[Kohrs93]

LET'S NOT START A FIGHT ON MY THREAD THIS TIME AND GET IT LOCKED. THANK YOU!


Hi. I just graduated high school in december (early grad ). I've been thinking alot about my future lately, and everytime i think of something i might want to do, it ends up down the toilet and i always come back to something with cars. I've pretty much decided i want to be an automotive engineer or a technician (mechanic). My plan as of right now is to work full time through this year up until fall of next year and get my car paid off, and save up as much as i can for college. When fall comes around i plan on enrolling at UTI chicago and taking there 51 week auto/diesel core program, then following that up with the 15 week ford fasttrack program. After I'm done I'd like to get a job as a ford technician. I've been searching on the internet and the avg salary for a ford technician is around $40,000 a year. I know that's not going to put me in a mansion or anything, but as long as im happy and can get by that's all i'm worried about.

How does that sound to you guys? Nothing is set in stone, obviously. Do you have any advice or suggestions? Any input you guys have is much appreciated


P.S. I appreciated all your opinions on my last thread about this. But there really was no need to start a huge argument over it... i did say that i was open to all opinions. So... let the opinions/advice/suggestions continue please.


A few suggestion I noticed on my last thread that i wanted to reply to but couldn't:

I'm looking for a job at some kind of shop, i've been around to 2 or 3 and applied at 4 others. But when i call back/go talk to them, all i get is "we're not hiring" or "we're looking for a ..... specialist"
Trust me, I would LOVE to get a job at a shop somewhere just doing oil/tires/basic stuff. But that's just not going to happen right now. Maybe within the next few months tho ^.^

[JakeM]

I stand by mine. If you go to UTI to learn, you will. Awesome experience. IMHO, they offer a lot more than a community college can in almost every respect. You'll hear no more from me unless its a question from the O.P... Sorry about the last thread.

[RZNCAIN]

.

[Danderson]

As a current UTI student i must chime in....
1. you will learn a ton of stuff
2. you will lean way more than at a community collage.
3. the majority of teachers at uti have 10+ years in the auto industry and are very knowledgeable.
4. 5% of the students of the students are there to learn and get the best of the school. the other 95% of students are there to F$%# off. A lot of the students pass classes with out knowing anything.

so my advice to you if make sure u are going there to learn not bc u think cars are cool. if u decide to go to uit take advantage of the step programs there ie ford bmw ect

[Kohrs93]

Originally Posted by Danderson As a current UTI student i must chime in.... 1. you will learn a ton of stuff 2. you will lean way more than at a community collage. 3. the majority of teachers at uti have 10+ years in the auto industry and are very knowledgeable. 4. 5% of the students of the students are there to learn and get the best of the school. the other 95% of students are there to F$%# off. A lot of the students pass classes with out knowing anything. so my advice to you if make sure u are going there to learn not bc u think cars are cool. if u decide to go to uit take advantage of the step programs there ie ford bmw ect

That's exactly what i needed A current UTI student. I'm definately going there to learn, as this is my future i'm talking about. Thanks for the heads up though, reps

[Kohrs93]

Originally Posted by JakeM I stand by mine. If you go to UTI to learn, you will. Awesome experience. IMHO, they offer a lot more than a community college can in almost every respect. You'll hear no more from me unless its a question from the O.P... Sorry about the last thread.

Forgiven And thanks for the reply, reps to you as well.

[Drick]

And ill stand by my answer. Dont go to UTI. Get a degree in something and you'll be much happier in the long run. 30 grand and a certificate isnt anything in todays job market.

But if you really feel the need to go to UTI then go, but there is many other options out there. I would look around before you let one of the UTI brainwashing recruiters talk you in to it

[Kohrs93]

Originally Posted by Drick And ill stand by my answer. Dont go to UTI. Get a degree in something and you'll be much happier in the long run. 30 grand and a certificate isnt anything in todays job market. But if you really feel the need to go to UTI then go, but there is many other options out there. I would look around before you let one of the UTI brainwashing recruiters talk you in to it

I appreciate the reply. But the military isnt an option for me... I don't want to risk my life, i value it, and i really don't care to defend this shit hole we call the united states of america. Don't get me wrong, i have much respect for the people who do it, but it's not for me. Also, I have never once talked to a recruiter, of any college for that matter. I've done all the research on my own, and it's something i really want to do. Also, I think you're being biased about it. I just read 2 threads from january 2010 in which you posted about not going to uti or tech school. You said you went for collision repair then went into the military, now you're in debt and can't afford to be a fish/wildlife expert in alaska. Well look at it from my/jake's point of view: UTI core program is 51 weeks. Ford program is 15 weeks. So about 66 weeks to complete all of it. The PO of my car said he was paying about $30,000 for the core program. I'm gonna guestimate right around 5-10k for the ford program. So $35-40k college debt (which is about what most people have after 4 years of college). So i get done and within a few weeks i have a job (hopefully if it works out like it did for Jake). I'll have started my career before I turn 21, making $35-40k a year. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.


TO JAKEM:
I'm assuming you went to UTI Chicago. What was it like for you? What did you do for housing? Did you work while you went there? I'd appreciate any other advice you can give me since (i'm assuming) you went to the same school that i'll be going to.

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by Danderson As a current UTI student i must chime in.... 1. you will learn a ton of stuff 2. you will lean way more than at a community collage. 3. the majority of teachers at uti have 10+ years in the auto industry and are very knowledgeable. 4. 5% of the students of the students are there to learn and get the best of the school. the other 95% of students are there to F$%# off. A lot of the students pass classes with out knowing anything. so my advice to you if make sure u are going there to learn not bc u think cars are cool. if u decide to go to uit take advantage of the step programs there ie ford bmw ect

Fix your grammar!!!

[Lefty]

I vote for the community college. Both UTI (or the equivalent) and a community college have their advantages and disadvantages.

My advice to you is just go to an open house to both. Get a feel for the teachers/program. You may think you like the UTI idear, but then go to an open house and say "I don't want this" and may like the community college instead. Or vice versa.

[JakeM]

Yes I went to UTI in Glendale Heights. For housing, I ended up getting an apt. with 2 other UTI students in Carol Stream. Which they did help me with.

Like previously stated I had a great experience. If you ever don't understand a concept the teachers are more than happy to take a time out and help you through it. In just about any subject. The great part is that it’s almost exactly 50% in class work and 50% hands on. It really helped me understand. Especially when it comes to electronics. The tips and tricks the instructors taught me at UTI helped make me quite a bit of money. Especially during the Ford F.A.C.T. training. IMHO, if you really are in it for the paycheck do Automotive + Diesel and still would have done F.A.C.T. on top of that. If I had to do it over again, I would do it that way. There is a lot of money to be made as a diesel tech at just about any manufacturer. Which is what I ended up doing anyway, the dealership I worked for sent me to factory training 4 times for different sets of diesel training. First for the 6.8 and then for the 6.4 when it came out.

I did work while I was going to school, but I found that myself. I'm not sure what the service through UTI is like for placing you in a job while going to school. I can't speak to that. I worked at a small transmission shop in Bolingbrook up until about a month before I graduated. Basically, when I started looking for Ford dealerships to work at.

The best thing in my opinion was there job placement program, besides the actual education. They found me a job with 15 miles of where I wanted to live, two days after I graduated. They will place you anywhere in the U.S. you want to go. I originally wanted to go to Alaska, but the position was taken about a week before I was supposed to get my plane tickets.

FWIW, I didn't speak to anyone at UTI until after I decided I wanted to go there. No one "talked me into it" or "Brainwashed" me. IMHO, it was simply the best option.

Finally it’s not EASY if you want to get good grades, I mean better than average. Sure, you don't have to bust ass just to get by. But, I ended up graduating with a 3.7 and did not get into the original program I wanted to go into, which was Porsche. They only take about 5 people a year from the entire group of UTI schools. You must have a 4.0 and then some if you want to go to Porsche or BMW. I wouldn't say I busted my ass hard, but it was far from easy to get what grades I got.

[JakeM]

Originally Posted by Lefty My advice to you is just go to an open house to both. Get a feel for the teachers/program. You may think you like the UTI idear, but then go to an open house and say "I don't want this" and may like the community college instead. Or vice versa.

I agree with this... Scott Community College's program is not bad and you could save yourself quite a bit of money by staying at home.

[thoroughbred]

As a former student of MMI ( motorcycle mechanics institute) I have to say I liked the way their curriculum was set up. I actually learned alot from the teachers and we did the same thing a's if we where working in a shop. We tore all types of engines and motorcycles apart. It was fun and I enjoyed it.

Mmi is a division of uti and I am willing to bet if you went ro uti you may have a similar experience.

I'm not working as a tech, I had to leave school due to alot of different reasons but I have nothing but good to say about their schools.

If you want to be an auto tech , go do it. If it is something that is in your heart and everytime you think about it your heart is saying go do it then do it and it will be the best decision you could of made

If you end up liking what you are doing it won't be like you are working, because you are enjoying it so much!

[Ninjawafers!]

I went to community college for automotive tech/paint. i was in class with a few people that had went to UTI. they said the training there was useless and had to take the course at the community college to actually learn stuff.. and these guys didnt fuck off at UTI either.

some will have good experiences and some will have bad at both places. All of the dealerships and large shops in my area would hire those at the community college over the graduates at UTI.

my instructor had 20+ years in auto tech, had been an expert witness in courts concering auto wrecks, and rebuilt cars (making 100K+ a year outside of his teaching job). my best friend also went to UTI in houston and had to go back to the same community colelge to learn things that should have been taught at UTI. he said the whole envorinment at the college was much better at UTI

[Serlin]

Ok, a little off topic here, but I feel like chiming in.

I am 45 years old. I went to college and got a BS degree in marketing. I have been in sales ever since college. Its been good for me.

BUT, if I was your age, I would do things VERY different.

First choice... Some type of government job.
I have 2 friends that became NYC cops.
I have another 20+ years before I can even think of retiring.. both my buddies will retire in the next year or 2 with FAT pensions.

Second Choice.
go to school for plumbing, or electrical.
I have another friend that works in the plumbing union on LI. He makes $125k a year, before side jobs.

Anyway, just my .02

Good luck with your decision.

[Kohrs93]

Originally Posted by JakeM Yes I went to UTI in Glendale Heights. For housing, I ended up getting an apt. with 2 other UTI students in Carol Stream. Which they did help me with. Like previously stated I had a great experience. If you ever don't understand a concept the teachers are more than happy to take a time out and help you through it. In just about any subject. The great part is that it’s almost exactly 50% in class work and 50% hands on. It really helped me understand. Especially when it comes to electronics. The tips and tricks the instructors taught me at UTI helped make me quite a bit of money. Especially during the Ford F.A.C.T. training. IMHO, if you really are in it for the paycheck do Automotive + Diesel and still would have done F.A.C.T. on top of that. If I had to do it over again, I would do it that way. There is a lot of money to be made as a diesel tech at just about any manufacturer. Which is what I ended up doing anyway, the dealership I worked for sent me to factory training 4 times for different sets of diesel training. First for the 6.8 and then for the 6.4 when it came out. I did work while I was going to school, but I found that myself. I'm not sure what the service through UTI is like for placing you in a job while going to school. I can't speak to that. I worked at a small transmission shop in Bolingbrook up until about a month before I graduated. Basically, when I started looking for Ford dealerships to work at. The best thing in my opinion was there job placement program, besides the actual education. They found me a job with 15 miles of where I wanted to live, two days after I graduated. They will place you anywhere in the U.S. you want to go. I originally wanted to go to Alaska, but the position was taken about a week before I was supposed to get my plane tickets. FWIW, I didn't speak to anyone at UTI until after I decided I wanted to go there. No one "talked me into it" or "Brainwashed" me. IMHO, it was simply the best option. Finally it’s not EASY if you want to get good grades, I mean better than average. Sure, you don't have to bust ass just to get by. But, I ended up graduating with a 3.7 and did not get into the original program I wanted to go into, which was Porsche. They only take about 5 people a year from the entire group of UTI schools. You must have a 4.0 and then some if you want to go to Porsche or BMW. I wouldn't say I busted my ass hard, but it was far from easy to get what grades I got.

Thank you VERY much!

One last question before i head off to work. How much was the rent in your apartment each month and how much did YOU pay? Also was it 3 bedrooms? or 2?

[Daniel0318]

i vote no...

[Daniel0318]

i vote no...

[JakeM]

Originally Posted by Kohrs93 Thank you VERY much! One last question before i head off to work. How much was the rent in your apartment each month and how much did YOU pay? Also was it 3 bedrooms? or 2?

It was 3 bedroom and it was like $1200/m before the 3 way split. I was blessed with a nice college fund.

[sharkbait]

Just gonna throw this out there.

not trying to insult any members who have gone to UTI or Lincoln tech or any of those schools. But from what iv seen from my personal experiance your better off finding a ford asset program and going through with that.

I have friends who have been through both.

Personally i just taught myself about cars and im working with my employer to get my ASE's and stuff. Automotive stuff cant really be taught in a book. You need to be doing it.

I have freinds who go to UTI right now and i must say they come out still not knowing anything about cars. They still call me all the time asking about stuff and not being able to work on there own cars. I had one friend who is attending that school ask me where is brake booster was