I agree with this: Study something that interests you, but at the same time, consider it's future in the economy. There are LOTS of ways to make a living. With some thought and career exploration, I am sure you can come up with something that interests you AND is in demand. Call this a modification of option 5.
Decisions decisions decisions...
- Thread starter Oddjlunar2
- Start date
Mark815
Well-Known Member
Option 6, go to a pilot mill for $100k, then go to a pay to work company where you can get right seat experience in a real airline environment for only $30k!
GA Tech all the way. If your option is go to school for free, than GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE! Airplanes will always be there, and you can get your ratings at an FBO for a much cheaper rate than the big schools. Don't fall for the 'airlines want you to go to [insert school name here]' scam, it doesn't matter where you get your ratings or where you go to school.
GA Tech all the way. If your option is go to school for free, than GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE! Airplanes will always be there, and you can get your ratings at an FBO for a much cheaper rate than the big schools. Don't fall for the 'airlines want you to go to [insert school name here]' scam, it doesn't matter where you get your ratings or where you go to school.
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
You've obviously never been to Georgia Tech...it was a big deal about 2 years ago when Tech hit 30% female population, for the first time in the school's history! If you decide to join a fraternity, I have a few guy friends that married sorority sisters of my gf...Brenau Univ in Gainesville (all female) has a history with GT (mainly because it's been all male).
dasleben
That's just, like, your opinion, man
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
Still significantly better than Riddle.
In reality, it would be very similar in that regard!
Good Call :beer:Oddjlunar2
New Member
Hey People! Logged in to check out the site some more and check out what else people have said.
Another question is, what if I wanted to go to a structured program? I have DRIVE but I lack FOCUS to some degree. I am worried that once I get into Tech that I will not have the focus to get my butt up and drive down to the FBO. Maybe the price difference between a stuctured program and an FBO will set me straight? :rotfl:
Another question is, what if I wanted to go to a structured program? I have DRIVE but I lack FOCUS to some degree. I am worried that once I get into Tech that I will not have the focus to get my butt up and drive down to the FBO. Maybe the price difference between a stuctured program and an FBO will set me straight? :rotfl:
titansox
Well-Known Member
For what it is worth,I go to a community college with a pro pilot program. Granted, I'm here for the Air Traffic Control program. Even so, the pro pilot program is pretty legit. There are 3 flight schools on the campus (the campus is at an airport) that you can choose from. Your flying is discounted when you do it as a degree. If you are instate (which I assume you'd be), the rest of your education would be discounted to a community college price. The program is only 1.5 years (4 consecutive semesters, no summer break) long and you'll get an associates degree. Then with the money you've saved, you could transfer your credits to a larger school and get a BS degree while you build your hours flying. Its not a bad option at all.
Here's the curriculum:
Also, just to give you some first hand experience. I did my freshman year at a good size 4 year school. I really enjoyed it, especially the social aspect of it. By that I don't even mean parties and stuff, I'm not much of a partier. But in the 2 semesters I was there were probably the best 8 months of my life. That being said, the education side of things really dragged. I didn't want to spend 4 years getting a generic bachelor degree. Long story short, I ended up moving up here for the ATC program.
I'm not saying that one way is better than another. They are just different. I guess the only advice I'll give you is don't pigeonhole yourself into something you don't enjoy, evolve. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat.
panman-pilot
Well-Known Member
I agree with all who said Option 5 and O&M's quote. I too would have liked to go to Riddle but could not afford to so I initially studied a straight aviation B.S. at a smaller school and then realized before graduating that it would significantly limit my employment options upon graduation outside the field of aviation, so I studied engineering in a field of interest and demand for my master's degree. It is a great feeling to be debt free and to be able to pay ALL your bills every month. In fact I feel better about achieving the latter than possibly flying for a regional airline and being unable to do so. However, it's not that I do not desire to fly for the airlines someday, but I think I have figured out what is most important in life and as you grow older and have more responsibility, you will do the same...hopefully.
With respect to your concerns about being in a structured program, I believe it is good that you recognize your strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to how you would best be able to achieve. However, I did all my ratings the FBO route while going to school and working from private through CFI and I believe if you do the math, the price should set you straight. It's not only the principal that kills, it's the interest on the loans, so my advice is to pay as you go and stay out of debt as much as you can. It may mean that since your school can be paid for at Georgia Tech, you can get a part time job if possible to pay for your flight training and gradually do it over time. I believe that flying at an FBO while going to school and working, would in addition to your drive, help you to develop the focus, time management, multitasking, and discipline which are all necessary to be successful in a career as an airline pilot.
Oddjlunar2
New Member
For what it is worth,I go to a community college with a pro pilot program. Granted, I'm here for the Air Traffic Control program. Even so, the pro pilot program is pretty legit. There are 3 flight schools on the campus (the campus is at an airport) that you can choose from. Your flying is discounted when you do it as a degree. If you are instate (which I assume you'd be), the rest of your education would be discounted to a community college price. The program is only 1.5 years (4 consecutive semesters, no summer break) long and you'll get an associates degree. Then with the money you've saved, you could transfer your credits to a larger school and get a BS degree while you build your hours flying. Its not a bad option at all.
Here's the curriculum:
Also, just to give you some first hand experience. I did my freshman year at a good size 4 year school. I really enjoyed it, especially the social aspect of it. By that I don't even mean parties and stuff, I'm not much of a partier. But in the 2 semesters I was there were probably the best 8 months of my life. That being said, the education side of things really dragged. I didn't want to spend 4 years getting a generic bachelor degree. Long story short, I ended up moving up here for the ATC program.
I'm not saying that one way is better than another. They are just different. I guess the only advice I'll give you is don't pigeonhole yourself into something you don't enjoy, evolve. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat.
So what is the program you are in now? Do you get any type of degree from it at all or does it only give you the ATC certification? Oh and thanks again for everyone who replies, I continue to read everyone's advice.
titansox
Well-Known Member
Well I'll get an associates degree but that won't really do anything for me if ATC were to fall through. More importantly they teach me the basics, train in sims, and at my school I actually get to control in an ATC tower. All of which are designed to prepare me for the AT-SAT. My score on that test directly affects my ability to get hired. As for the pro pilot program, you get a meaningless associates degree. However in the pro pilot program, you actually build certificates (private, instrument, commercial, ect).
Pilotforhire587
Lycra Man
GT man... And PDK is very nice
:yeahthat:
Seriously though...I like the fact that you are showing initiative to be organized and have a game plan, I think you should do those things, but don't get so caught up in this and adopt the attitude of "OMGZ I HAVE TO BE A REGIONAL FO BY THE TIME I'M 21!" Go to a regular school and do the whole "college life" experience. Learn to fly on the side or wait until after you graduate to pursue your ratings (aviation will still be there).
Don't do anything stupid (DUI, PI, etc...) but have a good time and enjoy the times. Trust me once you get your ratings and go to work for the man....well you'll understand one day
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
1. Best Option
2. Run far away and save your money. The majority of 141 schools ERAU, WMU, etc are over priced these days. You end up with the same license as joe blow who went to a mom and pop FBO. Where you got your ratings plays a very minute part, if at all during an interview. Your real world experience will play the biggest part.
3, Get the degree from GA TECH in a non aviation field as a backup.
4. I don't have experience with Aerosim. But in general short cuts don't usually work.
Stratopilot
Well-Known Member
As an Embry-Riddle alum, I can safely say that attending Embry-Riddle was one of the worst decisions I could have made. I'm now so heavily laden with debt that it is making this career very difficult. My choices are VERY limited with regards to which airlines or 135 operators I can AFFORD to fly for. Unless you have parents willing to absorb the majority of the costs associated with attending Riddle I would say that it is the worst decision you could make for yourself. As far as the "riddle experience" all I can say to that is "what riddle experience?". There isn't really much of a social life. Everybody there is essentially the same. They all are interested in aviation. If you want a TRUE college experience go to a place with a wide variety of people. As far as the training goes, I trained there for a short time and I found my instructor to be the most arrogant and self serving SOB I have ever known. Again this is my own personal experience and other alums will have a different view, but I think most of them will have them same opinion as I do.
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Well said and that could be said for any school designed around aviation. WMU had a great college experience since it offers a vast number of degrees but in the long run it was still a rip off as far as price goes. Thankfully it was cheaper than Riddle but I still paid way too much for the degree an ratings. Stay away from any 141 school. It is amazing how at the time we thought we were making the right choice and believed all the BS.
Trust us these schools are a huge financial mistake...
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
I agree with a lot of the previously mentioned plans; go to a college for a degree and the college experience, fly on the side without incurring a lot of debt, airplanes will still be here in 10 years and the pay will still suck.
So, all that aside I'd like to emphasize the above quote, particularlly regarding the future potential of income. IMHO one of the reasons those who graduated college in the 60's, 70's and even early 80's are so much better off than those folks graduating today is that many today persue what interests them, not what necessarily what makes a comfortable living. Granted it's all relative and money is not the end all goal, but consider this: let's surmise you go to a liberal arts college with no particular major in mind. For the first two years you might take the required liberal arts courses (read: english, a foreign language, a science course like chemistry or biology, and a few electives.) That might make you more well rounded but do nothing regarding your specialty you decide to major in your 3rd year. Year 3 you decide on English as a major, because with all the electives you took, it is the only major you can satisfy without having to become a 5 year college student. Now you have about 3 career choices: journalism, teacher or writer. Of those, teaching is probably the only option that most anyone could get into, but since you weren't an education major, you need to find the right private school to be employed by until you can get your credentials for public school....
Now take a look at a different way of looking at college: you choose to go to College X and get into Nursing, even though you're not really that interested in it. The reason you started off with that focus is twofold; you focus only on the subjects pertaining to your major, and it has the potential for secure, good income for the next 30 years. You go through college, acquiring a $10-20 thousand in debt but are able to intern while in college and land a job immediately after graduating, with a signing bonus of $15k for a two year commitment. So now you've paid your college off in two years, have increased your salary and still have change to play with - investing that into flying.
All I'm trying to point out here is that while you might go to college to "persue something you enjoy" weigh heavily on what that means in the real world. There are a few majors that can benefit you to HELP persue your dreams: engineering, sciences, technology, medical - but many that will hurt acheiving your goals of flying because of lack of pay or job opportunities. Ooh it's lunch time, gotta go.
Oddjlunar2
New Member
This is very...insightful. So if anyone out there can answer the next question. Do regional first officer pilots get a different kind of flight time than the captain? I was told that even though you are in the same plane, you recieve a different flight time and commercial airlines look for that captain time. Also, you can still comment on what option you think is the best or suggest new ones! I still read/re-read every post.
Thanks again for the help!
Thanks again for the help!
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
First officers are not fully typed in the aircraft. First officers may only log flight time as SECOND IN COMMAND.