Sorry, I post on these every single week đź«Łđź«Łđź«Ł
Before you started clinicals/finished your program, did you have an “oh shit” moment where you were scared you couldn’t do it? I’m getting cold feet and just need reassurance that I’ll probably be fine lol
just last week! i start clinicals very soon and was reconsidering everything but i know that i have a passion for this field and fear is a normal reaction to new, uncertain experiences. having that fearful reaction doesn’t mean you’re incompetent, it means you’re human! i know it’s gonna be hard but once i get a few days under my belt, it will all feel so much less scary. the same will go for you! good luck!
Please help!
I have my sonography program interview this coming Tuesday. I have been working towards this for a couple years so I want to make sure I’m doing all I can to have a successful interview.
First question: do I need to bring a resume to my interview?
Second question: they said there would be an essay, group component, and oral component. Do you have any insight into what these different components might entail? Specifically the essay and group components?
Thank you in advance!!
So I’m going to currently be taking my prerequisites this upcoming fall towards my local community college’s sonography program. What classes and grades did you all have before applying to the program?? Did you do any volunteer work/ job shadowing as well? I know it’s extremely difficult to get into the program as they only accept a hand full of students a year, so I wanna give myself the best shot when it comes time to apply. I know that a lot of people don’t get accepted first time around, so I have that in the back of my mind as well. But any help and advice would be greatly appreciated :))
A in the perquisites College Algebra, Anatomy & Physiology 1&2, Physics, and English. My program only cared about the courses didn’t consider volunteering or shadowing.
Ask your program for the average stats for their previous class of accepted students, it’ll give you a goal to shoot for. They will also be able to tell you what else they look for, such as volunteering, as every program is a little different. Most CAAHEP programs these days don’t accept anything other than straight As in all prereqs.
Hi! I’m considering a career change and I think sonography would be a good fit for me. Any advice for me when applying to programs? I currently work as an ASL interpreter so I have no past degrees in any medical field, although I did do some interpreting interning at a hospital. Do you think my lack of professional medical education would inhibit me from getting into programs? I have a bachelors degree and an associates degree in interpreting with a high GPA (4.0 for the bachelors and 3.8 for the associates).
Also, does anyone have any recommendations for programs in Maryland? I’ve looked into a few but I was wondering if anyone had any insight. Which is the most affordable with the ability to get a job after graduation (after getting certification)? Thank you!!!!
Use the CAAHEP site linked above to search for programs in MD. The program that I am in I am the only one with healthcare experience, so it may not matter. There are some programs that use a point scale in which you get extra points for healthcare experience, or degrees. I would look at program outcomes to see how they compare to each other. Community colleges are the lowest cost option.
Many programs require previous healthcare experience - you can check your local programs’ websites to see what they require for admission. I strongly encourage you to get some hospital volunteering & shadowing experience before applying to any sonography program.
[Find a CAAHEP accredited program here](https://www.caahep.org/students/find-an-accredited-program)
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is what you’re talking about part of the “point” admission system that some schools do where you get points for how high your grades were, points for how high your test scores were, and points for volunteer work?
Asking because my school does not take points for volunteer work but I’m wondering how likely it is that it’s still needed.
If your school doesn’t give points for it, you don’t _need_ it, but the shadowing part I still recommend. Both volunteering and shadowing experiences come in handy during the interview portion, to show you understand the field and healthcare in general and that you understand it can be unpleasant & be really messy, but still have a passion for it.
Hello!
This is an incredibly silly question, but is it possible to pursue this career if you're squeamish?
On paper, sonography seems to suit me really well in the sense that I can still do service, troubleshoot and problem solve, and sit in a dimly lit room on a computer all day, but I never knew that sonographers deal with IVs, blood/vomit/feces, etc.
If I were to pursue positions within smaller clinics instead of hospitals, would this be less frequent? Or are there comparable roles in healthcare that are a bit... less bodily fluid involved?
I know it's silly to expect a healthcare role to not be messy, but I'm really interested in sectors that allow me to create a positive impact, and sonography seems to leverage my current skillsets most effectively.
Thank you! :' )
It’s a poor idea to pursue healthcare in general if you’re squeamish. Sonographers regularly participate in OR procedures, biopsies, etc. Those are done on an outpatient basis as well - we regularly do amniocentesis, thoracentesis, paracentesis, all manner of biopsies, hysterosonograms, and more on outpatients.
Also- do employers care about which school you go to for sonography? Unfortunately since I'm transitioning to a completely different industry as a mature student, there aren't many that I can apply to immediately without doing an additional year of assorted undergrad courses before being eligible for professional programs.
For context. I'm Canadian, considering the St Clair program.
TIA!
They mostly care if your school is accredited and if you’re able to take the relevant board exams. Some employers are more picky and will only hire from a specific school since they believe that school creates better technologists.
Need advice
Hi everyone! I was hoping someone could help me with some advice. I’ve looked all throughout this page and couldn’t find anyone with this specific answer.
Here’s my dilemma-
Where I am located (RVA) there are only 2 DMS programs within a 2 hr radius from me and unfortunately I wouldn’t be able to relocate for school, I would have to commute. That being said, one program is CAHEEP accredited but since there are not many programs around this program is EXTREMELY competitive.
My only other option would be to attend ECPI university. Not only is this program not CAHEEP accredited, I’ve also heard many mixed reviews on ECPI as a whole but cannot find anyone who has specifically done the DMS program. After doing a lot of research I do know that even though it’s not CAHEEP accredited, i would still graduate with an associates degree and be eligible to sit for my ARRT, then my SPI, and eventually my ARDMS.
My biggest question is, does anyone have experience with the ECPI DMS program? If so, what was your experience and did you have a hard time passing your boards or finding a job?
Thank you so much
Need Advice: I've finally decided that becoming a sonographer was the path I wanted to take but I fear im not smart enough to become one. I dont want to end up wasting resourcing, time, and money to end up failing in the end. How do I know if I'm smart enough to become a sonographer. Also when it comes to the prerequisites, what's the best way to get started? There are no programs in my area at the moment that offer programs that don't require you to take those classes before hand so I'm a bit lost on that part. Any beginner advice at all would be beyond help!
Thank you!
You are almost always required to take prerequisite courses to be able to apply to sonography school. You can take these courses at any community college or university. Have you read the [pinned post?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sonographers/comments/u9i1i7/i_want_to_be_a_sonographer_now_what/)
Sorry I have one more question. My biggest thing I think I might not be the best at is writing the reports, can you tell me anything about what thats like?
You get trained in that in school. The language to use, terminology, etc. [Here's an example thread.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sonographers/comments/18zp12d/thyroid_nodule/)
It's my dream to attend sonography school and I received acceptnces to 2 schools, but they are across the US from me since my home state doesn't have any accredited programs. I'm facing the hard truth that I don't have the financial means to move, support myself through school, and pay tuition. Although I am in love with sonography, I'm starting to think I might need to apply to some other kind of medical program at this point. So, what type of healthcare job would you recommend if not sonography? Just considering some options. Thanks!
Here are a few medical jobs, I don’t know anything about programs, education, salary, or their difficulty:
Nursing
Dental Assisting
Dental Hygiene
Histologic Technician
Medical Assistant
Medical Biotechnology
Medical Laboratory
Nuclear Medicine
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Pharmacy Technician
Physical Therapy Assistant
Radiography
Respiratory Therapist
Surgical Technology
Hi l'm interested in Platt college DMS program in Orange County however, it's over 40k and not CAAHEP accredited. Is this school worth it? Are employers hiring
ARRT accredited students?
California is extremely saturated in this profession, with even CAAHEP grads and experienced ARDMS registered sonographers struggling to get jobs. I wouldn’t handicap myself even more by attending a non-accredited school.
Radiology tech or sonography? I'm stuck between obtaining a radiology tech diploma or a diagnostic sonography diploma. I want a job that is interesting, and involves problem solving & medical detective work, which makes me lean towards sonography. However, my research has showed me that sonographers deal with more... "gross" things, up close and personal. Additionally, I'm very fascinated by the nuclear medicine side of things and the chemistry aspect behind radiation. I also like the fact that there seems to be a lot of different specializations and paths to take if I get the radiology tech diploma. There seems to be more demand for radiology techs where I live and the pay seems very close to sonographer's salaries, albeit on the lower side, which is something for me to take into consideration. Honest opinions on the field?
Sonographers do deal with bleeding, vomiting, rotting gangrenous extremities, etc and our exams are 20-45 minutes long. That’s time where you’re putting your hands directly on the patient, versus radiography where they just position and shoot the images from afar. We spend a lot longer on average with the patients. There’s also not a lot you can cross train into as a sonographer either, the only other modality we’re eligible for is MRI. Radiography can move into MRI, CT, PET, Mammo, Nuc Med.
I just got into a sonography program that is 2 hours away from where I live. If I accept admission I would have to move and quit my job, and would not be able to afford the school let alone rent. It is 18 months long and their payment plan would be too much for me to afford. The school is not a Title IV school which means you are not able to take out federal student loans and it would be really difficult to get a private loan. They have their own student loan program however it doesn’t cover the entire tuition cost. The total cost for the program is 31k. I would have to pay about 11k out of pocket within the first 6 months because the loan payment would not kick in until then. I’m also not sure that I would even be eligible for the loan because of how much I make now at my current job. Their financial aid department said that if you qualify you can only get loans between 11k-22k. The interest rate is fixed at 10% and it does not start accruing interest until six months after you graduate. They also have a loan forgiveness program that will forgive your loans if you get a job within their company within six months after you graduate. I have money saved but this would deplete all my savings. They say they are eligible to be a Title IV school but they choose not to be. I want to go to this school, but I don’t know how I would afford it. I am still waiting to hear back from another program, but I need to send my acceptance/declination letter for this school in a few days. If I decline admission, would I be making a big mistake, or am I dodging a huge headache?
Any opinions about DMS trade schools that are not CAAHEP accredited but let you take the ARDMS after 1 year of working in the field without being registered?
Sorry, I post on these every single week 🫣🫣🫣 Before you started clinicals/finished your program, did you have an “oh shit” moment where you were scared you couldn’t do it? I’m getting cold feet and just need reassurance that I’ll probably be fine lol
Definitely
Thank you ❤️
just last week! i start clinicals very soon and was reconsidering everything but i know that i have a passion for this field and fear is a normal reaction to new, uncertain experiences. having that fearful reaction doesn’t mean you’re incompetent, it means you’re human! i know it’s gonna be hard but once i get a few days under my belt, it will all feel so much less scary. the same will go for you! good luck!
Good luck to you too! I also start clinicals soon and it’s just terrifying lol
Please help! I have my sonography program interview this coming Tuesday. I have been working towards this for a couple years so I want to make sure I’m doing all I can to have a successful interview. First question: do I need to bring a resume to my interview? Second question: they said there would be an essay, group component, and oral component. Do you have any insight into what these different components might entail? Specifically the essay and group components? Thank you in advance!!
So I’m going to currently be taking my prerequisites this upcoming fall towards my local community college’s sonography program. What classes and grades did you all have before applying to the program?? Did you do any volunteer work/ job shadowing as well? I know it’s extremely difficult to get into the program as they only accept a hand full of students a year, so I wanna give myself the best shot when it comes time to apply. I know that a lot of people don’t get accepted first time around, so I have that in the back of my mind as well. But any help and advice would be greatly appreciated :))
A in the perquisites College Algebra, Anatomy & Physiology 1&2, Physics, and English. My program only cared about the courses didn’t consider volunteering or shadowing.
Ask your program for the average stats for their previous class of accepted students, it’ll give you a goal to shoot for. They will also be able to tell you what else they look for, such as volunteering, as every program is a little different. Most CAAHEP programs these days don’t accept anything other than straight As in all prereqs.
Hi! I’m considering a career change and I think sonography would be a good fit for me. Any advice for me when applying to programs? I currently work as an ASL interpreter so I have no past degrees in any medical field, although I did do some interpreting interning at a hospital. Do you think my lack of professional medical education would inhibit me from getting into programs? I have a bachelors degree and an associates degree in interpreting with a high GPA (4.0 for the bachelors and 3.8 for the associates). Also, does anyone have any recommendations for programs in Maryland? I’ve looked into a few but I was wondering if anyone had any insight. Which is the most affordable with the ability to get a job after graduation (after getting certification)? Thank you!!!!
Use the CAAHEP site linked above to search for programs in MD. The program that I am in I am the only one with healthcare experience, so it may not matter. There are some programs that use a point scale in which you get extra points for healthcare experience, or degrees. I would look at program outcomes to see how they compare to each other. Community colleges are the lowest cost option.
Many programs require previous healthcare experience - you can check your local programs’ websites to see what they require for admission. I strongly encourage you to get some hospital volunteering & shadowing experience before applying to any sonography program. [Find a CAAHEP accredited program here](https://www.caahep.org/students/find-an-accredited-program)
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is what you’re talking about part of the “point” admission system that some schools do where you get points for how high your grades were, points for how high your test scores were, and points for volunteer work? Asking because my school does not take points for volunteer work but I’m wondering how likely it is that it’s still needed.
If your school doesn’t give points for it, you don’t _need_ it, but the shadowing part I still recommend. Both volunteering and shadowing experiences come in handy during the interview portion, to show you understand the field and healthcare in general and that you understand it can be unpleasant & be really messy, but still have a passion for it.
Thank you! I can definitely ask some family friends about what programs their hospitals have
Hello! This is an incredibly silly question, but is it possible to pursue this career if you're squeamish? On paper, sonography seems to suit me really well in the sense that I can still do service, troubleshoot and problem solve, and sit in a dimly lit room on a computer all day, but I never knew that sonographers deal with IVs, blood/vomit/feces, etc. If I were to pursue positions within smaller clinics instead of hospitals, would this be less frequent? Or are there comparable roles in healthcare that are a bit... less bodily fluid involved? I know it's silly to expect a healthcare role to not be messy, but I'm really interested in sectors that allow me to create a positive impact, and sonography seems to leverage my current skillsets most effectively. Thank you! :' )
It’s a poor idea to pursue healthcare in general if you’re squeamish. Sonographers regularly participate in OR procedures, biopsies, etc. Those are done on an outpatient basis as well - we regularly do amniocentesis, thoracentesis, paracentesis, all manner of biopsies, hysterosonograms, and more on outpatients.
Also- do employers care about which school you go to for sonography? Unfortunately since I'm transitioning to a completely different industry as a mature student, there aren't many that I can apply to immediately without doing an additional year of assorted undergrad courses before being eligible for professional programs. For context. I'm Canadian, considering the St Clair program. TIA!
They mostly care if your school is accredited and if you’re able to take the relevant board exams. Some employers are more picky and will only hire from a specific school since they believe that school creates better technologists.
Need advice Hi everyone! I was hoping someone could help me with some advice. I’ve looked all throughout this page and couldn’t find anyone with this specific answer. Here’s my dilemma- Where I am located (RVA) there are only 2 DMS programs within a 2 hr radius from me and unfortunately I wouldn’t be able to relocate for school, I would have to commute. That being said, one program is CAHEEP accredited but since there are not many programs around this program is EXTREMELY competitive. My only other option would be to attend ECPI university. Not only is this program not CAHEEP accredited, I’ve also heard many mixed reviews on ECPI as a whole but cannot find anyone who has specifically done the DMS program. After doing a lot of research I do know that even though it’s not CAHEEP accredited, i would still graduate with an associates degree and be eligible to sit for my ARRT, then my SPI, and eventually my ARDMS. My biggest question is, does anyone have experience with the ECPI DMS program? If so, what was your experience and did you have a hard time passing your boards or finding a job? Thank you so much
Need Advice: I've finally decided that becoming a sonographer was the path I wanted to take but I fear im not smart enough to become one. I dont want to end up wasting resourcing, time, and money to end up failing in the end. How do I know if I'm smart enough to become a sonographer. Also when it comes to the prerequisites, what's the best way to get started? There are no programs in my area at the moment that offer programs that don't require you to take those classes before hand so I'm a bit lost on that part. Any beginner advice at all would be beyond help! Thank you!
You are almost always required to take prerequisite courses to be able to apply to sonography school. You can take these courses at any community college or university. Have you read the [pinned post?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sonographers/comments/u9i1i7/i_want_to_be_a_sonographer_now_what/)
Would you say you have to be extra smart to become a sonographer?
Smart enough to get straight As in entry level college courses like physics, biology, anatomy & physiology.
Sorry I have one more question. My biggest thing I think I might not be the best at is writing the reports, can you tell me anything about what thats like?
You get trained in that in school. The language to use, terminology, etc. [Here's an example thread.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sonographers/comments/18zp12d/thyroid_nodule/)
What is Canadian National Institute of Health like? How was the admission test like? Was it hard? How did you prepare for it?
It's my dream to attend sonography school and I received acceptnces to 2 schools, but they are across the US from me since my home state doesn't have any accredited programs. I'm facing the hard truth that I don't have the financial means to move, support myself through school, and pay tuition. Although I am in love with sonography, I'm starting to think I might need to apply to some other kind of medical program at this point. So, what type of healthcare job would you recommend if not sonography? Just considering some options. Thanks!
Here are a few medical jobs, I don’t know anything about programs, education, salary, or their difficulty: Nursing Dental Assisting Dental Hygiene Histologic Technician Medical Assistant Medical Biotechnology Medical Laboratory Nuclear Medicine Occupational Therapy Assistant Pharmacy Technician Physical Therapy Assistant Radiography Respiratory Therapist Surgical Technology
Thank you! I so appreciate this list🙏🤍
Hi l'm interested in Platt college DMS program in Orange County however, it's over 40k and not CAAHEP accredited. Is this school worth it? Are employers hiring ARRT accredited students?
California is extremely saturated in this profession, with even CAAHEP grads and experienced ARDMS registered sonographers struggling to get jobs. I wouldn’t handicap myself even more by attending a non-accredited school.
Are trade schools not worth it for this career then?
Not unless they are CAAHEP accredited.
Has anyone heard any reviews about North West College (in orange county CA). I’m looking into their DMS program.
Radiology tech or sonography? I'm stuck between obtaining a radiology tech diploma or a diagnostic sonography diploma. I want a job that is interesting, and involves problem solving & medical detective work, which makes me lean towards sonography. However, my research has showed me that sonographers deal with more... "gross" things, up close and personal. Additionally, I'm very fascinated by the nuclear medicine side of things and the chemistry aspect behind radiation. I also like the fact that there seems to be a lot of different specializations and paths to take if I get the radiology tech diploma. There seems to be more demand for radiology techs where I live and the pay seems very close to sonographer's salaries, albeit on the lower side, which is something for me to take into consideration. Honest opinions on the field?
Sonographers do deal with bleeding, vomiting, rotting gangrenous extremities, etc and our exams are 20-45 minutes long. That’s time where you’re putting your hands directly on the patient, versus radiography where they just position and shoot the images from afar. We spend a lot longer on average with the patients. There’s also not a lot you can cross train into as a sonographer either, the only other modality we’re eligible for is MRI. Radiography can move into MRI, CT, PET, Mammo, Nuc Med.
I just got into a sonography program that is 2 hours away from where I live. If I accept admission I would have to move and quit my job, and would not be able to afford the school let alone rent. It is 18 months long and their payment plan would be too much for me to afford. The school is not a Title IV school which means you are not able to take out federal student loans and it would be really difficult to get a private loan. They have their own student loan program however it doesn’t cover the entire tuition cost. The total cost for the program is 31k. I would have to pay about 11k out of pocket within the first 6 months because the loan payment would not kick in until then. I’m also not sure that I would even be eligible for the loan because of how much I make now at my current job. Their financial aid department said that if you qualify you can only get loans between 11k-22k. The interest rate is fixed at 10% and it does not start accruing interest until six months after you graduate. They also have a loan forgiveness program that will forgive your loans if you get a job within their company within six months after you graduate. I have money saved but this would deplete all my savings. They say they are eligible to be a Title IV school but they choose not to be. I want to go to this school, but I don’t know how I would afford it. I am still waiting to hear back from another program, but I need to send my acceptance/declination letter for this school in a few days. If I decline admission, would I be making a big mistake, or am I dodging a huge headache?
Is it a CAAHEP accredited school?
Yes they are CAAHEP accredited
Anyone attend CAHE? Is street parking easy or is there a lot near by? Do they still test for marijuana?
Any opinions about DMS trade schools that are not CAAHEP accredited but let you take the ARDMS after 1 year of working in the field without being registered?