Can someone please explain the cohort thing to me?

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Dec 2, 2014

Cohort is another name for classmates.

AJJKRN · Dec 2, 2014

When I did my RN to BSN, my "cohorts" were the classmates (as DON 1984 said) that I started with, spent every online and in brick and mortar class with (except for the gen eds I needed, but all core classes with), and then graduated with. There was 11 of us and we all started and finished together, might have been 5 cohorts at a time our school was juggling I think. Hope this explanation helps, good luck!!!

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 2, 2014

The nursing students who graduate with you are in your cohort. At any given time you may be referred to as the "1st semester students" or "second semester seniors." That's the cohort.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 2, 2014

Whoops just realized this was posted in an online nursing school forum...

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 2, 2014

This is the WGU forum - in the context of WGU, I think "cohort" is something different. I'm specifically looking for feedback from other WGU students on what a "cohort" means at this school.

Thanks.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Dec 2, 2014

For online classes, they are the group of students that are taking the same course as you. You progress together through the program. You may lose members of the cohort when they fail or drop a class and gain members when they are repeating a class.

featherzRN, MSN · Dec 2, 2014

For WGU, a cohort is generally a paced study group - the mentor will send out 'homework' and there will be webinars, etc, to help you progress at a certain pace. They are not required. I never used one. :)

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 2, 2014

For online classes, they are the group of students that are taking the same course as you. You progress together through the program. You may lose members of the cohort when they fail or drop a class and gain members when they are repeating a class.

Again, at WGU it means something different. Nobody progresses through the program at the same time, and there are different "cohorts" for each class. I'm looking for feedback specifically from other WGU students on what the cohorts are in terms of their purpose and what they do.

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 2, 2014

For WGU, a cohort is generally a paced study group - the mentor will send out 'homework' and there will be webinars, etc, to help you progress at a certain pace. They are not required. I never used one. :)

Thank you! I was wondering if it was something that I might need as I start the capstone classes.

I assume the webinars are shared with everyone via links in the course community?

tsm007 · Dec 2, 2014

Again, at WGU it means something different. Nobody progresses through the program at the same time, and there are different "cohorts" for each class. I'm looking for feedback specifically from other WGU students on what the cohorts are in terms of their purpose and what they do.

The prelicensure programs uses cohorts in the traditional sense. I think they are trying to carry that option over to the RN-BSN program. From what I can see this is something newer to the RN-BSN program.

featherzRN, MSN · Dec 2, 2014

Thank you! I was wondering if it was something that I might need as I start the capstone classes.
I assume the webinars are shared with everyone via links in the course community?

My husband is also a WGU student and signed up for a few cohorts - it's usually a sign up on a google document, then the course mentor emails out the 'homework' for the week and it's discussed at a webinar (live or recorded). It's not usually posted on the group message boards (except for 'sign up for the 8 week cohort!!). They did have them back when I was a student, but they took too long for my taste. :) :)