Sequioa Tech........opinions?
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,792
From: San Jose
Car Info: sc300
Originally posted by estrada42
I'm a student there, about to start my fourth phase. I'm only paying around 22k, but I'm still on the fence as to whether or not to take the extra three month program. Just to clear some things up, they do not promise you your ASE's. You still have to apply and test for them. You also have to have a the experience. When you finish your 10 phases (each one is 6 weeks, 4 hours a day. Or you can do 8 hours a day and do two phases at once) you will have credit for one year. You will still need one year of in the field experiance. Once your finished you can get your Associates Degree in Automotive Buisness (Service writers, shop foremans, and shop owners), or Automotive Diagnosis (a smarter tech). That costs and extra 4k. I fully intend to attend the BMW program and be a high payed Bimmer Tech. In order to qualify you need to have a 90% grade averege for the 10 phases (not hard to do), less the 24 hours missed for the whole 10 phases, pass a written test, and a sit down interview with both the instructer for the program and some BMW Human resources guy. I've done the local community college program at Los Medanos College, and I have a friend who's doing it now. I personally belive the quality of instructors and the program itself is better at Sequoia. There's also the option of going to the Skip Barber Racing School for traingn and/or employment when your done. This is a good choice for people wanting to move on to pro racing teams. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. The recruiters are cool, but there a bit biased, and maybe a student can give you a better idea of what the schools really like.
EDIT: Spelling
I'm a student there, about to start my fourth phase. I'm only paying around 22k, but I'm still on the fence as to whether or not to take the extra three month program. Just to clear some things up, they do not promise you your ASE's. You still have to apply and test for them. You also have to have a the experience. When you finish your 10 phases (each one is 6 weeks, 4 hours a day. Or you can do 8 hours a day and do two phases at once) you will have credit for one year. You will still need one year of in the field experiance. Once your finished you can get your Associates Degree in Automotive Buisness (Service writers, shop foremans, and shop owners), or Automotive Diagnosis (a smarter tech). That costs and extra 4k. I fully intend to attend the BMW program and be a high payed Bimmer Tech. In order to qualify you need to have a 90% grade averege for the 10 phases (not hard to do), less the 24 hours missed for the whole 10 phases, pass a written test, and a sit down interview with both the instructer for the program and some BMW Human resources guy. I've done the local community college program at Los Medanos College, and I have a friend who's doing it now. I personally belive the quality of instructors and the program itself is better at Sequoia. There's also the option of going to the Skip Barber Racing School for traingn and/or employment when your done. This is a good choice for people wanting to move on to pro racing teams. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. The recruiters are cool, but there a bit biased, and maybe a student can give you a better idea of what the schools really like.
EDIT: Spelling
Originally posted by 04WRBsedan
I just heard that Schwarzenager wants to have the cost go up to $24 a unit at community college just for people with degrees.
I just heard that Schwarzenager wants to have the cost go up to $24 a unit at community college just for people with degrees.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 221
From: Bay Area, CA
Car Info: '05 LGT
I went there for 7 months untill about two months ago. I finished AT-I and was hired on at a Volvo dealer before I quit going, so I decided it wasn't worth it(finacially)to finish up with AT-II. I consulted with some of my instructors who(most)basically told me to qiut and work full-time and go to a community college(Skyline in San Bruno)at night. The others sounded more like the recruiters and told me I couldn't learn as much from anywhere else. BTW if you do decide to go, learn as much as you can from Mr Knight or Mr Fowler who are the best teachers they have.
It was a hard decision, but not one I made uninformed or hastily. After the first two phases I stopped learning as much because I had already gone ahead in the textbook and was starting to study what interested me. Also their tests are ridiculously simple and are reviews of the homework which again is mindless. However, I learned way more in the classroom than I did in the shop. Almost everything I learned in the shop does not apply in the real world or at least at the dealership level. Which was a big disappointment for me because I was awesome at rebuilding the trannys and the engines class.
Then again if you have absolutly no experience working on cars then you don't really have anything to lose either way. I went in with zero experience and my only knowledge was what I read online, and in books about Subarus, to working in a high-end dealership. Also if you receive some form of finacial aid or grants then it may be an okay idea, but if you're like me and happened to be inelgible then look elsewhere.
Like everyone else said, if you have any questions... feel free to ask.
It was a hard decision, but not one I made uninformed or hastily. After the first two phases I stopped learning as much because I had already gone ahead in the textbook and was starting to study what interested me. Also their tests are ridiculously simple and are reviews of the homework which again is mindless. However, I learned way more in the classroom than I did in the shop. Almost everything I learned in the shop does not apply in the real world or at least at the dealership level. Which was a big disappointment for me because I was awesome at rebuilding the trannys and the engines class.
Then again if you have absolutly no experience working on cars then you don't really have anything to lose either way. I went in with zero experience and my only knowledge was what I read online, and in books about Subarus, to working in a high-end dealership. Also if you receive some form of finacial aid or grants then it may be an okay idea, but if you're like me and happened to be inelgible then look elsewhere.
Like everyone else said, if you have any questions... feel free to ask.
oh well hes a great teacher anyways.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 317
From: I.E., SoCal
Car Info: 04 rally blue wrx sedan
That's great to hear that you got a job that easily....the rep told me that Sequoia has an 87% job placement rate.....do you think this is a realistic number?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 317
From: I.E., SoCal
Car Info: 04 rally blue wrx sedan
Originally posted by philioWRXman
just FYI
Sequoia and WyoTech are owned by the same company, so pricing will be the same. Thats what the Sequioa guy told our auto class.
just FYI
Sequoia and WyoTech are owned by the same company, so pricing will be the same. Thats what the Sequioa guy told our auto class.
Last edited by 04WRBsedan; Apr 21, 2004 at 09:57 PM.
Originally posted by 04WRBsedan
So what do you guys think the average starting pay is for someone with an AA in automotive Tech from one of these Institutes?
So what do you guys think the average starting pay is for someone with an AA in automotive Tech from one of these Institutes?
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 516
From: Mukilteo, WA
Car Info: 96' Impreza GM4
I am starting at Sequoia (Wyotech is the new name) next monday! Wow, I had no idea anyone went there from this board! Any tips for a new guy? BTW, I am pretty much set on getting into the BMW STEP program. Also, I am going to be doing the 1-5 class.
Oh, and about salary, they advertise for a BMW STEP graduate (you start as a level 2 tech) they can make around 50k, depending on the area/dealer. It varies quite a bit depending on where you're working.
Oh, and about salary, they advertise for a BMW STEP graduate (you start as a level 2 tech) they can make around 50k, depending on the area/dealer. It varies quite a bit depending on where you're working.
Last edited by motoracr22; Aug 30, 2004 at 09:19 AM.