how is CLS, is it hard? what kinda classes do you take?
Undergrad was harder than the CLS program, in my opinion. In college, we took 8 hrs gen chem, 8 hrs organic chem, 3 hrs biochem, 4 hrs analytical chem, 17 hrs microbiology/immunology, and a choice between medical mycology or animal virology.
In the CLS program, I thought the material was easier but there was A LOT. We sat in lectures for 8 hours a day the first three months (didactic). During rotations, we worked in the lab 8 hours a day M-Th. On Fridays, we had management and education lectures (8 hours). The different lab tests we learned about are urinalysis/body fluids, hematology, general chemistry, clinical or special chemistry, blood bank, immunology, microbiology (bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology). We also touched a little on some of the anatomic pathology (cytogenetics and molecular but not histology/cytology/gross pathology).
We also had to do a research project for one of the labs in the hospital. For instance, the micro lab wanted to switch methodologies for testing
C. diff in stool specimens. I did a comparison between the current methodology and a new methodology they were considering. We had to write a proposal, paper, and present a poster to the lab staff.
The great thing about CLS is that you can find a job anywhere, anytime in the country. There is a universal shortage of lab techs in this country. Unfortunately, the general public (and most health professionals even) do not know that lab techs exist. Most believe that the phlebotomist (HS diploma) does the testing or that all we do is push buttons on instruments. Of course this is not true.
I have narrowed down my major choices to these three options and would greatly appreciate anyones input and suggestions. 
