UTI, ATC, LTI are they worth the time or money?

[Protege v2.5]

So its a general question about the automotive training schools in the area. Universal Training Institute and Automotive Training center in Exton and Lincoln Tech in Philly. The general consensus I'm getting about these schools are that they are horrible. Poor Student/Teacher ratio, outdated equipment, Lack of knowledge and experience from the instructors. Basically more money goes into production of the infomercials then the actual schools. Obviously a recruiter is gonna tell me none of this is true just to get me to sign up.

Does anyone have any insight that is different from this?

I checked around the forum couldn't really find any info

[jdm free]

in to hear more about this stuff, may consider going to a tech school

[OMGz Turbo]

on sale went to ATC and he said it was a waste of money, he was learning things he already knew.... replacing brake pads, and ****

[Protege v2.5]

I'd go take a tour of the schools but I'm well aware of the song and dance they put on for potential students painting the best picture possible.

[cmr076]

these schools have GREAT salesmen. my roommate and i went to UTI close to two years ago and neither are in the automotive field now. When you are signing up they promise you the stars and as you approach graduation they tell you "most of you will most likely start out at 9-11 dollars an hour". UTI was a total waste of money, and everyone i am friendly with that went there when i did are not in the automotive fields now either.

While i agree, you probably get out what you put in. I learned more having a job at a tires plus (before i went to the school) than i did while there. Nothing compares to hands on experience in a real world setting. Both my roommate and i are in a "regular" college now, working towards total non car related degrees (law school and biology). i realized i would rather make 6 or 7 figures and buy all the toys i want than work on other peoples toys and be broke with a pair of greasy hands to show for my hard work.

With that being said, you are going to make your own decision (obviously). but i strongly advise against these places (or UTI at least).

[tretiak]

i was suppose to go to uti 2 years ago but decided againist it because of what i heard as dave just stated. i heard wyotech is deff worth it thought as a friend of mine went there. if anything i would go to wyotech.

[Protege v2.5]

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking Automotive Engineering might be a better choice for me.

[howielong]

The schools are a joke really, I went to Pennco Tech in Bristol for Elec. They don't teach you much expect for stuff you don't need to know. You will only learn if you put the effort into it and teach your self. I went to school in 06, and about a year and a half later I found a job. The schools don't help you on a individual bases like they tell you. Maybe it was my experience or what, who knows.

[JdmFresh]

As a former UTI student I ask you to please think about it. UTI is actually a good school and you actually do learn alot and about theory. But IMO not worth how much it is and yes they do promise you the stars this and that...helping you find a job all that is bull they just give you a resume and off you go. Put it this way really think about it the Auto Indusrty is dieing right now and it is continuing to get worse and worse. Really I don't see a recovery for Auto Tech for a couple years. I grad and bought 8,000 worth of tools and a box from snap-on and I can't even get a job as a tech from the economy. All my tools and box I'm paying on is collecting dust. I should have got a degree for something else instead and left it as a hobby. Plus bro theres only so many years you can take of constant akes and pains, grease, weather and other men you work with before you say f uck this.

[teh DIRT]

you get what you put into it. All of the people I know who went through it and said it was a waste didn't apply themselves. I have learned a vast amount of information and skills that I didn't know before I went in, and I went in knowing a good amount. These schools are sadly a place for kids who don't want to goto college, or didn't make it into college to goto. Its full of idiots who don't care is they pass or fail in life. Stand out from these idiots, show yourself and your instructors that you are there to learn, and you will get a lot out of it.

As for the industry, who the hell knows where that is going. But car's aren't going anywhere anytime soon...and since no one can afford new cars at the moment, they have to fix the ones they have.

Oh and the entrance reps are so rediculous is a joke.

[JdmFresh]

Originally Posted by teh DIRT

you get what you put into it. All of the people I know who went through it and said it was a waste didn't apply themselves. I have learned a vast amount of information and skills that I didn't know before I went in, and I went in knowing a good amount. These schools are sadly a place for kids who don't want to goto college, or didn't make it into college to goto. Its full of idiots who don't care is they pass or fail in life. Stand out from these idiots, show yourself and your instructors that you are there to learn, and you will get a lot out of it.

As for the industry, who the hell knows where that is going. But car's aren't going anywhere anytime soon...and since no one can afford new cars at the moment, they have to fix the ones they have.

Oh and the entrance reps are so rediculous is a joke.

This is true you'll see alot of retards at these schools and so so many accidents. And yes you will learn if you apply yourself but all in all for me atleast I should have left it as a side job/hobby thing.

[pinacup7]

Try searching a little harder, There has been numerous threads on it. When it comes down to it you get out of it what you put in. It just sucks how you will have one teacher that gives you all the answers, lets you sleep all day. Then next class if you fall asleep you get sent home.

[TurboTagTeam]

My advice is to find a shop that is willing to take you on as an apprentice. You'll learn a hell of a lot more.

I guarantee you I learned more in the 2 years I spent in the field learning from other fabricators and race mechanics then all of the people in any of them schools.

By 20 years old I was helping build $50,000 nitro motors and $120,000 long travel dune buggies.

[OMGz Turbo]

Originally Posted by howielong

The schools are a joke really, I went to Pennco Tech in Bristol for Elec. They don't teach you much expect for stuff you don't need to know. You will only learn if you put the effort into it and teach your self. I went to school in 06, and about a year and a half later I found a job. The schools don't help you on a individual bases like they tell you. Maybe it was my experience or what, who knows.

Umm same thing cept i graduated last may for ACHR (air conditioning, heating and refrigeration) they were no help in the job process stating you will have no problem going into the field as a service tech. Most companys wont even look at you without 3-5 years exp as a tech. BS.

[Talon5spd90]

a buddy of mine went to one of these schools and now he does nothing related to the automotive field. just some food for thought

[Honduh]

I went to UTI and it was complete garbage. The entire time I was in it I talked it up like it was something great. I went with two of my other friends and they hated it the entire time. I took the school 100% serious and did the best I could with all the idiots I had to deal with in class, and team mates not showing up or helping with group work. And it still sucked. The only good **** I got out of UTI was how to use scan tools and some diag stuff, but there is SOOO MUCH they have to teach you in a 3 week span, with 30 students in the class that the teachers just can't handle it. Also not to mention the teachers that choose favorites in the class and tend to help them out more.

I learned MORE in the 2 and a half years I was a tech after I graduated then I did the entire time I was in school. I also learned that being the new guy you deal with the worst of the worst and you don't get paid anywhere near what the guys doing all the gravy are doing.

I recently lost my job back in the end of September and it took me 3 months to find a new tech job, and I quit after 2 days of working there because it was such a mess of a shop.

There was a UTI Teacher (or a should say ex teacher) who was a member on here. He quit because of the **** that went on at UTI and how all they cared about was $$$ and not the students. His name was Jim Lewis.

I could go on about this FOREVER, but I'd rather not.

[pinacup7]

Originally Posted by Honduh

I went to UTI and it was complete garbage. The entire time I was in it I talked it up like it was something great. I went with two of my other friends and they hated it the entire time. I took the school 100% serious and did the best I could with all the idiots I had to deal with in class, and team mates not showing up or helping with group work. And it still sucked. The only good **** I got out of UTI was how to use scan tools and some diag stuff, but there is SOOO MUCH they have to teach you in a 3 week span, with 30 students in the class that the teachers just can't handle it. Also not to mention the teachers that choose favorites in the class and tend to help them out more.

I learned MORE in the 2 and a half years I was a tech after I graduated then I did the entire time I was in school. I also learned that being the new guy you deal with the worst of the worst and you don't get paid anywhere near what the guys doing all the gravy are doing.

I recently lost my job back in the end of September and it took me 3 months to find a new tech job, and I quit after 2 days of working there because it was such a mess of a shop.

There was a UTI Teacher (or a should say ex teacher) who was a member on here. He quit because of the **** that went on at UTI and how all they cared about was $$$ and not the students. His name was Jim Lewis.

I could go on about this FOREVER, but I'd rather not.

The truth is it's a business not a school. You can buy stock in them. It may not work out for some but it does for others. I know plenty of kids myself included that make great money and love their job so far. Even though every old guy in the shop will tell you they hate it. I mean i'm about to be 21 and make roughly 80k a year. Not many people can say that

[teh DIRT]

yeah UTI has no classes longer than 4 weeks, ATC on the other hand has some 8 week classes for the more involved stuff. I feel that makes a huge difference. You cant learn all there is to know about computer diag/ OBD in 4 weeks.

[Turbo s60R]

stay far far away from lincoln tech, equipment is out dated, teacher are poorly trained, and while i was there the students seemed like kids that didnt get into college and that was there last resort before prison!!!!! trust me if you need more info on the school pm me and ill feel free to go more in depth.

[05suby]

i go to uti and its not what they make it out to be. they care more about their image than about teaching you. i have awesome grades there so i am applying myself and yea i am learning things but they could teach a lot more. you rarely take parts off of cars, every part is handed to you. its rarely hands on also. i just wish they actually cared more about teaching us how to do more **** than spending 98% of time on theory. like i said, and i have said it to them also, they need to stop worrying about their (fake) image and money and start teaching.