Auto Restoration Admissions (2024)

Auto Restoration Admissions (1)

Do something you can’t do anywhere else: earn your bachelor’s degree in automotive restoration technology.

Visit

Tour the auto restoration facilities, see faculty demos, and meet one-on-one with faculty and students in the program. Students are encouraged to visit early in their senior year as enrollment in the Automotive Restoration Technology Program is limited.

  • Auto Restoration Visit Day – Nov 15, 2024
  • Auto Restoration Visit Day – Jan 17, 2025
  • Schedule a personal visit

Admissions Process

Individuals interested in studying Automotive Restoration Technology must be admitted separately to the program after being admitted to the College. Enrollment in the Automotive Restoration Technology Program is limited to 50 new students including 5 degree-holding transfers. To be admitted into the Automotive Restoration Technology Program, an applicant must:

  1. Apply to McPherson College. Submit the free, online application to McPherson College.
  2. Submit required documents. High school students/first-time freshmen must provide a state-certified high school transcript or GED and corresponding standardized test scores. Transfer students must provide official copies of transcript(s) from all college(s) and an official copy of high school transcripts or a GED certificate. See Admissions Requirements page.
  3. Acceptance to McPherson College. You will be notified if all requirements are met and you are accepted to McPherson College.
  4. Apply for candidacy to the Automotive Restoration Program. Prepare and upload a portfolio, essay and resume to Slideroom. Please see upload requirements below.
    • Transcripts submitted for acceptance to the college will be considered in the review process. Strong candidates for the AR program will have a 3.0 or higher high school or cumulative transfer GPA.
  5. Interview for Acceptance. After students have submitted their portfolio, an admissions representative will reach out to schedule an interview for acceptance into the program.
    • There will be 2 acceptance dates: Early November and early February. The first round of portfolios must be submitted by October 31st to be included in the first round of acceptances. The second round of portfolios must be submitted by January 31st for the second round of acceptances.
    • Faculty will review portfolios and an admissions representative will contact the ones they would like to move on to the interview portion in early November and again in early February.
    • Please note – it will take approximately one month from the time final portfolios are received, interviews are held, and final candidates are selected before final decisions are released.
  6. Submit Enrollment Deposit. Upon acceptance into the Automotive Restoration Program, students must submit a $250 deposit to reserve their place. The non-refundable deposit will be applied to her/his tuition. Early applications are encouraged because the size of the program is limited. Please do not submit your deposit until you hear about acceptance into the automotive restoration program. Depositing before you have been accepted will not guarantee your spot in the program.

Upload Materials

Prepare and Upload the Following Materials to Slideroom:

  1. A brief statement of interest (between 100 – 500 words) describing the applicant’s motivation for seeking a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Restoration Technology at McPherson College;
  2. A resume outlining applicant’s education, activities, honors, employment, service and leadership experience where applicable;
  3. Submit 6 to 25 images that represent applicant’s aptitude for restoring antique automobiles or motorcycles, where applicable. Personal experience in automotive restoration is beneficial, but examples of an applicant’s skills and/or craftsmanship in other areas are acceptable. Images that show a progression of work or that illustrates work in process are particularly meaningful to reviewers. All images should be accompanied by captions. The captions may be included in the images themselves, added to the end of applicant’s statement of interest, or uploaded as a separate file.

Submit the aforementioned materials to Slideroom. There is a $12 fee that must be paid to Slideroom for use of this service. Once accepted to the College, applicant’s materials will be reviewed in their entirety.

If you need additional clarification on portfolio submissions, reach out to admissions at [emailprotected].

Scholarships

The Endowed Scholarships listed below have been established through the generosity and desire of our donors to assist future generations of students in attending McPherson College. These gifts fund the existing McPherson College Scholarship and Grant Program. Students must complete the FAFSA to be considered.

Endowed Scholarships

These scholarships are available for students to apply for after their first year within the Automotive Restoration program.

  • FJ Foundation Scholarship – FJ Foundation
  • Franklin Club/David T. Doman Memorial Shcolarship Fund – Joan Doman and H.H. Franklin Club
  • Fred Duesenberg Memorial Scholarship – Jay Leno and Peter Heydon
  • Sharon and David Hewitt Endowed Scholarship
  • Holden Family Memorial Scholarship – The Family of John Holden
  • Jackson Family Memorial Scholarship – Craig Jackson and the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
  • Meguiar Family Endowed Scholarship in Automobile Restoration – Meguiar Car Care Products
  • Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® Scholarship – Pebble Beach Company Foundation and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®
  • Rolls-Royce Foundation Scholarship – Rolls-Royce Foundation

In addition to these outstanding scholarships, McPherson College is pleased to recognize the following donors who provide scholarship funds to assist our students. We are grateful for their generous support of the Automotive Restoration Technology Program.

Annual Scholarships

  • American Bugatti Club
  • Antique Automobile Club of America
  • Classic Car Club of America
  • The Collectors Foundation
  • Crown Victoria Association of America
  • Gaines Billue Trust
  • Gene F. Vance Memorial Scholarship
  • Horseless Carriage Club of America
  • Jay Leno/Popular Mechanics
  • McPherson Area Cruisers
  • Mercedes-Benz USA
  • Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc.
  • Model-T Ford Club International
  • Pebble Beach Company Foundation Phil Hill Scholarship – Pebble Beach Company Foundation and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®

Outside Organization Scholarships

Auto Restoration Admissions (2) Auto Restoration Admissions (3)

Are you ready to see what you will do and who you will become at McPherson College? We’ll guide you through the admissions process and connect you with financial aid and scholarship opportunities to make it happen.

Admissions

See for yourself.

During your visit, you’ll meet faculty and students in your major and explore all that McPherson College and the community have to offer.

Visit McPherson
Auto Restoration Admissions (2024)

FAQs

What is the best school to learn about car restoration? ›

McPherson college is the only institution of higher education in America that offers a bachelor's degree in restoration technology. As our FYI reporter Stephanie Hart explains, graduates are schooled in all aspects of the car collecting world.

How long should a car restoration take? ›

More extensive restorations that involve rebuilding the engine, transmission, suspension, and other critical components can take 2 to 5 years or longer to finish. These projects require careful planning, budgeting, and coordination to ensure that every aspect of the restoration is completed to the highest standards.

What is the highest level of car restoration? ›

'Concours,' from the French, Concours d'Elegance, is the highest level of classic car restoration. At this level, the classic is restored to its factory condition.

What does car restoration include? ›

A complete restoration includes not only repair of the parts that can be seen – the body, trim, chrome, wheels, and the passenger compartment – but also the components that are not necessarily visible or otherwise evident, including the engine and engine compartment, trunk, frame, driveline, and all ancillary parts ...

What is the hardest part of car restoration? ›

However, most people find that restoring the body and frame of a vehicle is the most challenging part. What makes this process difficult is the body's size and the damage it may have sustained over the years. For example, fixing a bent frame can be expensive and take a lot of time.

Does restoring cars make money? ›

If you plan to restore the car and then sell it, the process might be a good investment. Restored classic cars can easily sell for tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the make and model.

What is the most expensive part of restoring a car? ›

The most expensive components of restoring a car are typically the bodywork and labor costs. However, if there is significant rusting to repair, metal fabrication could be the biggest expense.

What do you call someone who restores cars? ›

A car restorer works to repair classic cars. In this career, your job duties include ordering parts and supplies that may be hard to find, researching a particular car's construction, taking apart and putting back together mechanical systems to clean and polish, and restoring factory paint jobs.

How do you start a car restoration? ›

Here is an overview of the typical process.
  1. Strip the Car. ...
  2. Check the Condition of the Brakes and Consider an Upgrade. ...
  3. Apply Powder Coatings to Non-rusty Metals. ...
  4. Strip the Paint and Remove Any Rust. ...
  5. Seal, Prime, and Paint. ...
  6. Check the Engine. ...
  7. Check Additional Car Parts. ...
  8. Add Safety Elements.
Jun 26, 2023

Is restoring a car hard? ›

The bottom line is that restoring a car is hard work and takes a lot of time. You'll make mistakes and have to redo things. You'll bang your head and cut your hands. You'll have bolts that won't come loose, and you won't be able to make progress until you figure out a way.

Is car restoration a hobby? ›

At Crash Management Auto Body, we believe that classic car restoration is more than just a hobby, although it certainly provides plenty of fun and enjoyment for enthusiasts.

What is the highest car protection level? ›

The most secure armoured vehicles must offer a protection level from B4 to as high as B7+ to fully protect occupants.

What is the highest level of automotive technician? ›

If all eight tests are passed an ASE Master Technician Certification is awarded. Master Techs are considered experts in automotive repair. ASE also has an Advanced Engine Performance Specialist test and Certification. These technicians are like medical specialists such as Cardiologists or Surgeons.

What is a 100 point restoration? ›

On a 100-point judging scale, this level hits the 100-mark of complete and pristine restoration. A car restored to this level can be deemed perfect in every discernible way.

In what order do you restore a car? ›

Here is an overview of the typical process.
  1. Strip the Car. ...
  2. Check the Condition of the Brakes and Consider an Upgrade. ...
  3. Apply Powder Coatings to Non-rusty Metals. ...
  4. Strip the Paint and Remove Any Rust. ...
  5. Seal, Prime, and Paint. ...
  6. Check the Engine. ...
  7. Check Additional Car Parts. ...
  8. Add Safety Elements.
Jun 26, 2023

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