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Jetblue and college degree
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Big Beer Belly
Well-known member
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- Nov 5, 2004
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- 756
This is just my opinion of course ... but those of us in the aviation profession without a college education are lowering the profession. Once upon a time, flying commercial aircraft in the United States was respected and admired similar to that of a medical doctor. Today, with Jetblue and others hiring so many with just the very basics of formal education, I am not surprised at the implosion of this industry in terms of peer status and remuneration. A college education used to separate white from blue collar (and compensation followed accordingly) ... but now with so many hired by the start-ups with little, if any, formal education it is no wonder this industry finds itself in such drastic decline.
College is more than just a formal education. It is a testament to one's character that you have the drive and determination to achieve something difficult. Perhaps this is why all branches of the US military REQUIRE a college education for its leaders (officers). Those of you who took the easy road and skipped college can attempt to justify your decision all you want. In the end, you lacked the intestinal fortitude to obtain that degree and will spend the rest of your life attempting to dismiss its significance and justify your myriad of excuses for not rolling up your sleeves and working your butt off to obtain that degree like the majority of your peers.
I can think of no other rational reason (than laziness) for not obtaining a college degree. Many of my peers worked their way through college (as did my wife), so I'm confident that if the desire was there, so was the means. In the end, when you are laying on your death bed reflecting on your humble life on this earth, will you say you tried your "hardest"? ... like we were taught in kindergarten ... or will you say you took the easy road? It's YOUR life and YOUR choices ...
BBB
College is more than just a formal education. It is a testament to one's character that you have the drive and determination to achieve something difficult. Perhaps this is why all branches of the US military REQUIRE a college education for its leaders (officers). Those of you who took the easy road and skipped college can attempt to justify your decision all you want. In the end, you lacked the intestinal fortitude to obtain that degree and will spend the rest of your life attempting to dismiss its significance and justify your myriad of excuses for not rolling up your sleeves and working your butt off to obtain that degree like the majority of your peers.
I can think of no other rational reason (than laziness) for not obtaining a college degree. Many of my peers worked their way through college (as did my wife), so I'm confident that if the desire was there, so was the means. In the end, when you are laying on your death bed reflecting on your humble life on this earth, will you say you tried your "hardest"? ... like we were taught in kindergarten ... or will you say you took the easy road? It's YOUR life and YOUR choices ...
BBB
B
buttercup
Big Beer Belly said:
Oh please spare me the b.s. Most people I know in this industry that don't have a degree were anything but lazy. They had to pay for their own flight training, all while busting their' azzes to pay for it and pay for food, rent, etc. I've also noticed that these people that came up the hard way are also least likely to PFT, and also the ones who are hard core about getting a good wage. There's no correlation whatsoever between a degree and wage in this industry. Wages are low because pilots are whores. I know more multi-millionaires with high school educations than I do with college educations. It is better to have the degree than not have it but if someone has a vision and college isnt in their plans I'd say go for it. The only thing seperating wealthy intelligent people from paycheck to paycheck living intelligent people is that one of them took risks, and the other didn't.
Jetjockey
Stay thirsty my friends
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Posts
- 1,492
Gee, that's funny. Two of the best pilots, and street smart guys I know fly for UPS, WITH NO COLLEGE DEGREE. I have a degree from a well known aviation college, and I'm on furlough #3. I think it helps to have a degree in this highly competitive job market, but not the end all requirement some would make it out to be.
Big Beer Belly
Well-known member
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NYCPilot
Incorporated.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2001
- Posts
- 645
I'll have to side with having a college degree.
Granted, college won’t make you any smarter. Intelligence is something you’re born with, but it will certainly make you more knowledgeable. Attending college will broaden your understanding of the world you live in. In school you are exposed to different lines of thinking that might ordinarily not have pondered. It tends to shed ignorance and breed open-mindedness. This may be a valuable trait in obtaining a job in any field, whether it be aviation or not. You may learn about things and concepts you never knew existed. New hobbies and interests may develop out of pedagogical exposure. It may also do wonders to enhance you conversational skills and broaden your depth as a person. Chicks dig smart guys. Having a degree also provides you with a backup career should you lose you medical or for some reason no longer be able to fly professionally. It’s important to remember though, that it’s not college itself, but what’s learned in college. There are many self-learned people who haven’t attended college that have more knowledge than someone who has. College only provides the structure for exposing you to new ways of thinking by providing an outline of what necessary areas of academia should be acquired at a minimum. Fine example, albeit fictional, was the movie “Good Will Hunting.” I have plenty of friends who are extremely smart that have suffered for not possessing a degree. Although they would be a huge asset to any company that would hire them, they have to work jobs that are less than desirable because they lack this minimum qualification. These days, a college degree is the equivalent of a H.S. diploma from years ago.
You’re never too old to attain a degree, whether it be part-time, full-time, online or whatever. Good luck with your future endeavors, and do apply to JetBlue. If you’re a fine pilot and have great interpersonal skills, and can hold an intelligent conversation you WILL surely be hired.
.NYCPilot.
Granted, college won’t make you any smarter. Intelligence is something you’re born with, but it will certainly make you more knowledgeable. Attending college will broaden your understanding of the world you live in. In school you are exposed to different lines of thinking that might ordinarily not have pondered. It tends to shed ignorance and breed open-mindedness. This may be a valuable trait in obtaining a job in any field, whether it be aviation or not. You may learn about things and concepts you never knew existed. New hobbies and interests may develop out of pedagogical exposure. It may also do wonders to enhance you conversational skills and broaden your depth as a person. Chicks dig smart guys. Having a degree also provides you with a backup career should you lose you medical or for some reason no longer be able to fly professionally. It’s important to remember though, that it’s not college itself, but what’s learned in college. There are many self-learned people who haven’t attended college that have more knowledge than someone who has. College only provides the structure for exposing you to new ways of thinking by providing an outline of what necessary areas of academia should be acquired at a minimum. Fine example, albeit fictional, was the movie “Good Will Hunting.” I have plenty of friends who are extremely smart that have suffered for not possessing a degree. Although they would be a huge asset to any company that would hire them, they have to work jobs that are less than desirable because they lack this minimum qualification. These days, a college degree is the equivalent of a H.S. diploma from years ago.
You’re never too old to attain a degree, whether it be part-time, full-time, online or whatever. Good luck with your future endeavors, and do apply to JetBlue. If you’re a fine pilot and have great interpersonal skills, and can hold an intelligent conversation you WILL surely be hired.
.NYCPilot.
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pilotyip
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 13,629
Wrong again beer
Beer, again you are off track, the glory days you refer to had a higher percentage of non-degreed pilots than exists today. They were the Capt.’s who retired in the last 10 years. They were hired in the 60's. Back then a degree was not even a consideration. In fact I may have missed being a Delta career pilot job by staying in college. Back in 1963 you could be come a Navy pilot with two years of college, I would have gotten out in 1968. In 1968 Navy P-3 pilots were hired by Delta without degrees, it was almost automatic. To continue the discussion of the merits of the college degree. It has been posted that I am anti-college degree. Nothing cold is further from the truth. The country needs all the college educated citizens it can have, its raises the level of knowledge to keep this as the greatest country in the world. Real degrees in business, engineering, the sciences, math, and medicine provide a graduate with marketable skills. If you are going to go to college, get a real degree from a real university. Do not spend four years getting a degree in Women’s Studies. However this is not an engineering forum, this is an aviation forum. The college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane. Many have posted they agree it has nothing to do with the mastering on an airplane. I have admitted that the possession of a degree may open doors at a few select places of employment in the airline industry. If a potential pilot feels they will only be pleased in life if they get an interview with UPS, then that prospective pilot should go to college. Air Inc advertises that 172 airlines and assorted aviation companies are recruiting right now, I only see five that make the degree a showstopper. My assertion that runs contrary to the ‘College is a must” crowd, is that to be competitive for the other 167 places the degree is not necessary. If a prospective pilots just loves flying airplanes, and would be happy making $70-$100K per year with no debt from college loans, a college degree is not necessary. Many prospective pilots may be steered into attending college when they are not college material, NOT because of a lack basic intelligence, but because it is not important to them. These pilots want to get on with their lives flying airplanes. I have seen too many non-degreed pilots reach a good career position with out a degree. Then my focus is on job satisfaction and not upon pay, respect, partying in college and prestige. It is about the joy of flying an airplane. Others out there may feel the same motivation I do.
Beer, again you are off track, the glory days you refer to had a higher percentage of non-degreed pilots than exists today. They were the Capt.’s who retired in the last 10 years. They were hired in the 60's. Back then a degree was not even a consideration. In fact I may have missed being a Delta career pilot job by staying in college. Back in 1963 you could be come a Navy pilot with two years of college, I would have gotten out in 1968. In 1968 Navy P-3 pilots were hired by Delta without degrees, it was almost automatic. To continue the discussion of the merits of the college degree. It has been posted that I am anti-college degree. Nothing cold is further from the truth. The country needs all the college educated citizens it can have, its raises the level of knowledge to keep this as the greatest country in the world. Real degrees in business, engineering, the sciences, math, and medicine provide a graduate with marketable skills. If you are going to go to college, get a real degree from a real university. Do not spend four years getting a degree in Women’s Studies. However this is not an engineering forum, this is an aviation forum. The college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane. Many have posted they agree it has nothing to do with the mastering on an airplane. I have admitted that the possession of a degree may open doors at a few select places of employment in the airline industry. If a potential pilot feels they will only be pleased in life if they get an interview with UPS, then that prospective pilot should go to college. Air Inc advertises that 172 airlines and assorted aviation companies are recruiting right now, I only see five that make the degree a showstopper. My assertion that runs contrary to the ‘College is a must” crowd, is that to be competitive for the other 167 places the degree is not necessary. If a prospective pilots just loves flying airplanes, and would be happy making $70-$100K per year with no debt from college loans, a college degree is not necessary. Many prospective pilots may be steered into attending college when they are not college material, NOT because of a lack basic intelligence, but because it is not important to them. These pilots want to get on with their lives flying airplanes. I have seen too many non-degreed pilots reach a good career position with out a degree. Then my focus is on job satisfaction and not upon pay, respect, partying in college and prestige. It is about the joy of flying an airplane. Others out there may feel the same motivation I do.
Last edited:
semperfido
Keep Humpin
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2004
- Posts
- 1,873
as214 said:
keep short changing yourself as214. the odds of you being another bill gates or P diddy are about slim to none. unfortunately for you, most people have them nowadays. it is a competitve thing and has no bearing on whether you can make an airplane go up or down.
get with the program.... or not.
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