Help pilots! I need some college recommendations!!!!

I'm happy with how things have worked for me; 2yrs of community college then transferred to ERAU online. Same degree as all the other ERAU people, started flying airliners at a younger age since I was able to do it while I was in school.

If I could do it all over again, I'd have done the same thing... no regrets, but would have considered going to a non-aviation school for the full 4 years. Branch out a bit beyond the career, and all.
 
I do think it's favorable to have a documented interest and plan early (like getting your PPL before college). I also think it's very foolish to blow your college money, time, and experience on an aviation degree. But there is something worse..... Going into debt to finance an aviation degree.

Invest in yourself during college; Not VoTech training disguised as a college diploma.

Think about this for a moment...... The United States AIR FORCE Academy does not, of all places, consider Aviation Science, Flight Technology, or whatever you might call it a legitimate college major! Neither should you.

http://www.academyadmissions.com/academics/curriculum/majors/
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
I went there for a year. Then I transferred to Embry Riddle. I can tell you one of the schools is affordable. One of them also has more than 15% females. One of them is somewhat affordable to fly at. One of them you feel like everyone in the department knows you, the other you don't.

I can assure you all of the above are in reference to University of Central Missouri. While, they may not have the absolutely newest planes around, but its quality equipment, with quality flight instruction. Plus, it seems to me the flight instructor market isn't nearly as saturated up there as it is in Daytona. In hindsight, I should have stayed at UCM, and I miss it. However, be prepared to be a Mule (lamest macsot ever).

In general, your going to get the same ratings everywhere. So, try to minimize cost on that. Plus, low school tuition helps you there too (in respect to cost). Let me put it this way, one 3 credit hour class here at Embry Riddle costs roughly the same as 16 credit hours was at Central Missouri. Plus, add the fact that flight is generally more expensive down here, it got expensive in a hurry.
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Well said
 
DO NOT get a degree in ANYTHING aviation.

bdhill1979 said:
Holding a degree in Aviation "Science" I can tell you it is pretty much the most useless degree out there; except maybe philosophy.
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Philosophy is more useful.

Pick a college you like that won't break the bank, get a degree in something interesting that is NOT AVIATION.

Fly on the side at an FBO. You'll save money and be a better pilot for it.
 
Whatever you do, do not end up at Spartan. Tulsa is a great town and the learning environment is perfect. The instructors really care, in general, but once you get anywhere into the management range in that place, be prepared for a bunch of "I don't give a &*^%" - type people. The place is bean-counter central, catering to their cherished flavor of the day contracts, be it the Chinese government or the US military. They do, however, have a good variety of extremely experienced people and a couple of them are some of the best in the industry.
On the bright side, you can go to a real college with a good aviation program like some of these guys are recommending and get a real degree on something thats worth more than two flips.
Good luck...flying will be the best job you've ever had...:banghead::rolleyes::D:bandit:
 
future pilot said:
Well as some of you may know. I have wanted to become a commercial airline pilot all of my life. Right now i am in a bit of a pickle. I need some college recommendations. Or maby even what college you went to. It would be awsome if you could help. I would like some colleges to look into so that i can narrow down my search on colleges. THANK YOU
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There are thousands of colleges in the United States. Pick one.

Seriously, you want people who don't know you from Adam to make a recommendation on what college to go to?

Do you have a counselor at your high school? What do you want to study? What part of the country do you want to go to college in? What kinds of activities do you want to have available to you? Do you want to go to a public or private institution?

You've got to answer those questions yourself and that will help you figure out what school to go to.

If you can check off the college degree box on the application, it doesn't matter where you go. So pick one based on your criteria.
 
Oklahoma State University here... At the time I enrolled it was one of the cheapest programs out there, not sure what its at now. Also, depending on GPA they used to waive the out-of-state tuition (as I came from KS) so that helped a lot, not sure if they are still doing that.

Good luck in your search, I'd suggest you go somewhere where you can enjoy yourself, I had a blast in college... the flying program should be the second priority.
 
I went to a big instate school so that I would get instate tuition. There were a couple to choose from, (I'm from Colorado) so I looked up Princeton review and saw that University of Colorado was in the top 10 party schools, and in the top 10 party school according to Playboy. Also, they were in the top 10 for best looking females so that helped make my decision. But in all seriousness, I wanted to study Aerospace Engineering and they had a pretty good program, and if I wanted to change my mind, they had plenty of options.

I visited the campus, really liked the campus and the town, and that's what I chose. After a semester and a half, I decided engineering wasn't for me, so I changed my major and I took flying lessons at the local airport (there are about three to choose from that are reasonably close) and I got my degree in something non-aviation related.

If you are looking for a flying program, AOPA has a list of all collegiate flying programs:
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/images/ft_magazine/article_art/0812f_codirectory.pdf

A few friends of mine went to Metropolitan State College of Denver because they have a flying program. http://www.mscd.edu/~aviation/
 
future pilot said:
Well as some of you may know. I have wanted to become a commercial airline pilot all of my life. Right now i am in a bit of a pickle. I need some college recommendations. Or maby even what college you went to. It would be awsome if you could help. I would like some colleges to look into so that i can narrow down my search on colleges. THANK YOU
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Don't go to an aviation college. It's a waste. One of my friends at erau told me they'd do actual classes where they would sit on a sim, they would do flights in real time. I know right now it sounds cool to have classes where you mock fly sims but why? You're going to have 40+ years to do that at the airlines. There's only so much you can teach so they'd have to fill in for the 2 years. I took about a year of avia management my freshman year at an avia college and I hated it, all though I really liked the camaraderie between the avia students the program was bad. But I did notice that the major itself was boring and not very usefull. I just wanted to fly, I didn't really care to learn about airport authorities. Go to your local college and get a business or biology degree.
 
I would suggest not going to college at all unless you have specific career aspirations in mind, ones that require a college degree. Despite what advisors and student loan companies may tell you - college is not an investment, it's a liability and a huge expense. You will spend thousands taking largely pointless classes and earning a piece of paper that only makes you slightly more marketable than the competition.

For example, when I was in high school I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I thought "planes r cool!" so I started flying lessons and looked only at aviation colleges like UND, Lewis, Quincy, and Western Michigan University (WMU). Even though Quincy gave me a scholarship, I chose WMU because it was closer to home and family, I knew some of the professors, and the size of the aviation program. I went to college for 4 years and spend a ridiculous amount of money on Western's aviation program - it was not worth it. My degree is useless outside of some very few and far between aviation jobs. On the other hand, I have a friend who went to work right out of high school, and she has zero debt and a well-paying career. College is not necessarily the best to a successful career, and in many ways it sets you back.

If you are dead-set on being a major airline pilot, then a degree might be a good idea. However, there are many other options in aviation (corporate, freight, military) that don't require a degree and offer better quality of life (QOL), pay, and stability than the airlines provide. Talk to some people here, there are many who fly corporate and freight who can give you some insight.

I can't recommend a specific college to you, but I would recommend thinking long and hard about your career goals. Talk to some airline pilots, tour an airline facility, read sites like Jetcareers and aviation blogs, and see whether airline flying is for you. I know now it seems COOL, but after four years of working it's just another job. If you decide that college is you best route, then choose an inexpensive in-state university or Christian school that will give you a scholarship.
 
bronco21016 said:
Western Michigan University has an excellent aviation program at their College of Aviation in Battle Creek, MI.

We've got state of the art Cirrus SR20s with glass cockpit, quality instructors, and the price is about half of ERAU if you stay in state and get the in state tuition.

PM me if you want some more info! I'd be glad to set you up with a tour of the main campus and the aviation campus.

Also check out www.wmich.edu/aviation
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Do you by any chance work line at Battle Creek?
 
future pilot said:
Well as some of you may know. I have wanted to become a commercial airline pilot all of my life. Right now i am in a bit of a pickle. I need some college recommendations. Or maby even what college you went to. It would be awsome if you could help. I would like some colleges to look into so that i can narrow down my search on colleges. THANK YOU
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UH Hilo, study Marine BIO, Math, Physics, or something equally cool (or if you're more of a humanities kinda guy, go to UHM) live on the beach, and get your ratings done while you're in school.
 
Don't feel like reading the whole thread but I believe Illinois University, or is it UI, I dont really know what they go by, the Illini one, anyway I believe they ahve a flight program. Also I think SIU does as well.
 
kazoopilot said:
I would suggest not going to college at all unless you have specific career aspirations in mind, ones that require a college degree. Despite what advisors and student loan companies may tell you - college is not an investment, it's a liability and a huge expense. You will spend thousands taking largely pointless classes and earning a piece of paper that only makes you slightly more marketable than the competition.

For example, when I was in high school I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I thought "planes r cool!" so I started flying lessons and looked only at aviation colleges like UND, Lewis, Quincy, and Western Michigan University (WMU). Even though Quincy gave me a scholarship, I chose WMU because it was closer to home and family, I knew some of the professors, and the size of the aviation program. I went to college for 4 years and spend a ridiculous amount of money on Western's aviation program - it was not worth it. My degree is useless outside of some very few and far between aviation jobs. On the other hand, I have a friend who went to work right out of high school, and she has zero debt and a well-paying career. College is not necessarily the best to a successful career, and in many ways it sets you back.

If you are dead-set on being a major airline pilot, then a degree might be a good idea. However, there are many other options in aviation (corporate, freight, military) that don't require a degree and offer better quality of life (QOL), pay, and stability than the airlines provide. Talk to some people here, there are many who fly corporate and freight who can give you some insight.

I can't recommend a specific college to you, but I would recommend thinking long and hard about your career goals. Talk to some airline pilots, tour an airline facility, read sites like Jetcareers and aviation blogs, and see whether airline flying is for you. I know now it seems COOL, but after four years of working it's just another job. If you decide that college is you best route, then choose an inexpensive in-state university or Christian school that will give you a scholarship.
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This isn't exactly the best advice, school is important. The point of college is not to get skills for a job, it's to broaden your horizons, yeah, some of the classes are BS, in fact, a lot of them are, that being said, you'll regret it later if you don't go. I took a year off from school to fly, and regretted it 6mos along. After six months, I did online school through UVU, and that wasn't that fulfilling either. Also, I'd recommend against going to a christian school. You want to go to a school that will expand your horizons, and grow your ability to critical think. In that respect, I doubt that a religious institution can adequately provide you with critical thinking skills when the school itself is founded on exceedingly dogmatic strictures and principles. Not that college is really important to have a successful career, there are plenty out there who don't have a degree; college is important for the sole reason that without it, you are missing out on a deeper understanding life and the world. YMMV, just my $.02.
 
U.S. Air Force Academy
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
1310 on my SATs.

If I did it all over again, I would go to a junior college, get the gen. eds. out of the way, they go to ERAU for two years in Daytona. You get an aviation degree with a diploma that says Embry something on it for half price. But then again, a bachelor's degree in Europe only takes three years. Masters take one. Equivalent to the US? I dunno.
 
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