Piles of Paperwork

August has been a busy month!

Since my WGU degree plan was approved on July 8th, I have knocked out all 14 credits and moved 10 credits from next semester into the one in which I’m currently enrolled. Two of my classes were objective assessments, multiple-choice tests, and I knocked them out early. The three remaining classes required performance assessments. Performance assessments are designed to get a good look at how well you understand the content. In the case of these classes, I had to write four essay assignments and do a thesis research outline and oral (video recorded) presentation. Combined, I wrote 6957 words for those projects. I think that’s enough paperwork for now on the school front for now. I’m settling in for a nice easy review of contract law and more legal business stuff followed by a six-week consortium for my science class. That will put me at 24 credits completed with 11 weeks still left in my semester. I should be able to knock out Principles of Management for an additional four credits before the end of the year.

Can you possibly shake your stick at 28 credits for the price of $3035? I know my community college can’t. I feel like I pretty much never shut up about my schooling, so I’ll make an attempt to do so now.

Orientation Day!

For those of you who are not yet aware, I am starting a degree program July 1st. I will be studying Marketing Management online at Western Governors University. Most of my friends know because I can’t shut up about the school. I’m literally in love with the idea of the school, even though I have yet to begin. Over my last few years as a SAHM/WAHM I’ve read a lot about online coursework, and I gave up on the idea before because it was SO EXPENSIVE. But WGU is a fully-online not-for-profit university that has national and regional accreditation and a stellar reputation.

The classes are also very different. My sister is attending Everest University Online, and she’s doing very well there. However, she has assignments that have to be turned in at a specific time, and she’s required to use forums to prove her participation. WGU has assessments, which vary from quizzes essays and proctored exams. Successful completion of these assessments proves competency in a subject, and gives credit for the course. So, I’m not required to sit through lectures and do homework about subjects that I already know: I can just prove my competency, collect credit, and move on with my degree. I also don’t have to juggle different subjects at the same time. I’m free to take one at a time if that’s easiest for me, which I suspect it will.