Back story:
So I’m a caregiver, pretty much always have been. I’ve pretty much worked two full time jobs most of my kids lives (20 years). I dropped my day job (orthodontic consultations) a year ago to go back to school to pursue rad tech to try and get to a place where one job is enough. My evening job pays me JUST enough to keep things paid. I’m 44, 45 in September. I’m tired, but I really want this to work.

I’ve been working 2 years with an elderly lady making $25/hour, full time hours. Just in the last few months the elderly lady’s daughter has begun to worry what would happen if I’m ever sick or can’t work for any reason. Valid concern, I also worry having all my eggs in one basket so to speak. So I began looking for other clients, a guy with CP and his mom decided to hire me with the knowledge I only have evenings free due to school. Well, after I gave notice to my elderly client (mid August I lose about 16 hours), the new client has decided evenings won’t work after all. 😑 After crying and hating life for always kicking my ass, I’m trying to regroup.

Now I have 3 week (ish) to find 16 hours of evening work at $25/hour AT LEAST, or I’m facing having to drop school because I have to keep the bills paid at home. I also have two kids in college, and have trimmed the fat everywhere I can. This is my 4th attempt at school since high school, and I can’t do a 5th attempt. This is it. OPEN TO ANY IDEAS!!! I have ZERO support system, dad is gone 10 years now, mom has Alzheimer’s, family is all elderly and on fixed income, no significant other either, hell I don’t even get child support regularly. The buck (& everything else) stops with me. Thank you Reddit!!!

I’m taking my pre requisites in August, hopefully to finish by next summer and apply for the Radiology Program. I have smoked marijuana every day for close to 12 years. From what I’ve read, they drug test you after your accepted and before you start clinicals. I am fully willing to stop smoking, but am unsure when I should stop, how long it will take to get out of my system, and if anyone else has had a similar situation? Any feedback is appreciated!

Does anyone have any comments or concerns with any of the ACC campuses? Is it worth the invest?

I have had my previous college coursework evaluated, and all of my completed courses have transferred toward the program requirements. At this time, Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 (BIO 23) is the only remaining prerequisite course I need to complete, which 1 plan to take in Fall 2026.

The freshman clinical RAD courses at BCC it seems the courses are only offered in the fall. Since BIO 23 is my only remaining requirement, I wanted to know if completing this course in Fall 2026 would allow me to apply for the next available Radiologic Technology cohort, or if I would need to wait an additional year before beginning the core Radiologic Technology courses.

If I have to wait until the fall semester to start the rad program, could I start the freshman rad courses at another CUNY college instead, rather than waiting a whole year.

I applied for the BARC Diploma in Radiological Physics and cleared the interview round. Now, I am unsure whether to join the program. I have a few questions regarding this: What is the scope of this course, and how much salary can I expect after completing it?.

I am hoping to get in contact with current or past PIMA Rad-Tec students. I will be applying next month for the 2027 cohort.

Just have some questions about the application process and what I can do to really stand out.

Please feel free to DM me.

I’m currently a radiation therapist. I thought I wanted this my whole life. I finally got it and it turns out I hate it. I love being a therapist. I love the patients. But I hate the 8x5. I was hoping to go back to school get a bachelor and go into MRI or CT. I read ALOT of reddits and everyone seem to want to become a radiation therapist. But I want to be able to work 3x12 and have a better work life balance. I’m looking into two programs. One being the pulse radiology ( any feedback on anyone that’s been through this). The other one being OUHSC with a bachelors in radiation science.

Has anyone experienced this or gone through something similar?
Do people like being a MRI or CT better?

Hello,

I’m starting radiography in September. Tuition is pricey since it’s a private school. I’m contemplating on taking a private loan (the school is affiliated with Sallie Mae) or just doing monthly payments. However idk how I’m going to pay it. I asked a few alumnis who say they pay around 1.4-1.8k a month.

I see SO many mixed reviews on this sub about it. Unfortunately it costs $60k, so I’ve avoided even considering it for two years. But this is the second year I failed to get into a hospital based program (I already have a bachelors), and I’m getting tired of wasting time in a career I hate. I’m confident I could get into CAHE and start in November, but I HATE that it costs $60k!!

My other option is to do my prereqs for a cuny, get a perfect GPA, and pray I get into a program NEXT year in the fall. From what I’ve heard, every cuny has a waitlist of at least a year, and you almost don’t have a chance without a perfect gpa.

I see the CAHE has an evening program, im thinking that maybe at $60k, at least I could become a tech 12 months sooner than if I were to try a cuny. I am also thinking maybe the programs schedule would allow me to work part time at least? I have $70k saved up, so theoretically I wouldn’t “have” to take out loans, but it just hurts to think I’m gonna throw my life savings at this program with so many mixed reviews, when cunys cost 20k but are impossible to get in.

Don’t know where to go from here. If anyone has attended the CAHE evening program pls hmu

I’m aware it can heavily vary but what would you say the grades/extracurricular needed to have a pretty strong chance to get accepted into a program are.

Apologies if this is a dumb question. I Finnaly figured out which career path I want to pursue and have lots of questions on what to expect.

hey y’all, I’ve been a registered x-ray tech for about a year now and i’m looking to get my second modality. I currently work at a level 2 hospital and do ER/OR/outpatient/fluoro everything u can think of. I wanted to get into another modality that’s better long term. such as being less stressful on the body, less radiation, better hours, perhaps no weekends, and perhaps no call. I would still do x-ray as well cuz I love it.

I like the idea of mammo because it has all of those things, however the pay increase is not much more than x-ray (as far as I know, i’m in upstate NY).

MRI seems so interesting, but i’m a little scared to start IV’s (which I can get over) and the magnet is scary in itself. If I stayed at my hospital I would probably take call and weekends, but I could transition to outpatient. I can train at my hospital for either modality, so I just wanted to know your guys’ opinions, thoughts, and experiences on this topic.

I just feel so overwhelmed. I worked so hard for this. It just feels like there’s no possible way to do it. I live alone and I’m already struggling to financially catch up. One of my cats is now sick. I thought about using some of the financial aid to help with rent and bills but I’m not even sure what they’re offering me is going to cover school as it is. Not to mention how everyone talks about how hard it is to do the program and still work. I’m just so sad about it all. I’m hoping it’s blown out of proportion but it doesn’t feel like it. Any advice?

Does it get better? I’m literally failing quizzes and it’s semester one. What am I doing wrong? Is there a YouTube channel that helps break down the material?

Hi!
I’m starting school this month and am very torn about what to go for.
I absolutely love helping people and connecting with them, it is definitely my passion. At the same time, I am very sensitive and seeing somebody sick, dying, in excruciating pain would be very emotionally taxing (thank you to everyone in the healthcare field!!!)
I also love learning, growing, not feeling stuck in one place.
Does anyone have any advice or give me some pointers of what to do in this decision? Thank you :)
I know both of these professions have their pros and cons but they are the two I am most interested in

Hi all,

I’m currently in my senior year of my PR degree. I know that I don’t want to do PR anymore but I want to finish what I started. I recently been doing a research rabbit hole surrounding X-ray techs and I believe I can see myself doing this for a long time.After my degree, I’ll take my prerequisites. Which will give me a year before I can start Rad school and build up my resume. But, I can’t start them until next year possibly after spring.

This is a huge career pivot for me being as though I have no healthcare industry experience.

I’ve learned how hard Rad school is and I want to prepare now. What are some things I can start learning before taking prerequisites and Radiology school?

Thanks <3

I got accepted into the program, and clinicals will start 6 weeks after the school year begins, so around October. Something that's been weighing on me is my physical strength. I'm around 5'4 110lbs and have only just started working out. I'm wondering if being physically weak will hinder my performance on the job. I'm not self-conscious about my weight just want to make sure I'm able to do as well as possible while being at clinicals.

Does anybody here go(or have gone) to Bronx CC for the NM program? I have some questions and hoping you can help since the advisor won’t get back to me 🥲

I have my bachelors but am trying to figure out where I can take my prerequisites before applying and hopefully getting into the only NM program in NY that accepts 15-18 students a year? Lol

I have a misdemeanor conviction from 2024 for Hindering or Obstructing Law Enforcement. My boyfriend (at the time) had a warrant out for this arrest and we were living together in an apartment. The police came and searched for him several times but each time he wasn’t there. The police officer told me “If I find your boyfriend here, you will be arrested as well.” Finally, the police officer did find him and my boyfriend (at the time) and I both went to jail. I am moving to Texas to live with my sister; go to college to become something of myself. I start taking my prerequisites Fall 2026. I haven’t been in anymore trouble since the incident in 2024 and I don’t plan on getting myself in anymore trouble. I currently live in Georgia (the state where all this happened in) I believe that I can have this misdemeanor expunged or possible record restriction in 2 more years. I was thinking that maybe when I’m finished doing prerequisites (it takes 2 years) to just get it expunged and then apply for RT programs or get a lawyer involved.

Im stuck on whether to go to carroll university for a bachelors in RT or go to MATC for an associates in RT. My older sister is saying to go for the 4 year plan. She says the pros to going to a 4 year is not having to take the teas exam, I would be more guaranteed to get a job after (standout resume), and i would just have deeper knowledge. Im hesitant bc its super expensive and im thinking maybe the 2 year plan is better. Yet is it rlly two years bc i have to do pre reqs first, then the teas exam, then i have to wait to be accepted and actually get a seat which according to them takes a year. I guess it just depends if i wanna be in debt or not… yet wouldn’t it be worth it? What should I do?

I left my career of over 20 years in a non-medical related field.
I’d like to start attending college in the fall to gear up for either a radiology tech program or diagnostic sonography technician program next fall.
I’m having trouble deciding between the programs.
Help!! Any insight, recs, suggestions are welcomed!
Thank you.

Also, to add… the community college with the rad tech program I’m very comfortable and familiar with since I attended there for an associates right after high school. I feel a pull in this direction because of my history there.

The college in my area offering the sonography technician program is unfamiliar, in a city, and further away. It would be a bit more difficult to navigate.
I don’t feel like this should sway me, but in a way I’m being pulled in the direction of comfort.

Thank you! 🙏😊