Universal Technical Institute Reviews
There are currently 88 reviews of Universal Technical Institute
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Reviewed by: Bill R, Master in on January 18th, 2011 featured
There are always going to be people that take away different experiences. Right place at the right time didn't become cliche by accident. To the students or potential students: Some of you are natural born burger flippers and the greatest thing you can learn is what your limitations are. Some of you are going to go on to be fabulous tech's that I would have work on my own vehicles. Not everyone makes it to CEO just because. If you love automotive, but are not gifted with what it takes, then, yes, you do have to settle for dancing lessons with a shop mop. To the parents out there: the greatest thing you can do with your "adult child" is be honest with them about what their limits are. If you tell them that the sky is the limit, they will spend their lives reaching for something just out of grasp. We all know how that can turn ugly as represented by some of the postings here. Take responsibility for your own decision to take on this step in your/child's life and handle your business. Ocean front property is not available in Arizona and most people in the U.S. know this. Don't blame a recruiter for selling you an impossible dream. If it sounds too good, call them to the mat on it. Once you graduate, there may be something fantastic awaiting, but most likely, you will need to "work your way up" like it has been for most of capitalist history. I've been in the Biz for 20 years, started at 4.25 an hour. Now making well over 100k, but I put in my time.
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Reviewed by: tyler f, Certificate in on December 12th, 2010 featured
i graduated from the houston campus this past july in the collision program. i graduated will all the certifications, 26 ICAR points, 99.6% attendance, 4.0, honors, etc, etc. it was pretty easy getting a job when i got out but dont expect to make much money. $9-12 an hour in a body shop to start out. if your really good you can get commision and make $18/hr. and with how much your paying for student loans your better off without going to this school. a good shop will give you ICAR training for free. the only good part for me was that my mother paid off my student loan for me and while i was in school i had to become very independent and built up my credit enough to buy a house when i got back home. i dont regret going to the school too much because im able to make ends meet and theres always gonna be a job for me because i have skills now but if i were to do it again i would probably choose a different career path. working in a body shop is a lot of work for little money. i make $10 an hour doing body filler work, tearing down cars and rebuilding them, detailing, driving a tow truck, etc. i have well over $15k in tools and still dont have all the ones i need lol. my suggestion is to do this work in a shop before you consider paying for all theses certifications. i would not recommend this school if you are not very well off financially.
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Reviewed by: Subaru S, in on October 22nd, 2010 featured
As a current student it is safe to say that this school has itʻs ups and downs. Just like every other school in America. Nothing is perfect people. On the first note I will say that waking up at 5 A.M. is a little tiresome but if you take care of your body and get some sleep then it will make the next day go through smoothly. Iʻm not joking when I say, "Youʻll get a good dose of energy drinks." I really think they should do placement tests at this school though (For basic math and reading skills, not automotive skills). Motivation is the key to success in this field. If youʻre not ready to perform as a professional in the shop then Iʻll be the one replacing you, and your ex-employer will be glad to do so. You must build your self-discipline and train your mind to think like a technician. The students complaining about how UTI is a waste of money are the same ones in my classes now that think they know it all before we even start lecture and complain when the school re-instates its dress code policy. IF YOUʻRE NOT READY TO FOLLOW THE RULES YOUʻRE IN THE WRONG FIELD. Itʻs not hard to pull up your pants and tuck your shirt in. Who are you trying to impress by acting like a hard a**? The other 29 guys in the classroom? I must say though that the teachers do get a little cocky and the tend to be more friend biased to the older students with more experience. Overall a great school if youʻre serious about your future.
The money comes later, you must work for it first.
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Reviewed by: Jennette G, Certificate in on October 22nd, 2010 featured
I am going to give UTI the benefit of the doubt and go with 3 of those orange hats because my son hasn't graduated yet. The reason I am here is to raise concern/awareness as to the manner in which the FINANCIAL AID Department distributes LOANS taken out (IN THE STUDENT AND PARENTS NAME!). The school is paid! With my son's $20,000 scholarship as well as a grant and a small student loan. The problem is that the is a major breakdown, bordering on FRAUD between the recruiters, the academic adviser's, and the accounting/financial aid department.
Our son is owed the sum total of $271 (not much but NOT UTI's money) and they are screwing around with cutting the check.
Moving out of state to go to school is tough - emotionally, mentally and especially FINANCIALY! It's a real kick in the face when money (loan money solely in my son and his fathers name) is, for lack of a more 'fitting' term, being withheld...in fact, I believe it's nothing less than stealing.
I will be contacting the Dean of Students, the Director of Financial Aid and if need be, the Senior Vice President of Admissions, KEN CRANSTON to have this issue PROPERLY resolved. If it is taken care of I will report back to this forum. -
Reviewed by: RJ W, in on October 16th, 2010 featured
As a UTI grad, I can tell you that it's worth the cash - ONLY if you *truly* intend to apply yourself.
The school is designed to make success easy for students. Even the most mediocre student can "get by" with a decent enough grade to pass. However, please realize that simply "passing" does not a technician make. Understanding the material is critical to truly taking home what you've paid for. Sadly, this is where the average UTI student is lacking. They "go through the motions", scrape by with a half-way decent grade, and they move on to become Master Lube Technicians because they didn't apply themselves in school. Most don't have the basic math or physics skills to understand the inner workings of today's advanced automobiles.
The negative reviews on this website exposes the low entrance requirement standards. Thanks to Bush and the "No Child Left Behind Law", many unqualified students attend UTI. No child left behind? They're just being "dragged along", if you ask me. Unruly students are ever-present and are dealt with quickly, but they can be a constant irritant and a distraction to students who are actually trying to learn something.
It is definitely a worthwhile school for serious automotive enthusiasts. Don't expect miracles, but you will get out what you put in.
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Reviewed by: James B, Certificate in on September 29th, 2010 featured
The admissions people take the time to see if you're really serious about making this a career. All of these comments that are negative on here scream out one thing, "I'll pay you money, you give me stuff automatically." These are the people who won't do anything with their lives no matter what. You get what you give. I graduated from the auto and FACT programs and then went on to Porsche. Now I am, a 27 year old black man living in Georgia for the last 3 years making nearly 6 figures. BECAUSE I WORKED FOR IT. I had a few classmates I knew who were "entitled" to be given something. It's all there to be gotten; you just need to work for it. Some days sucked and I didn't want to go. Some instructors weren't my favorites and I pointed out a couple of things that made us take a second look. That's what they want!!!!! Don't bash UTI because you didn't take what you wanted. If you were having a hard time, you should have been in education demanding help. I did it a couple of times. And guess what, The big universities.....they're out to make money too. Just like you are.
P.S. For the guys who said they went to division 1 schools...go back and learn how to spell.
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Reviewed by: pat l, Certificate in on September 11th, 2010 featured
my son went to mmi in orlando. it was a tough 14 mths, but for a kid that wasn't a "motor head" growing up he did great. he learned alot and made some great friends from all over the country. He now works full time as a marine tech. he also is able to sell boats just by talking about the motors in them. I agree it was expensive but i feel that it was the best thing to do, go away from home and live on his own for that year. I would do it all over again. He still keeps in contact with the teachers when he has a problem...
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Reviewed by: Luis C, Master in on September 7th, 2010 featured
My name is Luis Castillo and was a UTI student from Jan. 8, 2007 to July 11, 2009. I took the time to enroll in this school because I wanted to better my education in the Automotive field. i had been an Automotive technition for 12 years before I went to UTI and had the edvantige of already having experiance. I took the Auto and Diesel and Industrial course and graduated with a 3.79, I was'nt even done with school yet and I already had a job lined up for a Seismic company named RXT. Ive been working offshore for the last 2 years and have made twice as much as I would of in the Automotive field and i also get half a year off. I work 5 weeks on and 5 weeks off. last year i made 65000 dollars and this year i got promoted to operator and wil make 75000 a year. I want to thank all the great instructors like Mr. Putnam, Mr. Miller, Mr. Molk, Mr. Garcia, and all the employment staff working hard to help us students of UTI have an opertunity when we graduated. The Diesel classes that I took where fantastic, my Electrical classes where fantastic, basicly all my classes where great and yes, I will have my son go to UTI when he is ready to be a real Technitian. When I left UTI I had all 8 ASE for Master Technitian and that was the pried I took with me when I left UTI.
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Reviewed by: steven R, Certificate in diesel-mechanic-schools on March 24th, 2013
i graduated from this "school" in 2006 with nearly $30,000 worth of student loans. i was able to secure a job in the field no thanks to the help of the uti staff. The only response i recieved from them was "we do not see anything in the location you are interested in". along with offers to go work on an oil rig in the ocean with some company called slumber j. needless to say i was furious with my decision to attend the moneymill that is UTI. why do i call it a moneymill, its a publicly traded company with market watch revenues of $413.55 million and a net income of $9.03 million. in my personal opinion this "companies" interests lie in the revenues Not the students who get suckered in straight out of highschool like i did with promises of great futures. i have to say UTI has great salesmen. so hear i am in 2013 still paying on student loans. like i said earlier i was able to get a job in the field without their aid when i "graduated" and recieved my Diploma which isnt worth the paper its printed on. i was hired on at $12.00 since i had little experience in the field finally moved on from that job after 4 years and currently make $20.00 an hour solely due to my own talents and experience. the employer had little interest in the school i attended. i hope parents and potential students read this and realize that these automotive schools are a wast of time and money do yourself a favor and explore other avenues.
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Reviewed by: michael p, Certificate in automotive-schools on February 23rd, 2013
ill be starting in april.i looked in to my locial community collage yes its cheaper but what auto tec,needs to learn physic 1 or speech i speak well why would a tec need phycholigyor meroechomance.look at utis course line up.do you see any of this stuff.no its all auto stuff.im 48 years old i would tell the students that sleep or cut up in class to shut up and pay attanceion.im not scared of no one i served in two wars looked down a few gun barrels faught guys with knifes.i know some things about cars.i want to learn about ele and eletronics.that why i rated like i did.i get ever thing in writing even from the va.
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