College choices

Cman46290 · Post by **Cman46290** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:32 pm

in all honesty... if you plan on staying in the STL area and looking for a job... Ranken is almost for sure gunna be your best bet... It is very well known in the area... and people WILL hire you.

HatchGirl89 · Post by **HatchGirl89** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:41 pm

I have heard UTI is a joke a lot from some people. I was debating on staying in Missouri or moving out of state. I liked the fact that UTI and wyotech is in Cali and multiple other states. I talked to a buddy about wyotech and said he "loved it" but he says it sucks getting up at 5:30 am for the school. But that wouldn't really bother me.
Ranken I have heard a lot about from some people. I think I heard they only give you 50% on you're tools from snap on? Which isnt bad, and the discount would help when needing to buy tools. And I've heard ranken makes you take you're piercings out? Not sure if that's true but what I have heard. I know UTI doesn't which is good, they offer I believe 40-60% off on snap on tools. And don't make you buy any tools while taking the program. And the last factor to pick what place is the courses. I love to get more involved in the high performance or even chasis fabrication etc.

Cman46290 · Post by **Cman46290** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:53 pm

Lincoln Tech has numerous times of the day you can start going to school... different schedules... morning... afternoon... and evening classes which was nice... i went from 2:15pm-10:15pm Mon-Thursday... off Fridays and Saturdays. Wasnt bad..... i worked at UPS overnight...

On top of that... you get a NAPA premium tool kit when you start schooling... i know its not Snapon... but its all still lifetime warranty... and there is a NAPA store right in the shop at the school if you happen to break a tool...

I know in the Indianapolis area... Lincoln Tech students work at shops statewide... every dealer out there hires Lincoln Tech students that perform well.

I had no problems getting an internship at Meyer Honda in OFallon, IL.... and now work as a Service Advisor at Enterprice Fleet Services... telling people what to do... how much were gunna pay... and sitting at a desk.... and diagnosing repairs over the phone with shops nation wide... its a cool job.

HatchGirl89 · Post by **HatchGirl89** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:58 pm

That wouldn't be bad the time frame, and having a napa shop right there is also a plus. But moving to Indiana? Idk, not really the place I like to go for college. But how did the program start out? Was it all over basics again or what ?

Cman46290 · Post by **Cman46290** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:08 pm

yeah... an intro course to start.. is a month long... then from there the classes are kind of random... you finmd out like half way through which class you have next... goes through every area of a vehicle... from brakes...to steering... to manual trans... auto trans... engine performance... electronics... ect ect. There the last couple classes are "Shop only" classes... where you basically just work on cars and start getting experience the last 2 months.... they also have a dyno... and lots of new equipment... brake lathes.... newest lazer alignment machine...

As far is Indianapolis... i kinda thought the same thiong moving out there... but its very similar to STL actually... other that white people are the minority out there.. but i didnt mind that... other than some crime...(which we have just as much here) .... the downtown is really cool... the bar scene is cool... the downtown mall is big.... not a bad place... plus i went the year that the Colts won the Superbowl... so that was a blast~

tbrazzy-s3 · Post by **tbrazzy-s3** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:14 pm

I love downtown Indy, I think it's much better than STL actually. I don't have an educated opinion on which school, but if you're talking about where you want to LIVE. Indy is a pretty neat joint, and hey. You could make it to the 500 a few times. That week is always a blast.

Cman46290 · Post by **Cman46290** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:33 pm

that is another perk to going to Lincoln tech.... they have a lot of "field trips" where your class will meet at the raceway.... or the raceway museum... and we even went to the Andretti building where they were making the Honda race cars... couldnt bring in cameras or phones.... but it was AWESOME to see them building these things... from the sandblasting of parts.... to the specialized trans guy putting the transmissions together... it was siiick

99PreludeSh · Post by **99PreludeSh** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:10 pm

I went to Ranken for Auto Collision and absolutely loved it. Tools were included in tuition and we got a lot including our tool box. I'm not 100% how much tuition was but that's what grants and student loans are for.

I took gen ed classes and got my associates and you can get a certificate from there as well. I would assume an associates looks better on a resume then a certificate, that's just my opinion though. Plus Ranken is a very well known and liked in the St. Louis area.

HatchGirl89 · Post by **HatchGirl89** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:15 pm

how long did it take you to get a job after completing the program?

99PreludeSh · Post by **99PreludeSh** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:28 pm

HatchGirl89;278984 wrote:how long did it take you to get a job after completing the program?

I had a job while I was in the prgram, then ended up getting a job doing something different. But now I'm back in the collision industry and I can actually say I love my job!

I am constantly getting emails and calls about job fairs with lots of jobs.