The application for the 2018 Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is open!!! The program has changed, and now there are three options:
This is my experience applying to the program, but don’t worry if your experience is slightly different. Of my classmates, there are students who just graduated university, others who did one to two of years of post-secondary education, and there are some wanting a career change. Our classmates are from all walks of life.
Requirements:
- Post-secondary education (preferred)
- Strong GPA
- Demonstrated interest in the field
- Related volunteer and/or work experience
Post-secondary education
In April 2016, I was thinking about going back to school and looked into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. The first requirements that I needed to meet were Math 12, Biology 12 and Physics 11, all taken within the last five years. Since the courses I took were too long ago (I graduated high school in 2006 and University in 2011), I wrote all three of the BCIT challenge exams before the application deadline. I then uploaded my transcripts from high school and Simon Fraser University to my application. By the way, you do not need to have a degree to get into the program. It would have been beneficial to have taken an anatomy and physiology course before starting the program, but not crucial. I didn’t take one, but other classmates said they found it useful.
Demonstrating interest and related volunteer/work experience
Working at BC Cancer as a lab technologist, I was worried that I wouldn’t have the right experience since I had no patient interaction. To make up for this lack of experience, I decided to look into volunteering. I used govolunteer.ca to find places that were health-related.
The first place I volunteered at was Hawthorne Seniors Care Community. I worked with patients that had moderate to severe dementia, and the people there were so sweet. I had the opportunity to learn about different therapies and skills in communication. Another place I volunteered at was St. John Ambulance. They trained me to be an Advanced Medical First Responder, including CPR Health Care Provider (HCP). I was able to attend local events, Vancouver Canucks games, and concerts as a first aid attendant. I had the opportunity to help out with the opioid crisis, ready to preform first aid if someone was experiencing an overdose.
It wasn’t too difficult balancing home life, studying, working, and volunteering. I even had time to go to Spain, Morocco, and Portugal in between. The last thing I had to do was fill out the questionnaire, submit it, and wish for the best. When filling out the questionnaire, make sure to do your research and ask yourself—what would make you a great Sonographer? They are looking for students who will be the most successful in this program.
GOOD LUCK!
