Tough Choices

SY737

SY737

Well-Known Member
Hey Everybody,
I've been browsing around the last few days and finally decided I would register and start posting. This site seems like a great resource for anyone interested in aviation. Since this is my first post, I'd thought I'd let you all know a bit about me. I just turned 17 years old, currently pursuing my Private Pilot's License, have a job at my local FBO and have wanted to make flying a career for as long as I can remember. My junior year in high school is coming to an end, but I am still unsure what college or university I should try to attend. I have been thinking one of the military acadamies (USAFA, USNA, etc.), the ROTC, or the University of North Dakota. Although I have heard its smart to get your degree in something other than professional flight (Incase you lose your medical), which I agree with, what should I consider getting my degree in if I still want to study aviation? What are some other alternatives to the colleges previously listed? I wouldn't mind the military, but I want to make sure I'm flying (I know it sounds really stubborn, but its the truth). I am fairly qualified for colleges, I have a 3.7+ GPA, Im involved in a few extracurricular activities (Tennis, and a job at my local airport FBO), not to mention earnings my pilot ratings. I want to know what are my options for colleges, both military and civilian, that would get me to the airlines, and what decisions would be the best based on my current status? I know its really my decision, I just would like to examine all of my options.



Thanks, Tony
 
SY737 said:
Hey Everybody,
I've been browsing around the last few days and finally decided I would register and start posting. This site seems like a great resource for anyone interested in aviation. Since this is my first post, I'd thought I'd let you all know a bit about me. I just turned 17 years old, currently pursuing my Private Pilot's License, have a job at my local FBO and have wanted to make flying a career for as long as I can remember. My junior year in high school is coming to an end, but I am still unsure what college or university I should try to attend. I have been thinking one of the military acadamies (USAFA, USNA, etc.), the ROTC, or the University of North Dakota. Although I have heard its smart to get your degree in something other than professional flight (Incase you lose your medical), which I agree with, what should I consider getting my degree in if I still want to study aviation? What are some other alternatives to the colleges previously listed? I wouldn't mind the military, but I want to make sure I'm flying (I know it sounds really stubborn, but its the truth). I am fairly qualified for colleges, I have a 3.7+ GPA, Im involved in a few extracurricular activities (Tennis, and a job at my local airport FBO), not to mention earnings my pilot ratings. I want to know what are my options for colleges, both military and civilian, that would get me to the airlines, and what decisions would be the best based on my current status? I know its really my decision, I just would like to examine all of my options.



Thanks, Tony
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If you are nearing the end of your junior year and you are interested in the military academies, then you need to start that process ASAP. The application process is long and you should have already started it if you haven't.

I got my degree in finance, so I didn't study aviation, but I'm sure some other folks on the board could provide some great recommendations. However, I believe the majority of them will tell you not to study aviation (as you already know).

Welcome to the forum! There is a ton of great information in all of the threads.
 
Welcome. Its good that you are thinking about your future. You can get any degree you like, such as accounting, engineering, etc... and get your pilot licenses and ratings at a local FBO, or one of the bigger schools, like ATP. You can also go to an aviation university, but it will usually cost more to do your flight training there.

You have some tough choices, and I wish I would have been aware of some of these programs out there before I started.
 
Welcome!

If you have a second interest, like geology or paleontology, study that. Academically, college is difficult. If you study something you are actually interested in, it will be more enjoyable. Your GPA already says you can learn new material and will likely succeed in your college education, whatever you choose to get your degree in. Having a second option to fall back on is nice. However, it is the degree itself that is more important to be hired and promoted in the airlines.

My advice, fly all you can and advance through your ratings. Study something you like, someplace that you can live, and enjoy your college years. They go by pretty fast.

I cannot comment on the military flying, as I have no experience in that arena.

Good luck in whatever you choose.
 
"The ROTC" is not a college.

Go to the university you think is the coolest in your area and have tons of fun for 4 years. If you like studying and doing labs, try engineering. If you like money but don't really enjoy learning anything valuable, try business. If you like history and want to waste 4 years of college, try history. I recommend choosing a field of study that will be difficult for you to pursue without the use of university facilities and help from instructors (hence the history thing being a waste of time...).

Bottom line: Pick a college that you will enjoy...it will be a long 4 years if you pick a school in bfe because they have the specialized program you're interested in. Based on my experience, I would highly recommend going to a school that has an AFROTC program. Try it for two years and if you're still reluctant to join the Air Force, just get out.

What part of the country are you in?

Also, don't go to Oklahoma University, Texas A&M, or Embry Riddle.
 
Thanks for the fast replies,

mhcasey: I am located in Minnesota. My fault on classifying the AFROTC as a college, that's not what I meant. Rather, is AFROTC a good program to get involved in if the college I choose offers it? You seemed to have enjoyed it.

I would like to study in the field of aviation at whatever college/university I go to. Aviation is one of the few things that interest me, and if I was to lose my medical somehow as a professional pilot, I would like to end up still dealing with aviation.

As for the military academies, I began my application process a while ago for the USAFA and the USNA. I recently took the ACT and scored a 25 (not that great), I'll probably be taking it in June as well.

Thanks for all of the replies so far, this site is great!:)
 
If I had to do it over, I'm not 100% sure I would have done it the way I did it..

Just simply because I still wish I had joined the military..

If you wanna fly and want to fly jets.. join the Air Force..
If you wanna fly and don't mind if you may get helis.. join the Navy..
If you wanna fly helis.. join the Army.. :)
If you wanna do it the civvy way - do you best to get all your ratings done in a manner that will allow you to be a proficient pilot - as quickly as possible...

My .02..

Jeff
 
If you decide against the military route I would go to college and get a 4 year degree in any field you like besides Aviation. You should always have something to fall back on to. While in college or before start getting all your ratings at a part 61 flight school. This will save you some cash as most of the 141 schools can get a bit pricy.

Good luck in your decision.
 
mhcasey said:
If you like studying and doing labs, try engineering. If you like money but don't really enjoy learning anything valuable, try business. If you like history and want to waste 4 years of college, try history.
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haha, so true! (and I'm in business)

Have fun for 4 years, get a degree in 'Theater Arts' if thats fun for you and the theater girls are hot. Train at a smaller FBO/flight school with cheap rates and instructors that actually give a crap (along with no part 141 politics/ 'stage checks'/ BS)
 
SY737 said:
You seemed to have enjoyed it.

I would like to study in the field of aviation at whatever college/university I go to.

As for the military academies, I began my application process a while ago for the USAFA and the USNA. I recently took the ACT and scored a 25 (not that great), I'll probably be taking it in June as well.
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I haven't "enjoyed it," but I do regret not doing it...I didn't really understand what AFROTC was until the past year, then they told me it was too late to join, and now they tell me I can join but I'll have to stay an extra year...Thus, I am crossing my fingers for a Guard or OTS slot.

Get out of Minnesota! I've only been there for a few hours enroute to Winnipeg, but my understanding is it's very cold and has produced very little good things aside from Golden Gopher hockey and Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber. If you decide against the Academies, check out the engineering program at Michigan, but be sure to apply for scholarships because they absolutely bendover out of staters with tuition.

If you want to stay in aviation if you lose your medical, engineering or business will probably be the way to go, as it seems to be for most things. Have you considered meteorology? Everyone on this board will tell you to study what you enjoy in college, but I must admit, I've been studying what I enjoy for 4 years and if this flying stuff doesn't work out, I'll be watching my business and engineering friends making 6 figures right out of school and wondering why I thought Aristotle and Kant were so cool (philosophy major). If you can manage a technical major and enjoy college, then do it! If you're like me and you just enjoy too many things to be in labs or reading powerpoints for at least several hours a week, then I'll either see you in the Air Force in a few years, at an airline, or maybe we can catch up and try to figure out why we have no jobs or money...

Finally, get that ACT score up. Have you taken the SAT yet? Down here and I suspect nationwide, the SAT is a lot more important. Get those study books and just hammer through them. You'll kill two birds with one stone because you'll be raising your scores, and preparing for the endless string of FAA written exams you'll be taking during flight training (including military!)

Oh yeah, and read everything on this board. Feel free to PM me or anyone else. Jetcareers has been an unbelievable resource for me and tons of other people, and fortunately a lot of guys that "end up making it" stick around to help out with "noobs."
 
First, Tony, welcome to the forums. They're a lot of fun, and entirely too addicitive. Turn them off and STUDY! ;)

Secondly, as for the service academies in particular and the military in general, I wouldn't go that route if all you want to do is fly. I've said it before and will say it again--no one should go to the academies unless they REALLY want to be a military officer--not just a pilot. It's not a place for someone just trying to get by. Their job is to train military leaders, not pilots.

The military gives some GREAT training (I should know--I got plenty of it), but you pay for it in many ways. Time away from the family. Serving in combat. Risk on a day-to-day basis. Giving up control of your life to the US government. Not something to do lightly.

Having said that, do what you feel you really WANT to do. The military was a great life, and I'm glad I did it. I just don't want you to go into it uninformed.

Flying is a great gig--come on in and have some fun.
 
mhcasey said:
Get out of Minnesota! I've only been there for a few hours enroute to Winnipeg, but my understanding is it's very cold and has produced very little good things...
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Wow, what ridiculous and naive advice you offer to this young man. As a Minnesotan, and on behalf of many on Jetcareers from and living in Minnesota, I can say without a doubt that it is a great state to live in. One of the highest quality of life ratings in the US, at the top in standardized testing, and a thriving place for commerce and the arts...and aviation.

I teach at the busiest flight school in Minnesota, and we have a steady stream of students who go on to the airlines. Of course, the West and East Coast have more GA overall, but there are certainly opportunities right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
 
gredenko said:
Wow, what ridiculous and naive advice you offer to this young man. As a Minnesotan, and on behalf of many on Jetcareers from and living in Minnesota, I can say without a doubt that it is a great state to live in. One of the highest quality of life ratings in the US, at the top in standardized testing, and a thriving place for commerce and the arts...and aviation.

I teach at the busiest flight school in Minnesota, and we have a steady stream of students who go on to the airlines. Of course, the West and East Coast have more GA overall, but there are certainly opportunities right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
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Wow! I never realized they were that busy....If only everyone would finish what they start, they would be even busier. ;)
 
Fly4Pay said:
Secondly, as for the service academies in particular and the military in general, I wouldn't go that route if all you want to do is fly. I've said it before and will say it again--no one should go to the academies unless they REALLY want to be a military officer--not just a pilot. It's not a place for someone just trying to get by. Their job is to train military leaders, not pilots.

The military gives some GREAT training (I should know--I got plenty of it), but you pay for it in many ways. Time away from the family. Serving in combat. Risk on a day-to-day basis. Giving up control of your life to the US government. Not something to do lightly.

Having said that, do what you feel you really WANT to do. The military was a great life, and I'm glad I did it. I just don't want you to go into it uninformed.

Flying is a great gig--come on in and have some fun.
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:yeahthat:
I did the AFROTC thing also because i wanted to fly. I found out my sophomore year that i was medically DQ'd for a pilot slot, but decided to stick with it anyways. I liked being an officer, had a lot of good times, travelled to far away exotic places (mostly Texas:rolleyes: ), but it wasn't the lifestyle for me. I just separated and i am enjoying life a lot more. Just make sure you are committed to the military and know what you are getting into.
 
Tram said:
If you wanna fly and want to fly jets.. join the Air Force..
If you wanna fly and don't mind if you may get helis.. join the Navy..
If you wanna fly helis.. join the Army.. :)
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If you wanna fly and want to be a man about it . . . join The Marine Corps.
 
I'll definitely keep looking at colleges. I will probably decide against the military academies. The ROTC seems to be a good program, and I will find out if I want to take it, because I will be taking AFJROTC in high school next year. Thanks for all of the replies, it has really helped me out a lot. As for flight training, I'll keep going at it and see where I end up when I go to college. Now to find possible aviation related (and meteorological) majors that would interest me along with colleges.

Once again thanks for the help, this place is amazing.

See you in the skies, Tony
 
gredenko said:
Wow, what ridiculous and naive advice you offer to this young man.
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Haha well it's tough to not poke fun at others when you live in the greatest state in the Union!

Back to SY again, I forgot to mention that you should start reading anything and all things aviation related in order to understand what you're getting yourself into. Do a search on this site for some recommended books, and go over to baseops.com to find some good military books. With the amount of time you've got before even having to worry about the airlines or even commissioning should you decide to go the ROTC route, getting ahead on some reading will definitely give you a leg up. PM me if you want a list of some of my favorites. I wish I could go back to 17 and get started...keep up the good work.
 
If you elect to go to a college, I would suggest going to a "normal" school that also has an aviation program if that is what you would like to study. There are many colleges and universities that would allow you to attend school with students studying a variety of subjects so you could still get a great college experience. If you decide to pursue an aviation degree, see if you can be creative with your elective classes and double-major in another subject that you will also find interesting. In some cases, the classes needed for a second degree can count as the electives for your aviation degree thus killing two birds with one stone. There was a good article in the December 2006 issue of AOPA's Flight Training Magazine that highlighted some of the different colleges and universities that some students selected that had flight training available. I thought the article was pretty good at showing routes not so highly advertised but still developed professional pilots.

Try this link to the article, hopefully it works: http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/article.cfm?article=5825

 
mhcasey said:
If you like history and want to waste 4 years of college, try history.
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With all due respect, I don't think you have any idea what you are talking about. I graduate next week with a double major in History and Political Science. Out of a graduating class of 56 History majors, I know of maybe seven or eight of those graduates (including myself), who are not going to law school. Everyone else is, and i'd say nearly 70% have already been accepted into schools ranging from Yale, to state colleges. You do realize that at History majors make up the largest percentile of law school students, who went to school with non pre-law degrees right? That is because an intensive writing and research major, like History, is considered perfect preperation into law school.

Now if you said communications...Then I would have to agree with you =).

Don't knock history though =).



And for the poster- Dude, go to whatever school you think you will have the most fun at / learn the most. Remember that the ultimate reason you are attending college is to learn something. So make sure ya do that, and kick arse on your grades. But don't forget to have a good balance of fun and partying too. Get laid. Drink. Get your first apartment, and have a freaking blast. Just be safe during the whole process. Just remember, you have a whole life time to fly. And when everyone say's college goes by way too fast...They aren't lying. I can't believe it's over already! :o lol
 
Fly4Pay said:
First, Tony, welcome to the forums. They're a lot of fun, and entirely too addicitive. Turn them off and STUDY! ;)

Secondly, as for the service academies in particular and the military in general, I wouldn't go that route if all you want to do is fly. I've said it before and will say it again--no one should go to the academies unless they REALLY want to be a military officer--not just a pilot. It's not a place for someone just trying to get by. Their job is to train military leaders, not pilots.

The military gives some GREAT training (I should know--I got plenty of it), but you pay for it in many ways. Time away from the family. Serving in combat. Risk on a day-to-day basis. Giving up control of your life to the US government. Not something to do lightly.

Having said that, do what you feel you really WANT to do. The military was a great life, and I'm glad I did it. I just don't want you to go into it uninformed.

Flying is a great gig--come on in and have some fun.
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...well said.
 
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