Automotive Careers - UTI school

Dont really know where to start, but i want to ask if anyone has attended this school and gone to one of their MSAT programs. If so how hard was it to get a job with that specific manufacture , my plans where to get in with BMW or Porsche, maybe nissan. I tried asking in a BMW forum with no response, so im asking here where i could get some real feedback thanks guys

Went to UTI, got into the Benz program, now working at a dealer. Getting a job is not too hard as long as you're willing to relocate. Hardest part is getting into the MSAT programs. Count on having to get close to a 4.0 and 99-100% attendance. Only 5 out of my graduating class of about 60 got into a program. Let me know if you have any more questions.

i plan on having 100% attendance, what is your pay with mercedes how far did you have to relocate, was that 5 out of 60 just for mercedes, cause there are a dozen manufactures in the msat program

I'm making about 40K to start out. I stayed within my state of CA, but guys in my class when to GA and D.C. area. 5 was for all MSAT. Two of us in Benz, 1 Volvo, 1 Porsche, 1VW.

wow those are tuff odds, where you mechanically inclined before going to UTI, 40k is not bad, how is that working for you in CA, its pretty expensive out there

I would go to University of Northwestern Ohio That places is awesome. Look into it. I went there and have no regrets other than turning down some once in a lifetime jobs including working for Tony Schumacher. I had an interview and everything. YES I WILL REGRET IT ALL MY LIFE.

UTI grad in '98 wasnt able to get into a dealership. but also was not a 4.0. when i did get into a dealer it was as a salesman which lead to be a service advisor now im the service and parts manager for a Kia dealer. the kia tech that works with me makes great money. the most he ever made was 70k!!!! at a kia dealer. so my point is that you dont have to get into Mercedes Benz or BMW to be successful. GL with your career!

Also remember to look into the cost of living compared to how much you are making.

Every person I have know that either went there or knows people that have gone said it sucked. Do a search on it.


I know some guys that went to a local community school for cheap and got their ASE cert and while in school worked for a dealer as a helper. After school was done the dealer sent them to the factory school.

If I was to do it I would want to work on the higher end cars, the economey does not affect them nearly as much and the cars tend to be better taken care of. I know of a BMW that has over 200k miles and drives like its band new and the interior look sbrand new.

great response to the subject, looks like uti is out of the question $27,000 is not justifyed now the hard part will be getting a part time job at a dealer working the lube rack most likely

great response to the subject, looks like uti is out of the question $27,000 is not justifyed now the hard part will be getting a part time job at a dealer working the lube rack most likely


Look at the community school, a local one will get you your ASE for a few grand.

I think its like $85-100 a credit hour and they are pretty well known.
around here.

I went to aviation maintenance school for 21k.... includes my A.S.

i plan on having 100% attendance, what is your pay with mercedes how far did you have to relocate, was that 5 out of 60 just for mercedes, cause there are a dozen manufactures in the msat program

That is FUCKING hard. (the attendance) You get docked for ALL time missed. Its hard to make it up unless you speak to an E.M. (Educational manager) and request a night class just for the time out. It really is damn near impossible, even when I asked the instructors it is extremely difficult and its really not all that worth it. Keep over a 98%, don't get ANY speeding tickets, and maintain a 4.0 and MSATs are within the realm of possibility. PM me if you want anymore info, looks like you may have made up your mind but I'm pretty much smack dab in the middle of my enrollment period (like 10th course or so).

The other good thing about the school is there are a LOT of instructors with TONs of years of work in the field under their belt and you can learn a lot - you just have to take it upon yourself to read upon the subjects outside of school and pay attention in class. There are some real friggin morons going there and passing with good grades - passing is easy. Leaving with something thats worth that money is another.

the kia tech that works with me makes great money. the most he ever made was 70k!!!! at a kia dealer. so my point is that you dont have to get into Mercedes Benz or BMW to be successful. GL with your career!
The master techs at BMW can make 6 figures a year easy in a climate controlled shop in which they can wear white uniforms and actually not regret it. Still aint bad though for a Kia dealer :) Ferrari flys out here, picks one or two guys in the country, takes them back to Italy for training (all food, housing, everything paid) then they come back here for more training in the U.S. (again, all expenses paid).

I went through Lincoln Tech in Indy- I paid $26,000, 3.9GPA, 100% attendance, Honors diploma, Presidents academic list, associates degree in Business management,2 ASE certs, Internship at a local dealership, worked there just over a year, went to a different dealership.. blah blah blah. Point is- I worked my ass off at LTI. Thier Job placement wasnt shit- they handed me a 200 sheet thick stapled " book" and said - here is your job placement guide, have a good career!. and all that was in it was jobs for Lowes, Jiffy Lube, UPS, and shit like that.. nothing really worth a damn..

Im not saying i didnt learn alot, bc i did.. and damnit I made good friends with my teachers and they would always help me out.. such good friends infact that I can go and get my car tuned any time i want for free.. BUT- it is ALOT of money, and you will be in there with alot of fuck off's who arent paying for shit and dont really care about getting the education b/c they just had to have somewhere to go to school..

I've also had friends that went through UTI and they say that they hated UTI, around the same time i was going to LTI in indy.. I liked going through the program and wished i could have taken more, but I had to get out and work full time b/c i had bills to pay.. I am kind of thinking about going to SAM in spring of 2010 and learning all I can there.. If i wanted, i could be out on the road with NHRA teams- which i kind of regret not doing , but it would have required a weekly job that payed alot, and would let me have off thurs-tues.

Now- all of these schools will tell you all kinds of things to get you to enroll there- its like going to see a military recruiter- and believe me- Both of them have alot in common..

Whatever your choice, I hope this helps.. And feel free to PM me or whatever if you have any more questions.


Jeff

I went to UTI. Got into Benz MSAT program, which is now gone by the way. I was told last week that MB has axed the program. I got hired at a MB/BMW shop. I switched over to BMWs shortly thereafter. Now I am Master Certified on MBs and BMWs. You can make an ass of money if you live in the right city, i.e. Miami, Atlanta, NY, etc... If you live in the country like me and work at a small shop, expect to get treated like a dirty mechanic and get paid like one as well. With the economy the way it is and the industry collapsing around itself I would not recommend spending thousands of dollars going to a school and getting into a program that mass produces moderately capable technicians. UTI, Wyotech, and Lincoln Tech and others have flooded the market with too many people who can regurgitate info from books, but hand them a wrench and they fall apart. You know your ability better then anyone, so if you think this is what you want, by all means go for it. Just be aware of what you may be getting yourself into.

well i do work for the government, if i am late 3 minutes there's paperwork involved, been doing it for the last 7 years and i have 100% attendance......but i still think i am gonna go to a local college and or start an internship at a local dealer, until the dealer sends me to school for further training

Zmonte85 you should write a book you could have not said it any better, including what you said about the economy. As of this moment having a stable job should be a top priority........

I went to UTI. Got into Benz MSAT program, which is now gone by the way. I was told last week that MB has axed the program. I got hired at a MB/BMW shop. I switched over to BMWs shortly thereafter. Now I am Master Certified on MBs and BMWs. You can make an ass of money if you live in the right city, i.e. Miami, Atlanta, NY, etc... If you live in the country like me and work at a small shop, expect to get treated like a dirty mechanic and get paid like one as well. With the economy the way it is and the industry collapsing around itself I would not recommend spending thousands of dollars going to a school and getting into a program that mass produces moderately capable technicians. UTI, Wyotech, and Lincoln Tech and others have flooded the market with too many people who can regurgitate info from books, but hand them a wrench and they fall apart. You know your ability better then anyone, so if you think this is what you want, by all means go for it. Just be aware of what you may be getting yourself into.


Hit the nail on the head there my friend.... - completely right..

Thanks. Seen too many people file in and file right back out of the shop. It's bad for them and bad for the shop. Good help is hard to find.

I graduated from UTI with a 4.0 and 100% attendance. Finding a job wasn't to hard but for me at least the pay was pretty bad starting off. I only made 25k my first year working at a Ford dealership. I was on track to make 40k my second year but I quit and I'm now going to a real college. Being an Automotive Tech isn't all its cracked up to be IMO. The shop I worked in was very hot in the summer, very cold in the winter, my hands and arms stayed cut up all the time and to top it off the job is stressful (for me at least). Pretty much every older tech I talked to told me to get out of the field while I still can. If you are in the correct place the money can be good but I didn't meet anyone that actually liked the job.

If you still want to be an automotive tech I would suggest finding a local community college that has an automotive program. UTI is a rip off, the dealership I worked for actually asked me in the interview why I decided to go to UTI instead of the local community college. All together my UTI education cost me around 45k when you factor in the cost of living near one of the schools in a major city. I could have lived with my parents and went to the local college for a total of ~3k and still ended up with the same job. Instead I'll be paying off student loans till 2025 while trying to attend a real college :bang:

i graduated uti with a 3.6 and 100% attendance. i double phased for like 8 months. got into the benz msat, then we got dumped into the real world where "you are highly sought after techs". well thats a fuckin lie. it was hard to find a job. i had no problem relocating to anywhere, but no one was hiring. and if after 3 months you dont have a job, they want the msat cost back. i cut it real close but found a job in the middle of the 3rd month. i make shit for pay. i am treated like shit. im very stressed, and the city i live in sucks cock. and so do most of the people in it.

as soon as my contract is up here (july 2nd , 09), i am going to move to miami, or chicago, or some other massive city, i LIKE working on cars, so i just need to find a bigger clientele.

I went to community college, associate degree, got all 8 cets, became employed at a toyota dealer, was there for 5 years till speed inc. brought me in.

Heres other thing, theirs women at community college. UTI its a sausage fest over there.

If I could have done it all over again, would've gone to Ferris state or SIUC to finish 4 year Automotive technology, early as possible.
Last I saw Ferris has performance engine building electives, and SIUC has a 9 second nova for the auto classes to play with.

like other guy said, being a tech is a great job, they made me a jounrneymen at my dealership only if I would work every saturday 8-5, none of the dinosours there wanted to work saturday. Didn't want to spend the rest of my life that way. Wanted to finish my 4 year degree but I work 12 hours a day at speed, lol.

When I worked at a Buick dealership (15 years ago) I knew a tech and his buddy thet went to UTI. They said it was way overpriced and not what it was cracked up to be. Do some research on your local community college/ tech school. I am currently attending one (for a criminal justice degree) and some of the part time instructors also teach at the "big name,big price" schools in the area. The funny thing is one of my instructors was preaching the other day how the 3 credit class that costs me $312 for the semester is almost $1,000 at the other school he teaches at. He also said the lessons/tests are a "carbon copy" of what we get. Choose whatever kind of car you want to work on, go to the dealership and ask the service manager if they could help point you in the right direction. These are the people that should know who the better employees are and where they recieved training. GOOD LUCK!!

I attended UTI in Houston and as far as the theory and education you receive there is good you will learn a lot about electronics and the theory of all aspects of gasoline,diesel vehicles as far as being worth the money hell no. When i graduated i thought i would be pretty good at diagnosing and know a good bit they teach you (not intentionally) the hardest shit you are going to encounter is the norm and it is the exact opposite of that find yourself a good community college and be done with it. UTI is Extremely overpriced. I caught on very quickly and within a year of graduating i moved up pretty quickly from basic new guy to well respected Driveability Technician in the Ford dealership i worked at but if I could do it over I would have gone to a community college and started working under a good tech and learned from them. You can get the exact same jobs out of a community college that you can graduating UTI.

Im not saying i didnt learn alot, bc i did.. and damnit I made good friends with my teachers and they would always help me out.. such good friends infact that I can go and get my car tuned any time i want for free.. BUT- it is ALOT of money, and you will be in there with alot of fuck off's who arent paying for shit and dont really care about getting the education b/c they just had to have somewhere to go to school..

Jeff

Ditto on all that shit. I went to a school called ATI (its all the fuckin same) and learned alot, was in there with a bunch of fuck-ups, etc. I was already working as a tech though so it was really a waste of time. Damn near 30k worth of worthless scool. Like i said, I learned alot, but i could have learned the same shit at work eventually and while making 30k (or less) instead of paying 30k.

Needless to say i'm still at my same job albeit with higher pay than before and i work with (guess what) a bunch of Lincoln Tech (columbia, md) guys who had the same shit to say about their school as i did. We often swap stories in the lunch room.

went to UTI 3.8gpa and 98% attendance. when i got out i live in houston where the school is and honestly UTI has such a bad reputation in houston "if" you get hired they're gonna treat you like shit because of all the UTI fuck up before you. OHH yea if you walk into Corvettes of houston with a UTI shirt on, they will all but throw you out!!! i found out that they're was a kid from UTI working at Corvettes of houston and they asked him to take this 1967 427 4-speed stingray vette to get detailed cause someone had bought it and was coming to pick it up ( for anyone that doesn't know this is a t least a 100k car) well five later the UTI calls his boss to let him know that the vette was totalled, turns out the kid was making a u-turn under i-45 and decided to get on it coming out of the turn where he spun the car out and a semi on the feeder creamed it. And of course my favorite story two UTI students racing up the feeder in a pair of mustangs after school. both students loose control of their cars and end up wrecking theyre mustangs in the Corvettes of houston show room totalling their mustangs and two corvettes not to mention damaging like 3 others so yea UTI has a very bad reputation in houston. And FWIW i work on elevators and escalators now and i have to say im making alot more than when i was working on cars and now i just work on my cars for fun. i found out that i like to work on my toys, not everyone else's junk. DONT GO TO UTI.

i definately agree with all the bad rap that uti students get because of past assholes who somehow graduated without knowing shit. but honestly there is a lot to learn with extremely knowledgable instructors and state of the art equipment. if someone is really really really serious about a career WORKING ON CARS, and ALL of the bullshit that comes with it uti is the best place i went to uti and have no regrets i didnt have the driving record to get into an msat, so i work at firestone but i wouldnt wanna be at a dealer in this economy anyway. Bottom line if you think you might change your mind down the road, save your money and go to a j/c. But if you wanna jump into the field with the best advantage go to uti

went, graduated, waste of money, could have gotten the same education for a fraction of the cost. The teachers are a joke and don't know there head from their asses. The hot rod program is a waste and teaches you nothing. Basically the only thing that can be learned from the hot rod deal is how to tear apart a gen 1 SBC. I did that when i was 15 so it was kinda woopty do for me lol. Had a 3.9 gpa and a 98% attendance rate because i had to leave school early a couple days to get to the shop to get work done.

your best bet in all honesty if you are wanting to get into the business is, go to a junior college or a votech (whatever it is you call it) and work part time at a dealership and listen and learn to the techs. You will start on the bottom rung and you will earn you way up, it takes patience. Do not expect to jump into it and making a million dollars a year, lol. Basicaly hands on experience is the only way to learn this business, I always got a good kick out of the kids that did great on the tests and knew the theory behind everything, but when it came to their diagnostic skills and actually working, they were lost. UTI does not give you the hands on you need. The hands on you need is being inside a shop and learning from the people doing it. Anyone can read stuff from a text book. and thats how most of the teachers are at UTI at least in my experience there. I went to the houston campus, btw.

Rancho campus... the new one

Currently go to UTI / NTI campus in NC. have a 99.6% attendence. working up the GPA. Its what you make of the school. The only way you learn is by working in the field. Did that when i was 16 learned alot in that 6 months. Now once i finish school ill have this knowledge and be able to just move up in the field. Theres alot more out there then most think of just not dealerships. Gov't jobs and such.

So far my exericence before i came to the school..

6 months at a tire shop
few months at an auto parts store helping in the machine shop
Voluntered for Joey McCarthy North busch series team

Now just going through school working as a supervisor 40 hours a week.

i went to uti....its not that bad of a school....you learn as much as you want to learn....the idiots that come out of that school are the ones who never payed attention in class and goofed off the whole time......i went to the avondale az. campus and i had a 3.0 gpa and now i own my own auto shop.....

UTI/FACT grad as of 2 weeks ago. 4.0, 100% att., top of class ten times, blah blah blah.

If money grows on trees for you, or you're coming out of the military and don't like the idea of real college, go for it. As for the rest of us, I guarantee you that you'll get more out of a community college or even a university (UTI's credit hour rate is about $350, comparable to most universities).

If you're young, you'll have a hell of a time getting plastered about every day of the week because you've got nothing better to do. You'll see that the random drug testing is anything but a deterrant to most (selling drugs seems to be a great way to make money at the school). Oh, and be prepared for more downtime then you know what to do with...and the best part is that you can't leave class even though there's nothing left to do in the day, you're stuck.

On the other hand, the diagnostic theory is good. Not so much on the mechanical end, but definitely on the electrical end, especially in the FACT program. In fact, it's what inspired me to further my education, and I'm now going for a bachelors in electrical engineering, possibly with an automotive specialization on the side.

My advice is don't do it if cars are your hobby...and don't do it if you want a respected job. The pay can be good, but you will work your ass off for it, and it depends largely on where you get the job.

I went to UTI, i graduated in 95... (and it was only 10 grand to attend then) I went to the IL school and it SUCKED !! the guy who represented the school lied to me about everything, i was living in some crappy apartments in a cracked out nieghborhood that the school supplied, i even remember the name of it "french quarters". Then i was busting my ass working full time (making 6.00 an hour) to pay rent, food, gas, ect....... and go to school.
The only thing i miss are the friends i made, and yes i stuck it out finished and came home to another crappy job, but things got better got a job with Verizon and was eventially making 23.00 an hour and then quit after 13 yrs to start my own business.
If i could change things i would have stayed away from working on cars for a living it sucks, underpaid for 95% of the jobs as a wrencher and people just dont realize all the money you spend on tools, and the days were you just wanna smash somethin cause your pissed off about the car that is being an a-hole to fix or figure out. Oh, and most importantly you never can stop learning, cars are getting so technical that schooling will never end.
And why is it that we do this crap??????????

I graduated from UTI in 2000 with a 3.8GPA and I dont remember the attendance % but I only missed 1 day the whole time I was there. I went to VW training after that it was called VASTT back then or some then like that (not sure what the heck it's called now) I graduated from a Vocational High School and I had a lot of friends that went all over for automotive tech schooling: Northwestern in Ohio, WyoTech, NADC,DADC,Lincoln Tech, and so many community colleges.

After I finished with VW I got hired on a VW Audi and other german cars dealership I worked there for about 3 yrs. Then I went to a Chevy/Chrysler/Dodge dealership. and worked there for a 2 1/2 more years. All my friends that went to community colleges were making just as much or more as me. I'm now in the Army and im stationed at FT. Carson CO. and I have been deployed twice to Iraq and im not a mechanic in the Army. I'm A Tanker....LOL....I got burned out of it. I think the Dealership atmosphere wore me out.

The funny thing is that most of my friends that went to Automotive Schools are know longer turning wrenches for a living. And the ones that all went to schools like UTI or Northwestern in Ohio will tell ya dont waste your money, go to a CC.

On a side note I had one good friend that went to SAMS and he loved it and thought it was worth it....He makes a lot of $$$ and is about to start his own machine shop in the next year or two But this school is expensive.

I agree with those who wish they hadn't gone. I was a marine mechanic for 2 years before going there, I hated boats so I wanted to work with cars. As stated their electrical classes are pretty good, the rest sucks. I graduated with a 4.0, Several SOC's Student of the course, and what did it get me? I was offered piss poor jobs at dealerships and never went to one. Went to a couple performance shops getting 10-15 bux an hour. I had been tig welding since I was 12 so I went into the welding field, which was good until recently So I do mobile welding 3-4 days out of the week, and drive a tow truck 3 days a week. Believe it or not, I make alot more operating a tow truck, then working as a tech. And tips Sometimes are great, just got a $30 and $40 dollar tip this morning actually... on two tows.

But as was stated earlier, yes the reps lie like crazy promise alot and do nothing! I also liked how we couldnt work on our own vehicles, unless we filled out forms, and then came in on a saturday between x time and x time. And the car had to be removed if not repaired in time, sometimes they wouldnt even let us do simple stuff just in case it got "out of hand"

Most of the guys on here are knocking down UTI. Honestly, the same concept can be applied to anything - not just automotive. Say a kid wants to go to school for business. The kid has three options: Go to a community college for pretty cheap and get a 2 year degree and move on from there, go to a state university and pay a bit more than a community college but at least they get a 4 year degree, or go to a private school and pay between $30,000-$45,000 to get that same business degree that they would get at a 4 year state school. The concept is still the same. UTI is not a gateway to the perfect life but rather opens opportunites for students. Just by graduating from their program does not automatically guarentee that one will make 6 figures a year or tons of money. Regardless of where someone goes to school or what field they get introduced in, the vast majority of them will not be making tons of money because it's just the beginning of their career.

Went there, learned a lot, bunch of idiots go there, and instructors were hit or miss as far as personality and knowledge. Im not bashing UTI because i had a great experience there, but for the cost i would rather take a few classes elsewhere and get right into the field because UTI is wayyy tooo expensive for what you get out of it.

I attend the at the Houston campus right now. Im Taking the auto/diesel/industrial program. Everyones outlook is going to be way different on the school. Im only 9 courses in and i have 17 courses left. At about the 2-4 course you really start to hate the school and wonder why you wasted your time and money for it. But honestly you will learn quite a bit from the school, you just have to apply yourself and appreciate the fact that you are lucky enough to afford such a school. I have seen many good friends get really good jobs with Schlumberger, Schnieder, and now Cummins. Those are the main places that will pay you good money if you are willing to relocate. All the dealership job offers are all the same damn thing. I work at a nissan dealership down here in houston called Tom Peacock Nissan and just moved up to tech assistant so im learning from work and school and i have to say that i love it! Do what you feel is best, you are still going to start on lube rack wether you go to UTI or not, it blows!

I graduated from UTI exton on feb 13th... I start my job tomorrow as a tech for firestone... Like everything in life you got out of it what you put in. I have been around cars my whole life turning wrenches and i still learned a shit ton more then i knew,, the only complaint that i have is Service writing that was the biggest waste of three weeks in my life...lol but i would recommend it to anyone that wants to learn. Nothing beats experence but you have to start somewhere.

SAM is just expensive as UTI but its more of a performance aspect of the industry.... I honestly wish i could have experenced that

UTI gaduate of az. did the fact thing while i was there and was employed at a local ford dealership. (mccafferty) Stayed for about 5 years. when i first started i loved it ,turned flat rate tech 6mos. into it and made damn good money for 20 year old kid.(65K+) Bought a house, new car, and all the shit ur supposed to do. well after 3-4 years things were not what they once were and i was making half of what i use to. so i started looking into jobs that were not so driven by customer repair. i am now a supervisor for one of the biggest mass transit company's around, and doing better then i ever did as a wrench. but with out some paper behing you it is tough to get into a company that is 90% family referral and huge on qualifications. so in the end the school helped me acquire a job that the average guy would have had a tough time getting without knowing somebody. but if you want my opinion try to get a job in a real shop, a mom and pop shop so you can and get real experience not class room bull shit. i learned alot but i l really learned once i had to do it to pay bills. I got very good and very quick at it and you can to with a little work and effort, so make sure it is what you want to do.

Grad UTI/NTI Jan 09', got into Volvo msat with 3.95gpa, and 97% att. Also have 2 speeding tickets. I only went because I had GI bill, and i loved working on cars, but even then it doesnt cover everything. After I got into Volvo, the economy went to shit, and i made a decision to bail out of volvo and not go. you have to find a dealership that is involved in the msat program, they are not all cooperating with the program. there is only 1 volvo dealer in nc that follows the msat program<--haha fuck me. i dont have to the money to relocate to Az from Nc. Luckily i didnt have to pay that damn $1k seat cancellation, i had a recent graduate offer to take my seat. so now im trying to get back in with the government. but still working fulltime at an independent shop. i still love cars, they are my passion/hobby.. but ive always been told, dont do what you love for a day job... but i dont know.

positive note: everything i learned, mostly from the nascar classes i.e. fabrication and engine building, i used to do everything on my own build in my sig. cant forget that stuff.

really doesnt matter what school you go to if you put shit in you get shit out. I went to UTI Orlando and it was a really good education as long as you leave all the high school shit in high school 95 percent of the studenta are fresh out of school I was 30 when i went fresh out of the army and I felt like I was in a daycare most of the day wasnt that hard to grad top of my class becuase i was more applied and disciplined and I was also paying for my tuition other than my parents lol

I did not read the whole thread about this however i will say i did attend UTI Chicago campus in 03-04 year, and I must say is was the biggest waste of money I ever spent. They are a prep school for the ASE tests, other than a certificate of completion you do not get much from the program. I learned more attending auto shop for one hour a day in high school for a year then i did full time in an automotive school. If i could pick again i would have gone to WyoTech.

i graduated UTI houston a couple years ago and like everyone else has said i do not recommend UTI unless you have NO experience....im not going to say i did not learn anything but i went in there knowing a little more than basics and flew through it. Finding a job was a BITCH...i got a 3.9gpa and 98.5% attendance but did not want to go through an MSAT as i wanted to work for GM so i graduated and people pretty much laughed about UTI...i finally ended up getting a job for Bridgestone/Firestone and have been there ever since. i clocked $40K a year last year busting my ass working 6 days a week most of the time and flagging 70-90 hours a week but have already spent almost 35k on tools and my box plus 4k for the Solus Pro i just upgraded to get more into diagnostics...ive tried to switch over to a dealership now but i just wont make 40k a year starting out so im kind of stuck for now unfortunately considering most dealerships think its a joke when they hear a 22 year old "kid" knows as much as me and has the amount of tools i already have

I went to SAM. Graduated in 2007. Job placement was great, had an interview within a few weeks of graduating and landed the job in FL. I have friends that I went to school with that are all over the industry from NASCAR teams, to IRL, NHRA drag race teams, as well as a lot of the sponsers here on LS1tech. I have friends that work at LME, LMR, HKE, Xtreme Horsepower, Wiseco pistons, Mast Motorsports.... I could go on for a while. I got asked to come back and work at SAM and do so now. If you're interested in performance engines and racing, check out the website www.samracing.com

im am going there now and to tell you the truth i dont know any more then what i knew when i started its not worth 27,000 dollars

im am going there now and to tell you the truth i dont know any more then what i knew when i started its not worth 27,000 dollars

SAM or UTI?

really doesnt matter what school you go to if you put shit in you get shit out. I went to UTI Orlando and it was a really good education as long as you leave all the high school shit in high school 95 percent of the studenta are fresh out of school I was 30 when i went fresh out of the army and I felt like I was in a daycare most of the day wasnt that hard to grad top of my class becuase i was more applied and disciplined and I was also paying for my tuition other than my parents lol

X2!!!!!!!!!!! I FEEL YOUR PAIN!! The sad thing is I'm now going for a criminal justice degree!! I wanna choke 99% of the shit talkin mommas boys!:bang:

I did not read the whole thread about this however i will say i did attend UTI Chicago campus in 03-04 year, and I must say is was the biggest waste of money I ever spent. They are a prep school for the ASE tests, other than a certificate of completion you do not get much from the program. I learned more attending auto shop for one hour a day in high school for a year then i did full time in an automotive school. If i could pick again i would have gone to WyoTech.

how much is it to attend wyotech?

SAM or UTI?

deff sam

deff sam

You didn't learn anything at SAM?? You must not have gone to class ever or slept through class :eyes:

I went to UNOH, University of Northwestern Ohio. Its incredible! I had a 3.8-3.9 G.P.A and 100% attendance. I have a great job, a degree, and love every minute of what I get paid to do.

UNOH is even better now, they are growing so fast and have way cooler stuff now that Ive graduated... including a 7.5 million dollar high performance building.

You didn't learn anything at SAM?? You must not have gone to class ever or slept through class :eyes:

i did not go to sam i was saying go to sam it is better than uti. cause i go to uti now.

i graduated from uti last year....would only suggest it for someone who knows absolutely nothing about cars...if you are somewhat mechanically inclined you will be bored I slept through class and actually doubled my classes to graduate 6 months earlier graduating with a 4.0 and that was straight out of high school. a buddy of mine transfered from uti to Sam and loves it there

UTI is not bad if you go there for the right reasons. One thing i will definitely say is "you get out of it what you put into it". I had some mechanical experience but not the most but i made it a priority to graduate with 100% attendance and a 3.90 gpa and i'm now going for the bmw msat program and will start soon. I did not have it easy either as i am married with two small kids so it was tedious but definitely accomplishable. Yes, for some people it was a bore because they have an insane amount of knowledge and experience in the automotive field but don't let that deter you. Keep yourself focused on your goals and stay away from the slackers and potheads and you'll do fine. Of the people that started with me, 1 went to audi, 1 to vw, 1 to porsche, 1 to volvo, 2 to nissan, 1 to mercedes, and myself to bmw. I'm not sure about the rest. And a lot of them had little to no shop experience so it's all about how much you put into it. Good luck.

Guys guys guys!!!! UTI isnt that bad! You absolutely get what out of it what you put in!!! You have to be there to get it! I am about to graduate from UTI on April 12th 2013. I went here to fill holes in my knowledge. It really did that and then some! Its a great foundation to get you hired as an entry level technician. If you take part in the electives or MSAT's It will really benefit you even more. (especially with pay) I will be graduating with a 4.0 and 100% attendance! I have already been hired with a company Called Bauer-Pileco making $20.00Hr starting off with no experience on the equipment I work on. I also have 2 other companies that were waiting to hire me once I finished school based on my stats from the school. There are many knowledgeable instructors in which you must milk them of all the info you can! Some of the instuctors are full of shit though and you will point them out easily! I would do my own research about the school and make a decision then! Not base it on people's opinion! Especially when some of them may not have applied themselves!