Need to go to university, but I want to be a Technician (read for the details, I know it sounds odd)

[Krasniye]

Okay so anyway, it is my dream to open a computer technician services business or work somewhere in that field. I want to fix and build computers for a living, that seems like my calling. However I NEED to go to university for something, It's not my call, it's my parents. They tell me I have to go (which it's not like I don't want to or anything) I was thinking about computer science or engineering, but I am god awful at math, and honestly I'm not interested in programming or actually creating components or anything, so it would be more or less of 4 years of painful math, and wasted skill. So I was wondering what I should take. I was thinking I should try and at least minor in business and get all my certifications after university (or possibly during). I live in Washington state so do you guys have any suggestions of places I should go and more importantly what I should strive for? It can be out of the state, but it's nicer if it's at least sort of close, but consider that last. Seriously I need help, all I've been able to find is ways to do it well... practically and cheaply without attending a university.

 

[moulderhere]

The truth is, only you know where you want to go or what course you want to take.

The reality of it is, every college or university has a careers test you should go take. It is this test that goes on for like 3 hours, its got questions to literally everything random.

The point is, it is a test that tries to get down to whom you are as a person, your likes, dislikes.

I hope somebody can answer the official name of this style of test for within the USA. Here in Canada, the one I took was called Careers Aptitude test. I had to ask my College's Center for learning disabilities to do the test.

 

[tyflikw]

The tests moulderhere refers to are (in my opinion) not all that great. My aptitude test wanted me to go into music or forestry (so basically a hippy).

If building and fixing computers is what you want to do, something computer sciency could be up the right ally, but I would also echo your business degree idea. Having a foundational understanding to launch yourself into a business venture could prove helpful.

 

[pierrerock]

Man up leave the house and do what you want ?

I mean i, myself is at university in mechanical engineering and i love it. But if you are old enough, nobody should decide for you what you want to do.

 

[Krasniye]

Man up leave the house and do what you want ?

I mean i, myself is at university in mechanical engineering and i love it. But if you are old enough, nobody should decide for you what you want to do.

Well I'm a senior in high school lol.

As for tyflikw's response, I am god awful at math, geometry I was decent at, but I couldn't even pass Algebra II last year. How am I supposed to handle calculus?

 

[Scoregie]

Just felt like putting in my 2 cents. I'm actually from Australia so our degrees and schooling is a bit different.
So halfway through high school I decided that i hated it. My Mum pushed me into going to tafe to get a diploma (I think thats like community college in America? not sure). So I decided to study for my Diploma in Computer System Engineering. During it I found out for what ever reason I have a inability to learn math. So i decided to put my head down learn as much as i could, Did some extra units to get the credits to pass. I now know basic electrical physics, micro processing and Cisco based networking.

The reason I'm writing all this is I had similar ideas in creating my own business and I've been trying for the last 2 years I'm now 20 years old and have come to the conclusion. You need money and serious skills in business to make a business. If thats what you really want to do I would say studying business is more important than the computer skills. Not to say that computer skills are irrelevant.

 

[Delroy Monjo]

I'm an old man, Krasniye, so listen up for a minute. Take your parents' advice and go to college or university and make the best of it. The first 2 years are mostly a rehash of high school and the people you meet may introduce you to ideas you never knew existed. Your views and aspirations can change a lot in 2 years, give yourself some time. You might think being a computer tech is some 'glory job' for you now, but look around, people with electronic engineering degrees are even having to scramble for jobs in today's business climate. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life replacing blown power supplies or stringing cable? That's what techs do. Try to get a degree of any kind if at all possible and apply for any jobs you can which might appeal to you. Even an English major can make a good living writing tech manuals and you might even get in on the development and testing of new products if you show any talent. I was a photographic equipment field service technician for 25 years and one of my early bosses was 2 years younger than me with a degree in biology! Best job I ever had. Got to travel all over the U.S. and the world, meet other people, see other places and enjoyed it the entire time.
I never passed calculus either........
Don't squander an opportunity.

 

[Pinhedd]

Okay so anyway, it is my dream to open a computer technician services business or work somewhere in that field. I want to fix and build computers for a living, that seems like my calling. However I NEED to go to university for something, It's not my call, it's my parents. They tell me I have to go (which it's not like I don't want to or anything) I was thinking about computer science or engineering, but I am god awful at math, and honestly I'm not interested in programming or actually creating components or anything, so it would be more or less of 4 years of painful math, and wasted skill. So I was wondering what I should take. I was thinking I should try and at least minor in business and get all my certifications after university (or possibly during). I live in Washington state so do you guys have any suggestions of places I should go and more importantly what I should strive for? It can be out of the state, but it's nicer if it's at least sort of close, but consider that last. Seriously I need help, all I've been able to find is ways to do it well... practically and cheaply without attending a university.

The inconvenient truth is that there's not much money in entry level IT, certainly not for fixing and building personal computers. Seasoned network gurus and system administrators can make big bucks, but that's far separated from Geek Squad level stuff.

You may think that its your calling, you and every other high school geek who hasn't been exposed to the real fun stuff.

If you can't stand theory and math, then Computer Engineering (my field) and Computer Science are out of the question completely. Consider looking into a Bachelor of Information Technology program. It won't be worth much, but it'll be enough to allow you to obtain meaningful employment in the IT industry without relegating yourself to cleaning cockroaches out of power supplies.

 

[christinebcw]

Consider being a janitor. Cleaning up after people's messes. Computer messes. It also requires being a full time detective, because there are few customers that actually describe what's truly going on, or what they did wrong. It helps to have tons of experience deciphering languages, too - "They said this, but what does that REALLY translate into?"

Can you be a janitor? A detective? If those tasks sound too degrading, then you're not going to be a computer tech for long. You won't even WANT to be one for long.

 

[Kewlx25]

Man up leave the house and do what you want ?

I mean i, myself is at university in mechanical engineering and i love it. But if you are old enough, nobody should decide for you what you want to do.

Well I'm a senior in high school lol.

As for tyflikw's response, I am god awful at math, geometry I was decent at, but I couldn't even pass Algebra II last year. How am I supposed to handle calculus?

Many of the maths use completely different parts of the brain, so don't compare calculus with algebra. There are people who could not do basic arithmetic or algebra to save their life, but find calculus stupidly easy.

Another common issue is schools tend to teach stuff in most boring ways, such that people who are actually good at something get so bored, that they can't concentrate and learn to hate what they're actually good at.

This isn't true all the time, but only you can find out if this may be your case.

 

[Krasniye]

Thanks for all the responses guys and sorry I haven't been able to be on the forums for awhile. I keep getting the vibe from you guys that I'm making a mistake of what I want to do, and I'm just some dumb geeky kid who doesn't have a clue. Maybe you're right, maybe not, but "cleaning out roaches from power supplies" is well.. something I wouldn't actually mind doing. However you guys are making me reconsider a few things. Gah the future has way too many unknowns for me. Well keep it coming I suppose, I need all the help I can get.

 

[christinebcw]

"Might not mind cleaning out roaches from PSUs..." ha ha

Maybe I didn't make "janitor" sound painful enough!

Don't you know someone who nags on you? Grates on your nerves about their 2nd sentence? Well... think about training that person with a lot of "Good computer users don't do this ___" and "For best use, don't do that ____" kind of counseling.

See if you can imagine doing that for 8 or 10 hours a day, day in, day out. Because "counselor" and "janitor" are always wrapped up together.

At the same time, IF your personality can absorb that, and turn grating, nagging people into Great Computer Users, it is a magnificent feeling of accomplishment. Selling computers is nothing. Maintaining them and RE-SELLING the customers - that's everything. And that's a adaptable, portable skill-set across every career, too.

PS... take Sociology courses. Learn about the forces that shape People and Social Behaviors.