Colorado School of Trades

[steveopia]

I'm thinking about attending CST and am looking for any and all input you may have. Opinions on CST? Experiences with CST? The tuition seems very expensive to me for a 14 month course. If it's worth it then I'm happy to pay it but I've read mixed reviews on the web. I would have to quit my current job to attend this school. And my plans, obviously, would be to change my career. Both decisions are life altering and not to be taken lightly.

I've secured a spot that would start me in December of 2011 so I have some time to think about it before completely pulling the trigger. Pun intended. I have a background in machining and common sense so I know I could ace the course. It comes down to this, I'm 34 and thinking about dropping a gangload of $$$ on schooling to change my career to something that seems very ideal for me. It looks good on paper but scares the hell out of me. Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

Steve

[TFOGGER]

Some observations:

Like most technical schools, CST will allow you to learn what you put in the effort to learn. I have seen tech school graduates that were at the top of their field on graduation, and I have seen some that were worse than useless. If it is your passion, and you are willing to put in the effort, it is a good school. Just don't expect to become a master gunsmith by osmosis.

As far as career changes, I made a huge one about the same time in my life, and I would never take back that decision. There is nothing more fulfilling, exciting, scary, and frustrating, all at the same time, as working for yourself.

Best of luck, regardless of your decision! [Beer]

[HBARleatherneck]

i attended CST in 1997.

I am sure much has changed.

Also, I went to the Farrier program.

Gary, is the head instructor for the gunsmithing, he is a great guy. Robert is or was the owner. (jackass)
I know alot of guys who went to this school as gunsmiths. I know alot of guys who now spent a lot of money and are not gunsmiths.

[Daniel_187]

If you can talk to Guntroll he took the Gumsmithing class there and even did some work for me and some of the member on the board(very good work i might add), I was looking at going there and he answered alot of my Questions

[coop68]

i too have considered taking the 14th month class once I'm finished my 4 years in College i just dont know. i would say i have similar questions to above!

[BPTactical]

If you are really serious about learning the trade you would be better off attending Trinidad or Yavapai than CST.
Both offer degree programs and have MUCH better industry acceptance.

[steveopia]

Thanks for the replies guys.


CST will allow you to learn what you put in the effort to learn.
A couple people I have talked to and reading online have said the exact same thing. You get out what you put in. My thoughts are that if I'm paying that much money I'm going to do my best get every single drop of knowledge that I can.


As far as career changes, I made a huge one about the same time in my life, and I would never take back that decision. There is nothing more fulfilling, exciting, scary, and frustrating, all at the same time, as working for yourself.

Best of luck, regardless of your decision! [Beer]
I guess your decision to change careers worked out for the best. Congrats on that and thank you for the reply.


If you can talk to Guntroll he took the Gumsmithing class there and even did some work for me and some of the member on the board(very good work i might add), I was looking at going there and he answered alot of my Questions

I'll look the Guntroll up.


If you are really serious about learning the trade you would be better off attending Trinidad or Yavapai than CST.
Both offer degree programs and have MUCH better industry acceptance.

I've read very similar information online while searching for answers/opinions. Unfortunately I'm restricted to the Dever area currently so right now it's CST, do what I'm doing, or go a completely different direction. Did you attend any of these schools BPTactical? Or how did you get into Gunsmithing if you don't mind me asking?


I need to contact CST and inquire about being able to "test out" of certain portions of the program. Or if I'd be able to move along more quickly through the stuff I'm familiar with and focus more on the stuff that I'm not so familiar with.

[ridgewalker]

I decided to change my career as well...I retired. Hardest job I've ever had, but I actually get to relax with little stress occasionally now. I'd highly recommend it![ROFL2]

[gnihcraes]

Go up the CST and shoot the shxt with the students while they are outside on their break, probably the best way to find out.

[kidicarus13]

I have friend who graduated from CST in '97 with farrier knowledge. He has been successful after pursuing his career full-time In another state. On the other hand, I know a recent CST grad (gunsmithing) that works at Dick's and has for a couple of years.

[HBARleatherneck]

I have friend who graduated from CST in '97 with farrier knowledge. He has been successful after pursuing his career full-time In another state. On the other hand, I know a recent CST grad (gunsmithing) that works at Dick's and has for a couple of years.

i have seen alot of this.

[Gritty]

I also thought about attending the CST in 2011, but I have heard a lot of bad things recently.

I had a chance to talk to the current Aurora PD's gunsmith who was the CST lead instructor up until several months ago. He said that it was a great school, but recently, the standards of the whole school have fallen dramatically. Specially, the course layouts are relatively the same, but the experience levels of the instructors have fallen; they have been hiring recent graduates with no real world experience to come back and teach courses; the school's management was questionable (he left for those reasons).

He was biased against them of course, and I can't confirm what he said was true, but it's worth looking into.

You could probably still learn the trade if you attended the CST, but I would want to be taught well if I decided to pay $20k+. On the other hand, you could save your money and check out the schools in Pennsylvania or elsewhere.

http://www.pagunsmith.edu/index.php

[Ah Pook]

FAL Grunt was going there last year.

I had a chance to go Trinidad, when I was a kid, and passed it up. Kinda wish I would have gone.

[steveopia]

I'm about 95% sure that I'm not going to attend. I can usually talk myself into just about anything that I want to buy or do but I'm having a hard time with this one.

Would it be fun to do for the experience? Is it an exciting thought to potentially have gunsmithing be my career? Yes and yes. Is it a smart and logical decision to make right now since I have a decent job in a junk economy? Am I sure I want to spend that kind of money on a trade that is apparently flooded with unemployed smiths? And even if I did, am I sure I want to spend that money at a school that currently has a "below par" rep? No, no, and no.

I wish I would've jumped on this about 10 years earlier when I was willing and more able to relocate.

[BPTactical]

I also thought about attending the CST in 2011, but I have heard a lot of bad things recently.

I had a chance to talk to the current Aurora PD's gunsmith who was the CST lead instructor up until several months ago. He said that it was a great school, but recently, the standards of the whole school have fallen dramatically. Specially, the course layouts are relatively the same, but the experience levels of the instructors have fallen; they have been hiring recent graduates with no real world experience to come back and teach courses; the school's management was questionable (he left for those reasons).


^This
I sat next to John at the SIG Armorers class a couple of years ago and he voiced the same thing. He said they have become the ITT Tech of gunsmithing. Typical trade school BS- promise the world, charge you out the ying yang then get a substandard education.
Better ways to invest 30K.

[FireMoth]

I am a graduate of CST from back in '04. I am happy with my education, but i will make the same caveat i make to all students of all things:

Education is what you put into it. I graduated with guys that got the same degree i did that i wouldn't let clean my Glock. I also have known Gun Smiths who are self educated that i learned innumerable things from.

CST provides an environment and a process conducive to learning the beginnings of gun smithing. Learnign the trade can only start there, and gettignt he education is largely the responsibility of the student.

It is also note worthy that instructors change all of the time. Most of the instructors I had have moved on to other gun smithing work since i graduated, so the instruction wont necessarily be the same. Which is unfortunate, because anyone who has gone to the school since John Stewart left to work for Aurora PD has gotten, in my opinion, a lesser education.

Like any school, anyone can glide through without learning. Almost everybody had to take at least algebra 2 in high school, but most of the walking western world still doesn't do anything more than basic arithmetic day to day.

This is compounded with gun smithing, with nearly 500 years of known firearms history, and myriad offshoots and specific disciplines. We never run out of things to learn, and anyone who tells you they know everything even about one discipline in the field is either delusional, or a liar, or both.

So, I will say that you should pursue the education you want, where ever that pursuit takes you. CST is a good place to start, but not the only. The important thing is that none of them are places to finish. Learning never stops.

[BPTactical]

I am a graduate of CST from back in '04. I am happy with my education, but i will make the same caveat i make to all students of all things:

Education is what you put into it. I graduated with guys that got the same degree i did that i wouldn't let clean my Glock. I also have known Gun Smiths who are self educated that i learned innumerable things from.

CST provides an environment and a process conducive to learning the beginnings of gun smithing. Learnign the trade can only start there, and gettignt he education is largely the responsibility of the student.

It is also note worthy that instructors change all of the time. Most of the instructors I had have moved on to other gun smithing work since i graduated, so the instruction wont necessarily be the same. Which is unfortunate, because anyone who has gone to the school since John Stewart left to work for Aurora PD has gotten, in my opinion, a lesser education.

Like any school, anyone can glide through without learning. Almost everybody had to take at least algebra 2 in high school, but most of the walking western world still doesn't do anything more than basic arithmetic day to day.

This is compounded with gun smithing, with nearly 500 years of known firearms history, and myriad offshoots and specific disciplines. We never run out of things to learn, and anyone who tells you they know everything even about one discipline in the field is either delusional, or a liar, or both.

So, I will say that you should pursue the education you want, where ever that pursuit takes you. CST is a good place to start, but not the only. The important thing is that none of them are places to finish.
Learning never stops.

Nicely put and I will agree, I have seen people that wasted a lot of money going to a school but couldnt fix a tricycle with a rubber hammer. Yet others who never set foot to school that are masters at their craft.
People learn differently, some can read it and get it, some can hear it and get it yet others have to lay hands on to get it.
What works best for you, the individual?