Live in Tulsa Oklahoma

Rivers · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 2 Location: oklahoma

Hi I am a male that is 42 years old and have a Associate Degree of Applied Science that I got in 1990. I was laid off from my job on Dec. 15 2008.
I was thinking that as a single man that has a 11 year old son that lives with me that I need to get into something that will take care of us.
I have always wanted to go to RAD school but I always had a good job at the time and now I am hanging on by a thread. I have found about 5 schools in Oklahoma that dose the RAD school OU, OSU, TTC, TCC. and I think one more.
Well the 1st one I went to only starts once a year and that is in June and only takes 20 and there is about 50 that try to get in each year. This is TCC but they say I need College Alg.This was really the 2nd place I went to.
The 1st one was TTC and I meet with a woman and we talked about Rad school and the classes and she showed me around. Now this place goes by a point sys. of 100 points and doing this open house is part of it and I have a 100 points now with them but a lady at the admin. office said she will not take my math from my last school where I got my Assc. Degree at but she would take my physics from this school unless I can get a paper showing what was in my math from this school. Well I called the school and they dont do those class no more and have not done them for a long time and dont really have anything any more on what the math had in it. The lady then told me to go take college Alg and then come back. I have not use that type of Math in about 20 years so I have to start with the lo end of Alg. and work my way up to college.
I started to think if I do this then would I get into RAD school and that is a maybe because they only take 20 per year. I may never get into it and I can not just sit around for someone to say sorry come back next year.
Is there any hope for me or is there something that pays well in the Med. field that dose not have a waiting list. I feel so lost in trying to better my self and to make a better life for my son and I but it seems like all the schools around here are small and do this pick who they want. I do understand it a bit but to me if you dont get in the 1st year you should move to the top the 2nd year.
So is there hope for me or a school out there that anyone knows that is good and if I go to it , will a hospital will look at it as we will take you. Thanks

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry, things must be really tough for you right now.

A list of all accredited radiography programs is available on the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) website here (sorted alphabetically by state) http://arrt.org/index.html?content=http://www.arrt.org/nd/listOfSchools.ndm/listSchools&iframe=yes

Like many other fields, radiography is cyclical. There are currently more qualified radiographers looking for work than there are positions open for them to fill. However, as we Boomers continue to age, there will be more need for healthcare workers than ever before.

Can I tell you that it will be easy for you to find a job when/if you are successful in becoming a radiographer? Nope. I have no idea what will happen in 3-5 years. The economy is worse than it's been in my lifetime and I don't think anyone really knows what's around the corner.

Good luck,

hjh, RT

Rivers · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 2 Location: oklahoma

OK not being in the Med. field or I should say not in any Med. field and wanting to get into it. Taking my age and what school I do have Assco. Degree and not wanting to go another 4 years what field would be good to get into. Around here everything is bad but the med. field may be hurting but in no way hurting as bad as the other fields I have to choose from. If I have to stay in Oklahoma then the best field is Med field so could someone tell me so good fields to get into.
Today a Dream job for me is to get a job to pay the bills and keep my house and make a better life for my son. I am sorry but I dont care if I like it or not its my job to make a better life for my son and dream job days are long gone.

hjhogle · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:51 am Post subject:

I do understand that you'll do whatever you can to provide a living for yourself and your family.

But I can tell you that you will not be successful in medical imaging (or other healthcare careers) if you "dont care if I like it or not ". Frankly, our patients deserve better than that.

Training for professions like imaging are not easy to get through. The coursework is hard, and there are requirements for the number of hours spent practicing in a clinical (hospital/clinic/etc) setting and the work is demanding. There are no easy answers for your dilemma. I know you're looking for a way out - but entering Radiography may require a lot from you.