Diagnostic medical sonography programs often add something to the interview: an aptitude exam, spatial reasoning puzzles, or a job shadow. The interview itself is usually scored on a point scale and weighed heavily. Here is what named programs say, from their own admissions pages.
From sonography programs’ own admissions pages and policies2027 admissionsChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
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Interview formats at named programs
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic (Beachwood) | Behavior-based, in person | For 2027-2028: “The purpose of the behavior-based interview is to assess communication and critical thinking skills.” The interview is worth 33 of 105 possible points. Source |
| WVU Medicine | Committee plus puzzles | “Interviews are granted to the top (12) academic candidates each year”. Candidates need “a minimum average of 25 interview points (out of a possible 40)” and complete five spatial reasoning puzzles. Source |
| Froedtert & MCW | Faculty panel | “A personal interview is mandatory for consideration of acceptance.” Panelists rate professional appearance, professionalism and maturity, communication and interpersonal skills, initiative and motivation, and critical thinking. Source |
| UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital | In person, plus an exam | Interviews February 22, 23, and 24, 2027. “They will last approximately 30 minutes”, followed by time with a current student and an aptitude exam. Source |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | Virtual | Interviews February 2027. “Virtual live interview sessions will be conducted in late February.” Source |
| McHenry County College | One hour, plus job shadow | “Selected applicants will be invited to participate in a one-hour interview with the Program Chair and Clinical Education Coordinator.” Interviews are held each May. Source |
Puzzles, exams, and job shadows
Sonography is a spatial job, and some programs test for it directly.
- Spatial reasoning puzzles. At WVU Medicine, “At the time of the interview applicants will complete five spatial reasoning puzzles to assess their critical thinking, reasoning skills, spatial visualization, and problem-solving abilities.” “Points are assigned based on time to complete, completion of all puzzles, and accuracy.” (WVU Medicine)
- Aptitude exam. UCHealth’s exam covers anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, algebra, physics, graph interpretation, and spatial reasoning. “There is no study material for this exam” (UCHealth).
- Job shadow. At McHenry, applicants invited to interview must complete a four-hour job shadow in a sonography department (McHenry).
- Essay. McHenry’s 500-word essay prompt is “What makes you the best candidate for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at McHenry County College, and what drives your passion for Sonography?”
The interview score can decide close calls. WVU Medicine breaks ties with “the average interview score” and averages scores from a committee of at least three members.
Practice questions
Most programs don’t publish their questions. These are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- Tell us about a time you had to explain something technical to someone without a science background.
- What did you see while shadowing a sonographer?
- How would you handle a patient who is uncomfortable during an exam?
- Tell us about a time you solved a problem under time pressure.
- Sonographers often find abnormal results they can’t share with the patient. How would you handle that?
- How do you take care of your body in a physically demanding job?
- Why our program?
How to prepare
- Prepare behavior-based answers. Cleveland Clinic’s interview is behavior-based: describe the situation, what you did, and the result.
- Practice spatial puzzles and mental rotation if your program tests spatial reasoning.
- Review the basics (algebra, physics, anatomy) if there is an aptitude exam, even when there’s no study guide.
- Dress and act professionally. Froedtert rates professional appearance.
- Do a timed mock interview, on video if yours is virtual.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own sonography personal statement before the interview. If you haven’t submitted yet, see our sonography personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
For radiation therapy, MLS, and other professions, see our allied health interview guide.
For panel interviews, see panel interview tips from Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist, on speaking to several interviewers at once.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for sonography applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you’re nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It’s $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do sonography programs interview?
Yes, at the programs on this page. Froedtert says a personal interview is mandatory for consideration, and WVU Medicine interviews its top 12 academic candidates each year.
Is there a test at a sonography interview?
At some programs. WVU Medicine gives five spatial reasoning puzzles, and UCHealth gives an aptitude exam covering anatomy, terminology, algebra, physics, graphs, and spatial reasoning.
How much does the sonography interview count?
At Cleveland Clinic’s Beachwood program, the interview is worth 33 of 105 possible points. WVU Medicine requires an average of at least 25 of 40 interview points.
What is a behavior-based interview?
Questions about how you handled real situations in the past. Cleveland Clinic uses one to assess communication and critical thinking skills.
Related guides: Allied health, Perfusion, Radiation therapy, Respiratory therapy, Medical laboratory science, Dietetic internship, and Genetic counseling. See all interview guides by program.
Every date, number, and quotation on this page comes from the program’s own admissions page or policy, linked where it appears. A few of these pages give no cycle year; we used them only where they describe the program’s current process. Last checked October 28, 2026.