opinions wanted

[01MaroIL]

right now i have been wondering about what im going to do after college. i am a sophmore right now with no major and i am not going to be getting one soon i dont think. So basically i dont know why i am here at school. i dont know where i want to take this.

today i was with my dad and uncle and we were discussing the situation and my uncle who works for a local union told me he could get me an apprenticeship to become an electrician. He told me that they get paid pretty decent for an apprentice and a lot more after that period was over.

Now if you were in my situation what would you do? Take the apprenticeship or continue school and hope you can figure out a major and pursue that?

Thanks for any input because you guys are usually very helpful and willing to help when other members post questions that dont pertain to the V6 camaro/firebird.

[Flowbee V6]

Think your qualified to eventually become an electrician? Hey, if your lucky enough to already have the hookups for a decent job like that, I would go for it. Sure you might miss the "college life", but think of the money you'll save on top of getting paid

[L32Projekt]

Would the Union help with paying for your tuition? If yes, then I'd take the job (if you're into being an electrician, don't take the job if you have no interest in the career) and continue my education while working.

[LD]

experience is absolutely priceless
if you could gain experience then go back to school...
early 20's 2 to 5 years experience AND a degree?
people would snatch you up

[01MaroIL]

paying for tuition isnt a problem. i have all the proper student loans that would not need to be payed until i am finished with school.

Also i am away at school and the job would be near my hometown which is a 4 hour ride.

i do have interest in the job and i have been told they make a decent living.

[hockeyman]

Electricians make decent money because they are always in demand. There is no Off-Season for them.
If I were you, I'd stay in school since you're already there, finish your degree, then go for the electrician if you are still interested. Getting back into the rhythm of college is kinda tough later on in life. You're already there, finish off what you've started. JMO :D

[ellik]

tough call..... if you stay in school with no major, no focus, are you really accomplishing anything? You have to pick something or you wont be able to finish out.

If you think that you could find being an electrician interesting, then I would definately go for it. A liscenced Union electrician right now is making about $35/hour I believe. Thats a damn good wage.

The downside is if you drop out of college right now, you will have to start paying back your federal loans immediately. Also, it will be harder if you to get the funding back if you decide this route isnt for you and want to finish getting a degree.

If you consider taking the job, you might think about transfering to a local C.C. and enroll part-time in just enough credits to keep your federal loans and be considered an active student.

[Mogobs30th]

I don't know, there are a lot of people now that are telling you to continue your education, but the simple fact is that most of us go to school in the first place to line us up with a decent career after our schooling is done. Being an electrician is one helluva career. Honestly, unless the sole purpose for school is to extend your education for your own self instead of getting a career, then I wouldn't even consider wasting anymore time or money in school if you were to fully invest yourself into becoming an electrician.

I am in the process of entering the JATC program to become an electrician myself. I had done school for a short time, and realized that even with school, nothing is guaranteed, but by entering this program, I believe I have a MUCH greater chance of succeeding and having a career worth something.

[01MaroIL]

See that what i am confused about because school is pointless if i decide to take the apprenticeship.

And paying off the student loans wont be a big deal because i am going to an instate school and the tuition is inexpensive. Monthly payments for my loans will also be very cheap.

Regardless of what i do decide to do i have to finish out my semester here and go from there.

Mogobs: i agree with you because even if i walk out of here with a degree in business, computers, whatever i am not guranteed to start working right out of the gates. For all i know i may be working at Best Buy for a year and that is also why i am considering this.
If you dont mind my asking what made you decide that you wanted to become an electrician?

[SpeedingFirebird]

As a college grad (Masters in Computer science) and a student (Ph.D), I think you should stay in school. While a electrician makes good money, you are passing up the opportunity that many people only wish they could afford. You have an opportunity to get an education and to possibly get a better job. Not only better, but with more chances for advancement. I am not trying to put down any electricians out there, but 30 years of doing that gets old.

Get a nice cushy desk job with chances for advancement. Work inside with A/C. I do. :D

As far as chosing a major. What do you enjoy doing? Are you a gearhead, techies, what? I took my hobby (programming) and made a career out it. Find a hobby of yours and drive your degree in that direction.

An electrician is a fine job for now, but think 30 years. If it is not something you want to do, you will hate it in the long run. You have a chance to do better. Do not give up on college because you cannot decide on a major. Find a major instead.

My $0.02.

[Mogobs30th]

Originally posted by 01MaroIL:
See that what i am confused about because school is pointless if i decide to take the apprenticeship.

And paying off the student loans wont be a big deal because i am going to an instate school and the tuition is inexpensive. Monthly payments for my loans will also be very cheap.

Regardless of what i do decide to do i have to finish out my semester here and go from there.

Mogobs: i agree with you because even if i walk out of here with a degree in business, computers, whatever i am not guranteed to start working right out of the gates. For all i know i may be working at Best Buy for a year and that is also why i am considering this.
If you dont mind my asking what made you decide that you wanted to become an electrician?

Simply put, I have to work with my hands, I cannot stand sitting behind a desk for someone else, making money for someone else. As an electrician, you can go do what you want. When you have a journeyman's card, you can get work anywhere in the country. Personally, if I already had my Journeyman's card, I would go to New Orleans as soon as those floodwaters recede. Money can be made anywhere in the country as a Journeyman. There is no tedious interviewing process when you are a Journeyman electrician, simply go to the local IBEW, tell them you are looking for work, and they find it for you. You don't have to sit there and impress someone with your schooling and skills that might not quite fit the job description that some employers are looking for.

Yes, it takes a little bit to get that card, and the starting pay is nothing to get all hyped up about, but everything takes time. Why PAY for schooling and run the risk of not getting a career job from the start when you can go for training in the electricians field, get PAYED for it instead of paying for it, and have something that can be IMO more fullfilling of a career?

but 30 years of doing that gets old.
..... Get a nice cushy desk job with chances for advancement. Work inside with A/C. I do.

IMO, if I worked behind a desk, I would bore myself a hole in my head with a pick hammer. Speeding, you make a good point, if it is not something you want to do, then you will hate it, but at the same time, do you believe that schooling is something that he wants to do, or the career path and major he chooses something he will want to stay with after 30 years??? You can say that about both paths to be taken, no one really knows whether or not you will like what path you take until that path has been taken.

[ September 12, 2005, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: Mogobs30th ]

[ellik]

There is no limit to what you can do, with or without a degree. I went to school, got a 5 year B. Arch and make less than half of what my younger brother makes each year with just his H.S. diploma. He worked for a contractor for a year, made a bunch of contacts, and started his own drywall business.

[01MaroIL]

i appreciate all your input guys. it is a big decision because i would have to decide soon.

i think what i will do in the meantime is reasearch the profession and try and get as much info as i can to make a more informed decision.

I do like working with my hands and that is why i do think i may enjoy this.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Originally posted by Mogobs30th:
Simply put, I have to work with my hands, I cannot stand sitting behind a desk for someone else

I am the same way. I spend my evenings and my weekends in the garage working on the FB. I am also my own handyman, electrician, goundskeeper, you get the idea. I too need to work with my hands, but I get that fix at home.

As far as working for someone else, that's like any business you get into. I could work for myself if I wanted to as well as you could work for someone. It's a preference thing. I know most (not saying you in particular) people that work for themselves get buried in work and paperwork. Who has time for that, I have a FB to work on. [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img]

[4thgenowner]

Pilot. [img]graemlins/rock.gif[/img]