UTI VS My Community College?

[bryan d.]

Hey guys just asking for some advice. I'm getting out of the military in the next year or so and was going to pursue a career in auto mechanics. Has anyone on here actually gone to UTI or a community college to learn working on cars? I know enough to do some stuff myself ie radiator changes, alternators and batteries and so fourth but I want to really dig in. Can anyone give me some guidence. Also UTI I heard is around 24k while my community college is 4k but takes one year more. Thanks

[ProudNissanFreak]

You'll get more insight in Gen chat as there have been several topics regarding this. Generally, opinions and experiences are mixed, but more tend to lean towards the CC side.

[frapjap]

For the cost, your CC is a better choice. UTI, Wyotech, etc have a name, but with that name comes good and bad publicity. In the end, the University might get you the job, but unless you're motivated as an employee, that position may not last long.

IMO, you only get what you're willing to put in to your education. While the CC may not look as fancy and prestine, your education will likely be damn near the same at either choice.

[zacmil]

^^What he said.

Most of the time you'll get just as good (sometimes better) of an education at a community college. All of those places like UTI, Wyotech, Sullivan, ITT, etc. are for-profit institutions, so you'll generally pay more and get less financial aid. Now that's not to hate on any of those places--most of them are perfectly fine--but it's just a better deal to go through a community college.

[bryan d.]

I was definately leaning twords my community college because I continue to hear stories that its the same education just at a different price. The only thing is that UTI is only one year but I rather pay 20k less to take one more year. Thanks for the replies.

[Jesda]

Save your money. You'd be better off putting that extra pile of cash away for retirement.

[bryan d.]

thanks again, im set on the community college. its easier than traveling 2k miles from home when i can drive 10 minutes

[nissangirl74]

I am currently in the nursing program at one of the local community colleges. My entire education there will cost less than 1 1/2 years at the state university. WIN! Good luck!

[alms24sebring]

yep, CC only means smaller classes but same education except in very high levels. Actually I used to do the car thing in my CC but it was a complete waste of time to be honest. I think the only thing worth while are the emissions and engine classes.

For example: When a brake master cylinder goes bad, you know it because the pedal goes to the floor or you lose brake fluid from a seal in the BMC, thats it. In my stupid brake and suspension class, the book said to connect a pressure sensor to a bleeder valve while someone presses the pedal. Then write it down and check the specs in a book for what it should be and then determine if its bad or not. STUPID!

Experience in a shop is worth much more than any book can tell you. If you did that on the job you would get laughed at nonstop and fired for being stupid.

[bryan d.]

thanks for the luck.

well im sure not everything in school is going to be applied to the outside world but I dont think im going to be able to get my foot inside the door unless i get some education under my belt. but i want to learn everything i can about cars because its been my passion since i was young. best part is I get to drive my dream car daily lol

[alms24sebring]

All I can say is that UTI, Wyotech, LincolnTech, all that crap is a waste of money and I hear it too many times from people that have spent $30k+ on it. CC is definantly the way to go if you want school time in cars. It would help to have a job in the automotive field too at the same time, even if its just brakes and oil changes. GL

[krash]

I dunno about you guys, but I'd rather go to community college than have urinary tract infection anyday...

[numbnuts240]

I dunno about you guys, but I'd rather go to community college than have urinary tract infection anyday...

[Chaotic_Warlord]

No offense but you probably should have taken advantage of that military time and experience. If you had gone in or reclassed to an auto mechanics MOS. Employers are more willing to hire straight from the military than military straight out of school. You already have working experience in the field instead of classroom theory with some shop time. While UTI and Wyotech are both good schools you have to be a super student and take advantage of one of the manufacturer programs (at extra cost) to get anywhere and from what I've been told by both students and faculty the Volvo, MB, and Porsche programs are by selection only, and frankly that's where the big money is unless you go for Diesel Tech which is BIG money because there aren't enough techs out there, everyone just goes for standard automotive technician in school because they have delusions of getting into a shop and making tons of money building race engines. Just my $.02.

[alms24sebring]

^Couldn't agree more. If I was you I would just take a basic mechanics job and go to CC for it at the same time. You have to start spomewhere. Nothing beats experience.

[Jesda]

I dunno about you guys, but I'd rather go to community college than have urinary tract infection anyday...

I'm offended that with my obvious lack of maturity, I didn't think of this joke first.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

I was supposed to go to Wyotech out by Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, but my housing fell through just before I was supposed to move out there and after talking to a lot of mechanics, alumni, and faculty at other schools I'm glad it did. I thought by going to Wyotech for there "racing performance" program that I'd be building race cars, after talking to a ton of people after my housing fell through (b/c I was planning on getting into UTI in Exton which is 20 minutes from my sister's house) only a small percentage of graduates actually get to work on modified cars or build race cars, most wind up working for gas stations, dealerships, and mom and pop shops where you spend 10-12 hours a day busting your a** for crap pay, no recognition, and with the exception of at dealerships poor work conditions (hot in the summer, freezing cold in the winter). As a general mechanic unless your ASE certified (and /or Manufacturer's Certified) you won't make much and all will wind up with oil stained hands, bad knees, swollen feet, and a bad back after a few years. After doing my own wrench work on a wide variety of cars I'd much rather not make a living doing it.

[abaron13]

Go to community college for sure! There have been so many problems with those "for profit" schools, its not even funny. Obama is thinking about creating a new law regarding them. I went to Lincoln Tech myself, and they lied about literally everything they told me about the school. It was horrible. 1 year later, and 10k missing, I enrolled in my local community college.

[zacmil]

Also, I wouldn't really worry about having to spend another year in school. You only live once, so slow down and take the time to make the most of it. Yeah, you may have to take a few extra classes that you may not feel like you need, but you can't really say that you'll be worse off for it. Over the past few years I've actually had several instances where I've accidentally stumbled upon topics or subjects that I've really enjoyed.

Best of luck on your future endeavors!

[bryan d.]

Its hard to change MOS when the military is set on kicking people out rather than keeping them in. I've got pretty much a good idea of what I need to accomplish while I still have time in the military before I get out. I can take a couple of the required courses using the military tuition assistance program so that I wouldn't have to pay that when I'm out. It saves time and also allows me time to volunteer at a local shop learning and doing more hands on work.

[bryan d.]

I dunno about you guys, but I'd rather go to community college than have urinary tract infection anyday...

I google UTI and thats the first thing that popped up for me

[brazilia]

My ex-husband went to UTI and afterwards did the BMW program and got hired by BMW and he's doing great. But it's really intense and only the top students make it to the pos-grad programs like the BMW one. I pretty much went through it with him and there's no time left to do anything else. But the job placement afterwards is the appeal of the whole thing and makes up for the tuition money and the hard work.