Should I go back to college for auto mechanics?

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:33 pm

I graduate in May 2012 from SCC (a community college) with a Criminal Justic degree. But I thought about going back after I graduate to get into the auto mechanics program or welding program. Mainly to have a back up career if my Criminal Justice career falls through (or I decide not to go into the Military). Another reason for wanting to do the auto mechanics or welding program is to learn vaulable skills to help me work on my Jeep. So I can save $$$ instead of letting someone else do the work and charging labor. My dad never taught me how to work on cars or anything. Since I love cars and know alot about them (for a woman) I thought I should further that knowlegde/skill. The economy is in a tank and all anyone can do is stay in school (or go back)! :lol:

If I ask my dad about it, he just yells at me. When I asked my sister about it, she thought it was stupid. What do you all think? (this means your :2cents:

)

Thanks
BW
:JEEPIN:

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:50 pm

Business schools are pretty easy to get into, should be able to get a MBA in only 4 years.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:56 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

Business schools are pretty easy to get into, should be able to get a MBA in only 4 years.

SirSam,
I was first going into the Business field, until I realized college isn't my thing. So I decided on the 2yr program and not to transfer to EKU. Plus there are more graduates than Business Degree jobs in my area. Therefore no market for Business grads. I LOVE cars and thought getting a certificate in welding or auto mechanics would be a plus to my Associate's Degree. Thank you for your input though!
:JEEPIN:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:43 pm

If you really want to turn wrenches for a living I would only recommend WyoTech.From talking to poeple that went to a college or other tech school there auto programs are less thenb realistic,more junk then actual wrenching.You'll be in/out of WyoTech pretty fast with 10 times the knowledge then msot other automotive schools.Plus a certificate from there pulls more weight then the others also.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:21 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

If you really want to turn wrenches for a living I would only recommend WyoTech.From talking to poeple that went to a college or other tech school there auto programs are less thenb realistic,more junk then actual wrenching.You'll be in/out of WyoTech pretty fast with 10 times the knowledge then msot other automotive schools.Plus a certificate from there pulls more weight then the others also.

Thanks for the tip! WyoTech, not sure where the closest one is for me. Guess I'll have to :google:

I don't want to turn wrenches for a living, I just want to learn how wrench on a vehicle and weld. Maybe I could do that attending a few LOST M&G :ROTFL:

bhc04 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:03 am

Advice from an old guy. Continue with college, get a 4 year degree. Join the U.S. Navy with that degree into officer rank. You can "get paid" to be an expert in many fields including what I think is going to be a winner career, as a nuclear engineer. Spend at least a 20 year career in the Navy and in that time period, if the stars line up, you'd retire at the rank of at least a Lt. Commander. Retirement pay "for life" and still young enough to continue in the same profession on the civilian side making some pretty nice income way above average wage today. I don't know the exact figure today, but a person retiring at Lt. Com. rank with 20 yrs. service is probably somewhere around $7-8k a month. Nuclear Eng. today monthly is prob. around $12k a month. See the math here? Today's salary with the two, $20k a month. If you are a sharp, motivaded, goal setter, focused individual, it is very possible to make it happen. Your choice.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:26 am

bhc04 wrote:

Advice from an old guy. Continue with college, get a 4 year degree. Join the U.S. Navy with that degree into officer rank. You can "get paid" to be an expert in many fields including what I think is going to be a winner career, as a nuclear engineer. Spend at least a 20 year career in the Navy and in that time period, if the stars line up, you'd retire at the rank of at least a Lt. Commander. Retirement pay "for life" and still young enough to continue in the same profession on the civilian side making some pretty nice income way above average wage today. I don't know the exact figure today, but a person retiring at Lt. Com. rank with 20 yrs. service is probably somewhere around $7-8k a month. Nuclear Eng. today monthly is prob. around $12k a month. See the math here? Today's salary with the two, $20k a month. If you are a sharp, motivaded, goal setter, focused individual, it is very possible to make it happen. Your choice.

Not really looking to go to college for 4yrs. With the rise in tuition cost, gas prices and drivin a lifted KJ as a d.d. doing a 2yr program then transferring to a 4yr university is something I can't afford. I am getting a student loan for 2011-2012 (my last yr) only because I didn't get enough financial aid grant money to pay for everything. Plus I need extra money to live on and get me through college. I've thought through the pros and cons of not going 4yrs. But when your heart isn't set on college and it's not your thing, it's beat not to push yourself into doing something you don't want to. Anyways, the Navy hmm. What you told me sounds good, really good! But if I were to join the military I'd be a Marine. Thought about Army or Natl Gaurd but my heart would be set on Marines. Although my grandfather served in the Navy. He was on the USS Hornet. And served during the Korean War.

Thank you to everyone who's chimed in on this thread. It's really made me think.

Matt_ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:02 am

To keep this short.... you can't learn any "trade" in a classroom in 2 years and expect it to be a "backup" career. It takes a lot more than 2 years to be able to succeed in the automotive field.

To make money, you have not only have to have the knowledge of how things work, but you have to be efficient with a wrench. You can't learn that in a classroom. Also consider that you'll have to buy your own tools... they're not provided to you (at least not once you're in the career phase of the field).

You also won't learn everything in the classroom... you need to have an inherent understanding of mechanical things. If you've made it this far in your life and haven't been doing the easy things like changing your own oil, brakes, etc; then going into the automotive field probably won't work out. :2cents:

FWIW: Some of the WORST techs i've ever worked with were graduates from well known automotive institutions.... actually, come to think of it, NONE of the best techs i've ever known went to a tech "college". It's kind of like the ASE certs... having that cert doesn't make you a good tech, it just means you can pass a test (but it helps impress the customers)

Edit: but remember, none of us know you or your exact situation. if its what YOU want to do... then don't let some stupid internet posts get in your way

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:03 am

Matt_ wrote:

To keep this short.... you can't learn any "trade" in a classroom in 2 years and expect it to be a "backup" career. It takes a lot more than 2 years to be able to succeed in the automotive field.

To make money, you have not only have to have the knowledge of how things work, but you have to be efficient with a wrench. You can't learn that in a classroom. Also consider that you'll have to buy your own tools... they're not provided to you (at least not once you're in the career phase of the field).

You also won't learn everything in the classroom... you need to have an inherent understanding of mechanical things. If you've made it this far in your life and haven't been doing the easy things like changing your own oil, brakes, etc; then going into the automotive field probably won't work out. :2cents:

FWIW: Some of the WORST techs i've ever worked with were graduates from well known automotive institutions.... actually, come to think of it, NONE of the best techs i've ever known went to a tech "college". It's kind of like the ASE certs... having that cert doesn't make you a good tech, it just means you can pass a test (but it helps impress the customers)

Edit: but remember, none of us know you or your exact situation. if its what YOU want to do... then don't let some stupid internet posts get in your way

I totally get what you are saying. Basically if you do not have prior knowledge, then it won't work out. Anything I know about cars is self-taught, but I am a quick learner when it comes to hands-on activities, I guess you could say? So if I watched how to do a brake job a couple times I could probably tell you hwo to do it, but would need more pratice at it to be good. Yeah, there's a ASE cert. in my town with a shop. He installed my lift kit for $180, but when I asked him about labor for installing 4.10s he said roughly $800 for both front/rear diffs. I honestly think he would charge $1,000 in labor. Guess you have to pay for the name "ASE Cert" as well as the work, huh?

Matt_ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:52 am

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

He installed my lift kit for $180, but when I asked him about labor for installing 4.10s he said roughly $800 for both front/rear diffs. I honestly think he would charge $1,000 in labor. Guess you have to pay for the name "ASE Cert" as well as the work, huh?

Read the install instructions for your "lift kit" and then do some research on what's involved in a gear change. They're completely different animals, so you can't draw any conclusions comparing the gear install to what he charged you for your lift kit.

bhc04 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:58 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

bhc04 wrote:

Advice from an old guy. Continue with college, get a 4 year degree. Join the U.S. Navy with that degree into officer rank. You can "get paid" to be an expert in many fields including what I think is going to be a winner career, as a nuclear engineer. Spend at least a 20 year career in the Navy and in that time period, if the stars line up, you'd retire at the rank of at least a Lt. Commander. Retirement pay "for life" and still young enough to continue in the same profession on the civilian side making some pretty nice income way above average wage today. I don't know the exact figure today, but a person retiring at Lt. Com. rank with 20 yrs. service is probably somewhere around $7-8k a month. Nuclear Eng. today monthly is prob. around $12k a month. See the math here? Today's salary with the two, $20k a month. If you are a sharp, motivaded, goal setter, focused individual, it is very possible to make it happen. Your choice.

Not really looking to go to college for 4yrs. With the rise in tuition cost, gas prices and drivin a lifted KJ as a d.d. doing a 2yr program then transferring to a 4yr university is something I can't afford. I am getting a student loan for 2011-2012 (my last yr) only because I didn't get enough financial aid grant money to pay for everything. Plus I need extra money to live on and get me through college. I've thought through the pros and cons of not going 4yrs. But when your heart isn't set on college and it's not your thing, it's beat not to push yourself into doing something you don't want to. Anyways, the Navy hmm. What you told me sounds good, really good! But if I were to join the military I'd be a Marine. Thought about Army or Natl Gaurd but my heart would be set on Marines. Although my grandfather served in the Navy. He was on the USS Hornet. And served during the Korean War.

Thank you to everyone who's chimed in on this thread. It's really made me think.

Your Grandfather was a smart man. I served during the Viet Nam war and was not in the Navy, but wished many times I was. After that experience in my early young life, helped talk my Stepson join the Navy later in his 20's and he's made a good career out of it. He's not an officer but Petty Officer 1st class and a "Flight Engineer" on a P-3 Orion out of Jacksonville Fl. He loves flying and the challenges that go along with a highly technical job. The "best" of luck to you on whatever your decisions are.

04jeepkj · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:17 pm

The Navy has many different programs, if anything with a 2 year degree that will allow you to enlist as a higher rank instead of starting at the bottom like I did as an E-1, after that point there are programs like STA-21 that will pay for you college and you can become commissioned. Or you can just use your Post 9-11 GI bill do 4 years and Navy will pay for your school. Me I am an Engineman (Diesel Mech) only because I am color blind LOL. I am coming up on 5 years active duty and made rank of E-5 in just over 4 years I am coming up on 3 years of shore duty and Navy is going to pay for my degree. On top of all that Navy will send you to specific schools, they sent me to Air Conditioning and Refrigeration where I got my EPA certification no cost to me other than time. I also have a journeymans license in federal corrections along with some different engine schools. If you like welding there is HT (Hull Technician), Seabees have tons of construction work, there are several different jobs that range from paper work, to legal, logistics, air craft, navigation, cooking and even storekeeping.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:22 pm

Matt_ wrote:

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

He installed my lift kit for $180, but when I asked him about labor for installing 4.10s he said roughly $800 for both front/rear diffs. I honestly think he would charge $1,000 in labor. Guess you have to pay for the name "ASE Cert" as well as the work, huh?

Read the install instructions for your "lift kit" and then do some research on what's involved in a gear change. They're completely different animals, so you can't draw any conclusions comparing the gear install to what he charged you for your lift kit.

I know they're two totally different things, but $800 or more for labor to me seemed too much. When you we're buying all the gear oils and parts yourself. If I knew how to do all this stuff, I wouldn't have to pay people to do it for me. :lol:

I really need to go to the Meet&Greet to learn to wench on my OWN Jeep. LOL

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:28 pm

bhc04 wrote:

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

bhc04 wrote:

Advice from an old guy. Continue with college, get a 4 year degree. Join the U.S. Navy with that degree into officer rank. You can "get paid" to be an expert in many fields including what I think is going to be a winner career, as a nuclear engineer. Spend at least a 20 year career in the Navy and in that time period, if the stars line up, you'd retire at the rank of at least a Lt. Commander. Retirement pay "for life" and still young enough to continue in the same profession on the civilian side making some pretty nice income way above average wage today. I don't know the exact figure today, but a person retiring at Lt. Com. rank with 20 yrs. service is probably somewhere around $7-8k a month. Nuclear Eng. today monthly is prob. around $12k a month. See the math here? Today's salary with the two, $20k a month. If you are a sharp, motivaded, goal setter, focused individual, it is very possible to make it happen. Your choice.

Not really looking to go to college for 4yrs. With the rise in tuition cost, gas prices and drivin a lifted KJ as a d.d. doing a 2yr program then transferring to a 4yr university is something I can't afford. I am getting a student loan for 2011-2012 (my last yr) only because I didn't get enough financial aid grant money to pay for everything. Plus I need extra money to live on and get me through college. I've thought through the pros and cons of not going 4yrs. But when your heart isn't set on college and it's not your thing, it's beat not to push yourself into doing something you don't want to. Anyways, the Navy hmm. What you told me sounds good, really good! But if I were to join the military I'd be a Marine. Thought about Army or Natl Gaurd but my heart would be set on Marines. Although my grandfather served in the Navy. He was on the USS Hornet. And served during the Korean War.

Thank you to everyone who's chimed in on this thread. It's really made me think.

Your Grandfather was a smart man. I served during the Viet Nam war and was not in the Navy, but wished many times I was. After that experience in my early young life, helped talk my Stepson join the Navy later in his 20's and he's made a good career out of it. He's not an officer but Petty Officer 1st class and a "Flight Engineer" on a P-3 Orion out of Jacksonville Fl. He loves flying and the challenges that go along with a highly technical job. The "best" of luck to you on whatever your decisions are.

My grandfather (mom's dad) who served for the Navy was a mechanic. He did everything that was electric etc etc. He worked at retired from GE in Louisville, KY. Worked at GE for 25 or 30 yrs (cannot remember). My other grandfather (my dad's father) he was drafted into the Army for the Vietnam War. He was in one the well known divisions during that time period. I keep forgetting what it was, but I know for sure it was 1st division something. Could you name off the 1st divisions in the Army?

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:45 pm

BW..... Listen to your family...... :wink:

They know you the best, and know what is best for you.
I don't think a Criminal Justice Degree will "Fall Through" There will always be criminals.. :roll:

Although you do call it a Criminal Justic Degree... sooooooo

or Join the Armed Forces.... if that's your thing

If you won't even TRY to change your own spark plugs, why would you pay someone (tuition) to make YOU change them....
Everything for our KJ's is BOLT on... Even the RL SFA kit..... Don't really need to know how to weld...Let the Pros do it.... They have yrs of experience.. and getting your hair caught on fire and having your face and arms burnt isn't all it's cracked up to be...

I know you are a tough chick, but go wrench non stop on vehicles for a week (not your own) and you'll hate it.... You're hands hurt non stop to the point where you can't even pleasure yourself with an Ice cream sandwich because you can't hold it... not to mention cracked, black hands all the time.... Not going to pick up many dudes smelling like diff fluid... :wink:

Go get a OEM manual and work on your jeep yourself.... Of couse you will need tools..... But you acquire those through time...
Go to the post about (TRAIL TOOLS) and get all of those first.... then go from there

That's my :2cents:

..... That'll be $10.00

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:56 pm

Oh and on gear setup... you must be joking :ROTFL:

You have no idea of what is involved...
Have a read... :wink:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/articles/tech/ ... Gear_Setup

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:05 pm

03CDKJ wrote:

BW..... Listen to your family...... :wink:

They know you the best, and know what is best for you.
I don't think a Criminal Justice Degree will "Fall Through" There will always be criminals.. :roll:

Although you do call it a Criminal Justic Degree... sooooooo

or Join the Armed Forces.... if that's your thing

If you won't even TRY to change your own spark plugs, why would you pay someone (tuition) to make YOU change them....
Everything for our KJ's is BOLT on... Even the RL SFA kit..... Don't really need to know how to weld...Let the Pros do it.... They have yrs of experience.. and getting your hair caught on fire and having your face and arms burnt isn't all it's cracked up to be...

I know you are a tough chick, but go wrench non stop on vehicles for a week (not your own) and you'll hate it.... You're hands hurt non stop to the point where you can't even pleasure yourself with an Ice cream sandwich because you can't hold it... not to mention cracked, black hands all the time.... Not going to pick up many dudes smelling like diff fluid... :wink:

Go get a OEM manual and work on your jeep yourself.... Of couse you will need tools..... But you acquire those through time...
Go to the post about (TRAIL TOOLS) and get all of those first.... then go from there

That's my :2cents:

..... That'll be $10.00

Thanks Chris! But it seems to work the opposite way for picking up guys. I tell them I love cars and drive a Jeep. Tell them everything I know about Jeeps and work on mine (some) and it seems to draw them nearer to me. I don't know.. :ROTFL:

But seriously, thanks for the :2cents:

I really do appriciate it. You're right, my degree wont fall through. haha. Anyways youre outta luck for the $10. I would only consider giving Tom $10 for his :2cents:

bhc04 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:46 pm

B.W. May have been 101st "Airbourne" . Green Beret division/paratroopers, U.S. Army. Elite bunch, very tough guys all of them.

Matt_ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:33 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

I know they're two totally different things, but $800 or more for labor to me seemed too much. When you we're buying all the gear oils and parts yourself. If I knew how to do all this stuff, I wouldn't have to pay people to do it for me.

Seemed to much to you because you don't know what's involved... :lol:

read below. Gear changes aren't like slapping pads and rotors on.

FYI: i've done gear changes myself... and everytime, when im done, i swear im just going to pay someone the labor next time. It's not fun when you get it all together and think you're done, then realize you need to change a pinion shim :banghead:

(there's a lot of "tricks of the trade to save time... but that comes with A LOT of experience from a lot of gear changes)

VVVVVV x10000 :ROTFL:

03CDKJ wrote:

Oh and on gear setup... you must be joking :ROTFL:

You have no idea of what is involved...
Have a read... :wink:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/articles/tech/ ... Gear_Setup

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:13 pm

bhc04 wrote:

B.W. May have been 101st "Airbourne" . Green Beret division/paratroopers, U.S. Army. Elite bunch, very tough guys all of them.

Thanks! I believe it was. I know his division was in a few documentaries. Cause my dad bought DVD sets about the 101st airbourne. My grandfather was wounded several times but still kept fighting. His health has declined alot over the past few yrs. I'm very thankful to have two grandfathers serve our country!

Should I go back to college for auto mechanics?

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