Should I major in Aviation or Computer Science

David said:
On the other hand I could major in Computer Science and probably finance all my flight training since starting salaries are about $55,000 a yr, but that would take longer.
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That's exactly the logic I used. Had earned my Private and Instrument while in high school. Didn't have big pockets to go to a big flight school, so instead I went into computer science to "make big money" so I could "fly whenever I want". I didn't touch an airplane again for well over a decade.

Now days I'm a fairly active CFI who still works full-time in the computer security field. Thankfully I really enjoy what I do for a living, and I love my family-centric quality of life, but at 19 that was not what I thought I was cooking up with my brilliant plan.

I guess the morale of the story is, things are almost certainly not going to work out how you plan anyway. So put your efforts into things you enjoy doing. Having a backup plan is great, but dont choose something just because you hear there is good money in it. Choose something you enjoy doing, make smart choices, live within your means, and the money will work itself out.
 
If you want to fly airplanes, fly airplanes. When I got furloughed, I pulled the trigger on my backup plan thinking that it'd be a good move to get out of flying for a regional airline, because regional airline are the most horrible thing since ever if you listen to the internet.

I'm graduating with my backup plan in hand in May and happily going back to my job at the regional.

If you want to fly airplanes, fly airplanes.
 
I doubt you will regret getting a CS degree. You'll probably be able to swing enough PAYING internships in school to pay for a good bit of flight training.

It doesn't become obsolete if you don't use it for a while, don't believe that. Languages and APIs change all of the time, that's not what a good CS program teaches. It should teach theory, techniques and mathematics. The underlying concepts do not change.

You don't need a CS degree for most programming jobs out there - EE's, math and physics majors are just as qualified (if they like coding)
 
I would not major in aviation. Especially not the super expensive programs. As someone else said, buy a Cessna 150. Maybe get a partner in it. Minimize your flight training debt. You referenced making 25k a year as a CFI. I highly doubt you will make that much, especially as a new CFI. If you truly love flying for fun, you may steer clear of flying professionally altogether. I have met a small number of pilots who fly professionally and for fun. Though I will say the guys flying for the majors partake in more recreational flying. But how long will it take to get to a major?

Keep your debt down, don't get swept away by slick advertising.
 
Major in whatever will make you the happiest, period! Your success in life and happiness will not be measured on what you studied. Whatever you put your mind to, you will accomplish.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
I doubt you will regret getting a CS degree. You'll probably be able to swing enough PAYING internships in school to pay for a good bit of flight training.
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My roommate and I both graduated just last December, he with a B.S. in IT and I with an Aviation degree. Amazingly enough, he already had several job offers before he even graduated, the lowest paying of which offered him a yearly salary reaching over $60k. T'was impressive, I must say.
 
FoodStampsPilot said:
My roommate and I both graduated just last December, he with a B.S. in IT and I with an Aviation degree. Amazingly enough, he already had several job offers before he even graduated, the lowest paying of which offered him a yearly salary reaching over $60k. T'was impressive, I must say.
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CS and EE majors will generally do better than IT majors, that's the general pecking order.
 
What?? Not a single vote for aviation??

Go figure. :)

I'll drop my suggestion in the hat to major in most anything other than aviation!
 
This is not popular advice, but do which one YOU want. I know plenty of people with aviation management degrees who have no desire to fly for a living. They work in airport operations or similar jobs like that, make good money, have stable jobs, and enjoy their work. You can work in aviation and not work for an airline!

Just my 2 cents. I don't see a point wasting money on a degree if it isn't what you want to do.
 
Aviation major here.... I didn't know what else I wanted to do in life to supplement my career so I just went all in. Graduating with a handful of certificates (including an A&P) and a few hundred hours under my belt. I can't complain. If you're gifted at something that makes a lot of money, and you have a passion and desire to do that. Major in that and you can pay for flying a lot easier.
 
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