Should I blow another $15,00 for BS degree?

[WayBack]

Delta will not even look at you without a 4 year degree. Best friend played pro hockey and hurt himself. Now in aviation but didn't finish his degree. No matter who I talked to and all the strings I pulled he could not get an interview without that darn degree. Too bad, he's a great guy to hang out with and good stick. Make sure your degree is from a "real" school. Some degree factory's are not accepted as a legitimate 4 year degree from many major corporations.

Chances are those strings you thought you had, were only noodles.
Maybe he didn't get hired because of your recommendation? Because I know a former DAL guy (furloughed and never went back) who never had a 4yr degree.

 

[pilotyip]

not required at JB

A bs degree will be helpful for jetblue..... if you are smart you should get something that is not in the aviation feild. You will have a back up!!! two birds with one stone sort of thing

I know too many guys at JB without degrees, its kinda like SWA, not having is not a show stopper for a sharp pilot. But you should probably get one on the side, you might want to apply at DAL, or AAL at sometime in the future. There the degree counts more than being a sharp pilot.

 

[WayBack]

But you should probably get one on the side, you might want to apply at DAL... at sometime in the future. There the degree counts more than being a sharp pilot.

Along with being the double breasted suit, hat wearing, harmonica totting nazis!

 

[Marcus]

Thanks for all the replies. Although I agree w many that a degree outside aviation would be ideal I don't have the time or money to start all over again. Trying to get a four year degree part time while working to support and raise a family; I'd be ready to retire when I got that new degree. My best option for now is to take the 2 yr degree I have (aviation maintenance) and get credit for it toward an aviation science degree. I do have an A&P license to fall back on should I need it. Anyway, in this economy a four year degree is about as valuable as an ATP. There are lots of highly educated Starbucks baristas out there. The best thing for me to do at this time is to stick with the career that I already have education and experience in, even if it's not the best field to be in right now. Military; great idea if your young, I'm too old. As far as a lifestyle change; I'm very responsible w money. Other than a mortgage and student loans I have no debt and fully funded retirement funds and lots of cash in the bank. I live below my means and would pay for any school w cash. The problem is (listen up all you future pilot dreamers!) I went to one of those shiny aviation academies back in the day and my school loans are quite large. I'm working on paying them down but it will take a long time while my income is pretty much capped at $75,000 at my current job. I'm aware I'll take a pay cut when I go somewhere else but I have the resources to absorb that. I just need to find out if I can get on with another carrier w what I have. I really don't want to kill myself trying to take night classes and I could get a good return on that $15 grand in investments, not sure if the 4 yr degree would actually get a return on my investment. I'm aware that places like DAL and AAL require 4 yrs but I don't know if I'd ever be up for that much abuse (commuting to reserve for many years). I guess what I need to do is post this on the majors board and see how many guys got on with / without 4 yrs of school.

 

[RJLoser]

I would check into finishing your degree online. A lot of good schools have online programs.

 

[crj567]

Chances are those strings you thought you had, were only noodles.
Maybe he didn't get hired because of your recommendation? Because I know a former DAL guy (furloughed and never went back) who never had a 4yr degree.

I think ther are always exceptions... Though they are few and far between. I have known someone like this as well, but he flew much, much longer at a regional before he ever got an interview-and his dad was a very senior DAL captain at the time.

-I guess they just don't want to screw up and let too much "riff-raff" in the door. Apparently, they learned their lesson after hiring Gen Lee. I mean-really, who would ever want that idiot working for them?

 

[maxcackel]

I am in the exact same boat as you, shiny school debt and mortgage. I started back to school online a year and a half ago. I should be done in six months. The best option is to use your credits toward the science of aviation degree then when you are almost done you can switch to a different degree but it will take a little longer. I thought about changing it but no one cares what the degree is in. I have plenty of ways to make money outside of aviation. If you will just start it goes by quicker than you think.

 

[TZtoSWA]

My experience at SWA has shown me you will NOT be hired and likely NOT even called for an interview without a 4 yr degree if you are civilian background. We do have a few folks without 4 yr degrees that are civilian but they are few and very far between. A lot of them were hired during boom times when all airlines were hiring.

When we do start hiring again, it will be exponentially competitive. Add to this the fact that a former Air Force F-15 pilot is the manager of pilot hiring and you begin to get the picture.

 

[Mike man]

Oh, but I also filled one spot in a 91/135 job that you could only dream of.

Now that is some funny ********************!

 

[WayBack]

I guess they just don't want to screw up and let too much "riff-raff" in the door. Apparently, they learned their lesson after hiring Gen Lee. I mean-really, who would ever want that idiot working for them?

Gen had a few boyfriends from inflight get him the interview.
In the end, his only interview question was given by a senior pilot. He said "This is a one part question. I will read a question and you will repeat it after me, and say exactly as I do. Now where is the question: WIND CHECK!?"

After a few minutes of drooling, he was actually able to pull it off. Congrats Gen!!

WIND CHECK!

 

[CX880]

Jet blue requires a 4 year degree UNOFFICIALY

source? Chief pilot, West side.

 

[pilotyip]

moving away from their roots

Jet blue requires a 4 year degree UNOFFICIALY

source? Chief pilot, West side.

A lot of the JB guys in the start up stage did not have degrees. Guess JB is moving away from their roots

 

[pilotyip]

things change

My experience at SWA has shown me you will NOT be hired and likely NOT even called for an interview without a 4 yr degree if you are civilian background. We do have a few folks without 4 yr degrees that are civilian but they are few and very far between. A lot of them were hired during boom times when all airlines were hiring.

When we do start hiring again, it will be exponentially competitive. Add to this the fact that a former Air Force F-15 pilot is the manager of pilot hiring and you begin to get the picture.

Wasn’t that way three years ago, I guess SWA is turning their back on the guys who helped build the airline, getting too good for non-degreed guys who they hired to droves as early as five years ago.

 

[crj567]

Gen had a few boyfriends from inflight get him the interview.
In the end, his only interview question was given by a senior pilot. He said "This is a one part question. I will read a question and you will repeat it after me, and say exactly as I do. Now where is the question: WIND CHECK!?"

After a few minutes of drooling, he was actually able to pull it off. Congrats Gen!!

WIND CHECK!

The only WIND CHECK Gen asks for these days is the kind he gets with his pants down.

 

[Marcus]

maxcackel, what are your other ways of making money outside of aviation? I've been trying to find something to do on the side that I can grow big enough so that I can quit working for the man and get out of this gig someday. I would rather spend the time and money getting my own business up and running than just taking more worthless college classes.