College degree to fly cargo???

[pilotyip]

If I remember right he quit FedEx to go to Braniff back in 1978. I lost touch with him.

 

[pgcfii2002]

Attend college and earn a BS in Accounting....and then fly...you will never have to worry about being unemployed.

 

[pilotyip]

fly build time, attend college on the side, accounting and finance are good degrees, it will help you understand money and you can use that in manageing your life.

 

[VaB]

My buddy went to work for FedEx a NavCad, no college degree, started in the right seat of a DA-20 for $400/mo. It was that military time that moved him to the front of the hiring line, plus no one else was applying back in 1975

It probably wasn't the fact that he was military so much, as it was the fact that he was a NavCad. Those guys were the elite.

 

[Clyde]

I don't mean to restate the obvious, because I know it's been said millions of times before:

It's not what you know, it's WHO you know.

There are guys with no degrees who don't hear a word from HR, and there are guys with PHd's who don't hear a word from HR. The people who hear something are the ones who KNOW somebody-and some have degrees and some don't. What do they all have in common? A good contact(s)

 

[pilotyip]

and by starting to early in your career instead of going to college you will have more good contacts and a better shot at every job, thanks for a new slant clyde

 

[Clyde]

and by starting to early in your career instead of going to college you will have more good contacts and a better shot at every job, thanks for a new slant clyde

I'm not trying to play devil's advocate or anything, but I just wanted to say that I landed my first real job (real as in multi-turbine) in aviation from a good friend whom I met in college. If not for his help in getting me into the door, I'm not so sure I would be where I am today.

But YIP does make a good point, in that many good contacts are made by working with people already in the field. I still feel it is important to get a degree (or at least a valuable skill in addition to flying), but I'm not confident enough to say with 100% conviction that one must have one in order to succeed. I will say that I am confident that a degree will allow one more options in life. This is just one of those things that must be weighed by each individual since everyone's circumstances are obviously different.

One thing is certain: make sure you are getting into this profession with the understanding that it is an expensive gamble either way you look at it.

 

[pgcfii2002]

It also kinda matters WHERE you went to school....I've gotten a few jobs that way.

 

[B727-100QF]

It also kinda matters WHERE you went to school....I've gotten a few jobs that way.

You're right, my high school made all the difference for me! No college here, just a below 2.0 HS GPA!!!!

 

[B727-100QF]

B727QF, are you saying no degree required at UPS?

Most definately! Heck, I barely graduated HS. Below 2.0 HS GPA. UPS never asked a single question regarding school/education during the interview.

 

[pilotyip]

Thanks, 727, I guess UPS is a much smarter airline than I thought, like SWA JB, and AirTran they do not let the presence or absence of a college degree stand in the way of hiring the right pilot. Make that only 4 of 171 airlines presently flying make the degree a show stopper. Fly because you like to.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

A college degree gives you an advantage, that's all.

Sometimes odd things make you stand out, if you're a grad
of a certain school the CP attended, Air Force or Navy, mabie
even a specific airplane.

Some companies get thousands of apps a year and need a
way to cut through it easily, so they raise the requirements.

Does a 4 year degree makes you a better pilot. Hell no.
But some bean counter found that degreed pilots have a
.05% lower incidence of failure in intense situations. Sure,
it doesn't apply to real world sceanarios, but this is
aviation, logic need not apply.

If you really want a degree, try an accredited online
college like Thomas Edison State College TESC.edu that
has an aeronautic degree. I'm about to finish mine, and
my schedule doesn't allow time for a normal education.

CE