Technical College Vs trade school?

I'm trying to decide where to go for auto mechanics training. An apprenticeship isn't an option, no shop near me will even consider it, so training of some kind is a must.

I'm considering a couple different things. But what do you guys think would look better on a resume? Going to a technical college or a trade school?

Trade school in question is either UTI or Wyotech.

Technical College would be Pennsylvania College of technology.

If I goto the technical college it would be for just straight automotive mechanics, a actual 2 year degree, math courses, electives etc.

For the trade school, I could take a range of things, automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine mechanics.

Andrew

I don't have any experience in the field, but I would ask the local repair shops which they would be more impressed with when making a hiring decision

Trade school first. If you want to go deeper hit up the Tech. College. A trade school will give you the basics you need to be an entry level grease monkey and its an "in" to dealerships positions.

I went to Lincoln Tech.

Whichever is cheaper.

Your looking at between $10 and $20 max, even at $15 an hour, $10,000 in debt will take quite some time to pay off.

My local Vo-Tech offers $300 auto-service courses, there are 9, the last of which include state inspection certification. That's $2700 to get one of the most valuable pieces of paper, state inspection certification.

As somebody who attended a commercial trade school (culinary school), I'd encourage you to be wary of for-profit institutions like UTI, Wyotech, etc.

Schools that advertise on TV are interested in getting anybody with a pulse in the door to sign on the dotted line for student loans. You, the student, are basically their product, which they're selling to lenders - who are going to get their money back out of you manyfold, and are highly insulated against risk. The $20k loan is insignificant to them, but when it's $60k+ 20 years from now, it will be more than an drop in the bucket to you. Nobody in this equation cares about your success except you - everybody gets their money either way.

When anybody asks me about culinary school, I tell them that unless they're going to the very best schools in the country (CIA, Johnson & Wales, FCI), to save their money and go to a community college. If there's an analogous option for mechanical training, I'd make the same recommendation.

PHeller wrote: Whichever is cheaper. Your looking at between $10 and $20 max, even at $15 an hour, $10,000 in debt will take quite some time to pay off. My local Vo-Tech offers $300 auto-service courses, there are 9, the last of which include state inspection certification. That's $2700 to get one of the most valuable pieces of paper, state inspection certification.

Price is about the same, they're both going to cost a minimum of $25k in debt. Local vo-tech offers courses as well, even has a year or so long program, problem there is that every shop I've talked to laughs at the vo-tech's courses. Yes, you can get an ASE certification from them though.

alex wrote: As somebody who attended a commercial trade school (culinary school), I'd encourage you to be wary of for-profit institutions like UTI, Wyotech, etc. Schools that advertise on TV are interested in getting anybody with a pulse in the door to sign on the dotted line for student loans. You, the student, are basically their product, which they're selling to lenders - who are going to get their money back out of you manyfold, and are highly insulated against risk. The $20k loan is insignificant to them, but when it's $60k+ 20 years from now, it will be more than an drop in the bucket to you. Nobody in this equation cares about your success except you - everybody gets their money either way. When anybody asks me about culinary school, I tell them that unless they're going to the very best schools in the country (CIA, Johnson & Wales, FCI), to save their money and go to a community college. If there's an analogous option for mechanical training, I'd make the same recommendation.

I'm very wary of for profit schools, but what can I do, I need a job. I need training, even basic mechanical training to get my foot into the door. Love there to be an analogous training option but it just isn't there. Culinary training around here seems the same way, if you don't go to some formal school, you can't get your foot in the door. Well other than washing dishes.

I went (didn't graduate) to UTI in Illinois. Don't go.

It's a good school, great resources and equipment, but it's expensive, you can't live on campus, and must juggle a job, too.

Local community college or whatever teaches you the same principles, and is mucho cheaper.

do it.

BoostedBrandon wrote: I went (didn't graduate) to UTI in Illinois. Don't go. It's a good school, great resources and equipment, but it's expensive, you can't live on campus, and must juggle a job, too. Local community college or whatever teaches you the same principles, and is mucho cheaper. do it.

This. I go to a local tech school for automotive and its WAAAAY cheaper than going to WyoTech or UTI. Here is the 2 year program at my school:

http://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/prospective/autotechdegree/?t=semester

The instate for full time(12 credit hours) is $900 a semester. You need 65 hours to graduate. That comes out to under $5K+books when you are done. So I'd say $6K-$7K all said and done. Also, the hours are flexible with night school if you have a job.

Its around $25K to go to WyoTech or UTI. They have awesome equipment and you get a basic tool kit when you graduate. Its not worth the extra almost $20K I don't think. You have a fulltime schedule to so get ready to flip burgers at Mcdonalds at night when you relocate to go to their school if you don't live close already.

Oh, and ask most people that work at dealerships, no one cares what school you came from, you will be a lube tech/tire changer when you start.

Also, some schools you can use the associates to transfer credits to a bachelors degree something I doubt you can do with a UTI or WyoTech certificate.

digdug18 wrote: Price is about the same, they're both going to cost a minimum of $25k in debt. Local vo-tech offers courses as well, even has a year or so long program, problem there is that every shop I've talked to laughs at the vo-tech's courses. Yes, you can get an ASE certification from them though.

How much do you think you're going to make in the first few years? Anything close to the amount of student loans?

The guideline that I've heard bandied around is that you shouldn't take on more student loans that a year's worth of salary for the position you're likely to get when you leave school.

And one bad/good thing depending on how you look at it, some tech schools do not allow you to get student loans.

I would think a tech college would be preferred given cost/outcome. As mentioned, you're primarily looking for a foot in the door. Once "in", your move up and around will depend on reputation, networking, and your skill. You just have to break down round 1 to get in, the rest is up to you.

I can't imagine once you have say 5 years under your belt of actually being a good wrench, that the next job would favor one school over the other... they'll just care that you're certified and have a proven work history.

Shops want guys who can make them money. If your school is local and you can truly excel amongst peers in your class, your teacher may very well know someone to help you get a foot in the door. If you're the class flunky, late, poor presentation, etc., the instructor is not going to want to wish you upon any of his friends in the business. A good friend of mine is an auto tech instructor, and he says typically there's 1 or 2 guys that are head and shoulders above the rest who he can confidently pull some extra favors for, as he basically knows those ones will make money for whoever hires them.

Does the School of Hard Knocks qualify somewhere?

I started working part time at a trans shop being a gopher and disassembler/cleaner during a summer in HS. Went back to the same place a few years later and did R&R work. Took a bunch of years off, moved, and eventually lead to a dealership gig. Did that for 3 yrs before starting down the nursing school path. The last dealership I worked at, I was the goto/never making money because it was all problem children bullE36 M3 warranty work guy for one of the vehicle lines.

I passed the ASE tests in engine repair, auto trans, and manual trans without ever taking one class. I probably was helped along with the trans tests with a father that was a rebuilder and the bullE36 M3 MI mechanic tests.

digdug18 wrote: ...problem there is that every shop I've talked to laughs at the vo-tech's courses. Yes, you can get an ASE certification from them though.

Don't apply at those shops. Gets you inspection certificate, some good prior-work references, go into a shop, tell them you need work and can start tomorrow. You've got your inspection license.

They'd be stupid to turn you down. Your not looking to work in a Porsche dealership...or any dealership for that matter.

I once heard a very wise man say that the "brand name" on your diploma will only get you your first job, after that its all up to you. BTW, the first job almost always sucks.

I graduated from UTI + NASCAR fabrication + Nissan (8 factory credentials) and I'm just in express lube at a Nissan dealership right now. Granted, it won't be for long (supposedly), and I quit a job at subaru being a full time tech to come down here and actually have a future at a dealership that gets busy, but you're gonna be doing oil changes for a while after you graduate, regardless of where from. This is true for most cases, but some people get lucky and move up pretty quickly because of a need at the dealership, and their own hardwork.
I'm sitting on about 25k in loans, + 13k in grants, and I'm making around 18-20k right now, so I'm a bit upside down on it, but I feel like it'll be paying dividends pretty shortly.
Work your ass off wherever you go, and it'll work out no matter where you went to school.
I personally think UTI was worth every bit of it, but more than half of the people there will disagree.

I feel like, with the amount of training, quality of instruction, and types of instruction I got, I can figure out just about anything, which is what I've done on most of the car's I've worked on lol
YMMV

I went to a local technical institute a few years ago, and at the time it was between that and wyotech. I went local because it closer and less expensive, but recently I noticed that there are automotive courses being offered at my community college, with the course load being pretty much the same as what I had at tech school. Although, I'm not sure how hands on the college classes are compared to tech school, which was about 40/60 theory vs hands on.

So, I'm not sure if a community college would be an option for you, but it would absolutely be the cheapest route, and depending how competent you are with a wrench, missing out on some hands on work might not be a big deal.