I'm dropping my pre-med major

[Oh Randi]

.. to be a VW mechanic.


Yeah. I think I may have gone off the deep end.


But I realized, I don't really like people. At all. I do, however, love working on my car. So, maybe I'll give it a shot. I just want to be happy!

Any thoughts?

[Lnzbug]

At least the cars won't crap their pants. Don't do anything too drastic though. Just because they charge us an arm and a leg doesn't mean the mechanic gets that. You could always do night school for the auto classes..

[CoriBug]

Yeah you should probably like people if you want to help them. And mechanic classes are a lot cheaper than med school! I love learning about engines, so I totally understand your decision. Keep us updated! A trustworthy mechanic is PRICELESS!

[AlienBug2000]

Go for it. Good job security. Good pay. Good hours. What's not to like?

[FarrisK]

Ok, I figure I should weigh in here:

I had a very tough time deciding between majoring in Electrical Engineering and becoming a certified tech. The deciding factor for me was talking to a friend of mine that decided NOT to become a tech.

The problem with working on cars for a living is that working on cars will be your JOB, not your HOBBY. What's nice about having a car to work on at home as a HOBBY is that you can come home to relieve stress from the JOB while working on your car. When they are one and the same, the HOBBY can lose it's sense of fun.

This is of course the much shortened version of the conversation (I hope the meaning is still there though... I'm kinda bad at explaining things.). I chose to become an electrical engineer because I can make enough money as an EE to support the hobby of working on cars, which is something that I REALLY enjoy doing. If working on cars is something that you can see yourself doing 9-5 M-F, go for it. I couldn't.

I just wanted to give some advice.

Good luck on whichever you choose!!!!!

[Oh Randi]

Another thing to consider is the fact that my parents are going through a really rough financial time. I don't know that I can even continue to go to my university for another 4 or 5 years. I'd like to, but right now I'm looking at having to transfer to a community college because I don't have enough money to pay for next year. I can always come back to OU... Maybe it would be good for me to become a tech for a few years so I can save up enough to come back. I dunno...

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

At least the cars won't crap their pants. Don't do anything too drastic though. Just because they charge us an arm and a leg doesn't mean the mechanic gets that. You could always do night school for the auto classes..

Another thing: I think part of the reason I wanted to go to med school was for the money. I realized I don't like working with people, and I would be miserable. I don't want to end up in a career I hate.

[MichelleRoze]

Do what makes you happy. I have tossed back and forth between majors for school. Originally I wanted to go to school to be a Dental Assistant then Dental Hygenist because they make GREAT money.....then I remembered, I have a fear of the dentist office.

So, I was going to be a Vet Tech, then on to Veterinarian. But after realizeing that would take 8 years of school or more at a major university, I thought, maybe I need a quicker degree so that I can afford to be in school that long. That way I'm not stuck working at Walmart while I'm in school.

So, then it was auto mechanic, therapist, massage therapy, physical therapy, back to mechanic, cosmetology, vet tech, mechanic, cosmetology....

What was the end result after all that thinking and deciding? Cosmetology. Something I never planned to go to school for. But, a degree and license can be earned in 1 year full time or 2 year part time. Part time worked great because it went around my job, which at the time I needed. I'm not 5 months into school, and I LOVE it. I can't wait to graduate. Plus, the more I find out about the industry, the more I see that it's really recession proof, if I don't work in a salon, I can always work from home. And like being a mechanic, people will always need this work done. Now, do I still plan to become a veterinarian? Maybe, but atleast this time I can work on hair, skin, and nails while going to school to be a vet and make more than I would with just some minimum wage retail job.

I think it's a good step. If that's what you ultimately want to be, then great. If not, atleast then you can earn a higher wage while going back to school for something else. I totally understand where you are coming from with this idea, and I think it's great! I may go to school to be a mechanic as well, just cause I want that knowledge for my own sake.

[MichelleRoze]

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

Another thing: I think part of the reason I wanted to go to med school was for the money. I realized I don't like working with people, and I would be miserable. I don't want to end up in a career I hate.

DING! DING!!! We have a winner!!!

That's one of the many reasons I didn't become a Dental Hygenist. I hate dentists. And I don't really care for working in people's mouths. Yes they get paid really well. But regardless of how much you are going to pay me, if I'm going to hate coming to work, I don't want to do it!!

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

DING! DING!!! We have a winner!!!

That's one of the many reasons I didn't become a Dental Hygenist. I hate dentists. And I don't really care for working in people's mouths. Yes they get paid really well. But regardless of how much you are going to pay me, if I'm going to hate coming to work, I don't want to do it!!

hahaha I used to want to be a dental hygenist... then I realized I CANNOT STAND nasty teeth!

And I am SO glad you shared your story... it's very interesting because one of my friends has been trying to get me to look into cosmetology because I love doing hair. I do ALL my friends hair. And I love doing it. I never thought about doing it for a job. Would it be weird to go to school for cosmetology AND to be a mechanic? lol

I may not make very much money working on cars or people's hair, but at least I wouldn't have a job that makes me want to shoot myself in the face every day.




And another thing, I would LOVE to open up my own shop. Because I cannot tell you how frustrated I am with dealerships and the like! They don't listen! They don't care! They just want to throw parts at you! Parts that cost an arm and a leg. They just want your money. I would want to work in a shop that actually cares. I would only hire people who have a passion for VW's. We wouldn't lie to people, or throw parts at them. Things would be different.

[cep]

If these were normal times, I'd suggest that you are making a HUGE mistake by switching from the medical field to auto mechanic.

But, these are not normal times and may never be again. By the time they get done 'reforming' the medical industry, and in the process telling those in it what they will be permitted to earn, there may be people leaving the medical field in droves, off to find something in which they can be better paid for their education and labor. One of my daughters is very close to getting her BS in Nursing and I hope she's able to find a job when she's done.

Quote:
The problem with working on cars for a living is that working on cars will be your JOB, not your HOBBY. What's nice about having a car to work on at home as a HOBBY is that you can come home to relieve stress from the JOB while working on your car. When they are one and the same, the HOBBY can lose it's sense of fun.

That is SO true. There is no hobby that can't be ruined by having to do it full time.

[70autostick]

Very cool,i decided to persue my goal of becoming a master technician,currently taking automotive courses...The techs allow me to practice my assignments on my own NB,learning alotASE here i come!

good luck to ya

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by cep

If these were normal times, I'd suggest that you are making a HUGE mistake by switching from the medical field to auto mechanic.

But, these are not normal times and may never be again. By the time they get done 'reforming' the medical industry, and in the process telling those in it what they will be permitted to earn, there may be people leaving the medical field in droves, off to find something in which they can be better paid for their education and labor. One of my daughters is very close to getting her BS in Nursing and I hope she's able to find a job when she's done.

EXACTLY! That was a point I forgot to mention. Even if I did manage to find a job, I wouldn't get paid enough to pay off med school. Ridiculous.

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by 70autostick

Very cool,i decided to persue my goal of becoming a master technician,currently taking automotive courses...The techs allow me to practice my assignments on my own NB,learning alotASE here i come!

good luck to ya

ahhh I would love to be able to do assignments on my own car! haha

[Smileybug]

I will echo the thoughts on making a hobby your job.

My fiance has a cousin who is a photographer. She started doing it as a hobby and its now her business. She's phenomenal at it. She's loves it too. But she talked to us both about it. Bill really likes photography but she told him the same thing...be very wary about turning your hobby into a job. She got lucky and its worked out well for her. But I would hate to do that and then end up hating it. My hobbies are hobbies for a reason.

[AlienBug2000]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

What was the end result after all that thinking and deciding? Cosmetology.

Is it tough dealing with the weightlessness?

Props to anyone who remembers what movie that reference is from.

[70autostick]

Originally Posted by AlienBug2000

Is it tough dealing with the weightlessness?

Props to anyone who remembers what movie that reference is from.

The Jerk,1979...PWN

[CoriBug]

My mechanic is in his mid 30s and has worked on VWs for 20 years. He still loves what he does after all these years.

[TDI-Sport]

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

But I realized, I don't really like people. At all.

If you dislike people, working on their cars isn't going to make you dislike them any less. I worked for a dealer for 8 years. Every day I was there I learned a new reason to dislike people.

[dnyed]

ASE certified mechanics are in high demand. Being one, you could work in any city you want. I say, do what you love.