college??

[swynx]

... so im currently attending lewis clark state college, for what. i yet have to find out. ive come to find out that its another racket with tons of hoops to jump through and abunch of dead ends. im having troubles finding financing for the things i want to learn or i dont qualify for things im willing to settle for.

the automotive program. they want like 5k-6k $$ on day one.

welding just isnt my thing, but they want 500$ on day one.

i keep looking at hvac but i have yet to find out what they want for tools. any one have any idea what your school charges for tools and such?

i was thinking about the ISATI program (information systems) but seeing as how we live in a smaller town and my brother is currently buying out all the computer shops, and i dont get along with him. im considering a new career path.

i enjoy working with my hands. im currently employed as a painter. but its rough trying to work 12 hours a day and go to school full time, and its kind of seasonal work.

any one have any suggestions as to a career path to look at? im a mechanically inclined person.

any one else have any similiar problems in college? work vs school. ended career paths due to funds or qualifications.?

what did you do?

do you have any similiar storys?

 

[mud junky]

ok i got a few things to say. you have to take a look at your personality as a factor to. Are you a more "professional" type person, of rough around the edges? not saying it has to be the deciding factor, but it is one to consider. would you rather be in an office all day, or out making or fixing something? this is something no one can answer for you. You say welding is not your thing. what about it don't you like? what other jobs have this aspect you don't like about welding and should also be ruled out? You mention welding in your post so i cant assume you have ruled it out. I can tell you as a welder what i like about my job, that is totally unrelated to the actual work i do. Welders are in high demand, even more so for welders with an above average skill set. what does this mean to me? It means to me that even in a crappy economy i have stayed employed, making an above average income. Sure ill never be "rich" but i will always be comfortable. add to the fact that a large percentage of welders are in there mid to late 50's, and that high schools are more focused on sending there students on to a 4 year degree, than they are in creating skilled laborers. so when most these older guys are getting ready to retire, and not many guys are being trained to take there place, demand for skilled welders will be even higher. i think this is true for most skilled trades men, but can only speak as a welder. also skilled tradesman's jobs are much less likely to get shipped over sea's. say you work with computers. if they can get a guy from some hole in the wall country to write the same program and just e mail it hear for 1/2 the price you can bet they will do it. however if your car brakes down, your not going to send it to china to get fixed to save the $15 an hr difference between an American worker and a chines worker. its just not cost effective. this creates job security for the mechanic in your home town. Same goes for most if not all skilled labor.
As for how to pay for it. have you ever considered the military? They will train you, pay you wile they are training you, and give you the experience most company's are looking for. they will also pay for your college degree. Play your cards right and in 3 to 4 years you could be completely trained in your desired field of work, have 3 to 4 years experience, and a college degree that you dont have to pay back student loans for.
All of this was just intended to be food for thought only you can decide were life will take you, and what you are willing to do to get there.

 

[adsm08]

if your car brakes down, your not going to send it to china to get fixed to save the $15 an hr difference between an American worker and a chines worker. its just not cost effective. this creates job security for the mechanic in your home town. Same goes for most if not all skilled labor.

I used to think that way too. Then I got into the car business and found out that instead of not sending it to China to get fixed by the guy who works cheap, they just won't fix the car and so while I still have a job to get up and go to every day I might stand around all day, work for 3 hours and get paid for 1.

 

[straycat]

You need to decide what you really want to do and really like to do and go to a trade school and enjoy working with some hands on experience. This is something you should really think about. It is your life that counts and not what somebody else has picked out for you in that college 'education'. In a Trade School you get a degree and you get to work at the 'JOB' not at working around the 'JOB' like most colleges seem to do....'Oooops...you will also need these overpriced books and you need to take these extra courses we forgot to mention when you signed up for our over priced college'.


'Live life like a song...enjoy the music along the way'

 

[killj0y]

Yup I work at a college and they actually have counselors and advisors for this exact thing. Anyways the day one comments is standard. You are taking a spot another student could be taking. So yea tuition needs to be covered for that semester on day one. That includes payment plans, financing, loans, or financing.

Sucks but you gotta spend money to make money. But all those careers you mentioned just remember the people doing it out there right now probably put up with the same thing. Best investment you can make. trust me it's getting harder to find decent work without college.

 

[Rose2300]

usually the tools alone are 1k+

 

[adsm08]

Sucks but you gotta spend money to make money. But all those careers you mentioned just remember the people doing it out there right now probably put up with the same thing. Best investment you can make. trust me it's getting harder to find decent work without college.

This is very true. Most financial counselors tell you that student loans are the best place to go into debt if you have to go into debt.

You need to decide what you really want to do and really like to do and go to a trade school and enjoy working with some hands on experience. This is something you should really think about.

Yes and no. The average graduate today will have seven or more careers before retirement. My tools are paid for, I don't really have a lot that I need to round out a good basic tool set, and I am about sick of working on other people's cars because I just can't take the stupid and crazy anymore. I have a business management degree and in my younger days I was really good with computers. I am almost 26 and I'm starting to eye up career choice #2.

My advice would be to find something that you don't hate and will give you a good basic skill set that is transferable to other areas.

usually the tools alone are 1k+

My basic tool kit when I started school was $3000.



My advice for this decision is two part:

1) Go buy and read, cover to cover, the book "What Color is Your Parachute"

2) If you aren't sure what you want to do but can afford the time and money sign up at the local community college and take one 3-credit gen ed class a semester. It will save you time and money once you decide what you want to major in since you will have that many classes out of the way and paid for.

 

[hoosier1104]

Find something you enjoy enough you would not mind doing for a job. Sounds easy, yes but it is a pain in the ass.

 

[adsm08]

Find something you enjoy enough you would not mind doing for a job. Sounds easy, yes but it is a pain in the ass.

And then once you do it long enough it gets tedious and the customers/clients get annoying and instead of being excited to go do something you like when you get up in the morning you just want to go shoot people.

 

[swynx]

you guys all have great advice, i am the sort of person who is better with real objects rather than numbers or papers. not to say i am bad with numbers and i dont like them id rather just turn a wrench, or paint, as i am doing now..

i have been looking for other jobs lately and have had no luck seeing as the college graduates are better qualified because of there degrees.

i was informed today that my boss will be moving in 3 months so i guess ill just focus on school full time once i get laid off.

its only 2-4 years of my life..

 

[robertc1024]

And then once you do it long enough it gets tedious and the customers/clients get annoying and instead of being excited to go do something you like when you get up in the morning you just want to go shoot people.

I hear where you are coming from, but disagree in the outcome. In college, I worked in a bicycle shop. I started the job fresh out of high school and loved every minute of it for ~5 years. At that point, I was in the same position as you - there wasn't really anything more for me to learn, hated my stupid co-workers, hated the customers who didn't know or care how to change a freaking flat tire.

Meanwhile, I got my mechanical engineering degree - I loved to tinker with mechanical stuff. In the mid '80's, there were no jobs around (much like now) but finally found the one I've been at for 25 years and loved every minute of it.

Per your previous posts:
1. DO NOT do a job you don't love (or at least like.) If you're only spending 8 hours a day there, figure it out - it's 1/3 of your life being miserable. Unacceptable.
2. "What color is your Parachute" is a good book (I've read several editions), but only if you don't know what you want to do, what you are passionate about.

To the OP, a four year degree can open doors, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. We've got guys with associate degrees and some who have none at all as managers and other people who are making decent dollars. My advice is to find a company to work for who treats people with respect. The guy who founded our company used to work at Texas Instruments when it was a powerhouse in the 1960's. They chewed through EE's like they were coke on Whitney Houston's bedside table. They failed to see their inventiveness and probably blew off billions of dollars on people who left, forged out on their own, and really bettered the world. (sorry, I could go on for days)

 

[shane96ranger]

I will say this, stay far far far away from ITT Tech.

 

[adsm08]

Per your previous posts:
1. DO NOT do a job you don't love (or at least like.) If you're only spending 8 hours a day there, figure it out - it's 1/3 of your life being miserable. Unacceptable.

I have figured that out too. It's actually a little more than 1/3 because most companies actually have hours from 8 - 12 and then 1-5, but you end up being "at work" for 9 hours. Then if you are in a situation like I was for 3 years where you have a bit of a commute, it adds up. At one point I was spending almost 11 hours a day "at work" from the time I left in the morning until I got home. And I didn't like the people I worked with. That sucked.

2. "What color is your Parachute" is a good book (I've read several editions), but only if you don't know what you want to do, what you are passionate about.

It has other applications. It can help you figure out how to put your current skills and hobbies to work as a profession. It can help you identify things you like about your current job and find what other areas may have that, etc. That is the big reason I recommended it.

 

[Bennybooster]

My only input is that people will always need medical care so if you are remotely interested in the medical field, there will always be some job

 

[Sunk]

And then once you do it long enough it gets tedious and the customers/clients get annoying and instead of being excited to go do something you like when you get up in the morning you just want to go shoot people.

Oh okay good, it's not just me!