college and me
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Join Date: Feb 2006
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college and me
so I am still in High School, and want a job (someday) in the pilot/aviation field... I am so confused by one thing, college.... I don't like the idea of going into the armed forces, because I'm not a big fan of this decision for war, so it'd be against my morals, right? but my parents are restricting me to college in PA , my homestate... because of out of state tuition costs... but there is maybe like 2 schools in PA for aviation, w/o taking like lessons at an airport... I really want to go to college for this! but is it okay to take like business aviation, or aerospace management, or aerospace engineering or something like that? and could you help me?!
thanks,
Zach
thanks,
Zach
Join Date: Sep 2001
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A fair few of the people I studied Aerospace Engineering with, were planning to go on to careers on the flight deck. That was at university though (although I have a feeling the American 'college' and British 'University' are the same thing)
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Zach,
Go to a college where you can get the education that applies to something you are interested in and 'good' at. College degrees are required by a lot of companies, but the specific course of study does not seem to have much bearing on weather or not you get hired.
Some people work on degrees related to aviation/aerospace because it interests them, and the flying or ground school classes can be used as course credits. Others prefer to study something that will give them training or a vocation to fall back on when you get laid off or if you are between flying jobs (notice I say when not if...).
Visit the 'aviation' schools and see if they have good academics in addition to flying.
One other note...if costs are a factor (staying in state)...start getting together with your parents now...learning to fly and going to college is not cheap, but can be done.
Go to a college where you can get the education that applies to something you are interested in and 'good' at. College degrees are required by a lot of companies, but the specific course of study does not seem to have much bearing on weather or not you get hired.
Some people work on degrees related to aviation/aerospace because it interests them, and the flying or ground school classes can be used as course credits. Others prefer to study something that will give them training or a vocation to fall back on when you get laid off or if you are between flying jobs (notice I say when not if...).
Visit the 'aviation' schools and see if they have good academics in addition to flying.
One other note...if costs are a factor (staying in state)...start getting together with your parents now...learning to fly and going to college is not cheap, but can be done.
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Originally Posted by philltowns
A fair few of the people I studied Aerospace Engineering with, were planning to go on to careers on the flight deck. That was at university though (although I have a feeling the American 'college' and British 'University' are the same thing)
Zach -
With regards to a college degree and aviation, it matters almost nothing to an airline what you're degree was in. In fact a college degree is not always required, but to be competitive with your peers, it is.
My personal recommendations . . .
1. Don't go into aviation as a pilot. The compensation model is going to continue to drop.
2. If you do, get your college degree in something out of aviation, so that you can fall back onto something you enjoy, if piloting as a career doesn't meet your expectations.
3. If you're going to fund your training yourself, be prepared to spend a huge amount of money just to get to a bare minimum qualification to be competitive for an entry-level airline job. Say about $50,000 to $100,000 over and above normal college costs.
Go to http://www.aapilots.com/public/flash...ontent_id=1280 for a list of U.S. universities that offer aviation programs.
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Zach,
I agree with roadtrip, the degree is usually used to thin out the list of resume that an HR department receives, so the field is usually non important.
Two small points you might want to bare in mind, first you can get your licences, instruct and gain up to 36 credits towards an Associate degree in Aviation, making it somewhat cheaper to get your 2 year degree.
On the other hand, you would be putting all your eggs in one basket, so a degree in a non aviation field could be a good backup, should you decide aviation is not for you, lose your medical or the likes.
Good Luck!
Sk3
I agree with roadtrip, the degree is usually used to thin out the list of resume that an HR department receives, so the field is usually non important.
Two small points you might want to bare in mind, first you can get your licences, instruct and gain up to 36 credits towards an Associate degree in Aviation, making it somewhat cheaper to get your 2 year degree.
On the other hand, you would be putting all your eggs in one basket, so a degree in a non aviation field could be a good backup, should you decide aviation is not for you, lose your medical or the likes.
Good Luck!
Sk3
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You can take a degree in anything, I would go for something you can make a living at like Business or Computers or one of the Engineering fields. I would say away from those aviation management type degrees, those are nothing more than basket weaving 101. Learning to fly is not that hard, just about anybody that is breathing can do it. Just one more bit of advise, It takes a bit of time to get to where you want to be in aviation. I been doing it for a bit over thirty years now. The airlines have been going thru some really tough times the last 6 or 7 years or so. They were all having problems before some of our arab friends thought it would be really cool to cut a pilots throat and fly an airplane into a building. Well it was not, so we wage war, get use to it, this war is going to go on for a long time. The airlines will recover in time, it will be different for you and your generation than it was for mine. It may or may not be the kind of career you think it will be.
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Your not the only one making that sort of decision. I myself although in Australia was wondering whether to undertake an Aerospace Engineering Degree or an Aviation/Business Degree. I ended up choosing the later, I just wanted to get on with the flying. I know of a couple of people who chose the aerospace path, and will be doing their flying part time; however realistically, its hard to integrate a full time university course and flying up to a profressional level simultaneously. I'm a firm believer that when you do flying it is better to do it intensely like a cadet program or the like.
However having that extra qulification is important as it is something to fall back on; say one day you broke a leg, or got blind in one eye.
I know of someone who got a degree, wasn't aerospace engineering, it was a differing field whilst doing flying at the same time. He was in his 20s and ended up getting into the our flag carriers cadet program.
On the bright side of things, your still young and have plenty of time ahead of you; with motivation and a hard work, you might prevail in the end.
do what you want to do
cheers
However having that extra qulification is important as it is something to fall back on; say one day you broke a leg, or got blind in one eye.
I know of someone who got a degree, wasn't aerospace engineering, it was a differing field whilst doing flying at the same time. He was in his 20s and ended up getting into the our flag carriers cadet program.
On the bright side of things, your still young and have plenty of time ahead of you; with motivation and a hard work, you might prevail in the end.
do what you want to do
cheers
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I don't know too much about the US, but in Australia if you get enrolled into the degree course for Aviation/Business that i'm doing; the success rate and transition into our flag carrier is quite high. I know of a lot of people not just in Australia, who've gotten into their flag carriers recently.
Many people have different views, however times change and somebody who's been in the industry 30 years is probs not the best adviser when it comes to making these sorts of decisions! Things were different when he would have been getting started..... I think he meant "stay" away.......
Usually everythings easier said than done; in his day however all he would have needed to do was ask to get in.
cheers
Originally Posted by George Semel
"I would say away from those aviation management type degrees, those are nothing more than basket weaving 101."
Many people have different views, however times change and somebody who's been in the industry 30 years is probs not the best adviser when it comes to making these sorts of decisions! Things were different when he would have been getting started..... I think he meant "stay" away.......
Usually everythings easier said than done; in his day however all he would have needed to do was ask to get in.
cheers
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A lot of people forget to consider private (out of state) universities when applying, fill out a FAFSA (Federal Application for Fincial Aid?) and the school aid application when you apply. My private $42K a year school actually worked out cheaper then a public in-state university with my aid package. This isn't a scholarship but rather need based aid. It doesn't hurt to apply.
