Schooling

Hi snows,
I sent you a pm yesterday, I don't know if ya got it or not, like I said in the other message I am also from Newfoundland and have a passion for hot rods, I'm only 16 and I bought a Ford Ranger this past September and I have developed a great passion for customizing automobiles with the help of shows like Monster Garage, American Hot Rod, Trucks tv, Horsepower TV and others. I always did good in school and was considering engineering in university, with the hope of getting something to do with the automobile industry, but I have since realized that most likely if I do engineering I will end up in an office where I would go stir crazy. The problem I have is that in Canada there isn't much of a hot rod scene so I will have to go to the states, which probobly won't be too bad once I get there but aside from some weekend tournaments I have never been away from home for very long so a move to the states would be difficult. I have seriously been considering Wyotech but like I said a move that far would be difficult. If I perhaps knew someone else going down or someone who has experienced Wyotech to give me some advise. This brings me to my next problem, my mom says that Wyotech is "just a dream school" and I wont make any money and wont get a job, I also think that my parents view Wyotech as just an ordinary mechanics college and the last thing my parents want me to be is just a mechanic because my dad was one and they know that it is hard work for not a whole lot of money, I said my dad "was" one because after years of hard work on heavy equipment along with cars and trucks his back went out and he has'nt been able to do any real hard work since.
I think that my parents believe that with me always doing good in school that I should go to university, get a good education and get a job that isn't hard work but I am not that kind of person, I spend all winter on ski-doo, I have fixed two ski-doos(one I had to replace the gas lines, the other the pistons, and on that same one another time the chain case) I love working with my hands and I love machines, I really think that I would be well suited to do Hot Rod fabrication at Wyotech but there are alot of obstacles to overcome. Snows I would like to hear from you because it seems we have alot in common, and perhaps you have recieved some advise that could help me. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you and anyone else who has advise for me.:)

Ok well I just read about the mechanics thing that youden said.... Automotive isn't about all those old geezers all in the greese up to their elbows getting hurt, etc. They are called Auto Technicians these days, more with computers and things of that sort. You like hot rods and that is a bit different though, your parents are used to their time age and all and it's not like that anymore. Now for Snows. I know what you mean, you wan't to build cars and that's the only thing you can think of that you like a ton. I am the same way, only thing I am not afraid to move by myself. I used to live in California (Souther Cali, not up North where West Sacramento is) and I had to move here to North Carolina for 4 years. I am going to be atrending Wyotech in California next year. It is supposed to be a great school but lot's of money. Anywhere from 20,000-30,000 and more all depending on how many classes you take. I plan on taking all the special courses and the auto tech field so that will be a lot of money there. You can have someone go out to your house and they talk to you and your parents about the school. Now I am not sure if they go to Canada but you will have to ask. Call them up, they will help you out a lot. If you don't have the money then you can do a financial aid. I am trying to see if they would do scholorships there or not but I don't think so. Don't be afraid to move out on your own, it's not that bad. I am going to be going out with a friend now though and not on my own but at first I was going to and didn't worry about it because I knew I would be out there for school and that's it so no big deal and then afterwords move back down to Southern Cali and try to start a shop since I have my uncles old chopper shop there. If you plan to go to this Wyotech and decide to go to the California location sometime like next October then let me know and we could meet up there or something and that way you will kind of know someone there. You should try and find someone that can room up with you to split rent and keep prices for living down to help you out, I don't know what your plans are on going to this yet or not so I can't help you yet. PM me or something and let me know what your plans are. I think you should go for it and do what you wan't.

Hi everybody, after a long break, I figure i might as well update you all on my decisions. After some long thought and words from both my parents, I have come to the conlusion that money is just too big of a risk right now to go to Wyotech, and I can understand them totally. My next choice was to search for a colledge where I live that could get me started in the direction of Hot Rodding in my future. I cam upon a course called Autobody Vehicle Technician, turns out its already too late in the year and that class was filled. So again searching for a course that can get me going I seen a course called Aircraft Structural Repair Technician. I read about it, and it seems like this could be fun, I will learn Metal fab work, Composite Material fabrication, minor welding, pipe bending, and overall body work as well. Although its on an aircraft I would assume that this knowledge is still general to most all vehicles. SO I believe that I am going to try and take this course, so that I don't waste another year home doing nothing. Please let me know what you think.:D

That sounds good man. Doesn't matter if it's on aircraft, as long as you learn to weld, how to use all the machines and do the body work with sheet metal and those types of things then you can use that knowledge and put it into cars. And on the side time you can find you a sweet hot rod and build it while you learn more and more. And of course you will learn lots on this website as well. Read a lot of questions in the engine talk section where people are having engine problems and the people will put something like the symptoms of the problem or whats going on and how to fix it, etc etc.
Good luck with this man. I know exactly how you feel about this kind of thing, I am the same way. If I can't go to Wyotech then I don't know what to do. I am really good with dirtbikes and that sort of thing and I could have something like a dirt bike shop or something like that but I have learned a lot with that and it's just something that I like to do which is ride and hot rods are more technical and all. Hard to explain but you get what I mean.

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Originally posted by snows
Hi everybody, after a long break, I figure i might as well update you all on my decisions. After some long thought and words from both my parents, I have come to the conlusion that money is just too big of a risk right now to go to Wyotech, and I can understand them totally. My next choice was to search for a colledge where I live that could get me started in the direction of Hot Rodding in my future. I cam upon a course called Autobody Vehicle Technician, turns out its already too late in the year and that class was filled. So again searching for a course that can get me going I seen a course called Aircraft Structural Repair Technician. I read about it, and it seems like this could be fun, I will learn Metal fab work, Composite Material fabrication, minor welding, pipe bending, and overall body work as well. Although its on an aircraft I would assume that this knowledge is still general to most all vehicles. SO I believe that I am going to try and take this course, so that I don't waste another year home doing nothing. Please let me know what you think.:D

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With the exception of Composite materials most things should tie across pretty well. After working in the aviation industry for over 10 years, I would caution you on a couple things though.

1. Since Sept. 11th there have been over 150,000 people laid off that were working in aviation on Sept 10. Alot of the ones that I have spoke to since then have given up on aviation and have re-trained into other fields so they could find jobs.

2. Think carefully (and do research) about where you actually want to live. There isn't much need for an Aircraft structural repairman in smaller locales. In fact you may find that (based on the way the industry is set up) that there is no place within a 1000 miles of where you currently live that you can get a job doing that. What I mean here is that while a lot of airlines may fly into your hometown, they may only have 1 location that actually does the kind of work you are refering to. While one would think that they would have to have somebody locally to fix problems that come up, this is not necessarily the case. They can fly one of their mechanics in from the repair center for cheaper than they can keep someone else on the payroll.

Don't get me wrong, you may be able to find something automotive wise that would accept this school as acceptable for their purposes. Also, if you choose to actually work in the aviation industry, you may find that it could become very lucrative in the future because of the fact that prior to Sept 11, there was actually a documented shortage of Mechanics in the industry. Since the airlines are heavily Unionized, the first people to go during the layoffs, were those with the least amount of time with the company. ie. the younger guys. So what is now left, are people who are closer to retirement. When the industry recovers they will need qualified people. And, since those who were laid off have now re-trained and found work elsewhere, it will take a substantial amount of $$$ to lure them back or lure new people into it as opposed to something else.

I do wish you luck in whatever you decide.

Cheers,
Firechicken