Crossroads: Law School vs Flying Career

PhilosopherPilot said:
Missing the point, Mr. Condescending Rolly Eyes. If you'd READ the research you might comprehend what I'm saying.

Takes a lotta guts to be condescending when you're on the ignorant side of the argument. Well, it could just take ignorance, I suppose.
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I read your article, and I'm familiar with "happiness research." I've used it on this very forum to argue that happiness increases with income up to a certain point. But you're trying to apply that research to something it doesn't apply to, and it's silliness. None of that research implies that you should voluntarily accept things that make you unhappy if you have the ability to change them. It only implies that you should try to accept things that you can't control. Giving up and just accepting something that you hate is not a "positive attitude," it's insanity. If you're unhappy about something, work to change your circumstances!
 
Soku39 said:
I don't think he means that missing a commute should make you happy, but there's no reason to lose your crap either.
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No one is talking about "losing your crap." It's a conversation about what career might make someone the most happy. Determining what things would make you unhappy is a way to avoid a career that isn't a good fit. Living in a fantasy world of unicorns and rainbows is not a recipe for a happy life. It's a recipe for repressed unhappiness that boils up later.
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
The science backs me up, actually... And what are "priorities" other than what you choose to affect your attitude? If you choose to get pissed every time you miss a commute flight, you'll be far unhappier than the guy who rolls with it.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5784964
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Very, very true. It's something I struggle with sometimes (I think we all do), but positive thinking is a definite choice.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
I read your article, and I'm familiar with "happiness research." I've used it on this very forum to argue that happiness increases with income up to a certain point. But you're trying to apply that research to something it doesn't apply to, and it's silliness. None of that research implies that you should voluntarily accept things that make you unhappy if you have the ability to change them. It only implies that you should try to accept things that you can't control. Giving up and just accepting something that you hate is not a "positive attitude," it's insanity. If you're unhappy about something, work to change your circumstances!
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Meh, I think that there are certain things that aren't worth changing, such as your company. If you're unhappy at Delta, it's probably not going to make you happy to go to United.

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't strive to make things better. But there IS research that shows that to compare oneself to a peer can make you unhappy. That's what is going on at my company. Why make yourself miserable?

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/c...op-comparing-yourself-others-and-feel-happier
 
ATN_Pilot said:
No one is talking about "losing your crap." It's a conversation about what career might make someone the most happy. Determining what things would make you unhappy is a way to avoid a career that isn't a good fit. Living in a fantasy world of unicorns and rainbows is not a recipe for a happy life. It's a recipe for repressed unhappiness that boils up later.
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I didn't say rainbows and unicorns. I left an unhappy career to pursue aviation, where I'm far happier. Reference my previous post.
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
Meh, I think that there are certain things that aren't worth changing, such as your company. If you're at Delta, it's probably not going to make you happy to go to United.
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Which isn't what we're talking about in this thread.

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't strive to make things better. But there IS research that shows that to compare oneself to a peer can make you unhappy. That's what is going on at my company. Why make yourself miserable?
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Well, for one thing, in a collective bargaining environment, comparing yourselves to others leads to actual improvements in your contract through pattern bargaining.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Which isn't what we're talking about in this thread.


Well, for one thing, in a collective bargaining environment, comparing yourselves to others leads to actual improvements in your contract through pattern bargaining.
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Comparing, that's fine. Becoming UPSET because of differences is a recipe for unhappiness.

If course, I would argue MUCH of your malaise is due to your union involvement. It's just a hotbed of unhappy ways of being, by definition.
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
It's not easy. I'm a career-long commuter. Few things get me as stressed as a tight commute.
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I hear ya, that's not fun.

But I get what you're saying overall: I'm also at a desirable company, but one that I know isn't up to the same level as some of my peers flying the same equipment. Yes, I do sometimes get wrapped up in "Man, I wish we had ______," but I really am trying hard not to do it so much outside the realm of how our next CBA will be negotiated. On a personal level, it's much better for my blood pressure to simply realize that at the end of the day, I still make good money, still have good QOL, and life could be much, much worse.

Also, arguing with Todd on the internet makes me about as happy as voluntarily knocking my head on a brick wall. Accomplishes about as much, too. ;)
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
Maybe. Some of the unhappiest people I know in our industry are heavily involved in the union. I'm betting there's a reason.
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There is a reason: the people who get involved started out being unhappy about the way things were, which is why they got involved in the first place. They wanted to fix things. The union involvement wasn't what made them unhappy, it was the pro-active result of already being so. In fact, most of the guys I know who do union work get a hell of a lot of satisfaction out of it. Few things in the world can make you feel better than getting someone his job back.
 
Beech_Flyer said:
@hook_dupin, apart from studying and flying, my main areas of involvement during college were corporate/government PR and communications (two internships). I can do some quantitative work too, but nothing beyond basic regression analysis and stats, neither of which I particularly enjoy. Still better than nothing though....

I'm not quite sure how I would mesh the 'soft' skills that I have from a liberal arts background with a flying career unless I studied further or acquire a couple of years in the work place. I have written a variety of articles for small, university-wide publications before, so there's also some potential there. Trying to see the glass as being half-full... at least I only just turned 23!
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Have you thought about government work? Your background smells like you'd make a good intel agent/analyst. There are both mil and civilian opportunities...
 
Well Beech_Flyer it kind of sounds like you are leaning towards the flying career. If you do decide to do it then just remember to try to keep a good attitude because there are a lot of reasons to get very jaded in this career. I'm a RJ FO and my paycheck on the 30th after deductions(medical, etc) was $637...
 
I am pretty new around here so I'm not sure of what your progression was @ATN_Pilot , but I'd be really interested to know how you got to the point you are now. If you don't mind giving a basic rundown of your life experience.
 
Bonanzaman said:
I am pretty new around here so I'm not sure of what your progression was @ATN_Pilot , but I'd be really interested to know how you got to the point you are now. If you don't mind giving a basic rundown of your life experience.
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Gulfstream (BE-1900 FO)
CFI between regional gigs
Pinnacle (CRJ FO and then CA)
AirTran (717 FO)
Lots and lots of union work along the way
Now I own my own business.

That's the quick down and dirty.
 
USMCmech said:
Spend 4 years in college studying a serious science degree (my wife has a degree in genetics). You will need at least a 3.7 or higher in a degree like biochemistry..
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Wait...I thought you didn't need to be a science major to get into med school. I heard about an art history major becoming a doctor...as long as you had the basic sciences (pre-med) done.
 
I've always wanted to be an airline pilot since age 12. I love airline aviation, and I still love my job. There are very few, I estimate, who are flying at a major who would be willing to give it up to do something else. Getting to wrapped around the pilots vs. management politics can be toxic.
 
jtrain609 said:
This is the type of response that I always find hilarious, and I'm not trying to call you out, but I'm going to use this post as a jumping off point.

Folks don't "just" go to law school, or medical school, or any graduate program. You don't wake up one day and say, "Hey, you know what sounds good? Law school! I think I'll apply and see if they're interested in my brilliance!"

First you have to have an undergraduate degree, which seems to be a problem in this industry.

Then you have to not only study for the LSAT for a few months, but then get through the marathon test. Think you'll destroy it and get in the 90th percentile? There's only a 10 percent chance of that happening no matter how smart you are, because EVERYONE taking the LSAT is smart.

Getting in is a year long process, to say nothing of GETTING THROUGH.

And medical school is even worse.

You have to have all the pre-requisites completed prior to application, you'll need a 4.0, a great MCAT score AND you'll likely need patient care experience. Right now medical schools are turning away FULLY QUALIFIED applicants, who would have no problems getting through the program and being successful. But because there are fewer slots than there are applicants, you can have a 4.0 from an top undergraduate program and a great MCAT score and still not get in.

And at Michigan's medical school, 5776 applied last year and the program admitted 177 of those. At Wayne State's medical school, it was 4,952 applications and 541 offers made.

You guys think the new ATP written requirements are challenging? We don't know what true academic challenge is in this industry.
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My post was meant as a joke....
 
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