Hi Janice,
I haven't checked in here in a while, obviously.

I studied CR for two years, but that was a long time ago. After that, I went into medical transcription, really enjoyed all things medical and loved it for almost 20 years, but yes it is a hard way to go these days.

CR really wasn't for me back then, and I didn't have any more time, could not have done it in two years, no way, and I was very young.

I am full circle now, in a sense, and scoping, enjoying it very much. I wish you much success in your career as a CR, however!

Hi Janice, check out The Brief Zone !
Great Drilling Material For Any Steno Theory...
www.thebriefzone.com

Hi Janice --

I'm sorry I took so long to respond. I haven't been on this site in a while.

But to answer your question, I find having medical transcription background invaluable. I love medical testimony. It's interesting. You get a higher page rate. And those jobs usually go for a good number of pages with copies.

Please feel free to email me at chayia770@optonline.net if you have any other questions.

Best,
Karen

Wow, Janice, small world. Who told you I used CRAH? So you're about halfway through? Is that halfway through theory or halfway through speed-building? That will give me a better idea of what kind of advice to give you. Also, I was a reporter for ten years and I had been out of it for eight years when I started the CRAH program, so I wasn't a total newbie. I look forward to hearing from you. You can also email at jill_m56@hotmail.com if you prefer.

Janice, how are you!?? Haven't heard from you in a long time wondering how your studies and life are going?

My summer has been incredibly busy..however I have been able to get a little school in here and there. I completed theory, however and finding myself going back to the manual more than I'd like during the speedbuilding, so am doing a review of all the little difficult areas now. But having fun!!

Send me a message and let me know how theings are.

How's the CRAH program going?

YEAH!! Good job, enjoy lesson 6, I have nothing good to say about 7! Just kidding..sort of!
I have heard great things about Eclipse, but for me the investment right now is not a possiblity. I ordered the scoping version of DigitalCat since we'll be using that when we "plug in" and i want to learn scoping, it was only $45.00 and I found a "mentor" not too far from me who uses it so I'm hoping to be able to figure it out and get rolling with some scoping soon. I'm feeling broke, not a good feeling in the summer, these kids get expensive.

I was right 17 is a bear, but I'm getting through, have taken the day off today, needed to spend some quality time with my dauther (the oldest and only girl 14) and we were actually home alone so it was very nice.

I'm very proud of your progress, I better buckle down or you'll beat me through theory...............:)

Hey Janice, how is your weekend going? I have devoted so much time to my studies these last two days, it's great! I did a complete review of 11-15 today, re did all the tests and wrote the entire CD twice, read back all once whew, had some errors, not horrible, but don't think it was 98+ accuracy either. But anyway moving on officially to 16, which looks simple (short anyway) and 17 is looking like bear.

Fill me on how you are doing, I think there is a comprehensive review of 1-5 or 1-6 too? Have you looked at it?

Hi, Janice,

My advice would be to learn your theory -- don't rush through the theory, ask questions to things you're unsure about and have fun.

Good luck
Tricia

Hey Janice. Thank you for those kind words. When I was in high school I wanted to be a teacher until I found court reporting. About eight years into working, I was asked to cover a class at the school I graduated from and that was it, I was hooked. I wound up hold that position for two years and teaching gave me the experience and the confidence to move beyond the classroom and I now have given seminars and obviously write articles, too. Doing what I do now is more suited to me.

Hey Janice,

What a wonderful welcome. What a great site. I need to find a decent picture to put up so no one thinks ill of me.

I wish you the best of luck in this. I know you will succeed!!!

I will probably be ordering my program over the weekend if all goes well. I may need your guidance.

Bye for now,

YOU GO GIRL!!! (I love the pix of you and Seth)

Susan

It took me just about three years to finish the program and I am out there freelancing. It's very important to learn as many of the tools of eclipse as you can because you need all the help you can get when it comes time to editing 150 page or 200 page jobs. There's a lot of nice features in eclipse and when you purchase the professional version you are given two $100 vouchers. Use them wisely whether its to have a profesional trainer help you set up an automatic index, or set up a numbering system for you take advantage. Go out on a couple of jobs and see when your editing what is taking up most of your time and get the additional help.

I learned the StenEd theory. I think it is about 30 lessons. I'm at school right now, and I don't have the book with me.

I know what you mean about the difficulties of getting through this program with kids. (Espescially little ones) I am fortunate I don't have to work. My husband works nights, and I have in-laws who live around the corner, and they are retired and help out a TON! I don't even take my machine out of its case at home until they are all in bed. I usually take at least one day off from practicing (sometimes more)

Well, I've got to go and get warmed up. I am hoping to get through my 130s today and maybe even snag a 140JC!

Have a good day!

I am at 130 and I still go through my theory book and revisit lessons from time to time.

This forum is a great resource! I wish it had been around when I first started. You will learn so much here that you can't get out of school or textbooks.

I don't know which program and theory you are learning, but I remember at times the dictation was just too fast for me on those theory lessons, so don't feel bad. BTW: At our school, we get through theory in about 6 months, and honestly, at the end, it started to feel rushed, and those lessons at the end are the ones I usually revisit.

Anyway, I like reading your blog, and I am sending you a friend request.

Hey janice, go here
http://www.csrnation.com/forum/topic/show?id=1736041%3ATopic%3A20262&page=2

A great discussion on How to get through school, will totally put your mind at ease! Beverly sounds like a pretty smart cookie.

I think the most important thing is to KNOW the letters and the arbitraries. I was thinking about you as I was folding the laundry:) It's important to remember that EACH lesson builds on the one before it, and I have found little hints for the lessons coming up, that is probably (sp) why support says not to worry about getting 100% accuracy on each dictation, you will get it again and again, true each lesson does get quicker but I think the design is good and causes almost a natural flow if that makes any sense? Something else I do, not sure if it's good or bad but I do work ahead a bit, like I've already written the arbitraries for 16 and 17 and have written to the dictation, not checking for any accuracy but just a little tease I guess?

Good job on your progress so far, I wish we could get a feel for others progress, I don't think there are many CRAH students out there to begin with, and our "boards" aren't too active with them:( But I'm glad you and I and a few others can work on things together.

Hi Janice, I think one reason I'm appearing to move quickly is the fact that I've completed theory and was in the 80's for speedbuilding, it was 20 years ago, but I remember so much, even today when I was doing the CD drills for 14, I was writing briefs we have not yet learned in CRAH. Don't be hard on yourself or try to get through faster than you are comfortable with. I'm not sure if I mentioned this or not, but I don't read back from the CD until my third take, that way I'm more comfortable and familiar with the speed and words. When I read back (usually twice) I correct on my paper notes and then go back and correct ONLY the words I miss, not the whole take over again, and I write them MANY times, out of frustration:)

Tell me you warm ups that you do each day..maybe I can make some suggestions there too.

Also, I'm not sure if hand strenght/pain is an issue for you, but it was for me, so I got some very cheap hand excercises at Target, the kind that look like to handles and you squeeze them together, and I do use those each AM while drinking my coffee to get my hands ready to go.

Wow, that's cool. You were really in the heart of Brooklyn.

Nothin' beats Brooklyn comfort food: Pizza, ices, egg creams! I ain't ever leavin'

Next time you're in NYC, look me up.