Needing more information before I make decision

featherzRN, MSN · Jun 11, 2014

That's actually pretty much it so you've done some homework! :) Some classes have exams, some have papers and/or powerpoints or videos. (Depends on what you need to take). You start out with 12 units per semester, but if you can do more you can do as many as you are able to complete within your term for the same price.

There are learning resources, of course - textbooks, webinars, etc - and there are mentors for each course that are available for questions and other help when needed.

amberm5 · Jun 11, 2014

Ok:yes: so how many of the classes are exam based vs papers? I always scored high on my excelsior nursing exams, I do not like writing papers, I am not very good at it and as far as power point...ugh. The facebook site for WGU is all over the place and peeps seem to be scrambling all of the time but I am not sure exactly which classes they are doing.

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 12, 2014

When I did the RN-BSN program, I had only one class that was proctored exam (nutrition). All other classes were papers, powerpoints, etc. Now, they have changed the program and redesigned some of the classes since I got my BSN, so I can't speak for how the new program is with regard to papers vs. exams.

featherzRN, MSN · Jun 12, 2014

It depends on how many non-nursing classes you have to take. I took 50CU and my classes worked out to be about 1/2 tests, 1/2 papers. The papers are not horrible and you do have a grading rubric to go by when writing so you can see if you have covered everything. They've just changed the community health class to have a test (objective assessment), so that's another test in the mix.

benegesserit · Jun 12, 2014

Don't let the FB group stress you out. Remember that people post there primarily for either celebration or because they want support with something - they don't post the everyday mundane stuff. The structure of the program means that there's really very little need for scrambling - there's no due dates except the end of the semester. So if you organize your time well and make reasonably steady progress, there isn't a lot of deadline stress.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2014

I have been enrolled in WGU's RN-to-BSN degree completion program since May 1st, so it has only been about six weeks at this point.

At the start of the program I had 34 credits to complete. About one-third of my courses are objective assessments, meaning you take a final exam at home or a testing center to pass the course. The remainder consists of performance assessments, which can be a mix of papers, powerpoint presentations, or videotaped assignments.

Last month I completed two courses for 6 credits. The Care of the Older Adult course was an objective assessment that I took and passed at a testing center within a local community college. The Biochemistry course was a performance assessment type of course that consisted of five graded powerpoint assignments.

So far I am pleased with WGU. It fits into my lifestyle of full-time employment and other obligations, and it facilitates moving through the courses as slow or as fast as you wish. Good luck with whatever you decide.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jun 14, 2014

When I did WGU I had 22 credits to do. Which was all the upper level nursing courses. I had done everything else...statistics, nutrition and humanities before my nursing program.

None of my classes did I have to take an exam. They were all research and papers. Now I heard they have changed the program so there may be exams. It is a doable program. I did get writers block where I had to take a 6 month break (1 term) off because I was burnt out from school. Not WGU, but I jumped right into the BSN program and was just going non stop