Author Topic: Do I go to Vincennes or not? (Read 2385 times)

imjouster · « **on:** August 15, 2013, 12:59:37 AM »

So little background on me, I'm 26 years old and have been bowling my entire life. My dream has always been to open up a bowling center of my own, I do have some college experience at Boise State University (was going for a business management degree) but stopped attending when I got to be a junior. The classes just seemed pointless to me and I could get myself to do the work necessary to do well.

Its been a couple years since going to BSU and I want to try college again. And a couple years ago I heard about this wonderful sounding program at Vincennes University called Bowling Industry Management and Technology. I was pretty much sold at that point. But it does mean moving to vincennes for 2-3 years and the whole thing is going to end up costing me around 50 grand after living expenses.

Now if that 50 grand will mean that I will be able to walk out of VU and go to a bank and get a loan for a bowling center (assuming of course I have a good plan) then I have no issues doing it. If I know for sure it could at the very least land me a management job at some bowling center then I would be willing to do it. I unfortunately have no supervisory experience on my resume (3 different jobs that all looked promising for promotions, just to find out differently after wasting 2-3 years at each of them

)

So my main question is do you know anybody who has gone to VU and been successful in opening up their own business afterwards? Is there anything I should be looking out for? I've read their testimonials and everything but I'd like to hear a non biased opinion. Appreciate any input on this. Thanks

jhutch769 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2013, 01:16:07 AM »

Find some way to at least get a Bachelors degree.. Even if it is not at VU and through the Bowling Program.. First off, I don't know the situations, but by not having a degree may have cost you the oportunities at your 3 different jobs over 2-3 years each...

imjouster · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2013, 03:37:29 AM »

I do have thoughts about possibly going back to BSU to finish my degree at some point. Vincennes just seems more suited for what I want to do with my life. I just don't know how it would look on a resume. It seems like it should look great but I'm just looking for some real world experience on this ya know?

itsallaboutme · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2013, 07:17:20 AM »

Getting your degree will never hurt you, so that is a wise decision.

Is it worth it to spend $50k for something bowling specific? I would question that. Spending tuition on classes like Lane and Pinsetter Maintenance, Food Sanitation Essentials, and Responsible Alcohol Service doesn't seem like the best choice. From the sounds of their description it basically prepares you to be an assistant manager or C mechanic, and if you haven't worked at a bowling center, an assistant manager is basically a deskperson that gets the combination to the safe. You would be far better off staying someplace you get in state tuition and working in a bowling center while you go to school.

Have you ever worked in a bowling center?

As for a loan, the only thing that will get you a loan from a bank is enough capital of your own so that the bank feels they have no risk. Banks have plenty of money to loan, but they want their risk to be at a minimum. You got have some of your own skin in the game.

Sleeve857 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 15, 2013, 09:43:04 AM »

I went to VU! I mainly went there to bowl on there team. The perk was all the inside training you receive on how to run your own center. You learn how both Brunswick and AMF machines work. Not so much as repairing them. Also get to learn how to hand oil all the way up to your latest Lane Machine. Pro Shop is another thing you get to get hands on with, which was the best part. Then you learn the little details of cost and profit inside of a bowling center. Basically anything that goes on in the bowling center you will learn about. Gary Sparks is one of the most knowledgeable people you could learn from in the Industry. He could very well have gotten his Gold Certification but he chooses not too

. I enjoyed my time there and after I was done, I easily got a Management Job at a bowling Center at the ripe age of 22. Unfortunately the owners of that place sucked and I did not stay there very long. Lets just say Salary at 22K is not worth the 60-70 hours a week running the place. Now I am Happily Coaching at SFA for their NCAA Womens Program. If you can bowl for the team along with learning everything about the bowling center then I would highly recommend VU.

back to it · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2013, 01:55:29 PM »

I also went to Vincennes,also mainly for the bowling team.As Sleeve said you will learn everything about how to run a bowling center,lane maintainance,pro shop capabilitys,as stated above.My sophmore tear was Mr. Gary Sparks first year,so we had already completed lane mechanics on AMF and Brunswick in which we had to be able to repair any problem.They gave out certificates of being a mechanic on both.The Bowling lane Management part is great,but the rest of the courses are ones you would have gone to a good high school,let alone BSU.I did get a job managing right out of school and the pay was good for the hours you worked,but there were a lot more corporations coming in and doing interviews at the school.

JohnP · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2013, 04:23:33 PM »

IMO, go back to BSU and get your BA degree. If you then want to work in a bowling center (think starvation!), the degree will serve you well, and you'll have the option to move into a better paying job while continuing to work there part time. -- JohnP

Author Topic: Do I go to Vincennes or not? (Read 2385 times)

imjouster

Do I go to Vincennes or not?

jhutch769

Re: Do I go to Vincennes or not?

imjouster

Re: Do I go to Vincennes or not?

itsallaboutme

Re: Do I go to Vincennes or not?

Sleeve857

Re: Do I go to Vincennes or not?

back to it

Re: Do I go to Vincennes or not?

JohnP

Re: Do I go to Vincennes or not?