Aero Science Poll

[CA1900]

Worth every bit as much as a degree from Subway University.

Seriously, in aviation, no employer cares what your 4-year degree is in. But your family's going to care that it's in something else, because it'll be your key to paying the mortgage when you get furloughed, because you'll be somewhat trained in another field.

You seem to think everybody's whizzing in your cornflakes because you're excited about your training and career -- we're not. We're people who have been there, and are trying to offer advice so you don't make the same mistakes others have. It's certainly your choice to heed it or ignore it, but in today's aviation market, you're nuts not to have a back-up plan.

 

[Occam's Razor]

I'm going back to school for a degree in "Aircraft Trying To Take Off On a Moving Conveyor Belt".

For the major you must:

1. Actually care.
2. Build a contraption to test your conclusion.

For just the minor:

1. Read the longest, stupidest thread ever posted here.

 

[Alex429595]

Id like to get peoples view on the Areo Science degree.



:beer: cheers!

Not to be rude or anything, but didn't we just have this thread?

And weren't you very active in that thread?

 

[mar]

No matter what, education is never a waste

In a broad sense, it doesn't matter what you study as long as you study *something*. Get an education in anything....even basketweaving.

But it's a fact, that for pilots in particular, you do reach a point of diminishing returns with continued education.

In other words, get enough to make yourself competitive. Anything after that will just contribute to your own personal growth and probably not help your earning power.

 

[troy]

I like beer

 

[Zulu]

I’d recommend against an Aero Science degree. I have an undergrad in engineering and a MS in Aero Science, and I can honestly say that the MS was a joke compared to my “real” degree.
On another note, I was talking with a buddy the other day about the myriad of less than desirable flying jobs he’s held since being furloughed by AAL. I asked him if he’d considered doing something outside of flying, and his reply was “Well, I went to Riddle and majored in Aero Science, so I’m really not qualified to do anything else.” Just some food for thought.

Z

 

[skycaptain11]

Wish I was majoring in accounting/business/finance. Unfortunatley before college I didn't do too much research so I'm getting stuck with my bachelor of science in aviation. Fun and interesting degree but not much to fall back on if ya know what i'm sayin.

 

[troy]

I should have majored in beer rather than education.

 

[Fugawe]

My Hotel and Restaurant Admin degree has served me well over many years of flying!

I instructed quite a few years in military basic and advanced flying and saw almost all types of degreed students. Embry grads, AF Academy grads, barely grads, etc. Degree made no difference in flying ability generally, especially in advanced tng (T-38). Once you get beyond the high cambered, straight wing stuff (T-37), innate ability takes over.

Sometimes the guys with CFI, CFII, etc backgrounds had the toughest time. They smoked the academics, and tore up basic flying, but once the speed and complexity of the flying increased they no longer had an edge on the rest. They were generally great pilots who did well, but some were frustrated that their pace of learning slowed. Wasn't that they stagnated, it was just that everyone was in a new arena, including them and they had no experience to draw on that was similar to the faster jet. Those with hands and the ability to think quickly did the best in the T-38, no matter what their degree or flying background was.

Move on to airlines now. No one knows or cares what the degree is, and no one even knows what your flying background is unless it comes up in conversation. You gotta do what you gotta do to fill squares to get the flying job you want, but I'll agree with the others that the flying degree doesn't seem to make a hill of beans difference. Maybe some that have been airline interviewers can chime in, but it has seemed for years that it's just been experience, hours, and some type of degree are the prereq's.

I didn't go the civilian route, so I don't know the ins and outs of that path, but I've flown many years now with civilian trained, military trained, both US and non-US trained pilots, and generally if a pilot has accumulated enough hours to get the job, he/she flies the same as anyone else.

Get the hours you need. Get a degree in something you like and will serve you in the future.

My 2 cents,
Fugawe

 

[navigator72]

I think a degree in computer networking would be better