Delta Disqualifiers

My friend T. is subjected to this process right now and has no real idea where she's going to live next year. Possibilities are as far flung as Seattle and Raleigh.

I'm good, thanks.

Yup. Even if you rank a residency high and they like you there is no guarantee it will shake out that you go there. That system is kinda screwed up. My wife wasn't sure if she would get Seattle, Boston, or Providence. She got her first choice of Brown in Providence, so that was good. But that's only the beginning. Once you start, your life sucks for 3 years, minimum.
 
Yup. Even if you rank a residency high and they like you there is no guarantee it will shake out that you go there. That system is kinda screwed up. My wife wasn't sure if she would get Seattle, Boston, or Providence. She got her first choice of Brown in Providence, so that was good. But that's only the beginning. Once you start, your life sucks for 3 years, minimum.

The traditional professional careers aren't all they're made out to be.
 
This whole thread reminds me of a great book I once read.


ItsOkayTryAgain.jpg
 
What happened to that show? It's not on any more. I used to watch it with my son all the time.

Yeah, my daughter loved the show. Thank god those days are over. They still make them, just not as frequently. They do a lot of touring stuff. I did like the bands that they would have on. Weezer was awesome.
 
I actually went back to school in my late 30's. Completely different field of study, and took some hard shi...er stuff. I'm here to tell you that people DO change.

Not to brag or anything, but I absolutely crushed it. 4.0. I thought it would be a complete pain in the tail to compete with 19-20 year olds, but age and guile beat youth and vigor every time.

After I started, I actually made some pretty good friends amongst the youngsters, and they always bugged me for "my tricks". I didn't have the heart to tell them I didn't use tricks. Everything I used I learned from studying in airline ground school (well, the old kind), where you were supposed to absorb a semester's worth of information as to how to build a 727 from paperclips in two weeks. You prioritize, use note cards for the rote stuff and listen carefully for the foot stompers. Best part was since I knew how to study, I had spare time to actually process and enjoy the material.

Also made friends with some of the Professors. They dug that I actually listened and wanted to learn the stuff. They also could trust me not to burn down the lab if they left me to my own devices, so they let me off the leash fairly soon, and I did some cool stuff....including a new molecule (ok, that one was by accident, but a win is a win).

Spent 7 semesters back in school. Got to do research in a lab and teach for two years. Fun stuff. Lost 15 pounds despite eating like a 19 year old. Had a blast. The most amusing part was trying to teach teenage millennials how to use simple tools....like a siphon. One girl accused me of playing a trick on her.

I recommend it if you can swing it.

Richman
 
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I actually went back to school in my late 30's. Completely different field of study, and took some hard shi...er stuff. I'm here to tell you that people DO change.

Not to brag or anything, but I absolutely crushed it. 4.0. I thought it would be a complete pain in the tail to compete with 19-20 year olds, but age and guile beat youth and vigor every time.

I'm experiencing the same thing right now in my early 30s. Decided not to wuss out and go for the easy aviation degree and instead am double majoring in Economics and Accounting. It's been easy. Currently a 4.0 GPA about a quarter of my way through. I would definitely recommend doing it, even if you don't plan on needing the degree. After you get through the few crappy classes that you don't like, a lot of it can be very interesting. If I wasn't getting the college credit, I'd still be reading about a lot of these subjects anyway, so I might as well get a fancy piece of paper for my effort.
 
I aint gots no college edumacation, i wents from my momma to the Air Farce to the FFA to retorement in 30 years and i stills cant spells amuch, but iama plenty happy!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'm experiencing the same thing right now in my early 30s. Decided not to wuss out and go for the easy aviation degree and instead am double majoring in Economics and Accounting. It's been easy. Currently a 4.0 GPA about a quarter of my way through. I would definitely recommend doing it, even if you don't plan on needing the degree. After you get through the few crappy classes that you don't like, a lot of it can be very interesting. If I wasn't getting the college credit, I'd still be reading about a lot of these subjects anyway, so I might as well get a fancy piece of paper for my effort.

Biology (mostly molecular) here from compared to MechE in my youth. Organic chem ain't no cake walk, but actually pretty cool once you learn how to ride the bike. The kiddos called it "pre business".

Most interesting things I learned was big picture stuff. Engineering echos biology, and nature always trends to the least thermodynamic penalty in any system, no matter how small. Learn this, and you can "game the system" pretty darn effectively. Look at the guy to came up with the PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Practically everything he put together was "off the shelf", and the system he produced re-wrote the book on genetic research that has expanded virtually beyond belief. It's that kind of quantum leap in tech that produces really, really, really cool outcomes.

Richman
 
I'm experiencing the same thing right now in my early 30s. Decided not to wuss out and go for the easy aviation degree and instead am double majoring in Economics and Accounting. It's been easy. Currently a 4.0 GPA about a quarter of my way through. I would definitely recommend doing it, even if you don't plan on needing the degree. After you get through the few crappy classes that you don't like, a lot of it can be very interesting. If I wasn't getting the college credit, I'd still be reading about a lot of these subjects anyway, so I might as well get a fancy piece of paper for my effort.

I agree with this path.

Afterwards law school, to be a labor lawyer. :biggrin:
 
I think that some of you guys need to expand your scope on the vastness of this industry. Delta would be a great place to work. It may even be the top job out there right now, but there is a lot of opportunity currently out there. If you're a regional pilot (especially an FO), you have that 121 box checked and it will always be in your back pocket. Maybe you could go do some other type of flying for a while and diversify a little. There's a lot of 135, corporate, air ambulance, and expat work out there these days. If you don't want to go that route, there's always Allegiant, Spirit, Virgin America, Frontier, and etc...

Delta appears to be the pretty girl at the party and some of you appear to be that guy who complains about good guys finishing last. While the pretty girl is getting all of the attention, there's always some lonely girl there just itching for you to come over and talk to her. ;)
 
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