Another Andrews grad
Posted By: C. on 2008-04-08
In Reply to: Need advice from current or former Andrews School students - Dazey
I graduated from Andrews a few months ago. I cannot speak with any authority on the experiences of other schools' graduates, but I can tell you that doors were opened for me just based on my Andrews graduation. I heard comments from recruiters that were very complimentary and tested at companies who, according to them, do not consider newbies unless they are Andrews grads.
I found it to be a very comprehensive learning experience, and I felt very prepared to begin working on my very first night as an MT. I also got the job I wanted, instead of the job I settled for.
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NEW GRAD WITH A JOB! YES, IT CAN & DOES HAPPEN! I'M NOT AN ANDREWS OR M-TEC GRAD!
I just wanted to share that I'm a new grad from EvCC/CS (Everett Community College utilizing CareerStep courseware), and I GOT A JOB! I'm IC status doing straight transcription and start working from home June 1st! I was offered .08 cpl, 24-hour TAT, and no ESL!
I'm posting my news here for a couple of reasons:
1. I want all the new grads out there job hunting to see that there are companies out there willing to hire you! I applied to only 4 companies, and I got this job on day 18 of my job hunt!
2. I'M NOT AN Andrews OR M-Tec GRAD! I believe those are probably great schools, but they are not the only schools that produce grads who get jobs! I graduated with high honors and earned real transferable college credits. If MT work does decline in the future and I need training in a different field, my credits will follow me.
I do believe getting that first MT job is about being in the right place at the right time! I also feel very lucky to have only applied to 4 places before landing this job, but my training played a huge part in that "luck." This company requires 100% on their employment tests, and without the great training I received, there is no way I would have made 100%.
In the end, great training, determination, hard work, and great networking skills will get you an MT job!
I am a recent Andrews Grad.
I finished the course in 9 months. It is at-your-own pace to a degree. You do have a time period to turn in each assignment--but it is completely doable. I graduated, started sending out resumes the next day and landed a job the day after that. I am very pleased with my choice. Just my 2 cents.
Ever see a disgruntled Andrews or M-TEC grad? Didn't think so.
I have compared me education with people from those schools. There IS no comparison. Real books, read teachers/advisers. The people who founded the schools actually have a part in running the schools and interacting with students/grads.
If all these extra programs are needed to transition CS students into the workforce, obviously they aren't trained as well as grads of Andrews and M-TEC.
Best way to start working immediately after grad is Andrews School or M-TEC online. nm
x
new grad
I see I left out the word
'hire' in my post!
Jewels
I'm a soon to be VLC grad...
... I've had no problems with the VLC. The instructors are wonderful, especially Carol. The tech team has always been helpful if I needed them. My materials came as scheduled, maybe a few days late but I live in a very rural area so wasn't expecting them on the EXACT date.
I've found the course to be very good. I've already tested for several companies, though I am a few days shy of completing the course, and have been told I am testing very well.
One thing about the VLC is you make your own deadlines, ect. and you will get out of it what you put in. Don't just rule out VLC because one person had a shipment problem.
New grad pay
I started as a new grad doing acute care at 7.5 cents a line. This was a year and a half ago with a large national. However, I think a new grad should be careful not to set expectations too high if they want to get a job.
CS grad here...
I have posted on here before about my experience with CS, it was all good.
I had NO problems getting a job right after school, or getting new jobs since. I think it was money well spent. :)
CS grad
I am a CareerStep grad. Their course is at your own pace. There were no mandatory online classes at all. There were chats that you could participate in, but they had little bearing on the actual course material. There are no instructors; you compare all your course work to a computer program. If your answers do not match verbatim what is in that program you then have to decide whether your answer is correct and phrased differently or wrong. Student support is available by phone and email. Looking at my email logs, I sent in 26 questions/concerns. I got 18 replies. There is a student forum, but any question you post there is typically answered by fellow students. I got through the course in 9 months, but I did work a full-time job during the course. I chose not to pay extra for the job assistance package and found a position through networking on a forum outside of the course.
I did get a job within a short time of graduating, but I trained with 2 M-Tec grads and an Andrews grad. They were way ahead of me from a newbie point of view. I felt like I was constantly swimming upstream just to keep up with them. I ended up getting some of the workbooks they had in their courses and studying at night which helped a lot. In retrospect, I probably should have taken a harder look at the course content and given less weight to the cost issue when choosing a school.
I hope I answered each of your questions, and best of luck to you with what ever course you choose.
M-TEC grad
M-TEC can be completed in various amounts of time. It just depends on how much time you invest daily. I started on May 23, 2006 and graduated on December 10, 2007. I had a lot of things interrupt my studies, but I still graduated before needing an extension. However, extensions are available on a month-to-month basis if you need more time than 18 months to graduate. The course is great, the instructors are knowledgeable and very helpful. All in all M-Tec is the best! Good luck!
M-TEC grad
As an M-Tec grad, I can assure you that we have incredible marketability, and did you know that M-TEC currently has a 100% placement rate of their grads? (I'm sure Andrews' rate is just as good too though - helpful, huh! hehe)
I have never gotten an "Andrews is #1" vibe; the vibe I've always had is the "Andrews and M-TEC are THE top schools" vibe. You cannot go wrong with either school, but M-TEC gets my vote. :)
CAI grad
Hi Erica. I'm a CAI grad and I have 2 friends that are also CAI grads. I loved the course. The director is great about answering any and all questions. They have a great message board for students. They also were very helpful with job placement. Good luck to you!
CAI Grad
I graduated last June and had a job within a week and a half. It is a really good program, easy to follow home study. I needed no additional guidance. When I took the course it was done in 6 months, now I think they give you a year for the same program. More than enough time. I really enjoyed the class. The dictations at the end are tough, but they are trying to train you for the worst of the worst.
NEW GRAD
DO NOT let her apply with TOTH Transcription. They hire anybody, particularly new grads to just type the work, but you will never see a pay check. TOTH is a scam operation. You have to trust me on that.
Look on the forum for all the complaints against Toth Transcription.
New Grad
I did graduate with a certificate in medical transcription. Any help would be appreciated, although from all of the boards I have read it look like you have to be in the right place at the right time. I guess everyone eventually gets that first job.
New Grad Help
 Help! How did everyone get their start in the MT business? I just graduated from Penn Foster and I have a medical office background and have worked as a medical claims insurance analyst for 14 years. I have applied to every online MT business I can find, but with no luck. Does anyone have an ideas?
Thanks
Kim
Sorry, but I am a CS grad. I can
of the education one receives there, but also to their business partnerships with the companies that are paid for everyone student that signs up with CS. I can attest to the fact that Andrews and M-Tec provide a more comprehensive MT education than CS does because I train new MTs. Our company no longer hires CS grads because they require far more remedial training and mentoring than grads from the other 2 programs.
New grad needs advice
Hi, I am a new graduate and I had my first interview with a possible in office transcription job. I was offered $8.00 and hour and I was wondering if this was the going rate for new transcriptionist? They asked me what I needed as far as pay, I told them $10 hour... they said and I quote "you will get $8 hour" I live in Tennessee and thought that was low? Any advice?
PCDI grad
Hi, I graduated from PCDI and have been an MT for about a year now. I had to struggle a lot at first, more than people who would have graduated from the better schools, I am sure. I feel very good about where I am at now, though. I have two jobs, one part time and one full time, and have been working at home since December of last year.
However, if you feel you have not learned anything it may be best for you to look into more training. I would not turn around and tell someone looking to get into this field to go to PCDI. There is a big difference from what we learned and what reality is.
I am not trying to discourage you. If you have the will, I am sure you will do just fine. I would, though, really assess how you feel about it because if you wish to go this route, it will take a lot of work on your part. Good luck to you!
recent grad
Just wondering if there are any companies that hire new graduates. I am a recent grad. (Dec 06) and I am having a heck of a time finding people who hire newbies.
thanks
Sorry about the typos ... I'm a CS grad. nm
x
M-Tec grad. Do they actually help you with the job search?
Anyone who graduated from M-Tec--
Do they actually help with the job search or just provide the list of partners they work with on the website? When I first graduated from M-Tec., I went through the list of partners, applied to several, and had been called back and offered jobs at all. I stupidly took a job with a company that I can honestly say I hate so far (and have only worked for 2 weeks there) and can't see it getting much better in the near future.
I remember getting an e-mail from someone--Kathy, Susan, Karen...can't remember who it was now because my entire e-mail account was wiped out and I lost that e-mail--but whoever it was told me that if I was having trouble finding a job to let them know and they would help out. I went through the list again, reapplied to many of the companies, applied to several that I had not seen before, and have not heard from any of them now!
I don't know if a lot of companies are just not hiring right now or what is going on. Nothing has changed about me and before I was getting calls and e-mail daily offering me positions. Should have taken one of those instead of holding out for this crappy one.  Oh, and I think the issue is also that I only want to work about 15-20 hours a week and a lot of companies are FT only.
If they help other than providing a list, could someone tell me who I need to contact since I can't find the information anymore? Thanks!
I agree with CS grad. NM
x
New Grad Job Search
Ive been reading this forum for days and everyday I get more and more discouraged. Today I found a post about PCDI, which is the school I attend. I feel confident in the education I am receiving. They send me emails outlining any mistakes I may have made, and I truly am learning from my mistakes with their help. I've begun the job hunt and am not having much luck. Everytime I come across another company, I check them here and almost all of them seem to be 'bad compaies'. Are there ANY good companies to work for? I've read the archives and have seen all the bad things about all the companies. But being a newbie and in need of experience, would be such a terrible thing to gain that experience from a "bad" company? I don't want to set myself up for failure, but I deperately need some experience. I have noticed Trans am hires newbies. I have read all the negative comments about them. But being in need of experience, isnt experience from a not-so-good company be better than no experience? Help please!!!
I'm not an Allied grad, but if they can't/won't help you get a job
after they "supposedly" trained you to be an MT, you sure as heck do NOT want to give them another 900 bucks. There is no way that is going to help you find a job.
Allied/New Grad
I wouldn't pay them another 900 bucks. They should have given you a business communication class that would have helped you to write a great cover letter and resume. You can get some good advice on Career Builders and websites like it on how to write your cover letter and resume. Did you do an externship/internship? If you did not, you should definitely gain some experience that way first. Your school should be able to help you out with that and should have done that for you.
Also, don't wait until you graduate to look for work, the sooner you start the faster you will work. Just don't give up! I graduated in December and just now got hired by some one, and I graduated with high honors. It can take awhile, but my understanding is that now is the "season" that the MT business picks up, and you are more likely to find a job now than later. Good Luck! 
I am a successful CS grad
Maybe I am in the minority but I had a wonderful experience with Career Step and have a very profitable job now. I graduated in 2005 and went to work for Spheris in acute care right away. I tested for my CMT exactly at 2 years and passed! I owe all my knowledge to the course through Career Step. If I had it to do over again, I would.
Just my 2 cents ...
HELP! Where can new grad get hired?
I am a new graduate ... where can i get a job? All the posts want yrs experience! how do i get any ... if no one will hire me?
Thanks for any help
college grad + training
Does being a college grad plus a grad of MT training school improve one's chances of being hired with no experience?
New grad finding employment
I am currently applying for transcription jobs as I just finished school. Some companies ask questions as part of their application process. I have trouble with these types of questions: How many lines per day can you reliably type? What do you charge per 65-character line? Being a new grad I have no idea what to answer for these.
Penn Foster Grad
Hi :) I graduated from there this year. It is difficult to get a job in Med Transcription if you didn't graduate from the Med-tech, Career Step, or Andrews. Penn Foster has ads from MRTservices and MediVoxx on their website. You might want to try one of those. However, they didn't work out for me, and I tested with both.
I think MRT was having human resource problems because some new girl took over the position, made me resend all of my tests and then never got back to me. The first person I was in contact with said I had done well on them.
MediVoxx is a pain to apply for. I never got my interview, and I think that is partially why I "messed up" on my test. I didn't do that bad. For instance, she marked me off for putting "she's" instead of "she is." Then, she marked me off for putting "Marsha's" and then corrected it by putting "Marsha's" right next to it. I was wondering what was wrong what the correction was.
I think that the course was good except for the ACTUAL transcription part, which is obviously the most important. That part was very unorganized, and I didn't like most of the instructors, especially that one guy.
I think I found a good place to work. I'm doing more testing on Monday. Email me for details. I don't want to put it on here.
Also, you might want to try Focus Infomatics. I tested there last week, and they called me, but I'm more interested in this other place. Plus, the posts on here about Focus scared me.
Career Step grad
I took the Career Step course also and it worked well for me as I was working full-time and could arrange the course around that. I had a job offer 2 days after graduation from CS. My opinion is that CS is great for somebody who prefers independent study and not so much student-teacher interactions and student-student interactions. Also, there is a CS forum which is a great source of information and networking, and I still check that ofter.
Penn Foster grad
I took the Penn Foster course and was hired by the first company I tested for...they knew what school I attended because I put it on my resume. I agree that some schools may be subpar, but that doesn't mean the students/graduates are subpar. If you work hard, you will reap the benefits- no matter what school you attend.
First, I'm not one of the "little grads" I'm not their grad at all.
Just because for many years anyone who wanted could learn to be an MT from their next door neighbor, that doesn't mean that's the way it is today. I think too many MTs are just afraid of competition from well-trained MTs, who with a good education and a couple of years' experience will be better MTs than they ever will. I have seen MTs claim to have 20+ years' experience, and they make ridiculous errors and don't even care - "That's they way I've always done it!" I'm talking about the way things are today, not back when anyone who could type could be an MT, and could teach anyone else to be an MT.
I agree with above poster/CAI grad also
I graduated from the course in 2004 and have been working since. I have nothing whatsoever to say negative about CAI. I researched beforehand and found it to be affordable, thorough, and yes, the director is great at communicating quickly and answering questions.
test period for New MT grad
As a recent grad who hasn't been able to find anyone willing to give me a shot, I would be willing to work a trial period. It would still be more experience than what I have now and probably a good learning event.
New Grad Needing to Vent
Shame on ALL of the MT schools. They tell us that we can study at home to work from home. HA!! Like most of you on here, I worked my buns off trying to complete my schooling. I sacrificed so much. It was hard on my kids not having mom around as much. It was financially draining, as my husband was laid off from his electrician job. That was the whole reason we decided to take this risk in the first place. I thought I had done my research on medical transcription before I signed up for the program, but unfortunately, I didn't find mtstars until I was up to my elbows in school. Since I was an unavailable wife and mother, this became difficult on the marriage too. We just kept trying to look ahead knowing that when I had a job to help pay the bills it would all be worth it. I graduated from At-Home Professions in April with a 95% and I still do not have a job. I also now know that getting a job as a new grad is almost impossible.
I had to face my disappointed husband last night when I told him that it's not going to happen, and if I am going to be happy again, I have to let it go. I have done all I know how to do. I have had professionals look at my resume and cover letter and they tell me it's awesome. I have spent countless hours and days applying for job after job. I have even tried to find local jobs to work on-site (which was never ever part of the plan), but Michigan is not the place to look for jobs right now. I have only found one local on-site job but they were looking for more experience than most at-home jobs I have seen. I didn't even bother to apply.
Today, I found a posting on here from a new grad who said she is a new grad and got a job after only 4 applications and 18 days of looking. My husband happened to walk in at about the time I saw the posting. I had to try not to cry. I'm happy for that new grad on one hand, but on the other hand, I can't believe that after only 4 applications in 18 days (in 18 days I had sent out WAY more than 4 applications), she got a job. My husband read it and didn't say a word.
I am feeling like I let my family down. Even worse, I feel like my bummer of an attitude is letting down God.
I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.
Corrie, I'm the new grad that posted...
I'm the grad from Everett Community College (which utilizes CareerStep courseware) who posted about getting my IC position after 18 days of job hunting and only 4 applications. I'm sorry you found my news hard to believe, but it is a fact.
I posted my good news to encourage all new grads, no matter where they might have graduated from. Those who claim M-Tec and Andrews are the only schools that produce employable grads are WRONG!!! That is another reason I felt a strong need to post my news here on mtstars. When I was working through my MT classes, I found coming to mtstars was a real bummer. All I ever read here was negative posts, and checking out this forum became a waste of my time. I hardly ever see new grads posting that they got a job here. Why is that? Do they just forget to post when that happens? I can't figure that one out. I had to post when I got my first position! I THOUGHT it might encourage other new grads, and I certainly didn't mean to bring them down because they haven't found work yet.
I believe the road to getting that first MT job can indeed be long and bumpy. Actually, that is what I was planning on, and it is the case with most new grads. I think I have solid employable skills, AND I applied at the right place at the right time.
I know it has to feel redundant submitting all the applications and tests to only find out later that places are not hiring, don't hire new grads, or when you hear nothing back at all. My best advice is to keep playing the game. If your skills are solid and true, it's all about the timing! Every day that you test or apply, there is a chance at getting that first job!
Again, my post of how long it took me to get my job is true and only meant to encourage ALL new grads! M-Tec and Andrews are probably great schools, I don't doubt that for 1 minute, BUT they are not the only great schools!
Keep moving forward! I once heard it said "If you are still chasing your dreams, you are not running fast enough! Run faster!"
Corrie - Feel free to reply by email if you think I can help you in any way!
Here's a link to what a Career Step grad herself says about it...
doesn't exactly match up to all the crowing up there...wonder if Career Step isn't on the board, yukking up the company
We took on a PCDI grad where I work, and they did not prepare her
adequately even to do radiology work. We utilized her as a temp for a few weeks, and the only thing that got her by was her good English vocabulary. She didn't even know when to ask questions a lot of the time. She didn't know how to utilize reference books or websites, either. So I had to look over every report I had time to and make corrections. Any reports that I couldn't check went straight to the radiologists. Thankfully most of them caught on that we had a newbie and they needed to check every word. It was a shock to them.
Acute care would have been leagues over her head, poor thing.
6cpl is very good for a new grad, honors or not...
Frankly graduating with honors doesn't mean much out there. If a company offered 6 cpl, he/she should take it! It is good money right now. My first job started at 3.5 cpl, I've gotten a raise since and am making better money. Tell the new grad to take the job work it for at least 6 months. The experience is worth it! The more experience under their belt the more they can ask per line in the next job.
Woohoo! Congrats! I'm an EvCC grad...
I really enjoyed EvCC. They expand on Career Step's program SO much and are really helpful. I still talk to a lot of my classmates via a Yahoo! Group and consider them friends. We always welcome new EvCC students if you're interested  .
Hello fellow M-TEC grad! Sounds like you have a great job!!! nm
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Andrews vs. M-Tec...
Is M-Tec every bit as good as Andrews as far as:
1. Preparing a person to enter the MT field
and
2. Almost guaranteeing a job for a student upon graduation. (Realizing, of course, that this depends on the individual.) But all else equal, does graduating from M-Tec virtually guarantee that many companies will waive the normal 2-year experience requirement and allow a new graduate to test?
Thanks
Not at Andrews
As an Andrews grad, 95% was the minimum required of each assignment of each section before you were permitted to advance to the next section. And, 95% was no guarantee that you wouldn't still be assigned extra work! We were strongly encouraged and motivated to achieve 98% and above as we were told from the beginning of the course that this is the norm in the working world. They(the instructors) were upfront from the beginning that it would take lots of work (read: blood, sweat, and tears)to pass the course at the level expected. The plus side of Andrews is that they don't turn you loose until they are confident you can attain that high goal of accuracy. An 86% would have been absolutely unacceptable.
Both Andrews and M-Tec
are top-notch MT schools. Either one would be an excellent choice not only for MT skills but also for any required improvement in spelling and grammar skills that might be necessary.
Also . . . about Andrews
Have you spoken with Linda Andrews yet? Looking on their website, I see that the payment plan has an option with a lesser down-payment of $1000 with a monthly payment of $117, instead of the $98 it would be with the larger down-payment. There is no interest on that, I see, which would be a considerable benefit to you.
Also of importance is that this covers everything. Their students traditionally do not need to provide anything else for school--not one book, not one bit of software, nothing. And, when they go to work, they already have the references that most employers require.
The first question above asked about whether one school allowed you to retake sections until you got them right. This focuses on "failure mode." The thinking is that "this is so hard, nobody can succeed." It sets up the expectation that it is NORMAL for students to fail at transcription.
Students should not fail at transcription. The concept of having some students do well, others ok, and some fail is a concept dragged over from traditional education. Private MT schools are not public junior colleges. They do not need to follow that model.
Frankly, if I were thinking of putting down a fat down-payment on a course and the school thought that it was acceptable to have any students fail, I'd be a little worried. And I certainly wouldn't expect that I'd be the exception who did well, because a school which has students failing, or not doing well enough to be employable, seems to stack the deck against you.
It would seem better to me to simply select a school in which the students do not fail, instead achieving a high level of skill across the board.
Select a school where you KNOW your money won't be wasted, where the risk is almost nil. Select a school where students do not flounder around unassisted, failing and re-failing. Select a school where they achieve and are routinely offered new, extra material to improve their already high levels of achievement.
Medical transcription training does not need to be difficult, nor does it need to culminate in unemployability.
The best are M-TEC and Andrews
M-TEC has an abbreviated course for previous medical professionals. I don't know if Andrews does.
Andrews
I'm mentoring an MT right now who went to Andrews and she seems very knowledgeable.
Andrews
I graduated from Andrews in December of 2004. I was hired immediately after graduation and have been with the same company since. I work for a smaller MTSO, and she has been very happy with how well Andrews prepared me.
M-Tec or Andrews (sm)
M-Tec and Andrews are the only two schools that are approved by the AAMT right now. I am sure there are other good schools too, but these two have been around for awhile and are proven to produce job-ready MTs upon graduation.
www.mtecinc.com
www.andrewsschool.com
www.aamt.org
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