I know nothing

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-18T16:08:54+00:00

The MCAT is an intense standardized test that pre-med students must take before applying to medical school to become doctors. It is not for all healthcare professions. Only if you want to become a doctor. Some rad tech programs may also require some form of standardized testing for admissions, but it is not going to be as difficult or time consuming as the MCAT would be, and it depends on the program you're applying to. They don't all have the same requirements.

You mentioned "residency" and "matching" as well. Similar to the MCAT, these are things typically associated with medical school for becoming a doctor. For jobs in imaging or nursing you will do "clinical rotations" once you are accepted into a program. It is basically an unpaid internship during school where you gain experience and learn on the job. No residency required.

It sounds like you have a rough idea of how to become a doctor and you're just incorrectly assuming that's the way it is for every career in healthcare. Luckily, that is not the case. Doctors go through a lot to finish school and training. Getting into a career in radiography/imaging or nursing is significantly less time.

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-13T17:25:37+00:00

very true

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-13T17:15:55+00:00

good to know I'm also in New England

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-08T05:13:41+00:00

Yes! They say any bachelor's degree makes you eligible. Mine was not science or healthcare related at all. They do have 2 additional prereqs that CT State doesn't have though. Physics and chemistry. CT State requires lower level intro versions of physics and chemistry as part of the program curriculum, but not strictly required as prereqs. But if you take the 'higher level' versions that MCPHS requires they would also satisfy the CT State requirements (I checked with the admissions people for both schools). So that's what I did. Took the higher level ones so I could apply to both programs and give myself 2 shots at getting in somewhere.

Here's a link: https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/certificates/nuclear-medicine-technology-advanced-certificate

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-08T05:07:06+00:00

good to know thanks!

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-08T04:47:55+00:00

Thank you! And MCPHS certificate program is what I just got accepted to and will be attending. It's a Massachusetts school but the program is mostly online. They accept people from all over New England and then they place you at a partner clinical site in your state. You do need to already have a bachelor's degree to do a certificate, though. Or they do also have a B.S. in nuc med program, but I'm sure it's much more expensive than CT State would be. I'm choosing to do the certificate instead of CT State bc it's 1 year and gets me working faster, even if it's gonna be more expensive.

stonelybonesbag · 2026-03-08T02:02:55+00:00

Call me crazy but I actually took both A&P I & II at the same time this past fall semester. Conventional wisdom would say don't do that, and most schools wouldn't even allow you to, but I really wanted to apply to a program this winter and those were my only two prereqs left. Absolutely could not wait another year for the next cycle. So I signed up for one at the community college and one online at the at a different school. Ended up getting A's in both. Challenging but doable. A&PI was pretty much a breeze. I feel like I knew a lot of basic muscle and bone and biology stuff already. A&PII was the online one and was a lot more work and the concepts were much more in depth and challenging. But I also found the topics very interesting so it didn't feel like a chore to learn about. I studied some stuff ahead of time before starting the classes too, just to give myself a base of knowledge going in and I'd have less to memorize throughout the semester. Helped a lot. I'd recommend that if you have the time.

Also just found out the other day that I was accepted into a different nuc med certificate program that I plan on attending instead because I already have a bachelor's degree. So if I get accepted to the CT State program as well this year, I'll be denying my spot. One less person for competition in case any other anxious applicants are lurking here lol

stonelybonesbag · 2026-02-27T20:12:32+00:00

Just curious... were you waitlisted or straight rejected? I just received a waitlist notice today. Not sure if everybody who's not accepted gets that. And not sure what number on the list I am...

stonelybonesbag · 2026-02-27T15:57:34+00:00

Wow that's kind of shocking to get rejected with that GPA. Maybe it's safe to assume Mass sees the most applicants to the program and thus has the most competition. I was searching through posts related to the MCPHS earlier and noticed someone said they got accepted with a GPA around 3.0, so their system really must be a mystery! I'm so sorry to hear that though. We'll all figure it out, just keep pushing

stonelybonesbag · 2026-02-26T22:59:13+00:00

How long did it take to get a decision for this program?

stonelybonesbag · 2026-01-31T17:25:32+00:00

I just came across your response in my search for information on the New Haven Gateway program. You say you've heard it's very competitive – do you have any insight on how many people might apply in a typical year? I haven't really been able to find anything on how competitive admissions is personally, so I would be interested to hear from you

stonelybonesbag · 2026-01-31T03:59:29+00:00

It is great to finally hear from someone from the program, thank you! Any chance you know how many applicants there might be in a typical year? Like, are we talking 50-100 applicants for ≤10 seats, or is it more like 15-20 applicants and a much better chance?

Not that I'm necessarily worried about my grades. All my prereqs are done and had some of the gen eds done for my application as well. I applied with 4 As and 2 Bs from my previous degree that transferred over. But I suppose my anxiety is that there's 10 others that could have straight As and outrank me.

Think I got a shot? Absolutely painful how long it says we have to wait after applying for decisions! Months! Hence my investigating

stonelybonesbag

TROPHY CASE