Staying in school an additional year...

F

flyeagle111

CFO
So I'm finishing up a BS degree in ATC, graduating early in December. I'd like to stick around for an additional 1.5 years to do an accounting degree, while I wait for the FAA to hire me. I'm figuring this degree would be a good backup to ATC, if for some reason that doesn't work out.

My parents think this is a bad idea. They say that it would be a waste of time and money, considering it's not what I ultimately want to do. I've tried reasoning with them that an ATC degree is pretty much useless besides that career and it's a 1 year wait to get hired at the minimum. Apparently, they think I should just bum around until I get hired as a controller. Am I an idiot for wanting to do this or what? I mean, 5 years total in school isn't THAT bad for two Bachelors...

I realize I'm an adult, but this is one of the problems when the 'rents still have financial control over you (car, some bills). BTW, I have the money to finish up the other degree on my own, it's just ridiculous that I'm getting chewed out for wanting another degree. Rant over.
 
Well at least an accounting degree is worth something if it doesn't work out for you in ATC. Most other degrees are useless.

OTOH, even as many times as I've tried to explain aviation to my folks, they never seem to really understand anything at all. And, they listen. They just don't get it. It can be a rough industry. But ultimately - I usnderstand it much better than they ever will.
 
Any additional degree is worthless if you have no intention of using it.

Go out and get a job doing something. If I were you, and I have been you in the past, I'd go out and ski bum for a year or two. It'll be the best years of your life.
 
Education is never a waste. And I disagree that an ATC degree has no value outside of ATC. A number of professions that deal with the movement of things might find that degree valuable. The one that comes to mind most readily is railroad dispatching.

Besides, what if you don't get hired by the FAA?
 
flyeagle111 said:
So I'm finishing up a BS degree in ATC, graduating early in December. I'd like to stick around for an additional 1.5 years to do an accounting degree, while I wait for the FAA to hire me. I'm figuring this degree would be a good backup to ATC, if for some reason that doesn't work out.

My parents think this is a bad idea. They say that it would be a waste of time and money, considering it's not what I ultimately want to do. I've tried reasoning with them that an ATC degree is pretty much useless besides that career and it's a 1 year wait to get hired at the minimum. Apparently, they think I should just bum around until I get hired as a controller. Am I an idiot for wanting to do this or what? I mean, 5 years total in school isn't THAT bad for two Bachelors...

I realize I'm an adult, but this is one of the problems when the 'rents still have financial control over you (car, some bills). BTW, I have the money to finish up the other degree on my own, it's just ridiculous that I'm getting chewed out for wanting another degree. Rant over.
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Moxiepilot has a terrific point. I know people who have been waiting over three years to get hired since they've graduated and others who found out after they graduated that their color vision was fine for the 2nd class medical the school gave them, but not up to par with ATC standards and waited for naught. If you aren't racking up massive debt to get the accounting degree (which it doesn't sound like) do it.

Pardon my ignorance, but does an accounting degree lead to CPA (or tax preparing) certification? I'm a controller. I work with about 4 Realtors (they and about 5 non Realtors got together and own a few dozen rental properties), one aquarium owner, a lawyer, a guitar player, magician and a farmer who all primarily are controllers, but supplement their income with those jobs. They all find time to work their businesses on break. About half my facility has a side job. If you can do taxes or do freelance accounting AFTER you get hired and fully certify you'll build up a client base and source of income for retirement as well as very nice supplemental income.

Its not the same way everywhere, but generally as a controller you'll be blessed with breaks that would allow you to crunch some numbers/deal with tenant complaints/research a case/balance the books a little and still have enough time to recover before you go back on position. Do it. On the other hand an ATC degree isn't a dead end if you aren't a controller. Rail dispatch and airfield management eat that degree up.

Jtrain is right though, if you can't reasonably use the accounting degree independently without a few years spent at a major company, it may be best to avoid it and enjoy life.
 
as A150K pointed out - it is your money. More importantly; it is another year and a half of schooling.

Even if the FAA thing pans out in 2 years - you would have still spent the time doing something productive. If it does not, then you have the Accounting degree to fallback on.

+1 on the CPA.

Just my $ 0.02 + tax.
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes, Genot, I would qualify for the CPA exam with the accounting degree and 150 credits total. The big thing is accounting is one of the in-demand degrees like engineering and nursing. As for not using it- I'm sure I could keep a small part-time business while being in the FAA. It just makes me feel a lot better having a backup in case 1. I wait years for the FAA to call which is a possibility 2. Lose medical 3. Washout for some reason.

Jtrain, your idea of being a ski bum is very tempting though! Maybe I am nuts for not going down that path. :)
 
genot said:
I'm a controller. I work with about 4 Realtors (they and about 5 non Realtors got together and own a few dozen rental properties), one aquarium owner, a lawyer, a guitar player, magician and a farmer who all primarily are controllers, but supplement their income with those jobs.
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I vote for magician as being most useful skill as an Airtraffic controller...
 
flyeagle111 said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes, Genot, I would qualify for the CPA exam with the accounting degree and 150 credits total. The big thing is accounting is one of the in-demand degrees like engineering and nursing. As for not using it- I'm sure I could keep a small part-time business while being in the FAA. It just makes me feel a lot better having a backup in case 1. I wait years for the FAA to call which is a possibility 2. Lose medical 3. Washout for some reason.

Jtrain, your idea of being a ski bum is very tempting though! Maybe I am nuts for not going down that path. :)
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I'm tellin' ya man, you're only young once. You can waste your time accumulating degrees like Boris accumulates ammo for his bunker, or you can go out and live. As for me, I've had enough school, and I've pursued the extra degree. I won't be making that mistake again, and I'm moving back to the ski town ASAP.
 
Stay in school and get the degree.

I'm sorry but being in college and having fun beats having a crappy job and having fun.
 
jtrain609 said:
Any additional degree is worthless if you have no intention of using it.

Go out and get a job doing something. If I were you, and I have been you in the past, I'd go out and ski bum for a year or two. It'll be the best years of your life.
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This... or go work at a hostel in Santiago or somewhere and learn another language.
 
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