Considering WGU

[twink92]

I want to get an IT degree from WGU, have worked on helpdesk for 1.5 years. I was just wondering if you guys have had any problems with online colleges being accepted by employers? Based on your experience do most employers accept them or do most employers frown on them?

[bjcheung77]

Welcome aboard fellow 25 year old! Haha, just kidding... i'm about two decades older...
That's great twink92, WGU is a very good school that's competency based. You're in good hands...
There is nothing to worry about if you're taking online courses towards your degree, many do...
See Why Here Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthr...?tid=28416
Previous Thread Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthr...?tid=28237

[ChilliDawg]

Welcome aboard fellow 25 year old! Haha, just kidding... i'm about two decades older...
That's great twink92, WGU is a very good school that's competency based.  You're in good hands...
There is nothing to worry about if you're taking online courses towards your degree, many do...
See Why Here Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthr...?tid=28416
Previous Thread Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthr...?tid=28237

Well, here is a different spin for you...

I am 48 years old, and have been in the Information Technology field for 30 years.  I went to a Vocational School and took computers during high school.  Back then, they were all Apple II.  I graduated high school, went straight into a night shift VAX mainframe operator job right out of school.  I worked my way up through Helpdesk from 1997 to 2001. Then went into Server Admin with a self-study MCSE cert, then went into System Engineering.  I have been a System Engineer in Active Directory for the past 15 years, and more recently an Azure S.E. for a large SAAS software provider.  Now, I mainly do Office 365 consolidations and migrations, on a daily basis.

The spin to my story.  I have never held ANY degree until 2016.  

So, to answer your question, if I can work in this industry for 30 years without a degree....I would think you will do just fine with a WGU degree.  They are an accredited school.  MANY people are going back to school online.  It is the way of the future.   Heck, Syracuse awards degrees online.  It is becoming a much more mainstream way of earning a degree. In Information Technology, it really comes down to whether you can do the job or not.   As a person who hires in this industry, I will tell you that almost all of us are going to test you in the interview and figure out if you can do it or not.  Just because you walk in with a degree doesn't mean you are capable of doing the job that I am hiring for.  This is a unique trade, in that sense.  

I am going back now, and getting my degrees finished up, simply because I am paranoid about getting older.  I also really enjoy the process of learning and completing milestones. When I graduate, nothing will change.  I will still be in the same job, doing the same things.  The degree is simply personal satisfaction

GOOD LUCK!

[davewill]

Honestly, the certs you will earn as you get your WGU IT degree will mean nearly as much as the degree itself. I'm sure there is some employer out there that would turn up their nose, but if you're good, you won't have any issue finding a good job.

[quigongene]

I'm 44 and in a very similar situation as ChillDawg (IT guy since the telegraph). I'm planning on enrolling at WGU as soon as my job's tuition reimbursement kick in in June.