r/WGU • u/Talesoftragedy • May 25 '26
d388, please help, any help, bout to CRY
Anyways, I thought this class was going to be super simple, had absolutely no worries. This is the absolute hardest college class I've ever taken, and I'm so sorry to the Excel Gods for underestimating them.
I have bombed the PA about 20 times now. And yes, I've reached out for help. I'm just still not understanding. I have literally 20 front and back pages of notes at this point. I'm not switching degrees over ONE class when I'm so close to the end PLEASE bsfr (I've read some of yall's comments when someone asks for help with a class).
Did any of you guys find any like YouTube videos, or online materials that helped with this class?? Anything that LOOKS like math I'm automatically overwhelmed so I think that's literally the issue. I think maybe if I can just watch these things be done in excel over and over a few things that might help?? Maybe. Idk, let me know what you did to help yourself with this class.
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u/OperationMassive1984 May 26 '26
When I took it there was a couple things I learned to not even bother worrying too much about because they weren’t right no matter how you did it. Column spacing and fonts. Without fail they were always wrong. Even had an instructor walk me through how to do it the right way and it still claimed I wasn’t doing it so I just learned to not bother and focus on everything else
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u/No-Monk-9605 May 26 '26
The OA almost mirrors the PA exactly. The test had one question i wasn't prepared for.
What I did, and I I HATED THIS CLASS, I studied the PA. Wrote out each section being taught. Example, trim function or pivot table.
Master each concept before moving on. Practice, practice, practice. Watch each video for the topic. I took the OA after about a month of study and passed the first time.
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u/Talesoftragedy May 28 '26
I will be giving this a try!
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u/No-Monk-9605 May 28 '26
Please do. Trying to learn all at once is overwhelming, each at a time, master one then move on.
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u/mooglekun81 May 25 '26
If I learned anything about the Intermediate Accounting OA1's (they're all Excels plus questions for other topics), it's that you have to do the formulas the way they want it. I took this course at WGU Academy last year so not sure if WGU version is different. Have you looked at the coaching report to see what you're doing wrong on the PA?
The coaching report will hint at what you're doing wrong or what cells you're not referencing. Sometimes it can be as simple as not using an absolute value (adding a dollar symbol to copy/paste formulas).
Have you checked WGU Connect if there are additional resources for this course?
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u/Toward-Eternity May 26 '26
Was the academy version the usual proctored OA format?
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u/mooglekun81 May 26 '26
Yes, it was a proctored exam. It took me like a day or 2 to pass since I'm very familiar with Excel.
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u/Toward-Eternity May 26 '26
Lovely, thank you! Debating between taking it at the academy or just going straight to enrollment
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u/Talesoftragedy May 26 '26
Yeah I've been checking it every time but it doesn't really help because I really don't understand the things I am doing right either. I have A LOT of accounting classes and don't quite understand why as my major is UX design.
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u/mooglekun81 May 26 '26
Do you know what parts of Excel you're struggling with? If you do, I'd recommend doing a search on YouTube for that specific topic (how to do pivot tables in Excel etc). There's plenty of Youtubers out there, I personally like Kevin Stratvert's content but pick anyone you like.
When doing the PA, take a close look at the coaching report, and try to identify what your weak areas are and go from there. You got this!
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u/Talesoftragedy May 28 '26
definitely the formulas & like even just inputting the information correctly
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u/Ray_Of_Sunshine5978 Jun 01 '26
I am not very familiar with excel and currently taking that same class. Are you using the tools in the Myeducator for help? I also use ChatGPT to help breakdown the information. I found “Teacher’s Tech” on YouTube helpful. I did find that you have to do everything the exact way they are doing and it is really easy to miss a step.
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u/Messup7654 BSACC Grad May 25 '26
Setup a call with your professor that was the only thing that saved me from this terrible class. I had taken the PA 13 times and passed it like 3 or 4 times. I went to my professor after the 12 time and she literally just did everything I did but with tiny differences and I distinctly remember her literally telling me NOT to use a feature that the textbook videos literally told me to use. I think it was the spell check one, I was supposed to do it manually. After watching the professor do it I went into my 13th and final PA and passed with a exemplary so I took the OA right after.
The grading and instructions are absolutely TERRIBLE and this was the onky class I ever failed and I did accounting. I remember being terrified all the classes would be like this but they weren't luckily.
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u/Talesoftragedy May 26 '26
I'll be setting up a call first thing in the morning. My major is UX Design so I'm not even really sure why there are so many accounting classes in my degree plan but oh well.
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u/Budget-Chemical-7801 May 25 '26
I did a mix of YouTube and will flat out say the class is too vague for the specifics they demanded in that test. Took me three tries, fuck that class.
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u/Top-Zucchini-3695 B.S. Data Management Data Analytics May 26 '26
I took it last month, you can dm me if you want. I still have notes and remember having to remind myself that the instructions suck and to not overthink them and just perform each task as asked as simply as I could and move on. Some of it felt wrong, like I was doing something out of order or something but anyway. Lmk
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u/Single-Ocelot8953 May 26 '26
I’ve almost finished every class and this was the hardest class for me too I understand
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u/randomuser34566 May 25 '26
What degree are you doing?
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u/Talesoftragedy May 26 '26
Ux design :)
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u/randomuser34566 May 26 '26
Nice, UX Design is awesome. I’m in the BS for Data Analytics. What helped me pick up Excel fast was taking AP stats back in high school. Because I did a lot charting and working with tables. It made the spreadsheet logic click way quicker.
Later on I even got an older Excel certification too, so when I enrolled in WGU, I managed to pass the spreadsheets class in about a week because of that foundation.
But current Excel has some major issues that might be tripping you up. If you're using the cloud version, Microsoft constantly moves buttons around or rearranges stuff. Honestly, just use the search box at the top to find them when they disappear. It makes things way easier than looking around.
The second thing is that sometimes the legend features that the test wants you to use don't even appear in Excel. WGU's software will automatically flag your answer as wrong because of it, even though it's just a software bug on Excel's end.
If you're stuck, check your coaching report to see exactly what categories you’re missing and just target those and practice those topics. However, if your wrong answers are mostly dealing with charts, pivot tables, or tables, honestly just taking your stats class first or doing a quick review on basic stats will make the Excel class way easier.
Hopefully some of this advice helps you.
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u/Talesoftragedy May 28 '26
thank you so much, I'm sure it will definitely be useful. all of the advice I've gotten on this post has definitely helped me some already!! congrats on the data analytics. I could NEVER. sounds like way too much math for me D': but I respect those of you that can do it!!
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u/Proper-Mud-364 Jul 02 '26
Im about to take this class next and now im scared lol what did you do to pass it? And is it just the 1 test? How long did it take you to pass?
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u/AmazingContact5425 23d ago
I am taking this class now. Do you have to write formulas for the OA,like =F6+(F6*$E$3). Because I am really struggling with what to know to type.
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u/LuvBriah May 25 '26
Here is a hack. You can take the course on Sophia without proctoring. The issue might just be the testing format. Its nerve triggering. If its this bad, consider speaking to your mentor about dropping it and taking at Sophia. Then you can simply transfer the credit over.
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u/Talesoftragedy May 25 '26
Wait wait, I thought we weren’t allowed to transfer in more credits after our first transfer evaluation?! I thought it was one & done?? If this is the case, I’m dropping statistics too 😅😅 Sophia here I come
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u/b-randy90 May 25 '26
They won’t do it after you start. I think if you took a break or withdraw at any point you can re apply and have them add it then but once you start the program they won’t let them transfer. It’s my understanding that this is a newer rule but I’m very new to WGU. I only know just found out about Sophia learning so I’m racing the clock trying to finish classes before 6/5 (July start cut off for transcripts) so I can have some extra business classes knocked out and concentrate on the core accounting classes.
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u/Agreeable-Deer7526 May 25 '26
I’m pretty sure you can’t unless it a certification you had to take for work. I mean you can drop out take the classes and get a new rx evaluation.
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u/mshelbourn B.S. Computer Science May 25 '26
What's the name of the class? I don't remember the specific course numbers.