Getting started, Which school?

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I am 16, and making plans for after high school. I have decided that i definitely want to turn my hobby of welding into a career. I looked into Tulsa welding school because I have family out there, but am now looking into Hobart, I have heard good and bad about TWS and Hobart seems like they offer much more from an educational stand point. anybody have an opinion as to which school would be the best option to attend?
Reply:take my advice for what it is but as someone who is not a welder or planning to be one professionally, i would scope out what's available to you locally first(if finances are a consideration).  (though i understand the desire to leave home if you're young).  The welding teacher at the local community college here is pretty amazing. you come here and let that guy teach you and you will be prepared for anything. and for a lot less than $15k(hobart price according to google).  in louisiana if you get a decent gpa and certain ACT score you go to college for free at state institutions...i assume that includes the community colleges as they're state ran as well.  maybe similar where you live... so if you have a banging welding teacher locally and free school opportunities, then you're all set.  and if not, hey move here and go to school and ol' Tommy Smith will whip you into shape and it'll cost you a 1/5 of what hobart will.if your parents are paying for it then all this moot of course.or put another way,  you can spend 15k on hobart or spend 3k on good local school and have 12k left to invest in own business/set up/whatever.There's also JobCorps ***http://www.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx ***  which will teach you for free. you don't say where you're from so can't give you much more but if you go to the site and look for locations nearby you can see what's offered. not all offer welding. i have a coworker who was trained this way. he's in louisiana but was able to go to one in Arkansas. he's certified through 6G i believe. anyways, he had nothing but good things to say about it.
Reply:Thank you cajunboy! right now I am just looking for feedback, my parents seem to want me to go to a "big" welding school since i will not be going the college route, thats why I am looking into Hobart and TWS. I currently live near Atlanta GA, and there are a few small welding schools within an hour of my house that i may attend while I'm finishing up high school.
Reply:Which ever school you choose make sure your certificates are through either or: AWS,NCCER,ASME. I agree with cajunboy. Try a school locally first, if you feel this is your career path than I would go to a Larger Welding Facility:Hobart or Lincoln. Also make sure that you are able to learn at your own pace. A cousin of mine went to a well know welding school and was made to only weld what his class was. So in two years of schooling he really don't get the knowledge he should of. I would also look into welding engineer program at Ohio State or Ferris State. All the successful welding engineer's I've meet were top shelf welders in the beginning of their career. I will say that a career in welding has endless room for growth. I wish you the best, never give up on your success and push forward no matter how difficult things may get.
Reply:But what ever school you choose stay away from the student loan mills .They sign you up arrange financing and them kick you to the curb ,and you are paying a ten year loan .They were popping up all over a few years back but sense the student loan crisis there may not be as many
Reply:Actually job corps doesn't teach you for free. They pay you to learn.Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder
Reply:Thank you for the feedback guys! Ive been dead set on welding for a while, and currently use a flux core (getting mig this month). Im hoping that I can turn it into a lucrative career, as my parents are a little afraid that I'm not going to college.
Reply:Member here Lanse went to Hobart, he had nothing but great things to say about it. I would also look into Lincoln's welding school. Few years ago there was a huge blow out on the AWS forum about TWS. If the stories are even remotely true, I wouldn't drive down TWS's block! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:There is a pretty good school in Nevada, Missouri. What type of welding are you interested in pursuing?
Reply:I am hoping to get as many methods as possible under my belt, and then search from there for fabrication, pipeline, or ship building to start. Hoping to end up in a decent fabrication/repair shop for a few years but i understand that the chances of that are not necessarily high.
Reply:Originally Posted by hicktownHoping to end up in a decent fabrication/repair shop for a few years but i understand that the chances of that are not necessarily high.
Reply:Fab shops are pretty easy to get a job in. So is construction. I weld tested for a fab shop and went to work on the biggest and most difficult job there was the next day.Had only welded as a hobby up until then but also knew how to read prints and fabricate. As for pipeline my experience has been that being a helper and seeing how things work for a while is one of the better ways to start. If you are interested in being union some of the locals have certain times they accept apprenticeship applications.
Reply:Maybe its more common than I thought, now I just have to finish convincing my parents that i can truly make a career doing this. They now want me to do some 4 year Materials joining degree at some random school in Texas. This wouldn't be bad but I'm not wanting to do four more years of school, and Im guessing theres not as much hands on as they say.
Reply:Originally Posted by hicktownMaybe its more common than I thought, now I just have to finish convincing my parents that i can truly make a career doing this. They now want me to do some 4 year Materials joining degree at some random school in Texas. This wouldn't be bad but I'm not wanting to do four more years of school, and Im guessing theres not as much hands on as they say.
Reply:Yeah, I believe that Lincoln, Hobart, and most trade schools are all going to be very hands on, but I don't feel the same about this bachelors in material joining that the school they found in Texas offers.
Reply:My mom wanted me to become a lawyer boy was she disappointed when her little kid said no IMA be a welder point being is choose what you feel is best for you and join the best possible school that meets your standards
Reply:Yeah, that's what my plans are...I plan to work a career that I enjoy even if it takes a lot of work to get there and is "blue collar"
Reply:Originally Posted by EpicInvasion714My mom wanted me to become a lawyer boy was she disappointed when her little kid said no IMA be a welder point being is choose what you feel is best for you and join the best possible school that meets your standards
Reply:Originally Posted by lighttekkuActually job corps doesn't teach you for free. They pay you to learn.
Reply:Originally Posted by Cape Cod GaryGo Figure......... I have been turning wrenches and welding my entire working life. I am now in the process of enroling in law school.
Reply:Originally Posted by hicktownMaybe its more common than I thought, now I just have to finish convincing my parents that i can truly make a career doing this. They now want me to do some 4 year Materials joining degree at some random school in Texas. This wouldn't be bad but I'm not wanting to do four more years of school, and Im guessing theres not as much hands on as they say.