Welding/Trade school questions

[eatatmidnight]

My son asked his welding instructor about Hobart. He said that he had heard good things about it but hasn't had a student go there.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

My son asked his welding instructor about Hobart. He said that he had heard good things about it but hasn't had a student go there.

Thank you for the info, and please thank your son for asking!

 

[robertstevenbk]

First choice is the Hobart Institute of Welding guide Technology in Troy, OH. My brother worked for KitchenAid for years when it was owned by Hobart, so I have spent a good bit of time in Troy and remember it as being a nice little town. However, I have to admit that I saw Star Wars in the movie theater in Troy , so that should tell you my frame of reference for Troy. The biggest negative would be that he would be 10 hours or so away from home and not know anyone there.

 

[crisi]

My son is finishing up a welding program at the local community college. It sounds like you are exploring that. Its by far the best bang for the buck.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My son is finishing up a welding program at the local community college. It sounds like you are exploring that. Its by far the best bang for the buck.

This thread is 7 years old. The son is probably out of school and working somewhere now.

First choice is the Hobart Institute of Welding guide Technology in Troy, OH. My brother worked for KitchenAid for years when it was owned by Hobart, so I have spent a good bit of time in Troy and remember it as being a nice little town. However, I have to admit that I saw Star Wars in the movie theater in Troy , so that should tell you my frame of reference for Troy. The biggest negative would be that he would be 10 hours or so away from home and not know anyone there.

Welcome to the dis.

 

[FastPasser.]

This thread is 7 years old. The son is probably out of school and working somewhere now..

I sure hope so. Good catch Dan. Hope all's well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hope all's well

From one retiree to another, yes, all is well, thanks. Hope with you also, FP. Stay healthy, stay safe.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

@Mrs. Bradbury
How did your son make out with his welding career? Somehow this old thread has been resurrected but I'd love to hear a happy ending.

Our son, who has ADHD and struggled through school from day 1, attended a small, private welding school near home (NJ) last summer (June-Sept) and got a great job that he loves. The school was very affordable compared to college and with OT he'll make almost $70k. More importantly, he is happy as a clam.
He is a clone of dh who is also a welder. Dh has other tasks in his job besides just welding so he doesn't do it as often these days. Ds20 can already weld better than dh. They both agree on this.
I'm so happy for him.

 

[crisi]

This thread is 7 years old. The son is probably out of school and working somewhere now.

Dang zombies, they arise from everywhere!

 

[Julie Amber]

I don't know about these particular schools. But I can say that my son decided to do welding school and loved every minute. He works as a welder now, makes more money than a lot of people with college degrees, and is happy. It has always worked out best for us to support the adult kids in whatever field they want to go into and hope for the best. I haven't found it does any good to try to make them do anything different. I would have hated it if my parents did that. I have a pretty unconventional job (well I own my own very unconventional business), and it works for me. If my parents were badgering me about it, I would still do it but it would hurt my relationship with them. So good job for trying to love and support

 

[MrsPete]

Although my youngest is my brightest child, he's also my worst student.

I have a brother like that, and he would have been MUCH better off if he'd gone to some sort of trade school.

Unfortunately, my ex's (his dad's) family has been pestering him for years now that he has to go to college and make something of himself and not be like them. That strategy is not working and honestly it's putting my son under so much stress to be expected to fulfill their unrealized dreams.

I'm sure they believe they're being helpful, and you're unlikely to change their minds or their methods. What you CAN do is talk to your son and let him know that you support his plans. Suggest that he take their advice (politely) with a grain of salt.

He's already researched welding schools and has 3 in mind.

This is a HUGE plus. HE researched these schools himself, which means he doesn't just have an idea or a passing fancy -- he has a GOAL.

A good next step: visit each of these three schools.

With something so specific I suggest he look into some job shadowing.

An excellent suggestion. Shadowing would let him see whether his idea of welding matches up with the reality of welding.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

@Mrs. Bradbury
How did your son make out with his welding career? Somehow this old thread has been resurrected but I'd love to hear a happy ending.

Our son, who has ADHD and struggled through school from day 1, attended a small, private welding school near home (NJ) last summer (June-Sept) and got a great job that he loves. The school was very affordable compared to college and with OT he'll make almost $70k. More importantly, he is happy as a clam.
He is a clone of dh who is also a welder. Dh has other tasks in his job besides just welding so he doesn't do it as often these days. Ds20 can already weld better than dh. They both agree on this.
I'm so happy for him.

Thank you for asking! My son went to our local technical school, but switched from welding to machining. He finished all the courses relevant to machining and would not finish the other 2 or 3 non-machining courses that are required to earn an Associate's Degree. He worked at a few places doing machining work, quickly discovered that as the new guy he was always put on production jobs, developed carpal tunnel syndrome, and currently is doing preventive maintenance and repair on conveyor belts at a few Fedex sorting facilities; our former neighbor has a successful business doing this and he's really enjoying this work. He has 2 1/2 more years until he's 26 and will no longer be on my health insurance, and has to really decide what he wants to do. I don't mind at all that he's trying different things out.

 

[elaine amj]

Thank you for asking! My son went to our local technical school, but switched from welding to machining. He finished all the courses relevant to machining and would not finish the other 2 or 3 non-machining courses that are required to earn an Associate's Degree. He worked at a few places doing machining work, quickly discovered that as the new guy he was always put on production jobs, developed carpal tunnel syndrome, and currently is doing preventive maintenance and repair on conveyor belts at a few Fedex sorting facilities; our former neighbor has a successful business doing this and he's really enjoying this work. He has 2 1/2 more years until he's 26 and will no longer be on my health insurance, and has to really decide what he wants to do. I don't mind at all that he's trying different things out.

Thank you for your update! I was really curious how things worked out for your son. My own DS18 just finished a year of college and barely passed. But has no idea what he wants to do next. He tried machining through co-op in high school and although he said it was "fine", he refuses to try it again. He hasn't found any other trade he likes so far. I work on being patient and giving him time to figure things out

 

[tikilyn]

My son decided he wanted to be a welder after taking a welding class in his sophomore year. He's currently in his senior year of high school and taking welding 2. He has decided to go to TSTC to get an associates degree in welding (it's local and will live at home). He has been in contact with the college counselor and has gotten every thing set up and ready to go with them. I'm so proud of him! He has shown us that he is serious about his choice.

At first I was a bit disappointed that he didn't want to go to traditional college and get a 4 year degree but I had to accept that it's his life and his choice and I am not going to stand in his way.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

My son decided he wanted to be a welder after taking a welding class in his sophomore year. He's currently in his senior year of high school and taking welding 2. He has decided to go to TSTC to get an associates degree in welding (it's local and will live at home). He has been in contact with the college counselor and has gotten every thing set up and ready to go with them. I'm so proud of him! He has shown us that he is serious about his choice.

At first I was a bit disappointed that he didn't want to go to traditional college and get a 4 year degree but I had to accept that it's his life and his choice and I am not going to stand in his way.

Trade school is under appreciated. My DH makes 6 figures with his trade school degree.

My oldest daughter (straight A Honors student, high ACT, etc) just completed 4 years of college at a private school and is basically working 3 part-time jobs to piece together a small full time income.

Support their choices and cross your fingers.

 

[afan]

Trade school is under appreciated. My DH makes 6 figures with his trade school degree.

My oldest daughter (straight A Honors student, high ACT, etc) just completed 4 years of college at a private school and is basically working 3 part-time jobs to piece together a small full time income.

Support their choices and cross your fingers.

The trades need more people, there's such a focus on everyone needing to go to college that they've been a bit ignored lately. And as you said, many make more in a trade than they would at a desk job. And the starting pay can be well above that first out of college job too.

I just saw on GMA this morning about there being a lack of truck drivers which make cause a gas shortage in some areas.

And at some point most of us need a plumber, electrian, auto mechanic etc nevermind all the other trade jobs that keep our cities and states running and growing.

 

[Lisa28Rd]

Although my youngest is my brightest child, he's also my worst student.

He is a junior in high school this year, and is dead set on going to welding school instead of college. No amount of reason has convinced him to consider doing both - he says he wants no more academic courses after high school. Because I've experienced my other two children going out on their own, I realize it's a waste of time/money/tears to try to make him do anything other than what he's got his heart set on doing. Unfortunately, my ex's (his dad's) family has been pestering him for years now that he has to go to college and make something of himself and not be like them. That strategy is not working and honestly it's putting my son under so much stress to be expected to fulfill their unrealized dreams.

He's already researched welding schools and has 3 in mind. I would appreciate any comments about the schools themselves, the industry, and the cities these schools are in, and any other useful advice.

For reference, we live in northeast/central GA in a pretty small town. Small enough to NOT have a Starbucks, lol. We've never lived anywhere else, so this is all my son knows.

His first choice is the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, OH. My brother worked for KitchenAid for years when it was owned by Hobart, so I have spent a good bit of time in Troy and remember it as being a nice little town. However, I have to admit that I saw Star Wars in the movie theater in Troy , so that should tell you my frame of reference for Troy. The biggest negative would be that he would be 10 hours or so away from home and not know anyone there. The plus would be snow!!! You know how southerners are about snow.

His second choice is Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville, FL. My only observation about this is that Jacksonville used to be a pretty dangerous town, and may be still. In a former job, again years ago, the company I worked for owned restaurants across the south and the Jacksonville ones were always having issues. The plus would be he would be closer to home, and in a pinch, my daughter lives in Savannah.

His third choice is Georgia Trade School in Kennesaw, GA, which would be about an hour away from us. Kennesaw is a suburb of Atlanta these days. I'm completely neutral about this choice. He would not be able to live at home because Atlanta traffic is such that he would be nuts not to live close to school.

I'm fine with wherever he chooses as long as it's the right choice for him; my concern is that there is so much dishonesty with trade schools in general, it's hard to know what is legit.

Also, if there are other fabulous options, please let us know! I do know that he doesn't want to do shipbuilding/underwater welding.

Thanks for your input ~

My son went to Hobart in 2007 and it was a very positive experience. Although it has been a while, Troy was a nice small town at the time with affordable rent options. My son

 

[Lisa28Rd]

Although my youngest is my brightest child, he's also my worst student.

He is a junior in high school this year, and is dead set on going to welding school instead of college. No amount of reason has convinced him to consider doing both - he says he wants no more academic courses after high school. Because I've experienced my other two children going out on their own, I realize it's a waste of time/money/tears to try to make him do anything other than what he's got his heart set on doing. Unfortunately, my ex's (his dad's) family has been pestering him for years now that he has to go to college and make something of himself and not be like them. That strategy is not working and honestly it's putting my son under so much stress to be expected to fulfill their unrealized dreams.

He's already researched welding schools and has 3 in mind. I would appreciate any comments about the schools themselves, the industry, and the cities these schools are in, and any other useful advice.

For reference, we live in northeast/central GA in a pretty small town. Small enough to NOT have a Starbucks, lol. We've never lived anywhere else, so this is all my son knows.

His first choice is the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, OH. My brother worked for KitchenAid for years when it was owned by Hobart, so I have spent a good bit of time in Troy and remember it as being a nice little town. However, I have to admit that I saw Star Wars in the movie theater in Troy , so that should tell you my frame of reference for Troy. The biggest negative would be that he would be 10 hours or so away from home and not know anyone there. The plus would be snow!!! You know how southerners are about snow.

His second choice is Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville, FL. My only observation about this is that Jacksonville used to be a pretty dangerous town, and may be still. In a former job, again years ago, the company I worked for owned restaurants across the south and the Jacksonville ones were always having issues. The plus would be he would be closer to home, and in a pinch, my daughter lives in Savannah.

His third choice is Georgia Trade School in Kennesaw, GA, which would be about an hour away from us. Kennesaw is a suburb of Atlanta these days. I'm completely neutral about this choice. He would not be able to live at home because Atlanta traffic is such that he would be nuts not to live close to school.

I'm fine with wherever he chooses as long as it's the right choice for him; my concern is that there is so much dishonesty with trade schools in general, it's hard to know what is legit.

Also, if there are other fabulous options, please let us know! I do know that he doesn't want to do shipbuilding/underwater welding.

Thanks for your input ~

My son went to Hobart in 2007 and it was a very positive experience. The skills he learned transferred well into a career for him. Although several years ago, we found Troy to be a nice small town. we would definitely recommend Hobart. Best of luck, this is definitely a needed trade.