Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Automotive Mechanics
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Miami Dade College, Broward College, State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota, and Palm Beach State College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Miami Dade College, Broward College, South Florida Community College, and Palm Beach State College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Indian River State College, Daytona State College, FSC Jacksonville, and Seminole State College of Florida.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Chipola, Pensacola Junior College, Brevard Community College, and South Florida Community College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Chipola and South Florida Community College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Sarasota County Technical Institute • Sarasota, FL
Studying Automotive Technician (completion in 2008)
• 10/11/2011
"I was extremely satisfied. I got my certifications and learned everything I was clueless about going into the program. It was an amazing place."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you live in the Sarasota area, I highly recommend you go to SCTI, especially if you're into automotive ASE certifications. The school is great and they have wonderful instructors. It's a fast track program to get you certified and out in the world making money. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The automotive program is extremely credible and with your certification you can get a job anywhere in this area. Also, the program is well structured and very well taught. |
| Program Quality | 5 | SCTI was an average school. It was pretty hands on except for the electrical part, which consisted more of books and studying. |
| Instruction | 7 | The teachers are great and really know what they're doing there. They are dedicated to the students, because they certainly don't do it for the money! |
| How Difficult | 2 | The instructors at SCTI were very easy to understand and very good at explaining how to do things. The garage there is awesome and has every tool imaginable. I wish I had some of those tools yesterday! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The automotive program at SCTI was nothing but hands on other then the standard test for your ASE certification. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes were very flexible. There were several options you could choose from during the night and day. They work with your current work schedule and help you pick the days that are best for you. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The facilities are amazing. The garage was huge and was very neat and clean. Instructors were always available to answer any questions I had. |
| Social Life | 10 | The teachers were great and my fellow students were awesome and extremely helpful. It felt like a family - we all helped each other and even became friends outside of school. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Their job placement is great. I'm not sure what the percentage is, but other students I studied with all got jobs through the job placement service. I, however, ventured out and did my own thing. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network is great. It is easily accessible online. But short of that I never paid attention to it. I went to get my ASE certification and never looked back. |
Lively Technical Institute • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Automotive Service Technology (completion in 2006)
• 12/28/2011
"Lively was a second home to me. I earned my certification in two years. I had some of the best professors and teachers of my life and learned more than I could have imagined."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would happily refer Lively to an aspiring mechanic. It is a welcoming place that challenges and guides students but knows your limits. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Lively is the average technical school. You get treated well while you are there, but you learn what you need and leave. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Lively provided a second home. The teachers were friendly and the class sizes small enough so I learned a lot easier than in a traditional class. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors were very one on one. They helped individual students when necessary. No student was left behind. |
| How Difficult | 7 | If you missed something, you really had to work it out because it was rigorous. Everything really built upon the previous lesson. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Because it is a technical school, Lively was all about practical learning. It was obvious that they believed once you learn something you'll retain it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Certain advanced classes only offered one time per semester or you couldn't take it. But, all the other classes had many options. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The practical classrooms were very large. We always had plenty of space to work and the resources were always there. If we ever needed help someone was always there. |
| Social Life | 7 | Being a technical school everyone was good with their hands. I used to get together with some other guys in my classes and play football. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I was proud of the career assistance program. They helped me find a job before I left with above average pay. A job I still hold today. |
| Alumni Network | I don't know much about alumni associations or anything like that. |
Robert Morgan Auto Technical School • Miami, FL
Studying Automotive Technology (completion in 2007)
• 1/29/2012
"The school was very satisfying to me, mainly due to me learning many new things. I am now able to utilize what I have learned in the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school, because it is a perfect opportunity to learn a trade and because of the doors it will open for anyone in the future. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | In my area, the school is a top choice for automotive technology. There are not many options one can choose in regard to automotive technology, so this school's reputation for providing top-tier education is high. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Programs were efficient and very professional. The instruction was very hands on. |
| Instruction | 8 | Instructors were very knowledgeable. School was very efficient in regard to location and actual educational materials, such as a vehicle to work on. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Since lessons were very understandable and were delivered with excellence, courses were completed with ease. Thanks to the teachers, instructors and easy lesson plans, courses were extremely easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes were 80% hands on and 20% book learning. Books were used mainly to illustrate images and how-to instructions before we were able to actually work on the car. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | An average schedule is that of a regular school or high school. From 7am to 2pm is the average schedule and they provide nighttime classes for certain individuals who need it. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Classroom tools were up to date and worked very well on vehicles. Computers and software were a bit outdated, but very feasible. |
| Social Life | 8 | Great environment, mainly because classmates are there with similar aspirations. Also, there were events where we could bring our vehicles into the classroom garage and our classmates would help with minor repairs as needed. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Job placement is poor, mainly because the job I acquired was in the automotive field, but not a hands-on job. They successfully opened doors and opportunities for me. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There are not many alumni, mainly due to the school program being new. However, there are a number of successful mechanics who come out of this school. |
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