WGU and RN to BSN questions

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I have researched RN to BSN programs ad nauseum. In fact, I've looked at so many programs that it has all become a blur, and I can't remember who I have and haven't ruled out for one reason or another. I am to the point that I am may run out of GI Bill benefits before I complete the program if I don't choose a school and get enrolled this year.

Having said that, I keep coming back to a few programs. One of which is WGU's program. I have heard all of these stories about how people are able to finish it rather quickly, etc. What is the actual likelihood of finishing it quickly?

I know that people tend to either love or hate WGU. With that being said, I would like to hear first hand experience about their programs. Specific questions that I have are:

1. If you have completed their program, how long did it take you?

2. If you have completed their program, how many hours were you required to take to complete?

3. What is their transfer policy like? The person that I spoke with over the phone wasn't very clear. For example, one of the courses on their transfer guidelines is world history. I do not have world history. Instead I took Government courses and state specific courses. Were you able to transfer courses such as these in for credit in place of other courses?

4. What is the course work like? Does it primarily consist of writing papers and answering discussion questions online?

5. For those of you who have personally completed the program and went on to continue your education, did you have trouble getting your graduate programs to accept your grades from WGU with their pass/fail 3.0 based grading system?

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I graduated WGU last year - I was one of the super quick finishers (50 units in 3.5 months). This is still doable, but it requires a lot of time and effort. I was required to retake several sciences as my previous courses did not have lab components. I didn't have to take history, math, psych, speech or english as those transferred in. I DID have to retake sociology, as my CLEP for it was > 20 year old and apparently CLEP doesn't keep scores that long.

Unlike most of the other online BSN schools, there are no required discussion board postings. The classes are competency based and done on your own time - some classes have a test you will need to complete, some will have projects. The projects could be paper(s), a video, powerpoints, etc. If you can write the paper(s) quickly and accurately, the class is done.

I just did the BSN and have not tried to transfer elsewhere, but on the BSN facebook forum I have not heard of anyone having transfer problems, even to brick and mortar NP schools.

No charges for books, graduation, etc - that's all included in the one price.

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Do you know if WGU offers any sort of informal transcript review to give you an idea of how many credits you will have to take PRIOR to actually paying their application fee?

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I posted a few of these questions in another thread, in another forum but upon discovering the WGU specific forum I figured I might get more of a response here. I have been researching RN to BSN programs for quite some time and keep coming back to WGU. However, I have some questions. If anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it.

1. If you completed WGU, how long did it take you to complete their RN to BSN program?

2. How many credits did you have to complete through them to get your BSN?

3. If you completed your BSN through WGU and decided to continue your education, did you have any trouble transferring your WGU credits to graduate program? I know this is something that people have discussed in the past, so I would just like to ask those who have tried or were able to.

4. Does WGU offer any type of an informal transcript review or anything PRIOR to paying the application fee to get an idea of how many hours you must complete for their program?

5. What is their transfer policy like? I ask this because I know that some schools are very strict and specific on what will and will not transfer, and others are not. For example: WGU's course list contains US History. I have government.

6. If you had to take a biochem course through WGU, what was that course like? How difficult of a course was it? It does not appear to have a lab component (lists a 3 hour course) so I am not entirely sure what to make of this course and what to think of it being an online course.

Any additional information that you can offer would be fantastic!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Do you know if WGU offers any sort of informal transcript review to give you an idea of how many credits you will have to take PRIOR to actually paying their application fee?

They do not- you have to pay the app fee (I work for them)

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I answered your questions in the other forum, but I can address the new ones here. The other thread will probably get moved here anyways soon. :)

There are ways to get your application fee waived - one of which you aren't allowed to mention here, but the other way is just ask the enrollment person. So then you can get your transcripts checked for free! :)

Biochem does not have a lab and I thought it was very easy. Others in the very popular facebook group disagree. It's a set of projects that demonstrate your knowledge in specific areas. If you have to take micro or a/p, those DO have a lab component and WGU will send you a kit.

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FWIW, I'm one of the ones who moaned and groaned about Biochem in the very popular facebook group.

The content, for a college-level biochemistry course, is easy. I don't think anyone would deny that. The vast majority of problems people have with the class center around trying to figure out exactly what is expected of them in the task (and in most cases, they're overthinking it), or the right resource to find the answer, not the content itself.

I started with 34 units to complete - right around there is very common, as it's what most people who have gotten their ASN within the past 10 years or so will have completed as prereqs or general ed requirements. Most of my prereqs transferred, and I didn't have anything that I thought I should have received credit for that didn't transfer (I did have a previous Statistics class that didn't transfer, but since their policy that it must have been taken within the past 5 years is clearly stated, I'm ok with that).

I expect to take two semesters to finish. Their projection is 3 semesters, but that's assuming I only complete 12 units per semester. Some people do get through in one semester.

My enrollment counselor waived my admission fee without me asking when I hadn't paid it a week or so after finishing the rest of the application.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Merged threads for continuity.

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