Well, I'm back finally.. If anyone even remembered I was ever here lol. Well, I just finished classes at The Ritop School of Mobile Electronics, and my MECP Certification is pending.. im 99.999999% sure im going to get it though, the test was cake, and im very confident... So hopefully, i can help out a lot more with peoples problems/questions, as i have learned more than i ever thought i could about this stuff. Who else in here is/was MECP Certified?
Replies (9)
ttocs on 10/24/2003 04:53:56
I was installer cert, but never went back for the 1rst class test.
After 6 yrs in the biz, and that I do it for fun rather then fulltime, I never went back for the next level. I would like to think that after this time, and getting my EET degree I could step up a level, but I have never tested it.
congrats on the school/test. Any high/low points? What did you learn that you did not know? I had thought about that school, but went a different route.
Swez on 10/24/2003 05:24:11
Hope you did well on your test. Have taken that test once w/o any training about 2 years ago and almost passed it (68%) was my test score. Several of us took a sample test and most of the EE/EET's had strong comments that the test was skewed to the text book(s) used for passing this Cert.
One thing we did note about the MECP program.... they teach what they think is relevant, but the right answers on the test did not stand up to basic logic and hands on experience. The answers offered as the correct answer, were not always the best answer or the correct answer ay all. One guy did pass it with high 80's score, but he did review the MECP study materials. His comment was also that the test was very vague and ambigous and some questions/answers were out right WRONG.
For what it's worth, this Cert will open a few new doors for prospective installers. But experience is often the best gage of what one understands and can apply.
Ttocs is a perfect example of head knowledge and hands on skills. (with or without a Cert) Sure we can read and study, but what we know and can do with our own hands is the acid test.
Good to see you back on the board again! We can always use the extra help. Do you have any pending job opportunities after the test results are in?
Swez
SeVeNX7X on 10/24/2003 07:08:13
Yes, i agree with you completely. The test is like 90% right out of the study guide, what they think is right. Hands-on experience is obviously helpful, and will obviously teach me more. The school [Ritop] is half class/half shop... where we work on project cars 100% hands on. A lot of stuff that was on the test.. we didnt use, and we had different ways of doing it, being they were easier, or the fact that a lot of the stuff in the test, or what MECP thinks is the right way... is just.. well, maybe not stupid.. but unrealistic. Everythings different in the real world, but having the test under your belt, is certainly a step in the door, as most [not all] shops require that you be certified for insurance/warrenty issues. Even my teachers told us that we would probably never use the stuff that MECP recommends.. but that we should know it anyway, that way when we make other decisions, we can make them knowing what could possibly turn around on us later.
Ttocs - "congrats on the school/test. Any high/low points? What did you learn that you did not know? I had thought about that school, but went a different route." Thank you, first off.
High points = a lot of information, learned more than i ever thought i would. it was a lot of hands-on, which was nice.. but i also liked the fact, that we had actual classroom training, including tests every other, if not every day... homework everynight - 4+ hours, and weekends 6+ hours..., it really dug it deep into our minds, which is more than i can say about the other schools for this stuff... i mean, all the other school are 1 week programs, they show you, you never touch anything kind of schools.. or they are correspondance.. whats that about? how can you learn anything without hands on?
Low Points = a LOT of homework! haha.. I mean, im right out of highschool.. and homework is defnitely not my thing. But, of course i wanted to get what i could out of it, so i did my homework.. all the time.. sometimes staying up until 3 in the morning to finish. I mean it all worked out, i have the highest grade in my class.. and got 95%+ on every test. Another bad point is the fact that its only 8 weeks long. But, of course thats a good point if you look at the other schools, that arent even CLOSE to that long, and cost way more. Other than that... if you dont mind a little hard work.. its an awesome school, and you really do learn so much.
What did i learn that i didnt know? oh man.. i thought i knew my stuff.. until i started this school haha. I learned, most everything. I mean, obviously not everything.. but a basic installers amount of info. Tool usage, box building techniques/planning, everything you could think of about speakers/amps/HU/any audio componant... everything about security, remote starts, relays.. god everything about relays haha.. Basically, if it has to do with 12 volts, we learned it. We learned the first class amount, to get our basic installers certification basically. Most of the handouts we got, were out of the first class study guide. Hopefully, i can help out with some relevant information, instead of what i 'used to know'... and make it worth something haha. Of course, I still have a lot to learn, but for now.. im pretty content. =) Thanks guys!
haha sorry for such a long post! lots to say!
Swez on 10/24/2003 07:33:26
Yeah... very good overview of the class and the study materials I saw were.... well.... errrr, uhhmmmm... not even in the game at some points. Irrelevant is the best word I have to offer on some of the test questions...
It's funny... a gal/guy spends 2-4-8 years in college (costs $8- 20,000/yr.) Then goes out into the workplace with a lot of head knowledge but little practical experience in real world stuff that is never taught in school... After 2 years in the workplace, they know where the coffee machine, bathroom, fax/copy machine is and how to work a PC. Has forgotten most of what they learned in classes as it is not used and goes dormant.
Very strange system... how to get a job these days...
Swez
Relax_The_Mind on 10/25/2003 01:50:49
In my experience of school when i got my EET degree... They teach you a lot of finer details that you back you up when you have something to troubleshoot. 'Most' of the time 90% of the stuff you learn in school wont ever be used on a job, mainly because they teach you most everything you need to know at the workplace and more importantly "the way they do things around there".
A while back a person I pretty much looked up to very much told me that being a great tech of any kind is a gift. You dont really learn it and cant really be taught it. Its the whole mindset of being able to focus on a problem, picture it in your mind and finding the solution. Doing it because you love it and not because of the money or material things. Its the self satisfaction (no not that kind of self satisfaction) you get that motivates you. Having a good balance of 'book smart' and common sense is also an important part of being a great tech.
well... something like that. that is my story and im sticking to it.
RTM
do i ever make sense?
SeVeNX7X on 10/25/2003 09:47:28
Swez... The college thing.. about the 2-4-8 years, at 8-20k a year, was one of the deciding factors. I mean, of course it wasnt only that.. i have a passion for this stuff, but spending $104,000+ for the college that i was going to go to [Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston Massachusetts] ... 26k/year... for Mechanical Engineering, and knowing that when i got out.. i would just want to be doing this. So i decided spending 6-7k for 8 weeks, to teach me a ton of stuff that i thought i knew, but didnt.. would be the best choice. And i do believe it was. I'm very happy with the results, and i cant wait to get started professionally, with someday hoping to open my own shop.that is my ultimate goal. I could have just got the MECP study guides [and i did....] and read them from front to back and probably passed.. but i didnt want to just know the stuff.. i wanted to know how to apply it, how to use it, how to use my hands. I'm not saying the school taught me everything, cause they didnt, But i do believe that i got a LOT from it... whether or not you think that schooling is maybe not the best thing.. but wouldnt you rather me working your shop, knowing that i was professinally schooled, and not just some kid that got lucky on the MECP test? I was just offered an internship at the school.. I think im giong to take it... After i get out.. ill have a personal recommendation from the guy that owns it [Richard Inferrera... youve probably heard of him...].. and that will most certainly look very good.
P.S. What is the EET? Electrical Engineering Something?
Relax_The_Mind on 10/25/2003 12:50:45
EET= Electronic Engineering Technician
Swez on 10/25/2003 13:12:04
I am on your side... schooling does have a place and if you are going to get very far in life, a full degree (EET, BS, MS) are all prerequisite these days. Yes, learning how to work in teams, effective commumication skills, book knowledge and hands on experience are all important to future employers. The main aspect... what can we actually acomplish?
Not a guarentee you will use much of what you will learn now/later, but a good thing to have in your background.
Knowledge is power.. but having head knowledge is only part of the package. Hands on know how and independent thinking are also keys to success. The more we can absorb on our own, the better we can be prepered for life in later years. The key word is passion! If we have a passion for what we are doing, the rest will fall into place over time.
Eduacation is one route, but passion, insight and ambition are more a factor than anything one can learn in typical education processes. Being the best we can be in field of our passion is a very important factor... regardless of education or pedigree.
Some may dissagree... but have faith in your abilities and know where you want to go... you'll be fine as you passion will drive you past the roadblocks we all face.
Swez ><>
SeVeNX7X on 10/25/2003 16:15:53
Yes, passion is certainly everything. And it showed itself through the school.. you could tell who just didnt care... and then you could tell who had a passion for it, because they were always working on something, needing to do something. And hands-on... thats why i picked this school, as opposed to any other. There are very few schools that offer any kind of 12 volt training, so i picked the only one that is 50% hands-on. We were in the shop for 4 hours everyday. Doing everything on our own.. fiberglass, other custom fabrication, installation.. everything.. unlike any other schools, which are either correspondance, only classroom, or if there is any kind of shop, they do the work, and you watch. So i got a lot of book knowledge, as well as hands-on training. The best of both worlds... for schooling anyway. But i have been doing this stuff for the past 3 years anyway.. without schooling. And, i mean, i knew what i was doing for the most part... at least thats what i got out of all my friends recommending me to other people, and those people recommending me to other people.. I went to the school, not only to learn new things.. but to tweak and improve the skills that i already had. I think i was the only student there that actually soldered/heat shrinked all of my wires.. everyone else was a hack job twist and tape. So that looked good haha.
Replies (9)
ttocs on 10/24/2003 04:53:56
I was installer cert, but never went back for the 1rst class test.
After 6 yrs in the biz, and that I do it for fun rather then fulltime, I never went back for the next level. I would like to think that after this time, and getting my EET degree I could step up a level, but I have never tested it.
congrats on the school/test. Any high/low points? What did you learn that you did not know? I had thought about that school, but went a different route.
Swez on 10/24/2003 05:24:11
Hope you did well on your test. Have taken that test once w/o any training about 2 years ago and almost passed it (68%) was my test score. Several of us took a sample test and most of the EE/EET's had strong comments that the test was skewed to the text book(s) used for passing this Cert.
One thing we did note about the MECP program.... they teach what they think is relevant, but the right answers on the test did not stand up to basic logic and hands on experience. The answers offered as the correct answer, were not always the best answer or the correct answer ay all. One guy did pass it with high 80's score, but he did review the MECP study materials. His comment was also that the test was very vague and ambigous and some questions/answers were out right WRONG.
For what it's worth, this Cert will open a few new doors for prospective installers. But experience is often the best gage of what one understands and can apply.
Ttocs is a perfect example of head knowledge and hands on skills. (with or without a Cert) Sure we can read and study, but what we know and can do with our own hands is the acid test.
Good to see you back on the board again! We can always use the extra help. Do you have any pending job opportunities after the test results are in?
Swez
SeVeNX7X on 10/24/2003 07:08:13
Yes, i agree with you completely. The test is like 90% right out of the study guide, what they think is right. Hands-on experience is obviously helpful, and will obviously teach me more. The school [Ritop] is half class/half shop... where we work on project cars 100% hands on. A lot of stuff that was on the test.. we didnt use, and we had different ways of doing it, being they were easier, or the fact that a lot of the stuff in the test, or what MECP thinks is the right way... is just.. well, maybe not stupid.. but unrealistic. Everythings different in the real world, but having the test under your belt, is certainly a step in the door, as most [not all] shops require that you be certified for insurance/warrenty issues. Even my teachers told us that we would probably never use the stuff that MECP recommends.. but that we should know it anyway, that way when we make other decisions, we can make them knowing what could possibly turn around on us later.
Ttocs - "congrats on the school/test. Any high/low points? What did you learn that you did not know? I had thought about that school, but went a different route." Thank you, first off.
High points = a lot of information, learned more than i ever thought i would. it was a lot of hands-on, which was nice.. but i also liked the fact, that we had actual classroom training, including tests every other, if not every day... homework everynight - 4+ hours, and weekends 6+ hours..., it really dug it deep into our minds, which is more than i can say about the other schools for this stuff... i mean, all the other school are 1 week programs, they show you, you never touch anything kind of schools.. or they are correspondance.. whats that about? how can you learn anything without hands on?
Low Points = a LOT of homework! haha.. I mean, im right out of highschool.. and homework is defnitely not my thing. But, of course i wanted to get what i could out of it, so i did my homework.. all the time.. sometimes staying up until 3 in the morning to finish. I mean it all worked out, i have the highest grade in my class.. and got 95%+ on every test. Another bad point is the fact that its only 8 weeks long. But, of course thats a good point if you look at the other schools, that arent even CLOSE to that long, and cost way more. Other than that... if you dont mind a little hard work.. its an awesome school, and you really do learn so much.
What did i learn that i didnt know? oh man.. i thought i knew my stuff.. until i started this school haha. I learned, most everything. I mean, obviously not everything.. but a basic installers amount of info. Tool usage, box building techniques/planning, everything you could think of about speakers/amps/HU/any audio componant... everything about security, remote starts, relays.. god everything about relays haha.. Basically, if it has to do with 12 volts, we learned it. We learned the first class amount, to get our basic installers certification basically. Most of the handouts we got, were out of the first class study guide. Hopefully, i can help out with some relevant information, instead of what i 'used to know'... and make it worth something haha. Of course, I still have a lot to learn, but for now.. im pretty content. =) Thanks guys!
haha sorry for such a long post! lots to say!
Swez on 10/24/2003 07:33:26
Yeah... very good overview of the class and the study materials I saw were.... well.... errrr, uhhmmmm... not even in the game at some points. Irrelevant is the best word I have to offer on some of the test questions...
It's funny... a gal/guy spends 2-4-8 years in college (costs $8- 20,000/yr.) Then goes out into the workplace with a lot of head knowledge but little practical experience in real world stuff that is never taught in school... After 2 years in the workplace, they know where the coffee machine, bathroom, fax/copy machine is and how to work a PC. Has forgotten most of what they learned in classes as it is not used and goes dormant.
Very strange system... how to get a job these days...
Swez
Relax_The_Mind on 10/25/2003 01:50:49
In my experience of school when i got my EET degree... They teach you a lot of finer details that you back you up when you have something to troubleshoot. 'Most' of the time 90% of the stuff you learn in school wont ever be used on a job, mainly because they teach you most everything you need to know at the workplace and more importantly "the way they do things around there".
A while back a person I pretty much looked up to very much told me that being a great tech of any kind is a gift. You dont really learn it and cant really be taught it. Its the whole mindset of being able to focus on a problem, picture it in your mind and finding the solution. Doing it because you love it and not because of the money or material things. Its the self satisfaction (no not that kind of self satisfaction) you get that motivates you. Having a good balance of 'book smart' and common sense is also an important part of being a great tech.
well... something like that. that is my story and im sticking to it.
RTM
do i ever make sense?
SeVeNX7X on 10/25/2003 09:47:28
Swez... The college thing.. about the 2-4-8 years, at 8-20k a year, was one of the deciding factors. I mean, of course it wasnt only that.. i have a passion for this stuff, but spending $104,000+ for the college that i was going to go to [Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston Massachusetts] ... 26k/year... for Mechanical Engineering, and knowing that when i got out.. i would just want to be doing this. So i decided spending 6-7k for 8 weeks, to teach me a ton of stuff that i thought i knew, but didnt.. would be the best choice. And i do believe it was. I'm very happy with the results, and i cant wait to get started professionally, with someday hoping to open my own shop.that is my ultimate goal. I could have just got the MECP study guides [and i did....] and read them from front to back and probably passed.. but i didnt want to just know the stuff.. i wanted to know how to apply it, how to use it, how to use my hands. I'm not saying the school taught me everything, cause they didnt, But i do believe that i got a LOT from it... whether or not you think that schooling is maybe not the best thing.. but wouldnt you rather me working your shop, knowing that i was professinally schooled, and not just some kid that got lucky on the MECP test? I was just offered an internship at the school.. I think im giong to take it... After i get out.. ill have a personal recommendation from the guy that owns it [Richard Inferrera... youve probably heard of him...].. and that will most certainly look very good.
P.S. What is the EET? Electrical Engineering Something?
Relax_The_Mind on 10/25/2003 12:50:45
EET= Electronic Engineering Technician
Swez on 10/25/2003 13:12:04
I am on your side... schooling does have a place and if you are going to get very far in life, a full degree (EET, BS, MS) are all prerequisite these days. Yes, learning how to work in teams, effective commumication skills, book knowledge and hands on experience are all important to future employers. The main aspect... what can we actually acomplish?
Not a guarentee you will use much of what you will learn now/later, but a good thing to have in your background.
Knowledge is power.. but having head knowledge is only part of the package. Hands on know how and independent thinking are also keys to success. The more we can absorb on our own, the better we can be prepered for life in later years. The key word is passion! If we have a passion for what we are doing, the rest will fall into place over time.
Eduacation is one route, but passion, insight and ambition are more a factor than anything one can learn in typical education processes. Being the best we can be in field of our passion is a very important factor... regardless of education or pedigree.
Some may dissagree... but have faith in your abilities and know where you want to go... you'll be fine as you passion will drive you past the roadblocks we all face.
Swez ><>
SeVeNX7X on 10/25/2003 16:15:53
Yes, passion is certainly everything. And it showed itself through the school.. you could tell who just didnt care... and then you could tell who had a passion for it, because they were always working on something, needing to do something. And hands-on... thats why i picked this school, as opposed to any other. There are very few schools that offer any kind of 12 volt training, so i picked the only one that is 50% hands-on. We were in the shop for 4 hours everyday. Doing everything on our own.. fiberglass, other custom fabrication, installation.. everything.. unlike any other schools, which are either correspondance, only classroom, or if there is any kind of shop, they do the work, and you watch. So i got a lot of book knowledge, as well as hands-on training. The best of both worlds... for schooling anyway. But i have been doing this stuff for the past 3 years anyway.. without schooling. And, i mean, i knew what i was doing for the most part... at least thats what i got out of all my friends recommending me to other people, and those people recommending me to other people.. I went to the school, not only to learn new things.. but to tweak and improve the skills that i already had. I think i was the only student there that actually soldered/heat shrinked all of my wires.. everyone else was a hack job twist and tape. So that looked good haha.
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