u/Regular-Option-5761

Hi ya'll! I took all my college prerequisite classes for my local sonography program my last 2 years of high school and got a calculated GPA of 3.8 for the program. Right after I graduated, I took the HESI and got an 88.5. My program, which does not do interviews but only looks at calculated GPA and HESI score, rejected me. Next year, I am going to try again. However, here I am at 18 with at least one gap year I did not want. I am looking to build my resume this year so that my career in sonography will be easier, any suggestions?? I am considering getting certified as a PCT or phlebotomist. Also, I am saving money so next year I can apply for technical college sonography programs around the state and be able to pay rent living away from my parents. Any and all advice on how to spend the next year strengthening my application and building my skills would be fantastic!

Okay, this is gonna sound ridiculous lol, but does anyone have any tips for what to do when waiting on an acceptance letter that don't let me spiral into insanity? My school sends acceptance letters in the middle of the summer semester....aaaand it does NOT send out rejection letters. So, every day I wait for the letter to come and it doesn't, I'm afraid it will just never come and I didn't get in. I really need to focus on something else, but I am struggling. I am trying self-care, taking on more hours at work, preparing myself in other ways for program...what do I do while I wait??

Hi guys!

I am an 18-year-old student who took all prerequisite classes for my local sonography program from ages 16-18. I have TERRIBLE test anxiety, so I did everything I could to minimize it for the HESI. It was NOT easy because my school only allows me to take it once a year and it usually takes me 2 tries to get a good grade on a test, but I set my goal for myself to be getting about an 85 for the HESI. Thank you SO SO MUCH to everyone who sent me tips and tricks for the HESI!!!

Here's my advice to those who have the exam coming up:

1. Memorize fluid conversions. (this got me a 98 on the math section. I used Quizlet to memorize this)

2. Memorize the Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion formula.

3. Memorize different prefixes of the metric system and their meaning (also 1.6km=1mi. More Quizlet.)

4. Study for the reading section while all snuggled up with tea or coffee. It makes it fun and calming. You comprehend more and do better on test day! (Also scored very high on reading)

5. OXFORD COMMA! :)

6. ANATOMY!! I did not do as well on anatomy and I encourage you to NOT do this section first (my test anxiety made it very hard to remember information.) You are gonna want to study different tissue types, common medication side effects, muscle usage, bone anatomy and the basic functions of the immune system. This section is the most difficult, so study long and hard for it!

7. Critical Thinking-- use Microsoft Copilot. Tell it you are studying for the HESI and which school you are taking it for. Nurse Hub is SUUUPER helpful for the other sections, but it does not have anything to study for critical thinking as far as I know. Copilot can give you example questions based on the HESI. It helped me get a MUCH better score than I would have gotten otherwise.

8. Also, I noticed many of the Critical Thinking questions were first aid related. I have been CPR and first aid certified in the past, so I reflected a lot on that info during the exam. Even if you haven't worked in healthcare yet (I haven't either--I am currently a food service worker.) I recommend getting those basic certifications because they teach you most of what you need to know for Critical Thinking.

Thanks again to everyone who gave me tips for the HESI!! Have a blessed summer everyone!

Hello!! I am taking the HESI in less than a month to enter a sonography program with a 20 percent acceptance rate. My college told me to study on NurseHub, so I have been. However, my HESI will cover Critical Thinking and I have been unable to find that on NurseHub. I've been using AI to review Critical Thinking, but I would like some more accurate, preferably free options. Any advice??