Incentive to Start WGU in 2015

With the new year right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your education for the coming year. Instead of making a resolution that doesn't stick, why not make one you can start working on right now? 2015 is a particularly good year to enroll in WGU Indiana simply because they just released $400,000 in scholarships, many of them for new students only.

So, why start working on your goal now?

• If you haven't already filled out a FAFSA for the 2014-2015 school year, you need to do it now so it can be processed.
• Paperwork that is processed by the 15th of the preceding month leads to enrollment in the following month. So, If you start processing your enrollment in December and you get it done by the 15th, you can start in January. In some cases, you may need more time to get everything together, so starting December could mean you can start classes in February.
• Everyone needs some light at the end of the tunnel. A degree in your chosen field can be that light and there is no better time to start than at the beginning of the new year.

Let's just add a little more incentive to the pot. Let's talk numbers.

WGU Indiana charges from $2,890 to $4,250 per term, with only one degree being charge the higher amount. That tuition hasn't changed since 2008! Now, what's a "term"?

WGU Indiana is a knowledge based program, so you can test out of areas you are familiar with and move on at your own pace. The "term" last 6 months and in that 6 months you can complete as many classes as you would like...without paying a penny more. Complete 4 classes or complete 20 classes, it's all the same, financially speaking.

Now, why do I care?

I run this blog because I love my school and it saddens me to see people pay so much to get the exact same degrees I have, when they don't have to. I don't get paid by WGU or anyone else to do it. But, I am a member of the Chancellor's Club and that means from time to time I do get some great deals to hand out.

Today I happen to have 3 grants to hand out. These are on top of any other grants and/or scholarships that you may qualify for and qualifying for these particular grants couldn't be easier. Essentially, if you are enrolled in a degree program by Feb. 1, 2015, you qualify because your enrollment indicates that you've met all the other qualifications.

Each grant is worth $200. Combine them with your PELL grants, scholarships, or loans to help you get through your first session at WGU Indiana.

I'll even go one step further. If you enroll and use the grant, I'll be your on-call study buddy. I finish up my degree very shortly, but I won't ever forget how certain people helped me, even if it was just by listening to me vent because I'm a single mother and business owner who got overwhelmed by life now and then. If you are interested in the grant, leave a comment here or contact me at kfoust1 at wgu dot edu.

WGU Offers a Scholarship for Forward Thinking

I have to say, WGU Indiana may just be one of the only businesses I don't mind getting mail from. Everyone else just sends me bills. WGU sends me swag. Since I already love this school, I am happy to make use of the swag. they tend to get pretty creative with it too, which always helps. But enough about me. Let's talk about yet another scholarship that WGU offers.

New students have a chance to start their academic career at WGU Indiana, off right.

This new scholarship valued at up to $2,000 and payable in four $500 installments over four sessions, requires only that you be a new student seeking admission and that you complete the essay "How My Degree at WGU Indiana Will Impact My Life". Completing the essay doesn't mean that you will automatically get he scholarship because you are in competition with other students, but since they plan to award more than just one or two, you probably have a pretty good shot. Check out some of the benefits of competing for this WGU scholarhsip.

• You get to define your goals. Because you are writing about how your degree can change your life, you have to sit down and think about why you are getting the degree in the first place. This encourages you to come up with a plan...maybe a five year plan that includes plans beyond obtaining the degree?
• If you win you basically just got paid $2,000 to describe a realistic dream about your future. I write for a living folks. Amounts like that are nothing to sneeze at.
• You are setting the tone for your academic future. Other than just applying for a scholarship, you get to take a long hard look at your future and how you want to handle it. There are plenty of opportunities for success at WGU Indiana, but you have to be willing to take steps toward them. You can do that before your classes even start by applying for this scholarship.

What do you have to lose? You get to take the chance that you will be paid to daydream? I'll even give you a head start by helping you avoid the application fee. Just type in IND1 when you apply and you won't have to pay the application fee.

Oh yeah, this is actually called the "Lose the Wait Scholarship" and you can get even more from WGU by posting a picture of a clock or watch on the WGU Indiana Facebook or Twitter page. In return, as a new student you will get some swag in the form of a Lose the Wait t-shirts. If you don't have a picture like that or the camera to take one, feel free to borrow mine at the top of this page!

WGU Offers Unique Opportunities to Students Over 40

Whether the change in the economy has made you want to change careers or you are just looking to develop your skills for the profession you always dreamed of, if you are over 40, you can actually make money while you go to college without the stress of a student loan.

WGU has recently implemented a scholarship for the over 40 crowd. The scholarship is a maximum of $2000 per student, awarded in increments of $500 over four terms. If you qualify for a full PELL grant, which will be in the amount of $2775 per term, you will actually get money back after your $3035 tuition is covered. Of course you can always seek out other scholarships and grants as well, like the state grants that always so helpful.

Now that the financial end of things is covered, it's time to look at other elements of WGU that serve the over 40 college student.

WGU is a competency based program. That means you don't have to sit through a lot of lectures on topics you are already well-versed in. There is no limit to the amount of classes you can take in a given session and you don't have to pay anything extra to take those classes. For students over 40 who have enough experience and knowledge to navigate the courses they are already familiar with, this means that a degree can be obtained in a relatively short period of time. Some students have earned as many as 80-100 credits in one session!

You've seen all the things you don't like about 40. You've debated with the younger generation on subjects you didn't just read about, but lived through. Maybe you thought 40 was too old to start college, but WGU makes 40 the perfect age to start. If the technology end of things scares you, just know that your mentor and the support staff at WGU are amazing at helping you deal with any questions you may have.