I've been reading through this board, and i just wanted to offer my 2 cents. It seems all i read on here is how if you go to DCA, you're going to have this or that happen to you, and blah blah blah. My advice to anyone is to do some research. Some would call coming to this board doing research, but its not. This place draws more people who hate everything DCA than anything else. I researched flight schools for nearly 2 years before i finally picked DCA. I talked with former instructors, current instructors, as well as students. I got the good, bad, and everything inbetween. I'll agree the advertising is not accurate, but i also found the advertising to be less than accurate at pretty much all the schools. I knew coming in how much it would cost me as well as how long it would take. I also knew how the standz break works, and how long you'll need to instruct to get your hours. I found that every school has something different to offer, and this had what i wanted. The problem comes when people come down here expecting to be done in X amount of days for X amount of dollars. They fail to understand that how you do depends solely on yourself. I've met a lot of not so good students that have expectations that would make senior captains take a step back. I've also met excellent students who get so down about certain things, their training takes a nose dive. Of course, to them, its all the academy's fault for their trouble. On the other hand, i know plenty of average students who keep their heads down, work their butts off, and finish with nothing but a big smile on their face. Its all about perception. Your expectations will be the biggest influence on your experience at this academy. The best advice i can give to anyone looking at going to this academy or any other, is to go visit, check out the facilities, and TALK with people who are currently there. Not just the people the academy sets you up with, go there on an off day and just talk to people hanging around. I met people who loved everything about it, and people who hated everything about it. The funny thing is, they didn't contradict each other. Some hated it for certain reasons, while others weren't really bothered. I found from my experience that ones expectations were the biggest determining factor.
I'm writing this because i really hate to see students come in without having a clue how things really work. Go do your homework, and make the best decision for yourself. After i did mine, i found DCA had what was best for me, and thats only been proven correct in my time here. No matter what, there will be things you will not like, but thats true no matter where you go. One thing i will say is that listening to the admissions officer is not a great idea. You have to work with them and listen, but it won't get you anywhere. Go talk with the blue and white shirts. I've found that they won't sugarcoat things. If they are unhappy, they will tell you, and that holds true on the other side as well. I have a feeling if everyone did their homework before rushing into a decision, there would be less hatred and bitterness for the academy that you see on this board.
I'm writing this because i really hate to see students come in without having a clue how things really work. Go do your homework, and make the best decision for yourself. After i did mine, i found DCA had what was best for me, and thats only been proven correct in my time here. No matter what, there will be things you will not like, but thats true no matter where you go. One thing i will say is that listening to the admissions officer is not a great idea. You have to work with them and listen, but it won't get you anywhere. Go talk with the blue and white shirts. I've found that they won't sugarcoat things. If they are unhappy, they will tell you, and that holds true on the other side as well. I have a feeling if everyone did their homework before rushing into a decision, there would be less hatred and bitterness for the academy that you see on this board.
