Well, not buying a gtr soon...

[NismoS-tune]

thats why i joined the military..free education etc.
win win.

the only downside to the military is the strict lifestyle and limited income. We had a guy hire on with us a few years ago, just retired from 25 years (or was it 30...) in the military as some kind of training officer. His first year operator income more than doubled his highest year in the military. Unreal. Good guy, a bit weird though lol never know if he's gonna take you out in the hallway when you make a joke. Money isn't important to everyone so if it's about a good career, the military does supply that.

As for living in BC, aye, it is nice! the few negatives would be the excess rain if you're in that area. When I was in Vancouver, it felt so crowded... I hear bad stories about the careers over there though, lots of people come here cause they can't find good paying jobs there and their housing prices is as high or higher than here which is sick!

[M13]

aye, I'm in it for the long run too and have been lucky enough to find a decent part time work to get my hobby and lifestyle at a decent pace.
I've been looking around and changing my academic paths several times (hence the delay in progress).
I've considered the military but I just hate the fact your life becomes restricted w/ them. (friends are in military) I don't want a job that I'll dread when I'm done w/ school either.

[Skym]

GTR is a luxury item. Worry about getting rid of debt first.

[Shadao]

the top 3 trades which will be even more in demand than they already are, are :

Boilermaker
Welder
Carpenter(specializing in Scafolding)

after that its

Millwright
Healthcare
pipe/steam fitter

i myself am going to be taking the boilermaker foundation course at BCIT, its a 6month course and afterwards i will be considered a lvl 1 apprentice and my average starting wage will be between 19/hr - 25/hr. after my first year is over and i requalify and get my lvl 2 apprentice my wage will jump to 28/hr - 35/hr, when i become a journeyman my wages will be anywhere from 35/hr -55/hr and beyond...

the guy who recommended me for the program has been a boilermaker for over 30yrs, and actually taught the BCIT appr. coordinator much of what he knows, he happes to be one of the best boilermakers in the world... last year, he cleared over 120k and he only worked 8 months.... sure he had sto spend 8 months in china only coming home for a 4 day weekend every 2 months but during his stay he was housed in 5star luxury resorts, shown ALL the sites, walked the great wall, etc etc etc ... he was treated like a god(his words) upon returning to Canada prior to xmas, he was offered a job up near fort mac, to do some boilermaker welding specific jobs and was offered $2000 per day(yes 2k per day i didnt misstype) he turned it down because they were gonna have him live in the camps.... he said i need 5k a day to live in the camps, they then offered him 3k per day and he still turned it down... the job was gonna last 1-2 months...

to get to where he is will take me time, BUT i will be making money the whole time im becoming a journeyman, the boilermaker foundation course at BCIT only costs about 3500$, since i dont live near by i will be needing to stayin the dorms.... all in all my student loan im gonna ask for will be about $10k as that will cover the schooling, my accomidations, food and other misc items....

currently in BC there are about 100 apprentices on the union board waiting for work... and there are about 15 journeymen... however there are almost 200 apprentice jobs and over 40 journeymen jobs... the number of jobs are only increaseing while the number of available journeymen decrease due to baby boomers retiring...

most trades courses do not take very long to complete, and are well worth it in todays current work force market... i honestly wish i had gotten into boilermaker 10yrs ago....

fear not though, having a university lvl education is something to be very proud of... and with chemistry as your back ground if there is no legal work... well your a freakin chemist, go all 'breaking bad' for a year, pay off your debt get your ride, and then find a legitimate viable job. lol... in all seriousness though, 13 yrs ago when i was working at McD's one of the managers had his B.A in chemistry and had been working in McD's througout his schooling after completeing schooling he spent another 2 yrs at McD's before finally landing a job that pertained to his education... i dont know what it is like out there now for chemists but 13 yrs ago it was fairly bleek...

im sure, 100% positive that if you are able to get a BA in chemistry, that you have the ability to focus, stay positive and work hard to pay off your debt buy a house get your godzilla, and live happily ever after... you may have to trade in the steak for hot dogs, but in the end it will be worth it...

[Nismoist]

I've been wondering if I should find a job after my masters to get a garage and work on the GTR, or let it gather dust and go for a doctorate. I really don't know what to do. I'm just givin'r in the blue yonder right now, not really sure where I'm going.

It's tough man. Sometimes I wake up wanting to give up, doing nothing all day, sometimes I wake up at 8am and work till 2am.

Anyway Nick, I can relate from a different perspective.

Masters/Doctorate in what?

[DreadedFist]

I have a masters degree in ass kicking. I got it from the school of I'm a badass. *





* Sadly this is a saturated job market, so I'm returning to school at 25.

[GTRADDICT]

Sorry to hear bro... Shoulda became a tradesman and move to Alberta. Word out there is that a first year, out of highschool with no experience, can start as high $35/hr and as low as $20 some/hr for residential. I've seen some kick up $100,000 gross in 1 year but they didn't get much time off.

Have you thought of changing to a technical career?

Many times, but I worked as a pipefitter at scottsford AB for a summer ($$$$$$$$$) lol. But it's not a rewarding job... Just sit there and wait for a job when it comes. It's like there no closure of some sort. When I'm teaching, and I see a kid who finally figures out a problem or whatever. Makes my day.
I've sent a letter to the minister of education NB explaining my situation. Showing him that my situation is no different from an other student has only 5 years. Anyways... I'll keep you guys posted on my battle lol.
Cheers!

[MarusGTR]

You got my full support bud!

[NismoS-tune]

GTR is a luxury item. Worry about getting rid of debt first.

for as cheap as $10k now a days, I can't agree. I could see an expensive bimmer being a luxury but not a 20 year old sports car


As for scaffolders, we have an overflow of these knuckle draggers in alberta. They pay as high as $40/hr here which is sick for tube and clamp hammer drones. You forgot electrician in your demand list

[Shadao]

You forgot electrician in your demand list

no i didnt... electricians are not a huge demand right now... yes there is growth but its not nearly as high as other trades.... especially in my area there are too many electricians...

[JNS Performance]

As for scaffolders, we have an overflow of these knuckle draggers in alberta. They pay as high as $40/hr here which is sick for tube and clamp hammer drones.

So true lol How is it even a trade.

Welders are so over saturated in Alberta its sick, I highly doubt that is one of the highest demands right now

[Tony-R32]

I know there is fairly high demand for welders in Manitoba. Doesn't matter whats in demand, everyone comes to see me at the funeral home...sooner or later!

There are advantages to working with the dead, like job security

[NismoS-tune]

So true lol How is it even a trade.

Welders are so over saturated in Alberta its sick, I highly doubt that is one of the highest demands right now

There is a demand for welders with their own rigs. Some of those guys are like $250/hr lol.

[NismoS-tune]

no i didnt... electricians are not a huge demand right now... yes there is growth but its not nearly as high as other trades.... especially in my area there are too many electricians...

Ah. We don't have enough here well not many good that is. We have many basic sparkies like residential or cable puller/heat-trace/light changers lol.

[Skym]

GTR = sportscar = luxury item.