What to do after high school?
 

I'm 17 and a senior in high school, and i'm trying to figure out what to do when i graduate. I want to work with cars trucks and motorcycles and thought about maybe going to UTI or Wyotech, but i've heard they aren't so great. My other thought was just to go right to work out of high school. I also need to find a job now to make my truck insurance payments. All the places around here though always seem to want experience so i figure it'll probably be harder to find a job. I don't really know what i want to do or should do, so anyone here got any advice?

If you got a way to get a education, be it a trade school or community college
go after it and get it and work also , along the way, learning has never hurt anyone, some of us older guys that have had labor jobs all of our lives, and are all cripbled up will tell ya learning is a good thing, and working hard also wont hurt you

Trade school if you can swing it, most definetly.

Most have night classes that accomodate days jobs.

Goodluck>Cp

Get as much education as you can. Don't make the same mistake as i did, i came out of HS, worked at hob nob jobs in the beginning, got married at 19, had 3 babies in rapid succession. I finally got my head out of my butt and started at a tool and die shop, went to school at nite, learned the tool and die trade, and wound up with a mechanical Engineering degree. All said and done i would have never gotten married so young (but my kids are great they are all college graduates) i later got into CNC programming and machining and have never in my life been out of a job in any state that i lived in, i've never been layed off and have never taken a day of unemployment in my life, and i'll be 72 in 3 mos. months and i still build engines on the side. I've also raced since i was 16 yrs. old and built every engine and car that i've ever ran. Bottom line get the education, don't fall in lust, and work at a fast food place at nite if you have to, too make you truck payments.
Yes i'm broke and on SS, but i have a $100,000.00 in cars and real estate that there's no market for at this time. So success is not always golden, but it's been and still is fun.
Like Mopar (i think) says i started with nothing and i still have most of it :lol:

JMO

Zip.

You might want to look at going into the military too. Yes, if you pick the Army or Marines you might see combat, but folks, God bless them, do it every day. But the training and long term benefits are worth it. Companies like to hire ex-service people because of them having their heads right. And down the road access to GI loans for further schooling and housing are available.

the days of buying a box of tools & going to work & expecting to make a good living are gone . automotive technology is moving at lighting speed, you need to go to school. without training you will end up in a small shop doing grunt work for low pay watching the guys that did get the training make a great living that you can actualy raise a family on . jmo, mike

Continue your education at all costs.

I enrolled in WYOTECH during my senior year of High School. I had plans of being a body/paint man for a living. The summer after graduation I got a job in a factory. Long story short I ended up NOT going to Wyotech.
I have since met 3 people who went to Wyotech. They were all 3 working with me in a factory doing nothing even close to what they went to school for. One of them could not find decent job around here.One said they did help him find a job but he could make more working from his garage while doing the factory work. The other said they found him a really good job but he got laid off due to this economy.

That said, It is always best to get your education. You will have an immediate advantage over someone who doesn't have it even if they are more skilled. Just how it is. On paper the guy with the education is worth more.

Stay in school. If you can't afford to stay in school, I would advise you to look into the military. Take the ASVAB test and see what kind of training you are qualified to receive. If you qualify for a technical school in electronics, equipment repair etc. Don't enlist unless you are guaranteed a good school. Have you father go with you to keep the playing field level. If you sign for a school, bust your butt and do the best you can. Keep your nose clean and you can get some excellent training. If you bust out of school though, you go where they want you!! After a few years, you'll be out and have some skills that will transfer to the civilian world. I would advise the Air Force as you have a better chance of staying stateside. Look at that type of work that you enjoy and go for that training. Good luck.

Don't burn me at the stake for this, it is truly my own opinion & it has worked in my life... not for everyone.

I wasted two years in college in a cloud.... still chasing girls... never graduated. I was immature at best!! I was in & out of a few jobs until I learned some skills/trades like the other people mentioned. IF YOU GO TO COLLEGE, TRY HARD & DON"T JUST GO FOR KICKS...

I will say this: After "finding myself" I probably make more money now than 80% of college grads... excluding lawyers & doctors & such. My point is, if you want to MAKE MONEY, "college" does not really teach you about that too much. Making money is in selling, investments, Real Estate, etc... which is not really found in colleges that teach degrees in "political science" & "arts" or "eco-geek" stuff... I know many who have gone to college & gotten various degrees & are now logging, carpenters, & have some menial crap jobs.... BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL PAYING FOR THEIR EDUCATION. (try not to be one of those guys)

Last, find a job/field that you want to do. Try to decide on the work field first; then acquire the education to get you there. Next, INVEST. Let those investments pay for some of the toys you want. JMO!!! Scooter

If i were in your Shoes I would study as much for the ASFAB military test to score high.. and try and strike a deal in writing with the AIR FORCE to where they will pay to continue your eduction in the mechanical engineering field or computers etc...Spend 25 years with them and retire with full benefits...So you could retire with full benefits/ insurance drawing a nice little monthly Check and then you could go out and start a 2nd Civilian Career somewhere..they even have Cilivian Jobs with the Military many retired Vet take on and make Good Money.

If Scocial security is still around...you could have 3 Nice checks coming in at 65 yrs old...Aire force retirement, 2nd Career Retirement check/ 401k, and Social Security.


Son you have a great thing before you right Now..grab a-hold of it,,,the years will go by quiker then you think...wouldn't you like 8k-10k a month rolling in as income without having to get out of bed each day when your older...with paid Insurance ????


This is the route I would take if I were you


Just to give you an idea how 401k will work for you here is a little example

401K INFO TIDBIT

Based on a 50k year salary with an 8% return with an annual contribution of $4,000 per year you will have $319,122 in the bank after 25 years...let me say 8% is modest..you could see 16% + return which would double the $319,000 to $640,000 ($4,000 PER YEAR or $83.00 per week gross off the top PRE-TAX. CONTRIBUTION..YOU WILL NEVER MISS THIS PRE-TAX DEDUCTION FROM YOUR CHECK WHEN IT COMES TO NET BRING HOME MONEY)


I wish someone would have drilled this in my head at 17 yrs old and I would be a multi millionaire today at 44 yrs old just from 401k only.

I agree with Juice military is the way to go :!: :!: JMO Mark

Does anybody know any good automotive schools other than wyotech or uti? preferably something relatively close to Maryland

This is simple...........don't do like me!

Marry a Laywer or Doctor or even a Dentist or at least make sure she has rich parents.
No matter what you do MAKE GOOD SOUND DECISIONS. Save at least half as much as you spend and you'll have a ton of $ before you turn 50.
Most "well off" people live like their broke and can't afford to pay "rent". They don't make millions, their just cheap and want buy stupid things or have many toys.
Good luck and let us racing junkies know how you're doing in 20 years! lol!!