So I'm getting out of the Air Force in about a year, and I need a career change. I love working on cars so I figure that's what I'll do. I'm thinking about relocating and going to Wyotech. Would that be worth it or would it be the same as going to a community college auto tech course?

 

Waste of money. I'm a dealership tech for Ford. Things are getting a little better, but I hate flat rate. You never know what your check is going to be. Wyotech and UTI both charge an insane amount of money. We currently have 3 techs working for us now that went to UTI. You know what they do. They are lube techs. Go to a community college if you want to take some courses. Thats what I did. Although I still learned 1000 times more by building my Camaro.

 

I went to NTI which is a division of UTI that uses the NASCAR name as a way to advertise the school. I learned a lot and I wouldn't trade that knowledge for anything. I now have about 35k is school loans I need to repay and am currently looking for a job. I finished just as dealerships were making massive layoffs and had to go into construction. That business packed up and went to Indiana so here I am...

The school was a great stepping stone but most of my hand on knowledge came from being hands on. I used to go to junkyards while in school just to tear apart engines, transmissions, differentials, etc... I learned more doing that than I did in the NTI labs. The school is great if you want to learn part names, their function, and drivability diagnosis procedures, but I agree with built91Z28, save your money and take some courses at a community college.

 

Well I wouldn't really be spending money, I'd be using my Gi bill, but if it's the same knowledge base and stuff as a community college I'll just do that so I don't have to relocate. I just want to get certified and maybe one day open up my own shop or something.

 

Im thinking about joining the military to save up the money to do the exact same thing lol.

 

The military is a good option if that's what you want. It's a hard life though. On average I work 70 hours a week, and I get paid the same as someone flipping burgers for 30 hours a week. I'm constantly moving to other bases, sometimes other countries, but I can't complain about the benefits. Free education and crap. Even though the medical is free it sucks. I went 6 months with a torn ACL, MCL, Meniscus, and fractured femor, and they just kept telling me it was a knee sprain and gave me jugs of motrin 800.

 

I graduated from Wyotech about 2 years ago. Although I learned quite a bit, I learned more actually working in a shop than I did in school. Community college is a better option IMO, and working in an independent shop so you can see all makes/models of cars. I went to Wyotech straight out of high school at 18, I am now 22 and have worked about a year or so in a shop, kept getting laid off, and have since decided to open my own shop. I say go for what you want, and know your goals.

 

I have tried the CC thing and it didn't work for me... while doing that I was working at a Ford Dealer and I did learn a bunch... Last october I started going to UTI in AZ, While in school I have learned more of the fundamentals about cars(and some things we were doing wrong at the dealer).. I say its worth what you put into it... I have 3 classes till graduation... I have hopes for the dream job(not service) and I'm gonna push it as far as I can go and hope for the best... Well thats my story, Take from it what your going to and good luck in your choice!!