Need advice from current or former Andrews School students
Posted By: Dazey on 2008-04-05
In Reply to:
Hello,
My daughter wants to go to school to become an MT and wants me to recommend the best school. I've been an MT for 10 years and went to a community college, but she needs an online school. I have heard on this board that Andrews is one of the best schools.
Could anyone who has experience with this school tell me about their experience, whether the school is work-at-your-own pace, and just their general likes/dislikes about the school, and most of all--do you feel it prepared you well to begin your career (for those who have graduated and started working). I would appreciate any info so much!
Thanks so much!!! 
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CAI School - Any Current Students/Recent Graduates?
Hi Everyone: Have any of you ever heard of the CAI School of Medical Transcription? Any current students or graduates out there? I've been checking out their website and they seem to have a terrific program. I've searched the archives and the last posting on this school was from 2006. It got rave reviews then, just checking on the school now. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! FYI, the website address is http://www.caihometype.com
Current and former students from all schools and programs -
I would prefer to discuss via email as I don't want input from those who have not attended any of the MT educational programs and I don't want to incite arguments, etc.
I just need some answers and insight on your experience, etc. I have some questions I can send to you and would truly appreciate your input.
Thx
Andrews teaches Canadian students.
Same goes for Andrews -- you can train with them from Canada and they have a number of Canadian students.
The suggestion to call the directors and talk to them is a good one. The schools teach much the same material and achieve the same ends.
Andrews does have an entrance exam, so be sure to take that first. Some find the decision much easier after that . . . :)
A really good school won't need to have "specials" to reel in students.
Sometimes they even have a waiting list, despite being more expensive. It's because they are so much better. You get what you pay for. Check out all the desperate posts on this and other MT boards of people who saved money by choosing cheaper courses and now can't get a job.
MT with VLC school debate, need advice
I've been working for almost two years and do not seem to be able to test high enough with companies for a better MT job than I have now (same low-pay newbie job I started with). I seem to do well on terminology and grammar and only about 85% on transcription. To try to help myself, I have been thinking about taking VLC's MT Refresher course or maybe taking the plunge for their Expert course and just going over everything all over again from the start. Does anyone have any thoughts here about which they think would yield the best benefit? I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you in advance.
The best advice is to start with the job leads your school gives you.
They will know who is willing to hire and train their graduates.
Andrews School
provides about the best MT training available. Even their training, however, is NOT equivalent to two years' experience. That is simply not a reasonable assumption. However, should you do the smart thing and select Andrews for your MT training and complete it successfully, you will come out FAR ahead of someone who chose one of the cheaper or less reputable MT schools. The reason companies waive the two-year experience requirement for Andrews graduates is not because they actually have two years of experience, it is because they know that they are getting a well-trainined newby who will require a minimum of handholding and someone who has been trained to deal with the realities of being an MT. You should have no qualms whatsoever about choosing Andrews. M-Tec is an equally good school that would offer you the same chance of early success. Many Career Step students have also found their transition to work to be relatively painless.
Andrews School
I am a current student at Andrews and I can tell you that there is a reason why this school is highly recommended, it is a great course. The boards are private because the students want it that way. There are not any students complaining about the program, because there is nothing to complain about. It is an exceptional program. The Andrews culture is very diverse. It is a positive, supportive, and extremely kind group of people. The program is well structured. The instructors are very professional. You are only required to participate in the instructional forums. If you do not wish to participate in the social forums you are not required to. If you are looking for a program with no extra nonsense this is it. I urge you to contact Linda Andrews, she is very easy to talk to and will answer your questions completely and honestly. I love attending the Andrews school and I am confident it is the best MT education available.
Andrews School
Before I enroll I want to hear from people who have actually received employment from this school. I went to PCDI and actually worked for a year but I cannot get employment at all. I have been looking local and on the net. I liked the job I had but the work ran out and no one else will hire me. If anyone has anything good or bad I would like to hear it.
Andrews School
I am a student at Andrews, and I would be offended by your comments if I didn't know better. Have you ever called Linda? If you had you would not feel uneasy about her being the contact person. She is a lovely person, very easy to talk to, and she will answer any questions you have. You have choices with your payment plan. She never asked me to pay upfront, and Andrews doesn't charge interest on your student loan. Linda is a very involved with the students. She follows every student's progress. I think the only reason you would feel uneasy about Linda Andrews or Andrews School is because you haven't talked to her. In my opinion, Andrews is indeed promising, to say the least.
Andrews School
I have been a student at Andrews for 7 months. During that time, several people have graduated and have found employment within weeks of graduating. Some of those people were off QA in 4-5 weeks. I have never come across anyone that has anything negative to say about his or her experience with this school.
The Andrews School
There is a thread below discussing schools and employers and why they may test and hire new graduates. I can give a definitive answer for our school.
The Andrews School does not receive monies from any employer for any reason. They test and often hire our graduates because they want to test and hire them. I don't have any hiring arrangements with any employer. I hope that helps a little with the discussion. I don't keep track of what other schools do. They will have to answer for themselves.
M-Tec vs Andrews School
I am getting ready to start classes for MT and i've been trying to do as much research as possible. I think i've narrowed the schools down to M-Tec or Andrews but I would love everyones opinion on which school would give me a better education.
Thanks!
Andrews School or M-TEC are the two best. NM
x
Question about Andrews School...
Hello.
I am considering becoming an MT. If I do decide to attempt to enter into this profession, I have decided that I want to attend Andrews for my MT training. I have read numerous people say that once you have finished with Andrews, if you really apply yourself, you will have the equivalent of 2 years actual working experience. Personally, this seems unrealistic. Would anyone here say that it’s true that if you do well at Andrews that you will be at a similar level with an MT who has 2 years experience? I have read that it is quite typical to have the 2- year-experience-requirement waived if you have completed your training at Andrews, but beyond that, is it at all realistic to think that a newly-hired Andrews graduate will be able to hit the ground running, and be very confident in his/her abilities.
I realize that this is somewhat of a strange question because everyone’s different, and not every Andrews graduate is going to be at the same level after their training, but I’m talking in general terms.
It would really be quite the motivator knowing that, although the studying and practicing will be tough, I’m going to be able to rock-n-roll when I get through, and there will be less of a learning curve upon being hired.
I do realize that, regardless of where you get your training that the “real world” always presents different challenges than what you prepared for in school.
I have all of the tuition money saved and I’m ready to get started, however, before I spend the money, I really want to cover all my bases.
Thanks so much for any advice that you can offer. 
Is the Andrews School accredited sm
so I can get a student loan to attend? The guy at the bank asked this question and I am not sure even after going to their website. Thanks for any info.
It depends on the school you went to. If you went to Andrews or
M-Tec you stand a good chance of getting a job. If you took one of the cheaper courses like At Home Professions your chances aren't very good at getting an at-home position, but you might get a position in a local clinic or a hospital. Does your school not offer job placement?
Post your resume on the various job boards.
Frankly you would have been better staying with coding as there seems to be a pretty good demand for that and you'll make more money with coding.
They are not a good school; try Andrews or M-TEC
x
Andrews School and M-TEC are the absolute best schools.
Career Step is a distant third. Any other are not worth the money and nobody will waive the 2-year's experience for any schools but those.
Try asking the school directly. Both Andrews & M-TEC have some sort of assistance programs, not sure
x
Best way to start working immediately after grad is Andrews School or M-TEC online. nm
x
There is current, you just need to know how
to search. Haven't heard anything good about them.
current company
So, if you were offered a job and not going to take it, mind sharing what company it is? I'm looking for work. I'll take what I can get!
I'm a current student
And now I'm worried after reading some of these responses. I only chose this program because it had a better price then some other ones out there (about $400 for a certificate program versus $2300 for another one that came with a "free" laptop). Unfortunately, money is tight for me so I had to factor that into my decision. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to find work with my "education" from them...
Are you at the current doc's office all day long? sm
I was thinking that if he wants you to transcribe from his office, could you get that done in a couple of hours, and then go home to work from there? I started my "home work" with one doc. She raved about me so much that all her doc friends called me to get me to work for them. Sit down with your doc and feel him out. He could be a real help to you! Good luck!
It would be nice if there were current info
in the archives. I just joined them. I've asked on this forum myself about SGS and got no better answer. For the most part thus far, they seem basically okay, though not so quick to respond to questions/concerns.
Current MTEC Student
Robyn,
I'm a current MTEC student hopefully getting ready to graduate in 2 months and I would 100% recommend the school. You made a great choice. It is intense, but by the end you will be a wonderful transcriptionist. They do train well. Good luck in your studies.
Their current ad on the other board says they're hiring
s
students unite
Anyone else out there taking the At-home professions medical transcriptionist course? As you can see many transciptionists have a network of other transcriptionists to ask questions. If anyone is interested in having a sounding board and being a sounding board I would be glad to buddy up. I am in the 5th course 42 lesson and I am finding some of the verbage difficult to understand due to the foreign accents and various other crap on the dictation and I speak spanish and understand it as well, So I am used to listening for this type of thing. Maybe I am just crazy but if your are looking for help I have a 98% in the course. IM me or email me - if we are all set up on IM we can have pretty much immediate answers if we know them- otherwise it is back to the message boards.
Support for AHP students and graduates
I would like to get any support or encouragement from other people who have either completed the AHP course or are currently taking it. I have read so many negative comments in here about the program. I am about 3/4 through the MT course and am now getting a little worried. Please share your stories and job searches to give the rest of us some hope. If all you have is negative comments, please keep them to yourself. This is meant to be a support group. Thanks!
Sometimes hire students before they graduate. nm
x
calling all M-Tec students/grads...
How many hours a week did it take any of you to complete the Tier 1-Premier program in 12 months or LESS? Is it possible to still work 30 hrs/wk and do this?
New Grads and students beware
DO NOT WORK FOR TOTH TRANSCRIPTION. They will not pay you, and they prey on new grads. There have been MANY people come forward claiming the same thing. They are a complete scam. Take my warning, do not work for them.
oops!...can't take on anymore students/trainees ...nm
.
Unfortunately, the schools who hold "seminars" are the ones who rip off students. sm
It will be very difficult (but not impossible) to find a job with an "education" from those shysters. You will definitely be able to get a job after completing the program from Andrews or M-TEC, the money is worth it. Many companies waive the 2-year experience requirement and will let you take their employment test (which you should have no trouble passing) if you attend Andrews or M-TEC. Sorry you got suckered, but you're certainly not the first! (and unfortunately won't be the last)
HHELP! Any MAC computer students/MTs out there studying? or working?
there?? I was strongly leaning towards M-Tec for schooling, and just read you can't use a MAC computer while studying there. I can't afford to switch over to a PC right now.
Has anyone found that using a MAC handicapped them?
Please advise! TIA! -Anne
Career Step students PAY to train for Spheris
"Beginning in 2005, a select group of Career Step students will be offered the opportunity to participate in the exclusive Spheris Training Track. The Spheris Training Track has been designed around Career Step’s proprietary medical transcription training program. Portions of the training program have been tailored to meet the specific training and hiring requirements of Spheris." So goody. YOU pay Career Step for your Spheris training.
The solution then would be for potential students to contact the employers
If someone wants to work at home for a national company, contact them. If you want to work on site for a local hospital, contact them.
My bet is that the national services and some of the other large services will prefer certain schools and will not test others. I'll also bet that the local hospitals will have never heard of any medical transcription school and will prefer the school down the street. Of course they may not hire new graduates, so once that person graduates from the school down the street, they may have to go to work for a private physician's office for a couple of years. Do you disagree with that?
Spheris used to hire Career Step students nm
nm
Doesn't land her a check when she sends potentia students away
Private schools have the luxury of not having to enroll people when they know they can't do the work. Public schools do. Private school managers, owners, or directors can be honest with you and tell if you if they don't think you can type or spell well enough and would be wasting their time and your money.
Agree with an outside school, but I went to a business & tech school. Great experience, better
s
You CAN get a job at home, right out of school, but it has to be a GOOD school.
You should enroll in Andrews School or M-TEC. I know you don't want to spend more money, but at least you WILL be able to get a job. If you thought At Home Professions was a good course, you will be totally amazed at what you DIDN'T learn in that course that you WILL learn at the two good schools. There is no "required" curriculum for MT, anybody can open up a school, charge what they want, and teach what they want. Companies will waive the 2-years' experience requirement for graduates of Andrews School and M-TEC, but NOT for the other schools.
Would really appreciate advice
Advice
The employer DOES know how well you'll do. At least, he thinks he does. He knows that you have the same training that other failed new-hires had--all the new MTs from that school who didn't work out and wasted his money.
You can do well in your course, but if your course did not teach what you truly needed to know, you've learned little. Your opinion about the quality of the education isn't important at all--you have no basis to know if it's good or not.
You hope it is, but employers are telling you that it is not.
It's unfortunate that you spent your time and money on a bad choice, but that was your choice. At this point, the best thing you can do is try to salvage what you can from it.
Yes, someone might be surprised, but complaining about the injustice you have received as a result of your decision isn't going to inspire anyone to want to give you that chance.
It would be better for you to improve your capabilities and apply again. The employers are telling you that you are not ready to work.
Another choice would be for you to write up what your course did cover, in detail, with a comparison to other schools' coursework. Present that to the employer and ask if they will test you.
You'll have to present yourself very professionally for this to work. You have a number of language, grammar, and punctuation errors in your posts, so you would do well to pay close attention to that. You don't want that to alienate an employer. That may, in fact, already be what has alienated them.
I need advice!
Greetings;
I am a new MT attempting to start my own service as an independent contractor. My issue is this, my husband deployed for Iraq yesterday, he will be gone for 8 months. I will be returning to my home town for this time period. Can/Should I start my own service in that area, or should I try to obtain work with a service until I return to my current home? How does one handle a situation like this when moving is enevitable. What do you think? What would you do?
I need advice!
Greetings;
I am a new MT attempting to start my own service as an independent contractor. My issue is this, my husband deployed for Iraq yesterday, he will be gone for 8 months. I will be returning to my home town for this time period. Can/Should I start my own service in that area, or should I try to obtain work with a service until I return to my current home? How does one handle a situation like this when moving is enevitable. What do you think? What would you do?
Need advice
I need some advice. I have a 5 yr old and a 3 month old. I going through a mentoring program right now and I am also close to completing school and get my certificate in med transcription. My situation is that I take care of the kids during the day (5 yr old pretty much entertains herself but of course the baby doesn't) and I'm exhausted to the point that if I try to stay up until midnight or beyond transcribing I'm grouchy in the morning from lack of sleep. My boyfriend isn't much help. Please, I'm not looking for advice dealing with him but advice on how to juggle the kids, mentoring, and schooling. I appreciate it.
Need advice
The school I am going through provided cassette tapes to transcribe the homework reports from. I do not have a transcriber and don't feel like purchasing one since I will more than likely never use it again and I only have 7 chapters left to do. Does anyone know how I can record them onto my computer? My sound recorder only records 60 sec at a time unless I want to pay for more and I'd rather not if I don't have to. I figure if they are on my computer than I can use express scribe to type them up.
Advice...
 Sell your self. So you don't have experience but you have knowledge of the field. Check the offers on the job board. That is how I found the 2 MTSOs I work for. I've only been in this field for a month! When you email your resume to them type a little blurb that shows how eager you are. Worked for me.
Advice
I am currently in the office from 3 to 5 days a week, depending on the amount of work. I am unable to work from home with his current system. I also think he likes having me there to help with other duties like receptionist work, billing, etc.
bad advice
I am upset by you telling this potential MT that she should look elsewhere. Leave that to her to decide.
I am also a new MT and used to really enjoy this board and its wonderful advice and information, but because of such negativity, I have been getting on less and less. This, of course, does not apply to everybody. If this is true that in 5 years, we are all going be jobless, then why aren't all MTs going back to school now? Why wait for the inevitable?
If I want depressing information, I'll watch the nightly news. In the meantime, I am going to relish in the fact that I am able to earn a living and be there for my children when needed. If this completely dies out in a few years, so be it. I'll deal with it then.
As for which school to attend, they all seem very credible and well-accepted. I would go to whichever one seems to appeal more to your liking.
Good Luck and welcome to our world!
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