D.I.T.A
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Malboro NJ
i want to atend uti when i get out of high school has anybody gone there i want to know is it worth the money and is it a good school im hoping to get into the factory training programs
anybody ever go to UTI
- Thread starter D.I.T.A
- Start date
Dundy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Taunton, MA
If you get really good grades the chances are pretty good that you can get a job at a dealer. Most people that go to UTI have no idea what they are doing though. Around here they cal it Urinary Tract Infection because of how annoying the kids that go there are.
t_aldrich
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Woburn, MA
you would be better off going somewhere where you can get a degree...it will help down the road if you want to go into management...more so than a certificate...
some community colleges have auto programs, as well as BFIT in boston.
my friend went to and graduated from uti and regrets it.
some community colleges have auto programs, as well as BFIT in boston.
my friend went to and graduated from uti and regrets it.
foxwar71
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Foxboro, MA
i thought about it when i graduated HS, but i heard to much stuff about it being a joke. buddy of mine went to it and went about a month before he left it sucked so much he said. I ended up going to the wyotech in WY and loved it. the core classes can be boring if you already know alot, but the fab and street rod classes are amazing. learned how to TIG weld and many other good things
sean_xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Long Island, NY
i worked at a motorcycle dealership and we got some guys to come in from i guess mmi and be techs that were looking for jobs/recommended by their professors. i know bikes and cars are dif., but in the three years i worked there the 5 or 6 guys that came from technical schools were really shakey, inexperienced, and couldnt diagnose a thing. i know more people more capable to work on anything by just their sheer skill and patience.
Most people I know who go to those schools are kind of socially awkward and didn't do anything after high school, and figure "I like to work on cars" and go to that a school like UTI. I would think about taking some auto programs at a CC and go for your bachelors. A degree in management with supplementary auto skills will get you further than just certifications alone.
D.I.T.A
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Malboro NJ
the reason i wanted to go to uti is i love cars i can't imagine doing anything else ok i was looking at a college that had auto programs but i thought that uti would be better for me because im not book smart and have problems in the classroom when it come to anything automotive i can learn it but when it comes to school work it can take forever just to do one lesson
5spd_xj
<<the good ol days
- Location
- Dracut, MA
I'm kind of in the same boat as ya. I love learning about cars and whatnot, but college just hasn't been working out for me. However... These folks are right. If you're able to pull off getting through college, you're certainly going to be better off. Consider the fact that either way, you'll be spending thousands to attend the school. In the end, a college degree will get you a higher paying job, no doubt whereas the UTI training may help you get a job at a dealership. Or, you might not be able to find work and get stuck at jiffy lube getting paid $10/hr to do oil changes while still owing on your student loans...
Personally, I've decided to stop going to school FT, because like you, I just don't do well with schoolwork. Wish I did, but just don't. Instead, I'll be working FT and taking a class or two per semester. At my job I'm lucky in that I'll be able to do some schoolwork on the job. This way, I'll still get the college education that will be helpful in the longrun, will have more time to figure out exactly what I want to do, and will also be able to pay for school up front, rather than taking out loan upon loan...
In short... Just be sure to think long and hard before you decide on anything
Personally, I've decided to stop going to school FT, because like you, I just don't do well with schoolwork. Wish I did, but just don't. Instead, I'll be working FT and taking a class or two per semester. At my job I'm lucky in that I'll be able to do some schoolwork on the job. This way, I'll still get the college education that will be helpful in the longrun, will have more time to figure out exactly what I want to do, and will also be able to pay for school up front, rather than taking out loan upon loan...
In short... Just be sure to think long and hard before you decide on anything
Backroads
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Honey Brook, PA
X1000000
Thats just funny to even say that because your in another STATE than me, and I feel like your talking about the one thats near here. Just class after class and its never a good bunch, or maybe I just always see the jackasses. I don't know about the actual school though, but Im gonna guess certain programs are better than others. I've met a couple of the teachers through my work, and some seem like schmucks and others seem like great teachers that could have a lot to share.
knuckle_buster
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Oxford, Pa.
Check out Automotive Training Center, they are located in exton, and warminster, PA. Heard some good things about that school. look it up on their website.
FordGuy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- San Clemente, CA
I have hired several techs from UTI over the years, Not many worked out very well. As I see it, UTI can't teach common sense or change a person from being lazy. A person who is truly talented in auto repair can benefit greatly. Dealers also have good training that is free.
SeansBlueXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Plainfield Township, PA
I know Nick (DITA) personally, he's a good kid, hard worker. Hell he has been my garage lacky a few times (knows better then me i think). He is a smart kid, has an appitude for things with engines, but i will say he is right about himself in the regular classroom stuff. He's just about the only 18yr old I would trust with doing something to my heep, for what its worth.
FordGuy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- San Clemente, CA
He needs to get hooked up with a good dealer that will put him thru training at the same time let him make a little money. Being a helper is not bad either as long as he is taking all of the Factory training.
D.I.T.A
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Malboro NJ
just checked out automotive training center it looks like a great school great website i've been thinking and im going to start asking dealers if they will hire me as a helper and see were it goes i still want to go to school and get more knowledge all i want to do in life is life comfortably and if it means working my ass off i will do it thanks everbody for the help
D.I.T.A
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Malboro NJ
and sean (seansbluexj) thanks for saying that it means alot
rag
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- central NJ
Whatsup.
Here is my experience:
When i was looking at training centers i had the whole UTI experience stuck in my head. I took a trip down to exton, went to their open houses and had a requiter come to my house. They promised jobs, knowledge, opportunity, success
Then i spoke with some service managers at dealers. Malouf Ford, Difeo Ford, Malouf Chevy, Open road BMW on rt1, Loman Ford on 130, DCH Toyota on rt1, Ray Catena BMW on rt1. They do not hire UTI students, they will either hire striaght from private training centers where their old friends train these kids (my situation) or they hire kids for hard labor/lot duty/wash cars/drivers and train them with their own programs while on the clock.
I attended Middlesex County college and their automotive technology program. It's a two year program that has a max of 30 students. Prof's name is Harry Parker. The prof's goal is to place every single kid in a dealer job by the first semester, that way the dedicated work co-op (winter and summer semesters) they will get first hand what it's like to be in a dealer.
When everything was said and done I paid about 11,000 for my associates in automotive tech and was hired by one of the dealers i have listed above. I am actually typing this from work, it's going to be 3 years since i was hired. I overhauled a 4banger from a donated focus and overhauled my mothers trans for the tranny final. I'm satisfied with the program
I learned enough to get me started, the group of guys i attended started out at 30 students and finished with about 12 graduating, we all grew close on account of seeing each other's ugly mugs 30 hours a week for two years.
There are programs like this in many Communiy Colleges, call the advisors at your local one and see what they have. If you want to come around my parts i'll give you to Prof's contact info and possibly show you around.
but my opinion is that im not going to spend 30k and not be garanteed a job or decent training. nor do i want to go to a school where the population is out of control and every one is just a number
:viking:
Here is my experience:
When i was looking at training centers i had the whole UTI experience stuck in my head. I took a trip down to exton, went to their open houses and had a requiter come to my house. They promised jobs, knowledge, opportunity, success
Then i spoke with some service managers at dealers. Malouf Ford, Difeo Ford, Malouf Chevy, Open road BMW on rt1, Loman Ford on 130, DCH Toyota on rt1, Ray Catena BMW on rt1. They do not hire UTI students, they will either hire striaght from private training centers where their old friends train these kids (my situation) or they hire kids for hard labor/lot duty/wash cars/drivers and train them with their own programs while on the clock.
I attended Middlesex County college and their automotive technology program. It's a two year program that has a max of 30 students. Prof's name is Harry Parker. The prof's goal is to place every single kid in a dealer job by the first semester, that way the dedicated work co-op (winter and summer semesters) they will get first hand what it's like to be in a dealer.
When everything was said and done I paid about 11,000 for my associates in automotive tech and was hired by one of the dealers i have listed above. I am actually typing this from work, it's going to be 3 years since i was hired. I overhauled a 4banger from a donated focus and overhauled my mothers trans for the tranny final. I'm satisfied with the program
I learned enough to get me started, the group of guys i attended started out at 30 students and finished with about 12 graduating, we all grew close on account of seeing each other's ugly mugs 30 hours a week for two years.
There are programs like this in many Communiy Colleges, call the advisors at your local one and see what they have. If you want to come around my parts i'll give you to Prof's contact info and possibly show you around.
but my opinion is that im not going to spend 30k and not be garanteed a job or decent training. nor do i want to go to a school where the population is out of control and every one is just a number
:viking:
FordGuy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- San Clemente, CA
That was a good write-up. I would agree with what you said. I don't hire UTI grads unless I am asked to as a favor from a friend or colleague. Getting into a dealer is the way to go. The kids that work hard can move up quick if they are willing to put in some serious time. The hardest thing for most of the younger guy's is getting a good tool set so that they can start working comfortably, even my lube techs that have skills can make 30k a year. I have been a P&S Director for a long time and enjoy helping young people get started in the business.
igotanxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Citrus heights
I went to UTI, I did the factory training program too.
Heres the thing. UTI core classes are basically a joke, you could learn the exact same things or maybe even more at a community college for a fraction of the price. They just teach really basic stuff in the core classes like how transmissions work or engines work. If you are already into cars and read about that stuff, you might not get too much out of the core classes besides MAYBE electrical classes. I didn't learn too much in the core classes. There are a bunch of idiots that go to UTI to get out of going to a real college, then they go out in the field and give all UTI students bad names cuz they're just screwups. I don't ever remember studying for UTI core classes and I graduated with a 3.9 GPA, so it's easy as long as you pay attention.
If you want to get something out of UTI you need to take the Ford FACT and a training program. It helps BIG TIME! Even if you don't work on fords ever, the electrical and diagnostic training that you get will help you for the rest of your life. It will also help if you go to a manufacturers training program. I did the Jaguar PACE program, which I believe doesn't exist anymore. But that, combined with the FACT program and the UTI core foundation actually gets you pretty prepared for what you will actually be doing in a bumper to bumper high end dealership. You pick apart every single little aspect and system of all Jaguars (or whatever brand you take) and teach you inside and out about the specific systems of the car. The only thing missing is experience; which, believe me, is a huge factor in how good of a tech you are. You need to understand it before you can fix it. I came out of PACE with about 2/3s of all the Jaguar Factory certifications, and that looks pretty good to any dealership, along with the AAS degree from the UTI core classes. You are gauranteed a job if you take the training programs.
The downside to the manufacturer programs is that you have to be prepared to move anywhere in the country to work at a dealer after your training. I'm from northern california, but no Jag dealers were hiring in norcal, so I ended up in Virginia.
You can make good money as a tech, but it all depends on the dealership and how much work they have. My last dealership was the busiest in the country and our top tech was making $150k, my first year I made $60k while being an apprentice for the first 6 months. But at the same time you could be stuck at a dealerhip with no work and make only $30k. But with ONLY the core UTI courses, you'd be lucky to get a job at a dealership at all, let alone be good and make money. I know a couple of other car nuts that I went to school with who agreed with me that UTI was kindof a joke without FACT.
Bottom line, UTI is OK. You have to remember that it just gets your foot in the door. If I were to do it over again, I would probably do the same thing. But, if you're just going to get the core classes, you'd be much better off going to a community college and forego the $25k debt you wold get yourself in at UTI.
Wyotech is good too. My brother went to Wyotech and I went to UTI. It all depends on what courses you take, so its hard to compare the two. He took only the diesel course at Wyotech, I took auto and diesel and UTI. There were some things that he learned about diesels that I didn't and vice versa. I believe the auto course at wyotech teaches collision, but UTI doesn't.
Heres the thing. UTI core classes are basically a joke, you could learn the exact same things or maybe even more at a community college for a fraction of the price. They just teach really basic stuff in the core classes like how transmissions work or engines work. If you are already into cars and read about that stuff, you might not get too much out of the core classes besides MAYBE electrical classes. I didn't learn too much in the core classes. There are a bunch of idiots that go to UTI to get out of going to a real college, then they go out in the field and give all UTI students bad names cuz they're just screwups. I don't ever remember studying for UTI core classes and I graduated with a 3.9 GPA, so it's easy as long as you pay attention.
If you want to get something out of UTI you need to take the Ford FACT and a training program. It helps BIG TIME! Even if you don't work on fords ever, the electrical and diagnostic training that you get will help you for the rest of your life. It will also help if you go to a manufacturers training program. I did the Jaguar PACE program, which I believe doesn't exist anymore. But that, combined with the FACT program and the UTI core foundation actually gets you pretty prepared for what you will actually be doing in a bumper to bumper high end dealership. You pick apart every single little aspect and system of all Jaguars (or whatever brand you take) and teach you inside and out about the specific systems of the car. The only thing missing is experience; which, believe me, is a huge factor in how good of a tech you are. You need to understand it before you can fix it. I came out of PACE with about 2/3s of all the Jaguar Factory certifications, and that looks pretty good to any dealership, along with the AAS degree from the UTI core classes. You are gauranteed a job if you take the training programs.
The downside to the manufacturer programs is that you have to be prepared to move anywhere in the country to work at a dealer after your training. I'm from northern california, but no Jag dealers were hiring in norcal, so I ended up in Virginia.
You can make good money as a tech, but it all depends on the dealership and how much work they have. My last dealership was the busiest in the country and our top tech was making $150k, my first year I made $60k while being an apprentice for the first 6 months. But at the same time you could be stuck at a dealerhip with no work and make only $30k. But with ONLY the core UTI courses, you'd be lucky to get a job at a dealership at all, let alone be good and make money. I know a couple of other car nuts that I went to school with who agreed with me that UTI was kindof a joke without FACT.
Bottom line, UTI is OK. You have to remember that it just gets your foot in the door. If I were to do it over again, I would probably do the same thing. But, if you're just going to get the core classes, you'd be much better off going to a community college and forego the $25k debt you wold get yourself in at UTI.
Wyotech is good too. My brother went to Wyotech and I went to UTI. It all depends on what courses you take, so its hard to compare the two. He took only the diesel course at Wyotech, I took auto and diesel and UTI. There were some things that he learned about diesels that I didn't and vice versa. I believe the auto course at wyotech teaches collision, but UTI doesn't.
rag
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- central NJ
I would also like to add. Take your time searching, ask questions, and last but not least ask yourself where you'll be in 5 years... yeah, i know i sound like your high school counselor, but mine was right! I wanted one thing but what i really would need and benefit me the most would be something completely different. Take everything with a grain of salt and get the final answer yourself, all we are going to give you is advice.
And like stated above me, making a living as a tech is hard work. Only the ones that hustle, know their stuff and take every opportunity to learn keep their jobs, ESPECIALLY NOW. Our shop foreman brings home a six digit salary and i get my mind blown how well our top diesel tech goes through jobs and diagnostics.
My prof had a saying that something along the lines of; "the job, the work, the money and the knowledge is out there, it's just a matter of how much more you want it than the dickhead next to you"
And like stated above me, making a living as a tech is hard work. Only the ones that hustle, know their stuff and take every opportunity to learn keep their jobs, ESPECIALLY NOW. Our shop foreman brings home a six digit salary and i get my mind blown how well our top diesel tech goes through jobs and diagnostics.
My prof had a saying that something along the lines of; "the job, the work, the money and the knowledge is out there, it's just a matter of how much more you want it than the dickhead next to you"
vtechthis
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- New Jersey
I graduated UTI 2 years ago with a 4.0gpa and recieved student of the course award for every single class. The school is a complete joke and waste of money, it only looks good on paper. I also got accepted into a manufacturer program and now work for BMW and have been there for 2 years. I love my job but you can definetely save money and go to a local trade school for half the price.
