WyoTech?

[Young Gun]

I currently go to a 4 year college but am not really sure that I want to go this route right now. I have been thinking of Wyotech and wanted to get some information from people here. What do employers think of the quality of the program? What do some of you grads think? Worth the money? How long is the actual course? Could I take both Chassis Fabrication and Street Rod and Custom Fabrication courses or are you limited to only one elective course? Any info that anybody thinks would be helpful in making my decision? For those of you who think I should stick with the 4 year college, I do plan getting my degree after I complete wyotech (should I go there), but right now I want to do something I enjoy and makes me happy.

Thanks for the answers,
Colin Russ

[craigs73]

i say go for it i was going to go but my financial aid fell through. very nice school i visited the one in PA there work shops are like17000 sqft. very professional i say go they don't let you pay by semester you have to have the money up front. if i remember right my classes would have taken 9 months. if its something you would love to do then go for it:)

[Vegas69]

It's a tough business to make real money. My passion is cars but the lifestyle I want is hard to support in that industry. I went to school and got a 2 year degree in Auto Mechanics. I have no regrets since it led me down this path. I would love to get into the pro touring side of things and I agree Wyotech with the fabrication training would be my choice at this point. That being said it's always smart to have two options in life. Get your regular degree first I think.

[wedgehead]

I have hired a few graduates from them. The ones I have hired couldn't fix a sandwich. but I have a few fellow shop owners that have had success with them. Really just depends on the student also.If I were to step into this field I would really go with the technical side more so than the heavy line work. It will pay more to be a technician with drivability, electrical skills.

[maldo]

I have hired a few graduates from them. The ones I have hired couldn't fix a sandwich. but I have a few fellow shop owners that have had success with them. Really just depends on the student also.If I were to step into this field I would really go with the technical side more so than the heavy line work. It will pay more to be a technician with drivability, electrical skills.


interesting i have heard the same about the techs that come out of there some are really good and some have rocks in the head.

[maldo]

It's a tough business to make real money. My passion is cars but the lifestyle I want is hard to support in that industry. I went to school and got a 2 year degree in Auto Mechanics. I have no regrets since it led me down this path. I would love to get into the pro touring side of things and I agree Wyotech with the fabrication training would be my choice at this point. That being said it's always smart to have two options in life. Get your regular degree first I think.


Yes i would agree 100% with him get a regular 4 year degree first to fall back on .. then go back to a school like wyotech for specific training on a field you like. (I would also recommend you take a full welding and electrical classes this you can take to any field)

note and a little off the subject I find it interesting when you see all these shows how they turn out beautifully hot rods etc but, most who come out of courses like this fall into a regular shop fixing mom and pop cars and dealing with people who want the cheapest fix.... which to me if like being fast food cook instead of a chef to me this would kill my spirt to work on cars.

[WS6]

Colin,

I was in the same bind when I was 20. I'm almost 29 now. I have experienced a great deal from leaving college unfinished. Some good, some great, but mostly a hell of a lot of work with little return on the things I was really after. It has been way harder than I imagined on me. A lot fo positives can come from that and did. But, I think you would be best served by staying in school now and toughing it out. Once you get done with your four year degree, then decide where you want to go. It will be better and easier this way. Best of luck to you which ever way you decide to go.

[andrewb70]

Colin,

While it seems tempting to quit now, I would strongly suggest finishing your 4 year program now. I dropped out of college after getting my associates degree and it took me 20 years to go back and finish. Stick with it and if you still feel like it, go to WyoTech after you have your bachelors degree.

Andrew

[JEFFTATE]

Colin,

While it seems tempting to quit now, I would strongly suggest finishing your 4 year program now. I dropped out of college after getting my associates degree and it took me 20 years to go back and finish. Stick with it and if you still feel like it, go to WyoTech after you have your bachelors degree.

Andrew

I agree !
Finish the 4-year degree first.

[dhutton]

I almost did the same thing 30 years ago. Looking back sticking with it and completing my degree was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I hated school and dreaded every minute but without a doubt it was worth it.

[bigvegan]

Finish the 4 year degree.

WyoTech is pretty expensive.

If you want to learn skills/work on cars, take a few community college classes on welding / collision repair / mechanics / etc., while you're doing the 4 year degree.

That way, if you do go to WyoTech, you'll be ahead of the game, and if you decide it's not something you want to do as a career, you'll only be out community college tuition instead of WyoTech tuition.

Also, see this link for some comments on the WyoTech experience -
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/193/ripoff0193784.htm

[68Formula]

Much easier to stay in it now, then try to go back to it later. Finish your degree and then decide.

Also, if you want your fix, consider working at a shop over the summer.

[GBodyGMachine]

I graduated from wyotech PA in March of 06.
I'll try to keep my points here short and sweet.

1. Finish your 4 year degree first. I wish I would have done this.

2. WyoTech Reps make you think if you come to there school, you'll be building hot rods all day long. The reality is, you wont...You will end up in a mom and pop shop, or a dealer. If this is what you want, cool. But really, who wants that???

3. It is really expensive. For me, $30,000 for 9 months. I pay about $300 a month in student loans right now. Honestly, not worth the money. I would have rather spent my cash on Community College classes, while attending a 4 year.

4. Depending on your current knowledge, it could be a waste of time. I had a strong backround in the automotive field, and I can honestly say me first 4 months there was a total waste. I could have slept all day and aced every test. FYI, I graduated with a 99% average.

5. Career services are a joke there. They dont help you find a job. What they will do is give you access to a database that shows where other students have applied, and you can chose to send your resume there.

6. The Chassis Fab Coarse was AWESOME for me. But I had to go through 6 months of BS to take it. I really would have done better as a shop apprentice for 9 months, and a tig welder at home.

I'm sure I'll think of more short comings, but thats all I have for now. If you have any more questions, I'll gladly answer them for you. But really, do yourself a favor, and get a degree in a field that is not failing.
Wyotech got me where I am today, thats true, was it worth it, NO.

Jeff Shortt

[GBodyGMachine]

Thought of one all ready. Go on Myspace or Facebook and check some Wyotech groups, or boards. Lots of people with opinions there.

Jeff

[69stang]

I wanted to weigh in on this. These kind of schools are a lot of hype. Some background, I had auto mechanics in HS. I worked on aircraft in the AF for 10 years. After I got out I did a short stint at a car dealership and didn't like it. I spent the next 7+ years working on trucks & buses. I tell you this because I was tired of turning wrenches for a living and was looking at doing something else. I went to ITT Tech and took the CAD course. The course helped me computer-wise as I was totally illiterate on computers. The actual CAD training was a breeze for me. And their placement services were a joke. I landed a job on my own as a draftsman a month before I graduated (11 yrs ago). Fortunately my mechanical, technical and fabrication background helped with my job progression as I moved to a designer position 8 months later. I'm still paying on my student loans as I had to put them on forebearance several times as the money wasn't there to support a family of 5 and still pay the loans. I wish I would have taken the classes at the local community college. I now have a mechanical designer position in another company doing regular engineering & making much better money.

I cringe everytime I see those wyotech commercials cause I know what they're all about (graduating mass numbers). Finish your 4yr degree & possibly find a garage you could work at and get experience.

[MarkM66]

Donate your time at a shop that builds the type of cars you're into. It's cheaper and you'll learn just as much.

[Takid455]

Got for the 4 yr degree. I was in your shoes in 99 when I graduated HS. Didn't 100% want to go to college, but realized a few things:
1) your mind is young and you are in the scholastic mind set
2) Sad but true, a 4 yr degree is almost necessary to find a decent job. Each year I hear more and more companies requiring Masters Degrees.
3) You can always go back and get a hot rod degree.

I am glad I stuck it through. I could have picked a different field, but I can get a MSME with a few filler courses with my BSCE. The 4 yr degree has allowed me to fund my passion.....some what.

[Young Gun]

Thanks for all the information, everybody. Very informative and some great thoughts! I truly appreciate them!

Colin

[zerotofear]

We started our program because of the horror stories that students from Automotive Technology programs using Performance Vehicles as candy to attract them have told. The facts are to build performance vehicles of any kind it takes a series of skill-sets, each add to your value as a technician. Our program puts you in the environment with the tools, projects, and time schedules that will make you a valuable employee from the day you go to work. Instead of fifty in a lab we never have more than ten technicians in labs at anytime. Build teams build projects that will give you experience that shop owners want in a resume'.

Mark Davis

www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com
www.smokinss.info

The SmokinSS was built by five of the student technicians, this project will hit the track in early March, and will be at a lot of Pro-Touring events this summer.

[PT Sportwagon]

Well I will chime in as both a Wyotech grad and someone who deals with the tech students almost daily. I live in Laramie and graduated in Sept 06. Collision /refinishing) The information I learned at Wyotech, added to and expanded the knowledge I had. I did work in a dealer body shop for about 6 months but the drive was killing me. I am now a service writer at Wal-mart. ( making more per hour than the body shop)
I did make friends with the instructors at Wyotech and have heard that 80-85% of the students don't give a rats a$$ about being there. Only 3-4 per class really want to learn the others don't care. This is from a Street rod instructor. both at work and around town I see the moron techers, with that attitude. The drive like idiots and think there ***** don't stink. Then there is the good tech students who are actually here to learn and keep out of trouble.

I have heard that 60% of all graduated Wyotech students are not working in a field that they took classes for.

Tim

[smhigh]

I have taught High School Auto Shop for over 25 years and recommend that my students go to a JC for automotive course work.

Trade schools are not all they say they are. They are a business first
and foremost. They can get anyone a student loan to pay their high costs.

I have had a few students go the trade schools and some did well and others went back to the JC to get the training needed to advance in the automotive field.

My JC students have all done very well and always remark on how glad they are not to have a huge student loan to repay. They took auto classes at the JC and at the same time had jobs in local shops.

Bottom line.... Graduate with a 4 year degree and take JC classes

[skooli]

Much easier to stay in it now, then try to go back to it later. Finish your degree and then decide.



Gotta agree. I'm just getting back into school after quitting to join the military in 1992. You never know what can happen after you walk away from college. I'm 35 years old with a family and school is difficult. Do it while you still have the opportunity to go full time.

[T_Raven]

I'm took the automotive/chassis fab course back in 01/02. It was a good course and I enjoyed the chassis fab part. I paid $17k just for those 9 months plus about $3k for housing. I think the costs have gone up though. I worked as a dealer tech for a few years and the money was a joke considering the effort I put in and the amount I paid in student loan payments......actually, I made just as much money cooking at the Applebees in Laramie as I did at my first job as a tech. If you want to be a tech it's probably not worth the money, but if you want to be a tech......DON'T!! lol, the money sucks, that's why I work in Iraq now. I make the same wage in Iraq but twice the hours and hazard pay. I'm actually working there so that I can get into a different career path.

If you have the money for tuition and really want to take the specialty courses then go for it. When I went through you could take as many specialty courses as you wanted as long as you took one of the 6 month core classes. But it would probably be better to find a job at a custom shop if you can and learn from them.

Oh and about the idiots from Wyotech, you shoulda seen some of the fools I went to school with. But there are dummies in any group.

[NOPANTS-68]

hired 4 Wyotech grads- fired 4 Wyotech grads. see a pattern?

stay in school bud.