I didn't do the "collage" to get in the trade. They may help with networking and job placement, but at our dock there is only one guy that went to one and we stole him from a co-op after he was already a journeyman. I would advise applying at various utilities as an apprentice and be willing to move or go to the IBEW
and sign up for an apprenticeship there. The schools mainly cull the folks that are not cut out for this line of work so the companies don't have to pay to train someone that probably aren't going to make it. We would probably start someone out that has completed a school as a second step ape simply because they should already know the basic practice and theory.
ETA: Having a class A CDL will go a long way. The requirements for starting at our sister company are pretty simple,
Helper position. This is the "guy off the street" position, the next step in progression is starting the apprenticeship. Here is the
line of progression after "helper" for that company.