How good is UTI? They say you can make 50 grand a year starting pay working for Mercedes, after you get out.. and that they will help place you there.

I wana do hot rod u, w/ my friend rob.. and then go into mercedes or porsche, cuz you have to do some other vehicle type. But, i don't want to do it if it's just a waste of my time & money.

So... anyone know anyone or is anyone that's gone to UTI & had good luck w/ job pay and placement? Or... bad for that matter.

Thanks.

 

i remember someone mentioning that they go there a while ago on this board...do a search on it and see if something comes up.

 

I have been enrolled at UTI since September of last year. There is a lot of information you need to know. I would check out their webpage, www.uticorp.com and sign up to have a rep come and talk to you to explain how it all works.

The Hot Rod U program cannot be taken by itself. It is three individual classes having to do with street performance and engine building. Each class is three weeks long, and they group those three classes together somewhere along the way of the rest of the classes (Auto is 17 classes, Auto/Diesel is 22, Auto/Diesel/Industrial is 24 I believe).

And getting into the graduate programs (like Benz, Porsche, etc) is no guarantee. Some have strict requirements. All of them require a 3.5 GPA and 97% attendance minimum, some are higher. Porsche is 3.7 and 99% I believe, and they only select 36 people per year out of all the UTI schools (compared to around 400 selected for some other programs).

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and I'll do my best to answer them, but I think your best bet is to talk to a rep if you're seriously considering attending.

I hope that helps

 

hah, i knew there was a catch to the whole placement stuff.

thx.. i am gonna talk to one.

how much are you paying? i might pm you. lol.

 

Tuition has increased a couple of times since I signed my contract, so I don't know what the current rate is. My guess would be around $25K for the Auto/Diesel program.

And I don't think its a catch. Of course you gotta know what you're doing if you wanna work for Porsche or any car company. They're not gonna let the kids who just sleep through class in and waste everyones time.

 

hmm.. true...

say you didn't do so good w/ mercedes program..

with the hot rod u courses, you know.. for hot rods & all... could you get a job working on drag cars for professional racing? aka.. get on a race team.

that's really what i'd rather be doing, but.. working for mercedes would kick so much butt, i know i'd work to do it. but.. out of how many people i mean.. common.. i know there's gotta be tons of ppl that go & try to get in.. how big is the avg class for each type of car manufacturer?

 

Im a Wyoming Tech grad and the first from there to attend the Jaguar PACE program, which is like the mercedes,porsche , etc


definitely the way to go if thats what u want to do ....

u start out getting paid better and usually placed with a mechanic as an apptrentice so u can get your feet wet and not thrown to the wolves
later
Jeremy

 

but... how good are the chances of getting placed, if you get the grade they require? and.. same w/ the money...


that's all i'm looking at.. gaurantee... and if i will actually make the money they say i will..... if i can't, & only make 20-35 grand a year(poverty).... i mine as well join the core, which is also poverty(my first option)..

ohya.. "poverty" according to the US govt, lol. not bad for an 18 year old fresh outta high school.

 

UTI also offers the Jaguar PACE program, which is one of the programs I am considering.

I don't know the average selection class off hand, each manufacturer takes a different number of people.

If you want to get on a race team, UTI offers a Nascar program I believe. Info on that may be on their website.

If you have the grade and attendance, you have a good chance. They have advisors who will take a look at your transcript and let you know which program(s) you have the best shot at getting into. If you have a 4.0 and perfect attendance, you have a very very very good chance at getting into anything.

 

i dislike nascar, i wanna be at the track, strip... not oval. lol.

either strip, or mercedes or porsche..

i would be able to do 100% attendance, i'm not one to skip out on stuff i like. & automotive stuff i like. with the grade... eh... i duno how i'd do... i guess it depends on how easy the stuff is... or.. how much i want to learn it, which is alot.. so i guess i'd be alright...

imma just talk w/ some rep from there... just gotta get the #, rofl.

 

Yeah that would be your best bet. The stuff isn't hard if you pay attention and are willing to learn. Theres a bunch of kids who go into it thinking they already know it, and then they argue with the teachers about stuff when the instructor is the one who has been in the field and is ASE certified. So far I am in my 9th class, and I still have my 4.0 and 100% attendance.

Also, you don't have to go to any manufacturer program. You can just graduate from the UTI coarses and then go off and find your own job.

 

you come out ase certified, right?... or no?


if you dun go into placement.. then what type of jobs are you looking at? typical "hey joe, come over, my car won't start" 5 bucks and hr mechanic? or.. what?

 

You do not come out certified, but you are well on your way. To become certified, you need two years of experience in the field and UTI counts towards that. You can take the tests while in school I believe, but you won't be certified until you've met those requirements.

As for jobs without a manufacturer program, I do not know. I plan on going to one, so I haven't asked. I'm sure you can start at a dealer, but they told us that the guys who go through a manufacturer program before starting are years ahead of anyone else just starting off at a dealer. The manufacturer pays for the training programs, so if you can get in, I don't see any downside to them.

 

um.. so basically, free schooling eh? heh.. cool.

 

Yep, but after you graduate from the manufacturer program, you have to work for that manufacturer for a certain amount of time (most require only a one year contract)

 

About Porsche, they accept students twice a year and there are only 14 seats per class. They say 3.7 GPA is required but you honestly don't have a chance unless you're in the high 3.90's. Basically, minimum requirements are not good enough. Also, if your driving record is bad, it can absolutely kill your chances of getting into any program.

I tried my hand at Porsche and didn't get in. It ain't easy let me tell ya. While I don't think I'm the best by any means, I'm not a slacker at all. I met and exceeded all their requirements(4.0 GPA, 99.8% attendance, etc) I started the whole process back in October, had my first interview in November, finally had the second interveiw last month with Mr. Verock from Porsche. Now I get to try with Audi next week. If I don't get in there I'm going to cry.

Oh, and the Hot rod classes are a blast! Nothing better than dyno day!

 

Yeah my high school auto teacher wanted me to goto WYO tech or UTI but 28k to go is a lot. And what are the chances of making 50k a year.

 

ya... i know... i mean... i doubt, even if i do what i'm supposed to, and do more than that... i bet i still won't make that much..

 

I'm supposed to start at UTI in Houston for Collision and Refinishing this fall. Took a tour of the campus last summer and its a nice facility. They also let you work on your own project or one assigned to you for a final grade (can anyone say trans am shell on a rotisserie?)

I'm really looking forward to it.

 

Wow, they cut back since I signed up. Its alright, I don't wanna go for Porsche anyway.

And I can't wait for Hot Rod U

 

WyoTech shouldn't cost you 28k right off the bat.. It's a 9 month program, 40 hours a week, and to get an associate's degree you need 3 months of Applied Service Management.. I'm going for Automotive Technology and ASM at WyoTech in October, and it's going to cost 19,300 for tuition, plus 2475 for housing.. They have many programs available for job placement, Jaguar in particular requires a 3.0 grade average and I think 100% attendance.. Don't kid yourself about the money.. I know mechanics with no education who make 60k a year, and one guy who worked for Honda making 105k a year. I can't really speak much for UTI but, I have heard from 2 people that it's not a very good school.. That's what I've been told so I'm not sure, but keep in mind that there's quite a few places out there that won't hire anything but WyoTech grads..

 

that is very cool that they allow you to work on your own project for a grade.

that'd be a hell of a thing to be proud of too.

best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

wyotech, i've heard of them.. but never heard anything about like placement.. i've never heard opinions about it, and stories of ppl out of it, same w/ uti though...

problem with wyotech & used to be w/ Uti, is, they are out of state, i'm wanting free housing, AKA. parents. ... or move in w/ a friend, and split apartment cost..

but imma read up on wyotech and uti and make my best decision.

plz keep posting opinions & experiences about both schools ppl, :-).

 

uti...ha!! don't believe a word they say. i graduated fron uti"s marine mechanics institute last september. sure they will make contacts for you and fax your transcripts to employers...right up till your last day of school. lifetime placement my butt. once you graduate and contact the school for openings they will MAIL you a dealer list from the state you want to work in. keep in mind this is not a list of company's hiring, its every single mechanic shop in the entire state. im not knocking the program, it was an awsome experience and glad i attended. just dont buy into the big money potential they claim. you are just an entry level mechanic and NOT certified.

 

Well housing at Wyoming Tech is only 275 a month, which is everything but a phone.. Can't really beat that, I mean they're not big and fancy but the dorms are decent enough.. Somewhere I've got a sheet that explains the programs for job placement.. I know there's several companies besides Jag, like BMW, Toyota, etc.. But right now I've gotta run off to work so I'll post that later when I find it..

 

There's good stories about UTI and theres bad ones. The same with WyoTech. I've heard that WyoTech is a bad school, and I've heard its a great school. I've heard the same about UTI. I chose UTI because it is only 35 minutes from my house, and it seemed pretty good to me. I doubt theres any place that ONLY hires WyoTech grads.

You shouldn't need them to hold your hand the whole time. Once you're out, if you know what you're doing, you should be able to find your own job.

I'd say the bottom line is if you go to a reputable school, be it UTI or WyoTech, and you are willing to learn and you know waht you're doing when you get out, you should have no problem getting a good job.

 

Uti's assigned housing is pretty much the same, furnished apartments that run $280 a month. Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere near assingned housing. Just find someone looking for a roommate.

Metalli, Porsche also takes three alternates per class so I guess that brings it up to that 34-36 people they accept a year...

 

Not all campuses have assigned housing. At the one I go to in IL, they have no housing but they do assist you in fiding a roomate/roomates and an apartment if you need assistance.

edit- BR: I have also heard a rumor that the companies that sponsor the Hot Rod U program give you a discount on parts while in the Hot Rod U courses. Is that true?

 

Huh I assumed since the Houston campus had housing they all would, sorry. You guys aren't missing much anyway, the beds are like 3ft wide and look like they're made of cardboard.

Nope haven't heard about any discounted parts, at least not in H-town. I never asked, but if it were true I'm sure that info would've made it around the campus. I asked the instructors if they'd sell me some of the parts they were not using but they wouldn't. Really sux too, I had my eye on that Borla rear section that was sitting there collecting dust.

 

lol.. about the parts they won't sell. sucks, but that's cool that you might get discounts...


ok... someone.. positive for uti w/ out of school experience plz? anyone?.... same w/ wyotech, & also w/ neg on wyotech...?

 

not to change the subject but Im suprised that nobody has mentioned LTI. I personally am a graduate from there and I wanted to share my experiece. Basically I thought it was a "ok" school. Some people liked it and learned a lot some people learned nothing and wasted their money. I SHOULD HAVE taken the school more seriously but halfway through I was starting to be annoyed by very immature/@$$hole students.....immature/@$$hole fellow students make teachers not want to teach...ect ect.. While I was 3/4 of the way through I still wanted to enroll for the intership program (needed good attendence and good grades) AND my grades were ALMOST there. I got very sick while I was halfway through the program and my attendence suffered from it. The end result was that I COULDNT apply for the intership program (LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY!) I think you needed a 3.5 GPA and mine was 3.48! I was pissed. So then I just did the bare minimum to get by. The person at LTI that denyed me my intership decided to "make it up to me." He said I could install a motor from him on his car for class credit. He paired me up with retards (to do the motor install). I got so discussed that I didnt go to school for a couple days... Needless to say the motor install got screwed up...I think the guys I was paired up with seized the motor or something. Once I graduated from LTI I ended up working at a local garage. Not the smartest thing to do....I worked there for three years. ALTHOUGH the pay was better than what dealers would start me at I didnt learn what I wanted to. Kinda became a parts changer... After three years working there I wasnt a happy person because of ****ty customers, ****ty cars, didnt learn a lot (my fault) ect ect. I quit there WITHOUT having another job (yet another smart move by me ) I applyed to a lot of GM/Honda Acura dealers and "better" upscale garages but had a VERY hard time finding a job. I truely believe that no one cares that you worked at "Joe Shmo's Auto Repair" for 3 years. I finally (after a month and a half) landed a job at a very "upscale" local garage in a very "posh" neighborhood (labor rate there is $95 per hour). I GOT A QUICK CRASH COURSE IN HOW GREASEY FINGERPRINTS, DIRTY FLOOR MATS, LEAVING YOUR BAY A MESS, ECT ECT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! Presently Ive been at this "upscale place" for 3 months now and it has not been easy at all. I took a pretty big pay cut but I believe in the long run I'll make what I used to make, I'll be a better tech and my job resume will look better. If anyone has any questions about going into the automotive business please feel free to email me or PM me... I did everything WRONG from day one...if you cant get into a dealer from the time you graduate school work at a local garage for a year...then try to move on to bigger and better things. TRUST ME..

Dan

 

lti....?.. website? too lazy to look it up right now, it's 2 am & about to go to bed.


so... how much was the school? i've never even heard of if i don't think.. might of here or there.. but... not much... uti & wyotech are the two main oens i've heard of.

 

By LTI, do you mean Lincoln Tech? Theres one of those in Illinois, and I've heard it is the worst. A guy at my work went there and quit after two months because he was so dissatisfied with it. Also, one of my instructors used to teach there and he said it isn't anywhere close to UTI.

And yeah, stupid kids who don't take it seriously can hold you back, which is one thing I hate. I wish they would somehow weed those kids out, cause I hate getting stuck in a group with one or two kids who just don't care cause their parents are paying for school and they don't even really wanna be there.

 

does that happen often?... the kids thing.

 

Yes...I'm talking about Lincoln Tech. Some of used to call it Tinker Tech! I went to the Lincoln Tech in Union NJ and it was basically "ghetto." I would just like to state for the record that I am not a racist person but most of the students there were minorities and immigrants. It wasnt a very pleasent experience for me... When I went to LTI in 99-00 it was about 14,000 for me. When I left the new students were paying over $20,000!! Doesnt seem it worth it in my opinion.

ALSO~ I forgot to mention in my last post that ANOTHER MISTAKE I made was while going to LTI I kept my office job that I had since I was in high school because it payed better. I should have applied at AutoZone, Jiffy Lube, local garages ect ect BUT I was more interested in fast/easy/LEGAL money. The only reason why I left my office job was becacuse I was laid off...

 

Theres gonna be idiot kids at any school you go to. If kids really don't do ****, don't be afraid to try and get another group.

 

I'm currently enrolled at UTI in glendale hts. and I would recomend it. You get out of it what you put into it. I have learned a lot and love going to class. There are some slacker students to avoid getting as lab partners, but all my teachers have let us choose our lab partners. They have a lot of rules about dress code, driving on campus, professional behavior, etc.

 

hmm...


see... with me... i'm not really worried about... the ppl in the classes & learning & all.. i know i'll learn.. cuz i really really want to learn all i can... that's why i love HS now.. but.. most of the work my teachers give me is complete bullpoo work... so i do decent w/ it.. .. none of it interests me.. automotive does interest me.. so i never have any problems w/ learning it.. hell, i even am reading a book, at my own will, to learn about engines... and i've NEVER read a book just cuz i want to. only magazine.. 3 paragraph articles... lol.

what i'm worried about.. is.. job placement afterwards, & making the money i will some day need for a family & my toys... my wants.. savings.. etc etc..

 

Graduate job placement does a decent job but don't expect them to do everything. You take them a list of the dealerships and shops in the location you want to work in and they make the phone calls and give out your information. Then you get in contact with your prospective employer to setup an interview or put in application. That's pretty much the process. No guarantees. I do have a few friends that found jobs through them. I know for sure that when you finish with the Porsche program you have a job waiting for you, that is guaranteed.

Good to hear TX is the only campus with idiots... How some of these kids can waste 20 grand, end up in loan debt hell and still **** around is baffling.

No one's metioned drug testing yet, you guys in IL not have it or something? I was drug tested twice in an 8 month period. Random drug testing my ***! That's profiling and profiling is wrong.

 

Yeah, we have random drug testing. I don't care about it, I have nothing to worry about. I'm glad they do it, I wish they would be more strict on the policy towards drugs, that way some of these idiots won't waste my time with their bull****.

I am pretty sure that all of the manufacturer programs do a good job with placing you in a dealership. You may have to relocate, but they try to get you in where you want to be. That has been my impression from their presentations I have seen. You'd have to call the school and ask to talk to a manufacturer program representative. He or she should be able to take care of your questions.

If you go through the school with a 4.0 and 100% attendance and go to a manufacturer program, they will see that and they will want you working for them, I wouldn't worry about it.

And as for all the rules, I like those too. Its time for people to grow the hell up already. I see these stupid kids who come to class with their pants hanging off their knees, shirt all untucked and just plain looking like a mess. I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone like that. These kids gotta grow up and start going by the professionalism rules instead of crying about them.

 

I mentioned the rules not because I have a problem compling with them, but because a prospective student should be aware of them. Ther are a lot of students that don't follow the rules and get away with it. The enforcement of the rules is not uniform. I wouldn't let that bother you because we are all in competion for the best spots in manufactur's training programs and the best jobs. If you maintain a professional apperance and they look like hell you have a major advantage.

 

I know that you weren't complaining about it. It just bugs me when I hear all these kids bitching cause they have to tuck their shirt in, ya know?

 

shirt is nothing.. who cares if you have to tuck it in.. when i have to tuck in my shirt, it makes me feel like i'm special & needed.. and smart, rofl.

 

Yeah, I know what you mean about complaining. They are going to turn the west lobby into a lounge/study area for us and I'm hearing complaints about how you won't be able to smoke in there.

 

That figures.

 

heh... what's the point of smoking anyways... but i won't go there...

I'm meeting w/ a rep from UTI on thursday, at the Mercedes place.. We're gonna go over everything, & hopfully maybe me sign up... i duno yet....

THey are building the school about... 1/8 of a mile down the SAME ROAD my high school is on!!!! how kicka$$ is that!?

seirously..same road.. 10 seconds away.. 3 minutes walking time.

so... ya.. cool.

 

In got accepted into UTI's nascar program in Morseville NC, and Wyo-techs High performace engines/ chassis fab in Pa. i am probably going to wyo-tech. and for current costs i got a little over 30,000 for UTI and 20,000 for Wyo-tech with no housing

 

Whew, got into Audi Academy! I'm going to Phoenix in May.

Mead said that you will have a job at a dealership when the program is finished but to be flexible in the locations you want to work. He said there are three levels of techs, registered Audi tech, Expert and Expert Guild. When you finish the program you are a registered tech. The only thing that sets apart the registered techs from the expert techs are four ASE certifications(A1, A4, A6, A8). Registered techs make between $35,000 to $45,000 while Experts bring in between $55,000 to $75,000. Not bad huh?

 

so how long does it take to graduate???

 

Length depends on a number of things. First, it depends on which program you chose. I am in the Auto and Diesel program, which is 15 months. You can take just Auto, which I think is 11 months. There is also Auto/Diesel/Industrial which is 17 months I think. Also, the Ford F.A.C.T. program can be added to any of those for an extra cost. That is an extra 15 weeks long and around $5,500. I am considering picking up the Ford program as well. Then after that, I want to apply for a manufacturer's program (unsure which one yet, possibly BMW or Audi) and those range from 6-20 weeks I think, depending on the program.