Universal Technical Institute — Local services in Lisle

Be very careful when "applying". Took a tour with John Hankes and the facility itself was outstanding. John did a very nice job with the tour but unfortunately that is where it ends. This was the very first place my son and I had toured. My son was very excited about the idea with attending UTI. John talked a lot about even being accepted and that next year's class was filling up fast and if we were even considering it we should apply to make sure we can even get accepted. As the Q&A completed John asked if we wanted to go ahead and submit an application. My son and I were on the fence because. #1 the price tag was $43,000+ for both Diesel and Gas certification. #2 this was the very first tour we went on. #3 his mother and I had not even talked about where he should attend. John went to his computer and asked my son to log in to his email account from his computer and put submit his application from the email John had just sent. I said we needed to slow down but John assured me the $50 application fee was totally refundable. Due to the excitement for my son to attend this school, I thought it would be worth it just to make sure he would be accepted and fronting the $50 was not bad since it was "totally refundable". To our surprise within seconds of my son submitting the application, John informed us that he was accepted. Feeling pretty mislead now about the almost immediate acceptance that there is really was no rush to hurry up and apply. Upon further discussion with my son and his mother, we decided it may be best for him to attend a different class. On 5/10/2017 I spoke with UTI's financial aid person and was told that we were not able to receive any financial aid in the form of Grants but my son did qualify for 2 student loans. I told her that $43k+ was just too much and we were no longer interested in UTI and wanted my application fee back. Shabrina told me that she cannot issue an application refund but John Hankes would have to call me to discuss. She emailed me later in the day saying she spoke with John and that he stated that I did not qualify for a refund. I called John (left a voicemail)) and emailed him saying there must be some sort of misunderstanding and that it was very clear that the application fee was totally refundable. John later emailed me saying there was no misunderstanding and that there are only 3 reasons I would receive my application fee back. 1. Application is not accepted 2. An applicant cancels their application within 3 days of being notified of acceptance (for us the clock started ticking within minutes of completing the application which is before you know if you will receive any financial aid) 3. An applicant had not seen the campus prior to enrolling and changes their mind after seeing the school. By those 3 rules we certainly do NOT qualify for a refund. I have not idea where those 3 "rules" are but I am fairly sure they are buried somewhere either in the application that my son filled out or were some small print. Not once do I recall there were any red flags paying for the application upfront. Here is where I take issue. I totally knew John was pushing us into signing up but i just figured it was that most students don't back out once they sign up or that the $50 went into his pocket as part of his pay for giving tours. It is really not at all about the money. It is about principle and integrity. I am forced to believe that UTI has zero integrity. I specifically asked if the fee was refundable and was told verbally that it was fully refundable. My advice to EVERYONE that goes on a tour at UTI is to hold off on completing an application until you are really sure you will be attending this school. The 17 month course is a straight through course with Holiday's and 2 weeks around Christmas/New Year being off. That was one of the deciding factors against moving forward with UTI. It really is sad that such a nice looking campus flat out lies over $50. Can only imagine the line of bull I get if I...

Ok, lets get this review going and lets get some things straight out of the way, coming from a graduate of the now closed Glendale Heights Location. I finished back in December of 2010. Let's begin straight away with the negatives. -This Is NOT the best place to go to school to learn about engines, cars and basic theory. -The Cost to learn straight Auto back in 2010 was $26k, Diesel only $14k, Diesel + Automotive + Industrial = $47K. You add on all the APR and interest your going to pay WAY MORE than $60k. Ask me how I know that? hahahaha. As you can see it's EXPENSIVE!!!. -You'll work on LOTS of clip cars, YES like many past graduates who've chimed in, cause it's true. But you'll also work on a lot of full size cars, full size Class 8 Heavy diesel trucks, but lots of diesel engines on stand too and well but mostly clip cars. These cars were not in great shape, a lot were donated after Hurricane Katrina hit but the specific purpose of learning and developing proper diagnosis of why a car's check engine light is on. - Very little to no vacation. meaning no spring break no summer break no winter break. You're only allowed a COURSE BREAK for 1 week. - Lots of young/old students who thought THEY KNEW EVERYTHING, obnoxious, impolite and unprofessional people.

So to wrap up the negatives, Very expensive, lots of clip cars (cars cut in half) lack of any kind of vacation and not best place to learn basic theory on combustion engine or diesel engine and SCUM lower than life terrible people.

Now how about the good?! + Excellent instructors, we had the best at Glendale Heights. All programs, diesel, auto and industrial. WE had some GREAT and awesome moments in the lab and in the class room. + Glendale Heights location had very good student support system, meaning financial aid, tuition assistance, student services and employment services. + Classroom was ALWAYS boring, lets get that out of the way, but LAB DAY was where you learn the most in this school. + The curriculum is laid out where it's actually not difficult to pass. Make it on time to class, do good on test, do good in lab, lab final and written final is no sweat. + Everything you learn in the classroom and in the lab is of VALUE. YES, no matter how little or how small, I learned so much from this place. + Job placement, cant deny that UTI graduates are HIGHLY recruited and sought out for technician positions. YES true fact, from Toyota dealerships, Ford to Freightliner and Cummins.

To sum up the GOOD?! Best instructors, excellent student support system, VERY Fun and Exciting Lab days and Outstanding Job placement.

This is just my 2 cents, speaking experience from a graduate, this is NOT the place for everyone. You have to put in what you get out. LISTEN to your instructors, pay attention and have fun on lab days. To all the instructors, thank you. Your time was not wasted, cause I have a pretty awesome job as a diesel engine technician making HELLA GOOD money. I graduated in December of 2010, I got a job in February 2011 and been WORKING on diesel engines ever since. PUT away your phone, get off My Face TUbe, and Insta Tw"t snap chat. Roll up your sleeves, grab your toolbox, get out there, wrench and make...

Well when I first started uti I was excited and eager with motivation to succeed but once I started I'd say the second course, the instructor was very lackluster about things. But my first instructor was very in tune with thing's and gave me advise as I was new to the area and had some quite difficult time getting there and living on my own, I lost my car trying to get there, lost big money due to hotel stays and no help from the institute with jobs as all the jobs they did have were based strictly on automotive. I had went out and took it upon myself to find work. I missed the second day of my first course due to an asthma attack..a second day due to job training..(upon which I emailed the instructor letting him know I couldn't make it that day but no response when I requested to take the morning course).I missed a third day due to the jobs demand for me to be there. I had been struggling from the first to the last day I arrived with no help from the school. I left my whole life to attend here. I was dropped because I missed 3 days of class because I had to live and make money to stay afloat I assume they just wanted money out of me and just wanted me to fill a seat for 3 weeks not caring about one's own personally concerns but just filling a seat to make money for payday. I had everything planned with the job and school to fill into my lifestyle but by the time I picked myself up they attendance failed me. Even tho everytime I needed a day to set my affairs I'd let them know. It had been a complete headache trying to make it there, I mean a nightmare. But that's my own personally thing, but the staff of the school was even worse I had let them know my situation from day one, but still no help. The instructor I had second course I could tell had a problem with me, he was not at all helpful, he seemed like he hated his job. Personally I was uncomfortable even asking him for help, I remember him saying if you need help go to a tutor and every other word that exited his mouth was a curse word.

Please future student's be sure before you start thinking about attending this school. Think before you sign away your John Hancock, don't waste your time or your money until you are absolutely sure it can fit your needs, time and money. Don't get me wrong it's a school that can teach you what you need to know, but beware and be ready. I took almost 2 years to make up my mind about attending but evidently still was not...