Orange Coast College

Hey everyone...I was wondering if anyone here attended/is attending Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa...I am thinking about attending and I wanted to know if it was easy to get a job coming out of there...and how good the education was...Thanks!

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yup, great school, only 20 dollars a credit so you won't be in debt after graduating. it is also accredited, BUT.........you'll be waiting for at least 2-3 years to get in. if your fresh outta highschool, take allied health 100 IMMEDIATELY!!!!! because that determines your number on the waitlist. if you live far away take that class online and while you are waiting just knock off pre-reqs that are needed to get into the program.

Thanks! Do they offer allied health 100 online through their school so that it is guaranteed to be accepted?
Thanks!!!!!

ok so i saw that you can take it online in the fall.. however im a little concerned about transferring credits because it says in the associates of sciences syllabus thing that you can only transfer up to 15 credits? I find that odd. I could easily knock most of them out before I can actually get out there, I emailed the school and am waiting to hear back that that is in fact true, do you know anyone who has transferred more than 15 credits there?
Thanks!

they accepted all of my credits, what your talking about is "the school" accepting max 15 credits toward your associate degree in cvt (A&P, human diseases, etc....)

dnice, did you complete the program at OCC? I hope i'll be accepted this year.

How do you like the career? Is it stressful? demanding? rewarding?

Hi I am also thinking about attending Orange Coast College. I would like to go for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I was wondering if anyone is currently enroled in the program or planning to. And also I was wondering if there is a long wait list, I heard it is like 2 or 3 years! Any information from current or previous students would be helpful. Thanks :)

hi,
i was wondering if you attend orange coast for sonography program.
please let me know. I have only high school diploma and no college
thank you

I am attending OCC to become a Cardiac Sonographer. I am in my 2nd semester of the Cardiovascular Technology program. I love OCC and am so glad I made the decision to go here. Its a long drive from San Bernardino but I feel like it is worth it to go to a CAAHEP accredited school plus it is much more affordable than the private schools. It felt like a long wait to get into the program (took Allied Health 010 in Spring of 2008 and got into the program Fall 2010), but it was worth it and allowed me time to get my general ed done. I have heard that the wait is a bit longer now though. The wait list is 100% first come first serve and doesn't look at grades at all. Believe me I wish they did because I have a 4.0. I love my program because the heart is fascinating. The material is challenging, but very interesting. The instructor, Darryl, is great and really knows the field. We also have a really good group of classmates. I am about to start clinicals for the first time which is also exciting. I will be working 2 8 hour shifts in the hospital per week and will have class 2 days per week. The number of clinical hours goes up from there with each semester. It has been a great choice for me so far and well worth the wait! :)

What was the allied health class? When I did research I pulled up all the CAAHEP schools in the US ( cal first cause I lived there) but not sure why I didnt attempt that school. That wasnt a very long wait at all. I got on my waitlist here in NC in 3/08 and am still waiting.

Tara

barnesbunchx7 in Lenoir, North Carolina said: What was the allied health class? When I did research I pulled up all the CAAHEP schools in the US ( cal first cause I lived there) but not sure why I didnt attempt that school. That wasnt a very long wait at all. I got on my waitlist here in NC in 3/08 and am still waiting.

Tara

Hello! The allied health class is the required class to get on any of the allied health programs waiting lists. You do your application for your program while you are in the class and then just wait and complete your prereqs and general ed while waiting. They waiting list for the CVT/ cardiac sonography/ echo program (depending on what people call it) didn't use to be long at all. When I applied in Spring of 2008 I was supposed to get in one year but it ended up being 2 years. They said the delay is that people weren't falling off the list as they did in the past because of the economy. Now the waiting list is 3+ years. The general sonography program is about a 5 year wait now. Its crazy! I'm sorry to hear that you are still waiting for your program. It sounds like you and I got on our waiting lists at about the same time. When are you supposed to get into your program? What program are you on the waiting list for?

I currently have a bachelors degree but it is not in the healthcare field, I was recently laid off and I'm looking for a career change. The medical field is definately interesting for me because I love working with people. I understand the whole process of the accredidation and stuff and I've been reading these posts and I've gotta day some of the waitlists for the programs suck but there well worth the wait in the end.
I am only interested in the accredited Sonography programs because they seem more realistic with regards to the tution. I have looked at at the all the schools from the ARDMS website that are accredited and location wise I am interested in the program through Kaiser in Richmond. Does anybody know what the waitlist is currently to get accepted in 2012 and how the school handles there list? I'm currently taking the prerequisites which aren't much since I already have a a 4 year degree. Can anybody tell me how the program is?

Angel in San Bernardino, California said: I am attending OCC to become a Cardiac Sonographer. I am in my 2nd semester of the Cardiovascular Technology program. I love OCC and am so glad I made the decision to go here. Its a long drive from San Bernardino but I feel like it is worth it to go to a CAAHEP accredited school plus it is much more affordable than the private schools. It felt like a long wait to get into the program (took Allied Health 010 in Spring of 2008 and got into the program Fall 2010), but it was worth it and allowed me time to get my general ed done. I have heard that the wait is a bit longer now though. The wait list is 100% first come first serve and doesn't look at grades at all. Believe me I wish they did because I have a 4.0. I love my program because the heart is fascinating. The material is challenging, but very interesting. The instructor, Darryl, is great and really knows the field. We also have a really good group of classmates. I am about to start clinicals for the first time which is also exciting. I will be working 2 8 hour shifts in the hospital per week and will have class 2 days per week. The number of clinical hours goes up from there with each semester. It has been a great choice for me so far and well worth the wait! :)

Hi Angel,

I am currently in the Allied Health Professions Class at OCC. I am having a really difficult time trying to decide between the Cardiovascular Tech/Sonography Program and the Diagnostic Sonography Program. I started the class thinking that I was definitely going to put my name on the waitlist for the Diagnostic Sonography Program, but then after hearing Darryl speak about the Cardiovascular Tech/Sonography program, am I seriously considering that program as well. Since we are only allowed to choose one program wait list to put our names on, I have a dilemma. So I was wondering what factors you considered that made you choose to go with the Cardiovascular Tech/Sonography Program?

My school offers both. I'm doing regular ultrasound and after that they offer the cardiac classes at night and it's like 2 classes over 2 semesters. I don't think you can do cardiac then regular u/s a's easy! Could be wrong though. You can only get into the cardiac a's a registered sonographer.

I am in the health class right now. I am decidng between this and Platt college but I don't really want to spend 35k and not end up with a job. The wait list for sonography is AT LEAST 5 years now. 500 people on the list already and they only take 25 a year..providing AT LEAST half drop that is still 8-10 years. Lets hope a lot of people drop?

Can you afford to move? My CC in NC just added new prereqs and anyone on the waitlist who doesn't have them by sept loses their waitlist spot. This March marks 3 years for me and I'm still #17. They only take 7-9 a year so I'm hoping I pass up a few to make it in 2012. If you make the requirements you can be in quickly since so many don't have the new stuff.

Ann in Huntington Beach, California said: Hi Angel,

I am currently in the Allied Health Professions Class at OCC. I am having a really difficult time trying to decide between the Cardiovascular Tech/Sonography Program and the Diagnostic Sonography Program. I started the class thinking that I was definitely going to put my name on the waitlist for the Diagnostic Sonography Program, but then after hearing Darryl speak about the Cardiovascular Tech/Sonography program, am I seriously considering that program as well. Since we are only allowed to choose one program wait list to put our names on, I have a dilemma. So I was wondering what factors you considered that made you choose to go with the Cardiovascular Tech/Sonography Program?

Hi Ann,

I know many people that have had trouble making that same decision. I have spoken to a lot of people in my CVT program that were planning on another program until they heard Darryl speak (he is definitely an excellent speaker ), and they changed thier minds and got on the CVT list. I knew when I went into the ALH 010 class that I wanted to do echo, but that is because I had done a lot of research on both fields general/cardiac and found echos to be very interesting to me. I also had a brother that had open heart surgery to fix a defect when he was 13, so that kind of gave me a personal affection for it as well. I also looked at the kind of person I am and I really liked the idea of focusing on one area rather than many. That was just my personal reasons for choosing CVT. I wish you luck in your decision making process and if you have any more questions please ask anytime. :)

Hi Angel,

Thank you for response to my question. Your personal insight has been very helpful and given me some more things to consider while making my decision. I was also wondering if you considered: (1) the financial benefits when choosing the Cardiovascular Tech Program vs. diagnostic sonographer, and (2) the job prospects upon graduating from the Cardiovascular Tech Program. I need to do some more in depth research, but it would appear at first glance that there would be a higher demand for a general diagnostic sonographer vs. a Cardiac Tech who focuses on taking images of just the heart... although I could be very wrong. I know that since you already knew you for sure wanted to do the Cardiovascular Tech Program you probably didn't do a comparative study of the two professions. But maybe if you could give me the insight that you have about those two areas (1) financial benefits and (2) job prospects. How likely will it be that you end up getting a job at one of the sights where you will be doing your clinical rotation? How much do you expect to make upon graduating from the program? Also, how well do you feel the program prepares you to take the exams?

I fully understand if you don't feel able to answer any of my questions. I truly appreciate your time and insight.

Thank you,
Ann

Angel in San Bernardino, California said: Hi Ann,

I know many people that have had trouble making that same decision. I have spoken to a lot of people in my CVT program that were planning on another program until they heard Darryl speak (he is definitely an excellent speaker ), and they changed thier minds and got on the CVT list. I knew when I went into the ALH 010 class that I wanted to do echo, but that is because I had done a lot of research on both fields general/cardiac and found echos to be very interesting to me. I also had a brother that had open heart surgery to fix a defect when he was 13, so that kind of gave me a personal affection for it as well. I also looked at the kind of person I am and I really liked the idea of focusing on one area rather than many. That was just my personal reasons for choosing CVT. I wish you luck in your decision making process and if you have any more questions please ask anytime. :)

*their not thier...sorry that typo was bothering me

Ann in Irvine, California said: Hi Angel,

Thank you for response to my question. Your personal insight has been very helpful and given me some more things to consider while making my decision.

Ann

While I did not do very much research when it came to general vs cardiac, my thinking regarding job demand between the two was that there are fewer schools that teach cardiac sonography so that would make me more valuable but that was just MY thinking. It seems like anywhere you look now there is a school that teaches DMS so that may saturate the market more (I don't know). But then again it may be easier to get you RDCS registry after you RDMS than vice versa. These are all just considerations.
As far as the financial side of things when I graduate, the CVT graduates I have spoken with starting between $28 and $35 an hour which will hopefully continue to go up based on experience and loyalty with a hospital etc... One of our teachers is the director at hospital and hires the best and brightest. He said his CVTs make close to $80 per hour!
I start my clinical next week (YAY!) and I would LOVE to be hired at my clinical sight!! I don't know how likely it is but I plan to do my very best to be the best EKG tech I can so that maybe that will be a possiblity. Then I would be able to gain more knowledge as an EKG tech during the summer break before we start echo. I think in most careers you are vulnerable when you graduate and don't have a year or 2 of experience yet so I would definitely love to be extended a job opportunity from my clinical site.
And as far as you last question about the exams, I do not know yet because I am only in my 2nd semester of EKG we don't start echo until next year. I hope this helps some! Please let me know what you end up deciding to do or if you have and more questions!

I wanted to add my two cents worth in this forum. I am currently on the waiting list for CVT at Orange Coast College. I took Allied Health 010 in spring of 2009. I am not going to get into the cohort starting this fall. I'm told by the Consumer Health & Sciences office that it looks good for fall of 2012 to start. When I took Allied Health 010, they told me the wait for the CVT program was 1-2 years. If I get in for fall of 2012, it will have been 3 1/2 years on the list.

The thing about any of the allied health programs at OCC is that they do not base entry on merit. As long as you got a C or better in any of your pre-requisite classes, and you wait for the list to get to your name, you are in. They don't care who you are, or how diligent you have been in your studies up to that point.

With the economy the way it has been, I've seen some of the best and brightest go to other area colleges for programs like DMS (Cypress College) and rad tech (Cypress, CSULB) where your admissions are based on merit (grades, recommendations, volunteer work). These people are not willing to wait years to get in and get their careers started. Since CVT is not offered anywhere in the area but OCC (unless you want to go private and unaccredited), for those of us who really want it, we have no choice but to wait. I've seen some of the people who have been in the cohorts since I took Allied Health 010. Frankly, if I was in a clinical setting as a patient, I wouldn't want some of these people anywhere near me.

I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've talked to some instructors at OCC who think the selection process needs to be changed. OCC is one of the few allied health public schools that operates this way. GWC, Saddleback, and Cypress both use merit based systems. I wonder what the clinical sites think of some of these students who had to take Anatomy & Physiology 3 or 4 times before they passed? I agree with Angel, it's frustrating!

Purrkitten in los angeles,

i wonder what the clinical sites think of those students that took Anatomoy & Physiology who got a C at orange coast college?

I meant to write sooner... but life got it the way... ;-) I just wanted to let you know that I saw you on the Allied Health Building Ribbon Cutting Day at OCC. The CVT program director allowed me to sit in one of the classes and observe. I was sitting in the back of the room, and a few of the students who I was talking to before class about the program, pointed you out to me. I wanted to personally say thank you, but didn't want to disturb you or the class. Thanks again for all your insight. I've decided to put my name on the list for the general diagnostic sonography program, with the possibility of cross training in the Cardiac program once I start the general diagnostic sonography program.

This comment was meant to be directed to Angel in San Bernadino:

Ann in Irvine, California said: I meant to write sooner... but life got it the way... ;-) I just wanted to let you know that I saw you on the Allied Health Building Ribbon Cutting Day at OCC. The CVT program director allowed me to sit in one of the classes and observe. I was sitting in the back of the room, and a few of the students who I was talking to before class about the program, pointed you out to me. I wanted to personally say thank you, but didn't want to disturb you or the class. Thanks again for all your insight. I've decided to put my name on the list for the general diagnostic sonography program, with the possibility of cross training in the Cardiac program once I start the general diagnostic sonography program.