no 4 year degree.....deal breaker or not?

[Lynxman]

LOL ^^^ I have one it's still overrated.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Be careful when pursuing a college degree. In "some" cases, it has become a social norm than really needing it. My family pushed me to get a Bachelors Degree" in Mass Communications with a Marketing Track. HOWEVER, when I graduated from college, I went to Marketing firms (small, medium, and large), to get an entry level position, and they wouldn't hire me because I didn't have any experience. My friend is in the IT field making avery good living and he never set foot on a college campus or in a college classroom his entire life. It depends on your individual situation. To some people, a college education is a required and viable career move. On the other hand, it's a waste of time.

That is why it is wise to an internship or two while getting your degree.

I can tell that one of the internships I did changed my career.

 

[Lynxman]

Internships very rarely do any good these day's. Free work to the employer basically even though most will say it's not. So many colleagues of mine went through aviation internships and all are in the same place as they were before.

 

[xjhawk]

4 year degrees are overrated.

Spoken like someone who does not have one.

They can take a lot of things from you in life, but an education you will always keep.

Regionals do not require a 4 year degree but like someone said before, many majors do. If you are in it for the regional career and maybe get lucky and get on at a major (NWA did allow it but they are gone) then do not get the 4 yar degree. If your goal is a major-by all means take the effort and get one.

 

[Talian]

4 year degrees are overrated.

I agree. Some of the dumbest people I come in contact with are college educated. Just look at our President. Everyone said he is so bright and intelligent. Look what he is doing to our country. Pilots need to know how to fly.

 

[CX880]

I agree. Some of the dumbest people I come in contact with are college educated. .

Embry Riddle graduates do not count, everyone knows that.

 

[pilotyip]

I think this boils down to this; if you have one, you feel everyone must be like you. If you don't have one; you feel it does not matter. Except me I have a couple and try to keep it a secret. What really bugs me is the smack of superiority aired by some of the pro-college posters. I think it is an absolute injustice for someone to be judged by his or her possession or non-possession of a college degree. So I continue to post that college has nothing to do with flying an airplane to bring the reality of this job back to forefront. However I have admitted due to dunces in the HR departments, it has something to do with getting a job at the upper end. BTW Back to the beginning, it has almost nothing to do with being hired at a regional.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Yip;
Not true. It does not make a man, a woman, a father, mother, etc. It is a piece of paper that employers use as a gauge, hurdle, et al. No more no less. A doctor could be just as good with OJT as we could be. It is the structure that is set in place that makes it required.

In my case, I wanted to work at DAL from the age of 10 on. To do that I knew I needed some sort of degree with good marks. No more no less.

 

[Lynxman]

I wouldn't go so far as to say it makes you better if you have one, but the fact remains you did go through an additional 4 years of schooling which isn't going to make you any less competent.

 

[pilotyip]

is to

Yip;
Not true. It does not make a man, a woman, a father, mother, etc. It is a piece of paper that employers use as a gauge, hurdle, et al. No more no less. A doctor could be just as good with OJT as we could be. It is the structure that is set in place that makes it required.

In my case, I wanted to work at DAL from the age of 10 on. To do that I knew I needed some sort of degree with good marks. No more no less.

of course it is true, you stated it yourself, it does not make the man, it makes a dunce in HR happy.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it makes you better if you have one, but the fact remains you did go through an additional 4 years of schooling which isn't going to make you any less competent.

I have to disagree that it can not hurt you. You need marketable skills to get a job, college is not the only place to get those skills and college could is a waste of time if it does not lead to a job. To go to college and not have skills that are in demand when you graduate is waste of time. Too many do this. So in that case spending that time developing a skill, like a Navy Nuc Power Plant operator, an apprentice program to become a plumber, or going to a community college to be come an auto mechanic would be time better spent.

 

[Lynxman]

So your saying college can hurt you? Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I agree sort of only becuase my degree has done me no good yet, but yet is the key word. If I would have have not gone to college like a lot of my friends I'd still be in the same boat as them. 9-12 bucks an hour doing manual labor. No offense, but I've been there and done that no reason to do it again. Having this degree even if it is in aviation will still help me in life maybe not now or for a few years, but I'm sure it will eventually.

 

[Lynxman]

Becoming a plumber and mechanic is not really a legitimate comparison. I don't know of any 4yr programs for becoming a plumber. My school did offer a 4 yr in automotive tech in fact it's one of the best in the country, but I don't think anybody going through the program is doing it to become a mechanic and wrench all day. There's cheaper programs that teach you all you need to know w/o going to college for that.

 

[GogglesPisano]

This career is suffering from a slow, steady erosion in compensation as well as public perception. The last thing we need now are airline pilots who advocate eliminating even this basic requirement.

Can you fly an airplane without one? Of course. Does having one make one a more well-rounded, articulate, professional airline pilot? Absolutely.

 

[Lynxman]

This career is suffering from a slow, steady erosion in compensation as well as public perception. The last thing we need now are airline pilots who advocate eliminating even this basic requirement.

Can you fly an airplane without one? Of course. Does having one make one a more well-rounded, articulate, professional airline pilot? Absolutely.

Agreed

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I say try it. Do not get a degree, and try to get on at a major. It is anyone's call.

I have to say that getting a business degree as well has helped me a ton. Could I have learned it on the job, yep. The question is could I have gotten that type of job without it? More than likely no.

I think you are limiting yourself without one Yip. I know many pilots that are quite irked that they were told we would hire you but you do not have a degree.

 

[CX880]

I have to say that getting a business degree as well has helped me a ton.

.

Since Delta cares about GPA, do they care what type of degree you have? Surely it must be easier to get a 3.0 GPA on Geography than Business.

 

[pilotyip]

read my posts

I say try it. Do not get a degree, and try to get on at a major. It is anyone's call.

I have to say that getting a business degree as well has helped me a ton. Could I have learned it on the job, yep. The question is could I have gotten that type of job without it? More than likely no.

I think you are limiting yourself without one Yip. I know many pilots that are quite irked that they were told we would hire you but you do not have a degree.

Actually if you read my posts, I recommend flying full time and doing college on the side, so at age 25 you have an ATP 4000 hrs, 1200 TJ PIC in a 121 environment (hours needed to even be considered at DAL), two jet types, a BS in anything from Coloring to Astro physics from XYZ City College’s on-line pay your fee get your "B" course. Plus most likely you have no debt. But going to an aviation university to get your 100K BS in Piloting is not necessary. Now my recommended of course takes a lot of discipline. I have seen far too many succeed following this full time work part time college path. If the typical young kid out of high school has no discipline, then college right out of high school might be the best path to ensure that if, when, or whatever a major job comes along that will have the box checked. Besides I think five years of flying in the on-demand business is a place you really learn to fly. I know the degree has nothing to do with a pilot’s skill in the cockpit, I have witnessed terrible college educated (make that attended) pilots with no well rounded anything. Beside I get such rises from everyone, who I don’t think even read my posts, but go into orbit because I said college is not the end all in someone’s life. Kinda like saying there is no Easter Bunny. Still love to have beer to continue this discussion. BTW I agree a business degree is probalby the best degree to get to be pilot. It helps you understand living while betweeen jobs.

 

[waka]

I agree. Some of the dumbest people I come in contact with are college educated. Just look at our President. Everyone said he is so bright and intelligent. Look what he is doing to our country. Pilots need to know how to fly.

uhm, George W. Bush is not the president anymore. We actually have a smart guy in office now.

 

[jmreii]

uhm, George W. Bush is not the president anymore. We actually have a smart guy in office now.

Agree!

 

[Lynxman]

^ What a joke ^