Madison Area Technical College.

I have been thinking about dropping from the uw system and entering their Automotive Technology program.
Have any of you gone there or heard anything about them?
Just looking for some input.
Thanks

I think there's probably at least a dozen people on here that go/have gone through that program. I'm not one of them lol but just wait, I'm sure you'll get your answers

Talk to Overboosting

Basically what you'll get out of it, is what your willing to put in. If you dont already know a whole lot about how cars work/working on them and your willing to pay attention and learn youll get alot out of it..

I think its a good program. If you actually try and pay attention you will learn a bunch.

What these two tools said....... Much like high school if you don't try to learn you won't. And on top of that there will not be someone pushing you to learn..... However there are lots of willing teachers to help if you want it.

Im almost done with the program. I say finish UW first. If you go into the program its exactly what logan said, you will only get out of it the effort you put into it. I will say that for the most part. Ive learned more in the last few years working in the industry and on my own stuff than I did in the program. It is nice to learn why things do what they do.

To sum it all up: If you go, take it seriously. Most of the people in the program dont and it makes things worse for the others in the classes.

What are you studying at the UW?

Mike

Ill also add that about halfway through the program I decided that working on cars everyday was ruining my hobby. Which is why when im done at MATC im on my way to UW STOUT.

^ Well that is because you are an edumacated fella!

Mike

hells yeah

MikeyT wrote:

What are you studying at the UW?

Mike

I am studying business management.

The problem I am having is that I really hate my classes because I simply do not have any interest in the topic. I feel like I am only here because I got good grades in High School and my counselers told me to get into a "real" school when i really cant see myself doing paperwork forever. I would really like to work as an automotive technician in a nice shop somewhere. Working on cars is really what I want to do.

I can understand how you only get out what you put in but im more curious about what you guys did when you got out i guess. Did you find work easily? Were the skills you picked up at MATC useful in your career? Or is it a big waste of money?

Not a waste of money. I met most of my best friends at matc. But I guess that will be the case anytime you spend every class together for two years. I would try and get a part time summer job in a shop first. get a taste before you pull the trigger

I went the other way than what you are thinking about doing. I spent 2 years at MATC in the mechanical design program, and felt i was wasting a huge amount of time. So i got into MSOE.

definately try for a job in industry first and make sure it is something you can do every day. The career choice isn't for everyone. It is a good program to choose if you do decide it's what you want to pursue.

I know a few mechanics that are in there 40's and they always tell me its the worst job ever. I guess it depends on who you are or where your working though. Anyways bigbird, whatever road you go down i wish the best of luck to you. You're capable of anything you set your mind too. Plus your the biggest SMART ass i've ever met lol you can do it man.

Im currently in the program at matc. like others said you get out what you put in. as for the industry a bunch of the techs i work with will tell me that you cant make good money doing it, but then i have a few guys from work that tell me if you work and stay focused its easy to make a decent living. the way i look at it if its something that you like and can stand doing everyday without it interfering with your hobbies, then go for it.

give your self some credit, your thinking about this stuff now before you get settled. I kind of like the idea that someone above said about getting your business degree first and then going back. The business side might really pay dividend when you perhaps your sick of or are tired and too beat up to work on them anymore and can start a shop of your own.

Mike

working on cars is shitty, no way around it. now can you make money? of course. here is some insight. if you wanna make money, go to a dealership. after working on the same cars over and over, you can get very fast and make good time. the con is you have to work on the same cars and warranty work is a bitch. all of the tech's at work tell me to quit when i can and that its all they know how to do and thats why they don't quit.

Thanks for the input everyone. I have not made up my mind yet but im starting to think I should just get my degree first, I can still go to matc after if I feel I want to go that route.

No matter the job if you are not happy it will be shitty.

bigbird94 wrote:

Thanks for the input everyone. I have not made up my mind yet but im starting to think I should just get my degree first, I can still go to matc after if I feel I want to go that route.

Get the UW degree, test the job market and if you still do the MATC you can go full or part time.

I did MATC from '92 to '94. My youngest brother is off and on in the program there now. Just as everyone else said, you get out what you put into it.

I had a few instructors who needed a hammer blow to the head and a few that were awesome. It was a fun two years but then again I had been working in the field for two years before going so it was fun to learn newer technology but still see old theory taught.

Finish UW first...... get that out of the way and under your belt. You can always do something different afterwards.

Plus, the chicks are hotter at the UW. I'm just sayin!

Mike

MikeyT wrote:

Plus, the chicks are hotter at the UW. I'm just sayin!

Mike

This.