I went to UTI, the Nascar tech campus actually. The core program is decent if your working on American cars. I originally went there to get my foot in the door a little more with the Nascar community. I had already been working as a pit crew member for local Busch series and Hooters cup teams. After seriously considering stability in my life I chose to go through the MSAT programs they offer. If you go to UTI I strongly recommend the MSATs. I got accepted with Mercedes Benz. I am now a Master Tech, been working at the Dealership for 5 years, now Im at an independant shop.

I dont know which manufacturers offer the MSATs anymore. I know Benz cancelled that program due to economics. You dont need a degree to be a mechanic. European manufacturers have their own certs so they dont really care about ASE's. I know Benz doesnt care, they have their own training.

I would highly recommend getting into a dealership, better benefits, better pay in the end. Independants have their own pluses but being at an independant shop I miss the big dealer environment.

After working at an independant shop I would not want to open my own repair shop, unless it was Euro only cars. I know my way around a Benz telematics system but give me a ol' chevy carbd 350 and Im lost.

Thats my .02 from my own experience, ymmv. Good luck with whatever you chose.

 

Wow!!!!

 

I started off during High School, I only went half a day and went to a trade school for the other half, Senior year I worked instead of going to the trade school (something they have worked out so I work on school time for credit hours, plus I got paid) But this helped me establish a base and learn something that I probably would have never gotten before, just reading things online or breaking stuff myself.

I have an Associate Degree in automotive technology from a local (45miles away) community college.

Now attend a local state school(15miles away) for a Bachelors in Automotive Business Management.

That being said, none of them say " automotive" in the degree.
"Applied Science" and ..... well I didnt get it yet (December) but its probably a BS. Hope this helps, you always need something to go back on. Associate /Bachelors Degree vs No degree and a piece of paper from a trade school.