WEST COAST ULTRASOUND INSTITUTE: TOP SCHOOL AND NOT CORPORATE

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT THIS SCHOOL ARE THE INSTRUCTORS!!

Hey guys, I just want to throw in my 2 cents in this conversation. I myself came from a non-CAAHEP program in California, graduated last year. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't hesitate to put my name on a waiting list for the next slot at the nearest CAAHEP accredited college or program. Surprisingly, I'm already RDCS and RVT registered and have been working for a year. I was lucky to find a job at a practice that was extremely patient to teach me and walk me through certain situations and materials that my school failed to provide.

There's a reason why people that come from CAAHEP schools are highly sought after compared to those that didn't. I know there are a lot of angry people out there who went to schools like WCUI and CCA and found out they couldn't even land an interview. Of course, there are those who worked their butts off and made it all the way. My hats off to those people. Unfortunately however, the majority of people have a very difficult time. Regardless if they worked hard or barely showed up to school (then again those people should know better). I've had the experience to work with and converse with many other techs out in the field and the general consensus is they tend to look down on people like us coming from schools like these. Sure, there are still those who came from accredited backgrounds and their knowledge and/or scanning ability is still subpar compared to some like us. But bottom line, we tend to get looked over quite a bit.

What a lot of people don't realize is there has been legislation that has been passing around Congress that will soon require ultrasound technologists to be registered in order to work at any health facility. In fact, medicare has made it mandatory that any vascular ultrasounds being done on its patients have to be done or supervised by RVT or RVS sonographers, not even if the person is just RDCS.

When I started working here, it took a couple months before my practice got that medicare memo and as a result, my workload was noticeably reduced. It will only be a matter of time when they make it mandatory for echos. Moreover, many of you may or may not know that once medicare makes a move like this, the other major heath insurance companies tend to follow.

Yes, there are good instructors and some good programs out there that some of us think should be CAAHEP accredited, however, they are not. My advise to those who are on the fence about schools like these is, if you have the patience to wait to go to a CAAHEP school, do it. Unless of course you know you have connections out in the field that can help you get a job somewhere. Keep in mind though, connections will only get you so far, if you don't have the knowledge to hold a job, you won't last long out there.

To put it in a different perspective, think of it this way.. imagine your friend or family needs to get an ultrasound done, would you rather go to a place that you know their experience is credible? Or go somewhere where they're not? That's the unfortunate cold hard truth about how some of the people think. Think about choosing a doctor, would you go to one that went to a respected and well known institution or would you go to one that came from some college out in the middle of nowhere that no one has heard of? You may have not thought about it now, but for those who shop for health insurance and actually look up what providers they could go to, they tend to look at their educational background.

Of course, there will still be those people who are still bad at what they do regardless of where they came from. But bottom line, employers look at your resume first. What you have on paper is what they go by first. The odds are definitely and ridiculously against us, but if you can somehow land an interview, that would be the time to shine.

For those who are in non-CAAHEP schools, my advice to you... work your butt off. Do the extra hard work, stay after and practice, buy the extra books off Amazon (get them used if you have to). The only time you'll be able to make an impression is when you get that interview. Like some have said here, its what you know that will help. Yes, it will be hard to get a single phone call or reply back, but when you do, make sure you are prepared to answer and respond to the best of your abilities. You won't get many call backs to begin with, trust me. So make it count.

I'm very disappointed in this school. WCUI has the talk but not the walk. I loaned so much money to go through the mri program. I graduated with high grades and surely know what I'm doing. It is going to be 7 months after I graduated and have not found an mri job. This school and the staff there lies too much. Now I have to settle for a non-related mri job just to pay my loans. This is ridiculous because they are giving false information to students so they can register to this school. They told mri students that they could sit for ARRT after they pass their ARMRIT. I called ARRT and did clarification. In order to sit for ARRT exam, you need to attend radiology/xray school and upon completion of externship, you have to prove that you can do every xray studies efficiently even before you apply for the ARRT exam. This school is a total scam. Something needs to be done about it. And one more thing, AOS degree that they now offer there SERVES NO GOOD FOR YOUR RESUME OR JOB HUNTING because 95% of companies/hospitals will want Associates of Science, ARRT license not AOS or ARMRIT. We are imaging. We are not in the occupational studies category. The school and its main representatives need to get their information correct. I'm very upset because I put so much time, energy and money into this program and now I can't even practice mri. I'm reporting WCUI and Myra Chason to the Department of Education and the Better Business Bureau so an investigation will be done. A lot of students who graduated from here especially at the Beverly Hills Branch CAN NOT find an mri job. We need our money back.

thank for the information

Where to begin? First of all, I can understand the frustration that you are feeling. I myself am a WCUI graduate, and know all to well the ups and downs associated with this school. It is unfortunate that you have had the negative experience that you have had. The reality is, this is an extremely difficult job market for anyone, let alone a new graduate, with minimal clinical experience. Maybe, you should consider your own responsibility. The school has absolutly no responsibility other than to train you and make sure they provide the correct information. Just because you graduate from a school, that doesnt, nor should it guarantee employment. If you look beyond the job postings, and actually get out there and speak to people. The reality is that the ARMRIT certification is accepted almost as much as the ARRT certification. There are specific reasons why the ARRT certification is more prominent(longevity,business interests). But, that doesnt mean it is better, its all about what you know buddy. In fact, part of the problem in furthering the acceptance of ARMRIT technologists, is graduate students such as yourself. The ARMRIT standards for being able to sit for their exam is much more stringent than ARRT. No doubt about it, ARMRIT technologists are specialists in MRI and their training is MORE COMPREHENSIVE than the ARRT standards.

I will completely agree with you, that the school and its representatives need to get their information correct, thats their responsibility. Just as, prospective students, also should have the responsibility to better inform themselves, not just take the marketing spiel as gossip. Then become upset, because you didnt inform yourself better.

These are trying times for all of us. All that we can do, is continue to better yourself and push ahead. Best of luck in the job search. Instead of adding to the problem, you should consider being part of the solution.

The MRI program at WCUI is top notch. The faculty is very knowledgable and the curriculm is very comprehensive. The only drawback to the program, is when you graduate, you are only able to sit for the ARMRIT exam, not the ARRT exam. ARRT is more prevelant in the industry at this time becasue of (longevity, business interests). But, ARMRIT technologists are more highly trained. Plenty of imaging sites hire ARMRIT MRI technologists and ACR has accepted ARMRIT techologists as part of their accreditation of sites. As everything else, its all about what you do with the information. I hope this was helpful...

MRI Guy
I'm happy you had a good experience, but I can tell you it is quite a different story with the DMS program. The regulations and requirement are completely changing as of 1/1/12. The school was FULLY aware that incoming students were not going to meet those requirements and did not inform the students. THEY ARE FRAUDS AND WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

Run away as fast as you can.

ok , so ive been trying to do as much research as possible on utrasound schools. im so overwhelmed. i want get in this field, but reading i need a b.a of some sort to get started. do i go to a community college do all pre-req's/ gen and then attend a school for ultrasound? or can i start here at west coast? any thoughts? feedback would be lovely! thanks

how about cas loma is it a good shool

Who is interested in the phone # for the guy who investagates post secondary schools in AZ?

You don't have to give your name!

Hi everyone,

All your posts are very interesting. I'm looking to get into the DMS field as well, and all the schools in Cali have a wait list, and to be honest...I'm not that patient. I have a A.A. degree in Health Information Management, does that help me as far as not needing to do the "extra 12 hours" of externship? Or does it NEED to be a BA? Also, I've heard from EVERYONE to not go to a school thats not accredited, but is this correct? Ugh so much confusion! Anyone's answers would be helpful!

Good thing someone have good luck. I didn't have it and that was a cloud over me that was difficult to identify. This reflect in your resume and demeanor. I have to shake it and sit all over again and turn the negative into positive. If a student have good lab and can demonstrate it it will be fine even if the school was crapy. Fight for the internship beg, plead whatever it takes to have a job experience. Practice makes the difference!!!!!

thanks for the information you submit

So im bout 2 graduate high school and i looked into thiz West Coast Ultrasound I.School in Ontario..N reading all thiz feedbck from people are makin it very confusing 4 me 2 decide??..Is there any1 that has graduated from thiz school &is payin off in the long run?? Would really appriciate it if any1 would let me know about thiz??

A lot of places dont care about if I have my ARMRIT, looks like4 i'll be working at Pizza Hut trying to pay the school their 30000 back,wtf! I go to school at Beverly Hills WCUI

thanks for the information

thanks for the information

Ive been graduated from this school for almost 3 yrs and couldn't find a job till now cuz I dont have any experiences. No experiences>>>> No job >>>>>can't sit for ARDMS.

allison in Hemet, California said: hi lea thanks for replying so fast! you actually live close to my parents. =] thats kind of cool but anyways, i do know a couple rns from hemet hospital and some other rns from rancho springs. and obviously some docs. from where i work. so i bet i could get connections easily with pp i know with pp they know (does that make any sense?) i was reading on another form from someone that went to wcui and they finally got to sit for there board but now they are nt getting jobs at hospitals because they are saying they have to have gone to a credited school also. but i would not think that should matter because you have sat for your board and passed.do you agree?

hi allison my name is courtney and i live in hemet as well...i am trying to find a school that is good to go to...i was wondering what u had accomplished because i know that your comment was from over 2 years ago

Hello Everyone,

I'm from Florida but I recently moved to California. I'm trying to find a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program and I ran accross WCUI. I'm contemplating on going there or Cypress. I keep reading mixed comments and I would like a sincere answer from a previous student who went to WCUI and completed the Ultrasound Program. Was is sucessful? Did you find a job? Please let me know, Thank you!

I apologize for misspelling… I’m at work and in a rush:\

kim tran in Rosemead, California said: Ive been graduated from this school for almost 3 yrs and couldn't find a job till now cuz I dont have any experiences. No experiences>>>> No job >>>>>can't sit for ARDMS.

Hi Kim,
I am senior at this school right now and so worry when I hear your story. Think about moving out of CA to find Echo Tech job! Any recommendation?
Thanks, KIM

stephhh in simi valley, California said: ok , so ive been trying to do as much research as possible on utrasound schools. im so overwhelmed. i want get in this field, but reading i need a b.a of some sort to get started. do i go to a community college do all pre-req's/ gen and then attend a school for ultrasound? or can i start here at west coast? any thoughts? feedback would be lovely! thanks

Stephh,

You do not have to have your BA to start the ultrasound program at West Coast Ultrasound Institute, you do have to pass an entrance exam but you do not need a bachelors.