Who says Aviation degrees are worthless?

Ralgha said:
Why do I think it's worthless? Because those in my 121 new hire ground school with aviation degrees thought it was hard. Those of us with engineering degrees thought it was relatively easy. I didn't use a single gouge, did all the homework, got plenty of sleep, passed all the tests in the high 90s, and thought it was one of the easier things I'd done. Compared to my engineering courses...well, there is no comparison.
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LOL I met guys who never been to college think new-hire ground school was a piece of cake. I also had students with engineering degrees that couldn't memorize procedures if they had their life on it, All they had was a big head.

Just because you had an easy time with it dont mean a thing in my world. Engineering degrees are as useless as the moon if you go to college just to get the check-mark.
 
However, love it or hate it... accept it or not... if you want to get out of the regional game, most of the majors require a four year degree.

We've have this discussion before.

I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying that it is the way it is.
 
Fly_Unity said:
... besides, Its awesome hearing all the tapes from the accidents.
And yea, English courses starting this summer semester. Thanks for the suggestion though.
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I have a degree in aviation adiministration. I'm happy I have it. All my major coursework were rewarding. I've had the opportunity to work in airport operations and it benefitted me as a pilot. I also have a background in healthcare to fall back on.

During my studies I took CRM/Aviation Safety courses. I've heard the tapes in lower division and upper division classes. In no way would I say they are awesome. They are horrible and sad. Useful yes, but not awesome. I may have misunderstood your tone or intent of the word.

Reading your posts in this thread I would suggest you study hard in your english courses. I have a pet peeve with spelling/grammar and some of your communication within this thread needs work. Some may say this is only an internet forum but when you communicate it tells a lot about you. I had a coworker from my alma mater who would write daily reports for the airport. We had an incident with a helicopter which she covered in her daily report. She described a problem with the "petals". Sad too since she is also a pilot. From then on I discounted much of what she had to offer. I'm sure the airport manager who reads the daily reports did too after that. Make it a goal to learn and overcome common errors in english and it will take you far.
It will come in time.

my .02
 
minitour said:
To answer your question, I do.

Then take your aviation degree and try to get a (good paying w/ good QOL) job in the "real world" and see how far it gets you.

I'd much rather see young pilots get a business degree in administration or something along those lines. Myself included...as soon as we finish buying the new house, the next thing on my shopping list is a degree.-mini
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As has been said MANY times here, with the exception of some specialized degrees, name me ANY undergrad degree that will let you walk right into some high paying job? Almost NOBODY out there is working in their field of study. The degree is just a box to check for most employers.
 
seagull said:
As has been said MANY times here, with the exception of some specialized degrees, name me ANY undergrad degree that will let you walk right into some high paying job? Almost NOBODY out there is working in their field of study. The degree is just a box to check for most employers.
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My brother's degree is Engineering Physics. He's currently a software engineer for an oil company in Tulsa. He started school as a Mechanical Engineering major, and his friends who continued in that program were recruited with their Mech Eng degrees in sales of some sort!
 
minitour said:
To answer your question, I do.

Not being interested in "nothing else" is nice...until you lose your medical for something you can't control and don't know about until it's too late.

Then take your aviation degree and try to get a (good paying w/ good QOL) job in the "real world" and see how far it gets you.
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About as far as having a business degree would, since the people you'd be competing with for that "good paying w/ good QOL" job would all have Masters degrees since that was their primary focus.

Life's too short to make yourself suffer through 4+ years studying something you hate just for a potential "fall back," especially if that fall back degree doesn't guarantee you a job in that field anyway.

Get a degree? Yes. What to get it in? Whatever you enjoy studying. If it's history, go for it. If it's English, great. If it's aviation, do it. Study what you like b/c you're much less likely to drop out that way.
 
seagull said:
As has been said MANY times here, with the exception of some specialized degrees, name me ANY undergrad degree that will let you walk right into some high paying job? Almost NOBODY out there is working in their field of study. The degree is just a box to check for most employers.
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Computer Science(50-65k was the running first year salary when my buds in school graduated). Biomedical (45-50k in Boston area first year). Electrical Engineering (at least the part of the east coast i was on was paying 45k-50k). Do commodities brokers have a license, I know they are doing well first year. The financial economists I know (3) walked out with 50k a year jobs first year.

My field of study is aviation. I work in aviation, I did when i graduated too. Be it a lowly dispatcher. Guess that could be interpreted to how you want to phrase the question.

Lets see, couple guys that did the CO internship at my school are right seat of the 757 and they are 25-26 years old now... the rest of the ones I know supposedly have interviews waiting for them at 400hrs PIC.

N E way. My experience may not be national norm, I haven't read into it to any depth. I know aviation sucks right now.

Oh and get a degree before you come to the airlines, or at least get something online. Unless you have a lot of connections or are able to walk between rain drops. Those of us mere mortals with no connections will have to go back to the old standby of trying to show we are qualified for that next level job.
 
I'm about to finish a BS in Biology and I'm starting to realize that without going on to get a masters degree or to a professional health program, the opportunities for employment with a biology degree are limited. The jobs that are out there want you to have experience. Right now my best bet is to combine my previous truck driving experience with my degree and get a job as a fleet manager at a trucking company, which just requires any type of degree for most trucking companies out there. I'm going to use that to pay for my flight training.

If I could do it all over again, I would have got a BS in Nursing, and not only could I easily make 50-60K right out of college but I'd have something that I could always fall back on. An RN is good for life. There are 12 month accelerated BSN progrms out there for those already with a bachelor degree in another field. So I am still considering doing that and working as a nurse on my days off from flying. Who knows what the future will hold.
 
jynxyjoe said:
Computer Science(50-65k was the running first year salary when my buds in school graduated). Biomedical (45-50k in Boston area first year). Electrical Engineering (at least the part of the east coast i was on was paying 45k-50k). Do commodities brokers have a license, I know they are doing well first year. The financial economists I know (3) walked out with 50k a year jobs first year..
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Read again what I wrote, here it is again, with emphasis added:

"As has been said MANY times here, with the exception of some specialized degrees, name me ANY undergrad degree that will let you walk right into some high paying job? Almost NOBODY out there is working in their field of study. The degree is just a box to check for most employers."
 
I dunno... I graduated with a bunch of finance and economics undergrads who had jobs lined up with Bank Of America as "associates" starting in the mid 40s. Some communications majors were heading off into corporate or non profits making 30-40. I know a history major who got a job working at the National Archives.

I had two job offers to use my "Organizational Leadership" degree (what ever that is) to work on the management team for two different event production companies. I think starting pay at one was 35K.

None of those degrees are what I would call specialized.
 
BobDDuck said:
I dunno... I graduated with a bunch of finance and economics undergrads who had jobs lined up with Bank Of America as "associates" starting in the mid 40s. Some communications majors were heading off into corporate or non profits making 30-40. I know a history major who got a job working at the National Archives.

I had two job offers to use my "Organizational Leadership" degree (what ever that is) to work on the management team for two different event production companies. I think starting pay at one was 35K.

None of those degrees are what I would call specialized.
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And someone with an aviation degree could probably have landed most of those jobs as well!
 
I'd say to major in whatever you want to. I'm not interested in anything but aviation, so that's what I'll major in. It'll take time, effort, and money, but I'd be a wreck if I were majoring in something else....


Isaiah
 
Most of my buddies from college had a very tough time finding jobs right out of college. They either had to go back and get a masters or get a job at Wal-Mart. One went enlisted into the Army. As a matter a fact, only my aviation buddies found jobs immediately. As a plus, my aviation degree was out of the School of Business.

To add something else....I might be mistaken, but technically I could go to Law School or Medical School with an Aviation Degree. I could also go back and get my masters in business. One of my instructors (product of my university's aviation program) had her PH.D.
 
seagull said:
Read again what I wrote, here it is again, with emphasis added:

"As has been said MANY times here, with the exception of some specialized degrees, name me ANY undergrad degree that will let you walk right into some high paying job? Almost NOBODY out there is working in their field of study. The degree is just a box to check for most employers."
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Welp, i read it again just for you, and i realized... -wait i already read that.

I don't know what you are calling a specialized degree anymore, there is nothing special about those majors. Hell they are 4 year degrees and I've even got a minor for one of them. If you think those are special then I don't know what to tell you, thats a degree. By the definition I'm understanding from you all degrees are specialized... although that would make your argument easy to prove... touche.
 
I've got an aviation degree (two of them, actually). It's part of the reason I've got the jobs I have now. My current chief pilot and my last chief pilot both went to the same school I did. While they graduated about 10 years before me, they knew the training/education I had and wanted to help out fellow alumni.

You can do more than just fly with an aviation degree. Airport management, airport planning/design, FBO management, FAA, safety, manufacturers, etc. I know people who have aviation degrees and don't do anything in aviation and are very sucessful. One is a supply chain management guy for Sprint. One became a high school teacher (obviously after getting another degree in education).

For me, the aviation degree was (at the time) the best way for *me* to get into flying. I didn't really think about getting a degree in something else and then going to an FBO for flight training. It's worked well for me. If I get tired of flying or lose my medical down the road, I'll probably stay in aviation, just not in a flying job. I've got a Master's in Aviation Safety, so I'd probably do something along those lines.

So to sum it up, it's a degree. If it makes you happy and will lead to a good GPA, I'd say get it. If a degree in business, engineering, or education would make you happy, get that.
 
Doug Taylor said:
If I lost my medical, it's more or less insurance sales or a paper route! ;) :sarcasm:
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You can make a lot of cash taking money from one person's pocket, putting it in another person's, and keeping some for yourself.:D

Well networked insurance salesmen make serious coin!

KLB said:
To add something else....I might be mistaken, but technically I could go to Law School or Medical School with an Aviation Degree. I could also go back and get my masters in business. One of my instructors (product of my university's aviation program) had her PH.D.
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Yes, you could. There's no requirement for a specific major if you want to go to med school or business school or law school.
 
Fly_Unity said:
haha, your the third to mention it. Thanks though
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Let's consider JC a continuing education class.. :)

you are = you're.. I used to have a killer time with that one too..
your = possession..

Online degree's... $6,500..
Laptop.. $1,200..
Coupla' smart alecs online? Priceless! ;)
 
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