Phony degree.

Where'd you meet a fighter pilot that waits 20 seconds to tell you they're a fighter pilot?

Actually, everyone's pretty much a former fighter pilot where I work so generally it's about 15 minutes before the "hand shooting" starts :)



@MikeD
 
To me, the problem with this whole situation (like it needs to be spelled out) isn't the lack of a degree, or even the education. For me anyone who is willing to get a fake degree is probably willing to look for other shortcuts both in and outside of the job. I worked hard for my degree. It takes a pretty significant lack of integrity to be willing to pretend you did the work for something that others worked so hard for. I wouldn't want to share the cockpit with someone willing to do that.
 
I worked hard for my degree. It takes a pretty significant lack of integrity to be willing to pretend you did the work for something that others worked so hard for. I wouldn't want to share the cockpit with someone willing to do that.

I can understand you feeling that way.

However people can work hard and make long term sacrifices for all sorts of endeavors in life whether it's their career, business, or education; all without getting a college degree for it. I know I've worked hard in my career outside of aviation, and I know I worked hard for my pilot ratings as well as certificates outside of aviation. I have always worked hard and tried to learn as much as possible, but because I chose not to go into debt for a degree, all of that is discounted and rendered meaningless. It's just a sick game where true integrity never really enters the equation.

Many of these diploma mills claim to give credit for relevant life experience. We might all laugh at that, but really, that's the way it should be since the only argument I've ever heard for needing an irrelevant degree is to somehow provide measure of your ability to learn and be responsible.
 
The hardest (and most important) part of growing up is recognizing that your default-setting opinions about what "matters" are almost always totally wrong and deluded. "You don't know what you don't know" and all of that.
 
I can understand you feeling that way.

However people can work hard and make long term sacrifices for all sorts of endeavors in life whether it's their career, business, or education; all without getting a college degree for it. I know I've worked hard in my career outside of aviation, and I know I worked hard for my pilot ratings as well as certificates outside of aviation. I have always worked hard and tried to learn as much as possible, but because I chose not to go into debt for a degree, all of that is discounted and rendered meaningless. It's just a sick game where true integrity never really enters the equation.

Many of these diploma mills claim to give credit for relevant life experience. We might all laugh at that, but really, that's the way it should be since the only argument I've ever heard for needing an irrelevant degree is to somehow provide measure of your ability to learn and be responsible.


That's all upstanding and such, but there are 15,000 applications on file for 500 mainline jobs that match the quals they're looking for.

Heck, some airlines wouldn't even hire a flight attendant without a four year degree because there were probably 50,000-plus for 800 slots.
 
Speaking of making ridiculous arguments...

-Fox
h962A0F54.gif
 
It's just a sick game where true integrity never really enters the equation.

Many of these diploma mills claim to give credit for relevant life experience. We might all laugh at that, but really, that's the way it should be since the only argument I've ever heard for needing an irrelevant degree is to somehow provide measure of your ability to learn and be responsible.


kramer-jeans-o.gif
 
I can understand you feeling that way.

However people can work hard and make long term sacrifices for all sorts of endeavors in life whether it's their career, business, or education; all without getting a college degree for it. I know I've worked hard in my career outside of aviation, and I know I worked hard for my pilot ratings as well as certificates outside of aviation. I have always worked hard and tried to learn as much as possible, but because I chose not to go into debt for a degree, all of that is discounted and rendered meaningless. It's just a sick game where true integrity never really enters the equation.

Many of these diploma mills claim to give credit for relevant life experience. We might all laugh at that, but really, that's the way it should be since the only argument I've ever heard for needing an irrelevant degree is to somehow provide measure of your ability to learn and be responsible.

Ohhh mahhh gawwwd
 
Brawndo's got what plants crave.
... yeah, it's got electrolytes.
What are electrolytes? Do you even know?
They're... what they use to make Brawndo!
But why do they use them to make Brawndo?
... 'cause Brawndo's got electrolytes.

... and to them, Joe is an idiot for not understanding, and they hoot and holler and laugh when he questions established principals. Obviously X.

Yeah, it's kinda like that. Exercise in circular reasoning.

~Fox
 
Dude, just get the degree, or don't. Trying to shortcut is cheating yourself, and attempting to cheat society. Arguing about this is childish…and those that are against getting an education? Just do it. I lived 42 years without a degree, and did well…was smart, had a good vocabulary, was well travelled and people often thought I had a degree. Thing is, I thought I didn't need one…and I was right, except I would have been excluded from certain jobs/careers. I am glad I went to University now, however, and see the benefits in many ways I never could have imagined.

But you kids who know it all keep on knowing it all…until one day when you'll realize that the more you know, the more you don't know.
 
The position that a four year degree is worthless, unnecessary, mean, or whatever the argument against them is meaningless. The people who hire at the most sought after jobs have decided that's what they want to require.

Get a real degree, get a job where you want to work that requires a degree, work your way up to chief pilot, or whatever other position decides what the job requirements are and drop the requirement for a four year degree. Then you can figure out how to cut the résumé stack to something manageable.

Once you retire, you can look back on your career and be proud that you were the one that lowered the academic standards amongst pilots.

Short of that, there are many great ways to earn a living flying airplanes without a degree, or you could try and be a .0001% outlier that gets on at a major without one.
.
 
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