TJC has a highly rated Diagnostic Sonography program that is competitive for students to be accepted into due to limited enrollment. The criteria for acceptance into the program utilizes a point system that provides applicant rankings and is reviewed by an admissions committee. Students accepted into the program gain valuable hands-on experience in hospitals around East Texas.

Two first-year ultrasound students, Kortlynn Grimes, from Troup, and Tori Snyder, from Jacksonville, are discovering how to handle the stress of being in a medical program while balancing enjoying their life outside of school.

In an intensive program like Diagnostic Sonography, it is important to be passionate about the career field and stay interested in learning about the job every day. 

 “My favorite part is the people I’ve met along the way my classmates and my instructors and just getting to see all the different aspects of sonography that you wouldn’t think about,” Grimes said.

Finding a career path that is ever evolving means being able to use problem-solving skills and be involved with continuing education constantly. In the medical field, it is important to be able to think outside of the box and learn how to work with diverse clients.

 “You constantly have to use your thinking skills,” Snyder said.

In a medical program, it can be difficult to juggle school assignments and outside life in general. It is important to prioritize time and form a reasonable schedule that has a good balance of school and life. 

“It’s really hard, definitely life, school, and clinical balance, because even though you’re only going to clinicals, two days a week, it’s all day,” Grimes said.

It can be an overwhelming adjustment from doing the prerequisites on the main campus to transferring into the program at the Robert M. Rogers Nursing and Health Science Building. Having information about what school is like in the program and some helpful strategies can help new students gain insight into the program.

“Making a good schedule, having a routine over the weekend for sure, prioritizing studying, and getting a good night’s rest, if possible, helped,” Snyder said.

Along with the lectures and lab classes, program students are required to have clinical hours at hospitals in the surrounding areas. This provides students with real-world experience and a look into what a day in life in their career field is like.  

“Most of our clinical sites, you’re going to have to drive for like, I have to drive to Palestine and it’s an hour away from my house,” Snyder said.

TJC’s highly rated Diagnostic Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, which attracts many students from all over the state and outside of Texas. 

“TJC’s program reputation is lived up to,” Grimes said. 

More information about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program and degree plans, as well as how to apply can be found at www.tjc.edu/info/20115/diagnostic_medical_sonography.