I am contemplating becoming a full time student for welding and fabrication/Engine Machining. I have been debating on going to school for it but I am not sure if it is profitable enough to do to provide for a family in the long run and I want to have a career I enjoy but I need to make enough money to support a family if I have one.

Please let me know if you guys went to school or how you got your start in these fields.

 

Went to school for 3.5 years, 3 certificates so far for different welding processes. Make decent money, but it's a job I love and don't mind spending every moment awake doing it.

I :heart: Racing

 

Did you go to technical school or regular?

What courses did you take and if you don't mind me asking like a general rate of pay to expect not necesarily for you but experienced welders.

 

I attend the University of Northwestern Ohio and I plan on a career doing Engine Machining, Engine Building, Welding, and Fabrication. The school is based on high performance automotive and offers classes in all the feilds you mentioned and alot more. You can get just a diploma, an associates, or a bachelors degree.

http://www.unoh.edu

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DsMWookie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did you go to technical school or regular?
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If you plan on going to school, go to an accredited university.
Dont waste your time and money with technical schools.

 

Why do you say that ?

I've seen good things about the Tech schools.

 

Most fabricators believe that you don't have to be educated to be good, but to be good and educated you will always be a step ahead of the game. I am going to school to get my associates in welding, and then going to get my welding engineering degree. So for those who say why go to school for it,

 

Is that a 4year college and are you minoring in any other class that correlate with welding?

 

well since you are in georgia, dont come to VC-tech, it would be a waste of your time. otherwise just do research of the colleges around your areara that you are intrested in. pick the one that has the most creditation, and best program for you. Dont make the same mistake I did. I ahve a 2 year degree in Network engineering, and about to finish my 4 year degree in Network security. I have alot of certifications and i am compitent in my work. But because i didnt go to a national accredited school, but instead a private college. school accreditation means alot. I have been turned down from jobs because my school isnt "well known" / or is known for bad things. It is bad enough where i am seriously comtemlating a career change.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DsMWookie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that a 4year college and are you minoring in any other class that correlate with welding?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's a two year college, and then all credits transfer to ferris state where you can get your welding engineering degree. Wich because of educated people welding has evolved so much, so if narrow minded people keep thinking that there is no reason to go to school for welding is wrong.

 

bump...some more info would be nice on how your chosen school has helped you...

 

I think the biggest way that school has helped me is being well rounded and educated in every aspect of welding. This isn't just how to melt two pieces of metal together, i must also take a lot of metalugery classes, cwi classes (certified welding inspection) And the best part about where i go to school is that we have all of the latest technology, and we learn how to use it on a more personal level. The reason i am going to school for it, is because i love it. Once i get my associates i can transfer to a 4 year school and get my bachelors in welding or mechanical engineering. Or maybe even get my teaching certification and teach it one day wich would be great. I have always felt that school was important, and pretty much what im doing right now is the same as being in an auto program and getting my ase certification, but i'm going to take it further and get my associates, so then i can go there and get my bachelors in engineering. Does that make sense?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jaydmcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the biggest way that school has helped me is being well rounded and educated in every aspect of welding. This isn't just how to melt two pieces of metal together, i must also take a lot of metalugery classes, cwi classes (certified welding inspection) And the best part about where i go to school is that we have all of the latest technology, and we learn how to use it on a more personal level. The reason i am going to school for it, is because i love it. Once i get my associates i can transfer to a 4 year school and get my bachelors in welding or mechanical engineering. Or maybe even get my teaching certification and teach it one day wich would be great. I have always felt that school was important, and pretty much what im doing right now is the same as being in an auto program and getting my ase certification, but i'm going to take it further and get my associates, so then i can go there and get my bachelors in engineering. Does that make sense?</TD></TR></TABLE>yes it does, because im planning on getting my associates in automotive engineering technology at a community college round my way which will help me get into dealerships as a technician and i also will be able to get my ase certification. And if i do so please i can go back to that college and continue in getting my bachelors in a number of different majors like automotive managment, mechnical engineering, industrial technologies. so our plans are very similar. Does that make sense?

 

Nothin like going to college for something other than marketing