College or tech school??
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Woodstock, Portland, OR
Im a sophomore in highschool, i go to benson polytechnic. its in portland, and i think were way up there as far as the list of technical schools in the nation.
im thinking of majoring in diesel mechanics, but its either that, the normal automotive major or the manufacturing major. i havent really decided yet, but i do know i want to go to wyotec.
im thinking of majoring in diesel mechanics, but its either that, the normal automotive major or the manufacturing major. i havent really decided yet, but i do know i want to go to wyotec.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
I'm currently in college, majoring in Environmental Studies. I work for the United States Department of Agriculture as a Plant Protection and Quarantine Specialist. That just means that I monitor grasshopper populations and work with Bio-Control insects that eat noxious weeds. Its a pretty sweet job, lots of travelling and fieldwork.
College isn't for everyone, I went right out of highschool and discovered that and took a year off and now its a lot more priority to me.
College isn't for everyone, I went right out of highschool and discovered that and took a year off and now its a lot more priority to me.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
I graduated from wyotech in december in the Diesel Program. The town really sucks. Every one in that town hates techers. As of right now I cant really reccomend Wyotech. Dont belive the 98% placement line the recruiter gives either. If you are going to go to wyotech take the diesel program its where the money is at. Also take Advanced Diesel. Most of the add on programs are a joke. Advanced Diesel is probably the best corse Wyotech offers and I wish I would have taken it. I was going to take Chassis fab but dropped because of the cost and no real benifit. I can take a welding class for less than half the cost. Wyotech is really expensive, it cost me 18 grand for 6 months, and I saved 8 grand by dropping Chassis fab. If any of you are considering Wyotech, please feel free to ask any question you might have.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 0
From: Capac MI
How is the light duty Diesel Specialty class?? My plan was The Diesel for the core program and then after that 6 months i wanted to take the light duty. Also how is houseing and jobs out there?? I want to go to the campus in PA. Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
I dont know about the light duty diesel course, but I have heard really good things about it. I dont know about the PA campus I was in Laramie, WY. I have heard the town is a lot better than Laramie but the school isnt quite as good. If you do go do not stay in student housing, it is cheaper than most but not worth it because they usually stick 4 people in a 2 bedroom apartment. There are usually jobs every where it just depends on how bad you need the money. I didnt get a job while I was attending because there really isnt time to make any money. You go to school from 7:15 to 4:30 Mon-Fri and most places in laramie closed a 6.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 0
From: Capac MI
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
I have never seen anyone get to work on there own stuff in core but I know in Chassis fab if you have perfect attendance in the first phase you can bring in a project in the second phase. I dont know about the light duty diesel, but if it is like the rest of the 3 month classes you should be able to.
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Attended Wyotech in Blairsville PA not doing anything special just The Trim class, best teachers I ever had in my life got a 100% and I graduated highschool with a 1.9 gpa sad but true. It costs a lot and everyone does hate us here. Want to go on my own so don't care about working for a shop.
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Ephrata Washington
I kind of did both, I went through the John Deere Ag Tech program, it's a 2 year deal, and requires that you finish with your AA&S (2-year degree) as well as all your JD certs and whatnot, I'm really REALLY glad i did the 2-year degree along with it, I quit working for my dealership before i was even fully graduated formt he program. I had alot of buddies that went through UTI down in phoenix, all of them really liked it, only a couple are actually still turning wrenches now though, and its only been a year or 2 since they finished. whatever you decide to do, make sure you got something to fall back on, if for nothing else than the good safe feeling it gives you, lol.
Mike S.
Mike S.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: America!
Graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Kettering University in Flint, MI. Learned alot about how to apply the theory I received in class building an open-wheel racecar (Formula SAE). And had a lot of fun doing it! The best part was the school paid for two trips to England to race the car!
I would definitely recommend Kettering to anyone interested in automotive engineering.
I would definitely recommend Kettering to anyone interested in automotive engineering.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
Looking at your grammar, I hope your just joking around 
College isn't for everyone. I hate it. So much money and time for classes that carry little value other than being required to graduate.
You might try looking into different 6 month-1 year certificate programs along the lines of what you would enjoy doing for a career. You won't go very far on just a HS diploma. Or find a job that will pay for you to go to school, that way you have some incentive to keep going
College isn't for everyone. I hate it. So much money and time for classes that carry little value other than being required to graduate.
You might try looking into different 6 month-1 year certificate programs along the lines of what you would enjoy doing for a career. You won't go very far on just a HS diploma. Or find a job that will pay for you to go to school, that way you have some incentive to keep going