WTI - The Electronics School WTI - Not what they appear to be Wichita Kansas

In early 2005, I was turned down for National Guard Officer Candidate School for health reasons. As I'd planned to make that a career, I was somewhat at a loss as to what to do next. As finances were limited, regular college wasn't an attractive option. However, I saw ads on TV talking about how much the field of electronics and computers would be growing and how people with that training could be in demand and make good money. As my liberal arts degree hadn't exactly opened any doors, I decided to look into this.

WTI happened to have a branch campus in my hometown and I called them, set up an appointment, and met with its director. (I'm not going to mention real names here for the sake of legalities). I was assured that it would be "no problem" for me to land a good job (good job to me = $15 to $20 per hour) with their training and my four-year degree.

The joke of an entrance test was waived for me as they figured (correctly) that I could read, write, and do simple math problems. I wasn't so much looking at the earning potential at that time as I was sold on the large amount of "hands-on training" that they claimed they emphasized.

I knew almost nothing about electronics; they claimed that would not be the case when I finished. I expressed concerns about gaps in my employment history; they claimed that my 14 months of training there would compensate for that. This has not proven to be true in my case.

It's an $18K course; student loans paid for about $10.5K, the remainder coming out-of-pocket in monthly installments in $100 increments.

The Basic course was essentially chaos. The instructor would give a short lecture and then you were turned loose to do the paperwork and the lab. The class did not stay together and there were some students who were able to work ahead quickly leaving others of us in the dust.

There was never any systematic instruction given at this beginning level as to how to go about reading an electronics schematic and how to transfer that drawing to an operational circuit on your trainer board. The instructor's attitude was that you needed to figure out those problems for yourself, after all, you were all technicians now! Technicians - in one month's time?

The labs were basically a joke as you still passed the course regardless of how many lab assignments you actually turned in. Most of the time, I had to get help from one of the other guys in the class who was a natural genius at it. The math formulas were interesting and so were looking at the circuits and how to measure resistance, capacitance, and inductance. On paper, that is. The labs were harder because much of the time the equipment didn't work properly; a fact that the school frequently admitted. None of their equipment was what one would call "top of the line". The problem is that they spend their money on TV ads and not on good classroom training aids.

Analog and Digital was the next 12-week course and I admit I did actually learn something in that class. This was becasue the instructor has a graduate degree in physics and, once he gets his doctoral dissertation done, can probably teach anywhere in the world he chooses. He kept us together and made us work our labs out completely before moving on. Next 12 weeks, same instructor and this was for A+ certification. Unfortunately we moved so quickly that I learned next to nothing new about computers.

No programming was included and only a limited time was devoted to networking and supporting such. Also CompTia (computer people know what I mean) was changing the format of the A+ test at that time. I thought to myself, what good is taking the "old" test with Windows 95 and 98??? Better to know 2000 and XP.

Next came Industrial Electronics and that was a complete joke. Our biggest accomplishment there was using Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to program a simple traffic signal. In "Industrial" you would expect to be introduced to some mechanical theory and how it relates to electronics. Not so. It's as though electronics in an industrial setting exists in a vacuum.

Unfortunately, most industrial employers seeking electronics technicians specify that they want someone with a mechanical background too. Most of that semester, however, we spent taking practice tests for the Associate-level CET exam. That, too, was a joke as the school had somehow managed to get a hold of the whole pool of test questions that would be asked on the test. Therefore, if you memorized the questions and answers they gave you, you were certain to pass the test. That in fact was the case.

Almost nobody failed althought there were people who were obviously not putting out any effort. The same was true of the FCC Radio Operators test the following quarter. As far as I know, everyone who turned in an assignment got their J-Standard Solder Certificate too.

The final quarter was Communications. We built a radio from a $45 kit to practice our soldering skills and took apart a cheap television set. All the while being told that nobody actually DOES radio or television repair anymore (nor computers either for that matter; in most cases, it's just a matter of board-swapping). Not once did we delve into radar, cellular, or microwave communications - nor did the school have any scaled-down pieces of equipment like that. Part of the course was supposed to be devoted to avionics but we never even cracked the book covering that material. One field trip to the local airport sufficed for avionics - and one open-note test.

When these concerns were voiced to the afore-mentioned director, his attitude was that the school had been in business for over 50 years and he'd been doing this job for 30 years and he knew what he was doing. I'm sorry, but they don't. They mostly teach to the tests; they don't teach so that you actually retain any information. With the tests, you are practically given the answers beforehand. As I said, Analog and Digital was the ONLY challenging course I had there.

Through all of this, you are building up your "portfolio" which is supposed to open the eyes of potential employers. In this portfolio goes your grades from each quarter, an honor roll certificate (if you qualified), and a perfect attendance certificate (if you qualified), as well as your professional certifications. I had perfect attendance throughout the entire 60-week course and honor roll in each of the five semesters. I even had a 98% GPA in the final semester and with it a Letter of Excellence.

In the final analysis, it all meant virtually nothing. Most of the places to which I sought employment as an entry-level tech wanted AT LEAST a bachelor's degree in EET. Most of the jobs people are getting are along the lines of installing car alarms or home security systems. Nothing wrong with that, but does one need 14 months of schooling to do what can basically be learned on the job in a few weeks? Oh yes, there are a few computer help-desk positions available for less than or equal to $10/hour. No "real" jobs doing lower-level engineering work like I imagined.

Once I realized what a bunch of nothing my portfolio actually was, I discovered that it made a nice fire in our grill in the back yard. One interviewer ignored it entirely (had probably seen dozens of them in the past).

In conclusion, I would just like to state that I am a person who goes the extra mile regarding what I put into my education and my job search. Unfortunately, a 14-month certificate program such as this does not prepare you for the sort of high-end jobs that you see portrayed on the TV spots. True, some people MIGHT be getting these jobs right out of school, but I would lay odds that they have some additional educational or professional experience to go with it. Like any private trade school, anyone walking in their door is seen as a dollar sign and nothing more.

The placement office I don't think really prepares a person adequately for interviews nor are resum concerns addressed well. It's just a matter of getting people in and getting them out. Frankly, I would love nothing better than to have my money back. However, I am more than certain that, after 52 years in business, they've got their tail-ends covered legally. I've decided that the best thing to do is to get a retail job and work off my debts for the next few years. Then, perhaps look at going back to a traditional college.

My advice to anyone seeking a degree in a technical field: Go To A Traditional University!!! Spend the extra time and money taking the "mickey mouse" courses. It will be well-worth it in the end, as colleges will have better ways to network with potential employers and access to work-study programs that these little private, for-profit, places don't have and have no intention of having. Colleges also tend to have more knowledgeable faculty, more comprehensive classes, and people who can "mentor" you. Do not make this mistake; this school, and others like it, ONLY want your money.

Brandt
Topeka, Kansas
U.S.A.