Question about colleges

[falconvalley]

IMO you can't tell the difference by asking them questions about the curriculum. You're gonna find people who are fuzzy on both sides...

 

[bafanguy]

A degree is a degree...is a degree! Doesn't matter from where or what it's in so long as you have one....preferably a 4 yr and something you can fall back on if necessary.

I think my question is related to this thread, more or less. I'm wondering about the advice to have a degree to fall back on. I've heard this since I began flying in 1965 and have no doubts about the wisdom of it. I have a degree but was lucky enough to fly to retirement with a license and medical, able to leave when I decided to go early or more accurately, had no other choice (whole other story...too boring for here).

My question is about how effectively a degree in a "fall-back" subject area would actually work as you flew for a living and got further and further from graduation. As a number of years passed (pick a number, 5, 10 ?), while your college classmates in engineering, business, education, etc., were out practicing in the subject field gaining experience, continuing education, getting a marketable track record, making industry contacts and networking, the pilot wasn't.

So, you get canned, lose the medical forever or are just disgusted with aviation and decide to bail. You drag out the degree and go hunting. How well is it all going to go when you're competing against younger, cheaper candidates with recent education and/or experience in the field ?

Many years ago, I flew with captains who would talk about their degree in civil engineering or some such field but had never even engineered so much as a lemonade stand and would only be able to do it on a slide rule. I always wondered, even then, how well things would go for them should they have to peddle that degree for real.

I'm NOT knocking the advice; there is no case to made against more education. I'm asking how well the advice plays out when you have to pull the trigger on it. There are undoubtedly some stories of success using the Plan B but I haven't heard them.

The guys who seemed to do well in an alternate field had developed a business (related to their degree field or not) while flying and were current with it or went back to school post-flying and completely retooled themselves from the ground up. Of course, the older you are, the less "loved" you are in any field and that is a reality in most societies.

Just pondering out loud.

 

[BajtheJino]

Great, great post. :yeahthat:

 

[skydog]

Ok so, I know I want to get a college degree. Here is my question. I was wondering, does it matter to an airline if you get a degree online, or on campus? Will the airline not take you as serious if you obtain a degree online as opposed to on campus?

I was hoping to go to ATP in August and take time off from school to work for them and get hired. Once I get hired with an airline.....If I get hired....I was gonna work online towards a degree and just take my time. It sounds good to me because I don't have to rush. The only reason I would be getting the degree is to make it to the bigs.

What does everyone think?

Maybe I am over thinking this again.

If I don't do that, I'll just finish a General Studies degree on campus and then head to flight school.....Or whatever comes along. Who knows.

I am pursing a degree online right now. When I graduate, I will have the same degree as the people who went to campus and took classes. Employers have no way of knowing if you were on campus or if you did it online. And it makes no difference anyway.

Well, there is one difference. I will have spent a heck of a lot less money than the people who went the traditional route.

What makes a difference is the school you choose. Make sure it is an accredited university/college program.

 

[cmsuav8r]

I wouldn't trade anything for my college experience.

 

[ppragman]

I am pursing a degree online right now. When I graduate, I will have the same degree as the people who went to campus and took classes. Employers have no way of knowing if you were on campus or if you did it online. And it makes no difference anyway.

Well, there is one difference. I will have spent a heck of a lot less money than the people who went the traditional route.

What makes a difference is the school you choose. Make sure it is an accredited university/college program.

You get what you pay for.