I'm at WGU and have several years of experience. Look no one is going to give you a job in Cybersecurity with no experience it's a subset of IT. Go learn your basics at the help desk or in desktop support. I had several support roles before I went into Cybersecurity and I'm thankful for that. Without being in IT I wouldn't be able to understand basic security concepts. Also I did security tasks before I officially went into security. I installed encryption software and troubleshooted, used FTIK, used Mcafee Endpoint and pushed updates on machines. Almost every IT role I had security functions. Get involved in the field volunteer, get scholarships for conferences, network, join ISC2, ISACA, or other non profit cybersecurity organizations, build a lab environment, and do CTF. You have to put in the work for this field.
I enjoyed this. Graduating with my degree from WGU in a few months. I’m already in field, RHCSA certified, etc. You really have to skip over “how much am I getting paid” and shift into “who am I going to become so I can provide more value” kind of mindset. Also, I’ve been in cyber, it’s amazing how many people don’t know how networking works. Good people, enjoy the process this should be a journey. The foundation never changes, everything on top of that is abstract. Peace !
This is missing a lot of context. An IT degree is an IT degree regardless. Thats not the entire degree. Its checking the box like any orher degree. Nobody is leaving any school getting a cyber job with any degree. 99% of people online also got in before the rush pre 2017 etc
@TechTualChatter yes after you worked with them to do other stuff besides the degree meaning regardless of the program it's not enough that'd all I meant. I watch all your content lol I'm talking to the same people the headline is talking to. It's for thr 85% that won't finish.im all for the title bait im.jist here for a tdlr lol
Honestly don't even Disagree just clarifying for people education category In general based off questions experience I get in real life. Anybody over a certain age that wants to do school should do that after gettin started period. I've met too many people that don't get started at all until they are enrolled somewhere formally. The word Cyber scares people more than IT did for some reason
Brick-and-mortar institutions have the same issue. Just having a degree doesn't guarantee you getting a job, but one thing brick-and-mortar institutions have over online degrees is community. There are job fairs, career centers, and interpersonal connections you can make in person, and it's challenging to maintain them online. In-person, you can get aligned with internships, where many college students get their initial work experience and use that as a stepping stone into a job once they graduate. But there is also a LOT of competition. Also, a lot of people are getting degrees without doing the research on how it's going to benefit them in the short and long term. Getting a cyber degree when you have no IT experience is a wrong move; you're better off going into General IT or even Software Engineering or CompSci because there are more applicable uses for the degree. We do have a lot of biases against online degrees that exist and older generations that don't understand it.
I attended and got my IT management degree and transitioned from trucker to IT manager in 2 years best decision ever and only my degree 📜 qualified me no certs just started from bottom as Spectrum installer took a 6 months pay cut for the experience and moved to systems support and then manager. WGU is the best if you continue the same work ethic in all you do.
Ill say this much. I got my bachelor's in cyber security, along witb some certs. But I had no experience. My resume wasnt enough to get a job in cyber security, but it was good enough to get me on at an MSP. Foot in the door is all I need right now. I am exposed to so mucn right now that I'll be able to validate a lot of skills in a short amount of time. Something worth considering.
@@apollospyrol7168managed service provider. Basically a company that provides IT services for many clients. Usually MSP’s are grindy but you learn a lot in a short amount of time.
I'm military, the education is free, I'm going for my BSCSIA. I will have 10 industry certs, these will set me on a career path for Cyber Warfare, which has a wide outreach in the private sector. This video was an anemic attempt at best to dissaude going to an affordable college that is more accessible to people who have fast-paced lives.
Lmao man it's crazy how society really down playing degrees. I know all degrees ain't the same but if you not going look up folks course curriculum or ask them the particulars KEEP THEM LIPS buttoned lol. The job is going to train you or provide industry specific training 🤷🏾♂️. You suppose to build upon your degree with side projects specific interest while carving out your expertise. I'll say most folks with a degree had that particular assignment that peeked your interest and you did a deep dive in that topic. WGU and a lot of college cyber programs run parallel with COMPTIA, ISACA, ISC2, & Linux Institute material so if you graduated schools that provided certs through the program you should be good to go. Most jobs don't have you doing all thing cyber anyway unless you carve out that lane 🤷🏾♂️. Computer Science Degrees different
@@TechTualChatter oh no I agree somebody almost got me to get my Masters from WGU lol I almost did it. Adult college marketing is a real thing.. To me cybersecurity like a blue/white collar trade you got options but you gotta make sure your not spinning your wheels and everything lines in your favor.
Congrats! I agree with you. RUclipsrs know how to RUclips and get clicks. Like this clickbait video for example. There are a million paths into tech and there is room for everyone who is passionate and determined.
@@TechTualChatterit’s aligned with the common IT certs. A+, network+, Security+, pentest, and much more. So you get your bachelors and the Certs. Sure that’s just a knowledge and not experiential in regard to an actual job. I’m working towards it right now. I’ll add CTFs, and other hands on training platforms to grow my hands on experience in the field. The degree sticks, the experience talks tho
As a somewhat new entrant to the field of IT, I am an advocate for conveying the significance of practical experience to individuals seeking advice. I emphasize the value of both academic qualifications and certifications, but underscore the irreplaceable nature of hands-on experience. I encourage aspiring IT professionals to pursue internships, engage in community-based projects, participate in practical exercises, and meticulously document their findings. It is crucial to recognize that entering the industry without prior experience has become increasingly challenging. Drawing from my personal encounters with interview processes, I can assert that hiring managers apply rigorous assessments, ranging from preliminary technical inquiries to comprehensive evaluations of one's ability to effectively communicate the content of their resume. Undoubtedly, experience serves as a pivotal factor in securing employment and distinguishing oneself in a competitive landscape.
The truth is there is no university that can obtain and then maintain an accreditation without a full spectrum of relevant classes. If you want a degree, there will undoubtedly be some courses in your field of study that you may find to be lacking or unnecessary for your degree. Bottom line is those classes make the school acceptable to whatever accreditation agency they are governed by. College level courses are meant to be rigorous and challenging - it is why having a degree shows that you can not only complete tasks but also you can complete them to an accredited level.
Funny considering Louisana Tech is ranked 1,151 by College Factual and WGU is 146. Further the School of Techology was ranked 2nd in the country behind an Ivy League school. But hey at least you have your name on a brick.
@TechTualChatter Cope? I'm not even a student there. I simply heard your points, proceeded to research their validity, and found it funny for you to boast about being an alum from one of the worst schools in the country while downplaying one that's ranked significantly higher. Some people be thirsty for them clicks even at the cost of their credibility.
If you knew anything about my school it’s far from being the worst anything..furthermore the curriculum at wgu is more fitting for people already in the industry. 🥱🥱 Like if I had to do it over id get an entry level job and finish wgu in a couple of months.
Not a bad video, I'm doing it just to get my BS in Cyber. Yes, I am a student at WGU but, I did IBM courses on Coursera and some labs, before I enrolled. I had got my ISC2 CC also just from self-studying. 5 more certs because of WGU. It's a good option like u said if u wanna check a box and get pass hr. But, its also a good option if u dnt mind self-paced, self-study work and you want certs but, dont wanna pay out of pocket. (Or the illusion of not paying.)...im third year Junior tho and I've only been in school for a little over 1 yr.
@@TechTualChatter that's a fact. I believe I already stand out but, we can continue this on LinkedIn. I'll send you a message, I already connected I believe.
In addition, another reason why I personally chose not to get the bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, is after doing a lot of research for a year. I saw important things that should be added to make the student or would-be student stand out. Learning SIEM'S like Splunk and Wireshark. I prefer to have control of my education to get into specifics instead of carrying 20 certifications that are just going to get me a help desk position.
There are mixed reviews I have heard about WGU from different professionals. I went the traditional route and graduate next month. The degree is not the end all be all to get in, it can get you noticed over others but your going to have to show up with interview skills, hands on skills, can the company trust you. I did everything I could to get in! In the end it was an internship that set me up for success in GovTech. No matter where you go, lean into internships because it is experience you can put on your resume.
Imo if you don't have experience the only reason why you should get a degree is to get internships that's it. If you don't get internships while in school with no experience you are wasting your time and money. If you have experience degrees are usually just a checkbox and your employer pays for it. People with no experience are better off focusing on a few certs and getting their foot in the door with an entry level role.
@@symonebeez agreed but some people want to skip that entry level grind role so they think going to college with fix that. Now the right college with a certain curriculum can help but other than that they should go to schools like this when they get into the field
Idk about the bachelors but the masters is ALOT of hands on labs and system security design and networking architecture set up. It’ll be hard if you had no IT background but it definitely helps with knowledge of real world concepts
I think the WGU MS works if: 1. You have a strong BS degree already from another school. 2. You are in an industry where the prestige of your degree is less of a factor. Like government or something.
My personal opinion is hands-on training behind the keyboard (projects that you can replicate and talk about with confidence) and related certifications is the way to go.
Fam nobody cares that u went Lousiana Tech, all these schools have the same curriculum, cuz they are accredited by the same governing bodies (unless ur an ivy league school) so ur degree at Tech is not better than whats at WGU- stop the cap & as a senior net eng, i dont care what school u went to, i care about the experience when im hiring, a degree is just a justification by HR to pay u ur value & satisfy requirements by our auditors... yes wgu is for veterans, if u want hand holding go in person school, but the curriculum is the curriculum my guy u dont have some super cybersecurity degree cuz u went to Lousiana Tech and got a brick lmao sry to bust that bubble, and especially cybersecurity its so vast, u are never gona get all the knowledge u need in 35-40 courses....
@@yesthejets3368 man get yo hating ass on 😂😂😂 A school with a good alumni base is better than WGU Also I don’t care about what school people go to however other schools have done better options when it comes to internships etc
Im in WGU and I had ZERO IT experience. It's been the best decision Ive ever made. 30% into the degree I got the A+ Cert and that got my foot into the door and started working in Help Desk 1. I now have Net + and Security + and im getting job offers that are double my pay from Help Desk 1. Ive only been going to WGU for about a year. If your are fresh in IT then expect to start from the bottom but it is well worth it. It is 1000% possible to get a job within the first term of WGU as a new student and start working and moving up it IT. Im doing it. Remember the most important things for your resume is School\Certs and also Experience so get into Help desk as soon as you can, learn, and either ask for a promotion if your work reflects it (Thats what I did) or apply and test the market (Also what I did) I have options and im only 53% through with my degree and my ceiling is only going to get higher. If you have 0 IT experience this is a great way to get experience. School and work. Don't be discouraged.
I'm in the field already, 10 years experience. WGU was perfect for me to prove my qualifications and learn a few things. But you have to put in the works or do lots of labs at home and document it for future jobs
For someone that goes to WGU that has experience. I would say it’s not for everybody. The network engineer and cloud degree is the best route imo. More hands on labs that took real skills and knowledge to complete. Learning scripting/automation, networking, and security is definitely valuable. But if you are new to IT/Cyber I can be challenging
I got a data analytics degree there and no jobs from it, just one semi-related internship, which was not a good experience. I put a lot of work into that, and I had to go back to my first field (law) just to survive.
I feel for you. I graduated in August of 2023. Hospitalized in March 2024. I put so much into passing the certs, gave up a lot of my free time and health. It's really depressing but I'm making my peace with the huge mistake I made.
When I looked into which BS cyber program to do, I narrowed down to WGU and SNHU. I decided to go with SNHU and the reason is because they don't have tests or terms you have to memorize. The classes I have taken are project based, where I looked into a CVE and recommended how to mitigate a threat or write a report based on the given scenario using NIST as a reference.
There are 2 answers that validate whether or not it’s trash. In general, it’s say that it’s not a waste. But if we look accurately in detail to see what it offers and it is relevant to what you want to do, then you can make the argument there. What matters more is what you do after. That to me is the biggest contributing factor.
Nice video. Here is my opinion.. 1. No tech degree will really prepare you for tech with the exception of CS for development. 2. All degrees are broad. English, math, science, art and electives are requirements for most. I am not sure what your point is with that. 3. Cybersecurity is a broad field. GRC, reverse malware analysis, network security, IOT security, container security, cloud security.. you going to get job ready on all those in a BS degree? Be real. 4. You are comparing your personal experience to WGU. If you look at a lot of local B&M schools around the country. (Think eastern,western,etc) you will find a lot of degrees with similar curriculum. I think your opinion is mostly survivor bias. You did well, are in the field and are far removed from your college grad days. Personally I don’t think cybersec should even be a subject since I consider it to be a career for advanced career people but IMO it is very similar to CIS/MIS/general IT degrees we have always had. You graduate with an idea of what you should know and then specialize with self study from there.
@@oldschoolfuture999 i disagree with 4 I’m not fat removed from school I have clients that I coach that are currently either in school Or looking for other options to get into the field. Which is why I have a lot of ground to stand on after talking to so many people over the last 4 years Also cyber security can be a major with the minor being what niche you want to get into. Schools just need to get more creative in their approach with this. I’ve been on record stating that schools should make these degrees have clinicals like some of the medical degrees
Henri said it, WGU degree is mostly to check the box. I have experience in a system engineering role so I will be getting my degree with an associates transferred in 4 months. Big companies want the degree, certs and experience. That is your best bet. Remember to add a good network around you.
I got my A+, Net+, Sec+, Project+, and CySA+ from my local cc. Im doing the BS in Cloud Computing but I also have a year of experience in the field and Im trying to specialize in Cloud, and this degree has an Azure Track that I can build off of and also check that box with a degree
@@jefestar Honestly, cybersecurity is the real wave. You can start off and get all of the security certs you want and not be job ready. On the other hand if you do the same with cloud you will most likely get work. That is because cloud is more hands-on. It is the new CCNA/CCNP. These schools and bootcamps are taking kid's money for cyber training/degrees and meanwhile they dont have the experience to match.
Excellent perspective! I did my BS-MIS at UMGC and my MS-ITM at WGU. What made these schools a proper fit for me was the fact that I already had military work experience as a Database Administrator and a security clearance. I think that people fresh out of high school should go to community college prior to attending WGU. Those that attend WGU for undergrad should pursue CS, MIS, or IT. Lastly those without work experience need to have realistic expectations. Degrees and certs are a bonus to work experience not a replacement.
I'm in the Network Engineering and Security (Cisco Track) and from the get-go, I went in looking for the piece of paper at a low price as opposed to other colleges and universities. I've been around long enough and seen and read people talking about degrees not being enough to know better. But unfortunately, six figure jobs require experience or degree, sometimes both, and guess who doesn't have the experience. And yes, I may not get a job after and that's fine. I don't expect it without putting in the work to network, to get out there and market myself.
i feel like if you had any other degree you still need outside practice and knowledge to land a job. i wouldn’t scrutinize wgu in general but i guess a degree overall
I got my degree in Cybersecurity but wasn't expecting to get a job with that. I knew it was just a little extra in my resume. Nothing beats getting the experience in the field, so start wherever you can and work yourself to where you want to go.
No degree will help you if you don't have the hustle to go with it, the day of a degree being all you need for a job has been over for 5+ years. Especially in tech. Unless it's ivy league, and you have a very high GPA. You better look at that degree and the start of the real hustle. In general a degree is simply exposure to a list of things so that they aren't brand new to you on a job. So stop whining, move where jobs are (remote is for SMEs), start building a portfolio to show what you can do and add a few certs to that and you will be fine when the market recovers.
Spot on. When you get the point where you work with or hire new grads.. you will realize that college rarely prepares anyone for the job. It just demonstrates a capacity to learn.
Good Evening, unfortunately, we live in a credential society, you need something from an established institution to state you are "qualified," or "marketable." I personally after deep research a year ago decided not to get a cybersecurity degree from WGU. Because I had found from my personal research that not all those certifications are necessary. What I decided to do is to get my online degree in Liberal Arts from UMPI. And go for relevant training from TCM SECURITY, and SANS. That is how I am building my cybersecurity education, in addition after being in a Facebook chat group I found a lot of WGU students in cybersecurity did not want to go the extra mile. Now, that you have the degree the competition is tough to learn to create projects, and do a RUclips channel with you doing some projects. Before you are a student, you are a consumer first and a student second. Do your due diligence and research if that degree will work where you reside. You can not blame anyone if you are on GOOFY TIME!?
@@damonaniton 30 years means nothing- to auditors lol small tech u can get away with 30 yrs no cert- all experience, but in big tech u will be audited and if u dont have a degree, a company will be forced to fire u or take a role/pay reduction, just certs are not enough anymore especially for big boy roles... it's the equivalent to a doctor keeping their licenses in good standing or they can't practice at that hospital, so get ur degree so u can keep ur position & pay- if nothing else, the industry has caught up (and im talking big boy roles -not entry level) cuz these companies don't wanna pay u a high salaries & for liability purposes, & it's a huge red flag when I'm hiring. 30 years and no degree?? That's off
WGU's IT degrees are a tremendous value but it's not a magic ticket, especially for cybersecurity. I think it gives you a well rounded education and a nice stack of certs to (and this is key) get started in IT, or if you're already in the industry gets your boxes checked so you can advance. The problem I see with some people who go through that program is they think they're going to get hired to be a CISO or pen tester right after graduation when really it's just getting you a good foundation to get STARTED toward that. I really do think WGU is a good value but people have to have the right expectations for what it's doing for them. An online bachelor's degree and a stack of core certs isn't going to land you a six figure job. It's a good START down that path but it's just the start. You can absolutely get a job in IT if you get a degree and the accompanying certs from WGU but it's just the start. WGU gets you on the mountain, you have to climb it from there.
The only point of such degrees is if the uni guarantees placements or a job. Which, in my understanding is pretty rare these days, with the job market and layoffs. Getting a degree to learn “intro to Linux” is crazy.
I have a cousin finishing up a MS in Cyber, but his undergrad and work experience is in Information Systems. So he has IT experience along with the security and Linux certs he passed before starting the Masters. I honestly feel that any Cybersecurity degree (Bachelor’s or Masters) is useless from the standpoint it pigeonholes you. Information Systems with a concentration in Cyber/InfoSec, Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber/InfoSec, IT with a concentration in Cyber/InfoSec, etc. are the way to go. Too many people have degrees in fields they don’t go into happens all the time. I’d rather have a degree that gives me flexibility than one that pigeonholes me.
Whats the saddest about this video is the people who are actually encouraged to either quit or never start at wgu. His path is not equivalent to your path.
I've been running cyber teams with the DOD as.a.contractor for many different companies. When hiring, I look for someone with some mature skills in an IT disclipline. Desktop, networking, sys admin, or coding. You won't survive if you have no baseline experience. I also look for people who are asertive, and well spoken, as you'll be attending and running a lot of meetings. Teamwork is essential as well.
I’m trying to get into WGU now back when I used to work for Amazon it was smooth because they was paying but now that I’m no longer with Amazon it’s way harder to try to keep up with payments so please go in with a plan I’m going in for cloud computing due to the fact I want to be a cloud architect then transition to AI engineering since that’s where it appears software engineers are becoming nowadays but yeah wgu is fye if your willing to put in that work for sure I really want to go help desk then do wgu so I can at least learn what I’m doing as I go along but so far it appears the bar is getting high even for a desktop position
I’m actually dropping out of WGU after this term. Was able to land a higher level support role and going to build on my experience there and eventually will pivot after gaining some hands on experience. After thinking about it WGU has you doing all these certifications and many IMO seem to be tedious or just busy work to add to the degree 🤷🏽♀️
@@TechTualChatter great job! You just encouraged someone to drop out of school😢 this person could have took that bachelor degree and got a masters plus the experience.
@@attracta1306 I wasn’t convinced by anyone…This was me seeing the writing on the wall. I already have a bachelor’s in a different field and didn’t think the added debt was necessary considering I was ABLE TO and STILL have my tech job
Doesn’t the accreditation dictate that they cover those broad cyber security topics? People get exposed to the material, have familiarity with it, and can then lab at home on their own, if their desire is to get better in any particular topic. I think the only real time you lock into one particular area is at the PhD level and when you’re developing your thesis. I agree someone should have experience, but because people don’t know where to begin, getting a broader spectrum with topics is not a bad thing. My concern is people are graduating but don’t know how to SSH into a VM and have no idea what a MAC address is. You don’t have to be exceptional for this field of study, but you do have to be curious and enjoy the field because it requires a ton of research and passion. If you have that toolset, it doesn’t matter where you went to school. IMHO
@@TechTualChatterThat part I agree with because they’re cert chasing and may have no practical knowledge. People will graduate and think they have the degree and certs and have a ready-made job. However, if the university is real with them, then it is what it is. Also, wonder if they have career counseling. A lot of students don’t take advantage of those offices at their college. Anywho, I’m suggesting folks that need to check the box and don’t want to spend a ton of money, to go ahead and go there. If it is accredited and their cyber security program is accredited, then you may be scaring people away on into a more expensive route. I know a lot of military vets go there. That’s when I first heard about the university.
Real talk a a lot of peoples mindsets are wrong, they are going in this for the money which isn’t gonna work and you will end up feeling like the stuff your learning and doing is not worth it. I started by having a curious mind as a kid, exploring shit, then finally got in unpaid doing tech work in Highschool, after worked hard got a contract job and maneuvered in that up to being in an app role and then cyber. It’s not an easy role but something I kept in mind is to familiarize myself with everything I learn cause those certs are to prove your experience and knowledge to yourself and to learn some things I may not have known about that could be useful to my current role or lab work at home. When you get in this field it becomes your hobby, job, and passion. Not just something to make money from. Otherwise you’ll end up with a crowdstrike incident.
So here’s my question. I’m 15 years in the military with a TS/SCI clearance. 5 years until retire. I want to start a career in cybersecurity when I get out, but have no experience. I will have all my college paid for by the military without even touching my GI Bill. So would going through WGU be worth it to start out? I also have an option to go through ASU for Software Engineering with a BSE but is much harder but still free. I would like to learn Software engineering but more as an acquired skill set, but I prefer the cybersecurity specific fields. How would yall go about it if you could start from zero, have a 5 year window, free college(up to two degrees) with the clearance already in place?
Could you possibly check the university of Phoenix curriculum? I'm about to get the associates in Cyber security. Deciding if I should get into the bachelors. Thank you for vids. Big help
The only reason I'm avoiding wgu is because of the requirement for certifications. I rather go to my school to complete my bachelor's over 3 years than wgu. I already have an IT career.
@@TechTualChatter Yeeah, I don't want to waste time dedicating time to studying Comptia A+ or these useless certs especially since I already work in IT.
@TechTualChatter it's an honest question. Whenever I ask about the accreditation, everyone tells me they believe it is a good HBCU. When I ask them how they know this, they say, due to the student body.
I’m trying to decide between WGU and university of phoenix right now in cybersecurity I’m currently in the field and have a degree in computer technology but idk which school will give me the most knowledge to retain
Yeah you can find a job without a degree but the honest truth is most of employers will not consider you without your bachelors even with work experience.
I’ve been taking my time because I was in the field before hand but I’ll say this though a lot of the classes are trash. I’m currently stuck on project+ and it has absolutely zero relevance in what I do. Ya I could use it but make that a “class” instead of getting that dry a** CompTIA certification. Good convo my guy, keep it up.
@@B_council yea this literally every college degree in America, there is no perfect degree out there where u dont gotta take a useless class & project+ not even useless cuz u progress far enough in IT u will be under a project manager, u will be on standups every morning giving updates on ur work, doing scrum related crap etc , my 1st bachelor's I took Oceanic Geography- That's useless
@@yesthejets3368 for sure you’re right, I’ve seen concepts so it has some use. Here’s the hang up with me, for a certification like that which again you’re right, everyone will end up on a project at some point in time but for that cert make an in house exam and give me the voucher. I don’t give a damn about it, just like certified encryption specialist, in house and had the option to take the cert exam. If that makes sense.
I never heard him say anything about getting an internship, and the market is really hard now, so I would get some type of job just to get in the game. Project manager or even help desk. I would be doing and plan to apply for help desk jobs soon after I get my A+, Network +, and Security +. So by time I graduate I have 2 years work history and can become atleast a systems administrator. He sound like one of them dudes that want a 100k a year job right after graduation. And another thing. That hairstyle ain't a good look when you're looking for a corporate job. That's just my personal opinion. Looking more like he looking for a record deal instead.
@TechTualChatter Did he ever try to get an internship or it's other jobs you can get that's easier. As I said, he can do Project management. Could get a help desk job his 2nd year and work his way up.
@TechTualChatter You read wrong. I said if he's trying to get into corporate he should have a clean cut image. Get the experience, and look like lil Wayne all day. The guy at the beginning of the video showing all his certs saying how he can't get hired. Look I went to a Division 2 school for Cybersecurity I quit after 2 weeks and went to WGU in May. Look up Wilmington University. Curriculum is almost identical to WGU. I went with the lesser price. I'm not gonna run trough it like most people say they do, cause at the end of the day I'm gonna have to know my stuff during the interview. But no knock to you. Them complainers have to just get in the game. Like you say. The money will come, but not ASAP
I've noticed a lot of folks with no experience saying they are going to WGU like it's a golden ticket to a high paying career in cyber. Meanwhile, the people who are actually working in the cyber field and have the experience typically have tech related degrees from more traditional schools and not WGU.
@@camperologist1528 It's not an institution where you learn new skills, it's a place where someone 40 years old gets their decades of experience converted in a diploma.
Man be fr bruh I been seeing these courses yall RUclipsrs make for cyber security and promise jobs but don’t actually give you a real certification or real hands on experience which is required from jobs .
I was this close 🤏🏽 to enrolling to WGU with my GI Bill because I can get the degree from home with no experience in that field. Well back to the drawing board.
I'm a vet and I will be using VR&E to go to WGU... At least with that school, they implement Comptia into their curriculum instead of you paying it separately . like most schools.
The problem with convos such as this, is everyone says what not to do. Getting a degree is a tremendous start. You have to start somewhere.
I'm at WGU and have several years of experience. Look no one is going to give you a job in Cybersecurity with no experience it's a subset of IT. Go learn your basics at the help desk or in desktop support. I had several support roles before I went into Cybersecurity and I'm thankful for that. Without being in IT I wouldn't be able to understand basic security concepts. Also I did security tasks before I officially went into security. I installed encryption software and troubleshooted, used FTIK, used Mcafee Endpoint and pushed updates on machines. Almost every IT role I had security functions. Get involved in the field volunteer, get scholarships for conferences, network, join ISC2, ISACA, or other non profit cybersecurity organizations, build a lab environment, and do CTF. You have to put in the work for this field.
I agree.
Cybersecurity is not an entry level career.
Best to get a full foundation in the technology roles, and portfolio.
I enjoyed this. Graduating with my degree from WGU in a few months. I’m already in field, RHCSA certified, etc. You really have to skip over “how much am I getting paid” and shift into “who am I going to become so I can provide more value” kind of mindset. Also, I’ve been in cyber, it’s amazing how many people don’t know how networking works. Good people, enjoy the process this should be a journey. The foundation never changes, everything on top of that is abstract. Peace !
This is missing a lot of context. An IT degree is an IT degree regardless. Thats not the entire degree. Its checking the box like any orher degree. Nobody is leaving any school getting a cyber job with any degree. 99% of people online also got in before the rush pre 2017 etc
Watch first 🫵🏽
And I disagree I’ve worked with clients that get a job after getting a degree
@TechTualChatter yes after you worked with them to do other stuff besides the degree meaning regardless of the program it's not enough that'd all I meant. I watch all your content lol I'm talking to the same people the headline is talking to. It's for thr 85% that won't finish.im all for the title bait im.jist here for a tdlr lol
Honestly don't even Disagree just clarifying for people education category In general based off questions experience I get in real life. Anybody over a certain age that wants to do school should do that after gettin started period. I've met too many people that don't get started at all until they are enrolled somewhere formally. The word Cyber scares people more than IT did for some reason
Brick-and-mortar institutions have the same issue. Just having a degree doesn't guarantee you getting a job, but one thing brick-and-mortar institutions have over online degrees is community. There are job fairs, career centers, and interpersonal connections you can make in person, and it's challenging to maintain them online. In-person, you can get aligned with internships, where many college students get their initial work experience and use that as a stepping stone into a job once they graduate. But there is also a LOT of competition.
Also, a lot of people are getting degrees without doing the research on how it's going to benefit them in the short and long term. Getting a cyber degree when you have no IT experience is a wrong move; you're better off going into General IT or even Software Engineering or CompSci because there are more applicable uses for the degree. We do have a lot of biases against online degrees that exist and older generations that don't understand it.
I attended and got my IT management degree and transitioned from trucker to IT manager in 2 years best decision ever and only my degree 📜 qualified me no certs just started from bottom as Spectrum installer took a 6 months pay cut for the experience and moved to systems support and then manager. WGU is the best if you continue the same work ethic in all you do.
Ill say this much. I got my bachelor's in cyber security, along witb some certs. But I had no experience. My resume wasnt enough to get a job in cyber security, but it was good enough to get me on at an MSP. Foot in the door is all I need right now. I am exposed to so mucn right now that I'll be able to validate a lot of skills in a short amount of time. Something worth considering.
What’s a MSP ?
@@apollospyrol7168managed service provider. Basically a company that provides IT services for many clients. Usually MSP’s are grindy but you learn a lot in a short amount of time.
@@apollospyrol7168 Managed Service Provider.
@@apollospyrol7168 managed service provider
I'm military, the education is free, I'm going for my BSCSIA. I will have 10 industry certs, these will set me on a career path for Cyber Warfare, which has a wide outreach in the private sector.
This video was an anemic attempt at best to dissaude going to an affordable college that is more accessible to people who have fast-paced lives.
@@CoreyWhiteCollar do you want a 🍪
@@TechTualChatter I don't enable cookies.
😂 well played sir@@CoreyWhiteCollar
I’m graduating with cs degree from WGU in December, I was able to land a QA role in my first year along with 2 internships
Would you be willing to share how you were able to find internships? I’m currently looking for one now!
Computer Science?
How did you go about finding internships ?
Great point internships get you in the door
Lmao man it's crazy how society really down playing degrees. I know all degrees ain't the same but if you not going look up folks course curriculum or ask them the particulars KEEP THEM LIPS buttoned lol. The job is going to train you or provide industry specific training 🤷🏾♂️. You suppose to build upon your degree with side projects specific interest while carving out your expertise.
I'll say most folks with a degree had that particular assignment that peeked your interest and you did a deep dive in that topic. WGU and a lot of college cyber programs run parallel with COMPTIA, ISACA, ISC2, & Linux Institute material so if you graduated schools that provided certs through the program you should be good to go. Most jobs don't have you doing all thing cyber anyway unless you carve out that lane 🤷🏾♂️.
Computer Science Degrees different
@@kendallarmand7192 the curriculum isn’t that good
I’d only recommend this for people with experience
@@kendallarmand7192 you’ll also be surprised that training at companies is getting less existent
@@TechTualChatter oh no I agree somebody almost got me to get my Masters from WGU lol I almost did it. Adult college marketing is a real thing.. To me cybersecurity like a blue/white collar trade you got options but you gotta make sure your not spinning your wheels and everything lines in your favor.
I've looked into it. As of now only they're Computer science degree is ABET accredited so it might hold some weight but the others not so much.
You rather get certs from the degree than get the degree then have to go back and get them afterwards
My transition from HVAC to Tech I learned 100% of these RUclipsrs don’t know the right path so do you and find your way to the top
Congrats! I agree with you. RUclipsrs know how to RUclips and get clicks. Like this clickbait video for example. There are a million paths into tech and there is room for everyone who is passionate and determined.
You right bro! Follow your own path. Just a whole bunch of opinions and others opposing the original opinions....
I’m not a “RUclipsr” I have a career lol
The goal of the thumbnail is to gain interest. If you listen to the video I’m making great points
@@TechTualChatterit’s aligned with the common IT certs. A+, network+, Security+, pentest, and much more. So you get your bachelors and the Certs. Sure that’s just a knowledge and not experiential in regard to an actual job. I’m working towards it right now. I’ll add CTFs, and other hands on training platforms to grow my hands on experience in the field. The degree sticks, the experience talks tho
The majority of these cyber youtuber’s never got passed their junior positions and left the industry to be content creators.
As a somewhat new entrant to the field of IT, I am an advocate for conveying the significance of practical experience to individuals seeking advice. I emphasize the value of both academic qualifications and certifications, but underscore the irreplaceable nature of hands-on experience. I encourage aspiring IT professionals to pursue internships, engage in community-based projects, participate in practical exercises, and meticulously document their findings. It is crucial to recognize that entering the industry without prior experience has become increasingly challenging. Drawing from my personal encounters with interview processes, I can assert that hiring managers apply rigorous assessments, ranging from preliminary technical inquiries to comprehensive evaluations of one's ability to effectively communicate the content of their resume. Undoubtedly, experience serves as a pivotal factor in securing employment and distinguishing oneself in a competitive landscape.
The truth is there is no university that can obtain and then maintain an accreditation without a full spectrum of relevant classes. If you want a degree, there will undoubtedly be some courses in your field of study that you may find to be lacking or unnecessary for your degree. Bottom line is those classes make the school acceptable to whatever accreditation agency they are governed by. College level courses are meant to be rigorous and challenging - it is why having a degree shows that you can not only complete tasks but also you can complete them to an accredited level.
WGU is really for people already in their field. My coworkers got their WGU degrees after they got into cyber.
Exactly!!!
🎯
Funny considering Louisana Tech is ranked 1,151 by College Factual and WGU is 146. Further the School of Techology was ranked 2nd in the country behind an Ivy League school. But hey at least you have your name on a brick.
@@DvsBen cope how you like 😂
@TechTualChatter Cope? I'm not even a student there. I simply heard your points, proceeded to research their validity, and found it funny for you to boast about being an alum from one of the worst schools in the country while downplaying one that's ranked significantly higher. Some people be thirsty for them clicks even at the cost of their credibility.
If you knew anything about my school it’s far from being the worst anything..furthermore the curriculum at wgu is more fitting for people already in the industry. 🥱🥱
Like if I had to do it over id get an entry level job and finish wgu in a couple of months.
@@TechTualChatterCope how you like 🤣
@@DvsBen touché touche
Not a bad video, I'm doing it just to get my BS in Cyber. Yes, I am a student at WGU but, I did IBM courses on Coursera and some labs, before I enrolled. I had got my ISC2 CC also just from self-studying. 5 more certs because of WGU.
It's a good option like u said if u wanna check a box and get pass hr. But, its also a good option if u dnt mind self-paced, self-study work and you want certs but, dont wanna pay out of pocket. (Or the illusion of not paying.)...im third year Junior tho and I've only been in school for a little over 1 yr.
@@GregDaDefender yeah but you will have to set yourself apart from other applicants as well
@@TechTualChatter that's a fact. I believe I already stand out but, we can continue this on LinkedIn. I'll send you a message, I already connected I believe.
In addition, another reason why I personally chose not to get the bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, is after doing a lot of research for a year. I saw important things that should be added to make the student or would-be student stand out. Learning SIEM'S like Splunk and Wireshark. I prefer to have control of my education to get into specifics instead of carrying 20 certifications that are just going to get me a help desk position.
Smart man
What did you major in?
There are mixed reviews I have heard about WGU from different professionals. I went the traditional route and graduate next month. The degree is not the end all be all to get in, it can get you noticed over others but your going to have to show up with interview skills, hands on skills, can the company trust you. I did everything I could to get in! In the end it was an internship that set me up for success in GovTech. No matter where you go, lean into internships because it is experience you can put on your resume.
@@PulseofCyberCommand ‼️‼️‼️
@@TechTualChatter lol
Imo if you don't have experience the only reason why you should get a degree is to get internships that's it.
If you don't get internships while in school with no experience you are wasting your time and money.
If you have experience degrees are usually just a checkbox and your employer pays for it.
People with no experience are better off focusing on a few certs and getting their foot in the door with an entry level role.
@@symonebeez agreed but some people want to skip that entry level grind role so they think going to college with fix that. Now the right college with a certain curriculum can help but other than that they should go to schools like this when they get into the field
That’s like every degree, most are high level. Up to you to dive deeper on what peaks your interest. Most degrees are just to check that box.
Not stem ones that are based around certs
Idk about the bachelors but the masters is ALOT of hands on labs and system security design and networking architecture set up. It’ll be hard if you had no IT background but it definitely helps with knowledge of real world concepts
I think the WGU MS works if:
1. You have a strong BS degree already from another school.
2. You are in an industry where the prestige of your degree is less of a factor. Like government or something.
My personal opinion is hands-on training behind the keyboard (projects that you can replicate and talk about with confidence) and related certifications is the way to go.
It is but degrees can still be a barrier to entry
@@TechTualChatter Well that's a variable that could appear but I'm one of many that can only afford certs and doing home labs. Life's a gamble, 🙏🏿
Fam nobody cares that u went Lousiana Tech, all these schools have the same curriculum, cuz they are accredited by the same governing bodies (unless ur an ivy league school) so ur degree at Tech is not better than whats at WGU- stop the cap & as a senior net eng, i dont care what school u went to, i care about the experience when im hiring, a degree is just a justification by HR to pay u ur value & satisfy requirements by our auditors... yes wgu is for veterans, if u want hand holding go in person school, but the curriculum is the curriculum my guy u dont have some super cybersecurity degree cuz u went to Lousiana Tech and got a brick lmao sry to bust that bubble, and especially cybersecurity its so vast, u are never gona get all the knowledge u need in 35-40 courses....
@@yesthejets3368 man get yo hating ass on 😂😂😂
A school with a good alumni base is better than WGU
Also I don’t care about what school people go to however other schools have done better options when it comes to internships etc
@@TechTualChatter I'm really happy for u my boy
Im in WGU and I had ZERO IT experience. It's been the best decision Ive ever made. 30% into the degree I got the A+ Cert and that got my foot into the door and started working in Help Desk 1. I now have Net + and Security + and im getting job offers that are double my pay from Help Desk 1. Ive only been going to WGU for about a year. If your are fresh in IT then expect to start from the bottom but it is well worth it. It is 1000% possible to get a job within the first term of WGU as a new student and start working and moving up it IT. Im doing it.
Remember the most important things for your resume is School\Certs and also Experience so get into Help desk as soon as you can, learn, and either ask for a promotion if your work reflects it (Thats what I did) or apply and test the market (Also what I did) I have options and im only 53% through with my degree and my ceiling is only going to get higher. If you have 0 IT experience this is a great way to get experience. School and work. Don't be discouraged.
@@EnriqueIsip I agree
I'm in the field already, 10 years experience. WGU was perfect for me to prove my qualifications and learn a few things. But you have to put in the works or do lots of labs at home and document it for future jobs
For someone that goes to WGU that has experience. I would say it’s not for everybody. The network engineer and cloud degree is the best route imo. More hands on labs that took real skills and knowledge to complete. Learning scripting/automation, networking, and security is definitely valuable. But if you are new to IT/Cyber I can be challenging
I got a data analytics degree there and no jobs from it, just one semi-related internship, which was not a good experience. I put a lot of work into that, and I had to go back to my first field (law) just to survive.
I feel for you. I graduated in August of 2023. Hospitalized in March 2024. I put so much into passing the certs, gave up a lot of my free time and health.
It's really depressing but I'm making my peace with the huge mistake I made.
@mariejae sorry to hear that. How are you doing now?
Would you recommend law to someone looking to practice personal injury
When I looked into which BS cyber program to do, I narrowed down to WGU and SNHU. I decided to go with SNHU and the reason is because they don't have tests or terms you have to memorize. The classes I have taken are project based, where I looked into a CVE and recommended how to mitigate a threat or write a report based on the given scenario using NIST as a reference.
Nice 💪🏽
There are 2 answers that validate whether or not it’s trash. In general, it’s say that it’s not a waste. But if we look accurately in detail to see what it offers and it is relevant to what you want to do, then you can make the argument there. What matters more is what you do after. That to me is the biggest contributing factor.
Nice video. Here is my opinion..
1. No tech degree will really prepare you for tech with the exception of CS for development.
2. All degrees are broad. English, math, science, art and electives are requirements for most. I am not sure what your point is with that.
3. Cybersecurity is a broad field. GRC, reverse malware analysis, network security, IOT security, container security, cloud security.. you going to get job ready on all those in a BS degree? Be real.
4. You are comparing your personal experience to WGU. If you look at a lot of local B&M schools around the country. (Think eastern,western,etc) you will find a lot of degrees with similar curriculum.
I think your opinion is mostly survivor bias. You did well, are in the field and are far removed from your college grad days.
Personally I don’t think cybersec should even be a subject since I consider it to be a career for advanced career people but IMO it is very similar to CIS/MIS/general IT degrees we have always had. You graduate with an idea of what you should know and then specialize with self study from there.
@@oldschoolfuture999 i disagree with 4
I’m not fat removed from school
I have clients that I coach that are currently either in school
Or looking for other options to get into the field. Which is why I have a lot of ground to stand on after talking to so many people over the last 4 years
Also cyber security can be a major with the minor being what niche you want to get into. Schools just need to get more creative in their approach with this. I’ve been on record stating that schools should make these degrees have clinicals like some of the medical degrees
Henri said it, WGU degree is mostly to check the box. I have experience in a system engineering role so I will be getting my degree with an associates transferred in 4 months. Big companies want the degree, certs and experience. That is your best bet. Remember to add a good network around you.
I got my A+, Net+, Sec+, Project+, and CySA+ from my local cc. Im doing the BS in Cloud Computing but I also have a year of experience in the field and Im trying to specialize in Cloud, and this degree has an Azure Track that I can build off of and also check that box with a degree
CLOUD IS THE WAVE
@@jefestar Honestly, cybersecurity is the real wave. You can start off and get all of the security certs you want and not be job ready. On the other hand if you do the same with cloud you will most likely get work. That is because cloud is more hands-on. It is the new CCNA/CCNP. These schools and bootcamps are taking kid's money for cyber training/degrees and meanwhile they dont have the experience to match.
Excellent perspective!
I did my BS-MIS at UMGC and my MS-ITM at WGU. What made these schools a proper fit for me was the fact that I already had military work experience as a Database Administrator and a security clearance.
I think that people fresh out of high school should go to community college prior to attending WGU. Those that attend WGU for undergrad should pursue CS, MIS, or IT.
Lastly those without work experience need to have realistic expectations. Degrees and certs are a bonus to work experience not a replacement.
I'm in the Network Engineering and Security (Cisco Track) and from the get-go, I went in looking for the piece of paper at a low price as opposed to other colleges and universities. I've been around long enough and seen and read people talking about degrees not being enough to know better. But unfortunately, six figure jobs require experience or degree, sometimes both, and guess who doesn't have the experience. And yes, I may not get a job after and that's fine. I don't expect it without putting in the work to network, to get out there and market myself.
i feel like if you had any other degree you still need outside practice and knowledge to land a job. i wouldn’t scrutinize wgu in general but i guess a degree overall
@@roronoamimi but the premise of the video is about their program(s)
I got my degree in Cybersecurity but wasn't expecting to get a job with that. I knew it was just a little extra in my resume. Nothing beats getting the experience in the field, so start wherever you can and work yourself to where you want to go.
No degree will help you if you don't have the hustle to go with it, the day of a degree being all you need for a job has been over for 5+ years. Especially in tech.
Unless it's ivy league, and you have a very high GPA. You better look at that degree and the start of the real hustle. In general a degree is simply exposure to a list of things so that they aren't brand new to you on a job.
So stop whining, move where jobs are (remote is for SMEs), start building a portfolio to show what you can do and add a few certs to that and you will be fine when the market recovers.
Spot on. When you get the point where you work with or hire new grads.. you will realize that college rarely prepares anyone for the job. It just demonstrates a capacity to learn.
If I had to do it over again, I would suck it up and do a CompSci or Computer engineering degree. Just didn’t want to have to take calculus.
@@rbjunior22 🤧🤧🤧
Good Evening, unfortunately, we live in a credential society, you need something from an established institution to state you are "qualified," or "marketable." I personally after deep research a year ago decided not to get a cybersecurity degree from WGU. Because I had found from my personal research that not all those certifications are necessary. What I decided to do is to get my online degree in Liberal Arts from UMPI. And go for relevant training from TCM SECURITY, and SANS. That is how I am building my cybersecurity education, in addition after being in a Facebook chat group I found a lot of WGU students in cybersecurity did not want to go the extra mile.
Now, that you have the degree the competition is tough to learn to create projects, and do a RUclips channel with you doing some projects. Before you are a student, you are a consumer first and a student second. Do your due diligence and research if that degree will work where you reside. You can not blame anyone if you are on GOOFY TIME!?
I have been saying this for years and they call me a gatekeeper.
What do I know I have only been doing this for nearly 30 years.
@@damonaniton 30 years means nothing- to auditors lol small tech u can get away with 30 yrs no cert- all experience, but in big tech u will be audited and if u dont have a degree, a company will be forced to fire u or take a role/pay reduction, just certs are not enough anymore especially for big boy roles... it's the equivalent to a doctor keeping their licenses in good standing or they can't practice at that hospital, so get ur degree so u can keep ur position & pay- if nothing else, the industry has caught up (and im talking big boy roles -not entry level) cuz these companies don't wanna pay u a high salaries & for liability purposes, & it's a huge red flag when I'm hiring. 30 years and no degree?? That's off
@@yesthejets3368 I work for big tech. so you are wrong. maybe your big tech company does that. not all.
and most people will never work for big tech
It is about the CERTS when working in cybersecurity (trust me). Unless you are within the DOD space, get a Security + certification.
NO ITS NOT 😂
WGU's IT degrees are a tremendous value but it's not a magic ticket, especially for cybersecurity. I think it gives you a well rounded education and a nice stack of certs to (and this is key) get started in IT, or if you're already in the industry gets your boxes checked so you can advance. The problem I see with some people who go through that program is they think they're going to get hired to be a CISO or pen tester right after graduation when really it's just getting you a good foundation to get STARTED toward that. I really do think WGU is a good value but people have to have the right expectations for what it's doing for them. An online bachelor's degree and a stack of core certs isn't going to land you a six figure job. It's a good START down that path but it's just the start. You can absolutely get a job in IT if you get a degree and the accompanying certs from WGU but it's just the start. WGU gets you on the mountain, you have to climb it from there.
ITS actually pretty cool to go through a degree that has the cert preps included
Im already in the field and WGU for me is totally fine, you will be as good as the interest you put into your learning in the end.
The only point of such degrees is if the uni guarantees placements or a job. Which, in my understanding is pretty rare these days, with the job market and layoffs. Getting a degree to learn “intro to Linux” is crazy.
I have a cousin finishing up a MS in Cyber, but his undergrad and work experience is in Information Systems. So he has IT experience along with the security and Linux certs he passed before starting the Masters. I honestly feel that any Cybersecurity degree (Bachelor’s or Masters) is useless from the standpoint it pigeonholes you. Information Systems with a concentration in Cyber/InfoSec, Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber/InfoSec, IT with a concentration in Cyber/InfoSec, etc. are the way to go. Too many people have degrees in fields they don’t go into happens all the time. I’d rather have a degree that gives me flexibility than one that pigeonholes me.
Degrees don’t really pigeon hole you
Experience does
Whats the saddest about this video is the people who are actually encouraged to either quit or never start at wgu. His path is not equivalent to your path.
I've been running cyber teams with the DOD as.a.contractor for many different companies. When hiring, I look for someone with some mature skills in an IT disclipline. Desktop, networking, sys admin, or coding. You won't survive if you have no baseline experience. I also look for people who are asertive, and well spoken, as you'll be attending and running a lot of meetings. Teamwork is essential as well.
My question what is a great school to start at then? Where I can learn the new basics & what courses to take to get in the industry?
Research the curriculum to see if it aligns with the job market
I’m trying to get into WGU now back when I used to work for Amazon it was smooth because they was paying but now that I’m no longer with Amazon it’s way harder to try to keep up with payments so please go in with a plan I’m going in for cloud computing due to the fact I want to be a cloud architect then transition to AI engineering since that’s where it appears software engineers are becoming nowadays but yeah wgu is fye if your willing to put in that work for sure I really want to go help desk then do wgu so I can at least learn what I’m doing as I go along but so far it appears the bar is getting high even for a desktop position
I’m actually dropping out of WGU after this term. Was able to land a higher level support role and going to build on my experience there and eventually will pivot after gaining some hands on experience. After thinking about it WGU has you doing all these certifications and many IMO seem to be tedious or just busy work to add to the degree 🤷🏽♀️
@@alexisuconn96 I agree!
@@TechTualChatter great job! You just encouraged someone to drop out of school😢 this person could have took that bachelor degree and got a masters plus the experience.
@attracta1306 or they can't find another place to go...
@@attracta1306 I wasn’t convinced by anyone…This was me seeing the writing on the wall. I already have a bachelor’s in a different field and didn’t think the added debt was necessary considering I was ABLE TO and STILL have my tech job
Doesn’t the accreditation dictate that they cover those broad cyber security topics? People get exposed to the material, have familiarity with it, and can then lab at home on their own, if their desire is to get better in any particular topic. I think the only real time you lock into one particular area is at the PhD level and when you’re developing your thesis.
I agree someone should have experience, but because people don’t know where to begin, getting a broader spectrum with topics is not a bad thing. My concern is people are graduating but don’t know how to SSH into a VM and have no idea what a MAC address is. You don’t have to be exceptional for this field of study, but you do have to be curious and enjoy the field because it requires a ton of research and passion. If you have that toolset, it doesn’t matter where you went to school. IMHO
@@jnelly3426 a good curriculum would solve those issues or concerns you have. My biggest gripe about them is making them get too many certs
@@TechTualChatterThat part I agree with because they’re cert chasing and may have no practical knowledge. People will graduate and think they have the degree and certs and have a ready-made job. However, if the university is real with them, then it is what it is. Also, wonder if they have career counseling. A lot of students don’t take advantage of those offices at their college.
Anywho, I’m suggesting folks that need to check the box and don’t want to spend a ton of money, to go ahead and go there. If it is accredited and their cyber security program is accredited, then you may be scaring people away on into a more expensive route. I know a lot of military vets go there. That’s when I first heard about the university.
Real talk a a lot of peoples mindsets are wrong, they are going in this for the money which isn’t gonna work and you will end up feeling like the stuff your learning and doing is not worth it.
I started by having a curious mind as a kid, exploring shit, then finally got in unpaid doing tech work in Highschool, after worked hard got a contract job and maneuvered in that up to being in an app role and then cyber.
It’s not an easy role but something I kept in mind is to familiarize myself with everything I learn cause those certs are to prove your experience and knowledge to yourself and to learn some things I may not have known about that could be useful to my current role or lab work at home.
When you get in this field it becomes your hobby, job, and passion. Not just something to make money from. Otherwise you’ll end up with a crowdstrike incident.
So here’s my question. I’m 15 years in the military with a TS/SCI clearance. 5 years until retire. I want to start a career in cybersecurity when I get out, but have no experience. I will have all my college paid for by the military without even touching my GI Bill. So would going through WGU be worth it to start out? I also have an option to go through ASU for Software Engineering with a BSE but is much harder but still free. I would like to learn Software engineering but more as an acquired skill set, but I prefer the cybersecurity specific fields. How would yall go about it if you could start from zero, have a 5 year window, free college(up to two degrees) with the clearance already in place?
I'm going for the general IT degree. I was a copier tech for 4 years and I'm a system admin for a law firm. I wanna do cloud though.
With these degrees in IT type field .. getting hands on is where it's at...ALWAYS and also how to interview properly
I considered WGU and what got me was they force you to get certs which is dumb in my opinion..
It’s his opinion but if you’re not driven NO college is for you.
I also agree
I wouldn't say PenTest is "high" level. WGU forces you to get this cert. If you do PenTest labs you get fairly into the weeds.
Lol CompTIA certs are memorization
Ong I almost went here- but they wanted pre-reqs I didn’t have . WOW 😮
Could you possibly check the university of Phoenix curriculum? I'm about to get the associates in Cyber security. Deciding if I should get into the bachelors. Thank you for vids. Big help
IMO, do not go with them. Not much respect for them in the field.
UoP is a total scam. They are a for profit college. I heard of recruiters straight up throwing resumes into the trash.
That last part 💯2x as good 🙏🏾
This comment is for the woman speaking in the blue sweater what you described as the CISO is the exact project you do for the capstone.
Im biased and This is about the worst take i seen in a while
@@Frontend969 Based on whag
Did you watch the video? Lol. They didn't say wgu is useless.
@@Reason_over_Dogma exactly
The only reason I'm avoiding wgu is because of the requirement for certifications. I rather go to my school to complete my bachelor's over 3 years than wgu. I already have an IT career.
@@Reason_over_Dogma I feel like those certs give people a sense of over value
@@TechTualChatter Yeeah, I don't want to waste time dedicating time to studying Comptia A+ or these useless certs especially since I already work in IT.
I got an IT job and I’m not even done with my degree at WGU
@@ismaelmoe7407 congrats even though we are discussing cyber here
@@TechTualChatter Thanks so much !! I’m taking cybersecurity doing Bscsia at WGU. I made a resume and got an onsite tech iT job 😂
But every school does that.
That brick idea is pretty cool. You are in a way physically part of the institution.
Is WGU an HBCU? It seems that everyone that is going there for a degree, at least a degree related to tech, IT, cybersecurity etc, is black.
@@SleekTekNeek what kind of dumb comment is this
@TechTualChatter it's an honest question. Whenever I ask about the accreditation, everyone tells me they believe it is a good HBCU. When I ask them how they know this, they say, due to the student body.
Do you recommend SANS bachelors? (cost aside)
@@SuperMdogo if you can get someone to pay for it why not
I’m trying to decide between WGU and university of phoenix right now in cybersecurity I’m currently in the field and have a degree in computer technology but idk which school will give me the most knowledge to retain
@@dangleroot388 if you’re already in the field just find the cheapest option to check off the checkbox
Yeah you can find a job without a degree but the honest truth is most of employers will not consider you without your bachelors even with work experience.
I’ve been taking my time because I was in the field before hand but I’ll say this though a lot of the classes are trash. I’m currently stuck on project+ and it has absolutely zero relevance in what I do. Ya I could use it but make that a “class” instead of getting that dry a** CompTIA certification. Good convo my guy, keep it up.
@@B_council exactly my point exactly
@@B_council yea this literally every college degree in America, there is no perfect degree out there where u dont gotta take a useless class & project+ not even useless cuz u progress far enough in IT u will be under a project manager, u will be on standups every morning giving updates on ur work, doing scrum related crap etc , my 1st bachelor's I took Oceanic Geography- That's useless
@@yesthejets3368 for sure you’re right, I’ve seen concepts so it has some use. Here’s the hang up with me, for a certification like that which again you’re right, everyone will end up on a project at some point in time but for that cert make an in house exam and give me the voucher. I don’t give a damn about it, just like certified encryption specialist, in house and had the option to take the cert exam. If that makes sense.
What college or path would you guys recommend?
depends on what you want to do.
Plainly, on the gov side 8140 certs matter a lot.
@@deejames2257 that's going away too
No cert means anything without experience in that field
Thanks for uploading
LMAO - rage bait
I never heard him say anything about getting an internship, and the market is really hard now, so I would get some type of job just to get in the game. Project manager or even help desk. I would be doing and plan to apply for help desk jobs soon after I get my A+, Network +, and Security +. So by time I graduate I have 2 years work history and can become atleast a systems administrator. He sound like one of them dudes that want a 100k a year job right after graduation. And another thing. That hairstyle ain't a good look when you're looking for a corporate job. That's just my personal opinion. Looking more like he looking for a record deal instead.
@@toneallday5468 who are you taking about ??
@TechTualChatter Did he ever try to get an internship or it's other jobs you can get that's easier. As I said, he can do Project management. Could get a help desk job his 2nd year and work his way up.
@@toneallday5468 who is trying to get a record deal?
@TechTualChatter You read wrong. I said if he's trying to get into corporate he should have a clean cut image. Get the experience, and look like lil Wayne all day. The guy at the beginning of the video showing all his certs saying how he can't get hired. Look I went to a Division 2 school for Cybersecurity I quit after 2 weeks and went to WGU in May. Look up Wilmington University. Curriculum is almost identical to WGU. I went with the lesser price. I'm not gonna run trough it like most people say they do, cause at the end of the day I'm gonna have to know my stuff during the interview. But no knock to you. Them complainers have to just get in the game. Like you say. The money will come, but not ASAP
@@toneallday5468 in aggree except I felt like you were talking about the black guy with the “image” thing
That's an expensive brick.
@@ghosttiger84 actually tech is fairly inexpensive
Persoective is GOOD!🎉
A Tech. Tell shorty I like her.
@@mosaicmonk4380 el oh elll
I've noticed a lot of folks with no experience saying they are going to WGU like it's a golden ticket to a high paying career in cyber. Meanwhile, the people who are actually working in the cyber field and have the experience typically have tech related degrees from more traditional schools and not WGU.
@@SleekTekNeek 🎯🎯🎯
DO PROJECTS
Kaycee Turnpike
If you go into WGU in your 20' you are just burning money.
Mind elaborating?
@@camperologist1528 It's not an institution where you learn new skills, it's a place where someone 40 years old gets their decades of experience converted in a diploma.
Brown Mark Miller Barbara Jones Susan
Man be fr bruh I been seeing these courses yall RUclipsrs make for cyber security and promise jobs but don’t actually give you a real certification or real hands on experience which is required from jobs .
RUclipsrs and cybersecurity professionals are not the same thing
I was this close 🤏🏽 to enrolling to WGU with my GI Bill because I can get the degree from home with no experience in that field. Well back to the drawing board.
If you go to WGU use the VR&E program and not your GI bill. VR&E will help you get front of the line of for those government jobs!
@@InfoSecRJ thanks for that advice bro. I was looking at VR&E
Just get a comp sci degree
I'm a vet and I will be using VR&E to go to WGU... At least with that school, they implement Comptia into their curriculum instead of you paying it separately . like most schools.
Still go don’t let them change your mind it’s worth it because not many colleges allow you to get a accredited degree & certs
It is about the CERTS when working in cybersecurity (trust me). Unless you are within the DOD space, get a Security + certification.
Sec+ is the only cert worth a damn from CompTia.
@PsychoMantis08 not really
CySA + is a better cert for blue team