WGU application timing

[Merlin]

Hey folks,

I have some questions about WGU and, in particular, their application/enrollment process in terms of both their bachelors and masters programs.

I know some folks here have applied and been accepted to WGU but didn't enroll right away in order to complete and transfer other courses, etc. I'm curious as to whether there is any limit on how long you can remain in applied status before your applied status "expires"?

I know, for example, that at TESU once your application is accepted you have one year to become an enrolled student before your application expires and you have to re-apply, lock into a new catalogue year, and send new transcripts, etc. I assume WGU has a similar policy, is it also one year?

Also, is there any advantage, beyond just having transcripts evaluated, for someone to apply early? Since everyone is accepted and they have rolling monthly starts, it doesn't seem like its that important to apply early. It sounds like everyone starts on the first of the month after their enrollment date, assuming they complete their orientation, which opens two weeks before that.

Thanks!

[Cheeseburrito]

I've been in applied since September. I have contact with my advisor every 1-2 months to keep her apprised to when I may be ready to submit my final documents (around May). This has been fine with them.

I don't think it matters applying early or not. I just did because I was pursuing a different career path earlier and changed my degree program to around 8 months later than originally planned.

Just my experience so far.

[ThatBankDude]

Have you contacted them to see if they have any insight into this? I’d imagine their admissions officers would be able to answer this.


Masters of Business Administration - Management
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
AACSB-Accredited
Expected 2019

Bachelors of Science - Biology
East Central University
Conferred 2015

[quigongene]

I know I was enrolled August of 2017 and didn't start until Oct. 2018. Strangely enough they also still had my enrollment from 2004 on file.

[Merlin]

Have you contacted them to see if they have any insight into this? I’d imagine their admissions officers would be able to answer this.

Nah, I didn't want to start them hounding me to apply or enroll until I needed to. Plus I'm curious since I want to recommend WGU to a former coworker but they wouldn't be able to start for a while. I mostly wanted to know if there was a clock that started at application time like TESU.

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I've been in applied since September. I have contact with my advisor every 1-2 months to keep her apprised to when I may be ready to submit my final documents (around May). This has been fine with them.

I don't think it matters applying early or not. I just did because I was pursuing a different career path earlier and changed my degree program to around 8 months later than originally planned.

Just my experience so far.

I know I was enrolled August of 2017 and didn't start until Oct. 2018.  Strangely enough they also still had my enrollment from 2004 on file.

Gotcha. I've been considering applying early myself to make sure I have everything ready to go as soon as I have my BSBA conferred. It may be interesting with the timing. I'm hoping I can still start on April 1st with a March degree conferral. But that is still a few months off.

That and I know they're waiving the application fee right now. But they waive that a lot, and I can always get a referral code to waive it as well.

[ThatBankDude]

Have you contacted them to see if they have any insight into this? I’d imagine their admissions officers would be able to answer this.

Nah, I didn't want to start them hounding me to apply or enroll until I needed to. Plus I'm curious since I want to recommend WGU to a former coworker but they wouldn't be able to start for a while. I mostly wanted to know if there was a clock that started at application time like TESU.

Gotcha! That makes sense. Hopefully someone can give you a definitive answer.


___________________________________________
Masters of Business Administration
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
AACSB-Accredited
Expected 2019

Bachelors of Science - Biology
East Central University
Conferred 2015

[bjcheung77]

I would apply right after you confer or am about to confer and then provide them with all the information required.
Hmm, I think you can start the application early, if you wanted to, at the beginning of March and see what they say.

[allvia]

I applied August 2017 - my application is as active (admitted) now as it was then. I can login to the portal, they just don't call me anymore (they do email once I login though - technology, they know I'm checking in)

[Merlin]

I would apply right after you confer or am about to confer and then provide them with all the information required.  
Hmm, I think you can start the application early, if you wanted to, at the beginning of March and see what they say.

March degree conferral doesn't happen until around March 15th, and that is also when orientation starts for the April term. I know they'll need transcripts as well, which won't be complete until after the degree audit and won't show graduation until after the conferral. So I'd need to figure out what to get them and when. So I'd need to coordinate with them somewhat early in order to be able to work through the timing.

I was originally planning to wait until Feb 1st or so, since the capstone, and my degree requirements, should be complete by then. But since I was inquiring for other purposes anyway, I figured I'd check to see if there is any value (or downside) in applying earlier.

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I applied August 2017 - my application is as active (admitted) now as it was then. I can login to the portal, they just don't call me anymore (they do email once I login though - technology, they know I'm checking in)

Ahh, between your experience and quigongene, it seems pretty definitive that there is no timer to worry about. It seems like you can be in admitted or even in enrolled status for more than a year without any apparent downside.

[davewill]

You can order your TESU transcript ahead and check a box that says don't send it until after degree conferral. That way it goes out as early as possible.