I Need Some Advice

[CE650Whore]

Fellow Aviators (both old and young, from student to 747 captain) -

I need some quick advice...

Time has come for an ultimate decision on my part as to my future... consider the following, then let me know what you guys would do in the same situation.

I have been flying as a first officer on the Citation II and the Citation V for almost two years now. Today on a trip the chief pilot tells me that we will be getting a Citation III within the next few months, and that I need to consider it a job offer to go to the CE650 as first officer. Starting pay is excellent, great benefits, outstanding corporate atmosphere, and a lot of really active coast to coast flying. That being said; I have a few choices...

1. Should I return to college and finish my degree? (1 full semester left) I was planning on doing this soon, until the Citation III entered the picture.

2. Should I stay on with this company, junk the college plans, and enjoy flying as a Citation III F/O for the next few years with the great pay and benefits, even though I won't be a college graduate?

- Just a question, looking for answers.

 

[wxman13]

How certain is it that you would be able to get in the III? If it's pretty definite, than I would go for that. If, on the other hand, you would be one of several people, including outside applicants, vieing for the spot, I would consider college as well (keeping in mind that I have a year of college left, and about to start on my CFI, but no plans for a career in aviation). I'd love to have the chance to fly a Citation III, or any jet for that matter. Sounds like it would be a lot of fun, especially since it sounds like you've enjoyed flying with this company in the past. I don't know how useful my advice will be for you, but getting right seat in the III sounds like a great opportunity to me. Who knows when it will come up again?
-Peter

 

[vetteracer]

Take the job and finish school part time, nights, correspondence courses, CLEP or whatever. If you have to drag it out another year so be it. Take an aviation job that you already know to be good. After a few years you will have more time and a degree and you can move on if you chose.

Mark

 

[flybrowntails]

i have to agree with vracer.

a bird in hand...

but you have to remain determined to finish your degree. it may be a wonderful job but you dont want to limit yourself or look back years from now still flying the 3 and think "I wish..."

for what its worth..a degree doesn't promise anything (besides your own education and enrichment) but in my new-hire class everyone had completed their BS or higher.

best of luck.

 

[generaltso]

To me this is a no brainer. College will always be available to you. The citation won't. Take the citation and then when the company goes under or sells some planes off, you can then finish college.

 

[Brett Hull]

Do both. It's a bit pricey,but it will get the job done.

http://www.ec.erau.edu/ddl/

Carry a laptop with you and you'll be golden.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I agree with most here....you can do both.

BUT, make getting that degree a top priority. DO IT NOW.

Citation jobs come and go quick (in case you have not experienced this yet) - you want to make this a quick and painless step up to a better job...

and the better jobs require a college degree. plain and simple.

Here's the scenario...

You are psyched to be flying that Citation for good pay,benefits, etc...and heck - about a year later you are now a Captain and making even more huge bucks...(like 80K maybe?)....then....one day they are all gone, companys broke, shop closed, you are unemployed.......NOW - Fortune 20 flight department down the road is looking for a new F/O on thier GV's/Globals whatever...starting pay 85K plus better benefits, schedule, etc...you know a few of the guys, they like you - they like your corporate background..BUT -- you dont have what the other 9 people they are looking at have - THE STUPID 4 YEAR DEGREE....

but, you say, I am only one semester away!!, and Im taking distance learning classes!!... Might as well be 4 years away they think. Nothing looks more lame on a resume as Gulfstream Academy and "BS DEGREE CURRENTLY ENROLLED". No job for you, keep in touch. Thanks.

A little extreme scenario? Its not, I have seen it myself TWICE in the last year. A 4 yr degree is simply required at many places. Many like to see work on advanced degrees also..Im not sure why??... but thems the rules...

Dont miss the good opportunities. You will regret it and may get delayed or stuck forever in some crappy fly at night $hit job - all because you delayed a few easy things. Dont fall for that "I will finish later" route. When you need the job (laid off) - you will need the degree. It wont be time to "head back to school"...

Dont let it screw you. Be ready for the better jobs!

Good Luck.

 

[FlyinTim]

Look into Online Classes

I am workin on my degree online with Utah Valley State College's Global Degree Program...You can do work on layovers etc.... DONT PASS OUT ON THIS JOB.....but get the degree on the side...It will work out for the best!...any questions about UVSC?...drop me a PM...ill be more then happy to help.

 

[FN FAL]

Fellow Aviators (both old and young, from student to 747 captain) -

I need some quick advice...

Time has come for an ultimate decision on my part as to my future... consider the following, then let me know what you guys would do in the same situation.

I have been flying as a first officer on the Citation II and the Citation V for almost two years now. Today on a trip the chief pilot tells me that we will be getting a Citation III within the next few months, and that I need to consider it a job offer to go to the CE650 as first officer. Starting pay is excellent, great benefits, outstanding corporate atmosphere, and a lot of really active coast to coast flying. That being said; I have a few choices...

1. Should I return to college and finish my degree? (1 full semester left) I was planning on doing this soon, until the Citation III entered the picture.

2. Should I stay on with this company, junk the college plans, and enjoy flying as a Citation III F/O for the next few years with the great pay and benefits, even though I won't be a college graduate?

- Just a question, looking for answers.

Heck dude, I was thinking about quiting college and getting you to hand walk my resume in!!! Wanna trade places?

If you are young a dude, I'd say finish college, you may never get another chance in life to crank out that last semester! The flying monster can wait a while to gobble your ass up...it's got plenty of other victims waiting in line.

Take that from a 43 year old college student...finish school and be nice to your current employer. They should be happy to have an employee that is willing to spend time and money to better themselves by going to school and will be honest with them about wanting that higher education.

See if they will work out a deal to keep you on while you work on that degree...belive me, this fubar industry will still be here when you finish that whole darned semester.

 

[350DRIVER]

Stay and do both...

It should not be overly difficult to accomplish the degree while flying, you can finish the degree online. Look into U of PHX, I hear they have a great course to be able to finish up via online. Most will give you credit for "life experience" which will work out in your favor minus all the headaches of attending a normal college with a normal class schedule.


good luck to you,

3 5 0

 

[vetteracer]

As an added note, I was in your shoes at one time. I got swooped into my first flying job and was only a sophomore in college. I did school during the day and flew cargo at night. Made for a stressful 2 years, but I pushed through.

I attended school via a 120-mile round trip daily commute. I spoke to my Professors on the side after the first class and told them of my arrangements and my schedule. Most of the time they were very happy to accommodate some special needs that would arise. I had one professor that made me outline a chapter in the text for every class I could not attend. Not to big of a deal. I would take test early or write extra papers. I just let them know that I wanted to be there, and would do what it took to participate in the class at any cost. I also took some classes at a local college that would transfer to state.

Mark

 

[typhoonpilot]

Mark: You really need to use a bigger font.

CE650 man, I agree with the majority of posters. Take the job and work on finishing the degree. You might also want to look into changing your screen name, it's kind of tasteless.

Typhoonpilot

 

[captdaddy]

When I was 21, I dropped out of college (I was a senior) to take an arline job. I then enrolled in correspondence school with ERAU. I figured I can always finish my degree, but you can't get back seniority. I subsequently inished my degree. Never regretted it...although--15 years later, American Airlines bought my company and crapped on my seniority, so what do I know. This industry is a crapshoot!

Good luck.

 

[pilotyip]

See alot of good advice

The college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane, it only opens doors for interviews. The pilots who get hired have quality flight time. The degree can be done on-line while building quality flight time. You can not build quality flight time while being a full time student. The answer is simple, take the job, finish your degree.

 

[banned username 2]

The college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane, it only opens doors for interviews.

Which has EVERYTHING to do with being PAID to fly airplanes... Get the degree...

In this particular case, with only one semester remaining and a good job in hand... Take the good job and finish the degree while working, but definately get the degree... With only one semester remaining, this should be too difficult...

 

[pilotyip]

It has nothing to do with pay

I can give you a long list of non-degreed guys flying airplanes making a whole bunch more than degreed guys flying airplanes. The degree versus higher pay is not a universal default conclusion.

 

[banned username 2]

I can give you a long list of non-degreed guys flying airplanes making a whole bunch more than degreed guys flying airplanes. The degree versus higher pay is not a universal default conclusion.

I said it has everything to do with getting an interview... which an interview is required to get a job, a job is required to get paid to fly... No one said anything about pay level...

 

[pilotyip]

What are we talking about?

Which has EVERYTHING to do with being PAID to fly airplanes... Get the degree...

I read this as the degree has everything to do with being paid to fly airplanes, and I say that is not correct. As for the interview part, there might be 5 of the 118 companies presently recruiting that make the degree requirement a showstopper; the other 113 companies are looking for skilled pilots. In addition, I state it again the college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane. I think you are bucking alot of advice in this thread who agree with go for the job, jobs are hard to get, college degrees can be pursued when time permits.

 

[sky37d]

Stay and do both...

It should not be overly difficult to accomplish the degree while flying, you can finish the degree online. Look into U of PHX, I hear they have a great course to be able to finish up via online. Most will give you credit for "life experience" which will work out in your favor minus all the headaches of attending a normal college with a normal class schedule.


good luck to you,

3 5 0

I have heard nothing except good about university of PHX, on line courses, one of the first in the country. I have a distant relative who works for them in PHX, it's the best of all worlds. Keep the flying job, buy a laptop with all the moolah you're making, and while cooling your heels in an FBO (most have wireless these days) you can be working on school