UTI: Phoenix, AZ

[808BMW]

I'm seriously considering attending UTI. Anyone familiar with the school, and the area? How's the job market? Housing? Should I seriously consider taking my car? Anyone currently attending?

[Red325es]

Yep, I'm here now. there are a few others on the board that attend or have attended. It's a good school but you really need to be serious about being a technician and put forth your best effort and concentrate on school. alot of students that are here don't seem to be really that intrested in learning more than what they already know ( think they know!).
I have some questions for you. Have you had any previous automotive schooling or experience? I had 2 years of vocational schooling for half of my day in high school, and helped at the Local MB dealer some times. It really helps to already be experieced, because it's easier to understand more advanced concepts. Do you plan on bring your e30 from Hawaii? I know some kids from the big island but most of them don't drive.
If you have any questions just Pm me. :D
-Pete

[lukasbmw]

UTI is located in the asshole of central Phoenix. You'll be ok as long as your car is not too flasy and you take basic precautions. I recomend you either:

A. Find a nice area to live in even if it is far from UTI

B. Find a slum and pack heat.

[m42technic]

Its funny how the islanders have a really tight clique at UTI... 8)

I went to UTI with the sole intention of doing BMW STEP, which I am in now. I seriously wouldnt want to imagine finishing UTI without doing one of the graduate programs.

[jbob]

bring ur car if u think it's worth the aprroximate $900 to ship it one way (hawaii to LA)......the az bimmer crew could use another e30er (they're out numbered by e21's, how sad is that. hahahaha). also, there's usually always a few e30's for sale in AZ (check autotrader & cars.com)

i think if u want, UTI will help u find a job and a place to live...but it's easy to find a job to bring in decent income (of course it definately helps if u have at least a little previous job experience)

[ColdAccord]

I went to UTI with the sole intention of doing BMW STEP, which I am in now. I seriously wouldnt want to imagine finishing UTI without doing one of the graduate programs.

yeah that's what daN is doing, except he's in texas

[808BMW]

How bad is crime there? Over here there is nobody that will touch my car, but I don't want to constantly worry about my car.
How hard is it to find parking?

Do you plan on bring your e30 from Hawaii? I know some kids from the big island but most of them don't drive.

If any of them are from Kona, chances are that I know them :P

[Robbie325i]

I hear rumors of the white power movement being big at UTI...

[decay]

i start on the 23rd of this month, with my goal being STEP; but if the porsche or M-B programs become available to me i can't say i won't consider them...

going to be a lot of work, i'm sure, but as long as it's easier than the 60-hour weeks i pulled through my dot-com days i know i can handle it.

[M3 Ryan]

I hope you get into STEP, not many people do... I have seen talented guys get turned down and not make it in after going through UTI...
I hate to be the one to be an ass, but all I have heard about UTI from guys in the auto industry is that they are a bunch of irresponsible, cocky hacks. My dealership hired a few guys from there and said they would NEVER get another tech from UTI, no matter how good he looked on paper.
Just my expierence, I was inches away from signing up but when I realized they are trying to sell their program to you, I backed out, because all they care about is #, $, and getting people out the door to clear room for the next batch.

[m42technic]

It really depends on who you ask about UTI grads. All it takes is a couple jackasses to ruin the reputation of UTI at a dealership. Same thing goes for any school.

As for getting into STEP, perfect attendance and perfect grades are almost manditory. I know people who didnt get in with a 98% attendance rate. MB is generally easier to get into than STEP, and Porsche is pretty much impossible to get into unless you're sponsored by a dealership.

[decay]

As for getting into STEP, perfect attendance and perfect grades are almost manditory. I know people who didnt get in with a 98% attendance rate. MB is generally easier to get into than STEP, and Porsche is pretty much impossible to get into unless you're sponsored by a dealership.

from what i've heard the guys who take the VW course start at $55k after graduation... i'm sure any of the courses (well, except ford- bleh) would make me happy enough.

[m42technic]

As for getting into STEP, perfect attendance and perfect grades are almost manditory. I know people who didnt get in with a 98% attendance rate. MB is generally easier to get into than STEP, and Porsche is pretty much impossible to get into unless you're sponsored by a dealership.

from what i've heard the guys who take the VW course start at $55k after graduation... i'm sure any of the courses (well, except ford- bleh) would make me happy enough.

Where'd you hear that?

[M3 Ryan]

Well, I just found out today that my dealer is sponsoring me to go through BMW Step... I AM IN!!! I am soo excited I can't hardly wait to be done with school and go...

[decay]

Where'd you hear that?

from the aforementioned VW service tech. why?