No words, long journey. Very bittersweet. If you’re in it right now keep going u can do this.

To anybody out there who may need it, I started back in May, I failed my 1st OA, felt completely discouraged with all that you have to do just to try again, and basically dropped out, Today I got an email regarding my status seen I was able to continue classes, I will finish what I started and I hope that if you thinking about quitting PLEASE DON’T, take a couple days recoup and get back focused, EVERYTHING will work out in the end!!!! See you at the finish line 🫶🫶🫶

It’s finally here! They have now updated the BS computer science version too, so it’s now catalog 11/2026. The partner site for transfers has been updated too so you can now see what courses transfer. For those who wanted more math, esp linear algebra. You’re welcome lol.

Program guide:

https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/computer-science/program-guide.html

I’m in the final stretch of my MATSPED program at WGU, and the clinical portion has been a nightmare. It feels like every time I get close to finishing, there’s another requirement, another piece of information I wasn’t told, or another issue that drags the process out.

I’m doing my student teaching as a teacher of record, so I’m already in my classroom teaching every day. Even so, the clinical requirements and lack of clear, consistent communication have made this process incredibly frustrating.

The whole system sometimes feels almost like a pyramid scheme. You’re essentially funneled through your mentor for everything, and there doesn’t seem to be a straightforward way to contact someone higher up who actually has the knowledge or authority to resolve an issue.

The latest situation is especially frustrating.

Back in May, and again in August, both my Clinical Advisor and my mentor told me to register for my final three courses at the end of my current term rather than wait until October when my next term begins.

I specifically questioned this because I was concerned about timing and the cost. I would only have September to complete at least two of the courses with school schedules. I also asked about the prorated fee and what would happen financially if I needed another semester. My mentor told me registering early was my best option financially since it would get me to "full-time" and I would just have the last course move over with an IP on it, so I followed her advice.

Now, after meeting with my mentor, her manager, and the Student Teaching Manager on 8/31, I’m being told that I most likely would NOT have been able to finish any of those three courses during September. I may now have to pay for all of the same courses twice.

My options are supposedly to either continue with courses WGU acknowledges I probably won’t finish or self-withdraw and go through a lengthy process before I can resume my program.

I’ve gone through my mentor, her manager, Student Services, Records, the Student Ombuds, and the Student Teaching Manager trying to get clear answers. It feels like there is no actual way to get directly to someone who can make a decision and fix the problem.

The most frustrating part is that I specifically asked about this BEFORE registering. If I had been given complete and accurate information, I could have simply waited until October.

At this point, I feel like WGU has made the clinical portion unnecessarily complicated and dragged it out every chance they get, and now I’m potentially being left with the financial consequences of following their advice.

Has anyone else experienced this with WGU clinicals? Is there actually a way to get to someone higher up who can resolve these issues? I’ve already started the formal complaint process, but I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has been through something similar.

So many things went wrong. My internet went down, had to restart my computer 3 times, couldn’t find my ID then i couldn’t find my web cam. But I passed. I never actually saw my proctor so maybe they thought it was too. But cheers to the end of the term

Hi!

I just completed my BS in Business Management at WGU this month. I completed the 22 courses I had left in the program, after transferring some credits, in two terms. I was pacing 11 courses per term and completing all 11 classes in 5 months rather than 6 months both terms.

I’m considering enrolling in the MBA program this Fall, but I have a very busy upcoming year (planning a wedding and getting ready to purchase and remodel a home). If I were to enroll in the MBA program, I’d like to finish all 11 courses in one term.

For those of you who have completed both and undergrad and graduate degree through WGU, do you believe I could complete the MBA program in one term? Or are the classes significantly more rigorous?

Thank you in advance for your advice!

I have always had trouble with taking tests and studying. I don't know if it's just my genealogy, but I need help. This term, I have two OA classes to finish. For one class, specifically Managing a global business, I passed the PA with flying colors, but when it came down to the OA, I pretty much failed, even though I had reviewed and studied for hours. How do I fix this? Is it me or the test? I fear this will make or break me

Hey all,

I am finally done with my Bachelor’s in Information Technology and am ready to start applying for jobs. I’m looking to begin my career in entry-level Help Desk, IT Support, or similar IT roles.

For those who recently broke into IT, how did you approach your job search? What job titles should I be searching for besides Help Desk and IT Support? Are there specific job boards, companies, or strategies that helped you land your first IT role?

I would really appreciate any advice on how to effectively search and apply for jobs without limiting myself to only a few job titles. Thanks in advance!

Been waiting on this one. Going from BSSWE to BSCNE My last mentor helped me start thinking more about the options i had and the future i wanted with going through school again. Im 28 so ill admit ive had to train myself out of thinking its over for me and its no point in trying to go back to school but im glad ive reached this point. So we lit 🔥

Performance Assessments, anytime I have submitted a paper it has never came back with a score for AI Content. Is this normal? I don’t use Grammarly on a normal basis to go over my papers. However, anytime I have it shows a high AI score, I tend to ignore it since it’s my work and haven’t had an issue with any of my task.

Hi!! I was just wondering if anyone knows the cap dimensions. I’ve been getting mixed reviews online. I’m traveling far for the ceremony, so I want to get an early start on my decoration. I’ve been seeing it’s 9x9 all the way to 9.5x9.5.

Gotta love that the course material says one thing and then the end of section quizzes say another. Particularly lesson 3.2. Also, 3.1 doesn’t reflect that that lesson is finished.

Dog crap course materials this school uses

I been seeing lot of post about the job outlook for software engineering after graduation ( I’m in the software engineering track), not sure if I should change it to the cloud and network engineering program instead. My main fear is jobs after graduation I don’t want to not have one after spending all this money on a degree. Any advice or 2 cents would help, thanks

I am finishing up my MBA in I.T. I would like more experience and knowledge in the computer/software field. Which of these 3 will hold their value longer and offer more to my career in the tech field?

1. Computer Science

   -AWS certification, Linux Pro Insitute, and ABET

2. Software Engineering

   -AWS certified, and ITIL certified

3. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

   -CompTIA, CAE, and ABET

I recently took the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 exam, and geez... that really was a difficult test to pass. I actually had to take it twice, and on my second attempt, I barely passed.

This is the first Reddit post I've ever written, but I felt like I needed to make it because I was extremely grateful for all the Reddit posts that helped me while I was studying.

Whenever I'm preparing for a certification, I search Reddit and other sites for people who have taken the exam recently. I want to know what they studied, what resources they used, what they wish they had studied more, and generally what their experience was like.

So, I figured I'd return the favor.

First: This Exam Is VERY Hands-On

If there's one thing I would tell someone preparing for PT0-003, it's this:

Get comfortable looking at scripts and commands.

Don't just memorize definitions.

You should be able to look at a script or command and at least understand what it's trying to accomplish. You should also be able to look at a scenario and determine what type of tool, attack, command, or technique would make sense.

Python and Bash are especially important. I would also be comfortable with PowerShell and the general structure of automation scripts.

You don't necessarily need to become a professional programmer, but you shouldn't panic when the exam puts a block of code in front of you.

Scripts & Programming

Python was something I spent a lot of time trying to understand.

Know the basic structure of a Python script and things like arguments, variables, loops, conditions, functions, and modules. Understand what things such as sys.argv and argparse are doing.

The important thing for me wasn't memorizing every possible piece of syntax. It was getting to the point where I could read a script and say:

"Okay, I may not know every line here, but I understand what this script is trying to accomplish."

I'd approach Bash and PowerShell the same way.

If you're using the CompTIA CertMaster labs, pay attention to the scripts they give you. Don't just copy/paste the commands to finish the lab. Look at the structure and try to understand WHY the commands work.

Know Your Tools

There are a ridiculous number of tools associated with PenTest+, and trying to memorize every command for every tool will probably drive you insane.

Instead, I would focus on understanding what each major tool is for and recognizing common syntax.

Some of the tools I spent time studying included:

• Nmap — scanning, service/version detection, ports, scripts, and recognizing common flags
• Netcat — connections, listeners, shells, and basic network interaction
• Burp Suite — intercepting and modifying web requests and understanding how a proxy fits into web application testing
• Gobuster / DirBuster — directory and content discovery
• Impacket — understand that it's a collection of Python tools/scripts used for interacting with Windows/network protocols and common penetration-testing activities
• Evil-WinRM — interacting with Windows systems through WinRM
• BloodHound — Active Directory relationships and attack paths
• Seatbelt — Windows host enumeration
• Aircrack-ng — wireless assessment
• Wireshark / Snort — traffic analysis and recognizing what network activity is telling you

Again, I wouldn't try to memorize the entire manual for every one of these. Know what problem the tool solves, when you would use it, and what its commands generally look like.

Nmap — Spend Some Time Here

I would absolutely make sure you're comfortable with Nmap.

You should understand the difference between discovering hosts, scanning ports, identifying services/versions, and using scripts.

Don't just memorize a bunch of flags independently. Try to understand what the completed command is asking Nmap to do.

That mindset helped me much more than trying to memorize a giant Nmap cheat sheet.

Active Directory / Windows

I would also spend some time understanding the Windows and Active Directory side of penetration testing.

Things like BloodHound, Seatbelt, Evil-WinRM, Kerberos, Windows services, permissions, and common Windows misconfigurations are worth understanding.

For example, know WHY a misconfigured Windows service could potentially be useful to an attacker rather than just memorizing the name of the vulnerability.

Same thing with Kerberos. You don't need to become an Active Directory wizard overnight, but understand the general concepts behind common Kerberos attacks and what tools such as Impacket are being used to accomplish.

Web Attacks

Definitely know your web vulnerabilities.

Understand concepts like:

• LFI vs. RFI
• SQL injection
• XSS
• Command injection
• Directory traversal
• File inclusion
• Authentication/session attacks
• Web proxies and request manipulation

Burp Suite is worth spending time with here.

Again, think in terms of scenarios. If you're given a vulnerable application and some information about what's happening, can you recognize the likely vulnerability and what you would use to investigate or exploit it?

Wireless Attacks

Don't neglect wireless.

Know the general concepts behind Wi-Fi attacks, Bluetooth attacks, rogue access points, evil twins, deauthentication, credential capture, and the wireless tools listed in the objectives.

WiFi-Pumpkin and Aircrack-ng were two tools I made sure I understood.

You should be able to recognize a wireless attack from a scenario and understand both what is happening and what could be done to mitigate it.

OSINT, DNS & Enumeration

This is another area where I think understanding the PURPOSE of a command is more valuable than blindly memorizing syntax.

Know the different ways information can be gathered before and during a penetration test.

Understand DNS enumeration, subdomains, public information gathering, directory enumeration, service enumeration, and the difference between passive and active reconnaissance.

Ask yourself:

"What information am I trying to obtain, and which tool or technique would give me that information?"

That question helped me organize a lot of the tools in my head.

My Favorite Resource — Hank Hackerson

I have to give a shout-out to Hank Hackerson's YouTube channel.

His PenTest+ material was extremely helpful.

For me, Module 6 was PARAMOUNT, and Module 7 was pretty great as well.

If you have time, I would go through all of his PenTest+ material. I didn't have enough time to watch everything, but after taking the actual exam, I can say that Modules 6 and 7 were definitely on the money in terms of the knowledge I needed.

Jason Dion's Udemy Practice Tests

I also had access to Jason Dion's six PenTest+ practice tests on Udemy, and I thought they were pretty great.

I didn't make it through all six because this was my second attempt and I had a deadline to meet. If I'd had more time, I absolutely would have completed all of them.

One thing I would recommend with ANY practice test:

Don't just memorize the correct answer.

If you get something wrong, figure out:

1. Why your answer was wrong.
2. Why the correct answer was right.
3. What the other answer choices actually mean.

That turns one missed question into four things you've learned.

CertMaster & Labs

The CertMaster material was decent, but personally, it wasn't my favorite resource.

The labs, however, were useful.

Actually typing commands and working through scenarios helped me much more than simply reading about them.

If you have access to the CompTIA labs, I would try to complete as many as possible. More importantly, pay attention to the baseline scripts and commands you're using.

Don't just:

Copy → Paste → Lab Complete → Next

Stop and ask yourself what the command actually did.

That tactile/hands-on learning made a difference for me.

How I Would Study If I Had to Do It Again

If I were starting over, I would probably structure my studying something like this:

1. Learn the concepts first.
Go through the course material and make sure you understand the major attacks, penetration-testing methodology, vulnerabilities, and terminology.

2. Learn what the major tools actually do.
Instead of immediately memorizing syntax, learn which problem each tool solves.

3. Get hands-on.
Do the labs. Type the commands yourself. Break things. Get commands wrong. Figure out why they didn't work.

4. Learn to read scripts.
Practice Python, Bash, and PowerShell enough that code doesn't look like hieroglyphics when it's put in front of you.

5. Practice recognizing commands.
Nmap, Netcat, Aircrack-ng, Impacket, and the other major tools should start looking familiar.

6. Take practice exams.
Then study EVERY answer you got wrong.

7. Go back to your weak areas.
Don't spend five hours reviewing something you already know because it feels good to get the questions right. Spend that time on the stuff you hate seeing on a practice test.

There Really Isn't a Shortcut

Usually, I'm the guy trying to figure out the fastest and most efficient way to get through something.

For PenTest+, I really don't think there's a way around putting in the work.

Study. Do the labs. Take a practice test. Fail. Figure out why. Study again. Take another one. Repeat.

It can be a headache.

This was easily the hardest certification exam I've taken so far.

For context, I have certifications including A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, Project+, SSCP, Cloud+, and a few others, and I am a HORRIBLE test taker. I've barely passed more certification exams than I'd like to admit 😂.

So take everything I'm saying with a grain of salt. I'm definitely not claiming to be some PenTest+ guru.

I'm just a guy who failed it, studied some more, went back, and managed to pass it.

Final Advice

If you're preparing for PT0-003, these would be my biggest takeaways:

Know your attacks.

Know your tools.

Get comfortable with Nmap.

Get comfortable reading scripts and commands.

Understand Python, Bash, and PowerShell at a basic level.

Understand what tools like Impacket, Burp Suite, BloodHound, Netcat, Aircrack-ng, etc. are actually used for.

Do hands-on labs.

Don't ignore wireless, Active Directory, web attacks, OSINT, or enumeration.

And most importantly, don't get discouraged if you fail.

I failed my first attempt. I barely passed my second.

A pass is a pass.

If you're a terrible test taker like me, don't let your practice scores or even a failed first attempt convince you that you can't do it. Figure out where you're weak, hammer those areas, and go back at it.

Hank Hackerson was legit. Jason Dion's practice tests were on point. The CertMaster labs were useful for getting hands-on experience.

And Reddit helped me tremendously, which is why I'm writing this ridiculously long first post in the first place.

Hopefully this helps at least one person preparing for PenTest+ PT0-003.

Good luck. You got this. 🤙

I’m not one of those weird scammers pretending to be a legitimate company. I’m genuinely sharing what you can do to optimize your earnings with your degree. This is for people who are desperate and can’t find a job willing to teach! For a better-paying job, there are programs in many states where you can have a bachelor’s degree in yes Any field and still have a pathway into teaching. Some of the roles I came across were offering around $70K, and some were even around $85K. Charter schools especially tend to offer positions like this.
If you have a bachelor’s degree, a clean record, and you don’t mind working in the school system, I would honestly recommend reaching out directly. Find the email for someone at the school and let them know you have a bachelor’s degree and you’re interested in teaching and ask what pathway they have available for you.
There’s a teacher shortage, but there’s also a money shortage 😭 so schools are looking for people. Teaching definitely isn’t for everybody, but some of you might actually enjoy it, and it could be a way to use the degree you already have to get into a better-paying position.

For other people that may have other resources please share for others who may have issues finding a job as well.

Hello all,

I am a transfer student from a different university and luckily I do not have to take D420 or D421 (cybersecurity degree), but just started my second term and am going to start on D422. I have seen a few posts mentioning the class, but was wondering if I am going to have a harder time because I did not have to take the other two classes?

Any advice on how to pass the class quickly is greatly appreciated!

To those who have taken this course and passed, how was the assessment and do you have any tips? I'm on section 2 right now (just passed the section 1 quiz with 95%) and this will be my first proctored exam ever for WGU. I'm a bit nervous as I've heard mixed reviews about how the process goes. Is there anything that I should be aware of beforehand that most people don't think of? Maybe things you personally had a harder time remembering or completeing in the exam?

Thank you!

Hi Everyone!

I was looking for some input or advice on which pathway I should take after completing my BS IT at WGU.

Two pathways that interest me are the MS Cybersecurity and the MSIT Programs.

Has anyone taken a similar route after completing their BS?

Success stories and advice is all welcomed.

Also are they both PA and OA based? Or ALL PA?

Just wanting some advice on which pathway and direction I should go.

I’m interested in higher education, particularly instructional design, learning & development, workforce development, and career readiness, and I’m considering this degree before eventually pursuing a PhD in I/O Psychology.

For those who have completed the program:

• How did you like it overall?
• Did it prepare you well for instructional design/L&D roles?
• Roughly how many Objective Assessments vs. Performance Assessments were there?
• How many hours per week did you typically spend?
• Was it manageable while working full-time?
• Is completing it in one 6-month term realistic?
• How difficult was the capstone?
• Anything you wish you knew before starting?

Thank you!!

I was able to cover 7 courses with prior college and a cert, so I'm starting with a leg up. I also have a few years' experience as a data scientist.

I'm a bit nervous but really excited to do this. Let's go!

I have only 11 more classes to do then I graduate! These first three classes will be easy so no worries but I really want to graduate this coming term but I’ve seen the Reddit horror stories about DevNet. I’ve gotten this far lol but please leave tips for these classes. I’ve heard CCNA security isn’t too bad so I’m not too worried.