College? (automotive/technical) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Monomer · #1 10-02-2007, 04:59 PM

Has anyone here been to school like Wyotech or UTI?

I'm looking into being a Diesel Technician, and very few schools cover it. UTI in Glendale/Chicago is really what I'm looking into.

Is it worth the $>25,000???

Honus · #2 10-02-2007, 05:07 PM

Will you have to buy your own tools? If so, is that cost over and above the $25,000?

waybomb · #3 10-02-2007, 05:58 PM

Do a search here for UTI.

My kid looked into it. Lotsa hype. Others here have actually gone there and are happy.

My kid chose a different path - he's into fabrication, and wants to start his own shop up in a few years. He's buying basic equipment now, cash. He'll do good.

BAVBMW · #4 10-02-2007, 08:40 PM

I attended UTI. I thought it was a waste of money.

Bear in mind that I had a very good high school shop teacher, and by my senior year, was taking 4 periods a day of auto shop (and actually attending most of them). The thing is, there are guys there who have a few years experience (some with many years) whose employers decided to send them, get them something on paper and then have them serve as trainers or such, and then there are kids recruited from far of lands who, while they have seen cars before, have never driven or even thought about working on one. For those kids the school might really be a good thing, but for someone who has already gotten a lot of education or work experience, it's largely a waste of time. It's very hard to teach these two groups at the same time.

Another thing that seemed particularly useless to me, was the amount of time spent on how things are manufactured, that has nothing to do with diagnoses or repair. Some of it is interesting, but in my years of work as an automotive tech, not once have I needed, nor been had the chance to explain to a customer,that the problem with their wheels results from a higher than normal zinc content, or that the plies in their tires are crossing at the wrong angle. Even if the customer cared, there's nothing you can do about a tire that's coming apart internally, the only option is to replace it. Your time is far better spent on matters other than expalining to someone the differences between bias-ply and radial tire construction. Unless you're building cars from scratch, it doesn't matter what the ratio between the size of the master cylinder bore to the size of the caliper piston is, you're going to put on the master cylinder the car calls for, and replace calipers with the same.

If you should choose to go, decide in advance (sounds like you might have) what you want to do. I took full auto and diesel, so there was a lot of repetition. I did learn a bit in the diesel portion, but nothing that I couldn't have learned in a good shop, working and making money rather than going to school and spending it. Now my diesel knowledge is going to waste, as it's rare that one comes into the shop.

Also worth considering is who you'll be going to school with. Take a campus tour and spend some time outside with students during lunch/dinner breaks. Let's just say it's not an intellectual experience. Mostly it revolves around muscle cars, import tuning (both with all the latest bolt on horsepower, while attending a school that teaches just how false those claims are), and pot. And hootchie poonani. Can't forget that.

When you get out of school, expect no one to care that you were in school. No one cares about your attendence record. Or your grades. Everyone wants experience. In my experience, no one cares about ASE certification either. The ones you'd want to care, know it's a crock, and the ones who are impressed, are the ones who think a patch on your arm is a testament to your skill as mechanic, just like a Home Depot sticker on a racecar is a testament to the quality of their lumber.

What you get out of the deal is a chance to live away from home for a few years, eating Ramen and struggling to pay bills. A valuable experience, which I recommend wholeheartedly, but not something that has to cost so much. You can do this by attending a community college several towns away. You get several years of student loan payments. You also get a piece of paper you can use to tell others of your (supposed) knowledge and skill. And if you need a piece of paper to do that, you're already in more trouble than school can help with.

That should about cover it. Feel free to ask questions if there's something else you'd like to know.

MV

P.S. If you do choose to go, let me know in advance, I'll tell you my name and you can say I referred you, that way I'll get $50.

Monomer · #5 10-02-2007, 09:22 PM

The problem is finding a shop that'll take me in, let alone one that deal in Diesel.

I know a lot personally, but I have no auto shop experience. All past jobs have been machinist/tool and die shops. NOT a trade to go into for life (the Advent of CNC and imports...)

-I guess I just need a start; and it looks like the 30ish thousand that UTI will cost isn't the right one.

kerry · #6 10-02-2007, 09:28 PM

Community colleges have diesel programs for a much better price. Colorado community colleges just revamped their diesel tech programs.

300EVIL · #7 10-02-2007, 09:29 PM

I've heard good things about Wyotech... However.... One thing to consider is how you, "yourself", likes to learn. I believe most "good" mechanics have a talent and willingness to progress in their field. Personally, I'm one of those guys that gets bored quickly learning the same thing over and over again via instruction or text book. I'm a hands on person, self taught in most cases. I can look at a problem, do the research, sometimes get a couple questions answered and go right at it. If I screw up, I analyze and learn from my mistake and 98% do it correctly my next go. I never went to school much less relied on any tech manual in my copier business yet I can conquer almost any problem thrown at me by a copier almost instantly. 99% of the copier techs out in the field just understand what their "taught" and are totally retarded when it comes to using their brains to troubleshoot a problem.

My point is, If you feel you have a knack for the internal combustion field and you believe you would enjoy it.... Go for it! I have no idea what level of skill you are at already but maybe an apprenticeship would be the right way to go for you. You may find that you can learn the trade in light speed compared to going to some stupid school. You'll be glad you didn't waste your time and be able to climb the latter faster to your dream job. Now, It just so happens "A LOT" of your top end jobs in this field like to see credentials you have earned. (This is almost pointless if you plan on starting your own business.) However, Nothing beats raw talent!!
Adam

Monomer · #8 10-02-2007, 10:08 PM

Legos.

Legos is where I started. I'm not one for book work. Most everything I know was learned by myself or in a nice shop class with a good teacher. Previous job (poor wages, no insurance) was a great job - I learned tons; Current job I'm learning nothing (it's all bench work) but making a bit more and have full insurance...

I'll look into a community college; and I dont want to limit myself to just my community.

Hatterasguy · #9 10-02-2007, 10:19 PM

My dads friend is the best diesel mechanic I have ever known, all self taught.

Monomer · #10 10-02-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

My dads friend is the best diesel mechanic I have ever known, all self taught.

With Michigan the way it is, it's already hard to FIND a job; let alone one that'll hire and train...

Hatterasguy · #11 10-02-2007, 10:29 PM

Maybe you should re locate? He works on large diesels, marine and heavy equipment. There doesn't seem to be a shortage of decent jobs for good marine diesel mechanics.

Monomer · #12 10-02-2007, 10:31 PM

this is "Motor City"

not ONE god-damn diesel school in the state...

I'll be calling some local shops here soon. I know Caterpillar is hiring.

Hatterasguy · #13 10-02-2007, 10:34 PM

I know there is a good school in FL for marine engines.

The newer mechanic at the marina went their, he specialized in outboards. But we needed diesel so he learned on the job working with the other guys, and by attanding Mack Boring training seminars.

Cat does everything, everywhere. I would imagin they would be an excellent company to work for.

waybomb · #14 10-02-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomer

The problem is finding a shop that'll take me in, let alone one that deal in Diesel.

I know a lot personally, but I have no auto shop experience. All past jobs have been machinist/tool and die shops. NOT a trade to go into for life (the Advent of CNC and imports...)

-I guess I just need a start; and it looks like the 30ish thousand that UTI will cost isn't the right one.

Disagree Monomer - Try to find a shop that does precision one-off projects or prototypes or reverse engineers parts for local manufacturing outfits that don't want to buy expensive parts from Europe.

Nowhere to be found. Everybody is set up for large volume runs.

My kid has a backlog, and doesn't even have a shop yet. His boss lets him work late on his own and charges him only for machine-time, or he does it at school at night. You'd be surprised how much money you can make.

Monomer · #15 10-02-2007, 10:45 PM

The shop I work for now is a multi-billion dollar operation.

It's all aerospace and government work. It's all done on CNC and it all get polished through me. They do offer an appearance program (toolmaker's) but the job's just not there anymore.

I'm below the poverty line right now; Wife; kids.......how on earth do people afford either of them?

I'll start with regular auto classes. get the standered ASE certs, start collecting tools, get a state cert and a CDL, The stuff that looks good on paper.

Hell, Jiffy Lubes hiring right now