I left flying to go to ATC in 84. Only 4 in my class of 20 passed the screen in OKC. I ended up working at LA TRACON for 6 months as an ATA and then got back into flying. Washing out of the academy was the best thing that ever happened to me (though I was devastated at the time). What was sad was guys with families walked away from good jobs to go through the screening process thinking it was a good shot at a good career. Other classes had much better pass rates. Our instructors didn't work too hard to get us through or really seem to care.
