Advice for a College Student

[NTXPilot]

Hey everyone, this won't be the first time I've asked for some advice but here goes again...

I'm on the right track to being able to graduate not this coming summer but next, so a year from now, with a BA in Psychology, and by then I would be 21 yrs old. My dad and I are in agreement that I get the bachelors out of the way then it can be off to flight school...lookin highly at ATP fast track. I also might have the option of getting my MBA, maybe before flight school or set up some sort of online plan while flying.


I can take a hefty load of classes without too much of a burden on myself (and still have time to have fun) so that I can graduate in three more semesters, fall, spring, summer. The sooner I do this, the sooner I go to flight school and the whole process starts....I know timing is everything in this business so the sooner I start the better. The sooner you get your licenses, the quicker you can instruct, then get on with a regional, ect...all of which will effect seniority and quality of life down the road (I think, correct me if I'm wrong)

So my questions...

Would you push through the school to get it done with and out of the way? Or do you think I should just take my time and not hurry. Also, how do graduate degrees look? Aside from a backup, would an MBA help me at all down the road, or would it really take away from time that I should spend flying.

So what do y'all think?

Many thanks in advance,
LT

 

[bigD]

I think you should relax and enjoy the ride. College is some of the best fun you'll have in your life.

This applies to working your way up the food chain of being a pilot as well. There's nothing wrong with taking the fast track via ATP, but just remember to ocassionally take a step back and have a little fun during the process. I think you'll be much happier overall if you go into it with the attitude that the process of getting to your goal is just as important as the goal itself.

 

[Jmmccutc]

I think you should relax and enjoy the ride. College is some of the best fun you'll have in your life.

i can agree with that...

 

[NTXPilot]

Yeah I hear that for sure. I just wish I got to go to a "real" school. UT Dallas....let's just say we're the chess champs of the western hemisphere. This is a growing school and great for an education but not exactly the typical college social environment, lets just say...

 

[pilotyip]

MBA has nothing to do with flying

But if you elect to start your own business down the road when you are bewteen jobs it might come in useful. Or if you want to move into airline managment after flying the line for a while. Or you just like going to class, but the MBA has nothing to do with flying an airplane. High school drops outs have made it to the majors.

 

[FlyaGuppy]

Re: MBA has nothing to do with flying

High school drops outs have made it to the majors.

Yes, and they are the losers that nobody wants to fly with, since all they can talk about is airplanes. Or the last piece of ass they tried to get. Stay in school, and gain some intellect. It will help your tremendously through life.

 

[pilotyip]

talk about airplanes

For Guppy: I have Masters in Business and all I do is talk about airplanes, where is connection you are trying to identify?

 

[Lequip]

ATP Fasttrack.

Great...another aviation Whore in the making. No wonder the entry level pay for regional FO's is where it is. Prostitutes like this guy just keep on comin!

 

[kj6991]

NTX,

I agree with other posts about having fun still. dont rush college, it's the greatest. i attend oklahoma state and can't believe i am graduating in 3 weeks. stay focused,keep plugging away, and fly as much as you can. an MBA cannot hurt as the more qualifications you have the better. graduate degrees are good to have to fall back on as well, you never know in the business. make as many contacts you can. you'll find out that most jobs are who you know. look into an internship,hang out at FBO's there in the dallas areas, do anything you can. good luck with your intentions and welcome to the chase!

 

[dmspilot00]

Would you push through the school to get it done with and out of the way?

No. Do you want to learn to fly or do you want to be processed through a pilot mill?

Or do you think I should just take my time and not hurry.

Yes, especially considering the economy.

My advice would be to find a good instructor at a good, small FBO; it's a lot more fun that way. Learning to fly is supposed to be fun, and personally I don't see how any of the fast-track or even some (not all) regular Part 141 programs would be fun. If it's not fun...if a person doesn't enjoy flying a standard Cessna, Piper, or whatever...why do it.

I sometimes get criticized for being "only a private pilot." Well maybe I don't want to be anything else at the current moment in my life. There are too many aspiring professional pilots out there who think "I want to be a jet/airline pilot, single-engine piston aircraft are stupid" or something along those lines. I'm by no means saying you're one of them--you're on the right track by coming here to ask for advice.

 

[FN FAL]

Yes, and they are the losers that nobody wants to fly with, since all they can talk about is airplanes. Or the last piece of ass they tried to get.

Where do you guys come up with this crap. There are a lot of losers out there that are degreed as well and can't get laid or only have meaningful conversations about the airplanes they want to fly when they grow up. UND and ERAU crank them out all the time...

 

[BoilerUP]

WTF Over???

ATP Fasttrack.

Great...another aviation Whore in the making. No wonder the entry level pay for regional FO's is where it is. Prostitutes like this guy just keep on comin!

Explain to me how going to ATP to get your ratings is different than FlightSafety, Delta Connection Academy, Pan Am, Phoenix East, MAPD, or any other large flight school? What about college flight programs such as UND, ERAU, Purdue, WMU? Is every pilot who trained in these programs "whores" too? What about the guy who trained at the mom-and-pop FBO with dreams of being an airline pilot? Where does it end???

ATP students have a bunch of multi time, but they don't have much TOTAL time; one of the schools I instruct at refuses to hire ATP Fasttrack graduates as CFIs because of their low time and lack of single engine experience. That is a concern to employability, but certainly no reason to blame someone for all the ills of the regional pilot.

 

[MW44]

Not trying to trash your goals or anything but you might want to think long and hard about this profession before committing time and money. It is most likely not going to be what you expect. It will take you a staggering amount of time, effort, and money before you make as much money as the guy who picks up your garbage every week. That's not complaining or whining it's just the reality of being a pilot in the US these days.

But if all you want to do is fly airplanes and you're comfortable with the thought of not being able to afford a new car, home, etc untill your late twenties or early thirties then go for it. Of course there are always exceptions, but be ready for the worst case scenario.

If I was back in school and had the choice I would get my MBA and buy a plane to fly on the side. I was killing a 3.5 hour sit in a hub the other day reading a magazine that showed the average entry level salaries for MBA grads from various schools. Harvard grads could expect to start around 115k and grads from most other schools made around 70-80k. Expect to make about 10-20% of what that Harvard grad makes once you finish your fast track at ATP's and get your dream job at an airline.

 

[NTXPilot]

Great...another aviation Whore in the making. No wonder the entry level pay for regional FO's is where it is. Prostitutes like this guy just keep on comin!

What in the world does that mean?...would you mind explaining? What exactly is an aviation whore? Not tryin to get into a text-based argument I will say I don't know much about this industry at all; I'm just beginning. That's why I'm hear to learn, I spend lots of time reading what every one has to say and absorb as much as possible.

...And I was never here to start some sort of all out battle between good and evil of the pilots, I was just lookin for some advice. You make one little comment on this board and some out there just go ballistic.

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I will be in deep thought for a while..

Peace
LT

 

[FADECtoBLACK]

...And I was never here to start some sort of all out battle between good and evil of the pilots, I was just lookin for some advice. You make one little comment on this board and some out there just go ballistic.
LT

You can't bat an eyelash while logged onto this board without pissing someone off, so don't worry about it.

As for my two cents. Like BoilerUp and a few others who have replied, I am a whore who went through a university flight program. While I loved every minute and wouldn't change a thing, I now see the advantages of having a degree in something other than aviation (like you are doing).

I've instructed in both the university environment and at a part 141 FBO. As suggested before, I would find an instructor that you really get along with and work your way up through the CFI (even II or MEI) and go from there.

While 'whoring' yourself out and getting everything in one package like at ATP et. al. would be easier, you walk out of there with the same certificates and ratings as any FBO.

I also found it a lot easier to 'stumble' onto extra flying opportunties while hanging around the FBO at which I instructed. In the university environment there are several hundred other pilots with equal experience as you looking to 'stumble' onto those opportunities. This can make things a bit more difficult.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TRLpilot]

welcome to aviation and welcome to the forum. you've just got a taste of what this place can be like.

the whoring they are referring to is where you pay to sit in a right seat and log time, albeit questionable usually. i don't think Allatps fits that category. just be aware that after you have spent that money you still don't have enough hours to be marketable and will still have to spend time (probably a couple of years) instructing, flying pipelines, banner towing, etc. i'm taking the small FBO route as mentioned before. it goes at the pace i make it to be and is less expensive overall. plus hanging out at the fbo is interesting when hearing some of the old timers' stories and meeting all sorts of characters passing through. and there is tons of free advise and knowledge to be gained while sharing a few cold ones on the ramp.

as far as the MBA stuff goes it will help you outside of aviation but probably not with finding a pilot job, a bachelor's seems to be the benchmark and resume qualifier. if you enjoy school and learning then you can pursue your MBA part-time while working on your ratings and building hours. you can likely manage some MBA courses while instructing for a couple of years.

best of luck and don't let people's comments here discourage you. and if you're ever east of town stop by terrell aviation, there's usually some cold buds in the fridge and lots of hanger flying going on.

 

[kj6991]

NTX,

Do not get discouraged by comments. i am almost in the same boat you are with low time. i worked hard in school and got an internship with one of the better regionals and very proud of my accomplishment. there are people out there who like to bash you and tell you to get out and there is always gonna be someone that feels like he/she worked harder than you did for the job. Not all, but most people that give you rude comments are those who haven't made it or have quit trying to get there or have found other intentions other than flying. I've talked to numerous 767/757etc Captains and they all tell you to keep your head up and keep pressing on. Sure, things have changed from the past, but if you love flying and are persistant and network, there is nothing stopping you. there will be plenty of bumps in the road to get to where you want to be, but keep plugging away and your hard work will pay off. just me two cents, but what do i know.

 

[kj6991]

by the way i grew up in Sulphur Spring TX, about 60 miles NE of you.

 

[bafanguy]

aviation whores ????

Sooooo, lequip, we still haven't heard back from you re your "...whore" remark. What would YOU suggest this young guy do ? He wants to fly...you know...kinda like YOU did ( and ARE ). He only wanted some advice from those whose opinion he might respect. Instead of calling him a "whore", how about giving him the benefit of your wisdom and experience, huh ???