Controversial Question - College

[Joshrk22]

Okay, I'm tired of hearing people say to go to college or not to go to college after high school. What is the best way?

Just fly after high school and go part-time later? You wouldn't be stuck with the student loans, you'd be flight instructing and making a little money, but you'd probably be living at home with your parents for another 2-3 years.

Go right after high school and fly part-time. Probably not the best way to log hours and flight instruct.

Go to a community college and live at home. Keeps the cost down and you'd probably be able to fly full-time.

Obviously the first way is the best way to log the hours, but I don't want to have to re-learn everything 5 years later when I go back. Also, would my AP credits still count?

Opinions please....

 

[flyf15]

Go to college, have fun, and enjoy life. Get your ratings, do as much flying as time (and life) permit, and go hardcore into flying once you're done with college.

I'm sure others will disagree, but its good to be balanced. Its what I did... I really enjoyed it. I graduated in December and am starting ground school at an airline next month.

 

[DorkProp]

If you fly now and tell yourself you'll hit college later, you'll find yourself at a regional (maybe) at age 21 and then be stuck. I know several guys like that. Just try getting a degree when you're on the road 20 days a month. Go to college now. You can still fly and get all your ratings by the time you graduate.

 

[Magic1872]

I would suggest you go to college and get a 4 year degree while your working on your ratings. The 4 year degree will open doors for you in the future. Usually, you'll find that peopel who don't have degrees tell you not to get one because they don't have one. Granted you don't need a degree to fly...but just think how much better you'll look with one.


Flyf15: Did you get on at Scenic? If so, email me at [email protected] I have some question for you, thinking about applying there myself, and know a guy who used to work there.

 

[kf4amu]

Get a full time job at the university you want to attend. MOST will pay your tuition for classes, you get paid, you can fly on the side and that full time work experience combined with the flight time you get will speak volumes about your reliability and maturity. Besides the fact that you graduate debt free. The extra time it takes to get your degree is money saved not having to pay back student loans.

 

[hydroflyer]

You don't get younger, just older. Could have an effect as to how your college experience is.

 

[mpflies2]

Go to college. I too graduated this past December after 3 and a half years to get a 4 year degree. Better yet, do like I did and go to an aviation affiliated school that has some sort of program. My degree is in Aerospace Management with a concentration in Flight Operations. Simply meaning I got all my ratings (except CFI) while remaining a full time college student, and holding a part time job. College was the best time of my life. Can't replace the friends and networking contacts I made for anything. Have fun, do it now while your young.....certainly glad I did.

Marc

 

[pilotyip]

Only 4 airlines of 176 hiring make the college degree a showstopper. At the other 172 airlines flight time, experience, check airman status will get you the job. Going to college puts you four years behind reaching those milestones. You can not go to college full time and build meaningful flight time. However you if you are disciplined you can fly full time and go to college on the side. Also you have to decide what you want to be, a pilot with a college graduate with a degree you are not going to use, or pursue a career outside of the cockpit. The fall back value of an unused degree is greatly overrated, and it is going to take you 10 years on average to get to a career flying position. If you drop out after five years to use your degree, you are five years behind your contemporaries who used their degree right out of college. If you because you like to fly, then you are on the right track with or without a degree. This is not a "I will try it out for a little while to see if I like it" career.

 

[NoahWerka]

The one thing we never think about in our misspent youth is the fact that we are not immortal. It never occurs to us that we could develop a medically disqualifying disease or become disabled. No more flying for a living. What will you do then. Get that college degree while you are young. You will have an alternative means of earning an income. You won't regret it.

 

[mpflies2]

The one thing we never think about in our misspent youth is the fact that we are not immortal. It never occurs to us that we could develop a medically disqualifying disease or become disabled. No more flying for a living. What will you do then. Get that college degree while you are young. You will have an alternative means of earning an income. You won't regret it.

EXACTLY what I was about to say!

And another thing about that.....yes 172 airlines may hire you without one, but lets say theres me and you going for a job. We are equally qualified in virtually every aspect. But wait I have a college degree. If you don't think that looks good than you'd be mistaken. If nothing else, a degree shows you started something and finished it, which is a good indication that you will be a reliable employee that is more likely to stay with them for a longer haul.

Get the degree!