Need some opinions guys...

SStone

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Location
Sylva
Alright so as most of you know I'm attending school at Wyotech in Blairsville, PA.

First off. I've hated this school and everything about it since I first got here in September. I should have looked into it more and I do admit fault for jumping on it first thing without knowing what was to come.

I have no problem doing any of the things we learn here. It's just the process of learning and extreme lack of intelligence that the "instructors" have here. I'm a night student so finding a job is next to impossible and the amount of living money we get with our tuition is nowhere near enough to really live for a month.

The classes I am taking, Collision & Refinishing are really of no interest to me career-wise. I hate doing this stuff especially to other peoples vehicles.

I'm only 18 and as we all know, when you're this age you're not supposed to know exactly what you wanna do with your life yet. I came up here with a buddy from home and he feels the exact same way about the school and he's taking a completely different course. We've felt like this the whole time we've been up here and it's very confusing on what to do about it.

This place is like a last-resort for most people who have no other schooling options left in life and I do not fit into that category because I know I can be successful at anything I want to if I apply myself. I haven't had a single bit of drive to really apply myself up here because I have no true interest in what we're learning.

If I do withdraw from the school and move back home (would go to school there and be much happier) my mom (yeah, laugh all you want) would never let me hear the end of it.

I know I mentioned before that we get an Assoc. Degree from this school once we complete the courses. I found out yesterday that we only get a certificate of completion. It's $30g's for the nine month course here and I constantly feel like I'm wasting my money. Also, the "credits" are non-transferable. How much of a joke is that?

Alright, done ranting.
 
It sounds like you have essentially made up your mind. If you don't see the program getting you the job you want after the 9 months, then I would leave now. Move back in with your moother and tell her that you made a mistake. Then enroll in your local community college with standard courses until you figure out what you want to do. If you are not sure school is for you, then get a job temporarily doing something you can do.
 
The whole act of getting a degree is more of a "I will jump through as many hoops that you can throw at me so my future employer will know that I will do what Im told". I have 3 1/2 years of college, 1 year of combat experience, 4 years of life and working experience. I do not miss not having my degree. I was a business admin student while I was and am running my own construction business. I got tired of people sitting in a college office telling me what I "need" to know to run my business. I didnt continue after having to take a required management class that was based on textile management. Where the hell are you gonna find a textile management job in the USA anymore?

I guess what Im trying to say is do what is gonna make you happy. If you feel that you dont need this degree to be successful in your live ventures, then dont get it. Its not quitting, its reevaluating.
 
I was planning on taking general education courses as well as some others at a community college back home. It would be way cheaper and I know I would be much happier.
 
Yes it will be way cheaper. You can get all of the general stuff out of the way and If you decide then to go to a 4 yr university, it will only take you 1/2 the time.
 
quick question, if you drop out do you get any of your money back?
Have you paid in full?
If you drop out are you excused from the remainder of the obligation.

Here is my thoughts, if you have already paid 30k, hang in there and get whatever you can. If you can get a partial refund or havent paid the full amount its a different scenario...

But no way would I pay for an education and then just choose not to complete it.
Also have you talked to any of your teachers?
Have you explained your frustration, and that you think they are minimalizing you?

Just some counter points that I may or may not even believe just wanted to offer perspective. But Id never walk away and throw money down the drain, and I am a firm believer in getting my say in.

As to a degree, you never know when it will pan out, I have a 4 year degree I have never worked in the field in. 10 years after graduating I wanted a new position in the company i worked for and found out it was a requirement to have a 4 year degree....that alone opened that door.Thats all its done but it opened a nice door.
 
You are 4-5 months thru the 9 month program, DO NOT QUIT!!

Learn everything they have to offer you and I can ASSURE you, there is something you are learning.

What you may be learning is that you do not want to that kind of work for a living. (Or you like...X, and they are teaching you X, Y and Z right now)

In either case...stick with it, you are 1/2 way thru....(even if you are still paying for it / could get part of the cash back.)

[If you are still stuck for the full 30k, there is NO WAY AT ALL that you would not want to stick it out, make them teach you everything you can/did pay for]


Education takes time...my night school program was 3.5 years long for my MBA. I honestly hate to say how much that degree has paid off over the last 12 years, but compared to the cost of the program, quite a few.



In a few more months you will have something you can point out and put on your resume. Right now you have a "FAIL" on your resume, or "QUITTER"? [Kinda hoping this makes you mad to read]

I can assure you that even if you NEVER work in this industry, having COMPLETED something you set out to do is worth a bunch. (As an employer, looking at a resume of someone who quit school vs stuck too it........)


SO don't quit.... you are there, 4-5 more months is NOTHING compared to the rest of your life and you WILL regret leaving there.

Every single time it comes up in a job interview, etc and you have to "explain" how you hated it, the instructors sucked, you were not "learning" anything...that is a conversation you will have OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and...ad nauseum.

That is a black mark against you in EVERY single one of those interviews...it may keep you from getting hired vs the next guy who hated the program as much as you did but finished it.


DO you need it, maybe not....but since you started it...FINISH it, BS or not...


Not gonna lay any more guilt trip on ya, but I suspect there are folks (mom, others maybe in family) who sacrificed some time and energy and MONEY getting you there and helping you eat/pay the bills while you are there. You OWE it to them in a big way to finish.

Prob not want you wanted to hear...but glad you did ask...tells me you know everything I just said is TRUE...
 
U know whats crazy u go to school to learn something like business and u are learing from someone who has never owned a business and thay are trying to teach u something that thay have never done there self there is a differiance between text book and running a business
sgtbriangreen said:
The whole act of getting a degree is more of a "I will jump through as many hoops that you can throw at me so my future employer will know that I will do what Im told". I have 3 1/2 years of college, 1 year of combat experience, 4 years of life and working experience. I do not miss not having my degree. I was a business admin student while I was and am running my own construction business. I got tired of people sitting in a college office telling me what I "need" to know to run my business. I didnt continue after having to take a required management class that was based on textile management. Where the hell are you gonna find a textile management job in the USA anymore?
I guess what Im trying to say is do what is gonna make you happy. If you feel that you dont need this degree to be successful in your live ventures, then dont get it. Its not quitting, its reevaluating.
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87xj said:
U know whats crazy u go to school to learn something like business and u are learing from someone who has never owned a business and thay are trying to teach u something that thay have never done there self there is a differiance between text book and running a business
Click to expand...
X2. I have been in residential construction my whole career until just recently and never had any schooling for it. I was a super and worked alongside another super who had a 4 year degree. While he knew more technical aspects of construction there was alot he lacked as far as in the field knowledge. Age difference was one day(that was weird) and while he was in school building debt I was out earning money. We both had the same salary(within a few thousand). There were many times when he was lost and didn't know what to do yet I had it under control just from the in the field experience. Granted his resume looks better than mine but there's an arugment for both sides of the case.
 
Honestly, my parents have little money invested in the school because the loan is in my name. I haven't paid a single bit of tuition yet and the tuition cost cuts off if I leave.
 
If you are truly unhappy, cut your losses and move on. If you are just frustrated, suck it up and finish. You will have the same issues with many of the other classes you may take at a local community college or university. I had that same problem. I took construction classes and loved them. I was frustrated and really disliked the psychology and sociology classes. But, I stuck with it and actually learned something.

You want a cool technical school? try going to the gulf and learn underwater welding, etc. Thats awesome but really dangerous.
 
so how big of a debt will you have walking away at this point?
 
SStone said:
Honestly, my parents have little money invested in the school because the loan is in my name. I haven't paid a single bit of tuition yet and the tuition cost cuts off if I leave.
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You are still obligated, and haven't even got the certificate for your $15k or so of debt / not to mention wages lost to date.

Invest this in yourself...finish it / and chalk this up to experience. Having the certificate will mean something on that first job...or down the road when you want to be the service manager and let others turn the wrenches, etc.

In accounting, I see guys who can turn a wrench or build a house but cannot manage a biz to save their life. What does body shop have to do with transmissions....nothing.

But when you bash your fender on the rocks...despite the fact you are a tranny guy, you will be able to rebuilt the fender, and paint it. Or when the wife backs over a mailbox for the 2nd and 3rd and 4th time... (at $1,000 each vs you spending maybe a few hundred and doing it yourself)

Knowledge hasn't hurt since Adam/Eve...you may not want to use this knowledge, that is ok, I don't want to ever do calculus again either, but I had it in college.
 
All of you have made great points. I do just need to finish it. I can't stand the thought of it right now but it's what's gotta happen.

And we're just starting the refinishing segment of the course so maybe I'll enjoy painting and prepping more than fixing dents, sectioning pillars, etc. So who knows...


I already have a guaranteed job back in Sylva.
 
I agree with all of Sam's points. I don't really see any timetable in the original post, how many more months to go? In the big picture, 4-5 months is nothing. Sucks now, but in 6 months, you'll be done and looking for full time employment with a completed certificate, that is an accomplishment. When interviewing for a job, they like to hear positive stuff, not negative bashing on why you didnt complete a certificate program. Play on the positives about your persistence, not really liking the program, it didnt quite go the direction you thought, but you stuck it out hoping to gain all you could from it. You gotta play the game a little.
 
SStone said:
All of you have made great points. I do just need to finish it. I can't stand the thought of it right now but it's what's gotta happen.
And we're just starting the refinishing segment of the course so maybe I'll enjoy painting and prepping more than fixing dents, sectioning pillars, etc. So who knows...
I already have a guaranteed job back in Sylva.
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Glad to hear it...and yeah the painting is a WHOLE lot more fun!!

My dad was a professional body man for years and so I have done much of this stuff "for fun"...but painting is the cool part...especially unwrapping it afterwards and seeing your transformation!!

He is restoring a 46 willys now, and FINALLY has got all the little stuff/endless sanding etc done. He got to start shooting in the last week and I can tell you HE is really excited!!

I think you will always be happy that you kept after it and knocked this out, will be a positive for the rest of your life!!

Sam
 
30 K to go to wyotech?

I'm gonna open a branch myself. You can take similar courses at you local CC for about 5% of that cost. If it's only a 9 month course, and from what I know about most automotive related work, that ain't gonna mean much, I'd cut my loses and quit now.
 
I know it's not the same thing, but I still kick myself in the ass and regret constantly not fighting/finishing my 4 year degree.
Slightly different circumstances, but I completed all the courses but 2, a 400 level math course, and 1 300 level english/writing type course.
I got offered a job making decent money, it was 1999, bubble was going strong, I said screw it. Suddenly I was in debt, and had obligations. Have not been able to finish my degree since then, and transferring I'll lose at least half those classes.
Granted every field is different, but for me it closed the door on at least 2 job offers, (they straight up told me that was why they didn't give me the job) and at my current job it's probably costing me ~12-15k per year in salary if I had to guess.
Possibly more.

I think you're at the same decision, but once you've started paying, and started going, stick it out. Even if you don't use it, at least you'll know you finished it for your own pride. It would suck worse paying back 15k for nothing, than 25-30k for that certificate. At least in my mind. (I know it sucked paying back the 40k in loans I had for no degree)

Good luck either way.
 
rockmafia said:
I'm gonna open a branch myself....
Click to expand...


JIMtech... $30k and you get a buggy too!! Or $20k for just the buggy...the $10k is to allow you to stand around and ask stupid questions!! :)

I think you might have something there!
:driver:
 
Shinton - My name is Sam as well. Pretty funny. It's very frustrating because of how many times I've really wanted to just up and leave. That urge to leave stays with me until I think about my future and what I want. I've got a 19 month old daughter. She will be 2 years old before I graduate and I'm 18. If I don't finish this schooling and get a good job I will never be able to get full custody of her like I plan on. I have alot of weight resting on my shoulders and being my age I'm always having to figure out what the correct decisions are to make. It gets fairly difficult at time.

Another reason I'm so miserable up here is because I'm away from my little girl so much and it's extremely hard to go without seeing her.
 
One thing, dont be a quiter. When I got out of high school. I sold auto paint (dupont, PPg) and i learned how to do it. If you are starting that then the fun part is about to begin. Also its a dying trade. Not to nmany GOOD body men left. Just butchers now a days. Trust me it will be a big mistake if you leave without a paper in hand.
 
I've never heard anything good out of Wyotech except for one dude and I think he wanted me to think it was ok since he went there.

Go to pirate and SEARCH for Wyotech. You'll get all the inside info you need.

The best plan for you is to get enrolled in a local community college and take a hands on course such as machining, welding, automotive, etc. The CC will give you a Assoc. degree and usually have good job placement programs.

If I had to go back I'd go with CNC and machine work. I mill parts during the day and create doubler designs and sick parts for my rig. But that's me.
 
I'm starting to pack my things up as we speak. Everything will work out for me down the road.

I've only used about 10k of the school so far. I'd rather be out 10k and starting working at something I want to do than be out 30K and hate what I'm doing.
 
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