u/NailEnvironmental613

Im in so cal and want to study for CLS. The programs are really competitive here tho and ideally I don’t want to have to move out of state. Wondering if it would be worth it to get my associates in MLT first at saddleback or if I should just go straight for a bachelors in biology + CLS pre requisites. Would having experience as an MLT help me get into CLS programs after I have my bachelors? Also working as an MLT could give me an idea of what it’s like to be a CLS so I could have a better idea if CLS is something I want to pursue. Im also unsure how much getting my associates in MLT would prolong my education since a lot of the MLT classes are also CLS prerequisites like immunology, hematology, microbiology, biochemistry. What do you guys think?

I just turned 22. I graduated high school 4 years ago. I’ve worked as a line cook the last few years and did a semester of culinary school at my local community college because I wanted to be a chef. Then I realized most chefs work at least 60 hours a week which made me change my mind about being a chef. I’d like a job with a reasonable work life balance, 40 hours a week max a good pay. I started thinking about other career options. I didn’t want super long schooling or heavy student loan debt so something like doctor, lawyer, dentist, or pharmacist are eliminated. I want something that only takes 2-5 years of school. I thought about engineering but I don’t know if I am smart enough for that honestly. I think trigonometry or maybe calculus 1 is my math limit. I considered radiologic technologist or biomedical equipment technician which are associate level jobs but I felt I wouldn’t be satisfied with those careers that I’m capable of more. I found out about something called Clinical Laboratory Scientist which seemed perfect for me. You get a science bachelors and then apply to a 1 year post bachelor program where you get certified. The only issue is that in the state I live the programs are extremely competitive you need basically perfect grades and so most likely I would have to do a program out of state. Another career I was considering was nuclear medicine technologist but again the programs near me are extremely limited if have to move somewhere for the program and even after graduation the field of nuclear medicine is very small so I’d probably have to move to find a job. I don’t want to move far from my family I have a disabled mom and younger brother who depend on my support. Im also in a relationship now and I don’t know how willing my partner would be to move and I really don’t want to have to do long distance relationship or breakup because of school. I’d prefer something where I can complete my schooling and work where I live in the SoCal area. I also enjoying using weed recreationally on my time off. I have no issue quitting weed temporarily for a drug test but I don’t want a job where if have to give it up forever. Right now I’ve completed English, Interpersonal communication, History, and Medical terminology classes at my community college I also have 7 units of credit from when I did culinary school and 3 units from an AP class I took in high school so I have 22 credits right now and need 60 for an associates. Currently registered to take preparation for general chemistry, anatomy, college algebra, and ethnic studies next semester. Officially I’m completing the pre requisites to become a nuclear medicine technologist but I’m having serious doubts about if that’s what I want to do because the field is so small im worried I’ll have to relocate to find a job. I don’t know what to do I feel like any career I think of has issues. My relationship with my girlfriend also isn’t going too well right now and I’m worried what dating would be like for me we breakup. If I am planning on moving somewhere far away for school in a year or two I feel like that would make dating here a lot more difficult. If I pursue what I’m passionate about its music, I love playing piano, I love playing guitar, I love writing music. Im just worried that doesn’t pay well but I would peruse that if I could and honestly Im considering it

For the Kaiser NMT program it lists chemistry and physics as necessary prerequisites on their website but doesn’t specify which courses specifically meet that requirement. My school offers a bunch of different physics and chemistry classes and I don’t know which one to take. Theres conceptual physics which is a broad overview of a bunch of different topics in physics for non majors, theres Algebra based physics 1 and 2, theres calculus based physics 1 and 2. And for chemistry there’s introductory chemistry which is a broad overview of a bunch of different topics in chemistry and includes a lab, there’s general chemistry A and B. I have no idea which ones I need to take. It matters a lot because for general chemistry I need to take a pre requisite preparation class, and for algebra based physics I’d need to pass trigonometry, and for calculus based physics I’d need calculus. I’ve tried contacting the school but it’s super hard to get in touch with them and the one time I did they told me to just look at a the catalog and when I did it was literally just as vague and unspecific as their website.

What pre requisites did you have to take and did anyone get accepted into the Kaiser program and if so what pre requisites did you need?