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

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..
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I recommend going to college. It will broaden your horizons and also give you some valuable life experiences/lessons. You don't have to spend a WHOLE lot to go to college, you could go to an instate school and live at home with the parents, or even knock out the first two years at community college to cut down on the costs. It will also give you a backup in case flying doesn't work out for whatever reason (medical, furlough, tsunami). Your degree doesn't have to be aviation related. Study anything interests you.

kazoopilot said:
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.
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You need a college degree to be a pilot in the military (except in the Army). You can be a flight engineer in the Air Force without a college degree.
 
Ralgha said:
DO NOT get a degree in ANYTHING aviation.



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.
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That's a jab towards me, not philosophy degree's :)
 
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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Completely untrue.

What you've got to understand is that anybody that's going to go after flying professionally seriously is going to be an incredibly driven individual. If you want to succeed in this industry, you need to be. You can't deal with the stress, the training, the checkrides, the time away from home, the stress and the low pay otherwise. If flying for a living doesn't work out for somebody like that, they're not simply going to go back home to work at Meijer for the rest of their lives.

They're going to tackle another professional career. Take me for example, I have a philosophy degree from Western that is about to serve me incredibly well. Since I'm furloughed and won't be recalled anytime soon (and even if I am, I won't go back), I'm headed to law school. Without that pre-law degree where would I be? Working at Meijer.

Go to college regardless. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, but that's life. In the end education IS an investment.
 
bdhill1979 said:
Actually it was my Lawyer College Brother
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That's not what your cute little text message said earlier. And really man, if you're gonna hit on me, you should just come up here and do it in person instead of sending me those text messages.
 
jtrain609 said:
That's not what your cute little text message said earlier. And really man, if you're gonna hit on me, you should just come up here and do it in person instead of sending me those text messages.
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It was a welcome to Utardia. I guarantee near 80 degree temps in the valley next week.

So how much snow did you get?
 
Yeah, college looks like a bad idea.

Average Annual Earnings for College Graduates and Non-Graduates
 

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Degrees only mean something if they're fresh or come with years of experience. Employers will hire the guy fresh out of college with an Engineering degree, or the person who has a degree and 15 years of engineering experience, over a furloughed airline pilot with an Eng. degree from 15 years ago and no experience.
 
kazoopilot said:
Degrees only mean something if they're fresh or come with years of experience. Employers will hire the guy fresh out of college with an Engineering degree, or the person who has a degree and 15 years of engineering experience, over a furloughed airline pilot with an Eng. degree from 15 years ago and no experience.
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Then how'd I just get into all these law schools after being a professional pilot for 3 years?

A degree is a lot more useful than you think.
 
kazoopilot said:
Degrees only mean something if they're fresh or come with years of experience. Employers will hire the guy fresh out of college with an Engineering degree, or the person who has a degree and 15 years of engineering experience, over a furloughed airline pilot with an Eng. degree from 15 years ago and no experience.
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Interesting.

I wouldn't have got the job I was hired for 6 months ago without a degree. The degree was unrelated to the field I just entered, too. Oh, and I had no experience in the field either.

Weird.
 
I'm thinking about packing up the tent and heading to Zion for a night or two next week to escape to the warmth.
 
I would separate your college decision from your desire to be a pilot. Schools such as ERAU generate some good engineers and pilots, but from a visit to one of their campuses I decided the overall college experience was lacking.

The best all around education value you can expect will be from a subsidized state university. Research your state to identify the one that is best academically that also has a social scene you can get in to. In Texas, for instance, UT, A&M, and Tech all offer good education at a cheap price. Each one has a different culture, however. Depending on your grades and test scores you could even go to one of these schools for free.

If you are in a position to receive financial aid or merit based scholarships you can also look into private universities. Washington University in St. Louis is a good school near your home that can offer a smaller, more close knit experience than a state Mega School. On the other hand if you want to be part of a NCAA sport scene it would be a terrible choice.

There are lots of things to contemplate, but your future pilot career need not be one of them. Fly outside of class and in the summers.
 
I think finding a good FBO and flying with them is a great idea. Don't get be swayed by the big schools "lower" per hour rates for planes. Those rates are subsidized by the huge tuition costs.

Great example, Rocky Mountain College in Billings charges about $30,000 a year for tuition and fees which does NOT include the flight training portion. They fly a piper Archer III for $120 an hour, a Bonanza for $150 an hour, and a Seminal for $210 an hour.

Montana State University, College of Technology Aviation Program, costs about 5,000 for the two year degree. Thats it! Our DA-20 rents for $109 an hour, the DA-40 for $159 an hour, and the DA-42 Twinstar for $395 an hour (price got jacked up due to the Theilert bankruptcy, to save up for new gear boxes). So far i've spent about $50,000 total and i graduate from my two year degree in May. I also have my CFI, MEI, and almost my CFII with 75 hours of Multi time. It will probably cost my another $5,000-$8000 in tuition and fees to finish up the four year degree and my CFII.

So with the private college you spend close to $120,000 in tuition and fees but that does not include any pilot ratings. If you go at it the FBO route you get all your ratings, a two year, AND a four year degree for around $60,000. Plus you get to go to a normal college with girls.

No brainer in my mind. Yah you can get your commercial in 200 hours TT at a 141 college, instead of 250 at the FBO part 61, but i don't know of any one who will hire a 200 hour wet commercial pilot any way. If i had not gotten my ratings through the flight school I work for now they would not of hired me at 300 hours TT. Also, at the FBO, you can pay as you go so you don't have to worry about getting screwed out of your cash like the kids at SilverState.

I also think the FBO has more personal service. You can go at your own pace and not have to worry about getting rolled back if you get behind.

I will say my opinion is pretty one sided since i've never been to Embry Riddle or any other Aviation school but from what i hear is you will have a better experience going through the FBO and going to a regular college. You'll defiantly save money and in these times thats got to be on every one's minds!

Good luck with your search!

-Matt
 
mwflyer said:
so why arent you heading back to warrensberg?
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After I sat down and ran the numbers on it, logically, its best to stay. I would have at least 5 semesters left at Central Missouri, whereas, I've only got three left here at Riddle.

I guess I didn't totally make it clear on why I don't like Riddle. While, I know I'm going to get some crap for this, I've got no problem with the academic side of life here. There are interesting classes, that aren't offered a lot of places. My beef is with the flight department, which is why I no longer fly on campus.

I might end up back at UCM sometime for a master's or something, but right now, I feel I'm better off staying put, rather than going back through the transfer process yet again.
 
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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Yea but The Loft was a pretty cool hangout!
 
I currently attend the University of Alaska Anchorage. I am pleased with the program so far.

If you major in piloting, I am going to recommend minoring in something else. I am considering getting a certificate in diesel technology so I can go work on ships once I graduate if things are still looking bleak. I figure living in Hawaii, and working on the ocean wouldnt be a bad way to go:nana2:
 
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