Hard Decision
Posted By: wondering on 2005-08-18
In Reply to:
I am trying to decide between Andrews and M-Tec for my MT education. I realize this is beating a dead horse, but I would like to share some of the things I've noticed about the two and hope someone might have some insight for me.
Andrews: Has had an excellent reputation for a long time. You can take as long as you need to finish the program. Students have same instructors, i.e. everyone gets to experience REDPEN.
M-TEC: Very good reputation also. New website is very professional. Long list of well-known CMTs and AAMT members on staff. You are assigned an individual instructor. You need to finish in 18 months.
I've been weighing these things in my mind trying to decide. I had a bad experience with MT training before. I was completely dependent on one person for feedback, etc. This was great while it worked, but all of a sudden this person stopped responding to my messages, phone calls, etc. I never want to get in that situation again. I am attracted to M-TEC because I know I could track down some of the people on staff there in other contexts if need be. I realize this is probably paranoia on my part because neither program is likely to disappear like mine did, but... The no time limit that Andrews has might be good if an illness or emergency arose. On the other hand, a deadline could be good because I tend to be perfectionistic and overwork things before handing them in. I'm a little nervous about being assigned one instructor at M-TEC because this puts me in somewhat of the same position I was in before of being dependent on one person. However, I would be able to contact Susan Francis or Kathy Kropko if there was a problem I suppose. Still, I kind of like what seems to be more of a traditional classroom experience with a lot of students under one instructor at Andrews.
Thanks for any comments or suggestions.
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Hard decision
First of all, let me say that you will get a good solid education with either school. That said, here are some further points to consider:
Redpen is no longer teaching trancription; she teaches coding now.
Andrews has been around longer, their teachers are more experienced, both in teaching methods and transcription. For instance, a recently hired teacher for M-Tec has only been a Transcriptionist for less than 5 years.
M-TEC only requires you to have an 86% score on your final exam to graduate; Andrews hold you until you get a score in the high 90s. Of course, you could compensate for this by just not allowing YOURSELF to graduate until you can achieve a high score.
HTH.
It is a tough decision, but
it is one that you will not regret for either of you. Your work will get better and your line count will increase and your child will learn social skills and how to interact with other children. It can be a good thing, to a certain extent, for children to be in that type of setting before they enter Kindergarten. It teaches them social skills and structure and how to interact with others throughout their day. Not that we as parents can't teach them that, but they get it on a much broader scale when they are in a daycare setting. I have talked to teachers who have said they always can tell a huge difference in the children who went to daycare and were introduced to those things from those who stayed at home and weren't.
Need to make a decision soon....
Here's my situation: After months of research, I finally decided that I would like to go to M-TEC. Actually I would LOVE to go there! But I have one problem. I don't have the money for the down payment. As a teenager, I made a mistake of maxing out a couple of credit cards so now my credit is really bad so I cannot get the student loan they offer. Actually I can't get any student loan (that is credit based). So, I can either go through Everett Community College and use financial aid, and then maybe go back in a couple of years and go through the M-Tec Program? (I'm saving a little at a time so I can get my debt paid off) I guess I am just wanting a little advice on what to do or maybe hear from someone who went to Everett, because I don't want to go through this program and end up with no job! My son is already three and my husband and I don't want to wait too long to have another baby so I would really like to stay at home. Thanks a ton! You guys give really good advice on this board and that's why I came here to ask :)
Ok thanks.. I think I've come to a decision...
I'm either going to go to M-Tec or Andrews. I've done more research and I have concluded that these two schools are the best from reading many comments and reviews. Now the problem is deciding which one I should choose. They both seem to be equally good. Any help here?
Goodie for you for making the decision SM
to not use your degrees and stay home with your babies...but in the REAL world most women do not have that option if they want to be able to feed and clothe their children. You really CAN'T live on love. I had to put my oldest son in daycare at 6 weeks old. I hated it, but he certainly couldn't stay home by himself! It had nothing to do with "social skills" or "convenience." It was "necessity." I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my other 2 children (as my paycheck would have just barely covered the cost of 3 kids in daycare, so it wasn't worth it).
You really shouldn't be so judgmental and self-righteous. There are 2 sides to every story...not just YOUR side.
Seriously.
Chickadee
How did you make your school choice decision?
Why did you pick the particular schools that you chose? Did you ask them for help in job placement? What do the employers tell you when you test for them, or do they even allow you to test? I know that several schools' graduates are not having any problems like this at all, and they don't cost $10,000. Not even Andrews costs $10,000.
Thanks all for your input! It helps alot in my decision making! nm
Can I ask how document formation will input your decision? Seems like a sideways way
s
You are trying to do it the hard way.
Contact one of the best schools, work at your own pace with all the tools and help you'll need to learn this craft efficiently. Your way is trying to build a house using toothpicks and cotton balls just because you have part of the framing up. ;oD
Really hard to say - sm
Graduated from MTEC 11 years ago and working at home as an MT ever since. Very burned out right now and actually considering coding, but MTEC does not do coding training. From what I understand anyway, most coders work in house. You need to research both career fields extensively and decide what might suit you best. 
It's hard to find...
someone to even give me a chance. I've been really lucky so far.
Thanks for the advice though.
It is hard enough now for newbies to get a job, but if she
is going to take a program like this she will have a tougher time to find a job with a reputable company. There are 3 good schools M-TEC, Andrews, and Career-Step and there are companies willing to hire newbies provided they have graduated in good standing from one of these schools. Another option would be a local community college who might help with job placement. I worked for a company that used to let the MT student some into the office and do a short rotation to get real hands-on experience.
Some people are just determined they are going to do something and you can't do much about that, but I feel she is throwing away money if she goes this route. I don't have any personal experience with any of the above schools, but they all come highly recommended.
I had a hard time
I had a hard time getting through this course too, I found that I was marked off for things that were not wrong on the previous chapters. So I would argue every grade I got and although most of the time they fixed what they counted wrong they still never gave me a higher grade. I finally got finished with the course and the only job I got was one that has a severe history of not paying their employees. I trusted the school to provide me the jobs for life like I paid for and being new at this I didn't know any better, so I took that job and never got my money and when I contacted the school they said that they had looked up and researched that employer and was very sorry for all my troubles. I have not gotten another job yet and it has been since September. They do not provide doctors to work for like they say, they provide assessment tests and I have tested with hundreds and still had to take a part time job that has nothing to do with transcription work. I strongly urge you to research any job you get from them. I think the grade all depends on the mood of the grader that day, I did great the first half, above the expected grade and then about chapter 10 they were confusing on the grading and it took sometimes 2-3 weeks before they posted a grade and by then I was ready to submit my next test and was again waiting, Very rarely did anyone return my calls and so I e-mailed everyone that I had an e-mail address for with my questions, I figured somebody would answer. haha. It worked. Well good luck to you, but one thing I did find when I was working is that you learn so much more on the job than the school ever teaches you, Good luck to you.
maybe your reports are too hard
I am new too, but I know the answer as well. And I just type office notes right now at my first job going on 4 months. Hmmm.
Hard to fiind MT job for newbies
Why is it so hard for newbies to get employed? You go to school and pay all this money and don't know one want to hire a newby. If someone knows please let me know why.
Its hard to even ask a simple question here...
Roxie, I have to respond to you. I feel as though you are being attacked here and it is just wrong. I look at this board and I have been transcribing about two years. I feel that many transcriptionists here are just rude. I know what you were asking and I can say that I worked with an internship program for three months and that got my foot in the door to work for another national company. The pay was terrible but that was okay. I just wanted to work and learn about the real world of transcription outside of the schooling environment. I am sorry you felt attacked. I hardly ever post because I see how new MT professionals get treated here. It is just a disgrace to our profession. Seasoned Transcriptionist must not remember what it was like to just start out. Give her a break. Please.
Hi Emtee! Yes, it is a very hard test (IMO)sm
I'm the kind of person who usually passes tests with flying colors, yet I just barely passed that test by the skin of my teeth.
They go by the BOS II book...so, if you have the book, make sure everything conforms to the rules in that book. I don't own the book (yet) and just checked the style board to learn of differences between the two books. Off the top of my head, q.4 h. (note the space between 4 and h), cancer classifications (some differences), using Arabic numbers for 1 through 9 instead of spelling them out, etc.
Don't give up! If you are able, buy that book. If not, use all the internet resources (reliable ones) that you can think of.
Good luck to you!
Regards,
Chickadee
HARD GETTING FIRST JOB, NO WONDER INDIA IS AHEAD OF US!!!!!
I finally got my first job for 6 cents a line. I found the job myself. Keep looking around and do not give up. I encountered a lot of road blocks. Everyone basically cares out themselves. Sad to say, but the majority of Americans do not care about teamwork, and helping others. That is why India and other countries are ahead of us MTs and many other professions. TEAMWORK 
Hard work and determination will
to find you a job or help you every minute. No one is promised anything in life. In my day of beginning MT'ing, there were no computers, and there were no boards. So before jumping to conclusions and screaming about India, you need to look at yourself and what tools you have used to become an MT. No one is handed anything in life no matter what profession you are in, but I personally like hearing your input and wish you the best of luck! 
Newbie finding it hard to get first job.
I recently finished an online course in medical transcripts. Now, I am finishing an internship. I am finding it very difficult to find an at home job. Most companies require at least one year of full time experience. If anyone has any suggestions, I would really be appreciative.
Newbie finding it hard to get first job.
Yes. I should be done the first week in April. Will this count on my resume for experience? Maybe I am just impatient. I have tried some online tests, but I do find them very difficult, although I am doing quite well with the internship. Thanks for your advice.
Newbie finding it hard to get first job.
Thanks for telling me that. I think I will stick with the internship and take as many tests as possible. I am getting better at them. I do believe persistence will pay off eventually.
I guess I'm just not willing to work THAT hard
But you are right, if you are IC you have no health care benefits, 401k, etc, so you'd get paid more. Also working for 3 different companies helps. Good luck to you.
I think most of the new grads are having a hard time.
I still haven't found a job myself, and I graduated this May. I would go through your local phone book and start calling all of the transcription companies if you haven't already. Call the hospitals, too. Start applying everywhere. MTdaily has a list of companies and most of the companies have a carreer or job opportunity link on how to apply. I know how frustrating it can be. I am actually considering switching to legal transcription.
Dont' be so hard on youself
I never heard of the top three MT schools until I was well into Meditec. When I graduated I did not even make minimum wage with my first job (but I got a job right away). My first two week paycheck was less than $75 and I put in full time work. I spent a lot of time looking things up and double checking myself. Also, my research techniques and proofreading skills were stumbling blocks for me back then. Improving those two things sped me up tremendously.
I'm doing okay now. So, if I can do it, so can you! You will get much better over time. The more experience you get, the better you will be. You might consider ShortHand or some other expander. That is a help. However, my best friend is the Stedman Plus Medical Dictionary. I love that.
Good luck to you. Hang in there. We all struggle in the beginning.
God Bless.
I went to the school of hard knocks...
... working strictly for doctors' offices for 36 years, when my last boss of nearly 28 years decided to close down his practice. I was hired at one of the nationals, starting on clinical work with the promise to up-train me to acute care (and the promise has been kept). The same day I was hired, a brand-new graduate of Andrews was hired, to work the same accounts, with the same promise. As far as I know, my co-worker (the Andrews graduate) had no trouble finding a job.
For what it's worth.
hard work pays off
I am a stay-at-home mom, and I just finished the Allied program a week ago. I think the job market is bad for all areas. I got into this not only to be able to stay home with the kids, but because I love what I do. I think we have to work hard no matter what it is. It is not looking good anywhere right now. Best of luck. :)
Hard to find MT jobs for newbies
I attended TechSkills. The course was 32 weeks. I have a desire of being a transcriptionist. By me being a firm believer that I can make a career of being a transcriptionist, my positive attend has brought me a long way.
Hard to find MT jobs for newbies
Lisa, unfortunately I expect that you are going to have a hard time getting a job with your current English-language skills. Even from these brief messages that you have posted, it is patently obvious that English is not your first language. In any type of transcribing or editing position fluency in English is one of the first requirements; if you don't have that, you are not likely to succeed.
Hard to find MT jobs for newbies
Ian, Please consider a career in MT. I have been truly rewarded as my career has changed from working outside the home as a surgical technologist to a full time mom. The field is growing by leaps and bounds especially with all of the outsourcing that is going on. this would allow you to work at home if you wish and work at your own pace. You would not regret it. Now as for the school, VLC is an excellent choice, but remember that you get out of it what you put in it. I am a graduate and have been working steady for the past 2 years and am now preparing to take the AAMT certification.
Good luck on your choice.
It's hard to tell because you are leaving out one important item
it says "can work from home after training period."
Is this a place that is local to you? Why don't you try googling the email address and see what comes up.
There are some hospitals that are willing to train people for this job, but I have found that happens in very very tiny hospitals where they may have something like 40 beds or less.
Per your own words, you're having a hard time.
Obviously you weren't trained correctly if you can't understand what the doctor is saying. Regardless, a lousy 36 reports and a piece of paper doesn't mean much. You're going to have to handle the truth one day.
Okay, but most people have a hard time living
in a different state from their family, let alone another country.
You're probably right - I was laughing too hard to see straight.
.
Hard to tell as each company does things differently.
I'm sure they'll ask the basics about your experience, what work type you prefer, hours/lines you can do each day, etc. They may ask you questions to see how well you know your stuff. They should also ask you if you have any questions and they should tell you what they are looking for, what their platform is, how they pay, etc.
Not a hard and fast rule anymore. Strictly up to QA and
s
Penn Foster & PCDI can't help with job placement because it's too hard to find jobs for their
Not being mean, just honest. There's a reason they won't help with placement. They take your money for their course and don't care if you can get a job afterwards or not. And most people can't, because they are not trained well enough by those courses.
It is hard to transcribe radiology notes as compared to usual notes?
Can a new MT without radiology transcription experience be able to do it?
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