Is ERAU worth it???

[SIG600]

Speaking from an ERAU grad perspective...


ERAU will give you a solid FOUNDATION for all things commercial aviation. You'll touch on subjects that you won't see again (transatlantic flight?) for years, but you'll at least have seen it when you get there. You will be well versed in all aspects of nothing more than commercial aviation. Your degree will be pretty much useless beyond that

Ratings: Whether you go to Bob's Flight School, or ERAU... everyone gets the same ticket from the same FAA with the same privledges. Everyone is just as equally dumb and inexperienced regardless of where you go.

My PERSONAL opinion? I loved my time in Daytona Beach. I had a blast. Made a lot of good friends and you'll make a lot of connections in the industry. You'll have friends at every airline that can hook you up.

Would I go back and do it all over again? No. I would go to a state school, get a degree in something else (probably still aviation, but another aspect thats more useful) and had the well rounded experience of not always haning around flying nerds like myself all the time.

 

[Goose Egg]

If I go to state school, and just get all my ratings at small, local flight-schools, will I be at a disadvantage compared to someone who went to ERAU???

In a word, no.

You could also do what I did, which is graduate from an aviation program at a state school (women everywhere--not that it helped me.) There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to doing it that way, which I'd have no problem discussing with you if you wanted.

As far as backup goes, I think it is probably wise to have something other than "aviation science" to fall back on. I'm thinking about a 2nd BS degree, and right now I'm leaning towards nursing. Although, I think I'm more focused on my interest level in the subject area than I am a back up. I've always gotta be learning stuff. It'll probably be a few years anyway and I'll have to chip away at it.

Business, real-estate, or any other misc. office/selling job have no interest for me. They make me want to hurl.

-Goose

 

[gkrangers]

For future Riddle attendees...look into the other degree programs.

Safety, Human Factors, Engineering, Business, Meteorology....

You can always minor in Flight which is the same flight courses as the Aero Sci degree...just without the degree.

Or major in something else and fly off campus. This is what I do...and I've enjoyed it so far.

 

[Metro752]

Go to college, during one of your summers, go to ATPs

 

[kf4amu]

Go 2 years at a state school and take general ed. Get drunk and have fun. Get your ratings over the summer. Transfer to Riddle and buckle down, finish your flying (if you have any left), get a job in the area to build connections and you'll be in good shape.

 

[NTXPilot]

Go to the state school. Get a degree in something outside aviation. Some degrees are better than others. I've got a BA in psychology and that doesn't really qualify me for jack outside of aviation. Business, economics, engineering, all would be good choices. Save some money and get your ratings on the side.

You know college students now graduate with an average of $19,000 in debt. If you're not careful and disciplined in paying off the debt, some people can get so far trapped that it can be nearly impossible to get out.

Go to school and have fun, drink, hit on girls. Don't do anyting too stupid though. Forgot something: take the time to explore some outside interests, join some clubs, and take some classes in different subjects. You might be surprised to find other things that interest you. The college years are the best, don't sell them short.

Not to hijack--Goose, you still workin on your MBA?

 

[Goose Egg]

Not to hijack--Goose, you still workin on your MBA?

Funniest thing. I had straight A's in all the courses so far (including finance and accounting), and I just decided that I needed out. It was completely sucking my soul. Plus I had a lot of stuff going on in my life at the time when I made the decision: Flight instructing, church stuff, girlfriend stuff (although not an issue any more), stuff, stuff, stuff. It was dragging me down.

I suppose I could resume if I wanted, but I'm just not feelin' it. In other words, I don't think I'd want the job that I could get with an MBA.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

-Goose