I am looking at going to Wyotech, and just curious to see if anybogdy here has gone through their classes, and what they thought about the school? IS it worth it?
Well dude, I'm starting in Blairsville in January. I checked out the place and it is super nice with all state of the art doo dads. I recently talked to someone who went there and he said it was well worth it and he enjoyed his time there, (this was in Laramie) he is now a Mercedes Technician. Go check the place out, hopefully get some more opinions on here and go from there... Good Luck. Greg
There are a bunch of opinions about Wyotech on here. Do a search on that topic. Several of the instructors are on the HAMB. My own opinion is that these instructors know their stuff and like any school, you're going to get out of it what you're willing to put in. If you're there to learn, you will. Stay away from the hard partying guys and you'll do well. The school has top knotch equipment and as I said, many talented instructors. Others have different opinions, do the search on the HAMB and make your own opinion. If it were me, I'd go for it.
I graduated a little over 4 years ago from there. The instructors know what they teach, and more importantly, how to teach it. The equipment is all top quality. Like said above, you will get out of it what you put into it. There is not a lot to do in Laramie. I got a job doing the fast food gig at a truck stop. It paid my living expenses and killed time instead of sitting around in the dorm room. Once you're there doing the school work, maybe working a job, the time goes by pretty fast. Good luck.
I was just gonna start a topic on this the other week, but left it alone... One just opened up here in Sacramento area, and a few of my friends are interested it... I mean what I am about to say with all due respect to the HAMB'ers that may be employed or affiliated with Wyotech... 20-28 g's seems like alot to pay for training you could get at one of your better local community colleges... I say this in regards to the main courses, or the "core" education you get there... Seems like some community colleges in your area may be able to offer you alot of the core requirement classes at much less cost to you... Alot of community colleges have nice equipment as well, as they will create alliances/relationships with local dealers/parts suppliers... On the other hand, some of Wyotech's "electives" seem pretty damn cool, and more specialized that what is offered at community colleges... I know I have been tempted by their elective offerings... JMO -E
Neatname, they are starting a rodding and restoration program at SCC, if you don't want to leave town to learn the trade. Eric, Tinbender on the HAMB, is the guy who's leading the program. He teaches bodywork there right now, but I saw an announcement for the new program. If you want info, shoot Tinbender a PM and I'm sure he'd tell you about the program. It's local, he knows his stuff, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than wyotech. If you're not sure what you want to do, you can do the program and get your AA from SCC and if you want to do something else, you can easily tranfer to any college and only have to go for two more years.
I was wanting to go but the price was too high for me as well. There was an article in the paper that said the kids at the school were getting in trouble with the cops in the area. Blairsville is a small town with not much to do as well. I took a Covell class there last year and talked to a couple instructors, they seem to know what they are doing.. bufordtjustice I am not sure if anyone that teaches on the list but there are a few of us in Pittsburgh. I am a bit by myself compared to the other guys. I am sure anyone of us would be able to help you out in the area.
I was going to go to that school but could not affors it. I waeseled my way into a Volkswagen dealership as a "lube tech" a week later I was replacing engines and learing a lto about Diagnosing vw's. That was a few years ago and I am now a certified VW tech and working on being a master tech. I hope to be by this time next year. I had grown up around cars and did not know much about all the new technology out there today. If you have a mechanical mind it is not that hard. Just make sure you know auto electronics cause it will kick you in the ass. That is my down fall and I regret not taking a class on it before. Good luck SLAMIT
I just got out about two months ago, and have mixed feelings on it still. Yeah, it is a lot of money, I got a couple student loans to cover my tuition. Was it worth it ? Wll the jury is still out on that one. I did learn a lot from my core classes, which were collision, and refinishing, but I could have learned that same stuff at a community college for a fraction of the price. I also took the street rod class, which I feel was basically acess to the tools that I wanted to learn to use. Yes, there was instruction on how to use them, but I feel that most of that I could have figured out on my own. Don't expect the name of the school, or their "career placement' to do much for you either. Oh, and beware, thier reps will say anything to get you to sign up. They are money hungry, and some of the ciriculum is repetative. All in all it really matters what you want to get out of it, how hard you are going to apply yourself, and where you expect it to get you. I was able to find a few jobs after graduating, based on some of my skills, but am still not sure that it is something I would recommend. Look into it as well as you can yourself, then decide if the good points out weigh the bad. Good luck.
Hi there......Did you go to the WyoTech in Laramie? If you did, Do you know a instructor in the hotrod or custom dept by the name of CW. Thanks .Dennis
Im taking collision + refinishing and business management and that is going to cost me over 22k alone for 9 months.....not including housing and all other costs.....it is expensive but I had heardnothing but good things about the place until the one iffy remark in this thread. I went and checked it out and the place looks really nice though there is nothing to do in Blairsville besides watch stuff grow, build cars, and go to titty bars....not terrible but how long can that keep ya busy... Greg
O yea...Barn-core...what kind of grades did you get there? I am hoping to get in the top 5% of my class and have BMW lookin at me so I can start out making some decent wages....I just hope I can keep my nose clean and work a job while going to school and getting uber grades.....I hope it can be done because without BMW, I won't make jack shit around my parts....the economy blows here. Greg
One of my best friends went there many years ago. He learned a lot and has had a great career with Ford ever since. It sounds like a good place.
Hey Bufordjustice, I graduated with a 90%. If you want to get accepted to the BMW program they won't even consider you unless you have PERFECT attendance too. It's really not that hard to do, but if you plan on working too, you will really have to apply yourself, and stay focused. Most guys were just there to party, but there are a select few that are there for the education, and those are the ones that get something out of it. Good luck.
Thank you for saying that because I'm all about learning....I can't afford to screw around for over 20 grand. The attendance will be a pain in the ass but I can manage...for some reason I was thinking you could miss a day or two and still be ok...either way I'll make it.....and I can't oversleep.....taking night classes . Thanks again for the info. Greg
Did not go to WyoTech, went to the University of Wyoming instead. But Laramie is a party town, a bar on every corner, literally. My friends and I treated thursdays as the first day of the weekend, and occasionally wednessdays. But I have my head on pretty straight and graduated in 4 years. If you are a bar fly, you will need some discipline. Geno
I went to the Laramie campus and had a great time. The school is amazing. Like others have said, it all depends on you.
I went to wyotech and graduated in march 04 The core classes were not worth the money you can definitly find this training at a local community college. I added street rod and chassis fab, these classes are great they have all the tools and if you want to learn you can. I think if you could get on at a local shop and sweep floors and work your way in you could get the same skills. I paid 24k for a year and dont think it was worth it. I work at a street rod shop and make 15 dollars an hour.Definitly not going to get rich but getting experience. To those on the hamb talikng grades I graduated with a 97% overall and am in the ntvhs [honor society] was picked for the top student award twice, and had perfect attendance. Its not hard if you want to learn.
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