Education Before Becoming a Professional Pilot
- Thread starter cjones61541
- Start date
Cessnaflyer
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
First, sorry you went to Central (Big Bend grad). Debt wouldn't be an issue if people would have jobs during college. I was always amazed how many peopled borrowed for a job that really isn't that great. With that much money you could buy a nice house in the Ellenburg area.
nocturnalaviator
AI Jedi
ERAU PRC for 2yrs... DON'T DO IT! If I had not made the decision to leave early I would've graduated with close to $160K in debt. Since I made the mistake of going to an expensive univ I'm forced to pay my loan off (another 3 1/2yrs) keep flying then consider finishing paying as I go. And dont' get a degree just to get a degree, think hard about what you would want to do besides fly. If you're passionate about aviation (and not saying people that are in other fields are not) then you might want to consider working in the same industry but not in the cockpit (in case somehting goes awry prohibiting you to fly for a living.) Some food for thought. Finish HS strong, and I know it's hard not to but, relax. You'll have even more important decisions later on in life. These first few steps are critical and it all boils down to $$$ don't dig yourself a hole. My .02 Best of luck to you!
durind
Well-Known Member
I did work during college, about 20 hours every week which was about all I could handle doing full time school and flight training and maintaining a 3.9 GPA while attending Central. You think a job, even a full time can pay for college? How long has it been since you were there? Tuition is now 1800 a quarter at Central and that's the cheapest in state school. Minimum wage 40 hours a week isn't going to do much but be a drop in the bucket. I think you are rather presumptuous to apologize to me for attending a school I am very happy I went to. I am sorry you feel like it was a waste to go to Big Bend. And I certainly did not want to buy a house and live in Ellensburg. As to the original poster, I can definitely say there are some times I have felt very fortunate to have gone to the school that I did, before the ATP rule was passed, Horizon used to come and routinely hire our graduates with 700 hours and even use our simulator at our school that we already had many hours on for the interview sim ride. The professors at our school also maintain a huge alumni network and are actively helping all their graduates search for jobs so that is another huge plus. You really have a great support network at the school that I feel can really help you succeed and did help me. I got interviews at a lot of the FBO's I applied at for CFI jobs largely by them saying oh you're a Central grad? I always had good luck with Central grads.
Cessnaflyer
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I loved that I went to Big Bend I wish I went to the program sooner than wasting time trying to get into Central. I was at Central from 2002-2003 the price was ridiculous. One of the program heads told me I would never make it into their program I was told by many people in the airlines to go to BB instead of wasting time at CWU. It only cost me 40k for all ratings and classes then I transferred to EWU was hired by a FBO and a company to fly a King Air. Now I still fly the King Air and fly for an airline and do some sim instructing for them. After all was said and done, I only owed 15k and that was to finish at EWU. That was all from them knowing I was a Big Bend grad.
Nathaniel Ventura
New Member
Since this still is a bit of a hot topic instead of posting a new thread I also have a question about education before a pilot. I want to go to Farmingdale SUNY, for there aeronautical science- Proff Pilot Program. I'm aware that getting the ratings are good, and the degree is useless, I was planning on getting a Masters in Statistics afterwards. Here are the costs for the flight training at the program, http://www.tech.farmingdale.edu/aviation/html/fees.htm , is it cheaper than a flight school? Or practicably the same price? Keep in mind I'm a senior in High School currently. Will getting the degree at Farmingdale save me money? Or should I just get the bachelors in Statistics & then get the masters & flight school on my own time. I'm pretty poor (Living in the Bronx) , so I don't know how that'll work out.
durind
Well-Known Member
Prices seem pretty reasonable as far as the flight training goes, as far as the degree, is it a bachelors or associates degree? Tuition is how much? Living expenses in the area? Could you find a job and work part time in school? A lot of different things can make the entire experience more or less expensive. And I don't think I would agree that I find my Bachelor of Science: Professional Pilot degree useless. If anything when I apply for jobs and show that I have that and nothing else I show that I am in aviation 100% no backup plan 
(Not saying that is necessarily the best choice though)
(Not saying that is necessarily the best choice though)Nathaniel Ventura
New Member
It is a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science - Professional Pilot. Tuition & Fees can be found here[ http://www.farmingdale.edu/financial-aid/tuition-fees.shtml ]. I don't if I could find a job there, but I know that about a great portion work at the school as instructors after grauduation. Here are some things they have to say about it , http://www.farmingdale.edu/academics/engineering-technology/aviation/index.shtml & here is the curriculum http://www.farmingdale.edu/academics/pdf/pdf-bachelors/aeronauticalscience.pdf .Prices seem pretty reasonable as far as the flight training goes, as far as the degree, is it a bachelors or associates degree? Tuition is how much? Living expenses in the area? Could you find a job and work part time in school? A lot of different things can make the entire experience more or less expensive. And I don't think I would agree that I find my Bachelor of Science: Professional Pilot degree useless. If anything when I apply for jobs and show that I have that and nothing else I show that I am in aviation 100% no backup plan
durind
Well-Known Member
Hmm, well I tried to find a cost outline for the flight training portion, but couldn't find it. Tuition price seems pretty comparable, if it is per semester (i think it is?) It looks like a pretty well established school, and at least it has other options for you should you decide that you don't want to be a pilot as a career. Working for the school you went to can be a great way to gain experience and be able to secure employment, just remember that your interview there starts from the day you show up. Our school would allow students to get a minor in the professional pilot program if you just stopped after your private license. That is about as helpful as I can be not knowing much about the school. Good luck!
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
I went to college and majored in English. I worked for 6-7 years before deciding to fly at 28 years old. I finished ratings 2 1/2 years later and started my professional career at 30ish.
First, my college loans are now paid because I didn't pay $200,000 to go to erau. Second, with changes in the industry I was able to fall back on my degree when I needed to - it helped me land my best paying job ever creating the technical writing and graphic design for training programs for pilots. Finally, by going to a normal, non flight school college I had an appropriate ratio of men to women on campus and do to that fact was able to attend normal, non-sausage fest parties, try my best pick up lines on women and take them home. Now, if you're gay and want a high ratio of men at your parties, then maybe a flight school like erau is paradise.
Overall I don't think if I went to an aviation college out of high school I would have the maturity or drive to get the most bang for my buck. I also don't think I would have enjoyed the experience as much because of the myopic focus no one thing and one thing only. I think a great benefit of normal college is the diversity of people and subjects.
Now if you take a look at the previous posters (Boris b, drunken b, Houston, jynx etc) these are guys with thousands of hours of cumulative experience and who aren't necessarily spring chickens. With age comes experience and knowledge - listen to these people. And, good luck to you.
Pietrantonio
Well-Known Member
I have to agree with most others about obtaining a degree other than aviation. I would personally attend the local community college and complete all of the general education courses needed for a bachelors degree. First, you will save a lot of money as a resident, and second, you will have two years to decide on your major.
I would try to fly on the side and pay as you go, or save an estimated amount of money to obtain a rating, etc.
I spent a lot of money and have more debt than I should. I'm grateful for where I've ended up though. I'm currently a licensed Respiratory Therapist working 36 hours / week (3 - 12 hour shifts). I'm in the process of obtaining my BS in Respiratory Therapy. I've still got the bug to fly, so hopefully next year I will be able to start taking lessons again. I would enjoy instructing on the side. Who knows what will happen after that.
Best of luck, but lots of great advice given so far. Just remember, try not to accumulate a massive amount of debt. It will affect your ability to purchase a house, etc. So, keep your debts down, don't rush, and enjoy every moment you have learning and getting to where you want to be.
just my $0.02. Hope it helps.
I would try to fly on the side and pay as you go, or save an estimated amount of money to obtain a rating, etc.
I spent a lot of money and have more debt than I should. I'm grateful for where I've ended up though. I'm currently a licensed Respiratory Therapist working 36 hours / week (3 - 12 hour shifts). I'm in the process of obtaining my BS in Respiratory Therapy. I've still got the bug to fly, so hopefully next year I will be able to start taking lessons again. I would enjoy instructing on the side. Who knows what will happen after that.
Best of luck, but lots of great advice given so far. Just remember, try not to accumulate a massive amount of debt. It will affect your ability to purchase a house, etc. So, keep your debts down, don't rush, and enjoy every moment you have learning and getting to where you want to be.
just my $0.02. Hope it helps.
JD1027
Well-Known Member
Here are my two cents. I joined the Navy as an enlisted right out of high school. I am now at 6 years, getting ready to finish my commitment and i have 2000 flight hours as a flight engineer which part of those will transfer to pilot total time. Pretty good deal. Sometimes it was hard, being enlisted, a lot of BS to deal with. Overall, I wouldn't have traded it for anything. In 6 years ive been to 12 different countries, stationed in Hawaii, accumulated over 750 combat hours, and earned a full ride to UND aviation program without having to pay a penny. They actually pay me to go to school. To me you can't beat that deal. Hope this helps you.!