Today, I fly down to Daytona Beach, FL to begin my first day at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, ATC major, space physics minor.
...yeah, I know. Believe me, I know. Unfortunately, I am in that position where I'm still just a 20 yr old college kid who still has to listen to the parentals due to my own financial situation. I live in the Maryland area, so at first I looked at CCBC's ATC-CTI program, but the parents balked upon seeing it's a 2 year program (heaven forbid it's not a Ph.D), so they would rather spend this ridiculous amount of money to send me to Embry-Riddle for a four year ATC program.
Is it even worth it?
Fortunately, I am starting during the summer semester & have made no obligations for the fall. My previous college will accept me with open arms should I choose to go back in the fall, so I have a choice ahead of me. Attending Embry-Riddle in the summer is more or less to see if I enjoy aviation classes at all (myself & everyone around me is certain I will). If I don't, then no big deal, I lost a chunk of money. If I do, then I have to decide if paying a private school for four years is worth it.
I recognize that CTI doesn't exactly prepare you for the job itself. If I had my way of things, I would go to CCBC & try my luck that way, but that door is more or less closed to me. So my questions to the forum are such:
1) I'm clever & I'm determined. I have very little doubts that I would washout, but I cannot afford to sit around for months or years & wait for my opportunity to go to Oaklahoma. Should I even bother or would a degree in a field of science that interests me be more suited to general happiness/the economy?
2) If I do go through with it, would ERAU have even the smallest amount of impact on my chances of getting to Oaklahoma quickly? I'm almost positive it doesn't, but I thought I'd ask for kicks.
3) If by some craziness I get hired, what's likely to be my starting salary/for how long? The two states I would list would be Maryland & Virginia, directing me (most likely) to either BWI, JFK, Dullus, Reagan, or any of the smaller airports in those areas.
Really, any final advice at this point would be appreciated. I'm going to ERAU either way just because I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try & CCBC is barred from me, but I would like some insider opinions on just what I'm getting myself into.
Thanks.
...yeah, I know. Believe me, I know. Unfortunately, I am in that position where I'm still just a 20 yr old college kid who still has to listen to the parentals due to my own financial situation. I live in the Maryland area, so at first I looked at CCBC's ATC-CTI program, but the parents balked upon seeing it's a 2 year program (heaven forbid it's not a Ph.D), so they would rather spend this ridiculous amount of money to send me to Embry-Riddle for a four year ATC program.
Is it even worth it?
Fortunately, I am starting during the summer semester & have made no obligations for the fall. My previous college will accept me with open arms should I choose to go back in the fall, so I have a choice ahead of me. Attending Embry-Riddle in the summer is more or less to see if I enjoy aviation classes at all (myself & everyone around me is certain I will). If I don't, then no big deal, I lost a chunk of money. If I do, then I have to decide if paying a private school for four years is worth it.
I recognize that CTI doesn't exactly prepare you for the job itself. If I had my way of things, I would go to CCBC & try my luck that way, but that door is more or less closed to me. So my questions to the forum are such:
1) I'm clever & I'm determined. I have very little doubts that I would washout, but I cannot afford to sit around for months or years & wait for my opportunity to go to Oaklahoma. Should I even bother or would a degree in a field of science that interests me be more suited to general happiness/the economy?
2) If I do go through with it, would ERAU have even the smallest amount of impact on my chances of getting to Oaklahoma quickly? I'm almost positive it doesn't, but I thought I'd ask for kicks.
3) If by some craziness I get hired, what's likely to be my starting salary/for how long? The two states I would list would be Maryland & Virginia, directing me (most likely) to either BWI, JFK, Dullus, Reagan, or any of the smaller airports in those areas.
Really, any final advice at this point would be appreciated. I'm going to ERAU either way just because I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try & CCBC is barred from me, but I would like some insider opinions on just what I'm getting myself into.
Thanks.