finishing a degree online?

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beechpilot

Well-Known Member
Has anyone out there finished a degree online while trying to fly for the airlines. I already have an associates and am working on the BS degree and am considering finishing it online if I get on with a regional.
 
beechpilot said:
Has anyone out there finished a degree online while trying to fly for the airlines. I already have an associates and am working on the BS degree and am considering finishing it online if I get on with a regional.
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I know about twenty guys who have done this.
 
Ditto, also know a number. Including myself, albeit - not at an airline yet. At my current pace though, I'll finish up within 12 months of being at an airline.
 
surreal1221 said:
Ditto, also know a number. Including myself, albeit - not at an airline yet. At my current pace though, I'll finish up within 12 months of being at an airline.
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I'm actually kind of in the same boat now. I flight instruct/fly charters to build multi time during the day and go to school evenings. If I finished out school I would be looking at Dec 2008 before looking at the regionals but I would like to do it sooner if possible so I'm considering the online program.
 
I know people preach and preach and preach about aviation degrees, but I did the ERAU online thing and for a while was taking 4 classes while flying enough to hit my maximum hours in the Air Force (26 hour duty day, 150 hours in 30 days and 330 in 90 days). My schedule was 21-26 days on the road and home for about 24-48 hours. It was not easy, but yep, it can be done!
 
I am in the same situation. I havent finished getting my associates degree yet( or even started I should say). Its hard to decide wether or not to work, take online classes, and go to flight school all at the same time. Or to atleast get my associates first so I can focus on it. then be able to focus on flight school more when I am done.

With the possible pilot shortage coming up it makes me want to start flight training, but it also seems like I would be overloading myself going CC, FBO and 40 hours a week at work.

Anyone have any opinions on this? This is a tough decision for me :banghead:
 
pedex said:
Its hard to decide wether or not to work, take online classes, and go to flight school all at the same time. Or to atleast get my associates first so I can focus on it. then be able to focus on flight school more when I am done.
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pedex said:
...but it also seems like I would be overloading myself going CC, FBO and 40 hours a week at work.
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Sure this can seem like an overwhelming task. But look at it this way; you don't have to take a "full load." Take 1 or 2 classes at a time.

I'm in the Air Force, flying 1 or 2 times a week for my instrument rating and taking classes online. It's doable, but you have to stay disciplined and manage your time...and money!

If you can financially support yourself, keep up with flying and school, go for it!

Did I mention I have a three year old and a pregnant wife due in 6 weeks?
 
rickyrhodesii said:
Did I mention I have a three year old and a pregnant wife due in 6 weeks?
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Thats awesome and congrats on the upcoming edition. I also forgot to mention that my girlfriend stays at home with our 9 month old son. I think it could be doable...just hard on the family life, I guess it will just prepare me for whats ahead. Thanks for the encouragement:)
 
If just starting, you may want to take a look at Mountain State's online program. They dont charge you to give you something like 50 hours of college credit for your pilot certificates. Plus, if you say you fly or teach out of a Cessna Pilot Center, they'll give you 20% off of tuition.
 
Great info merit...............I was wondering who everyone would recommend for doing this (what schools)? Also, would it be good to just get the dang thing or should we put some thought into the school (Ex: UVSC or ERAU)?
 
PGA07 said:
Great info merit...............I was wondering who everyone would recommend for doing this (what schools)? Also, would it be good to just get the dang thing or should we put some thought into the school (Ex: UVSC or ERAU)?
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Get the dang thing...don't worry about the school. So long as they are a reputable institution.
 
PGA07 said:
Also, would it be good to just get the dang thing or should we put some thought into the school (Ex: UVSC or ERAU)?
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Seems like the general opinion is to get a non aviation degree as a backup anyways. Unless you went for aviation management or something like that, you might save some money going to a different school. ERAU seems really pricey.

Then again, Im in the same boat as you. Im working on an associates at community college online, then I have no idea what I will do for my BS.
 
beechpilot said:
Has anyone out there finished a degree online while trying to fly for the airlines. I already have an associates and am working on the BS degree and am considering finishing it online if I get on with a regional.
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I'm doing it. And I have been doing it for waaaaaay too long. It takes up alot of time doing school and working full time, but that's just the way it goes. It is definitely possible, I have only four more classes left....WOOHOO!
Good Luck!!
 
Eh, just get the darn thing. As long as it's an accredited school, it can be Joe Bob University.

I went with ERAU b/c it saved me (oddly enough) a ton of cash. They gave me a lot of credit for my flight ratings, took all of my credit from Mississippi State as transfer credit (they even combined three one hour classes into a three hour elective) and allowed a ton of CLEP test credits. Sure, it's more money per class than some of the other places, but in the long run I'm actually saving money going with ERAU. Of course, your mileage may vary in this situation.

As far as what degree to get.....get it in something you're likely to finish. If I were doing an online degree in business or psychology, I'd be working on it until I was in the grave. I'd have to MAKE myself do all the homework assignments and the tests. With an aviation degree, I WANT to do the assignments. It makes a huge difference, especially in a self-motivating situation like an on-line degree. Now, if I had it to do all over again, I would have finished a history degree at Mississippi State back in the mid-90s instead of dropping out to work for Disney....
 
PGA07 said:
I was wondering who everyone would recommend for doing this (what schools)? Also, would it be good to just get the dang thing or should we put some thought into the school (Ex: UVSC or ERAU)?
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Whatever is fastest.........Git-R-Dun!!!


buuuuuuuuuuut..........

If you can get a degree outside of aviation (backup) and it will only take a semester or two longer then do that.
 
kellwolf said:
As far as what degree to get.....get it in something you're likely to finish. If I were doing an online degree in business or psychology, I'd be working on it until I was in the grave. I'd have to MAKE myself do all the homework assignments and the tests. With an aviation degree, I WANT to do the assignments. It makes a huge difference, especially in a self-motivating situation like an on-line degree.
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:yeahthat:
 
I did my Associates and BS degree at University of Phoenix online. It was awesome, working full time, with a family there is no way in hell I could the traditional in--class face-to-face environment. UOP online degree program is ranked one of the best in the nation. Their a nationally and regionally accredited University. Start on it now, don’t wait, don’t find a reason to put it off
 
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