Spartan College?

[meyers9163]

I've been looking into training and where to go to become a pilot and recently heard about Spartan College? Anyone know anything about this college as far as the education and what their graduates do for jobs and who they work for? Any information would be great. Thank you

 

[Rook]

I'm a Spartan grad. It was a great place for me because of the location. I grew up in North Texas so it was only about a 3 hr drive from where I grew up. I had a good experience there, was able to instruct there after I graduated (not a guarantee). They let you fly from day 1. Prices are kind of outrageous but my loans are paid off. Not too bad a gig. Students have to wear uniforms now which I think is kind of lame-o but other than that, I was satisfied. I didn't know much about the diff between Part 61 vs. 141. so if you have the chance to get a degree in something other than aviation, by all means do it. Part 61 will save you a bundle of cash in the long run. Hope this helps a bit.

Rook

 

[I.P. Freley]

The STUDENTS have to wear uniforms??? Yeesh.

 

[bobs98tlr]

Rook where you from? I grew up in Keller.

I went to spartan for awhile and didnt have a good experiance at all. You will hear good and bad about Spartan. Just listen to what people have to say and make your own decision. I thought it was to expensive and the format was set up to herd cattle. Some people can do that and some cant. I cant. Most people that dont go through the whole program will probably have the same comments about the place as i do. However when someone makes it through the whole program like Rook and everything worked out ok for them most likely they will have more good things to say about the place.

 

[moxiepilot]

Having gone to Spartan for 3 years had its ups and downs. Their pilot groundschools are great. However they have taken to training international students which seem to take priority. I would recommend a mom & pop shop at any airport over Spartan

 

[Peace]

Spartan is a vocational school. IF you want to get a real education and become a good pilot look at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the cost is about the same but you get a degree and a wonderful flight education

www.sosu.edu

 

[Kream926]

bring a king size vat of vasoline from sam's if you choose to come


not bad though with the exception of prices, uniforms arnt bad, the internationals having priority is BS, they dont, maintenance is great if you can put up with flying a 52 for primary, other than that......dont live in student housing and dont go for the A.S degree, not worth the paper its written on

 

[moxiepilot]

bring a king size vat of vasoline from sam's if you choose to come


not bad though with the exception of prices, uniforms arnt bad, the internationals having priority is BS, they dont, maintenance is great if you can put up with flying a 52 for primary, other than that......dont live in student housing and dont go for the A.S degree, not worth the paper its written on

Half of what you say is true:
-yes, get the vasoline
-the chinese do have priority. don't even get me started on them, they're bad news all around from safety to school quality and finances
-don't do the student housing, you can do it on your own (will get anyone in touch with current Tulsans if you PM me)
-go solely for flying, they will prolong your training by years if you do their degree programs (or just wait until you're an instructor to get the discount)

 

[navigator72]

rip off

I was attending Spartan in 1992 and it sucked. Check out North American Institute of Aviation in South Carolina. I left Spartan and went there and had a great time plus it's only 15 miles from Myrtle beach.

 

[mattpilot]

I've done enough rants about spartan - do a search on the forum here (you'll even get a current price list ).


- Chinese do get priority - except on weekends or after 8pm

- maintenence is great, but we are paying way to much for it.

- housing does suck - you will pay 10x more if you choose spartans housing options

- The A.S. program is the ONLY reason to go to spartan. If you don't want the A.S., don't bother going 141. You will pay LESS THAN HALF on a part 61 school than what you would at spartan.

I don't know what kream's smokin', but without the A.S. that school is worthless. Afterall, we do need a B.S. to get to the majors - but there are different options of getting that B.S. other than spartan.

Summary: If you do not want the A.S. or already have one, avoid spartan - you will regret it.

 

[Lear60Guy]

If you are looking at places in Oklahoma try the University of Oklahoma. Aviation department is good and getting even better and you can get a four year degree thats worth something. Meteorology would be a good one, and OU is about the best place to get that degree.

OU Aviation

 

[328dude]

I never went to Spartan, but might want to check out OK State as well as OU.
Not sure if Spartan still student house their student's over at Riverchase Apt's, but that place is a total dump. Literally.

If you have a car, I can point you to some much better places to live.

Also, stay out of the casino's with your uniform on......

 

[SigAV8R]

I never went to Spartan, but might want to check out OK State as well as OU.
Not sure if Spartan still student house their student's over at Riverchase Apt's, but that place is a total dump. Literally.

If you have a car, I can point you to some much better places to live.

Also, stay out of the casino's with your uniform on......

DItto that. I didn't go to Spartan, but graduated from TU (U of Tulsa). PM me if you decide to go there and I'll throw in my $.02 about where to live. The rental prices there seem VERY high and there's better (and cheaper) degree programs out there.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Definitely a vo-tech atmosphere at Spartan. They also deal with alot of foreign students. I would recommend a more conventional college experience. Oklahoma State, OU, and SEOSU are all fine program and great values for the dollar when compared to other universities.

CR

 

[User546]

Not sure if Spartan still student house their student's over at Riverchase Apt's, but that place is a total dump. Literally.

Did you mean Riverside (RVS) in Tulsa?

 

[mattpilot]

Did you mean Riverside (RVS) in Tulsa?

no..... there is an apartment complex across the river (close to RVS though ), where spartan likes to put students.

 

[FracCapt]

I went to Spartan 12 years ago, and back then it was a good school. I've heard some interesting stories when I happen to be in TUL(damm near every employee at every FBO there is a Spartan student). Students wearing uniforms? Screw that...when I was there, the only thing we weren't allowed(though, it was not enforced well) to wear was open toed shoes. I did most of my flying in jeans or shorts and t-shirts, occasionally with sandals.

Back then, the majority of the builders were of the "permanent-portable" variety, and I hear they're still pretty much the same. Kinda makes me wonder.

If you plan to get the degree at the same time as your training, I suggest forgetting the aviation schools(like Spartan and Embry-Riddle) and going to a University with a flight program. After spending a little bit of time in the town, I suggest Auburn University. It's something like a 3 or 4 to 1 female to male ratio, and almost every one of them is a hottie! Good football, too.

 

[moxiepilot]

It's something like a 3 or 4 to 1 female to male ratio, and almost every one of them is a hottie! Good football, too.

sign me up.

 

[Rook]

Spartan is a vocational school. IF you want to get a real education and become a good pilot look at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the cost is about the same but you get a degree and a wonderful flight education

www.sosu.edu

SEOSU good school. But you can get a Bachelors at Spartan as well.

Rook

 

[Rook]

Rook where you from? I grew up in Keller.

I went to spartan for awhile and didnt have a good experiance at all. You will hear good and bad about Spartan. Just listen to what people have to say and make your own decision. I thought it was to expensive and the format was set up to herd cattle. Some people can do that and some cant. I cant. Most people that dont go through the whole program will probably have the same comments about the place as i do. However when someone makes it through the whole program like Rook and everything worked out ok for them most likely they will have more good things to say about the place.

Wichita Falls baby. Yeah since Spartan got the Chinese contract (well after I left) it seems that those students will get priority. I was very fortunate to be able to fly with the same instructor from primary until getting hired there(times were tough then and the only jobs available were multi-piston jobs and not everyone was grabbing at them). Like I said before I had no knowledge of PT 61 schools and I know I would've saved more money had I gone that route, but my experience there was a positive one. It gave me the experience I needed and the networking to move on. One of my old ground instructors helped me get a fr8 job and the dir of trng at the fr8 op was also a Spartan alum. The one thing I didn't care about was their job placement department. The best job placement department is yourself. Like I said before, the location made it a lot easier for me to endure Tulsa which isn't that bad a city. I'd most definitely choose a co-ed atmosphere of OSU over the monastery atmosphere of Spartan/Riddle but c'mon now, Univ of Oklahoma? I'm a Texan and that's sacreligious.

Rook

 

[flyboyzii]

I also went to Spartan from '95 thru '97 and had a good experience. I only wish that I could have gone the part 61 route. I will be paying on student loans for the rest of my life because of it. But, I had a good experience there as well. I did what was asked of me and never had any problems. I pretty much had the same instructor there the whole time. Although, I did have my Private when I went in. I very much enjoyed the city there. I would love to get a good job back in Tulsa. I moved from Tulsa to Idaho and have been here ever since I graduated. I have heard bad stories coming from people that were in the school after I graduated but like I said.....I personally had an enjoyable experience. Just my 2 cents

 

[Peace]

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

If you look at the fact SOSU not SEOSU B.S degree is fully accrediated. Their are 3 different levels of accrediation. Spartan is at level one, while SOSU is at level 3. SOSU has its own airport, his its own Mech, has its own planes. Has a great alumni and is the oldest aviation porgram in Oklahoma. Plus SOSU was rated as the number one regional university in Oklahoma. All the professor that left OSU arrived at SOSU. the head of the aviation program at SOSU is a former OSU professor.

For the PRICE SOSU is the way to go. Its a good place to study, has great teachers and you will become a better pilot coming out of SOSU.

Spartan is also a wonderful instituation but its not at the same level as a university such as southeastern.

Its all up to individual taste. Wish the best to everyone

 

[Rook]

Ok you win. Now loosen up and get laid.

Rook

 

[BMW V12]

I went to Spartan 12 years ago, and back then it was a good school. I've heard some interesting stories when I happen to be in TUL(damm near every employee at every FBO there is a Spartan student). Students wearing uniforms? Screw that...when I was there, the only thing we weren't allowed(though, it was not enforced well) to wear was open toed shoes. I did most of my flying in jeans or shorts and t-shirts, occasionally with sandals.

Back then, the majority of the builders were of the "permanent-portable" variety, and I hear they're still pretty much the same. Kinda makes me wonder.

If you plan to get the degree at the same time as your training, I suggest forgetting the aviation schools(like Spartan and Embry-Riddle) and going to a University with a flight program. After spending a little bit of time in the town, I suggest Auburn University. It's something like a 3 or 4 to 1 female to male ratio, and almost every one of them is a hottie! Good football, too.

Hey, I was there from '93 to '95, maybe we know each other?

Send me a PM if those years jibe with yours...

Thanks!

Greg

 

[Photoflight]

If you look at the fact SOSU not SEOSU B.S degree is fully accrediated. Their are 3 different levels of accrediation. Spartan is at level one, while SOSU is at level 3. SOSU has its own airport, his its own Mech, has its own planes. Has a great alumni and is the oldest aviation porgram in Oklahoma. Plus SOSU was rated as the number one regional university in Oklahoma. All the professor that left OSU arrived at SOSU. the head of the aviation program at SOSU is a former OSU professor.

For the PRICE SOSU is the way to go. Its a good place to study, has great teachers and you will become a better pilot coming out of SOSU.

Spartan is also a wonderful instituation but its not at the same level as a university such as southeastern.

Its all up to individual taste. Wish the best to everyone

went there, taught there, had a great time and wish I could be back in durant....at least for a visit.

 

[willis]

..............

 

[willis]

Embry Riddle is better than all of them.

*runs*

You're right dude, you're the best! Now go do your first solo!! DORK

 

[cessna_driver2]

I went to spartan from 96-99. Overall flight training was good. What I didn't like was when management got involved. It dragged everything down. All upper management cared about was getting your money. Boy did they let you know when your money was low.

I do wish I went to a more traditional school. But I was young, stupid, & poor.

 

[Peace]

I would just like to make a comment about someone stating that ERAU is the best. I agree that ERAU is a very fine instituation BUT overall, it is too too expensive and its not worth it. Plus the enviroment there at Daytona Beach, its hard to study and be focus on your education. Many ERAU aviation students drop out the second year. They only have a 50% rate of graduates who initially start off as freshman. Mainly becasue the students party too much, dont focus,and some non aviation courses are to difficult for them to grasp.

ERAU aviation student are not that better off when they graduate. THey fly 172 which SOSU also does. ERAU does not have its own airport. They have to share the international Airport at Daytona, its a class C airspace. Its good but as a student its better to have a environment where you can make some mistakes and learn from it. SOSU in durant has a wonderful airport, it is going to have its own ILS and you can do A VOR approach or NDB approaches as much times as you want. You try to do that in DAB airport, the ATC will say they dont have time for you to do approaches or touch and goes.

I have also noticed that many ERAU graduates think they are kings and show off like they have to prove something. But when you fly with them they cannot be able to maintain there altitute by 200ft or their heading by 5 degree. they are not able to do a basic VOR, OR NBD hold. When they do a ILS approach, they cant keep a basic 3 degree glide slope or even try to keep the localizer straight. Trust me, i have many friends who attended riddle and they admit that they where fed with a golden spoon. SOSU makes you think outside the box.

Please dont get me wrong, ERAU is a great school, but the cost, and the quality and one one experience with the instrctor lacks intensively.

NOw you look at any SOSU grad. They know their stuff. They know how to fly a plane and keep the dirty side up and keep the plane straight and level. SOSU grad can fly in marginal of hard IFR and can do a good ILS, NDB, VOR approach. SOSU grad when faced with a difficult situation they can handle it. they are calm and can find soultions and be calm and relax and never panic.

The reason why I state all this is for people to have a broader understanding that ERAU is not what is really seems to be. Trust be i went there once.

 

[mizzouguy]

I Went to Spartan, decent training and I've never needed a degree and all my friends at Netjets that went there didnt either. But like all big schools it is pretty pricey. Good luck