Choosing the next step

T

Teenpilot_05

New Member
Hey all, I am new on the posts but have been reading a number of them for the past couple of days. I am a senior in high school at the moment looking at a number of colleges. What I am wondering is whether it is better to go to a college where it will take four years to get through all of the training or to go through a FBO where if I work hard, I will learn all of the same things at my own pace and have a better opportunity of landing that CFI job as soon as I can get it?

I am very confused at the moment. There seem to be aspects of the FBO that offer better things and yet the college idea offers some better possibilities as well. The college I have been looking at most closely is UND. How do you all like it? Would you recommend it?

Things were made complicated when I looked on the UND site and they don't have the major I would like to go into. Do I go in for the flight training and find something different to major in? Things have become so complicated since I decided to major in something else (like everyone has recommended) than to major in Aviation Sciences.

FBO /w University of Iowa right next door with the major I want to go into?
or
UND (or other college program) without the major I would like to go into?

Its confusing because if all things go right, I will never need the major. So do I risk going to IOWA and majoring in something I hope never to use and risk my flight training, what I really DO want to do? lol, hope I havn't confused you all. I know I confused myself a long time ago.

Pls help if you have any ideas, comments, offers, perspectives, or anything. Thanks

Happy flying to you all. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Eventhough this has been talked about countless times, and if you really have been reading Jetcareers, then you would have an answer already.

I'm going to take a stab at it! Don't get a Aviation Degree!
Also don't go to UND, you just said it yourself, they don't have the degree you want. Go to college to get the degree you want that interests you! You have to sit in college for 4 years, be there for 4 years learning about something that interests you.

I really don't see the advantage of going to a school like UND or ERAU other than meeting a whole bunch of people that like planes. Heres a secret that I'll only tell you... You can meet all those same people and usually more experienced people at an airport, for FREE!

Airlines can careless if you get your licenses from an Aviation College. All that matters is the time you have. You can go to a Podunk FBO and save thousands of dollars and be ahead of the University gang easily!

Go to Iowa! Train while you are going to School, enjoy your degree and time in School. Without knowing what degree you want to do at Iowa it can only be better than an Aviation degree. To me an aviation degree holds the same value as a degree in Basketweaving. Do what you want dude, but keep in mind when you lose your medical down the road or get furloughed, which would you want an Aviation degree that allows you to work at McDonalds or something else that will by far have better chances in the real world.

(Note: Exaggeration placed where needed /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)


PS: I bet all your questions and concerns can be answered HERE
(Click the Magic link and all your problems and worries will be answered, the link can possibly even tell of the the future.)
 
Teenpilot_05, I would also recommend to get a degree which you can use to fall back on, like CptMatt mentioned (loosing medical, no jobs, etc...). I've noticed that a lot of students here at UND have switched their majors from Commercial Aviation to Aviation Management, or they get a second degree in ATC. If you want to get a degree in someting other than Aviation, go to your local university or community college and complete your flight training at an FBO /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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Also don't go to UND, you just said it yourself, they don't have the degree you want. Go to college to get the degree you want that interests you!

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Ever heard of double majoring?
Many aviation students here double major without having to pay anything in addition.
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To the original poster,
As of now, I'm quite satisfied with UND. Just came in this summer for my first semester and I've liked what I've experienced thus far.

The other guys here can tell you more on what they know. I wouldn't be able to tell you more than what I have, being that I've only spent one semester so far.
 
Hey, thanks for all of the responses but I think that some of you may have misunderstood. My first question I guess should be, can I get flight training from UND while getting an LA major, or any other major?

I do not plan on getting a degree in aviation no matter where I go. I am just wondering if the actual flight training at UND will be better than say an FBO. Will there be better job opportunities, to get into the regionals at a school like UND than at an FBO?

I am thinking about going into writing but I am not sure. UND does not offer a degree in communication or journalism. That is why I am looking at IOWA. I am not sure however that that is what I will major in. If I decide on something else, UND will still be a possibility. I guess what I was asking is whether or not it would be smart for me to choose another major (I might enjoy just as much as a writing major) to get my flight training at a school like UND rather than an FBO?

Rest assured, I do not plan on majoring in Aeronautical Science. Too many people have told me to do otherwise.

I appologize for any misunderstanding and welcome any additional advice. Thanks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Teenpilot_05,

Yes, you can do your flight training at UND, while majoring in nursing or whatever. If you really want to get a major in communications/journalism I would recommend to stay in Iowa, save on out-of-state tuition and complete you flight training at your local FBO.
 
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Yes, you can do your flight training at UND, while majoring in nursing or whatever.

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Why would you spend an awful amount of money doing that?
 
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Why would you spend an awful amount of money doing that?

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Because you can get student loans for that flight training.
 
and because, despite some of its shortcomings, UND remains pretty much the best bang-for-buck flight training out there. excellent equipment, excellent maintenance, good instructors.
 
This is Easy... Don't waste money at a big time school just because it's supposely has "better training" Everyone teaches the same thing believe it or not. I bet you can find one hell of an instructor at some FBO that charges half what UND or ERAU charges.
 
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This is Easy... Don't waste money at a big time school just because it's supposely has "better training" Everyone teaches the same thing believe it or not. I bet you can find one hell of an instructor at some FBO that charges half what UND or ERAU charges.

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Do you even know what UND charges? I guarantee there are members of jetcareers that pay more and at FBO.

Primary and Instrument training is at $85 an hour for the warrior and $38 for the instructor. If you look around, there are many FBO's that don't have an airplane under a hundy.
 
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This is Easy... Don't waste money at a big time school just because it's supposely has "better training" Everyone teaches the same thing believe it or not. I bet you can find one hell of an instructor at some FBO that charges half what UND or ERAU charges.

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Do you even know what UND charges? I guarantee there are members of jetcareers that pay more and at FBO.

Primary and Instrument training is at $85 an hour for the warrior and $38 for the instructor. If you look around, there are many FBO's that don't have an airplane under a hundy.

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I stand corrected. That is actaully reasonable!
 
My advice would be to stay in Iowa and major in something other than aviation. You should be able to find a quality school and instructor to get you your ratings. Then, perhaps you could work there as a CFI, later.

The only advantage to a large university flight program (in my view) is the internships you might be able to get. Sometimes these can lead to a foot in the door. At the same time, everyone I know has done just fine working their way up through the non-aviation degree, then CFI route.

I know two UND guys, both super guys, both aviation majors that did the whole UND deal. Let's just say they are in no better shape, job or experience wise, then someone who did the FBO thing.
 
Thanks for all of the advice. I am still kinda torn on what I am going to do but it sounds like I can go either way and be in about the same place. It is funny that for every time one person says to go about getting your training this way, another is there to say you should go about it this way. It is very confusing.

One of the benefits I guess to doing the FBO thing and going to IOWA is that I am currently taking ground school lessons with the flight school I would be going to. The Eastern Iowa Flight Club is its name and one of its CFI's is very high ranking. They are offering a ton of advice. Why do I not just go to the CFI then you ask. It is hard because for over five years now, I have had my mind set on either the Air Force Academy, ERAU, or UND and suddenly, in my final year of high school, this new option is offered to me.
Maybe my troubles are more aimed at leaving an old dream behind to achieve the big picture. I am sure I will figure it out, I have too.
I am sure, however, that I will be paying UND a visit and would appreciate being given a campus tour by someone in the program. If anyone is interested, pls let me know.

Please continue to give your advice, I read it all and I learn something new each time I read a new post. Thanks for the repsonses everyone.
 
and those FBO's that charge more probably have 30 year old airplanes. Find me an FBO that will have a glass cockpit seminole and the oldest warrior being only about 4 or 5 years old.
 
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