Thread: Back to School?

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I've got a question i got enrolled into Wyotech for collision/refinishing, and a shop management course. I've also got a chance to take Custom Fabrication, Chassis Fab, Interior which should i take i want to do them all but im told its not practical. I hope to open up my own shop one day which would be the best to have Im 19 also my Previous USMC recruiter told me this wasn't a good school and i should join the Corp now that im no longer in it DO you all think this is a good school choice

As far as Wyotech, I don't know a thing about them, other than the expensive infomercials they run on tv. They look good there. How good they are in the real world as far as training you to come out an earn a living, others on here will have to address. Ask some shops what they think.

I am in the marine industry (boats) and we get bright eyed kids in who have just graduated from one of the schools that train you to be a marine technician, and they have been told they are going to make all this money to start, once they get out of school. This is an absolute lie, and most times we have to start them at the bottom as a helper, because they don't know anything. And the school costs $ 25,000.00. We just hired one, and he is starting out washing boats and doing oil changes, until he learns other skills.

Schooling is good, but in most industries you have to pay your dues. But at least at 19 you are doing the right thing by asking questions.


Don


I editted my own post, because after giving it some thought, felt my views on the subject were not appropriate for this forum.

All branches of the sevice offer the same educational opportunities, it's knowing how to get exactly what you want is the bottom line. Just about the only thing the Corps cannot offer is a career in the medical field since that is handled by the Navy. You must be able to score high on the ASVAB to be able to get guarenteed schooling. As Itoldyouso stated recruiters have a warm body quota each month and have been known to stretch or omit the truth on occasion.
The Marine Corps is an experience.

I would do chassis fab because there is a lot of technical information to be learned there and that is what you do in school. The other two choices are more of an art and take more experience than technical knowledge. You won't get much experience in school so you won't really be able to apply what you learned right away.

I agree with 76GMC,

The chassis fab will give you a lot of design foundation that you will use in other areas. Remember that the main thing to get out of a school like that is the foundation to earn a decent living. There are a lot more jobs doing routine car or truck repair than there are doing custom stuff. Not many people come straight out of school and find work in a hot rod shop. Learn the fundamentals first, even if it is the least interesting. They will serve you well later. As for the Military, they do provide great opportunity for training, and the training is very good because the students go into real world situations where people's lives depend the work they do. It is a great way to get free education and real experience you can use later. I believe the Air Force has the best training, but I am prejudiced after spending 24 years there.

Flyin' high

Pat

I work in a shop with a former Wyotech student. He went for 18 months and took suspension, interior, fabrication, streetrod, business, and probably some other crap too. anywhos, he's not very good at any of them.
The major problem I've heard from shops employing techers is the lack of experiance. No one wants to take a chance on someone with just three months of of learning under their belts.
It's just my opinion, but I think you'd be better off finding a respected shop, get a beginner job, and learning from them when you get the opportunity to. It might take a while for them to let you work on customer projects, but everyone has to pay their dues.
Save your money.

You only come out of school with the talent that God gave you. Schools help you refine these things. Are you a hard worker? Are you willing to learn from the old timers and not present yourself as a know it all? Are you happy with what you're doing? Are you willing to ask questions? You willing to exert the effort into your work as if the work you're doing was for yourself and not a customer? If you ask yes to these things then don't worry you'll be alright. You only pull as much out of this life as you're willing to put into it. No one owes you a living. This may be a platitude, but don't ever let anyone convince you that you can't because if you really want to achieve something you can!

You couldnt have put it any better!! I graduated from wyotech in march of 2006,,,so just a few months ago. I worked my ass off in school, and accepted everything i was taught, even if it was different than what I thought was "right"...you ahve to be open minded!!! Wyotech, or any other school, will not make you a master at anything, but it will give you what it takes to get out in the field. Yes it is expensive, yes it is worth it. So far, I couldn't have asked for a better job, i get to do some metal fab, some body work, some painting, assembly,,,a little bit of everything. I've met some amazing people in the industry, and already a lot of my dreams are coming true, but only because of how much i pushed myself to make it happen. That is just my 2 cents, you can do anything if you want it bad enough!

Send a resume with your Wyotech credentials to some of the NASCAR shops out in the Charlotte, NC area. You might not start out as a crew chief, but if you're persistent enough you could probably land a job there. Once in, your education and abilities will advance you. If you want to be a good hot rod builder, go build race cars for a few years!!!! While you are in school, don't forget to pick up a few management and business courses. There's a whole lot more to running a shop then turning wrenches. Today's technology DEMANDS professional schooling. I learned what I know starting at the age of 14 working in gas stations, sweeping the floor in a race shop and slowly moving up. That worked then, but it doesn't work as well now!!! The technology on today's race cars and Hot Rods is best learned in school. A sound grasp of the fundamentals is the most important thing you could get out of school.

BTW, the son of a good friend graduated WyoTech in 2004, is now with Yates racing working in the fab shop.... Not bad for a farm kid from South Dakota, huh? And yes, he started out running parts and sweeping floors, but he's smart, polite, and works hard......

Oh yeah, one more thing that my Dad taught me that pertains to school or most anything else you do.... It's a lot easier to learn if you don't think you allready know it all.....

I'll add this if anyone wants to read.
At 22, in 1974( Colorado kid ), I too joined the Marines, BUT researching / asking questions I found out what 'other job , ie Marine Occupational Speciality Code 4631- compat Photographer , '( other than the Marine job- Basic Infantryman,)...I wanted to do in the Corps.
(Remember, they are looking for warm bodies- every Marine is a Basic Infantryman no matter what else )

So I wrote in big letters on BOTH arm '4-6-3-1 '.
And every, EVERY piece of paper the Recuiter had me sign, HAD to have that # on it as an occupational speciality 4631 OR I refused to sign no matter WHAT WAS PROMISED or How many- Recuiters are great at bouble-timing, Marine Recuiter and FRESH RECUITE trying convince you JUST to sign " everything will work out ".. Beware.1

Long Story short- I spent 4 years as a 4631- Worked for all kinds of Generals, went to all kinds of ' schools -once in the Corps. When I was discharged 1978, I took my GI bill and enrolled at a Photographic school, 2 1/2 years later I had my BA, worked for another studio To learn the Business End of things and 30 years later i still shoot film, etc.
My only surprize was; meeting hundreds, I mean hundreds of Fellow Marines- doing misserable jobs- job that they were under qualfied for. But someone has to do those jobs..
That being all said I joined IN PEACE TIME- and with the advent of DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, newspapers being IMBEDDED in the day to day operations of WAR. Who Knows what 20 years changes.
All being equal: I wouldn't have had the career & disipline I've enjoyed from 1974 till today WITHOUT those four years.
If I had a second choice, I'd choose the SEA BEES, lots of civilian crossover.
Good luck
JIM

yup, do ya know how you can tell when a military recruiter is lying??? His lips are moving...... Old joke, but I'm sure it still holds true.... Just ask all the kids who joined the National Guard and now are living in Iraq....

Not really meant as a joke ,...
....but given his track record on T.V. ( although, i might add, an enployee that's not 'vested' or has a steady track record, would be paid le$$ in salary and benefit$ than a longer term employee.
heck if I was 19 and the choice was Boyds, Any trade school or the recuiter?..ummm

Well I am currently the wife of a student at Wyotech in Laramie. For one dont come here this twon sucks. I was lucky to get a job at the University but it sucks here. My husband is in the Collision and Refinishing class and was going to be taking Trim and Upholstry but has heard it is not worth the money to take it. So ironically I spent all day today trying to get ahold of our landlord to see if we can get out of the lease early, and thank god we can. So he is going into the hot rod class next. From the kids that are in the chasis class it is a good class. Oh and the ASM class is also not worth the money but if you feel you need the "diploma" then I would, but its sounds like most employers dont care as long as you have had the classes they need.

I hope I dont sound too bitter, Jeremy likes the classes hes in but doesnt feel its worth all the money we are paying.

Now as far as job placement hoes, we shall see. So if any one out there thats in the midwest is looking for someone who is a hard working and smart person who already has a two associates mechanic degree and will have collison/refinishing and hot rod courses please email me at weckman71@yahoo.com

I'm in my senior year of highschool and I'v looked at the big 3 schools for this type of stuff. U.T.I, Wyotech and University of Northwestern Ohio, all 3 had reps that came to our BOCES to talk about the schools. I was not impressed with U.T.I, they offer next to nothing compared to Wyotech and the only thing that the rep said was why there tech school was better, never focused on anything really it was more of a We do this and they don't approach. University of Northwestern ohio seems to have a great chassie fab class and high performance classes, but I wan't to go for a collision/ refinishing class, and a hotrod class, they don't offer ither 1. Wyotech stands out to me, they have what I want, and altho the price seems high, at just over 30k when all is said and done ( rep said it was 26k for the main course and 3k per extra add on course, and 1 is required ) but, what does a 2 year collage cost, a SUNY ( State University of New York ) school is at least 7k per semester when you figure everything in. 28k for 2 years, then figure in, no Suny school has custom fab classes of any kind, so a private university would need to be found, and there a lot more than a SUNY school.

Originally Posted by Matt167

I'm in my senior year of highschool and I'v looked at the big 3 schools for this type of stuff. U.T.I, Wyotech and University of Northwestern Ohio, all 3 had reps that came to our BOCES to talk about the schools. I was not impressed with U.T.I, they offer next to nothing compared to Wyotech and the only thing that the rep said was why there tech school was better, never focused on anything really it was more of a We do this and they don't approach. University of Northwestern ohio seems to have a great chassie fab class and high performance classes, but I wan't to go for a collision/ refinishing class, and a hotrod class, they don't offer ither 1. Wyotech stands out to me, they have what I want, and altho the price seems high, at just over 30k when all is said and done ( rep said it was 26k for the main course and 3k per extra add on course, and 1 is required ) but, what does a 2 year collage cost, a SUNY ( State University of New York ) school is at least 7k per semester when you figure everything in. 28k for 2 years, then figure in, no Suny school has custom fab classes of any kind, so a private university would need to be found, and there a lot more than a SUNY school.

I'd only charge ya half that much to go to Dave's Hot Rod School for a year!!!!!!! No Diploma, but all the hard work and experience you'd ever want!!!! When we aren't working we're racing!!!! Now, how can ya beat an offer like that?????