So, you went through Andrews AND M-TEC after CS?
Posted By: Otherwise, how could you compare?! on 2007-02-06
In Reply to: If you choose Andrews or M-TEC, you won't need a fast track or extra training. - SickOfCS
I'm really curious.
You sound just simply disgruntled over CS and have no real experience comparing the other schools to CS.
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Andrews vs. M-Tec...
Is M-Tec every bit as good as Andrews as far as:
1. Preparing a person to enter the MT field
and
2. Almost guaranteeing a job for a student upon graduation. (Realizing, of course, that this depends on the individual.) But all else equal, does graduating from M-Tec virtually guarantee that many companies will waive the normal 2-year experience requirement and allow a new graduate to test?
Thanks
Not at Andrews
As an Andrews grad, 95% was the minimum required of each assignment of each section before you were permitted to advance to the next section. And, 95% was no guarantee that you wouldn't still be assigned extra work! We were strongly encouraged and motivated to achieve 98% and above as we were told from the beginning of the course that this is the norm in the working world. They(the instructors) were upfront from the beginning that it would take lots of work (read: blood, sweat, and tears)to pass the course at the level expected. The plus side of Andrews is that they don't turn you loose until they are confident you can attain that high goal of accuracy. An 86% would have been absolutely unacceptable.
Both Andrews and M-Tec
are top-notch MT schools. Either one would be an excellent choice not only for MT skills but also for any required improvement in spelling and grammar skills that might be necessary.
Also . . . about Andrews
Have you spoken with Linda Andrews yet? Looking on their website, I see that the payment plan has an option with a lesser down-payment of $1000 with a monthly payment of $117, instead of the $98 it would be with the larger down-payment. There is no interest on that, I see, which would be a considerable benefit to you.
Also of importance is that this covers everything. Their students traditionally do not need to provide anything else for school--not one book, not one bit of software, nothing. And, when they go to work, they already have the references that most employers require.
The first question above asked about whether one school allowed you to retake sections until you got them right. This focuses on "failure mode." The thinking is that "this is so hard, nobody can succeed." It sets up the expectation that it is NORMAL for students to fail at transcription.
Students should not fail at transcription. The concept of having some students do well, others ok, and some fail is a concept dragged over from traditional education. Private MT schools are not public junior colleges. They do not need to follow that model.
Frankly, if I were thinking of putting down a fat down-payment on a course and the school thought that it was acceptable to have any students fail, I'd be a little worried. And I certainly wouldn't expect that I'd be the exception who did well, because a school which has students failing, or not doing well enough to be employable, seems to stack the deck against you.
It would seem better to me to simply select a school in which the students do not fail, instead achieving a high level of skill across the board.
Select a school where you KNOW your money won't be wasted, where the risk is almost nil. Select a school where students do not flounder around unassisted, failing and re-failing. Select a school where they achieve and are routinely offered new, extra material to improve their already high levels of achievement.
Medical transcription training does not need to be difficult, nor does it need to culminate in unemployability.
The best are M-TEC and Andrews
M-TEC has an abbreviated course for previous medical professionals. I don't know if Andrews does.
Andrews
I'm mentoring an MT right now who went to Andrews and she seems very knowledgeable.
Andrews
I graduated from Andrews in December of 2004. I was hired immediately after graduation and have been with the same company since. I work for a smaller MTSO, and she has been very happy with how well Andrews prepared me.
M-Tec or Andrews (sm)
M-Tec and Andrews are the only two schools that are approved by the AAMT right now. I am sure there are other good schools too, but these two have been around for awhile and are proven to produce job-ready MTs upon graduation.
www.mtecinc.com
www.andrewsschool.com
www.aamt.org
M-Tec vs. Andrews
I think I am going to end up going with either M-Tec or Andrews. Please help me decide! All opinions, comments, pros and cons of each are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
M-TEC, Inc. or Andrews are the very best...
Companies waive the 2-year experience requirement for their grads. Pick one of the very best. Your future success as an MT depends on it. 
Andrews is the very best, IMO.
Look at Andrews or M-Tec
Andrews or M-Tec are simply the best programs out there.
Andrews or M-TEC are best. nm
nm
I think Andrews is the best, but everyone has their
M-TEC or Andrews
Truly, if you want to be prepared to work at home immediately upon graduation, M-Tec or Andrews is the only way to go. These 2 schools are worth every penny you will spend. Their education is top notch. I am a graduate of M-TEC but know several Andrews graduates. Please...don't skimp on your education. Speak with the directors at both M-TEC and Andrews before making a decision.
If you took M-TEC or Andrews there are
companies that will hire you without the experience, otherwise you'll have a very tough time getting an at-home job. I suggest you look for an in-house position locally and get your experience.
M-TEC or Andrews
It shouldn't even be a question anymore...
Ignore the rah-rah Career Step down there (unless you don't care whether you get a job or not).
The 2 best are M-Tec and Andrews. This
same question has been asked many times, so spend some time looking through past posts. Also read the posts about how difficult it is to get a job if you don't take one of the better courses, how low the pay is, etc.
Andrews vs. M-TEC
Hi! I'm not proud of my newbie question, but here goes. :)
I've been reading forums and researching medical transcription for about a year now. I understand Andrews and M-Tec are regarded as the best schools. I worry my reasons are partially superficial, but I feel drawn to M-TEC in particular.
I recently took their skills assessment and scored 100%. I've been seconds from enrolling a couple of times. My only concern is a general vibe that Andrews is #1. Is there a known reason for this vibe? Will my job prospects as an M-TEC grad closely mirror those of a comparable Andrews grad? Superficialities aside, my primary concern is marketability post-graduation.
Thanks in advance!
M-TEC or Andrews
Why don't you call both schools and see for yourself which one you like better?
Not Andrews or M-Tec
Thank you for the encouragement in not giving up.
The person that said she got a job so quickly said she attended Everett Community College.
My husband has suggested I write a letter to AHP, but I think anything I have to say will fall on deaf ears, and that will only make me more upset. The only thing I can say in their defense is that it seems to me that even Andrews and M-Tec make it sound like a getting a job is a piece of cake after you complete school. According to what I've seen on mtstars, it's not that easy. Granted, it's easier if you have gone to one of those schools but still not as easy as they ALL make it sound. While I attended AHP, I felt like I was learning a lot and getting a decent education, but then again, I don't have anything to compare it to. I do know that my education is not getting me anywhere now.
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.
Yes, you can't go wrong with either M-TEC or Andrews.
x
Is Andrews a notch above? (SM)
It appears that if one wants to pursue an MT education, that it's either Andrews or M-Tec. I know there isn't a whole lot separating these 2 schools--the money difference is irrelevant to me--but something in the back of my mind tells me that Andrews offers just a little more. I have absolutely no concrete reason to think this, it just kind of seems that if you want the VERY best, it's Andrews; if you want REALLY GOOD, but not quite Andrews, then you go with M-Tec. Is this a faulty perception? Don't Andrews students actually transcribe more total hours than do M-Tec students?
If a person got their education at M-Tec, would they have the exact same advantage that Andrews graduates have as far as being positioned to get an opportunity to test for an at-home MT position?
Thanks.
Still Deciding: M-Tec v. Andrews
Thanks to everyone who replied below. I learned a lot. I'm seriously concerned about M-Tec & the 86% to graduate thing. I'm also worried because I feel like I may have uncovered a bit of deception on M-Tec's part. Their financial overview section states that they offer an interest-free payment plan option. However, when I calculate the cost of the payment plan described in the payment plan section, it costs $150 more to use the payment plan. Isn't that pretty much the same thing as interest?
You might be thinking well why doesn't this person just choose Andrews, but I also have concerns about Andrews. For one thing, their website hasn't changed in years, and it is not very user friendly. For another thing, they have a private board. In my previous MT training experience, when the students started complaining about how badly the program was going, our board was made private, so I am a little leery of any sort of secrecy. Another thing is I'm worried about fitting in with the Andrews culture. It is hard to explain, but there are things like the Irish pub that I realize are just to blow off steam and have fun, but I am a very serious person, and I'm not sure I could fit in. Especially since I already had a bad experience with MT training, I just want to get the work done with no extra nonsense.
If anyone has more insight or information, please help!
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.
Check out Andrews and M-TEC if you want the best-nm
nm
The most "expensive" are M-TEC and Andrews
I didn't graduate either of these schools. I made 8 cpl within the first six months, and now at around two years, I make 16 cpl.
No, they are not necessarily the best schools. It depends on the individual and their needs.
They are the most "mentioned and expensive" in these circles, but I know of much better on the horizon!
Andrews is self-paced, but . . . (sm)
This is something you should ask the director of any school you consider attending. Check not only whether it is self-paced, but whether there are time limits and what happens if you exceed the time limit. Is there an additional fee? Do you have to pay all over again? Do you just fail?
Andrews is self-paced, but there is the expectation that the course can and should be completed in a certain time-frame. Linda Andrews can give you the details on the requirements. Just phone her.
It wouldn't do you much good if you worked on it only sporadically.
The key to completing a self-paced course lies in setting up a certain time every day for study. If you wait until you "find time," nothing will happen, but even 30 minutes daily will enable you to make progress. Even studying 20 minutes three times a week while in a hot bath will add an hour to your study time. Thirty minutes every morning will add 3-1/2 hours. Reviewing material on note cards while you walk on a treadmill or bicycle at the gym will add perhaps another 1-1/2 hours.
That's already 6 hours a week--if you focus and make the most of your study time, you can do a lot in 6 hours.
And that's not counting the time you have standing in line at the grocery or sitting waiting for the kids at dancing lessons or ball games. Andrews' materials are not tied to the internet, so you can tote them around easily and, other than the actual transcription, study away from the computer.
There is time available, but you have to identify it in advance, plan what you will study and prepare materials for it, and make an appointment with yourself for this just as if it were another job.
If something is worth doing for the benefit of your yourself and your family, then it's worth rearranging your and your family's schedule a bit to accommodate it. Perhaps you could study with the kids while they do their homework, making it a family activity.
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 isn't accredited.
I'm looking into online MT courses, too, and thought Andrews looked promising. When I wrote for information, they were vague. It sent up a red flag when they said they "greatly appreciate" it when you pay for the tuition in full as opposed to making payments. I also felt uneasy about the contact person being Ms. Andrews. I felt like this was a woman's new business and not a true educational institution.
Just my two cents.
Andrews is one of the most respected
MT training schools. Linda Andrews is well known in the MT world and greatly respected and admired. Her school, along with M-Tec, has received AAMT approval for it's MT program. Andrews graduates are in demand by the major MT employers. You might want to do some more research before making defamatory statements.
And no, I have no association with Linda Andrews or her school except that I have hired three of her graduates at various times and have found them to be extremely well prepared for MT work. Because of the good experiences I have had with Andrew graduates, I would have no hesitation in hiring any other successful Andrews student.
Just my two cents. Do some more checking.
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.
MTEC or Andrews, or....???
Hi everyone-
I have taken a class in MT at my community college and am getting ready to invest in an entire course to have MT as my career. The AAMT only approves MTEC and Andrews. Which of these is more highly recommended and why. The differences I seemed to notice were that MTEC included the footpedal and Andrews made no mention of it. On the other hand, Andrews said they teach the word expanders, etc... to help with quantity while MTEC made no mention of this. Do any of you have any other recommendations rather than these 2 courses? If I'm about to invest $4,000 I want to make sure it is in the program that will prepare me the best and make me the most marketable and ready for employment. Any suggestions would be very, very welcome :) Thank you very much for your time!
Amanda
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 References
For the BMT (beginning medical transcription, or Module I) part of their course, Andrews provides AAMT's Book of Style, Medical Phrase Index, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, Turley's Medical Language (terminology), Medical Abbreviations: 26,000, the SUM BMT CD, a foot pedal, and a very comprehensive Step-by-Step training guide. As you progress though the course, additional disks and reference materials are provided.
I am a current student at Andrews and find the course to be exceptional. I am a former technical training instructor and course writer, and the quality of instruction was my primary consideration in my choice of schools.
Why I chose Andrews.
I am a current student at Andrews. They have an exceptional course.
I chose Andrews because of their quality, their reputation, and the ability of their graduates to obtain employment. Having "Andrews graduate" on your resume opens doors that might otherwise be closed.
I am a former technical training instructor and course writer. Quality of training was my only consideration when choosing a school. I simply wanted the best education available for my money.
You won't be disappointed with Andrews!
I made a career change. I use to be a technical training instructor (lasers, scanners, etc.), and I use to write courses for a living. I retired from that field and wanted something else that I could do that I could handle with my physical handicap.
I chose Andrews because of its curriculum. Yes, M-Tec has a pretty good thing going and it's a superior choice to CS.
But, I chose Andrews because I wanted the best for my money. I didn't care for some of the philosophies of the other school. I want to learn transcription--I didn't want to learn OneNote or other unnecessary software applications.
I have not regretted my choice in selecting Andrews. The curriculum is sound, high-quality, and their grads are getting hired just as much as (if not more) than any other school.
You won't go wrong with either school. However, I did choose the best--and that's the name I wanted on my resume.
Good luck with your studies!
Andrews/MTEC
You cannot go wrong enrolling in either school. Toss a coin; both will give you an excellent education. Let it be your decision.
Lilly
I am a student at Andrews.
I will be graduating shortly. My experience so far has been AWESOME. I can't tell you how well prepared you will be at the end of the course. I too am a CNA and was thinking about furthering my career in healthcare. BUT now I have two beautiful children and wanted to do something that would keep me closer to home. The only warning that I would give you is about the daycare thing. Even just studying, I can see how mentally demanding this job is going to be. I am going to enroll my youngest in a local pre-k (just down the street) for a few hours a day just because. I know there are many people that do wonderful jobs all while taking care of their children who are with them during the day, but I sincerely believe that just starting out you need to have a few hours of uninterrupted work time. I love the ads that have children sitting quietly beside their mother and the mother is smiling and "transcibing." Yeah, right! That being said, I love Andrews. We have a wonderful, supportive, private board and many grads hang out there and share all of their experiences. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong with either school. Hope this helps.
Another Andrews grad
I graduated from Andrews a few months ago. I cannot speak with any authority on the experiences of other schools' graduates, but I can tell you that doors were opened for me just based on my Andrews graduation. I heard comments from recruiters that were very complimentary and tested at companies who, according to them, do not consider newbies unless they are Andrews grads.
I found it to be a very comprehensive learning experience, and I felt very prepared to begin working on my very first night as an MT. I also got the job I wanted, instead of the job I settled for.
You need experience UNLESS you go to Andrews or M-TEC.
I agree with the other posters, except that MT Advantage is known as "M-Tacky" and has a poor reputation in the industry.
Most places will waive the 2-years' experience requirement if you graduate from Andrews or M-TEC. If I were you I wouldn't even consider any other training program for MT.
You got a job, but still have less of an education than if at M-TEC or Andrews.
I know because I also graduated from CS. I have seen the materials that M-Tec and Andrews use for teaching, a lot different (and better) than the homemade books written by Andrea Anaya from CS. No "automatic grader/comparter" either
If you don't go to M-Tec or Andrews your chances of
getting a legitimate job is slim, but not impossible. There are dozens of companies/schools out there who don't have decent programs and if you take one of their courses you've basically thrown your money away. If you go to ADHI (used to be AAMT) website they have a list of accredited schools, though taking their courses other than the above may/may not get you past the 2 years of experience.
Companies don't require an externship, but do the 2 years mostly, pretty much the same thing.
A lot of people take the crappy courses because they can't afford the tuition at one of the above, but they can't get a job, so need to do another school or a menitoring program, so they end up spending more, going a longer time with little to no income, etc. Unfortunately a lot of newbies come here only after they have tried for months to get a job, instead of coming here before choosing a school.
Andrews is $3800 (nm)
nm
Clarification-not the same as Andrews
Just to clarify, "the curriculum" is not the same as Andrews.
Andrews does not use only the beginning HPI SUM set, nor is the SUM set all they use. The program includes advanced and specialty dictation, other specialized dictation training, and education in the basic medical sciences, all of which is facilitated by intensive, individualized instructor attention. They use no online interactive teaching materials.
In other words, a program which used only the beginning SUM tapes would comprise a little less than half the Andrews program.
Links to Andrews
Hi, Cranberry! You know, I think there is something wrong with those links. They should go to Andrews, not another school. And, no, we're not the same company.
I've checked links from some other schools and found that they go where they're supposed to, so it looks like something slipped up somewhere! Mistakes do happen! We've asked the board moderators to fix this. I'm sure they will.
Meanwhile, all you need to do to visit Andrews is enter their URL directly into your web browser. It's www.andrewsschool.com. Just type that in where it says "address" in Internet Explorer or whatever you use. Don't click any links . . . just open up another browser window and type it in yourself.
Although I'm sure nothing harmful was intended, this is still a good lesson for us! Computer security is an important topic today. MTs need to know how to protect themselves and their employers from security risks. It goes right along with with confidentiality and protecting patient privacy!
It is possible to click on a link and NOT go to where the link should have gone. You often see this in email "phishing" scams in which you'll be told you need to update your account information, but it turns out to be a fake website which just collects your account number and password so criminals can rip you off. It can also occur when you click a link on the internet which diverts you to a fake website.
Large employers are often the subject of attacks like this. Recently, employees of one company all received emails telling them they needed to update their retirement account information. When they clicked the link in the email, it took them to a look-alike, fake website that asked their name and Social Security number! Fortunately, the employees were suspicious and reported it immediately to their computer security officials, who stopped the attack.
You did the right thing in mentioning this problem! Telling someone about it is one of the first things you should do if you suspect there is a problem like this. As a working MT, you would immediately notify your employer if this happened.
Other ways to protect yourself, and your employer and your client's patients, are to use only reliable websites when you are doing your MT research at work. Keep it business-like and use reputable medical sites. If your employer asks you not to visit websites using their computer, respect that wish--they have a reason for it. Use your own computer instead.
This is probably more than you wanted to know, but it's important. Sorry to have gone on so long! Please feel free to visit us at our website.
Redpen
Andrews School
Did you talk to Andrews about that?
I don't think anybody ever said that jobs would be held waiting for Andrews grads. Employers aren't going to hunt you down and beg you to work for them.
There are a number of employers who waive experience requirements for Andrews and MTec grads. They are willing to consider them, which is a BIG benefit, if you ask me.
It's not ALL employers, either. It's just certain ones. A pretty big list, though. Did you use that list? And apply to all of them?
If you did, then you might want to talk to Linda about it. You might be projecting an image that employers are taking the wrong way or something. The employment assistance, from graduation on forever, is included in the tuition so you might as well use it. They can't help you if you don't tell them you're having a problem.
Andrews School or M-TEC are the two best. NM
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