Sonographer to Radiologist?

Advice

Just toying with the idea.... any of you that have done it or looked into it? Anyone you know that's done it? With an Associate's in DMS, do you need to start over? I got my associate's 5 years ago, not sure how relevant my previous education is. Would it be best to go for a B.S. in Radiologic Sciences (perhaps with a bridge program) and take extra classes to satisfy the requirements for medical school admission? Can I do the B.S. courses over a longer period of time than 4 years if needed? Do you think it's even worth it to consider any of this at age 33?

What do you guys think?

in Sonographersby verywowmuchneat

100%

bigshern

RDCS

Sure…..if you have the time, money, and support system to do it. Sounds like it’s going to take a long time.

South_Violinist9027

I’m not saying that you should or should not do this, but there is a brilliant former student in the program I’m in now. He volunteers on lab days to help us and for an extra body to scan. He’s the same age as you and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Back in school to be a radiologist. So it can be done!

biewbiewtech

RDMS (Ab, OB). RVT. POCUS enthusiast.

I’m 36 and going back to school. I’m getting my bachelor’s degree from ASU part-time so I can go to medical school. Word on campus is that it might be easier to get into a DO school, cool with me. It takes a lot of discipline, time, and money - but I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do. In theory, you could go get a degree in anything, but I decided on a biological sciences because it covers the material that will be on the MCAT. Do it. (I’ve worked with a fair amount of PAs in outpatient settings, doing procedures and reads… that’s a shorter option with no MCAT.)

midcitycat

RDMS, RVT

Hi, 35 here and I've had the same daydream. I wish I could go back to my 18 year old self and shake her and start all over (didn't go to through DMS program until 30). I have decided it is not worth it at this point for me personally, mostly due to financial reasons. But if you're ready for it, I say you should go for it. :) You only live once and all that.

vegienomnomking

Let's see, first you will need a bachelor degree. Most go with biology with a minor in chemistry because it is easier to work on the pre req for med school. I did have a resident that had a communication bachelor degree that got in before. That will take you at least 2 years. Next you have to take the MCAT and get into medical school. If you have no down time, then that is another 4 years. After that, you need at least 8 years between residency and fellowship. So that's about 14 years minimum in total. You will be 47 by then as a starting radiologist.

Now with all the offshore reading and AI advancement, I don't know if it is worth it.

Adorable-Bobcat-2238

Definitely worth it but only if op commits

vegienomnomking

I disagree.

In 14 years, if you max a 3 fund portfolio savings each year, you will be a millionaire at age 47. Meanwhile, if you tried to be a radiologist, you will be in debt for around 500k.

Also, you are a newbie radiologist at 47. There won't be a lot of job opportunities. If you do find a job, it will most likely be 24/7 call all the time. You also have to buy expensive insurance because a radiologist is one of the top doctors who get sued.

I actually feel sorry for all the radiologists I know. Their life sucks. They don't even get the gratification from the patients they helped since they don't directly manage patients. Even the intervention radiologist hardly ever gets a thank you from their patients.

All that just for the prestige? No thank you, I'll stick with my plan of early retirement as a sonography.

Quick-Sandwich-5352

I must say I have also had the same itch sometimes but it's just too dang hard to get in to med school in Canada (where I am). It would be 2-3 years for a bachelors and then multiple attempts applying for me. On one hand I'm 20 so I have lots of time to pursue being a doctor if I do commit. On the other hand, I have my ARDMS general and OB credentials and my ARDMS cardiac credential too as I scan echo. There's lots of jobs for sonography here so if I simply worked and invested heavily in my 20's, I could also come out pretty well in the future financially.

It's a dillema I think about almost every other day lol. But tbh, I feel like if you really believe it's your destiny, just commit to it. You have nothing to lose 🤷‍♂️