Something you might not have considered
Posted By: sm on 2008-12-27
In Reply to: I would do it. - MissaMT
Don't feel like I'm criticizing your choices, because I'm not. We make choices based on the information we have and we do the best we can. My intention here is to show you a possible option and show future MT students something they need to consider when making their decision.
You graduated and have been unable to find work for 6 months, and you're now willing to work for 3 cpl. Someone who responded to you worked for a year at low wages, as well, and is still only getting 5 cpl. She feels everyone has to "pay their dues."
However, students from two MT schools typically get offered a job with a national within days or weeks of graduating, usually at 7 or 8 cents a line for straight transcription. As soon as they get up to speed in a few months, they're able to begin earning the expected income. They typically get those jobs without internships.
If you estimate that income at only $20,000 a year, those 6 months of not being able to find a job cost you $10,000 in lost income.
The other respondent also lost about $10,000 in that first year at half-pay.
When you choose a school, you have to add the cost of not-getting a job or being able to find only a low-paying job. You have to add the cost of doing low-pay or unpaid internships.
You've already chosen your school and completed it, but the school's reputation wasn't enough for you to get a job. Let's focus on filling up the glass instead of watching it leak. What can you do now to help yourself?
You're thinking you can take a job at half-pay to pay your dues and get the experience. You're willing to spend another $10,000 or even more to pay those dues in a half-pay job for a year. You may still need 2 years of experience before anyone will hire you, so that may end up being $20,000 in lost income.
In other words, to get the job you want, you're going to have to spend another year and $10,000 or even 2 years and $20,000. At that point, you might still be unable to pass an employment test with a national.
One option you have is to enroll in M-Tec or Andrews. The most it will cost is $3800 for Andrews. M-TEC costs less.
Before you say you can't afford the money or the time, stop and think. You've already been out of work for 6 months. You have no job prospects in sight.
Once you get a job, if you can, you will probably be working for half-pay. At that rate, you will lose $10,000 a year for one or two years. You're looking at another year and $10K lost, or two more years and $20K lost.
You could avoid that. It's likely that you can get through either M-TEC or Andrews in less than a year, since you've already completed a school. When you finished, you would have a nearly guaranteed job at a regular rate of pay.
You may not have considered that as an option. Now you can.
For prospective students, file this away as something to consider. You can take a lower-cost school, but you'll pay for it later, and you'll pay far more for it than you would have paid for a better school.
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I went to CareerStep, considered one of the top three
.
Yes, same with me, a word is/was considered - sm
5 characters, so 13 x 5 = 65; I would of course confirm this with the prospective employer though before agreeing to anything. If it 65 then that is the norm and acceptable; unless they are offering dirt for pay.
I think their ad said that anything under 40 hrs was considered part time. And several of us have
b
M-Tec and Andrews are considered the best and easier
to get a job as a newbie if you have graduated from one of them. If she is disabled she is limited in her income and putting out the $$ it would take for a good school versus what the pay is now wouldn't be worth the effort to me.
Local colleges and community colleges may also have on-line programs. Avoid any of those tech schools that advertise in magazines, on matchbooks, and on TV.
What is considered acute care?
I know it is definately a newbie question, but what exactly is considered acute care versus clinical? Can you give me some examples? Thanks!!!
YES. Career Step is considered one of the "big three"
M-Tec and Andrews are also in there. Any school that advertises on matchbook covers or has mostly other nonmedical related courses is NOT good.
The VLC is most definitely NOT one of the best schools out there. Some people are just promoting it to suit their own purposes. Read the archives of the board. Nothing good about them. Has anyone actually met one of their grads who has gotten a job at home right out of school? Don't forget about their digital photography and basket weaving courses. I guess those are fallback careers for their MT grads?
Since when is asking for an answer on a test considered using a resource?
It's cheating, plain and simple. Are you the same Jenn who is having trouble with the Princeton test? If so, no wonder you disagree with what "resources" are.
Ashley, have you considered getting accounts directly with a doctor's office?
I have been very successful as an independent contractor. You should really consider it.
Acute care is considered hospital transcription - discharges, history/physicals, consults, and op
s
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