2 answers
kenadi
Student
Dalton, Massachusetts
2
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I am Interested in sonography what classes should I take
high school student
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2 answers
Téa C.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
6
Answers
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Téa’s Answer
Hi there!
If they're available at your high school, I recommend at least taking Anatomy & Physiology (A&P), Physics, Algebra, & Health/Health Ed (if it's not mandatory). Depending on the college ultrasound (US) program, pre-calculous might help, too. We don't do complex math for US scanning, but some of my college US classes involved math & equations. However, out of all of my high school classes, my A&P class helped the most because of the information I learned & it was where I found out how interested I was in that kind of info.
You should look into what colleges you might want to go to. You could even request US program information and/or speak with a college counselor. Some college courses have "prerequisites" to get into the classes. For example, a prerequisite for a college physics course could be needing to pass a certain level of math in high school, or you'll need to take an additional college math course if you didn't pass a high enough math class in high school.
Also, if they're available in your high school & you're able to do them, it could help to take AP classes (as long as you score high enough on the AP tests). In high school I had AP chemistry & AP art classes, but I did well enough in English to take the AP English test, too. I didn't score high enough on the AP chemistry test, but getting at least a 3 for the AP art & English tests let me use them towards certain college course prerequisites. College can be very expensive, so you'll save money if you score high enough on AP test(s) & get exempted from any college class(es). However, AP classes are harder & you don't have to take them; they can just help!
To learn more about AP classes: https://www.mcmillaneducation.com/blog/ap-classes-explained/
If they're available at your high school, I recommend at least taking Anatomy & Physiology (A&P), Physics, Algebra, & Health/Health Ed (if it's not mandatory). Depending on the college ultrasound (US) program, pre-calculous might help, too. We don't do complex math for US scanning, but some of my college US classes involved math & equations. However, out of all of my high school classes, my A&P class helped the most because of the information I learned & it was where I found out how interested I was in that kind of info.
You should look into what colleges you might want to go to. You could even request US program information and/or speak with a college counselor. Some college courses have "prerequisites" to get into the classes. For example, a prerequisite for a college physics course could be needing to pass a certain level of math in high school, or you'll need to take an additional college math course if you didn't pass a high enough math class in high school.
Also, if they're available in your high school & you're able to do them, it could help to take AP classes (as long as you score high enough on the AP tests). In high school I had AP chemistry & AP art classes, but I did well enough in English to take the AP English test, too. I didn't score high enough on the AP chemistry test, but getting at least a 3 for the AP art & English tests let me use them towards certain college course prerequisites. College can be very expensive, so you'll save money if you score high enough on AP test(s) & get exempted from any college class(es). However, AP classes are harder & you don't have to take them; they can just help!
Téa recommends the following next steps:
Vianne Phan
Youth Development Teacher
62
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Vianne’s Answer
If you're thinking about sonography, you're on the right path by focusing on science classes in high school. Sonography involves understanding the human body and using tech to make images for medical purposes. Classes like biology, anatomy, physiology, and chemistry are super helpful. If your school has physics, that's a great pick too, as it covers waves, energy, and sound, which are key to how ultrasound machines work. Also, aim to be strong in algebra and geometry, and if you can, try to take statistics later since it helps with understanding medical data.
It's also important to get some real-life experience in healthcare settings. Volunteering at a hospital, clinic, or imaging center lets you see how patient care and medical tech work together. Watching sonographers at work, even for a little while, gives you a feel for the job and what it’s really like. These experiences are valuable when applying to sonography programs because they show you've looked into the field and know what it takes.
Right now, focus on two things: building a strong background in science and math at school, and finding ways to experience healthcare up close. Doing both will give you a great start in college and make you stand out for sonography programs. By mixing studies with real-world experiences, you're setting yourself up for success in this hands-on and rewarding career.
It's also important to get some real-life experience in healthcare settings. Volunteering at a hospital, clinic, or imaging center lets you see how patient care and medical tech work together. Watching sonographers at work, even for a little while, gives you a feel for the job and what it’s really like. These experiences are valuable when applying to sonography programs because they show you've looked into the field and know what it takes.
Right now, focus on two things: building a strong background in science and math at school, and finding ways to experience healthcare up close. Doing both will give you a great start in college and make you stand out for sonography programs. By mixing studies with real-world experiences, you're setting yourself up for success in this hands-on and rewarding career.