College/Career Advice

Pilot121

Pilot121

Well-Known Member
Hello,

I have been very interested in a flight dispatch career for a while, and now that I am a senior in high school, the college decision process will be here before I know it. I have a dilemma, however.

My first option is to attend a college close to home that has an Aviation Management (without flight) bachelor's degree. I could also get my dispatch license my senior year as part of the degree. The only reasons I like this school are because I would be able to study the one thing that really interests me -- aviation, and I would be able to meet others who share my aviation passion.

The second option I have is to go to a school a lot farther away (and in a much warmer climate! :D). This college does not have an aviation degree though, so I would study something involving Marketing/MIS/Business. I know that these are all pretty solid, well-rounded degrees, but my main concern is that I would not meet anyone else interested in aviation, and get bored with all of my classes. I would get my DX license at a school like Sheffield/Jeppesen/etc. after I graduate if I go this route.

I have read online that the "aviation management" degrees are useless for anything other than aviation, and that a general business degree is a lot better option, even if you don't find it to be the most interesting subject.

Is one degree better than the other if I want to be a dispatcher? I know that people say "study what you want" in college, but I don't want to be stupid about it and get a worthless degree just because it was all I was interested in.

What are/were your college experiences? Aviation or non-aviation degrees, and what did you think of either?

I really look forward to hearing your thoughts!
-Max
 
I graduated in 2014 with a degree in Aviation Business. Currently any degree is good enough to be a preference at a major but I believe that in time only aviation related degrees will fit this standard. Eventually the preference could even become masters, who knows? All I know is that if I put an app in at a major who values a degree, and if I have similar experience, similar interviews, I like my chances with an Aviation degree over someone with a degree in botany. IMO
 
Follow your passion. I spent 20 years unhappily working IT and electronics because "they're good paying jobs with a good future." Now I LOVE to go to work every day, even when things get meteorologically "interesting!" If aviation is your passion, go with the aviation degree. Being with like-minded people makes the experience (and motivation) so much better. I've spent 20 years at different colleges throughout my life, but the Summer I spent at Purdue in the Aviation program was the best college experience I'd ever had. In an aviation program you'll hook up with all kinds of people with all sorts of different aviation related interests. I've flown in jets, I've flown a Phenom 100 simulator, flown in a B-25, a Stearman, an Avenger torpedo bomber, an F-18 2 seat trainer, a Navy C-2 catapult launch and recovedry, I've gone skydiving (quite a feat for a guy with 1 arm), I've flown an Ercoupe, a Flight Design CTLS, a C-150, a C-172, a weight-shift trike and an ultralight. Needless to say, hanging around aviation people has it's perks.

Go with your dream!
 
Obtain a non aviation based bachelors degree and obtain a dispatchers certificate online or a 5 week program over the summer. Having a non aviation degree like finance, business or computer science will open more options if you elect not to dispatch, don't like it or elect to pursue other career options.
 
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I have a completely unrelated BS from a big state school. A 4 year degree is certainly helpful, but I don't think it necessarily needs to be in something aviation related.
 
I think you would get more actual benefit from a degree like Meteorology or Psychology than Aviation Management. I have met many pilots (and former pilots) who wish they had gotten a degree other than one in aviation as it was limiting for them.

The actual knowledge from the degree isn't as needed as people think. I know many excellent professionals in the aviation industry and few of them have college degrees, much less a college degree in an aviation-related field. Find a school where you will be successful and the area of study will be settled soon enough.
 
R2D said:
I have a completely unrelated BS from a big state school. A 4 year degree is certainly helpful, but I don't think it necessarily needs to be in something aviation related.
Click to expand...
I agree 92.4%, but if you're going to attend college and you're trying to decide between pursuing an Aviation degree and a non-Aviation degree, AND you plan on working in the Aviation industry then it's a no-brainer. Go with the Aviation related degree.

After 20-ish years at different schools, I still only have an AA (not counting my BS-EET from ITT Testicle Institute), but I also have a HUGE variety of training: I am well versed in Accounting, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Private Pilot training (and a Sport Pilot license), Photography and Digital Photo Editing, Art, Computer Programming, and Electronics. Even though most of these are TOTALLY unrelated to Aviation, I still draw from this knowledge and experience bank almost daily. I plan on going to Embry Riddle for my BS in Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Management - not because I NEED it for a job (but it certainly won't hurt), but to make me a more well rounded aviation professional. I LOVE all this Aviation stuff and totally geek-out on it!

Like DispatcherSAM said, "DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!"
 
It doesn't really matter what your degree is in - but if you want something that will give you a big "leg up" on the competition for your first job, I would recommend a meteorology degree of some type (meteorology, atmospheric science, etc.) If you're not a big science fan then something like finance/accounting would be a good choice. I got a very general aviation-related degree myself, probably would have done things differently if I had it to do all over again but things worked out well enough for me eventually! When trying to get on with a major, experience trumps a degree every time, and at my current (major) airline, we have people all the way from no degree/never went to college up to master's degrees. I wish there was a dispatcher 4-year program leading to a degree along with a license - I think one might be offered by Embry-Riddle as part of one of their degree programs, and that would be a good way to go also.
 
R2D said:
I have a completely unrelated BS from a big state school. A 4 year degree is certainly helpful, but I don't think it necessarily needs to be in something aviation related.
Click to expand...

Currently correct, but now that MTSU offers a focus in Dispatch for example and many universities are offering ways to gain dispatch licenses as art of their programs the trend would be that these will be valued more by hiring managers. Were talking almost 10 years from now he will be applying to a major, so everyone is speculating but I would think the trend is towards aviation preferred eventually.

How common were aviation degrees in dispatch positions 10 years ago? Or how about dispatch related degrees? I cant imagine there are not a higher percentage now than before, even marginally.
 
Well seeing that Embry-Riddle, Dispatch, and Meteorology got brought up, I might as well put in my 2 cents.

I just graduated from ERAU. I got my degree in Meteorology and my flight dispatch certificate to go with it through their flight dispatch program. I always had the full intention to go into an aviation field and have my "non-aviation" degree as a backup. I like weather, but I like aviation just a little bit more. It's slightly comforting knowing you have options in multiple fields.

Meteorology isn't for everyone. I saw most student pilots who minored in it found the classes to be very boring for them.

The Dispatch program at ERAU is pretty decent. You can do it with any major of study. They basically tell you the list of courses you need to take (which is already offered at ERAU for the Aviation degree programs) and then you take the dispatch capstone course.
 
First of all, there is a lot of good advice being shared in this thread. Study something that interests you first and foremost. You will do better and be happier in school by doing that.

If aviation is your passion, I might recommend going for a degree that is not just aviation specific. A field such as safety could be a great way forward and open other doors for you along with the dispatch certification. With the advent of Safety Management Systems being mandated by the FAA and ICAO, it is a very sound and good way forward. You could also branch out into Occupational and Industrial Safety or go more traditional with OSHA employee safety. All of these are needed in the aviation industry and this could provide a means forward you have not considered. Safety as as major and dispatch as a minor or vise versa is a thought as well.

Ultimately, I recommend you choose a school that you will be happy at and do not necessarily buy into the name hype from the college or university. It is better to graduate with a 4 year degree in something you enjoy and study at a place you can afford than to go somewhere and pay high dollar and graduate with tons of student loan debt. Remember that your goal is to get that 4 year degree. It is a discriminator when it comes to hiring and bidding on other positions. The area of study is important initially, but after that, the degree becomes a discriminator. Hiring managers can make decisions based on degree when it comes to filling positions. Never mind who the most qualified might be. And degree discrimination is perfectly legal. If 100 people apply for an open position, the resumes will be sorted by education then qualification. Start with college degrees and then work down the pile. Odds are those that have less than the 4 year degree will be at a significant disadvantage. It is not necessarily smart, and good people get passed over, but it is done quite a bit.

And good luck.
 
flyslow_va said:
First of all, there is a lot of good advice being shared in this thread. Study something that interests you first and foremost. You will do better and be happier in school by doing that.

If aviation is your passion, I might recommend going for a degree that is not just aviation specific. A field such as safety could be a great way forward and open other doors for you along with the dispatch certification. With the advent of Safety Management Systems being mandated by the FAA and ICAO, it is a very sound and good way forward. You could also branch out into Occupational and Industrial Safety or go more traditional with OSHA employee safety. All of these are needed in the aviation industry and this could provide a means forward you have not considered. Safety as as major and dispatch as a minor or vise versa is a thought as well.

Ultimately, I recommend you choose a school that you will be happy at and do not necessarily buy into the name hype from the college or university. It is better to graduate with a 4 year degree in something you enjoy and study at a place you can afford than to go somewhere and pay high dollar and graduate with tons of student loan debt. Remember that your goal is to get that 4 year degree. It is a discriminator when it comes to hiring and bidding on other positions. The area of study is important initially, but after that, the degree becomes a discriminator. Hiring managers can make decisions based on degree when it comes to filling positions. Never mind who the most qualified might be. And degree discrimination is perfectly legal. If 100 people apply for an open position, the resumes will be sorted by education then qualification. Start with college degrees and then work down the pile. Odds are those that have less than the 4 year degree will be at a significant disadvantage. It is not necessarily smart, and good people get passed over, but it is done quite a bit.

And good luck.
Click to expand...
That's a great idea about looking into the safety side of aviation! What would such a degree be called? There's a website where you can see what colleges offer a certain degree, but I don't know what the official name would be.
 
Three hobbies.

One to keep you fit.
One to keep you fed.
One to keep you founded.

You've got your aviation interest in order as a passion - of that I have no doubts. But, take note what everyone else above has said. College degrees are the new high school diplomas, workforce unrelated. The trick, now, is finding out how your three hobbies intertwine. I was an IT junkie in college, (@pcstan may be able to relate how the tech bug bites...) but I was studying for a "degree" that was just that. A degree. I went from a (now defunct) aviation school to an accredited college up the road, found a way to make the credits work, and got out in 4 years with less than 6 figures in the red. The degree says International Relations, whatever the hell that is, but I firmly believe I went to college for the college's sake.

Don't let your degree define you. And, on the other side of that coin, don't let your collegiate responsibilities kill your dreams.

Sounds lame at first glance, but give those three hobbies a try. You may even find a way to get paid doing what you love. Good luck, once again. ;)

See you out here.
 
Mainline_or_bust said:
Currently correct, but now that MTSU offers a focus in Dispatch for example and many universities are offering ways to gain dispatch licenses as art of their programs the trend would be that these will be valued more by hiring managers. Were talking almost 10 years from now he will be applying to a major, so everyone is speculating but I would think the trend is towards aviation preferred eventually.

How common were aviation degrees in dispatch positions 10 years ago? Or how about dispatch related degrees? I cant imagine there are not a higher percentage now than before, even marginally.
Click to expand...

I can see that. I suspect a lot of people who are dispatchers, especially at majors, didn't anticipate being a dispatcher, so they have degrees that reflect what they were interested in at the time and not necessarily what they are interested in today.
 
Burrito said:
Three hobbies.

One to keep you fit.
One to keep you fed.
One to keep you founded.

You've got your aviation interest in order as a passion - of that I have no doubts. But, take note what everyone else above has said. College degrees are the new high school diplomas, workforce unrelated. The trick, now, is finding out how your three hobbies intertwine. I was an IT junkie in college, (@pcstan may be able to relate how the tech bug bites...) but I was studying for a "degree" that was just that. A degree. I went from a (now defunct) aviation school to an accredited college up the road, found a way to make the credits work, and got out in 4 years with less than 6 figures in the red. The degree says International Relations, whatever the hell that is, but I firmly believe I went to college for the college's sake.

Don't let your degree define you. And, on the other side of that coin, don't let your collegiate responsibilities kill your dreams.

Sounds lame at first glance, but give those three hobbies a try. You may even find a way to get paid doing what you love. Good luck, once again. ;)

See you out here.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice! Do you mean that it doesn't matter what degree I get?
 
Pilot121 said:
Thanks for the advice! Do you mean that it doesn't matter what degree I get?
Click to expand...

Sort of. While it's not quite there yet, I'd certainly side with the "Do what your immediate future thinks is prudent, even if it's a faint fascination in history," argument.

pcstan said:
Follow your passion. I spent 20 years unhappily working IT and electronics because "they're good paying jobs with a good future." [...]
Go with your dream!
Click to expand...

I won't quote-kill the whole thread. But you've got a load of replies more or less summing up their opinions with "While an aviation degree has its perks, it may leave you at an overall disadvantage when pitted against someone with well-rounded college experience, as well as B.A. in a general field such as history or education."

Degree is a piece of paper.

College is 4 years (maybe longer, maybe shorter) of learning and personal experience. Internships, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, all to pass the time while waiting for the night before your 3 papers are due -- which you totally forgot about. I may be speaking from personal experience there...
 
I recieved ny degree in Airport Management (Associates). At the time i was persuing the degree to meet the requirments of the CTI program to become a air traffic controller. Once I was disqualified I decided to finish up my degree and kind of fell into dispatching in my final semester. Goes to show you like a few said here sometimes you dont do what your degree advertises.
 
Pilot121 said:
Hello,

I have been very interested in a flight dispatch career for a while, and now that I am a senior in high school, the college decision process will be here before I know it. I have a dilemma, however.

My first option is to attend a college close to home that has an Aviation Management (without flight) bachelor's degree. I could also get my dispatch license my senior year as part of the degree. The only reasons I like this school are because I would be able to study the one thing that really interests me -- aviation, and I would be able to meet others who share my aviation passion.

The second option I have is to go to a school a lot farther away (and in a much warmer climate! :D). This college does not have an aviation degree though, so I would study something involving Marketing/MIS/Business. I know that these are all pretty solid, well-rounded degrees, but my main concern is that I would not meet anyone else interested in aviation, and get bored with all of my classes. I would get my DX license at a school like Sheffield/Jeppesen/etc. after I graduate if I go this route.

I have read online that the "aviation management" degrees are useless for anything other than aviation, and that a general business degree is a lot better option, even if you don't find it to be the most interesting subject.

Is one degree better than the other if I want to be a dispatcher? I know that people say "study what you want" in college, but I don't want to be stupid about it and get a worthless degree just because it was all I was interested in.

What are/were your college experiences? Aviation or non-aviation degrees, and what did you think of either?

I really look forward to hearing your thoughts!
-Max
Click to expand...

College is the one time in your life where you can spend four years studying what YOU want to learn about. If aviation is what you want to learn about, then by all means, attend a college with an aviation program. If you can get an Aircraft Dispatcher certificate while attending, so much the better. Aviation is a highly technical field, and you will be better off if you can graduate with a skill that you can "sell" to employers. I earned B.S. in Aviation Management, but I didn't have a skill to sell, so it was more difficult to break into the field. Not to say that it can't be done, but without a skill to market, you are likely to start off in the very lowest of entry level positions (ramp agent, customer service, etc.).

Another benefit to having a dispatcher certificate is that it is evidence of having a foundation of knowledge in aviation and aircraft operations. Moreover, you will be able to speak intelligently about these topics with fellow aviation professionals, as you will have learned the language of it.

With regard to what others have said about studying some other field as a "back-up", consider this: The purpose of college is to provide you with a basic foundation of skills from which you can enter the professional world, and build on. You should be always be learning and acquiring new skills, whether you do it formally by taking a class, or informally, by picking up a book and reading. You should always be working on your weakest skill.

One final thought: You're interest now is in Dispatch, but college tends to broaden your horizons and expose you to other ideas. Be open to those ideas. I started in dispatch, but since then I have worked in a number of different areas related to aviation. There are many aviation career paths. College is your opportunity to explore them.
 
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