Sonography has changed the admissions process. The Sonography program uses a selective process. The following information will guide you through this process:

Admissions Process

• Review the Sonography information on the website and the Program Admissions Criteria below
• Attend a Sonography Information Meeting
• Apply to SCTC and declare a HCT/ Sonography Major
• Plan which classes to take and in what order, based on your schedule, class availability and prerequisites classes.  Know your program prerequisites and which classes you need to take.  See Program Checklist.
• Contact or meet with the HCT/ Sonography Enrollment Specialist each semester if you are uncertain of which classes to take or if you need help understanding if you meet the Program Criteria.

Applying to Sonography: The 5 “A’s” Lead the Way:

Application to the College
Apply to the college: This can be done on line or a paper application. A completed application consists of high school, and or college transcripts and or GED scores and a $20.00 application fee. (This application is in addition to the program application which we will discuss later.) Applications to the Sonography program are accepted until February 1st of the year an applicant is considering.

Prior to being considered/accepted to the Sonography major, most students will apply as Health Care Technician students with their emphasis on Sonography.  This major is used for students that need to take the preadmission courses for the Sonography program and are planning to take the courses at St. Cloud Technical College.  On the College application an applicant would apply as a HCT/SONO if they need to take preadmission courses. If you have all of the preadmission courses completed you may apply directly to the Sonography program using the college application and the program application.

Notes on application process:
If you have applied to the college in the past and paid a $20.00 application fee you do not need to pay again.
If you have taken 8 or more semester credits in English or Reading courses (with a grade of C or above) you do not need to submit a high school transcript. To find more information on Accuplacer, click here.

Acceptance
Applicants are accepted to the college first. Upon completion of requirements for a specific program applicant may be accepted to their program if space is available.  Therefore, it is very important that applicants review the check list sent and act promptly on the conditions needed to satisfy acceptance to the program applying for. 
Many students applying for Sonography believe they are accepted to the program when they receive a letter stating they have been accepted to Health Care Technician/Sonography. This means you have been accepted to the college, not Sonography. More will be discussed on this later.

Assessment/Accuplacer/Placement test
Call it what you want, this is a tool used to measure success. It is a very important part of the application process. Applicants are placed in courses based on their test results. It is important that a student takes the test seriously. Some applicants may be exempt from testing if they have attended a previous college and taken math and English courses and received a grade of C or above. You may be exempt based on ACT scores; this is determined by a review of college transcripts or ACT scores received. If you have questions on this you may contact the Admissions office.

If you test at another college you will want to have the test results sent to our college. It is your responsibility to have the scores sent to the Admissions office. Prior to testing at another college, find out what tests you need to take. Applicants applying to Sonography must test in Reading, Elementary Algebra and College Math.
When you are finished testing you will meet with an advisor to discuss your placement scores.

Advising
All students accepted to St. Cloud Technical College are assigned an advisor. Your advisor is someone you will meet with about courses, concerns, program information, etc. Each semester you will meet with your advisor to discuss the next semester. Your advisor’s name is listed on the acceptance letter. It is very important that you meet with your advisor each semester; this is the only way a student will receive their access code to register for the following semester classes.

Attend Registration
The early bird gets the worm, when it comes to registering for classes. Accepted students will receive a letter inviting them to come for registration. This is the day you will register for classes in the semester you begin. Students that miss this appointment may miss out on the classes they need. Students in the health field all need several of the same courses and they fill up quickly. Be prepared and keep your appointments.  You will receive a letter in the mail a month or so prior to your registration date. This letter will detail what your next steps are for registering for classes. Make sure you have followed all the instructions on your Admissions Check list prior to this day.  If you have any courses that you believe will transfer to the college please contact Records and Registration prior to the registration date. You don’t want to sign up for classes that you may not need.

FAQs, Forms and Information

• Online Application to the Sonography program
• Admission requirements (.pdf)
• Profile of a Sonography applicant (.pdf)