DisneyRNMSN

The only time it bothers me is when several people are presenting together and they don't match. For example, I gave a presentation at a nursing conference and our first PPT slide read: NAME, RN, PhD; NAME, PhD, RN; NAME; RN, MS; NAME, MSN, BSN, RN. That kinda drove me crazy but normally I don't really care. I do mine according to the AANC standard: NAME, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CNE.

If you've taken it 3 times already, you should be able to pass the exam right away and be done with it. The assessment video is very easy; they even give you a checklist to use while you're doing it. If you had already been in the program, then you'd be grandfathered in. Since you are technically not a student until you enroll after 10/1, then any changes that are effective 10/1 would apply to you.

The only time you run into an issue is if you are applying to a program that requires a higher GPA. Since all of WGU's CU's are equivalent to a 3.0, if you are applying to programs that require a 3.5, for example, you wouldn't make the cut. I know of several students, including one who recently was accepted into a CRNA/DNP program.

Keep in mind that the term doesn't begin until 9/1, and even then, enrollment doesn't have to be completed until 9/15. You have to get EWB completed, have an Intro call with your Student Mentor, and then do a degree plan call and registration and enrollment call (usually with screen sharing). Multiply that by however many other new students your mentor has this month, and you can see it could take awhile. If you're that anxious to get started, I would finish EWB and then start working on your first course. You have access now to all the textbooks and course of study. You can even write the paper (if it's a performance assessment) and save it until you have access to Taskstream. Or you can take a pre-assessment before you're even enrolled. So you see, you have plenty to keep you busy. :-)

I'm sorry but that is simply not true. In fact, one of the goals that is set by WGU each fiscal year is the number of graduates. Mentors want to graduate as many students as they can as quickly as they can. I would agree that a for-profit school might want to try to get students to hang around as long as possible but WGU is a non-profit and with no shareholders to answer to, I promise you they don't want (or need) to have students take any longer than they need to. Remember, if students don't graduate and more keep enrolling, WGU has to hire more and more faculty to handle the increased loads. Having said that, another factor is how many students successfully complete all of their CU's each term. Mentors are leery for accelerating a student who has not proven themselves because MANY students go in to the program thinking it will be easy, and as they begin to go through their courses, they realize some work will be involved. Then, "life" gets in the way and the student isn't able to complete all of their courses. WGU has been doing this for over 15 years and they collect a lot of data on student habits. Students who work on one course at a time, for example, have a higher success rate. Students that work on 3-4 courses at a time tend to not get all of their courses done.

The ATI practice test is not proctored. It takes the place of a pre-assessment. A score of 75% or higher is recommended before you schedule the exam. As I said earlier, they also recommend doing the performance assessment first. That should also help you prepare for the exam. Good luck! :-)

I was one of the lucky ones. I only needed a few of TCN's "courses" and I did those pretty quickly and paid off the loans right away. I had no idea I could have found the same materials for much less. I did like how quickly I was able to get through the few courses I had to take. As for ISU, I liked my LPN-BSN program, for the most part. The instructors were great and very helpful, especially when I couldn't find clinical sites in Chicago. They let me go down to the school and stay in the dorms (for free) and complete clinicals at the hospital there. I'm looking at schools now for my doctorate and I'm leery of any school that has a clinical and/or practicum component because I dread finding my own site and preceptor. It can truly be a royal pain in the ***.

I'm glad to hear that it was resolved. Speaking of C228, I do know that the Course Mentors recommend doing the Performance Assessment first, as this will help you study for the OA. Just an FYI. :-)

I would definitely stand firm. Be polite and respectful, but FIRMLY let them know that you are ready and if you were to fail, it's on you anyway! I don't see any reason whatsoever why they would prohibit you from taking the exam. May I ask, what course is it?

That's awesome; please keep us posted and let us know how you like the program. I'm seriously considering the program as well because I really don't know what doctorate I want to get, so I thought "why not get another Masters in the meantime"? I could get it done pretty quickly at WGU and it would be very reasonable cost-wise. Good luck!

You are correct! They did a major program change and relaunch on July 1st. They did have all Performance Assessments, but now I see they have added exams back. In fact, some course have BOTH an exam and a performance assessment! Yikes!

Actually it was July 1st. I forgot they did a major program change to all the programs. You're right; some courses have both a PA and an OA, others just an OA.

The MBA in healthcare management at WGU has no exams-only performance assessments (papers, projects, etc.). The new MSN has fewer exams than the old MSN, but they are still there. The class that gave the students the most difficulty, Translational Research, is no longer an exam. It's now a paper. I think most people will be very happy with the changes.

First of all, congrats to you for wanting a better life for you and your son. I can't imagine going to school with a child, but I know women who have done this and my hat is off to them! Remember why you're doing this as you progress through your program because there will be times that you will want to quit. Having your vision and goals in front of you at all times will help you push ahead. Having said all that, I too recommend you check out local community colleges. I think many are offering some online courses, at least the pre-reqs, so you could work on those now and that will give you time to arrange child care while you're waiting to start the actual nursing classes. Good luck to you and please let us know what you decide!

The community college where I complete my LPN now has all online courses. You only go to school for Labs and clinicals at the hospitals. I know this because they offered me a job as an instructor. I think we'll see more and more doing this. I remember when "online" was a dirty word and now every top schooling the country has online.