Diagnostic Medical Sonography News April 2020 | Page 5

Miscellaneous:
A Survival Guide for the
Aspiring Sonographer
So you’re interested in sonography. Luckily, the program at Eastern Florida State College
is structured to develop that initial curiosity into a full-blown passion before you even
take your first class! The prerequisites, for example, give you a working knowledge of
healthcare and the human body. From medical terminology to physics, each course is
instrumental in preparing you for the program.
Straight As in those prerequisites may demonstrate your capabilities in the classroom, but
there’s more to the application process than just grades. Meeting with a Health Sciences
advisor and attending a group information session (held periodically during Spring Term)
will introduce you to the faces of the program. During your two four-hour observation
periods, you sit in on classes and watch current students complete their daily assignments.
Afterwards, you interview with the program director, Dr. Harry Holdorf. Finally, you visit
the sonography lab for a 20-hour volunteer experience; your internship has begun!
This internship is quite possibly the most beneficial part of the application process. If
you’ve ever wondered whether sonography is right for you, the internship will help you
find the answer. This experience exposes you to a multitude of technical and educational
opportunities. Sitting in on classes introduces you to the program’s terminology and allows
you to ask questions. It engages you in the learning process by allowing you to serve as
a scanning model – and you’re even given the occasional opportunity to scan! There
are no rose-colored glasses in this program. Daily tasks similar to those of a practicing
sonographer, such as laundry, cleaning and workload observation, are expected of all
interns, the intention being that this will prepare you for the realities of the program.
During this time, you may also notice an emphasis on group projects designed to teach
you how to work well with others, as your 13 classmates will all have very different
personalities. This skill will help you to navigate the healthcare environment for the rest of
your career.
Take advantage of the time you spend with current sonography students; they’re all
willing to give you a list of dos and don’ts for the upcoming year of your life. In a nutshell,
this program is not for the faint of heart. The workload is heavy. Multiple students have
reported a similar experience, and their advice boils down to the following: Give up your
social life, forget about trying to work full-time and get ready to study every single day.
Expect to be in the lab seven to eight hours a day, four to five days a week working on
assignments and scanning. Time spent at home will be dedicated to homework and test
preparation. This program will consume all of your time and energy. Daunting as it may
sound, each sonography student also reports that given the chance, they would certainly
choose this program again, and they are enjoying the challenge of learning Diagnostic
Medical Sonography!
If this is truly where you want to be, don’t hesitate to give it your all – and remember that
grades aren’t everything. The TEAS test, a requirement of all students, also holds a lot of
weight, so study hard and don’t be afraid to try it more than once. You’re allowed two
attempts per year. This program is very exclusive, and the point system requires a lot from
each applicant. The selection criteria are crafted to ensure that candidates understand
the program and its expectations. Because of that, it can only be achieved by those
with a true passion for sonography. Students who have a greater interest in ultrasound
upon completing the internship and prerequisite courses shouldn’t hesitate to pursue
acceptance to EFSC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program! Visit easternflorida.edu/
go/sonography for a comprehensive guide to the application process.
Jodi Modica and Erica Dotson
Sonography Interns
Diagnostic
Medical
Sonography