Yep, you're right.

Once you put your hand on that bible and swear to defend the Constitution of the United States, they've got you.

Like I said, my AFROTC experience was mostly positive, but it would have much different if a war had broken out while I was in school. And they had the option to recall me until I was in my mid 30's!

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

Thanks again, all. I'm really giving some good thought to what I'm hearing (or what thought I can give, with my mom repainting a room downstairs and the paint fumes circulating through the central air system ).

I've thought about transferring credits from the first two years at a community college to save money, but then I'd just wind up dealing with all the same people I did in high school .

These co-op programs sounds really great, I'm going to have to put some serious research into that.

Yeah, I used to be very interested in the military and had planned to go career with a friend of mine back in middle school........before I had a girlfriend .....now it's not looking so good.

Anyways, thanks and the more opinions the better, so anyone who has anything to say about this keep it coming. You guys are great.

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"I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brillaint blaze
than it should be stifled by dryrot.
I would rather be a superb meteor,
every atom of me in magnificent glow,
than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time."

-Jack London 1876-1916

1983 300CDT (running WVO since 12/05)
1981 300SD (parts car)

I started out as a Technician in the seventies working for a Ford dealership. My automotive interest is strictly a hobby now days. I have worked as an aerospace design engineer for over 25 years for a large government contractor. Today I am a plant manager for a large sheet metal fabrication/assembly shop just outside of NY City. My automotive background coupled with mechanical and electrical engineering experience clearly give me an advantage in the automotive hobby.
My I say that the Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program is a great way to start. I think that today If you specialize in engines or brake systems or specialty vehicles and become an expert. I believe that you can make a good living. But like anything else if you are not passionate about what you do you’ll never be successful.

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2003 SLK 230 (85000)
1999 E300 Turbo Diesel (388,000)
1991 350SD Turbo Diesel (185,000)

I couldn't help but chime in here.

College is a great thing, even if you go into debt, it's still going to be worth it. But, keeping the debt to a manageable level isn't so hard either, as others have mentioned in the thread. With cars costing $30,000 today on a low average, what's $30,000 in school debt? The price of a car? And it's something that will pay you back over time.

This is just the perspective of one man who was scared to death when on leaving college I owed $10,000 back in 1985. And by 1989, I was making $40,000 per year. It wasn't really that much of a struggle to pay off the loans, and the interest was low too. But, I made the money because I went to school.

I am no advocate of willy nilly borrowing, credit cards etc., but school is an investment. All businesses borrow money to capitalize on their ideas. No harm in you doing it too, if needed. And remember a good education does not depreciate in value.

DS
87 300 D
Northern Iowa

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DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

My daughter is in college and my son will start at a community college next fall, so I know some if the ins and outs of paying for school.

If you have high SATs (say, 1300-1400), that will buy you probably half of your tuition (or more) if you have decent transcripts and can write a good essay. My daughter attends a college in Maryland that just sent a bill to us for $30,000 for the next year. The next day they sent an award letter of $22,000. Between working summers and 5 hours a week during school and us helping as we can, she will leave owing about $20k in student loans (books and fees, etc. aren't always included in scholarships). Having a BS for $20k from one of the top schools in the country is pretty good.

What you should be doing now is filling out a FAFSA on-line to see how much the gov't will give you. The results are sent to colleges and they come up with a package. The two schools my daughter applied to both wanted her and we used them aganst each other until the best offers were on the table.

Also, private schools are very expensive, especially out of state, BUT, their financial aid is nearly always much better. My daughter could have attended an out of state private school for the same cost as her in-state MD school - they have much more flexibility and $$ to attract students - don't discount them.

There is always a way to pay for school!! I have not had any debts for 15 years, but my wife want to go back to school to be an RN. I will happily borrow $5000 so she can fulfill her dream (and make $25/hr). Education and housing are the only good reasons to borrow money (aside from true emergencies). School loans will be a dim memory (assuming a good job after school) in a few years.

It's better to go to college now and later decide to wrench than the other way. It is nearly impossible to go back to school once the family starts. Do it now.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

The guy up there was right think twice before you make a hobby your career, i have worked for and independent shop, i have worked for Saturn, Toyota, and Saab and i hope im not to late on this thread to tell you not to do this go to school and college and get a better career cuz your just going to waste your money on a tech school in a career your going to quit in a few years, An true technician here can tell you the first time you become a technician the first thing the other techs tell you is get out while you still can At all 4 of these places i worked at i was a B level technician with 6 ase certifications and general motors certifications as well, its fun to work on your car and tune it up but day in and day out dealing with the customers bull **** service writers and service department general managers breathing down your neck its not worth it. Plus once you go flat rate which you eventually will its all down hill you dont get paid to much for warranty work, i came home with cut hands hurting hands, and body aching all day, i switched my career im a personal trainer at a gym and love it.

Avoid dealerships.

Fleet shops are the best place to start.

Wow old thread, wonder what he eventualy decided?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

He sold all his MB parts and went to college.

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JWJ
1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG
1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG
Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines!

Smart move.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200