u/InformalBell3551

Hi everyone! I’m looking into the Cardiac Sonography program at Oakton College in the Chicago area and wanted to hear from anyone who has gone through it (or knows someone who has).

A little background: I already have a bachelor’s degree and most/all of the prerequisites completed (A&P, physics, medical terminology, math, etc.). I’m considering sonography as a second-career healthcare path and possibly something that still aligns with long-term medical interests.

A few questions:

- How competitive was admission realistically?
- Does anyone know how long the waitlist usually is?
- Did you feel supported during the program?
- How intense was the workload and clinical schedule?
- Were you able to work at all during the program?
- Did you feel prepared for boards/jobs afterward?
- How difficult was balancing commuting to clinical sites?
- Any advice for someone applying with an older/lower cumulative GPA but decent science grades and healthcare experience?

Would love any honest feedback about Oakton specifically or sonography programs in the Chicago area in general. Thank you!

Anyone recently hired at a larger Chicago hospital as a Patient Coordinator or similar role?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently trying to transition back into the hospital system full-time and wanted to hear from anyone who’s recently been hired at hospitals like Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, or Advocate Health.
I have previous experience in outpatient and rehab settings doing:
patient coordination
scheduling
insurance verification
referrals
EMR systems
front desk operations
supporting multi-specialty clinics
I also have a bachelor’s degree in Health & Human Sciences and experience in health/wellness and strength coaching, but I’m looking to move back into a more structured healthcare environment long term.
Right now I’m mainly looking for:
full-time work
preferably morning/day shifts
stability and structure
opportunities for growth within a hospital system
a place I can stay with longer term
I’ve applied to quite a few positions already but haven’t heard back much yet, so I’m curious:
How long did it take you to hear back?
Did you apply directly or through networking/recruiters?
What pay range are hospitals offering right now for these roles?
Any tips for actually getting noticed in these systems?
Would really appreciate hearing anyone’s recent experience because I know the job market feels a little rough right now.
Thanks!