Question about college courses.

[cynicz 10+ year member]

Alright I had a few questions concerning my future college courses. I currently am enrolled for computer science courses starting this fall but am debating changing my route in college. I really like cars and enjoy working with my/my friends audio systems and helping them with installs etc, but would like to take this further.

I really want to learn more about cars, but currently know next to nothing. I want to learn how to paint cars the right professional way. More about the electrical components of a car for things like installing my own audio system in a nicer more professional way than I currently do it, and how to do other things like wire up my own security system like the viper where its wired to your windows for better security + remote window controls. I would also like to learn more under the hood type stuff like how to drop a engine, add mods like (just an example probably never would add one but) a cold air intake, or switch out alternators and how to tune cars for racing like how to efficiently upgrade and get the most out of HP and Torque etc. and lastly would like to do fabrication type things like personally tinting headlights/tail lights, fiberglassing my own door panels and windshield pillars.

Now I plan on joining the US Air force once my probation is up, which is in 2 years, hopefully going in under special vehicle maintenance. In the meantime I plan on going to college (going back to the beginning of the post) but don't know what a good school/course would be to take, to learn what im interested in learning. I have been looking at UTI but don't know if the automotive technician course would cover everything I want to learn ( exterior and interior painting, under the hood/engine work, Fabrication, and electrical components like alarms etc)

If anyone could tell me a good school and courses that they offer that would cover everything I want to learn.

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[subzero 5,000+ posts]

Alright I had a few questions concerning my future college courses. I currently am enrolled for computer science courses starting this fall but am debating changing my route in college. I really like cars and enjoy working with my/my friends audio systems and helping them with installs etc, but would like to take this further.I really want to learn more about cars, but currently know next to nothing. I want to learn how to paint cars the right professional way. More about the electrical components of a car for things like installing my own audio system in a nicer more professional way than I currently do it, and how to do other things like wire up my own security system like the viper where its wired to your windows for better security + remote window controls. I would also like to learn more under the hood type stuff like how to drop a engine, add mods like (just an example probably never would add one but) a cold air intake, or switch out alternators and how to tune cars for racing like how to efficiently upgrade and get the most out of HP and Torque etc. and lastly would like to do fabrication type things like personally tinting headlights/tail lights, fiberglassing my own door panels and windshield pillars.

Now I plan on joining the US Air force once my probation is up, which is in 2 years, hopefully going in under special vehicle maintenance. In the meantime I plan on going to college (going back to the beginning of the post) but don't know what a good school/course would be to take, to learn what im interested in learning. I have been looking at UTI but don't know if the automotive technician course would cover everything I want to learn ( exterior and interior painting, under the hood/engine work, Fabrication, and electrical components like alarms etc)

If anyone could tell me a good school and courses that they offer that would cover everything I want to learn.

You can go to UTI or AAI and they also have this school Mobile Dynamics Car Stereo and Security School Phoenix Policy Page

 

[cynicz 10+ year member]

I was looking at UTI but doesnt seem like UTI offers the painting knowledge, and custom fabricating work, and just barely dips into the elecctrical scene.

will look into the other one, I appreciate the help also I plan on calling UTI tomorrow to talk with a instructor from there.

I checked out that mobile dynamics, looking for a more hands on college to go to like UTI. Also I dont think mobile dynamics teaches about under the hood stuff and painting/fabricating.

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

Some colleges offer paint courses, autobody. you going to have to hit all the schools. I doubt there is a one school wonder...

 

[cynicz 10+ year member]

haha I figured this couldnt all be contained in 1 class but figured maybe there was a single school that offered multiple classes and throughout all the classes in that one school, I could eventually learn all this

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Your not going to find most of that at regular universities and colleges, I think you should be looking more at trade schools. The kind that get you certificates instead of degrees. The programs are usually pretty short, so you could probably knock a couple out in your 2 year window.

 

[cynicz 10+ year member]

alright thanks

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

You'd have a lot more options in life with a B.S. than just knowing how to wet sand.

The why is where the money is - you can always learn the how on your own time later.

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

You'd have a lot more options in life with a B.S. than just knowing how to wet sand.
The why is where the money is - you can always learn the how on your own time later.

as backwards as the system is...this is correct

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

I have a friend that went to one of those schools around Dallas.

He learned a lot and enjoys his job.

He works for BMW at the Autobahn in Fort worth.

Nice clean shop and they are always training him for new inventory.

its all motor/***** work. no paint or body work.

I think he makes like $50K/ yr. Decent money for a job right out of college

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

to add to previous post, you're either going to make the money because of a college degree or because of previous experience. In current times, jobs are scarce and college degrees are plentiful. If you can get in a learn-on-the-job situation, that would probably be best at the moment. I finished school a year and a half ago with a degree in management, only jobs I could find were $9-$10 an hour. My mom's bf got me in a corn processing plant making $20/hr only requiring a high school diploma.

over half the people I hired in with had a college degree. Hence the "jobs are scarce, college degrees are plentiful"

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

just a comparison chief

 

[Pyro_By_Nature 5,000+ posts]

To cover everything you want to, you'll have to go to more than one trade school.