Wyotech or UTI?

[WhiteTrash]

Who has the better automotive repair course? I have enjoyed working on my own vehicles for quite some time. Mostly self taught as I need to fix something and couldn't afford to take it to a shop. Now I am in a position that I can take a year another year off. I am wanting to learn more about fixing vehicles. I don't know that I am going to want to make a career change, but at least for my personal knowledge. I am not too concerned about tuition costs, because the GI Bill will cover it. And seeing as there are none around me currently, moving somewhere is not an issue either. Where would you suggest I can get the best education? Wyotech, UTI, or somewhere else? Finding a mechanic to teach me is not really an option, so I am thinking formal training. And it will always give me something to fall back on if needed. You can never have too many career choices.

 

[colt zantop]

not wyotech.....

 

[ChrisStarks]

:supergay:

 

[biggie]

i recommend UTI, I went there in the mid 90's the school is really good ill recommend it to anyone

 

[I can fix anything]

None of the above. Is there nothing close to you in the community colleges, or tech schools?

 

[930dreamer]

Have you looked at a local community college automotive program?

 

[colt zantop]

community college equals SMALLER CLASSES(STUDENTS)...MORE ONE ON ONE TRAINING AND 1/8 OF THE COST!!!


when I attended wyotech....they crammed 65 students in a class with 2 instructors and had 5 grinders, 10 welders, AND LIKE 3-4 STUDENTS shared one toolbox...and you all had the same deadline to get your **** done....I spent more time waiting for tools than learning.....DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING THERE.....

 

[bitbycarbug]

Who has the better automotive repair course? I have enjoyed working on my own vehicles for quite some time. Mostly self taught as I need to fix something and couldn't afford to take it to a shop. Now I am in a position that I can take a year another year off. I am wanting to learn more about fixing vehicles. I don't know that I am going to want to make a career change, but at least for my personal knowledge. I am not too concerned about tuition costs, because the GI Bill will cover it. And seeing as there are none around me currently, moving somewhere is not an issue either. Where would you suggest I can get the best education? Wyotech, UTI, or somewhere else? Finding a mechanic to teach me is not really an option, so I am thinking formal training. And it will always give me something to fall back on if needed. You can never have too many career choices.

Local Tech or community college. Take classes at your leisure. Pick out what you want, like welding, or machining, or engine repair, or auto body.

I went through a auto-body repair program through my local tech college, and I can paint, weld, pull, and sling mud better than the average joe(not better than the real professionals, though) My tools cost me more than my tuition.

That being said, I believe it's how much you put into whatever school or program you decide on that will decide how much you take out with you.

 

[shampoop]

community college equals SMALLER CLASSES(STUDENTS)...MORE ONE ON ONE TRAINING AND 1/8 OF THE COST!!!


when I attended wyotech....they crammed 65 students in a class with 2 instructors and had 5 grinders, 10 welders, AND LIKE 3-4 STUDENTS shared one toolbox...and you all had the same deadline to get your **** done....I spent more time waiting for tools than learning.....DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING THERE.....

I went to a local community college. Started the 2 year program with around 30 in our class. Got weeded down to closer to 15 by the end. Never had to wait for tools or an open bay, required to have your own very basic set of tools, but never had to wait on a shop tool and they had everything. Tuition was probably around 7K max for the 2 years including books. I spent 3k on tools during the second year, and have spent probably another 1-2k since graduating. I have nothing bad to say about my experience really.

Would the GI bill pay for cost of living while going to school? Do they just give you a dollar amount and say it has to be spent on school related items?

 

[Fedwrench]

Neither. if you want to be an auto tech, find a community college that offers one of the factory programs like GM ASEP, or Ford ASSET. You'll alternate 8 week blocks going to school and working at the dealership. You'll learn a lot and gain valuable experience along the way. If you apply yourself, you'll be a much better tech.

 

[Griff93]

There's no community colleges with an automotive program in this area. I went to Nashville Auto Diesel College. It was overpriced for what it was but they had some really good instructors. They also had some crappy ones. I applied, took the entrance exam, and got into BMW STEP. STEP is run by UTI. I have no idea how different their regular program is but the STEP facility was setup pretty well with all the instructors being former dealer technicians. My recommendation is to go visit both campuses if you can afford it. Buy a cheap plane ticket or take a road trip. Don't just go through their guided tour but go wonder around some on your own and talk to some of the students. Obviously try to find some that are pretty far along. The guy that has been there two weeks won't be of much help.

 

[GoBlue]

Get some state certs in front end and brakes (easy to do), get a job in a small shop as a brake monkey and learn from the older guys. Learn to do by doing...you will be better off in the long run. Show up 15 mins early and ASK questions

 

[handyvorb]

I went through UTI and recommend it if you're willing to put in more than just your $25k. The majority of people that were there with me just were there because it was something to do and mom payed for it. They didn't get much out of it because they were more concerned with socializing than learning the stuff. Porsche only hires UTI graduates, and you had to go through UTI to get into the Audi/VW technician training programs.

I put a lot into, and in return after 3 years I am ASE Master Certified, Audi Master Guild Certified (highest technician level in Audi), bent sent to Germany courtesy of Audi, and make more money than entry level engineers. However, the majority of the guys that went to class with me (most that just weren't seriously into it) don't even work in the automotive field anymore... lol.

 

[not-required]

Im currently in a local CC auto program and have two of my friends that went to Wyotech. We I went to visit them a couple of months ago they told me that they wasted their money. They both said that they wished they stayed home and went to the local CC. I took a tour of the campus while I was up there and I must say, the facilities are nice but I looked like there was only one guy working per group and about 8 other guys just watching.

 

[diesel research]

I am not too concerned about tuition costs, because the GI Bill will cover it.

No it won't, better check again. I don't think those programs are eligible for 9/11 GI bill, and use the older Cha31 GI bill at a standard rate of around $1,400 per month. You aren't going to either of those for even close to that.


PLEASE REMEMBER ONE MORE THING:

Automotive trade schools are not to teach process and procedures like "how to remove a tie rod end" or "how to change a head gasket".

Sure there may be a few things like rebuilding various power train components, but it is largely an introduction to troubleshooting and diagnostics (and how things work!). Using scan tools, pressure gauges, wiring diagrams, noise, TSBs, ect ect.

A lot of people bash graduates of trade programs because they expect a higher level of mechanical inclination. Sure they might assemble 1 engine on a stand or use a few hand tools for various other simple tasks, but it is largely going to be day in, day out, understanding waveforms, voltage drop, fuel pressure test, DTCs, clutch/geartrain noise, principles of operation (how gears work or how magnets produce electricity) and learning to write a repair order.

You are not leaving there being a "master shade tree". You will have opportunity to use Consult2, Consult3, snap on modis, Vantage pro, Genisys, IDS, NGS, Tech2, DRB3, Solus, Star, did I miss any others?

It isn't to teach you how to remove a starter or even a clutch. It is to teach you what a rumbling in neutral that goes away in gear. Not teaching you how to change a water pump or a camshaft. It is to teach you why.

Think a lot of people attend thinking they will know "how". What you are going to learn is how to use a multimeter and basics of scan tools and 5 gas analyzers.

 

[HotRodKush]

I was just going to post exactly what the above post states. I went to UTI in Phoenix (then Avondale when they built the new building). I was a mechanic for the next few years. They don't teach you HOW to work on cars. Sure, there's plenty of lab time, but that's not the focus - the focus is the theory of auto repair, so you can diagnose problems the right way, without being a "parts replacer". The how-to part of it can only be learned from on-the-job experience. I learned more about working on cars from actually WORKING on cars - but my classroom education taught me what I needed to know to perform my own diagnostics, and avoid being stuck in the "parts swapper" position. With knowledge comes power

 

[May Pop]

I went to WyoTech in 1976. It was better than a sharp stick in the eye,or a knee in the groin.
Ron

 

[knocker]

I went through UTI and recommend it if you're willing to put in more than just your $25k. The majority of people that were there with me just were there because it was something to do and mom payed for it. They didn't get much out of it because they were more concerned with socializing than learning the stuff. Porsche only hires UTI graduates, and you had to go through UTI to get into the Audi/VW technician training programs.

I put a lot into, and in return after 3 years I am ASE Master Certified, Audi Master Guild Certified (highest technician level in Audi), bent sent to Germany courtesy of Audi, and make more money than entry level engineers. However, the majority of the guys that went to class with me (most that just weren't seriously into it) don't even work in the automotive field anymore... lol.

handyvorb, just to let you know Audi and VW both dropped their programs from UTI because of having trouble placing students or some thing like that.

No it won't, better check again. I don't think those programs are eligible for 9/11 GI bill, and use the older Cha31 GI bill at a standard rate of around $1,400 per month. You aren't going to either of those for even close to that.

The GI bill will only cover tuition at the Phx UTI campus because unlike the other schools you get an associate’s degree out of it, half of the students at the school are veterans because of that reason.

 

[Aklass]

The Local CC will always be the best option, I've seen guys who went to Lincoln Tech, UTI, Wyotech and came out knowing absolute $h1t! The best thing to do is to get hands on experience at a shop, because even though you get out of school and you know all these theories and have these certification, it just proves you can take test, and what really matters is what you can do with your hands

 

[Original Man]

Im going through my local community college in the GM auto program. I like it, its much cheaper than those two schools you named and I work at the same time im in school. This way when you graduate you actually have experience. The goal is they hire you full on or you go to another shop that will.

 

[WhiteTrash]

I appreciate all of the feedback. And it all sounds like good advice and I will take it into consideration. But here is a little more information on my circumstances.

They don't offer it at my local community college. The closest one is an hour away. And I don't have the time to do a 2 year program. I don't want to work at a dealership or really get into brand specific programs either.

About me, I just finished paramedic and firefighting school, but it is something I have been doing for the past decade in the military. I have a year before I can start working with the fire department due to other things. I have a year left on my GI Bill, and a year to kill. I have an AA in Liberal Arts, AS in Business, AAS in Paramedicine, and an AAS in Fire Science Protection. I just let my LVN go because I was tired of working in a hospital. I am wanting to go to school, mostly for my knowledge. I am not brand loyal and currently own 2 Chevys, 4 Fords, a Dodge, an air cooled VW, and some bikes (Honda, Kawasaki, and Royal Enfield). My newest vehicle is 99 and I only own 1 vehicle doesn't have a carb. I just don't care for the newer vehicles.

Since I have a year to kill, and need an excuse as why I am not working right out of school, and postpone some student loans until I can work with the Fire Department. The GI Bill will pay the tuition, and a small monthly allowance for a house. I have enough in saving to supplement it and get by for the year, but not without the allowance and repaying student loans.

I live in the country around Dallas, and while they have a UTI here, they can't take the GI Bill because they haven't been around long enough. I am looking for a 1 year program somewhere that will give me the best education of the government's (and by default, yours and mine) money.

And if it helps, I already have between $3-5K in basic Craftsman, Kobalt, or GearWrench hand tools. I don't have a tool truck that stops by my house and it isn't very convenient for me to wait all day at a shop in hopes one will show up. I don't make a living with my tool set, but it has served me well.

 

[ZRX61]

Another vote for not going to either Wyo or UTI. There are entire websites devoted to what a rip off shithole Wyotech is.
Local CC is the way to go & probably not even 10% of the cost.. which means more $$ for tools. I know at my local CC here you'd be looking at maybe $400 in fees per semester & thats running 15 units or so.

 

[handyvorb]

handyvorb, just to let you know Audi and VW both dropped their programs from UTI because of having trouble placing students or some thing like that.

Just to clarify, they dropped the programs due to very few technician openings with these manufacturers after the economy drop in 2008 (due to no job openings, not because dealers did not want Audi/VW Academy grads).

Audi/VW has seemed to adjust their focus since then to train the current technicians further to make them more efficient than adding new technicians into the pool.

Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes still have their technician programs for UTI grads.

 

[ZRX61]

They don't offer it at my local community college. The closest one is an hour away.

An entire hour away? How far are you from Wyotech

 

[SS5150]

Wyotech in '95. It was ok, think around 30-35 student class size if I recall. Curriculum seemed a bit dated to me but I've had a successful automotive career that I doubt I'd have if I hadn't attended.

At the time they said only 2 out of 100 tech students would be in the field in 2 yrs. Doesn't seem like good odds, and definitely reflects on the auto business.

Can't teach experience.

 

[WhiteTrash]

And I actually want to learn the why aspect of everything. I am currently in the swapping parts phase and have been for the better part of a decade.
And yes they will take the Chapter 33/Post-911 GI Bill. This year when Obama took off the state specific cap for tuition and put on a general cap, he opened it up again for the tech schools. And what they GI Bill doesn't cover, will be covered by the Yellow Ribbon program and the Pell Grant.

 

[jfcasey]

I am going to my local CC right now for a auto program instead of UTI. It is worlds better. The best part to me is that we do LIVE work. Everything we repair and learn on is a live job so we are able to learn tricks of the trade and real repair theorys.

At uti or wyotech, you're never going to have to remove a rusted to **** bolt out of a lower control arm, so when you get stuck with that in the real world, you wont know to just blast that SOB with a torch and crank it out.

Doing all that canned work is gonna get you no where if you don't have the real world experience...

 

[WhiteTrash]

I am not near a Wyotech. But an hour drive one way to a "local" school that offers the program would be grounds for me to move anyway. And the "local" school is a 2 year program that won't work for my situation.

I apologize if I sound like I am being difficult. I am not trying to be.

Tuition isn't a concern. It will be covered if it is $400 a semester or $17K, and I don't get the difference.

 

[handyvorb]

because even though you get out of school and you know all these theories and have these certification, it just proves you can take test, and what really matters is what you can do with your hands

ability to pass automotive tests = ability to diagnosis concerns

what you can do with your hands = ability to hang the parts

Anyone can hang parts, many can hang them fast, few can actually diagnose the problem so they are fixing the vehicle right the first time.

A lot of dealerships have kind of a hierarchy where a shop foreman or team leader diagnose all the vehicles and have their minions hang the parts, where do you want to be in this hierarchy?

UTI will teach you the fundamentals of cars so you can actually diagnose a problem for yourself. You learn how to get fast at hanging parts once you're in the shop.

Now... I think UTI tuition should be much cheaper than it is, but the more expensive it is, the more people it keeps out (else it would be waaaay overcrowded), and the more you have to really want it.

 

[Aklass]

ability to pass automotive tests = ability to diagnosis concerns

what you can do with your hands = ability to hang the parts

Anyone can hang parts, many can hang them fast, few can actually diagnose the problem so they are fixing the vehicle right the first time.

A lot of dealerships have kind of a hierarchy where a shop foreman or team leader diagnose all the vehicles and have their minions hang the parts, where do you want to be in this hierarchy?

UTI will teach you the fundamentals of cars so you can actually diagnose a problem for yourself. You learn how to get fast at hanging parts once you're in the shop.

Now... I think UTI tuition should be much cheaper than it is, but the more expensive it is, the more people it keeps out (else it would be waaaay overcrowded), and the more you have to really want it.

That wasn't what I meant to say, what I meant to say, is they teach you the basics and give you theories, but once you get hands on, nothing beats experience.

 

[LawnDart79]

If I were you, I'd find a community college that offers strictly automotive classes within a one year timeframe if that's what you desire. When I went to tech school in the late 90s, my community college had a certificate program that could be completed in 9 months. I attended 2 years and earned my AAS degree, but a few students earned the certificate.

Is your ultimate goal to earn a degree or just take some classes? If you only want to take classes and not earn a degree, who cares if you don't take all of them. Just take what you can at a community college within one year. Focus on the important ones, electrical/electronics, engine controls, hvac, etc. Those classes are probably where you'll learn the most.

From what I've heard from many people, Wyotech ***** hind ***. From what I witnessed from those who graduated from there, I'd believe it.

I worked in an auto dealership for 8 years and seen many Wyotech students come and go. One Wyotech idiot couldn't even install mudflaps without f**king it up. He couldn't even put them on the correct side of the fender well...I mean seriously, give me a f**king break.

Go to community college.

 

[t100]

based on your situation, take some nursing classes at CC. it will help in your field as FF, also, meet some chicks.

 

[WhiteTrash]

Anyone know a good community college then? I have been to 5 community colleges and 1 university over the years. And they all had **** classes except the few classes that had a good teacher. I understand that this happens everywhere, but figure one of the bigger schools would have better teachers and a more standardized curriculum than just some random CC that hired their uncle mechanic so they could get more grant money.

 

[knocker]

ability to pass automotive tests = ability to diagnosis concerns

what you can do with your hands = ability to hang the parts

Anyone can hang parts, many can hang them fast, few can actually diagnose the problem so they are fixing the vehicle right the first time.

A lot of dealerships have kind of a hierarchy where a shop foreman or team leader diagnose all the vehicles and have their minions hang the parts, where do you want to be in this hierarchy?

UTI will teach you the fundamentals of cars so you can actually diagnose a problem for yourself. You learn how to get fast at hanging parts once you're in the shop.

Now... I think UTI tuition should be much cheaper than it is, but the more expensive it is, the more people it keeps out (else it would be waaaay overcrowded), and the more you have to really want it.

I completely agree with you, I went through UTI and then threw the Volvo Safe program and yes most of what they teach you is diag from start to finish. I see it day in and day out at my shop, a lot of these guys just throw parts at the car hoping to fix it. It drives me nuts. I hear it all the time how somebody knows someone who went to UTI and they don't know anything about fixing cars and it’s just not true. Yes like every place there are the ones who are just there because mommy's paying for it and don’t pay attention or care but I wasn't that person. I have a lot of friends from UTI that I still talk to from all over the country and like me they are doing great. Yes it was a lot of money but I feel it’s justified for what I got out of it.

 

[WhiteTrash]

based on your situation, take some nursing classes at CC. it will help in your field as FF, also, meet some chicks.

Sadly, I already was an LVN. Any classes I take would just be repeats. And I doubt my fiancee would care for it either.

 

[diesel research]

I also know a guy who didn't go to any schooling and couldn't fix his way out of a wet paper bag. He DOES know how to unscrew some screws though. He has a pocket global code reader. When he gets a code he replaces said part. My point? I bet you know plenty like that as well.

Anyone that states I know someone who went ___ and *****, should stop and think about how many they knew that went ___ or no where and also *****.

I went to school AFTER having worked 5 years. Trust me, experience alone doesn't trump anything. I am also amazed how I find myself applying knowledge from automotive and factory nissan courses in my strictly Class8 OTR diesel job. I shudder to think how many times I must have wasted a lot of time in those first 5 years.

Sometimes you just don't know...what you don't know.

 

[jdv]

I went to a local trade school that was bought out in 2004 by Wyotech, and transformed into a Wyotech campus overnight. I took the two year program and graduated in early 2006 with an AOS from Wyotech. I wanted to become an emissions tech, and Wyotech was the only local option that offered the BAR courses for me to take. I'll have to be honest, I'm not one to usually regret decisions I made in life, but I felt I made a poor financial decision by going to that school. I should have known from day one in the orientation when we were told that the skills we would obtain from Wyotech wasn't in fact technical skills, but the ability that we could become a trainable candidate. Wyotech teaches theory, that's it. When I attended, they averaged 40 students per instructer, basically meaning you MAY, but generally won't have a chance for any questions to be answered. Most lab/shop time is unsupervised, and in my opinion making them worthless.

I guess what really bugs me is some of the claims they make. My campus claimed a 97% job placement percentage. Sounds great right? I thought it sounded too good to be true, and when I questioned it (after I graduated), I came to find out they based their percentage on the number of students that had jobs after graduating, not being placed into a career.

Right before graduation I received an invitation from BMW for acceptance into their factory training program at Wyotech. Paid training, paid relocation, great compensation, etc. They require you to sign a contract.When it came time to sign I was snubbed, and not from BMW but from Wyotech. Wyotech could never give me a straight answer, although I had perfect grades, attendance, and graduated at the top of my class.

Community Colleges are the way to go, my local CC has Ford, GM, and Honda programs. Not to mention at a fraction of the cost, smaller class sizes, more instructer attention, and they generally have better/newer equipment since theyre factory programs.

 

[justanengineer]

Tuition isn't a concern. It will be covered if it is $400 a semester or $17K, and I don't get the difference.

Im a bit confused as to why you think that you dont get the difference, I missed something. Full time students get a check, part timers get a smaller check. State/federal aid and grants covered 100% of my tuition, books, and typically gave me $100/semester. GI Bill's check every month was just my pay for giving the Uncle so many years - it covered my expenses nicely so I didnt have to work unless I wanted to.

Education today makes little difference where you go to school, regardless of what you do whether its engineering or a trade, so go where its cheapest. I work in a field that is virtually impossible to get into, got a major corporation to spend a ton of money to relocate and hire me from a few states away, and did so fresh out of a cheap NY state school. Its not about where you go, its about what you learn and your work ethic. I went to school with a LOT of dummies, but made sure I learned everything possible, and went out of my way on my own time to learn more than required. Go someplace close, convenient, and cheap, then work your *** off.

If this is for a hobby or stopgap to another career, save your time and money. Multiple degrees/certifications in unrelated fields make hiring managers question your dedication/passion to their industry, so are rather pointless to have.

 

[diesel research]

Oh, btw, there are not too many running carbs at trade schools, and VERY few people that could tell you when to use ported or manifold vacuum.

I was fortunate enough to have a teacher go VERY indepth on plug reading. Not that **** in the back of a haynes manual, but cutting shells off of plugs and reading timing requirements by heat zone marks on the ground strap. Non pertinent to a majority.

I found the experiences of them varied greatly. Flat rate dealers, fleetshop, indy, ect ect. I recall one was only 25 years old! BUT he was highly revered in his particular subject, and even the 67 year old twice retired instructor would refer you to him on certain subjects. I found most would make themselves available after hours for free, whether it was needing to rebuild a transmission in your '99 buick, chasing a random misfire, or simple advice on a heavy duty upgrade. They ALL offered various tactics/info pertaining to the business side of things, such as customer service, upsells, "writing the story", and correctly estimating required labor/parts.

They didn't have the answer to every question, but made valid attempts to find the answers. Having previous experience, sometimes I would ask questions I felt others would like to know, even though I already knew the answer. Not the annoying "show off" know it all, just asking questions. "is it true I need to use a vacuum pump to bleed power steering?" "will ___ tool help me access ___ easier than the manual?" "why?"

Quite a few had an interest in tools, but not nearly so many truck worshippers as here.

 

[WhiteTrash]

I would be going full time. And a lower tuition does not put anymore money in my pocket than a higher one. They pay the tuition regardless. If I go to a cheaper school, they do not give me the money they save. That doesn't mean I am wanting to go to the most expensive school just because it is expensive. I am just saying that the argument of it being a cheaper tuition doesn't effect me.

I can see your point about multiple degrees. But of my 4 Associates, I got 2 while I was still active duty. The paramedic and firefighter are the recent ones. I have been in the medical field for 14 years now, so it should show I am fairly dedicated to my field. I have also been a volunteer firefighter for 5 years at where ever I happen to be living at the time.