So I start college in the fall and am curious. I'm going for auto tech. Should I take auto tech and get certificate or should I take about 2 1/2 years and get an associates degree in auto tech . What would you do
question about college
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What ever your decision ends up being, make sure you get ASE certified in the end. In my opinion the more education the better off you'll be in the long run. It will cost more upfront in the 2.5 years due to tuition but you'll quickly make that back and then some.
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The more degrees or merits the better. I spent 6 of the best years of my life in college.
Given those options I'd opt for the associates.
Given those options I'd opt for the associates.
Hands on experience is far better than learning out of a book. So if you can get a job as a mechanic with the least amount of education the better. It will make the schooling go alot easier too if you decide to persue further education plus you'll know if being a mechanic is the job for you without wasting time and money going for that associates degree.
Originally Posted By: Warstud
Hands on experience is far better than learning out of a book. So if you can get a job as a mechanic with the least amount of education the better. It will make the schooling go alot easier too if you decide to persue further education plus you'll know if being a mechanic is the job for you without wasting time and money going for that associates degree.
This! I got a tire store to hire me off the street... hourly wage plus flat rate. Doing batteries, oil changes, tires. Hoping to move up of course. Except I hurt my ankle. Oops. Beware the toll on the body.
Only thing I had over the other applicants is a state inspection license. I think MO does inspection stickers, look into how to get into doing that. I'd get a car needing two new tires and a state inspection, 1.2 hrs flat rate, while the other tech would get flat repair, .3 hours. Over and over. Shoot, maybe the service writer likes me. It's nice having the state send cars in regularly under penalty of law.
In the interview I was asked what made me different from the other applicants. I said I had customers that liked my work and would come with me to whichever shop hired me. Was a pretty good line, walked out of there feeling I nailed it. And I did, sort of.
I was offered a part time position and a friend of the service writer, who doesn't have an inspection license, got a full time one at the same time. (Store had a house-cleaning immediately before.) So above all, NETWORK. College is expensive, friendly contacts are free. I was set back by not knowing anyone in the business as it's not the circle my family ran with.
If you can work weekends and go to school in the week you'll have it all covered. Just don't go into work thinking you're cock of the walk because you learned something new.
Also ASE requires, I believe, 2 years experience before you can get certified. (You can get a "test report" earlier?) Might be able to hoodwink them into thinking your part time two years were full time.
If I were to take one thing away from working on others' cars, it's that there are serious "blinders" attached. The customer tells the service writer one thing, he interprets it, a work order comes through, but the computer can't tell you to put the fresh tires on the front and rotate the half bald ones to the back. So you get verbal orders that conflict with written ones. And you'll get lots of weird vehicles (particularly foreign niche filling SUVS) you've never seen before and hopefully never see again. And you'll have to do things the stores way, like if they buy all these fancy fluid flushing machines that take longer than just dumping and filling like a normal person.
But you should do it nonetheless.
Hands on experience is far better than learning out of a book. So if you can get a job as a mechanic with the least amount of education the better. It will make the schooling go alot easier too if you decide to persue further education plus you'll know if being a mechanic is the job for you without wasting time and money going for that associates degree.
This! I got a tire store to hire me off the street... hourly wage plus flat rate. Doing batteries, oil changes, tires. Hoping to move up of course. Except I hurt my ankle. Oops. Beware the toll on the body.
Only thing I had over the other applicants is a state inspection license. I think MO does inspection stickers, look into how to get into doing that. I'd get a car needing two new tires and a state inspection, 1.2 hrs flat rate, while the other tech would get flat repair, .3 hours. Over and over. Shoot, maybe the service writer likes me. It's nice having the state send cars in regularly under penalty of law.
In the interview I was asked what made me different from the other applicants. I said I had customers that liked my work and would come with me to whichever shop hired me. Was a pretty good line, walked out of there feeling I nailed it. And I did, sort of.
I was offered a part time position and a friend of the service writer, who doesn't have an inspection license, got a full time one at the same time. (Store had a house-cleaning immediately before.) So above all, NETWORK. College is expensive, friendly contacts are free. I was set back by not knowing anyone in the business as it's not the circle my family ran with.
If you can work weekends and go to school in the week you'll have it all covered. Just don't go into work thinking you're cock of the walk because you learned something new.
Also ASE requires, I believe, 2 years experience before you can get certified. (You can get a "test report" earlier?) Might be able to hoodwink them into thinking your part time two years were full time.
If I were to take one thing away from working on others' cars, it's that there are serious "blinders" attached. The customer tells the service writer one thing, he interprets it, a work order comes through, but the computer can't tell you to put the fresh tires on the front and rotate the half bald ones to the back. So you get verbal orders that conflict with written ones. And you'll get lots of weird vehicles (particularly foreign niche filling SUVS) you've never seen before and hopefully never see again. And you'll have to do things the stores way, like if they buy all these fancy fluid flushing machines that take longer than just dumping and filling like a normal person.
But you should do it nonetheless.
One never has enough knowledge. Every day you can learn something from anyone you meet.
Most of those people don't give out degrees or validate parking.
Most of those people don't give out degrees or validate parking.
There are programs sponsored by GM and Ford (I guess they still exist ASEP and ASSET) which allow you to work and to gain an associate degree.
I would say that you should go ahead and get an associate degree because at least some of the credits should go toward a 4 year degree, which is something you may well find you want or need later in life. Many corporations won't even consider someone without a degree, and you might find you want or need to make a change at some point.
I would say that you should go ahead and get an associate degree because at least some of the credits should go toward a 4 year degree, which is something you may well find you want or need later in life. Many corporations won't even consider someone without a degree, and you might find you want or need to make a change at some point.
I don't mind going for the degree if it will be an obvious benefit. I just don't want to have to be poor another year and a half and not get something good out of it. I also. Am going to take diesel tech after auto tech.
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy. if you do get a loan ALL ways pay with a cashiers check, and send it return receipt requested.
Also consider employers who'll send you to school on their dime. Dealer groups might be good for this.
Stacking diesel on top of auto is a sweet move. After all diesels have most of the same systems anyway. And if you have to move outside your specialty, auto can pay the bills for a while.
Don't go into serious debt over tools! No shame in craftsman wrenches and harbor freight boxes. Consider (Consider!) Snap on's 50% off school discount for a few mainline items you could liquidate on ebay if you had to.
Stacking diesel on top of auto is a sweet move. After all diesels have most of the same systems anyway. And if you have to move outside your specialty, auto can pay the bills for a while.
Don't go into serious debt over tools! No shame in craftsman wrenches and harbor freight boxes. Consider (Consider!) Snap on's 50% off school discount for a few mainline items you could liquidate on ebay if you had to.
Keep in mind if you are 24+ you can get Pell Grants for 2+ years, you don't have to pay back grants.
Originally Posted By: morris
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy. if you do get a loan ALL ways pay with a cashiers check, and send it return receipt requested.
^^ Anyone else see the humor here?
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy. if you do get a loan ALL ways pay with a cashiers check, and send it return receipt requested.
^^ Anyone else see the humor here?
Originally Posted By: morris
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy. if you do get a loan ALL ways pay with a cashiers check, and send it return receipt requested.
Why not take out a loan from sallie Mae? Going bankrupt is usually not a lenders fault but poor fiscal responsibility of the person.
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy. if you do get a loan ALL ways pay with a cashiers check, and send it return receipt requested.
Why not take out a loan from sallie Mae? Going bankrupt is usually not a lenders fault but poor fiscal responsibility of the person.
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Keep in mind if you are 24+ you can get Pell Grants for 2+ years, you don't have to pay back grants.
I got Pell grants for eight years and probably could have gotten more if I hadn't graduated, gotten a masters and started working towards my JD. I don't know how Pell grants work exactly but I do know Pell grants covered 100% of my tuition for eight years (a B.S. and a B.A.) and only ended when I went for my Masters.
I did hear that the admin recent changed the Pell grant rules to the detriment of students though...
Keep in mind if you are 24+ you can get Pell Grants for 2+ years, you don't have to pay back grants.
I got Pell grants for eight years and probably could have gotten more if I hadn't graduated, gotten a masters and started working towards my JD. I don't know how Pell grants work exactly but I do know Pell grants covered 100% of my tuition for eight years (a B.S. and a B.A.) and only ended when I went for my Masters.
I did hear that the admin recent changed the Pell grant rules to the detriment of students though...
Originally Posted By: morris
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy.
This is what is wrong with today's generation. I paid for my college education by working 2 jobs and going to school at night.
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy.
This is what is wrong with today's generation. I paid for my college education by working 2 jobs and going to school at night.
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Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: morris
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy.
This is what is wrong with today's generation. I paid for my college education by working 2 jobs and going to school at night.
Yeah well these days a lot of schools are $30k-$50k+ a year, NFW can a part time job or two cover that.
Originally Posted By: morris
DO NOT IN ANY WAY GET MONEY FROM sallie mae. any student loan can NOT be removed by bankruptcy.
This is what is wrong with today's generation. I paid for my college education by working 2 jobs and going to school at night.
Yeah well these days a lot of schools are $30k-$50k+ a year, NFW can a part time job or two cover that.
JHZR2
Staff member
Yeah, avoid any loans like the plague. You don't want zero earning capability on your and your fiancee's part, and to have payments.
Education is key, but work and pay for it as you go.
Education is key, but work and pay for it as you go.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Yeah, avoid any loans like the plague. You don't want zero earning capability on your and your fiancee's part, and to have payments.
Education is key, but work and pay for it as you go.
I agree completely with this. I paid as much as I could but with getting and engineering degree and business minor I could only have a part time job, business degrees are soo much easier. Math and problem solving classes consume a lot of time outside of school. Student loans suck and interest rates on them now days are not good.
Yeah, avoid any loans like the plague. You don't want zero earning capability on your and your fiancee's part, and to have payments.
Education is key, but work and pay for it as you go.
I agree completely with this. I paid as much as I could but with getting and engineering degree and business minor I could only have a part time job, business degrees are soo much easier. Math and problem solving classes consume a lot of time outside of school. Student loans suck and interest rates on them now days are not good.
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what school are you planning to attend?
it would be a heck of a move, but we have an excellent auto/diesel/high performance motorsports school here in Lima.
University of Northwestern OHio
they also own the local 1/4mi Dirt Track Limaland Motorsports Park
get kids from all 50 states, and a few years ago ford sent some of the UNOH instructors to Mexico to train workers @ one of their engine plants.
- Just sayin' Gotta support the local guys.
(talked to a student there years back, who chose UNOH over Wyotech, b/c wyo is out in the boonies 45 minutes from ANYTHING. )
it would be a heck of a move, but we have an excellent auto/diesel/high performance motorsports school here in Lima.
University of Northwestern OHio
they also own the local 1/4mi Dirt Track Limaland Motorsports Park
get kids from all 50 states, and a few years ago ford sent some of the UNOH instructors to Mexico to train workers @ one of their engine plants.
- Just sayin' Gotta support the local guys.
(talked to a student there years back, who chose UNOH over Wyotech, b/c wyo is out in the boonies 45 minutes from ANYTHING. )
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