Do I have this right?

hambone said:
Miami Dade Community College has a CTI program last time I checked. It's out of state but there's no way it could be expensive due to the fact that it's a community college.

Here's the CTI page: http://www.mdc.edu/homestead/aviation/cti.asp

Here's the fees page: http://www.mdc.edu/main/academics/tuition.asp

That's pretty cheap if you ask me.
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Wow that is cheep. Do you think the quality of an education take a big hit? The whole "You get what you pay for" idea...
 
Here's what I was thinking. I could finish 2 years here at mason. Transfer over to Broward University after that. I should have enough credits that carry over that I could complete the AS in ACT in 3 semesters. I would then submit my application to the FAA. I guess this process takes a while so in the mean time I can go back to Mason and continue my studies there. Then depending on how long the process takes, I can get my BS in IT @ Mason. But if my number gets called before hand, I can go do my thing in OK city. Again, if that falls apart, I'd have my IT BS to fall back on or I'd have to go back and finish my studies (at this point I couldn't have much left could I?). Sounds to easy... What am I missing
 
You need to start doing research by yourself instead of asking these open ended questions. As far as Miami Dade goes, you cannot get CTI approved unless the FAA says that it is approved. Take a little initiative dude.
 
hambone said:
You need to start doing research by yourself instead of asking these open ended questions. As far as Miami Dade goes, you cannot get CTI approved unless the FAA says that it is approved. Take a little initiative dude.
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With all do respect hambone, with the exception of Stat home work, this is all I've done today: non stop research. In regards to my last question it was more of a rhetorical question. Of course any help is greatly appreciated, at this point, I'm just looking to bounce ideas off you guys. As an 19 year old, its hard to comprehend the difference between 60K I'll be spending at GMU and 75K I'd be spending if I transferred. I know you guys have been there, done that, so that why I'm looking to you guy. Had I not been here and made this thread I would have done my four year at Mason and been poop out of luck after I graduated and realized they were not hiring off the street any more. Those kinda things are hard for me to understand. So again, I reiterate, I mean this with the utmost respect.
 
First off, Good for you that you have decided to pursue this career so early on. Here are a few tidbits of advice:

Make sure you can pass a 2nd class medical exam. If you can't, there is no chance they will hire you anyway, and you will waste all of your time and money.

If you decide to go for it, you can make it happen, just get totally immersed in aviation, Ace all of your CTI classes and you will most likely get an offer even after all of this mass hiring starts to taper off.

Completing a CTI program is the safest bet to get a job, so if you are serious, go that route. After completing the CTI program you can apply to BOTH CTI and off-the-street (OTS) job openings.

Network with as many people as you can. Call your local tower/center/tracon and ask to set up a visit.

Go get a Pilot's license, if you don't already have one. (Sorry if you posted that info earlier, I didn't read the whole thread) An instrument rating, or at least instrument ground school will help your understanding of the ATC system greatly.

Stick with it, and don't lose sight of your dream. Normal people just like you do this job. It's not impossible, but it is going to take a LOT of hard work.

On a more personal note, choose your friends wisely. Hanging with the wrong crowd and making a few mistakes can potentially cost you this career.

Hopefully that wasn't too preachy. These are all just my own humble opinions. Take them for what they are worth, and do your own research/homework. Good Luck!
 
jeffm1999 said:
First off, Good for you that you have decided to pursue this career so early on. Here are a few tidbits of advice:

Make sure you can pass a 2nd class medical exam. If you can't, there is no chance they will hire you anyway, and you will waste all of your time and money.

If you decide to go for it, you can make it happen, just get totally immersed in aviation, Ace all of your CTI classes and you will most likely get an offer even after all of this mass hiring starts to taper off.

Completing a CTI program is the safest bet to get a job, so if you are serious, go that route. After completing the CTI program you can apply to BOTH CTI and off-the-street (OTS) job openings.

Network with as many people as you can. Call your local tower/center/tracon and ask to set up a visit.

Go get a Pilot's license, if you don't already have one. (Sorry if you posted that info earlier, I didn't read the whole thread) An instrument rating, or at least instrument ground school will help your understanding of the ATC system greatly.

Stick with it, and don't lose sight of your dream. Normal people just like you do this job. It's not impossible, but it is going to take a LOT of hard work.

On a more personal note, choose your friends wisely. Hanging with the wrong crowd and making a few mistakes can potentially cost you this career.

Hopefully that wasn't too preachy. These are all just my own humble opinions. Take them for what they are worth, and do your own research/homework. Good Luck!
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Out of curiosity, how can hanging with the wrong crowd cost you the career? Are we talking, hanging with the heroin junkies, or something not as obvious? Not being sarcastic here either, just sheer curiosity of what you meant by that.
 
Obviously we all have free will and can choose our own paths, but at a young age you can make mistakes due to peer pressure that you will regret later in life.

That is all I meant by that.
 
So this is going to my pitch to my parents:

I want to transfer to The community College of Baltimore County. I know this may seem a bit odd, but hear me out. When I talked to you about transferring to the University of Texas, the major objection, and rightfully so, was the cost of transferring. With that in mind, I evolved my thinking and found another program that suited my liking: Air Traffic Control. CCBC is one of 31 of schools in the nation with this program.

I would be going for an associates degree at CCBC. As you know, an associates degree is a 2 year program. I should be able to finish this degree in 1.5 semesters since I will have a number of credits that transfer over. I would have to complete approximately 40 credits at 275$/Credit = 11,000 dollars for 2 years of an education and a associates degree. During this time, I could potentially get a pilot license which would help me get a job later on in life.

Next I would submit my application to the FAA. Going through this program would significance help my changes at getting a job. From what I have read, it could take years to get accepted. During this time I could get a paid internship at the FAA or a job elsewhere. The other option is I could go back to Mason and continue my IT degree. That obviously depends on how much money we have on the bank but we could deal with that when we get there.

Now once I am accepted in the the trainee program I'd he carted off to Oklahoma City for training. They would pay me 18 thousand dollars for the first year. After 13 months, I'd have to take a test and if I passed it I'd be able to apply to work. The average ATCer makes over 100K a year. Now obviously I wouldn't make that out of the gate, but most ATC start at 60K a year. Not to shabby for a kid one year out of college.

ATC work 40 hour weeks. They average 18-23 vacation days a year with plenty of overtime available. ATC are also illegible to retire at age 50.

So I know this is a lot to digest at once. You are just going to have to trust me on this. But what are you initial thoughts?

-----
Does that sound good? Is it factually correct?
 
titansox said:
So this is going to my pitch to my parents:

I want to transfer to The community College of Baltimore County. I know this may seem a bit odd, but hear me out. When I talked to you about transferring to the University of Texas, the major objection, and rightfully so, was the cost of transferring. With that in mind, I evolved my thinking and found another program that suited my liking: Air Traffic Control. CCBC is one of 31 of schools in the nation with this program.

I would be going for an associates degree at CCBC. As you know, an associates degree is a 2 year program. I should be able to finish this degree in 1.5 semesters since I will have a number of credits that transfer over. I would have to complete approximately 40 credits at 275$/Credit = 11,000 dollars for 2 years of an education and a associates degree. During this time, I could potentially get a pilot license which would help me get a job later on in life.

Next I would submit my application to the FAA. Going through this program would significance help my changes at getting a job. From what I have read, it could take years to get accepted. During this time I could get a paid internship at the FAA or a job elsewhere. The other option is I could go back to Mason and continue my IT degree. That obviously depends on how much money we have on the bank but we could deal with that when we get there.

Now once I am accepted in the the trainee program I'd he carted off to Oklahoma City for training. They would pay me 18 thousand dollars for the first year. After 13 months, I'd have to take a test and if I passed it I'd be able to apply to work. The average ATCer makes over 100K a year. Now obviously I wouldn't make that out of the gate, but most ATC start at 60K a year. Not to shabby for a kid one year out of college.

ATC work 40 hour weeks. They average 18-23 vacation days a year with plenty of overtime available. ATC are also illegible to retire at age 50.

So I know this is a lot to digest at once. You are just going to have to trust me on this. But what are you initial thoughts?

-----
Does that sound good? Is it factually correct?
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only 18k for first 3 months...and thats not counting per diem which is sweet...:beer:
 
Wyopoke79 said:
only 18k for first 3 months...and thats not counting per diem which is sweet...:beer:
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18K for the first 3 months? Hmm then what? I thought the training was 12 months long? Also how much do you get per diem (per day right? I think thats what I remember from 3 years of Latin haha)
 
titansox said:
18K for the first 3 months? Hmm then what? I thought the training was 12 months long? Also how much do you get per diem (per day right? I think thats what I remember from 3 years of Latin haha)
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Training can take up to three years. The 18k is the hourly rate over 3 months. The per diem was like $80 a day when I went to OKC...Once you get to your facility...you make base pay plus Locality.. it aint bad... Its going up over the next 3 years.:eek:
 
Wyopoke79 said:
Training can take up to three years. The 18k is the hourly rate over 3 months. The per diem was like $80 a day when I went to OKC...Once you get to your facility...you make base pay plus Locality.. it aint bad... Its going up over the next 3 years.:eek:
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I apologize for asking for clarification one more time, but I just want to get my facts strait.

So over the first 3 months you make 18K (So say 6K a month) then after those three months are over, you are on your own financially? Or do they pay you more? I'm hoping the latter :P
 
Wyopoke79 said:
Training can take up to three years. The 18k is the hourly rate over 3 months. The per diem was like $80 a day when I went to OKC...Once you get to your facility...you make base pay plus Locality.. it aint bad... Its going up over the next 3 years.:eek:
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Assuming the dollar doesn't totally crash in the next 3 years, and we start getting paid in gold pieces OR we get a totally new currency called The Americano (based off the Euro).
 
titansox said:
I apologize for asking for clarification one more time, but I just want to get my facts strait.

So over the first 3 months you make 18K (So say 6K a month) then after those three months are over, you are on your own financially? Or do they pay you more? I'm hoping the latter :P
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While you're at the academy, you make near nothing, in the ballpark of $8/hr. You do get per diem though, ~$30 for food and ~$50 for housing. Food alone comes to about an extra $900/month. Your academy training length can very depending on your background.
I'm going in OTS(Off the Street) and will be there from Dec 4-April 15, 84 classroom days. Once I PV(Pass), you move to what's called AG pay, which is $37070 + locality. It just going up from there.

In the main ATS forum is a post from Cheezypoof called 2010, 2011, 2012 pay bands. http://forums.jetcareers.com/air-traffic-control/95581-2010-2011-2012-pay-bands.html

Pay is based on the level of your facility. New York is level 12, nice. Colorado Springs is level suck, not so nice(to me anyways, YMMV). Some people prefer smaller places only open 12 hours a day(pays less, not as busy), other prefer 24 hour places(busy all day, every day), your call.
 
Ceiynt said:
While you're at the academy, you make near nothing, in the ballpark of $8/hr. You do get per diem though, ~$30 for food and ~$50 for housing. Food alone comes to about an extra $900/month. Your academy training length can very depending on your background.
I'm going in OTS(Off the Street) and will be there from Dec 4-April 15, 84 classroom days. Once I PV(Pass), you move to what's called AG pay, which is $37070 + locality. It just going up from there.

In the main ATS forum is a post from Cheezypoof called 2010, 2011, 2012 pay bands. http://forums.jetcareers.com/air-traffic-control/95581-2010-2011-2012-pay-bands.html

Pay is based on the level of your facility. New York is level 12, nice. Colorado Springs is level suck, not so nice(to me anyways, YMMV). Some people prefer smaller places only open 12 hours a day(pays less, not as busy), other prefer 24 hour places(busy all day, every day), your call.
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So OKC is pretty much an extension of college with a scholar ship. You go to the classes for free but you are left to pay for housing/food for the most part.
 
Make no mistake, it is work. You are being paid to learn.

In college, the professor could care less if you don't show up. I'm sure in OKC if you don't show up, you better look for something else to do because they won't let you back.
 
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