Good degree to get outside of aviation?

T

TurboTravis

New Member
What kind of degree do you guys think would be to get outside of aviation to 'fall back' on if your pilot dreams do not come true? I'd like to get started on something sooner the later, and am open to suggestions.

T
 
Whatever interests you...and try to have something you could use. Underwater basketweaving will check the box, but won't get you too many jobs if things go South.
 
Well me personally, I am working on an Aviation Management degree which would still open plenty of doors in the aviation industry godforbid I couldn't become a airline pilot. But thats only because I love the Industry soo much that I would still stay in it some how, but thats just me! So I guess to answer your question, well just think of it like this, what is the second best thing you enjoy doing besides flying? Or just think of it as what if there was no such thing as flying? What else could you really see your self doing for the rest of your life? If you keep those things in mind, I'm sure you'll make the right decision if you don't want to get a aviation degree.:)
 
I am currently a sophomore at a large university enrolled in an aviation management-type degree and the more time I spend thinking about it, the more I wish I majored in a geography/geoscience related field. I love that stuff, too, but I was too narrow-minded to tell back in high school and the beginning of college, so now I find myself too far into my current program to switch without having to spend another year or so at school. Moral of the story - find something you are interested in that will also help pay bills.

Just a side note as more evidence to not major in flight: I switched to the management degree from the flight program so that I could fly at my home FBO instead. I just finished up my instrument and I could not be happier. The FBO route is the way for me.
 
A Masters degree - seriously, because of the dramatic decline in the academic standards of most accrediting agencies and universities, anyone who can fog a mirror can get a B.A. - and they are. The B.A. is today what the high school diploma was 30 years ago. If you can spare a year and a half of intense study, I would get a Masters - in a subject you'll enjoy. There are plenty of correspondence programs that, generally speaking, won't be as academically intense and as rewarding, but will help you get your M.A. while working full time.
 
Murdoughnut said:
A Masters degree - seriously, because of the dramatic decline in the academic standards of most accrediting agencies and universities, anyone who can fog a mirror can get a B.A. - and they are. The B.A. is today what the high school diploma was 30 years ago.
Click to expand...

Precisely what I've been saying thte past so many years. I'm on my way back to school to earn a masters degree, and I'm excited about it. When I was in college, I was going with kids who still couldn't spell or do basic math to save their life, yet somehow when all was said and done, we were both college graduates and I realized how the times have changed.

In the past, you had to have great grades, good SAT scores, etc. to get accepted to college. Now, as long as you can sign loan paperwork, welcome aboard.
 
If you enjoy flight instructing, basically teaching others, consider earning a teaching certificate for your favorite subject.
 
If you enjoy flight instructing, basically teaching others, consider earning a teaching certificate for your favorite subject.
 
There's some comparisons that could me made to the level of education needed to live comfortably now vice 40/50 years ago, but from a devil's advocate point of view, I'd have to say things now are the same as 40 years ago. No degree then versus now. . .you make less money. . .significantly less.

Now, in the aviation industry, I could only speculate when I say experience mattered moreso than education, but to be honest, seems as if way back when, didn't most aviators come from the military? If so, those individuals were college grads.

You didn't point out B.A. degrees which I would concur might make you more competitive when someone not degreed. Those B.S. in engineering, math, and the sciences however. . .a high school grad can never compete. Firstly, they wouldn't meet the minimum qualifications for entering the job to even prove they could perform.

In the IT arena, there has been a level playing field regarding degreed/nondegreed players, but even now, a degreed person is far more competitive than a nondegreed person "with the same experience."

Seems as if, generally speaking a bachelor's degree still has you farther ahead than not having one.
 
It's not that it seems as though one with a high school diploma is getting the same opportunities as one with a college degree. For me, it's more of the idea that the quality of students in college and leaving with a bachelor's degree has dropped a good bit.

It kind of bothers me that someone who can't spell or be able to compute their grade average using their test scores and skates by with a 'C' in their classes can earn a 2.0 and graduate college and be on the same playing field simply because they are a "college graduate."
 
Ever think of nursing or another medical field? 4 year degrees arn't what they used to be, but nurses can move anywhere in the country, ask for whatever hours they want and still make bank.

Oh and someone else i know graduated a 3 year dental hygene program, just got hired at 75k/yr right after she passed her boards!

Moral of the story... Technical degrees are much better than generic B.A. or B.S. degrees.

(I was in nursing untill I relized I'd be changing some old mans diapers and shoving tubes into all sorts of...yeah no thanks)
 
its not really a specific degree and its not really outside the scope of aviation, but how about getting the Aircraft Dispatcher certificate? If work at an airline, you can still get the same employee travel benefits and plus you are actually required to jumpseat as part of the initial training. The payscale seems to be relatively similiar to a pilot's, with the few top ones making in excess of 100k. Its a great ticket to have if you have already started your ratings and there is some reason that you are unable to have a career as a pilot.
 
I have a history degree. It was a great pre-law degree and it really helped with my critical thinking and writing skills.

I realize that the aviation field tends to attract B.S. or Business school types, however, there are many skills gained through B.A. degrees. I have a very broad background beyond my history classes. I had to take 3 years of a language, take fairly advanced classes in areas outside my field of study (I went with; Psychology (up to 300 level classes) Sociology, Physics, Literature etc). Beyond that we took more multi-cultural classes than other majors. I really think a broad arts or science degree is why we study on a college level.

I understand the neccessity of college as a trade school, but I don't respect it. I look at learning on a university level as one of the trademarks of being a member of society. It allows you to understand people and the world around you so much better. Which in turn gives us a world we want to live in.
 
Andrew_VT said:
Ever think of nursing or another medical field? 4 year degrees arn't what they used to be, but nurses can move anywhere in the country, ask for whatever hours they want and still make bank.

Oh and someone else i know graduated a 3 year dental hygene program, just got hired at 75k/yr right after she passed her boards!

Moral of the story... Technical degrees are much better than generic B.A. or B.S. degrees.

(I was in nursing untill I relized I'd be changing some old mans diapers and shoving tubes into all sorts of...yeah no thanks)
Click to expand...

Well, I believe your dental hygienist person is an isolated incident, but to minimize any arguments, I will agree with you that additional education after high school can definitely be an asset in whatever endeavor one pursues.
 
yeah she was just about the luckiest hygenist ive heard of, it was because there was a shortage in the area she works in.

Generally still, my friends in technical programs are doing much better financially than the ones who went through 4 years with no clue what they were doing it for or where they would work after. Most all of my fellow bunsiess majors are like that...no clue where they'll get a job or what kind of job they want after, its sad.
 
Andrew_VT said:
yeah she was just about the luckiest hygenist ive heard of, it was because there was a shortage in the area she works in.

Generally still, my friends in technical programs are doing much better financially than the ones who went through 4 years with no clue what they were doing it for or where they would work after. Most all of my fellow bunsiess majors are like that...no clue where they'll get a job or what kind of job they want after, its sad.
Click to expand...

Of course, most of my friends that only got a business major are making more than I am with a four year degree and a variety of ratings. For that matter, some of them are making more than my fiance does with a PHD.
 
greaper007 said:
I understand the neccessity of college as a trade school, but I don't respect it. I look at learning on a university level as one of the trademarks of being a member of society. It allows you to understand people and the world around you so much better. Which in turn gives us a world we want to live in.
Click to expand...

I'm also a B.A. guy. I feel like I know more useful information and understand the world better than just about any of my technical major friends.

But, if you major in engineering, you'll make a lot of money very easily. If I could do it over, I'd at least try an engineering program. The only big problem with them is the nerd-factor.

Business undergrad stuff is alright if you don't mind hanging out with pricks all day.
 
mhcasey said:
I'm also a B.A. guy. I feel like I know more useful information and understand the world better than just about any of my technical major friends.

But, if you major in engineering, you'll make a lot of money very easily. If I could do it over, I'd at least try an engineering program. The only big problem with them is the nerd-factor.

Business undergrad stuff is alright if you don't mind hanging out with pricks all day.
Click to expand...

Sure, but I'd be miserable doing anything in Engineering. I can do math and design but it really doesn't interest me. Besides from what I understand Engineering jobs are pretty lucrative right off the bat. However, a lot of them don't really have any vertical growth. So in a few years it might be possible to surpass those guys.
 
Stone Cold said:
Whatever interests you...and try to have something you could use. Underwater basketweaving will check the box, but won't get you too many jobs if things go South.
Click to expand...

To quote my dad from my whole life growing bigger... You should get a degree, I don't care if it is in underwater basketweaving. Now I find out it wont help much... :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top