Best fukn decision of my life. I now run my own buisness with a lot of work under it. I graduated just over 2 years ago. Graduated on a friday, and started at a shop on a monday. I would not be as far as I am if it was not for that school. As of the complaints, guess you get out what you put in. I was at the top 4 percentile of my calss. Only missed 1 day out of 9 months. And was late twice. I had my 2 kids with me so whatever. The complaints are just that. Complaints. You will hear it both ways. But I guess it depends on the interest and skill level he already has. If he is very serous about it, and wants to do it everyday of his life, then maybe it is for him. That's what I got about it anyway.
So true. Remember future rod builders that not only do you need to know about the various technical skills, you need to know how to sell yourself. You must know how to do other things, such as communicate with customers without sounding like a grunting grease monkey and manage problems effectively. I get the image that Wyotech does not do this one bit. Lessons I learned in the Navy are still coming to fruition - lesson on organization, people management and prioritizing.
Graduated Wyo Tech 31 years ago. Went for 6 months. It was very basic and I learned a lot. At that time at least 50 percent of the class had no business there. They were there because their parents wanted to get rid of them for six months. I worked hard and finished at the top of my class. It gave me at foot in the door and I have worked ever since. I think it cost 2700 and I paid cash for it then. I have owned my own shop for 16 years. I hired a kid from UTI. Good kid , they tried to teach too much too fast. A lot of what they taught was useless. He told me he had 3 weeks of Carburetors. I rebuild maybe 3 a year but I can see no reason to teach this stuff for a modern shop. I would love to hire some one with all the basic and the desire. I think these schools blow a lot of smoke up these kids asses. They are basicly told they are going to make 30 bucks an hour. Good luck with that. My son is going to junior college and getting into a medical field.
I hired a kid from there and it was one of the best things I have ever done. 5 years later he is still here and amazing, he has learned everything and excelled at it. He has become a great metal shaper and fabricator, bodyman, painter and mechanic. So I know that not all of them have his gift and it is that way any with any profession. So I guess its how you apply your self and some of it is natural talent. And he is living his dream building Hot Rods and high end cars.
You can not replace experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with any 1 year school. you will get the basics.
I live in Laramie and have daily interaction with Wyo Tech students in my capacity in the auto parts bisiness. Most of the students fall under the "easy ticket to employment" mindset and when it doesn't work for them, they blame the school. I see the whole cross section and there are a few who really want to be there and put in the effort to make it pay. From the outside, it seems the school has improved over the last year or so, but I'm not able to substantiate that with anything other than anecdotal experience.
I went to the Laramie campus about 7 years ago. Knew a good bit before i went but wanted to get formal. Its basically a brainwash. They tell you that youll be the best thing ever when you leave. This is not true. It is however a very good school and dont regret going. BUT youd be better off finding a shop that would let you pay them to let you work there haha. Most of the students dont belong there. And theres no doubt they hire very well qualified teachers. I would reccomend the old school way of working from the bottom. Youll be paying on that student loan for a long long time.
I attended Wyo tech in 99, (auto paint/street rod fab.) I was the 2nd best student in my class, only because I already had a good background in the field. I agree that you get what you put into it! It isnt just an easy ticket to get a job building street rods Unless you have a little back ground in what you are interested in the school is going to be way over your head. To much info in to short of time to learn any sort of true skill. I am real torn to advise anyone to attend ONLY based on the money aspect? It is alot of money, but it can get your foot in the door of a shop that would not other wise look at you? I am fortunate that I do still build and work on street rods for more than 12 yrs. now and have more work than I can get to, but I would not say its because of Wyo. Tech. It is becuase of a passion for what I do. I could make more money doing other things, they just dont interest me. I would advise any young person to look at a career with a retirement and health benifits! Very important that youngster get good paying jobs so in the future they can employee me to build there toys!!
Thanks to all who replied. I'm glad I asked. I made my son read all the responses and we both agree he should start at a community college or get a job at a local garage first. He's now hooked on the HAMB and appreciates all the good insight. Thanks again, Matt.
Good for him. I really think he needs to make sure working on cars is REALLY what he wants to do with his life, a true passion. And, again, employers who look at hiring wyotech grads, look at attendance records!! That will tell you a LOT about the person you're looking at.
Good for him, if it wasn't for the HAMB I would have went to Wyotech. Instead the HAMB got my foot in the door at a prestigious shop. There are some really good hearted people on here.
i have visted wyotech many times over the last 17 years, in wyoming and pa. wyotech does not make or promise to make the kids full highly skilled journeyman in 48 weeks. any employer that thinks they are hiring one is a fool. they will give the kids the basics to get started as apprentice. wyotech will instill attendence clean apperance and good attitude along with shop skills, at wyotech there lots and lots of equipement, tools and supplies, the teachers are skilled in there trade. 30k is pricey but than so are $150 shoes so it depends on your values
$29,500! I couldn't afford that if I wanted to. My biggest problem is thinking of having to pay all that money back. Besides, if what alot of you guys are saying is true I wouldn't want to go there anyway.
Not UTI, its UNOH...... They are the original automotive college, the UTI's, Wyotechs and etc are all copy cats. While UNOH doesn't have an autobody program it is still by far the best out of all of them. You can get a diploma, Associates Degree, Bachelor Degree and even a Masters Degree in Auto, High Performance, Ag, HVAC etc.. while there. Will it make you a better student, only if you put forth 150%. You get out what you put in. Job placement, hows NHRA, NASCAR, ARCA, USAC, Posies, Lingenfelter, just to name a few sound? Anyone care to guess where I went to school at?
Im going to the local CC for auto tech certifcation. Way the economy is right now starting out small and trying to get your foot in the door is hard enough, without adding a huge debt to yourself/family.
If you're in the Sacramento area,...look into American River College.... (a community college) I attended there from 1976 thru 1981 to complete the Auto Tech program. I think they still offer night classes. 4TTRUK
I also toured UTI, one of the instructors took one look at me and said "your into hot rods and customs right?" I said "ya" he told me I didn't belong there. He told me hot rods and customs are a joke and you will never make money building them. He told me if I wanted to do that kind of crap to go to Wyotech. He said this is a great school for autobody but we don't build those kind of cars here.
Thats a good way to get someones foot in the door. I've been put off of Wyo after one of their reps tried to bribe my auto teacher with commisions to brainwash his students into going there. Lets just say the rep got kicked out of the shop.
I'm with KJSR. $29,500 at Wyotech is highway robbery. Spend your money on a A&P License and get a real job.
Who the fuck are you to say that these people, including myself, don't deserve a GED? Please keep your shitty comments to yourself... Dick head...
My opinion, repeat opinion, of some responders was based on language, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Misspelling of simple words such as business and intentional errors such as "ya gotta" "mighta" or "cuz" destroy the credibility of the writer. Did you sign yourself Dick head? Regards, Ron
Well thats my bad I guess... But man, dont be saying that people don't deserve a GED "cuz" of their spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Thats just plain mean. Not everyone has be have an A from their English class, people have strengths and weaknesses you know? Thats what made you come off as a dick head. And thats just my opinion.
I went, good school and made some lifelong friends but a four year degree from a university is a better investment imo. I would have gone to Wyotech after college if I had to do it over againnot the other way around. The hobby and people who are willing to teach the trades and not going anywhere but to compete in the world economy a four year school is a better choice.
This is sort of true. Everyone thinks 4 year degrees are the only way to get good paying jobs...but welding tech schools are putting out 6700 students a year while welding jobs are opening up at the rate of 18000 a year or more...with the rate of natural gas development especially in this area it's not uncommon for welfare to be making $20000-25000 a month after taxes...and it's not just in this region either it's all over the country...I can quit my job today and walk on one of those jobs tomorrow....thawed how abundant they are sadly people quit after a month or two because they can't handle the hours
I know a few poeple that went there, they dont work in the feild they went there for, not even close. make sure there are jobs in the field youd be going to school for, and even more important, see that the wages at those jobs will support a living, youll probably find out they wont, and to make it you have to work twice as much! JEFF
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