :)

Not much value

M.A. in Science Education (5-9)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on July 15, 2008

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Although I am easily passing WGU courses, I am not learning much.  There is little challenge and poor value for the amount I am paying for this program.  
I am very disappointed with the lack of quality of education.  
I doubt the courses I took at WGU will even transfer because they do not have grades.  Just pass and fail.
I enrolled and found out my military TA would not pay for term based tuition.  So I have to do class by class, and that cost significantly more.  Because WGU does not provide grades, I found out I have to pay back what tuition assistance I did receive.

Awesome program

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on June 24, 2008

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I am almost finished with my teaching degree and am loving is program.  I always hated waiting for the class to catch up and to move on.  This university allows us to all move at our own rate.  The mentors are awesome and there is always more resources if you need more help grasping a concept.  I would recomend this school to any self-motavated student.

Questionable

M.A. in Teaching (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on June 23, 2008

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I have completed 1.5 years with WGU (MA in Educational Studies) My first mentor was wonderful and definately worth his Phd. However my next mentor was pathetic and I requested a change. My current mentor makes me wonder about his credentials to say the least.
Yes the school is nationally, regionally and NCATE accredited but what does that really mean? The majority of the tasks make no sense, are true busy work and come in duplicate. The graders (GOD WHO ARE THEY) are a joke! They do not follow the task directions or rubric but rather grade as they wish. Constantly asking for items not mentioned in the task. I guess we are suppose to guess.
Now that being said, I have attended both traditional and other online schools and WGU is not all that its cracked up to be. 
Only AFTER I removed WGU from my resume did I get call backs about teaching jobs EVEN FROM NURSERY SCHOOLS so I am VERY upset and scared about WGU. IF I transfer to a school here will I lose all of the work I did? Not to mention $$$.
I dont know about the other states but the message I am getting about NYC is that if the "school" is not well known, dont even bother. Online doesnt matter so much because many of our NYS schools offer distance learing, however when people see WGU they RUN!

Excellent Value for Military

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program, Science (5-9 or 5-12)
Reviewer: rslawrence2561 (Degree In Progress) on June 7, 2008

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I am an Air Force officer nearing military retirement and am finishing my second 6-month term at WGU.  WGU is an excellent value for students with full-time jobs who can only work on their studies at odd hours and weekends.  The education I've received so far has allowed me to speak on an intelligent basis with the Principal and host science teacher at the local high school during my WGU-required "pre-clinical field experiences."  Looks like I'll be able to student teach at this school as well.  WGU hasn't been easy but the learning materials and academic mentor support to date have been excellent.  Comparitively low cost and NCATE accreditation are pluses as well.

Great for people who want to learn

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: L_Stapley (Degree In Progress) on May 23, 2008

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I am in my third year here at WGU it is a great school for people who are willing to learn and work independently. I have had a few difficulties but none I didn't have with brick and mortar school I attended. I had no problem transferring credits from the other school. My mentor is very good she has always answered my questions promptly and so has every other department in WGU. The tasks are not busy work they are designed to teach you and at least these tasks require you use your brain not just regurgitate useless facts. If you’re looking for an easy school then WGU is not for you. The mentors won’t hold your hand and give you the answers they will help you be successful but it is up to you to do the work and study hard.  I will say sometimes communication is not the best and mentors and the school could do a better job of letting you know important information.

Student Teaching Placement - Be Cautious

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on May 20, 2008

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I have just earned my teaching certificate after completing WGU's teaching certification program. There were very many tasks for each domain; many tasks I personally felt were inconsequential and were just busy work. I was lucky and had great mentors. I felt that the cohort was a complete waste of my time. 
The one thing that I would caution anyone who is considering earning their teaching certificate through WGU is to first check with their own school district to see if WGU students have been placed into student teaching programs. This is very important. Many urban school districts have close relationships with nearby college teaching programs and will not even consider placing anyone from WGU into a school as a student teacher. After two nerve wrecking months of waiting for WGU to find me a placement (they went through every school district and private school within 50 miles of my location)I found my own placement because I personally knew a teacher who agreed to be my Host Teacher. You do not want to do all of the work and pay for all of the tuition to find, at the end, you cannot complete your program because no school within a 100 miles will accept you.

My Experience

M.A. in Teaching (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on May 5, 2008

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I am currently a student. So far the experience has been sometimes great, sometimes frustrating. However, the degree program is delivering the content I expect from a teacher's college. I have spoken to many new graduates of teacher's colleges at the school I work at; all of them tell me that I am studying exactly the same type of material that they covered in their programs.

WGU

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on April 25, 2008

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Great Value

Bachelor of Arts, Science (Bio endorsement)

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: fstvansk8a (Graduate) on April 13, 2008

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I had a lot of credits from a community college. I was planning on using the credits toward a degree in education. The college changed the required credits and only about 30 would transfer. It would have taken me another three years to finish. Then I found WGU and was very skeptical. I decided to talk to the school and I found that I could use what I knew to help me. I didn't have to sit through classes and drive downtown to hear a bunch of information I already knew. I am now done with my degree (after 1 1/2 years). Every time I doubted WGUs legitimacy or practices I was reaffirmed. I passed the Praxis II Science exam with a 195/200 (about the 99th percentile). Also, all the "Busy work" really pays off if you learn from it. When I was interviewed by my principal I was asked about things I did "busy work" on. For example, you are required to write a lengthy essay on formative assessment and summative assessment. Also you are required to write a paper on scaffolding. I was able to talk about these topics with ease the first time I talked to my principal.

Altogether, you get out of the school what you put into it. The busy work is for a reason, and everything else they require you to learn is worth learning. The people whining about the problems with the school are those that couldn't hack it. This school is not for anybody. It is for those willing to do the work. The school has policies to quickly get rid of students that are unable to do well. These are the students complaining. They do not have any policies though that will hold a person back.

Mentor don't have a Degree!

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: KimDay27 (Degree In Progress) on April 7, 2008

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While attending WGU, I found out that my mentor/ and graders did not hold a BA degree. When asked why their BIO was not posted on their web site I was given the run around. Before attending WGU, I would strongly recommend that they assign you to a mentor that has the qualification. WGU no longer post the Bio’s of the mentors because of this particular incident.

For Independant, Self Disciplined Learners

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: virtue_summer (Degree In Progress) on March 16, 2008

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I have been attending WGU since September. I have experience attending both brick and mortar schools and other online programs, and I found that WGU compares well. It is different than brick and mortar schools because you have to be an independant learner with self discipline. A professor will not feed you the information and constantly keep you on task. You must do a lot of this yourself. Your mentor will keep in touch with you on a regular basis by phone, though, to check your progress and this helps.

The tasks are not necessarily difficult, but many of them did make me think about the subject and that's the important thing. Transferring in was easy and with the exception of a critical thinking and a science course, I had already completed all of my non teaching related requirements.

My mentor calls me regularly and responds to my e-mail in a timely manner, and if she doesn't know the answer she always directs me to the person that does. WGU also provides a lot of answers to common questions through their online students handbook, etc.

The learning materials are varied and provide a good range of views. They seem to try to avoid the bias that exists in many traditional courses due to professors who only present views that match their own. Videos that show students and teachers interacting are extremely helpful to me, as well be in person observations in classrooms which WGU provides as well before student teaching.

I have already learned a lot, including very practical information such as a teachers legal rights in the classroom. I don't know about other people's experiences but the graders have been very consistent with me and the rubrics are a lifesaver in terms of knowing ahead of time what is required and how the assignment will be graded. I was never given a rubric at my brick and mortar universities. I also enjoy not being subject to a professor's odd requirements. At a previous university I once got an F on an essay for not having enough sentences in my paragraphs! At WGU I revise if the comments make sense and if they don't I explain my position and it is usually respected or the reasoning of the comments clarified.

As to cost, it's hard for me to beat WGU. At my brick and mortar university I had to commute an hour each way and the cost of gas is astronomical, not to mention the fact that the commute cost me valuable time and slowed down my progress. At WGU I'm getting through school faster because I can work ahead and I'm able to combine the last few requirements for my BA with the requirements for my teaching credential. I am also available to apply for and interview for education related jobs other than teaching while I finish my credential because I don't have to work around an inflexible schedule.

Stay away from WGU!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 16, 2008

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Stay away from WGU.  It is a waste of time and money.  I am in my second year and want out.  The college changes policies very often.  The papers are busy work.  It takes almost a week to get them back.  They are graded by people who grade them the way they want.  Forget the rubic.  I do have a nice mentor.  The graders go through taskstream.  They are jokes.  No one ever sees their creditials.  I am passing the work at WGU.  This is a very bad college.  They would not take my previous credits from my college.  I have received emails from others who have had the same problems.  I was told that I could test out of subject that I have know for years.  This is not accurate.  Acculation is almost impossible.  Please, run away from this college.  Get your degree from a college that you can be proud of.  I can say that I am very ashamed of this college.

Western Governors University

B.S. in Business Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 10, 2008

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Western Governors University is a complete ripoff. The program deliberately slows you down, so that WGU can charge you more. I thought that this would be a quicker way to finish my degree, but I would have easily finished by now if I had gone to a different college, and taken the traditional route.

It often takes weeks to get a simple assignment graded. And when you finally get it back, the grader is often wrong! Example: I failed an accounting assignment, because I was told revenues/expenses are not part of operating cash flows in a cash flow statement! What?? Every accounting text book confirmed I was right. Who's grading these papers??? Besides this, I was told before I enrolled at WGU that I could test out of courses that I already knew - the majority of courses turned out to be assignment based.

Of course I should have known what I was getting into soon after I enrolled. After I enrolled they refused to give me credit for my associates degree - even though they guaranteed me that everything would transfer BEFORE I paid my tuition/fees. When I threatened legal action and showed them written proof that I had received from their "mentors" BEFORE I enrolled, they were suddenly able to transfer everything.

Their "mentors" are also completely useless. My various mentors had completely no idea about business-related subjects, even though I am majoring in a business degree. If you intend to study at WGU, think of the mentors more as cheerleaders than anything else. Good luck!

WGU is great for IT professionals

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: ksallee (Degree In Progress) on March 9, 2008

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I've been going to WGU for almost 2.5 years and just about to complete the program.  For IT professionals who are self-learners with limited time to sit in traditional college or university classroom, this is the perfect program.  The competency based learning model has allowed me to use my existing IT and work experience to take advantage of the program and accelerate my degree (I'll have a 4 year degree completed in 2.5 years).  Even if you need a little hand-holding (which is understandable for an online degree), WGU has mentors that are much more hands on then Universities counselors.  They actually require communication every couple weeks and are there to help you every step of the way.  Additionally, the work can be challenging and arguably more difficult then a traditional class as the range of what is covered is much broader.  For example, in traditional college class you may take say Algebra I as a 3-4 SH class.  With WGU, there's a Quantitative Literacy objective exam that covers Algebra, Statistics, Geometry etc...Very difficult exam that requires real knowledge of the subjects in order to gain competency.

The mentors are horrible

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 9, 2008

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I can't believe what mess I've gotten myself in by signing up with this school. My mentor is absolutley insane. She placed me in the wrong program, failed to review my transcripts and then fails to make phone calls. My only suggestion for anyone taking WGU classes would be to ask alot of questions to a lot of people. You are bound to get more than one answer. Just stick to your guns and fight for what you need. I NEED certification so that I can move and make more money so I am sticking with the program but I'm actually thinking about dropping this program. I feel like my time is being wasted. The "graders" don't know what they are talking about half the time. Apparently they skim through the work and often ask for things that are already contained in the paper, task, whatever.

BEWARE!!!

College is work: not a free ride.

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: commonman78 (Graduate) on March 8, 2008

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I completed the post-baccalaureate program for elementary education while teaching on a provisional certificate.  They worked with me, DID NOT hold my hand, and helped me succeed.  If you want to be spoon fed, this IS NOT a program for you.  You actually have to do the work, not just attend class and pass a test.  The scheduling was fine and the work was hard.  Finally getting my certificate was worth it.  I also knew a lot more than my colleagues about the basics, including fundamental concepts, special education requirements, how N.C.L.B. works, etc.  This knowledge has given me a competitive edge in the workplace.  I've had some problems with financial aid, but they were resolved.  If you’re self-motivated, this is definitely the program for you!

Western Governors IS Military Friendly

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: reo_hope (Degree In Progress) on February 22, 2008

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I beg to differ with the previous poster's comment regarding WGU being difficult for a military student.  I recently graduated from WGU with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. I have also completed thirteen years service in the military to date.

Additionally I am a veteran of several distance learning programs including American Intercontinental University, University of Phoenix, and Central Texas College's online program.  I found WGU to be both a superior learning experience and much more affordable.  

The first class which acts as a sort of introductory course is a little tedious, but it ensures all students have an understanding of the way WGU operates.  It IS a different learning environment and the "one credit hour class" serves to indoctrinate new students.

WGU is not for everyone but should be considered a valid option for many adult learners seeking a flexible, affordable degree option.

Not for miliary

M.A. in Science Education (5-9)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on February 15, 2008

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successfully completed one term at WGU. I will not go back.
It has been a nightmare at WGU.
The terms are not six months, because you have to finish before the sixth month. I spent the 1st month doing a bunch of nonsense work on how to be a student. It was a huge waste of time for a worthless one credit. It was more work than the three credit chemistry class.
How about the five star review - that claims they completed 57 credits in six months! I can't see how that is done, it takes me weeks to get one assessment scheduled. It takes a long time to get single little essay graded. They made me take courses from the Museum of Natural Science, that did not count, but wasted time. I am an independent worker that had little trouble with the course work. In fact much of it was mundane high school level type stuff. Almost insulting to be doing it at this level.
It appeared they were purposely slowing me down. The amount of mis-information they gave me was annoying. The mentor knew less about the topics than I did. I learned very little completing 18 credits in six months. Since I am looking for a challenge, I will be going to a more traditional school. WGU is a joke to those looking to advanced their education. It is good if you want to breeze through a cheap program and get a degree. But to me a waste of money. I want to advance my knowledge and my degree - but I did not get $3,000 worth of knowledge. So WGU is a poor value.
They claim to be military friendly, but make you take a full term, which is not easy to do with military tuition assistance.

Best school for IT guys

Associate of Science - Information Technology
Reviewer: salmanpost (Degree In Progress) on February 11, 2008

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Best online university at this cost.  While learning new stuff you get the IT industry certificates and the best part is that WGU pay for it

Scary, Scary, Scary

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on February 9, 2008

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First, let me say that I did graduate from the post-bacc elementary ed program-with far above average scores by the way. This review is not sour grapes from some one who needed too much "hand-holding" and could not finish. 

This is a very scary program.  The basic premise seems to be that competency is demonstrated by the ability to produce amazing quantities of low-quality busy work and pass exams that often call for demonstably incorrect answers. I checked, the exams are not designed by subject matter experts; the tests are easy to pass by figuring out the answers to the pre-tests then projecting the same error frame-work to the test. 

If you are the type who feels really proud that you got all the way to end of your coloring book faster than the the kids and get the wear a little gold star for the rest of the day-this is for you. If you're interested in actual suject matter knowledge find a school where professors teach.

Couldn't be more thrilled

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: chris (Degree In Progress) on February 6, 2008

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WGU's competency-based model has allowed me to complete 57 units in 6 months!  It is a great school for self-motivated people.  If you need a lot of hand-holding, WGU is not for you.  But for me, it was exactly what I was looking for.  And at less than $3000 per semester (with no per-unit cost) it was an unbeatable deal for me.  And I feel secure that it is well-respected due to it's accreditation.

A good fit for capable adults

BA - Social Science
Reviewer: kpbrady (Degree In Progress) on February 6, 2008

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I am 43 years old, and I have a BA and an MBA from traditional on-campus schools.  I have read all of the other reviews, and it seems that there is a common theme.  Adults that are intelligent and do not need their hand held do well.  Some young kids, others that struggle academically, and people that are not motivated do not succeed.

I like the program.  It seems that most of the bad reviews were written by people that did not pass.  Many of them stated that they flunked tests, multiple times even.  If they were flunking tests at WGU it is likely that they were at the wrong school.  They probably should have been at a community college, or not in college at all.

I have never had problems getting answers from my mentor or the University.  I get a human right away, and almost always get a solution right away.

I did have a problem with one of the anonymous taskstream graders, but I emailed a copy of what I submitted for the task to my mentor and he took care of it.  No big deal.  The graders can be picky though.  I can see how students that have poor writing skills would have a lot of trouble getting passing scores.

I am pleased with my experience

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on January 25, 2008

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I have been enrolled at WGU since January 2005.  I am finishing up my last assignment currently and will then be certified to teach elementary school level. My experience with WGU has been exceptional.  I will say that there are many changes with the school at this point, but the reason for these changes are due to the growth the university is experiencing.  The program is also not for someone who needs a professor standing over them telling them what to do and when.  I have had no problems scheduling exams in my three years with the university nor have I ever waited two weeks for a response from anyone at the university. I will say that I have had a few mentors and my last one was not very helpful.  
As a WGU student, I often find it necessary to call my mentor for advice and she is available to help me immediately either through online messenger, email or phone.  I feel that as an adult student I am able to be successful in this independent learning environment and finding a great mentor was the best thing for aiding my success.  
I have and will recommend this school to anyone who is an independent learner looking to accelerate through their program.  I have enjoyed my time with this school.

Awesome school if you're motivated

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: chris (Degree In Progress) on January 21, 2008

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WGU is the wave of the future in education.  My mentor guides my progress and answers any questions I have.  I love that the books are entirely optional!  (They tell you books are mandatory, but if you're smart and a good internet searcher, you can get away without them.)  WGU is very affordable and their cost structure encourages acceleration because it saves you money!  I came in in Sept. with my AA, and I will graduate with my state credential in only 15 mos. (including student teaching).

not worth the trouble

M.A. in Teaching – Social Science (5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on January 21, 2008

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The problem I encountered with WGU was a lack of consistency.  The grading of tasks are done at the whims of the person who happens to get your work.  There is an inconsistency in the grading and in the directions themselves at times.  The directions, materials, and rubric can have conflicting information.  This is a huge problem and the result is unfair practices and outcomes for the student.  I wasted a lot of time and money here.  The other problem is a lack of ability to transfer credits.  If your talking about transfer of credits to WGU, no problem.  I think they are generous.  The problem is getting a school to accept WGU competency units which technically don't carry a grade.  Apart from these serious problems, I might recommend WGU because it can work well for someone that needs the flexibility and affordability it offers.

WGU not for U

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: jlin54321 (Degree In Progress) on January 7, 2008

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The ONLY way you should consider WGU is if you're stay-at home person (mom, busy professional,social phobia).
I've been there for a year and a half. The administration is beyond surly, bordering on rude, incompetent and apt to change rules as they go along ( always to their financial benefit). 
Mentors are better,they try their best but are overworked and underpaid, hence few stay put.
Mentors manage 60 students at a time).
There's a strong quasi-political bias in faculty and curriculum ( hint of Christian right wing).
Instructional material is beyond pathetic. Tasks are written on a cheap, many are incoherent and wrong. 
The tasks are graded by ANONYMOUS sub-contractors with wildly differing standards (rubrics notwithstanding)!!!

The community boards are beyond pathetic. Typical comment: "Help! Stuck on Task 607.123.2. What is..blank... blank."

The pros: Only Two
 
1It's cheap, IF and ONLY iF, you can work very fast. 
BUT if you like to take your time, it'll be more expensive than a State U and  a LOT more hassle.

2. You don't have to get out of your house.
Oh, wait you have to take some proctored exams... never mind. And pay $60 extra for it if you fail it twice. The reason given.. to encourage you to study better. What crock of sh*t.

Conclusion: Stay Away...go to your State U, get a decent education and a social life.  
    
P.S. I am actually being optimistic. It's a lot worse.

DO NOT attend WGU!

Master of Business Administration
Reviewer: ejacks (Degree In Progress) on January 7, 2008

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I began WGU on August 1st. Boy was that a disappoint. From day one it has been horrific. First I had to PURCHASE an electronic "book" that was $30 some dollars. There are tons of "cases" in them. Then all of your assignments are tons of ESSAYS. First is like a 3 page essay, then a 10 page essay and it keeps going up! I did not have a teacher like I thought I would have. You teach yourself everything. What am I paying for? Someone to grade my papers. Then my whole "plan" got screwed up. I was majoring in Business, to obtain a Masters. But when I logged in one day, it had me majoring in Elementary Education and all my curriculm based that way. It took forever to get it changed. Things kept getting worse, my mentor quit, etc, so I decided to withdraw and put my money towards a local college that also offers online accreddited degrees (indiana wesleyan). I withdraw right after a month of attending. NOW They are coming after me for almost TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS! This is incredibly insane. I will not pay that. I never got the service to pay for that. It was ridiculous!  I also spoke to employers and they said they do not consider that a "reputable" university. I know it might sound nice, I sure thought it did, but I certaintly changed my mind after "trying it".

Not Satisfied

M.A. in Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, or 5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on December 24, 2007

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I have been very disappointed with WGU.  My mentor is not helpful at all and when I ask her a question she doesn't seem to know herself yet she has a PHD in math. One is required to complete these taskstream assignments with no help. The community is not helpful and the assessments one is required to complete has nothing to do with the work you have done in taskstream which are supposed to be helpful.  Don't waste your money or time as this program si very time consuming.

WGU ok so far

M.A. in Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, or 5-12)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on December 21, 2007

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This is my first term at WGU. I went to a state school for my undergrad degree and I have to say that there will always be minor (occasionally major) complaints at any university but overall I’m pleased with my experience at WGU. I think it is what it advertises to be: online, affordable, accredited, and accelerated.
I have been able to accelerate my progress but it means putting in extra time. During your first month you talk with your mentor and select which assessments you will be taking that term and set dates when you will complete each assessment- if you don't meet your goal, it counts as your first "failed attempt" but you can still pass it before the term is over and it will be a "pass" on your transcript. Your tuition covers the first few attempts, so that is why not taking an assessment on time is a big deal- it counts as one of your "free" attempts even if you do not take the test. A term is 6 months long, but you can't sign up for assessments that involve writing papers later than the 5th month there is also a limit on how late you can take an objective exam. Their rationale behind this is you may have to make revisions/wait for work to be graded. Their graders do take a while- it took about an average of a week on each of my assignments to get graded the first time, and then if you have any revisions, there's another week you have to wait. They do let you have access to "learning resources" and the course of study (syllabus) the last 2 months of the term so you could always start other work. I think the quality of education I'm receiving is comparable to my undergrad degree in science education I received at a state school. My mentor does call me every week or so and that makes me feel more connected. The competency based approach is a good idea. It seems like some people have the idea that you could just test, test, test, and then be handed a diploma without "doing anything." What I have found is that my program does have some "objective exams" and if I had come to the program having already majored in math education perhaps I could test out of some/most of them. But over half of my "assessments" are assignments or papers. Even if a person came with all of the knowledge for the degree, the person would still end up writing hundreds of pages of work, plus complete a research project. You don't have to take classes over what you already know, but WGU does require quite a bit of work- someone could not take tests for a week straight and walk away with a degree. The biggest complaint I have so far is that my mentor is very nice but never, ever knows the answers to my questions and they signed me up for the "wrong" assessments this term and then wouldn't change them when I pointed that out. But I worked through it and it's fine now. I do think they require depth of knowledge in the MA in math ed degree and that it's a good value for the money. I'm glad they provide an accredited way for me to get my degree online at my own pace.

B.S. in Marketing Management

B.S. in Business --HR Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on December 20, 2007

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At the age of 35 I decided it was time to pursue a degree. Unfortunately, my job and location limited my ability to go to a brick and mortar school. I also was not interested in slogging through basic math, business & English courses in a classroom with a bunch of 18-20 year olds. 

WGU is not for everybody; if you need a teacher to tell you what to do, and when to do it, then do not enroll. If you cannot research on your own, then do not enroll. If you cannot read a grading matrix and ascertain what you should do, then do not enroll. If you are not capable of putting several paragraphs together to form a well written essay, then you should not enroll. If you want to work hard, and at your own speed, then WGU might be for you. I will have gone from no college credit to a B.S. in Marketing Management in 3 years. I could've have done it faster, but I had a cross country move and a couple of job changes mixed while in the middle of school and it slowed my progress. 

I understand some students have had troublesome mentors, or unresponsive mentors. Really, I have only needed mine on occasion and she has been nothing but great, and has been promoted up the ranks. She kept me as a student because I am a month from graduation. There are steps to take if you are having trouble getting answers from your mentor, but really if you need too much hand holding, you might consider a traditional classroom environment.

You get what you pay for

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on November 28, 2007

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I started out at WGU and I am already on my third mentor.  The coursework is not the problem, the problem with the school is the lack of communication.  If you have the time to spend making 5 phone calls to get one answer to an email you sent or a voicemail you left over two weeks ago, then by all means this school is for you.  If WGU would properly train their staff on how you answer phone calls and emails in a 24 hour period, the school might be worth the money.  But then again, I guess that is why the tuition is so cheap, you have to scream your head off to get an answer to one question, which takes about two minutes to answer but sucks about two weeks out of your time with the phone calls and emails you have to get just to get a response.  WGU should take some tips from the business world and learn how to respond in a professional and timely fashion to phone calls and emails.  If WGU could fix this aspect, then I would have no hesitation in recommending the school to a future educator.

WGU is best for independent learners!

Master of Business Administration
Reviewer: avending (Degree In Progress) on November 23, 2007

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I've read several reviews that speak to the lack of guidance at WGU.  If you need a professor to tell you what to do, and when to do it, WGU may not be for you.  If you’re an independent learner that understands the steps to competency in a subject, and can assess when you’re ready to test on a subject, then WGU is the perfect fit.

WGU offers helpful mentors and a vast array of material.  It is up to you to decide how much or how little you want to use.

Competency Based to ?

M.A. in Science Education (5-9)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on November 13, 2007

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They have two different programs for each class. One is a lab that requires you to write papers, make posters and do stuff that would not challenge a high school student. The other is a test, which may require some review.
For some labs, they require you to enroll into American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) online courses (very good courses), but “enroll” is the key, you don’t have to participate or pass the course, just gather the needed info to complete lab projects that are graded separately in Task Stream. You get zero credit for completing and passing the more demanding AMNH courses.
The text books have little to do with the tests or labs. The labs do very little to help learn the competencies.
The program I joined involved a list of competencies and, learning resources. With pretests, you would gauge what competencies you knew and which ones you needed to review. Students were required to get a high pretest score to take the final exam. I was very successful in this model and thought I was in a good graduate program.
Then the program changed.
They stopped giving students the competencies and now it is confusing on what is required. They give you a course guide. The course guide is a jumble of vague test book references and internet links (including Wikipedia!). The course guide is very amateurish and I wonder if they even checked what they are asking students to do. I ran into several very vague reference sites and dead links. They still have the pretest, but stopped giving a report listing what was correct and incorrect, so it does little to prepare for the final exam.
The mentors are friendly enough, but I would question their credentials. You have one mentor assigned to you for everything. Mentors are not held responsible for providing inaccurate and misleading information to students.

WGU is Great for the right person

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on November 11, 2007

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WGU is geared for adult students that are organized and can motivate themselves. When entering a program at WGU the student must understand that this is not a "normal" university. There are no classes, it is self paced and the student must be able to use research skills. I have attended WGU for a year and a half. In that time I have had to deal with many changes at the university because they are still in a period of growth. The main concept is great and it's a good value for the money because you can take more classes in a term if you have the time and strength and you don't pay any more for your term than you would already have paid for. There is a lot of writing assignments and I have also found that having the books has been of minimal help, but so far I have been able to pass assessments without a lot of problems that other students seem to have. There are message boards set up for each "assessment" and I find that they are more of gripe sessions than actual helpful information unless you direct your own questions to the facilitators who are actually part of the mentor program. If you are interested in the education program that WGU offers, be sure to read the stipulations carefully and truly assess yourself before you sign on to do the program. The required EWB program that you initially take as an introduction course is very valuable as you will get a sample of how things work and if you are able to work within that environment. At that point you are able to opt out of the program if it isn't for you. WGU is different than Phoenix University and Rio Salado as online "courses". These two schools have structured online classes ... WGU does not have classes, but classes like these are available to take for some assessments that are included in your tuition. WGU is not an easy alternative to college, its just a different way of going about it and you have to be disciplined to keep up with it.

Great for adults!!

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: iamamhb (Degree In Progress) on November 2, 2007

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WGU has been a true gift!! I have had previous college experience, with my Associates out of the way, and part of my bachelors at a brick and mortar state university. I always felt like sitting in the class room was a waste of time and wished to just "do the assignments and to take the tests". Once I found WGU, I couldn't be happier! It is different from even other online courses. First of all, there are no message board requirements each week, no collaborative assignments with other students. You have the entire term to finish your assignments and take the tests. Or you may elect to finish them in a matter of weeks, and take additional courses at no additional charge!!! This is truely a school for working adults, or parents who are pressed for time. If you like getting a list of tasks (assignments), completing them, and taking a test, then this is the school for you. Many classes have books that are "recomended", yet after a quick browse through the message boards one may find that there is no need to even spend money on books for many classes. CDs and computer programs and some books are sent to you free of charge for some classes. Granted, there are no "teachers", but there are learning communities and message boards for every class with at least 2-4 leaders, who answer questions, if they arent already answered by fellow students who are very eager to help. These message boards are very detailed and questions are just as if in a real class room. If you arent sure that your doing something right, they will give examples, just as a real professor would. For those that need a bit of encouragement, there is a required relationship with a mentor, whom you will schedule phone conversations with on a regular basis. In the beginning it is at least once a week, then slows to once a month unless you need them more. You are always allowed to call when you want, or email. I have also found that other students are really helpful as well. Many of us have exchanged instant messenger names so that we can talk in real time about life, assingments or even have complaint sessions. Word of warning though, it is very very easy to put off doing assigments until the end of the term and getting caught up in stress to get them turned in with time for grading!!! so...PROCRASTINATORS BEWARE! 
The cost is only a few hundred more than what I was paying at Fayetteville State University!!! Much cheaper than other online schools that I checked out first.
Now that I have sounded like a full fledged comercial, I will leave y'all to finish my essay in RUA1.

Wonderful School

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: shlmos (Degree In Progress) on September 12, 2007

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I am in my third year of WGU. It is fabulous. I had the same mentor all the way through until recently, and the only reason she ceased to be my mentor was because she was unexpectantly promoted. She is still a major source of support for me though. The program is work at your own pace. Meaning, if you can possibly do it, you have the option of receiving your bachelors degree in one term. You have to realize though that, as with any other school, there is a minimum you must complete each term in order to continue (75% or 12 units), and this is especially true if you receive federal financial aid because it is government regulated.
It is a school better suited to those who work independently, and are capable of learning on there own. But this is the case with any online institution. They provide all the help possible, but you can only do so much when you aren't face to face. The test are hard, but they are trying to make certain that you know your material. Currently many tests are large, and a few are equivalent to 4 college course finals and one would be equivalent to 7 college course finals, and you take it in one test. On the other hand, you are learning much more much more quickly. They are, however, in progress of breaking these large tests up.
I haven't had a problem with the school. In fact, it has been a fabulous experience so far, and I am looking forward to completing my degree a years early. Actually two, considering I changed my major a year into this (from Information Systems to Business-Information Technology Management). The price is awesome compared to any other school. I highly recommend this school to anyone who hasn't the time (or in my case patience) to sit in a traditional class room who is capable of working independently on their studies. Oh, and one more thing, the school has regional accreditation, which is the best form of accreditation a university can receive. Some businesses and organizations won't accept any other form!

WGU - Worth every penny

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: linlo68 (Degree In Progress) on August 30, 2007

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I am currently attending Western Governors University full time working toward my Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. I have attended both on-line and traditional universities in the past and they all change their programs… it’s a part of life. I have read the other reviews here and have this to say; WGU is very upfront with all of their requirements. You have to plan and manage you time accordingly. This is not a university for those who require a lot of hand holding. This is a competency based school and as such you as a student are required to learn on your own. I have had no issues meeting the requirements that WGU has established for my degree program. I too was affected by the "policy" change that was referred to in another post. This change has no effect on my ability to complete more then the 12 required units of study per semester. This policy was instituted to help those students who were having problems meeting the requirement to complete at least 12 units per semester. I have been able to complete 18 units in less then twelve months and should have my degree in six months. The beauty of this school is you have the opportunity to complete as many classes as you want for a fix semester fee. As with anything in life, WGU is what YOU make of it…

Not Very Good

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on June 19, 2007

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WGU assigns a mentor to each student. I have had 4 mentors in 2 1/2 years because they left WGU. There is no support for the courses. The courses are composed of 6 to 10 extensive essays you are required to write. The instructions are very vague and there is no support. The text books for the course usually have very little to do with the actual work you are required to complete. The exams are not based on the text books and the competencies that the exams are based on can be up to 4-5 pages of material. You basically teach yourself and write tons and tons of essays. You need to be very good at finding your own material to complete the research and you must be willing to write about 100 or more essays depending on the degree you are working on.

Great Opportunity

M.Ed. Learning and Technology
Reviewer: taylormade52 (Degree In Progress) on June 17, 2007

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This is a terrific program if you make the most out of it by taking classes they offer and utilizing that information. Most difficult is getting use to the different interfaces each set of classes offers. The mentoring and guidance is phenomenal and I found my mentor available by both email and phone. I am in my third semester and will be finished ahead of schedule. It does require the student to have some initiative and focus as would any online program.

Think twice

Teaching Endorsement, Middle School Mathematics
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on April 7, 2007

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I have three terms left.  They have changed policy midstream effectively cutting the term from six months to four 1/2 months (not notifying students until five days after the policy change).  Advertise go at your own pace but now if you do not make the deadline you have set four months earlier, they charge you $60.00 after four weeks if you are late.  The problem is they can take up to two weeks to grade a paper and send it back for a small correction, then another two weeks to grade again.  The worst thing is that they left a message today basically saying they can do what they want, thanked everyone for the feedback but they didn't care and were sticking to what they decided.  They keep denying they've cut the time of the term.  We aren't stupid out there,it's not true just because they say it is.  They have basically cheated their students and not lived up to their promises.  There is talk of suing them but I bet they checked with their lawyers before they did this.  I gave the school a value of 9 because a degree is worth a lot to me.

They don't have the right to mess with our dreams and goals do they?

You get what you give out of it

B.S. in Business --HR Management
Reviewer: greener.john (Degree In Progress) on March 28, 2007

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I have to say you get out of this school what you put into it. I'm fairly happy with the entire process and people who put a lot into it get a lot out of it. Well worth the money and I went to a state university in California. There is busy work but that exists everywhere I have been.

Not very good

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on March 12, 2007

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The way this school is set up is that it is a series of test. There are no teachers and classes that you learn from. You teach yourself. I found this format to be hard. They suggest books for you to read and such but there is no assignments and no instructor telling you what you need.

Graduate

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Graduate) on March 3, 2007

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My WGU experience was a depressing slog through low quality materials (20 year old Cantor training videos) and mind-numbing busy work. This is really not a university -it's just an opportunity to write assignments (that are graded by people with low substantive knowledge) and take  easy tests that don't match the assignments anyway. After a while I pretty much gave up trying and just made stuff up. It didn't matter -I still passed. I would never hire a WGU grad based only on a WGU credential.

Highly Recommended!!

B.S. in Business --IT Management
Reviewer: Anonymous (Degree In Progress) on January 12, 2007

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I would highly recommend WGU.  Their mentors are nice and will help you with every step of the way.  The tuition is very affordable, usually cheaper than most state universities.  

They are FULLY accredited.

WGU Bad Money

Teaching Endorsement, High School Mathematics
Reviewer: gukelaw (Degree In Progress) on December 19, 2006

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I attended Western Governor's University over a year ago.  I thought the program was well organized but I have now been contacted by a collection agency about $81 they claim I still owe.  It has been reported to the credit bureaus as delinquent and instead of trying to resolve the debt WGU referred me to a collection agency and affected my credit for $81.  Think twice before signing up!

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