Son wants to go into Automotive Tech

I have some history in this, I am now 31 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA...But I also graduated from UTI.

Out of high school I had very little direction, my parents didn’t go to college and I didn’t understand the limitations behind being a tech. It’s a fine job, but the long term physical requirements add up and there aren’t many positions the can get you out of that part of it.


Out of high school I attended UTI-Orlando and followed it with the BMW STEP program. From there I started as a technician for BMW of Las Vegas, which was pretty good for a new grad. A year and a half later I understood how constrained I would be in the future. I didn’t want to fix cars everyday. I didn’t want my back blown out and my hands burning with arthritis.

I had the opportunity for my wife to hold down the fort while I went back to school. I earned a bachelors in Mechanial Engineering and landed a position at a Class 8 truck OEM. I’ve since earned and MBA and life is very good!

I wouldn’t say that my time at UTI was a waste, not by a long shot, but I would strongly discourage going that route. I know one or two people from my class that still work on cars.