So, for those CFIs who went the self-study route:
How many hours/day, days/week did you study?
When be buckled down and were serious we would spend a couple nights a week about 3-4 hours in the library, in a study room where we could talk and use a white board. We would also invite the guy who was going to sign us off (our buddy and flight instructor). -Though the last two weeks leading up to the practical, we spent at least 1-4 hours studying or reviewing something or other.
How long did it take you before you were ready for your writtens, oral, and practical?
We started and stopped our studying alot until we buckled down and got serious, but for the most part we studied a lot in February then took time off due to other things until June where we studied on and off, a couple of times a week. Then we took July off and then scheduled the check ride for mid August and really did nothing but read and talk aviation for the two weeks prior to the ride. The written was the standard study for a week and take it and get it out of the way early.
What was the toughest part for you?
Making sure that nothing slipped by us. We spent a lot of time asking each other, "what else can we study, what else will they ask and why?" Deciding when to schedule the check ride was hard until we decided to go for it.
Did you use King Schools, Sporty's or other software/videos to help? If so, how did that work out for you?
http://www.actechbooks.com/products/act213/ we borrowed this from a guy, but we barely cracked it. it is not worth it if you have the FAA publications.
My buddy did by this http://www.kingschools.com/productDetail.asp?itemNo=KFD FVCHCDVDK from the King people.
I don't think it is worth the price for the knowledge, but I would argue that it is worth going 50/50 with somebody because it does demystify the process. Though as we watched it, we thought John would totally have failed the oral if it was a real checkride. But in reality the process is just like any other check ride you have been on, just at the FSDO and harder questions you can't believe you can answer.
Do you regret doing it self-study, or do you think you made the right decision?
Me and my study buddy passed with ease and the FSDO called our instructor and told him he did a great job with us. That made us feel pretty proud. They asked the "hardest" questions of any check ride I have ever been on, but we were so prepared, it was easy.
Did you have anybody to help you out?
Our instructor, left us getting ready up to us, but he did supply us with material, i.e. worksheets, he did while he was in our shoes. He was always willing to try and help us with something that we couldn't resolve. He also told us stories of what to expect from students and different kinds of students. He also helped demystify what the FSDO and the examiner would be like. I think he was very very beneficial in making everything smooth.
How long of a flying break did you have from the last time you were flying regularly until you started flight training for the CFI?
It was November when I finished my commercial training, I didn't become a flight instructor until August. (same as my study buddy) To most people that time frame is unacceptable. I am/was more interested in QOL. I did what I wanted to do, and hurrying to get on a seniority list was the last thing on my mind then, like it is now.
Any other advice or insights?
study study study and if you want some tips for books I will PM you.
You will know you are ready when you feel ready, not when somebody tells you are. If you hang around flight instructors, you will also know when you can answer a lot more questions then they can, because you will know the most in your life, during the checkride. After that , things get grey due to disuse.
Also, try and wrap your head around the fact that you are only using your pilots certificate via your Instructor certificate, you will be an instructor now, paid to instruct, not fly. You may not like instruction, but go after it will all you've got. You might find it is better than most say.