Selection Process

All candidates who meet minimal requirements are encouraged to apply to the program. Because the selection process is competitive, not all applicants who meet minimal admission requirements will be selected into the program. All qualified candidates are evaluated for consideration based on merit utilizing the program’s established screening process.

Applications are initially reviewed for verification of minimal requirements. Applications who meet minimal requirements are scored using an established and approved scoring method. Of the applicants who meet minimal requirements and complete the mandatory pre-admission activity, some applicants will be invited to attend a personal interview.  Interview candidates will be notified by email of their interview date, time and location. Following each candidate’s interview, the interview team will score each interview using a standardized scoring rubric.  Click here to view the comprehensive interview score rubric.* Final selection of applicants into the program will be based on this score. An alternate list is formed with candidates rank-ordered based on their overall interview score.

*The program does not share completed rubrics with applicants following their interview* 

Preference may be given to applicants who reside in the state of Indiana at the time of application or, for applicants who reside outside of Indiana at the time of application, are employed within an Ascension facility.

Clinical Site Selection

In order to meet all of the requirements in the adult cardiac sonography concentration, clinical sites are assigned by the program director.  Students will rotate through ALL clinical sites listed and will not be able to select just one primary site. 

Foreign Educated Applicants

Applicants educated in foreign countries are welcomed to apply to the program. However, candidates must have completed all the program’s general education pre-requisites through regionally-accredited American colleges and universities. No foreign academic work will be considered toward the general education requirements. Foreign transcripts or the equivalent domestic evaluation of foreign transcripts (ECE, for example) should NOT be submitted.

Disability

The Ascension St. Vincent Sonography Program does not discriminate on the basis of disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not request disability information from program applicants. Likewise, candidates are advised to not discuss or disclose a disability to program faculty, students or other Ascension St. Vincent associates or representatives. If accepted into the sonography program, candidates will have the opportunity to request accommodations for disabilities as defined by the American with Disabilities Act. The program, in consultation and guidance from the Ascension St. Vincent Offices of Associate Health , will determine if disability accommodations are reasonable. The program reserves the right to deny disability accommodations that are not deemed to be reasonable. 

Criminal History/Professional License Suspension or Revocation

The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is the certifying agency for sonographers.  The ARDMS may deny exam eligibility for any applicant convicted of or plead guilty to a felony, or misdemeanor, with the sole exception of speeding and minor parking violations.  The ARDMS may also deny exam eligibility for any applicant who has had a professional license or certification suspended or revoked. A criminal history or suspension/revocation of a professional license or certification is NOT to be disclosed during the application process.

To determine ARDMS pre-eligibility, the applicant must to submit to the ARDMS a pre-eligibility application at their own expense. The applicant will be required to forward the ARDMS pre-eligibility decision to the program director ONLY if the applicant has been granted conditional acceptance into the program. Full acceptance will be contingent upon receiving clearance for pre-eligibility by ARDMS. Failure to provide the pre-eligibility clearance by the ARDMS will result in removal of conditional acceptance. While approval of pre-eligibility by the ARDMS is required for full acceptance, the program reserves the right to deny full acceptance based on Ascension St. Vincent policies and  practices.