It's final, I know what I'm doing
 

Yep, I sure do. Welllllll....... I'm currently a freshman in college. Let's just say that this isnt exactly for me. I've been looking around for different options and opportunities. With some help from guys here on the boards and a lot of other people, I'm excited as hell to know exactly what I want.

I'm going to be doing something called CAP. College Automotive Program. This program is in correspondence with Daimler Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep. A college about 15 min from me, in downtown Dayton, Ohio offers CAP. Little did I know that they are only one out of 31 schools in the NATION that has this program. Not only are they close to me, but they are actually recognized by Daimler Chrysler as the #1 school in the country with this program. (There is also a GM program, and GM recognizes the GM program as the #2 school in the country).

Basically I go to school starting in September. I go 7 straight quarters for a total of 80 weeks. I start 6 weeks at the university and in class. The next 6 weeks I go to my Sponsoring dealership as an intern. That is one quarter, I do this for 7 straight quarters. 40 weeks in school, 40 weeks in the dealership. There's people from all over and even out of state that go to this program. Only about 50 people are accepted in the Chrysler and another 50 in the GM. I have to find my own dealership that will accept me as an intern, luckily I've already found one that are willing to interview me, they've also had a CAP student in the past. I feel confident that I might get employed there, (my current boss has some hook ups there :D ) Once this 80 week program is finished I will be a Master Technician for any Chysler/Jeep/Dodge dealership anywhere in the country I want to go. The awesome thing is since I work at the dealership while training, I'm guaranteed pay and a job. Towards the end of the internship I make at least 13 dollars an hour.

It's supposed to be a reallly heavy work load tho. Since it's just like any other college, most students also would have to take "General Educations" courses, there is about 7-8 of these that the university requires. JUST the automotive courses need, you are already taking 15 credit hours. With the gen ed courses, students are taking over 20 credit hour quarters, for 7 straight quarters. WOW! Well, since I'm transferring and already taken some courses, and I'm going to take 2 courses this summer, I'll have all my "gen eds" out of the way. This way, when CAP starts in Sept, I'll ONLY be taking Auto courses, which there is about 20+ that I need to take. (Some of the auto courses are 7 credit hour courses)

Another plus is the dealership pays for 50% of the total cost of tuition/books/tools/etc.

I just wanted to tell everyone, I dont know why, but I'm just stoked about this!!

Here's an official link to CAP if anyone is just curious: http://www.cap.daimlerchrysler.com/d...x.htm?OpenForm

Wait till you see the prices of tools. I work for a dealership and its rediculous, but good luck with everything.

They have a list and prices of exactly what I need. They range from 1500-2500 for what I'll be needing. (Dealership pays for 25% of that as well.) Out of this list what tools/brand would any of you recommend? Dont worry about price:

MAC
Snap-On
NAPA
MATCO
Craftsman
MSC Industrial Supply
ProTools

id stay away from napa everything...
lol

Hey, it's things like that, that I'd appreciate tho. I'm cluless on this sort of thing. lol!

Talk to mechanics and ask them questions. No one knows better than someone thats been in the situation personally...

or you could join the Air Force or somthin like that...the bennefits of joining a military branch are awesome...they pay for everything

For the 18 months, I'm only paying about 6K:D I'd rather do this than AF tho:shifty:

I hate to say it, but if you did graduate college it would go a long way to helpin you establish a career instead of just a job.

If it's 13 bucks an hr you want try Hour Eyes, the goin rate in this area is like 12 bucks plus commission...

I understand college isn't for everyone, but just make sure you don't end up wishing you went to college later in life. Realize by the time you go to buy your first house the price will have more then tripled...IE decent wages will be starting at half a mil...

I'm simply saying that for the intership it's 13 dollars an hour. I'll be making way more than that. Take the time and look into it before saying this is not a career. (Dont mean for that to sound harsh). A guy I know is making 120+K a year being a Master Tech with a Mercedes dealership.

And I do get an Associates degree in Automotive Technology

yea i gotcha i'm just sayin, sometimes it's not always good to turn a hobby into a job...but hey what eva makes ya happy...go for it...

SNAP ON! Congrats on the decision by the way.

the benefits are awesome on paper... not so great in the real world, but thats another discussion for another time. congrats whitethunder!

Sounds like a plan to me!


Oh, and Craftsman all the way!!!!!