Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
A lot of those guys probably can't get into a law or engineering program.
(should I have said that?)
Looking for an answer!
- Thread starter _4G_
- Start date
(should I have said that?)
hook_dupin
Well-Known Member
Ya know, I think the ROI on an electrician or HVAC tech school is pretty high....
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
A buddy of mine works for the gas company as a field service guy. He gets a pickup truck, all the tools, a gas card to fill said truck with, a decent paycheck that allows him to live as he desires and save some as well, and benefits. I've never met an unhappy Verizon field service worker either, for instance.
There's something in here about Dirty Jobs that comes to mind, I don't know why, but those jobs aren't even that dirty. (Sorry, forget that. I don't know where I was going.)
I work in the online education industry and this is a good one. A lot of instructional designers work remotely, so it might complement a flying job pretty well.
hook_dupin
Well-Known Member
Real college just ain't for everybody. I think we've gone off the rails with the idea that anyone who doesn't go to college is a failure. With some hard work and good people skills, I know quite a few folks who are running their own construction, electrical, and HVAC companies.
It's hard to put a value on an aviation science degree. It's easy understand how a good plumber might be valuable....
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
We can tell you how much it costs, anyway - the Department of Education has the data.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
You know, it's funny that guys say this as if it's no big deal, that any program will let them in.
Getting into law school isn't just about applying. Half of the candidates to my tier four law school were rejected. I think only something like 3-5% of applicants get into top 14 programs.
And then getting through isn't just about "being good at arguing." It's about busting your butt for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 3 years. THEN you get the opportunity to take the bar, which in my state, nearly half the applicants will fail.
And engineering? I hope you have a solid understanding of calculus prior to APPLYING, because it's the math that washes people out of those programs.
Hard things are hard for a reason.
hook_dupin
Well-Known Member
Value and cost are two decidedly different things. Today's college entrants need to understand that much more than I did. A computer engineering degree from State U costs much less than a degree in literature from Yale, but is likely to be more valuable (at least in terms of income potential... I don't know how to measure love of Dantes).
hook_dupin
Well-Known Member
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
Between $30,000 and $50,000.
hook_dupin
Well-Known Member
So on a per hour basis, close (if not less than) 1st year FO pay... and with no work rules to protect rest and duty period.
Grass ain't that really that green.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
I can assure you it was a hard pill to swallow in my case.
Roger Roger
Bottom of the list
Yeah, I was attempting to be witty and sarcastic.
As the big cheese says, if you want to fly airplanes, fly airplanes.
david.arroyo.121
New Member
If you truly love and have a passion for aviation you could do what I'm doing. Go to school to become an aviation mechanic and get a job at a flight school as a mechanic and trade labor on the 100 hr inspections for flight hours. This will significantly decrease your money problem and land you a job in aviation guranteed making 40 k your first year.
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
To the OP - personally I would have chosen the college based on what I was planning on majoring in. Sounds to me like you have yet to define why you are going to college with statements like "help me choose what is right."
Sounds to me like you're going to waste a bunch of money in the time it takes to figure that out. My suggestion is to withdraw until you do the research on the occupation, school and return on investment. Then you will know why you are going, what you are going for and what the potential short and long term return is.
Sounds to me like you're going to waste a bunch of money in the time it takes to figure that out. My suggestion is to withdraw until you do the research on the occupation, school and return on investment. Then you will know why you are going, what you are going for and what the potential short and long term return is.
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Yep. I have 2 friends who didn't go to college and went to tech school to become electricians. It was crappy and sporadic for both of them at first, but now they both have really nice apartments, company cars, and make $70k+ at age 24. And they're both color blind oddly enough, so if they could do it...
To the OP,
My advice is since you're just starting out, see if you can get an airline job or a job involving being around the operation at a commercial airport for even just a summer. Of course, take discovery flights, start studying for the PPL, see if it all interests you as much as you think it does. But being a career airline pilot is going to be a job, and you're day involves a whole lot more than flying from point A to point B. One can't really describe how airports and airlines really are operationally and all the BS you're going to put up with. Seriously, airlines are like a hilarious soap opera where you almost want to hope the stuff that happens is all scripted and you lean in waiting for the "just kidding"...which never comes. There are a lot of flying opportunities out there to make a career of. They all have their ups and downs I'm sure, but before you set sight on the airlines, seriously, work there. You'll either love it or want no part of it. Good luck.
Last edited: