After 16 months of school (core program plus Ford FACT) I graduated from UTI's Orlando campus recently. As I was getting out of the military, I did a lot of research and couldn't find what I found to be a satisfactory source of information on the school and it's programs. I either felt like things were being sugar coated by a recruiter or the opposite by disgruntled former students. Therefore, seeming as how this is a car related site, I figured I'd give my take on it by typing some question that I had before I started and then answering them. I hope it helps. (As I stated before, I attended the Orlando campus, therefore there may be a few minor discrepancies with other campuses.)
Q: Is UTI right for me?
A: Depends on what your goals are and your mechanical experience. As with any school, certain people will benefit from this school and others won't.
-I want to be a professional tech and have little to no experience working on cars. (This is the category I fell into) YES, UTI is the place for you. The core program literally starts at square one. I had always done my own oil changes, brake jobs and the occasional alternator, so I knew the basic tools and functions of the car. But anything beyond that in a conversation, I had to recall as much magazine knowledge as I could muster and bluff my way through it. The first day of school is is the first time I had ever disassembled an engine. They start by explaining every part of the engine, it's function and how it helps to create power and/or convert it into rotational energy.
- I want to be a professional tech, I have a decent amount of professional experience (more than lube-rack at a dealer) and I have no intention to do any additional programs. NO, UTI is not the place for you. I had a couple of friends in this situation just biding their time, using the GI bill, and planning on getting back into the dealership as soon as possible. They were miserably bored every day. There were the occasional days where they'd pick up a piece of knowledge or figure out how something works. But overall, the paycheck (from the VA) didn't seem to be worth the mind-numbing boredom.
-I want to be a professional tech, I have a decent amount of professional experience (more than lube-rack at a dealer) and I do intend on going through additional programs. YES, if you can tolerate the boredom in the core program and intend to get very high grades, the manufacture specific programs are WELL worth the payoff. I'll explain those programs in detail later.
Q: How does the Snap-On tool credit work?
A: UTI has a deal with Snap-On where students get a massive discount (upwards of 60% off) on all tools/boxes/equipment. They have a tool rep on site that is more than happy to ring you up, submit your order and mail you your tools. In all of UTI's commercials they tell you about the $1,000 worth of tools that you get upon graduation. These come in different started kits that could fit in a hand carried tool box. You do have the option of, instead of getting the starter kit, putting the credit toward other tools or another kit. Keep in mind though that it's $1k worth of tools, and since you get a discount, the credit, if used this way, is only about $600. I opted out of the started kit and put the $600 toward the Ford kit.
Q: How are the classes scheduled?
A: The classes are set up in 3-week blocks. You focus on one aspect of operation, diagnosis and repair (brakes, A/C, auto-trans, etc), take several tests, then a final, and them move on to another aspect for another 3 weeks. It actually works out very well since you are not having to split your focus on multiple topics. You can focus on one, get familiar and move on to the next. The classes are 6 hours and 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 51 weeks with the only breaks coming in the form of federal holidays and a week of for Christmas/Winter break. As of right now, the Orlando campus has 2 shifts (AM/PM). The AM shift starts at 6:30am, a 15-minute break at 8:20am, a 30-minute break at 10:25am, and class ends at 12:45pm. The PM shift starts at 2:00pm, a 15-minute break at 3:50pm, a 30-minute break at 5:55pm, and class lets out at 8:15pm.
Q: How do the Manufacture Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs work?
A: Near the end of the 51-week core program, you can start to apply for the MSAT programs. They are specific to that manufacture and they build on your new found knowledge and expand in it by showing how they want you to approach a diagnosis/repair and what tools are available to you. There are two different types of programs: Student pay and manufacture pay.
-The student paid programs are additional electives that are added on to the 51-week core program. These are available for Ford, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes-Benz just to name a few. You'll leave with a much better understanding of that brands engines, history, their computer/scan-tool systems. Most importantly however, you'll leave with legitimate credentials. For instance, after 15 weeks in the Ford program, I left with 11. Since these are student paid programs, there is no guarantee of employment upon completion but Student Services is surprisingly very proactive about getting you a resume and helping you find a job.
-This bring us to the manufacture paid programs. These are also added onto the core program and are offered from Porsche, BMW, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo just to name a few off the top of my head. These programs are usually roughly double the length of their student paid counterparts (if offered) and they result in more experience, more credentials, and a guaranteed job. There is a catch however. When you agree to allow the manufacture to foot the bill, you are contractually obligated to move where they need you to for an agreed upon time (I've heard anywhere between 1-4 years). My friends that have gone through these programs have said that they are pretty good on trying to accommodate you by allowing you to pick the region or state, but at the end of the day, you are at their mercy. On the other hand, it is guaranteed work for that period of time which, in this economy, can be a godsend.
Q: How does the GI Bill work?
A: Surprisingly enough, the GI Bill is extremely easy to utilize at UTI. Each campus has a small team of VA reps that are more than happy to help you apply and walk you through the process of getting enrolled and getting your BAH started up. Simply contact the school, let them know you're a potential applicant and that you're planning on using your GI Bill and they'll get you to one of the reps. Speaking of BAH...
Q: How does the BAH work?
A: As every military member knows, with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the student is entitled to E5 BAH while attending school. There are however a few things that don't seem to get mentioned. (Keep in mind that this is for a tech school with a 3-week block schedule. Therefore, a 4-year university operates very differently.) While it is true that you are entitled to E5 BAH according to the zip code that your school is listed, it is pro-rated for the days that you are "enrolled in a class." For instance (I'll do my best to make this easy to follow, but I can't promise anything): For round number sake, we'll say that BAH is $1,000 per month and the month in question is a 30 days. If your class starts on the first of the month and lasts for 3 weeks (ending on Friday the 21st), you have that Saturday and Sunday off, then the next class starts that following Monday and through the rest of the month. You will get paid for all days except the Saturday and Sunday that you are not actively enrolled in a class. So if you divide $1,000 into 30, that's $33.33 per day. That times the number of days enrolled in the month (28) means that your paycheck on the 1st will actually be for $933.33. While that may not sound like much of a difference, that is a best case scenario. if you figure multiple non-paid weekends, and throw in the occasional 3-day non paid holiday weekend (if it happens to fall at the end/beginning of a class, which they often do) you could be looking at upwards of 6 days of no pay resulting in paychecks of $800. In no way am I trying to say this is a shady or underhanded way of doing things. It is just very important information to know for budgeting reasons.
These are most of the big questions that I had going into the program so I hope that this info is able to help anyone looking into attending UTI. Overall, I had a very positive experience and would do it all over again. As a student starting at Square 1 with very little insight of the how a car actually operates, I am infinitely more knowledgeable that I was before and could actually hold my own in a conversation based off of facts and experience (albeit limited).
Hope this helps.
Q: Is UTI right for me?
A: Depends on what your goals are and your mechanical experience. As with any school, certain people will benefit from this school and others won't.
-I want to be a professional tech and have little to no experience working on cars. (This is the category I fell into) YES, UTI is the place for you. The core program literally starts at square one. I had always done my own oil changes, brake jobs and the occasional alternator, so I knew the basic tools and functions of the car. But anything beyond that in a conversation, I had to recall as much magazine knowledge as I could muster and bluff my way through it. The first day of school is is the first time I had ever disassembled an engine. They start by explaining every part of the engine, it's function and how it helps to create power and/or convert it into rotational energy.
- I want to be a professional tech, I have a decent amount of professional experience (more than lube-rack at a dealer) and I have no intention to do any additional programs. NO, UTI is not the place for you. I had a couple of friends in this situation just biding their time, using the GI bill, and planning on getting back into the dealership as soon as possible. They were miserably bored every day. There were the occasional days where they'd pick up a piece of knowledge or figure out how something works. But overall, the paycheck (from the VA) didn't seem to be worth the mind-numbing boredom.
-I want to be a professional tech, I have a decent amount of professional experience (more than lube-rack at a dealer) and I do intend on going through additional programs. YES, if you can tolerate the boredom in the core program and intend to get very high grades, the manufacture specific programs are WELL worth the payoff. I'll explain those programs in detail later.
Q: How does the Snap-On tool credit work?
A: UTI has a deal with Snap-On where students get a massive discount (upwards of 60% off) on all tools/boxes/equipment. They have a tool rep on site that is more than happy to ring you up, submit your order and mail you your tools. In all of UTI's commercials they tell you about the $1,000 worth of tools that you get upon graduation. These come in different started kits that could fit in a hand carried tool box. You do have the option of, instead of getting the starter kit, putting the credit toward other tools or another kit. Keep in mind though that it's $1k worth of tools, and since you get a discount, the credit, if used this way, is only about $600. I opted out of the started kit and put the $600 toward the Ford kit.
Q: How are the classes scheduled?
A: The classes are set up in 3-week blocks. You focus on one aspect of operation, diagnosis and repair (brakes, A/C, auto-trans, etc), take several tests, then a final, and them move on to another aspect for another 3 weeks. It actually works out very well since you are not having to split your focus on multiple topics. You can focus on one, get familiar and move on to the next. The classes are 6 hours and 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 51 weeks with the only breaks coming in the form of federal holidays and a week of for Christmas/Winter break. As of right now, the Orlando campus has 2 shifts (AM/PM). The AM shift starts at 6:30am, a 15-minute break at 8:20am, a 30-minute break at 10:25am, and class ends at 12:45pm. The PM shift starts at 2:00pm, a 15-minute break at 3:50pm, a 30-minute break at 5:55pm, and class lets out at 8:15pm.
Q: How do the Manufacture Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs work?
A: Near the end of the 51-week core program, you can start to apply for the MSAT programs. They are specific to that manufacture and they build on your new found knowledge and expand in it by showing how they want you to approach a diagnosis/repair and what tools are available to you. There are two different types of programs: Student pay and manufacture pay.
-The student paid programs are additional electives that are added on to the 51-week core program. These are available for Ford, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes-Benz just to name a few. You'll leave with a much better understanding of that brands engines, history, their computer/scan-tool systems. Most importantly however, you'll leave with legitimate credentials. For instance, after 15 weeks in the Ford program, I left with 11. Since these are student paid programs, there is no guarantee of employment upon completion but Student Services is surprisingly very proactive about getting you a resume and helping you find a job.
-This bring us to the manufacture paid programs. These are also added onto the core program and are offered from Porsche, BMW, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo just to name a few off the top of my head. These programs are usually roughly double the length of their student paid counterparts (if offered) and they result in more experience, more credentials, and a guaranteed job. There is a catch however. When you agree to allow the manufacture to foot the bill, you are contractually obligated to move where they need you to for an agreed upon time (I've heard anywhere between 1-4 years). My friends that have gone through these programs have said that they are pretty good on trying to accommodate you by allowing you to pick the region or state, but at the end of the day, you are at their mercy. On the other hand, it is guaranteed work for that period of time which, in this economy, can be a godsend.
Q: How does the GI Bill work?
A: Surprisingly enough, the GI Bill is extremely easy to utilize at UTI. Each campus has a small team of VA reps that are more than happy to help you apply and walk you through the process of getting enrolled and getting your BAH started up. Simply contact the school, let them know you're a potential applicant and that you're planning on using your GI Bill and they'll get you to one of the reps. Speaking of BAH...
Q: How does the BAH work?
A: As every military member knows, with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the student is entitled to E5 BAH while attending school. There are however a few things that don't seem to get mentioned. (Keep in mind that this is for a tech school with a 3-week block schedule. Therefore, a 4-year university operates very differently.) While it is true that you are entitled to E5 BAH according to the zip code that your school is listed, it is pro-rated for the days that you are "enrolled in a class." For instance (I'll do my best to make this easy to follow, but I can't promise anything): For round number sake, we'll say that BAH is $1,000 per month and the month in question is a 30 days. If your class starts on the first of the month and lasts for 3 weeks (ending on Friday the 21st), you have that Saturday and Sunday off, then the next class starts that following Monday and through the rest of the month. You will get paid for all days except the Saturday and Sunday that you are not actively enrolled in a class. So if you divide $1,000 into 30, that's $33.33 per day. That times the number of days enrolled in the month (28) means that your paycheck on the 1st will actually be for $933.33. While that may not sound like much of a difference, that is a best case scenario. if you figure multiple non-paid weekends, and throw in the occasional 3-day non paid holiday weekend (if it happens to fall at the end/beginning of a class, which they often do) you could be looking at upwards of 6 days of no pay resulting in paychecks of $800. In no way am I trying to say this is a shady or underhanded way of doing things. It is just very important information to know for budgeting reasons.
These are most of the big questions that I had going into the program so I hope that this info is able to help anyone looking into attending UTI. Overall, I had a very positive experience and would do it all over again. As a student starting at Square 1 with very little insight of the how a car actually operates, I am infinitely more knowledgeable that I was before and could actually hold my own in a conversation based off of facts and experience (albeit limited).
Hope this helps.
