Lincoln Tech guys inside please

[nj85z28]

So I have been out of work a while, my normal job has been electrician since the age of 18. I have been tossing around the idea of learning something new with all this free time, and since I enjoy working on my car, I thought that maybe it could be a new avenue for me in the future, given proper instruction and training.

I started looking into things, and became interested in the Auto program over at LTI in Mahwah. Today I toured the facility and took their little "assessment test" (which is a joke I might add). The facility seemed nice, with alot going on.

Then we got into the financial side of it, which turns out is around 26 thousand for a 13-17 month program, 4 nights a week until 11 pm. That sort of changed my perspective on things.

On the way out I asked some random kid walking from the auto shop how he liked the program, he said it was "Ok" but they were a major pain with the payments.

I searched a bit here for anything on LTI, and mostly everyone said they would NOT recommend them to ANYONE.


Basically, I want to know why, and please get into detail.

Also if you recommend a program that would be better. Perhaps at a local college or other tech school. It just seems Lincoln Tech isnt the place to go. Any help is appreciated.

[SamhainZ28]

RUN AWAY, that place is a scam plain and simple. I wasted plenty of money going to LTI, and I really wish I didn't. If I could go back and do it again I would have looked into UTI, they have a much better program there. My friend went there and had nothing but good things to say about the classes they offer and the way they were taught. Lincoln tech was 98% sitting in a class room theorizing about working on cars instead of actually doing it, and when we were actually working on cars it was like some pep boys training seminar.

[band77one]

same, i spent 12grand going there for "business administration specialist" course. 7months, horrible teachers, everything is rushed and crammed together like you would not believe. oh and all you get is a peice of paper that says hey thanks for your money this paper will get you laughed out of interviews.

[chrisfrom nj]

my bro and cousin went there they said it was mostly book work i went to votech in high school i learned more there then what they teach in lti allso theres a place called deneville tech that has night classes i been there a few years ago they have auto service auto tech welding carpentry and the list keeps on going

[CHRIS67]

Years ago I looked into Brookdale College, down by Bound Brook, for automotive repair and they had a great program. Don't know what it is like today, but at least you have another place to look into.

[Frosty]

LTI is $26K? holy ****

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I've heard what everyone else said. Waste of money, if you want to go to a real car school, go to UTI

[nj85z28]

LTI is $26K? holy ****

thats what I said. I have the sheet with a full breakdown. around 800 of that is for some ****** 140 pc tool set from walmart it looks like

[Stevoone]

Any high schools around you have adult education classes? I went to BCIT in Westampton and they have a pretty big list of programs they offer. The instructor I had my senior year is also the instructor for some of the automotive courses. He was a really good teacher.

I also took a walk through Camden County College while I was in high school. Seemed like there program was decent, that was 9 years ago tho.


I had an apprentice that just left a few months ago that was going to ATC in PA, he did not seem too impressed with their program. A lot of the time it sounded like he was smarter than the instructors there.

[91chevywt]

I went to the Philadelphia LTI campus. I went through with a full scholarship, and even now looking back it was a waste of time.

The training is based around passing the ASEs as opposed to fixing cars.

Theres a lot more you can do with the $26k. I would look into alternative programs at different community colleges and such, if its really what you want to do. However, now is probably the worst time to try to break into the automotive industry. With dealerships making cutbacks, entry level pay is low and job competition is high. Theres just too many auto techs and not enough money to go around.

[SupermanX24]

95% book work and theory, 5% Hands on.

That's why you shouldn't do it. Everything I know now is due to working in the field.

[Gio93z]

My friend went there around 2002 - 2003 and it was costing around $18,500 for the morning, 12 month session. I ended up going there from october 2005 and graduated 12 months later and tuition was around $23,000. I see it just keeps going up. i was excited at first and even through-out the program it held my interest, how-ever, while I was working at an independent during the program, I realized that the schooling was't really very helpful. And 4 years later now, I've been working for Chevrolet, I realize that I am hardly applying anything i learned at LTI towards the real life scenarios. LTI gives you a general idea of how certain systems in a car will work, but does not give you a real hands on approach. There were too many kids in each class for the most part and it was full of alot of useless information. One of my teachers was going into carbs and points and was adament about it. i understand that is helpful information, but how about being relevant to current products. There was no whisper of a timing belt or chain or other relevant repairs. The other thing that botehred me: if you had a certain GPA and certain attendance % the last 2 months of the program, if you qualified, you were able to go intern instead of going to school. I qualified for that but you had to pass a verbal grilling in a conference roof with 4 - 6 teachers. They hammered me with questions and i did not do well with that. its like, once the teachers were in that room, they all became ********. The other thing, was they would only allow you to intern at a DEALERSHIP. At the time I was at an independent and i declined the internship program b/c I would have had to quit my job and go find a dealership. I ended up actually working at the independent shop, and a chevy dealer at the same time while in school to figure out a plan for after teh program was over. It was very stressful and annoying. Long story short, I met some good people between the teachers and the students and did have a good time, but but but, it is just way too much money for a product that does not guarantee you anything, even though they say they place 92% of their students. Also, they do focus and gear you towards taking the ASE's and base everything about that. i have 2 ASE's and honestly, they will not help me get a job, of keep me from getting fired from a job. They are a nice thing to add to a resume, but employee's in this field like experience, if you want to make more than 13.00/hr.



Giovanni

and i graduated 3rd in my graduating class and had a 3.8 GPA so for me to say what i said, they must really not be worth the money

i went to Mahwah btw

[transmaro93]

i cant give exact reasons why but i know a handfull of peopel taht went there and were very very unhappy with it... one of my freinds brothers even just stopped going even though he had finished paying the tuition because it was just a huge waste of time... UTI is a great school but there are others out there to look into and consider. I went to a school called ATC (automotive training center) out in exton, PA and they ahve a location in bucks county PA... for the most part i was happy with the training, but i will say that you will only get out of these courses what you put in. There is alot of people that go and dont take it seriously and the teachers wont care to push you through and let you fail. but if you work and pay attention and learn i got alot out of it. I went to autobody (one reason i didnt go to UTI because their PA location doesnt offer autobody). Needless to say i graduated there in 2006 and worked at a goodyear while i was in school... .got out and worked at a firestone here in brick for 6 mos and hated it (maily because its corperate) quit that and landed a job at a local body shop and 3 years and some odd months later im still here and i love it... soo i mean the training had to help somewhere in there. If you dont want to leave the state then vo-tech may be you best option, because its more affordable, but they only teach you so much in there before you need more training weather its schooling or on the job...