University of Illinois

[Joshrk22]

Information please... Does anyone know if I can become an Instructor there my freshman year? How is the flight program there? What are the pros/cons? And, would you go there or somewhere else if you had the chance to go again.

 

[ChiFlyer]

I'm not sure if you can your freshman year. But there is a class Avi 250 or 350 I think, in which you are a part-time instructor and they give you a couple of students. If you do a good job there they'll keep you on part-time and give you a few students every semester. It's a good way to build up time and make SOME money on the side while working towards a degree.

I would call up the academic advisor there, you can find the number on the school's website and talk to her about it. If you have any other questions PM me and I'll try to help you out.

 

[Dubya]

No, you won't be an instructor here your freshman year...nor your sophomore year. Maybe part time your senior year. What are your ratings? Good program here. Pros....newer fleet with outstanding maintenance, great staff (pat self on back)..good facilities, great alumni network, great campus with the finest Chicago co-eds, great education opportunities OUTSIDE OF AVIATION. Cons...no affiliation with regionals (flow-through agreements), boring landscape (Illinois isn't flat...it's topographically challenged), part 141 program can be challenging for some..very regimented schedule. Can't think of anything else offhand. I liked it as my first choice...Purdue and SIU were 2nd and 3rd choices. Good luck with your decision.

W

Information please... Does anyone know if I can become an Instructor there my freshman year? How is the flight program there? What are the pros/cons? And, would you go there or somewhere else if you had the chance to go again.

 

[U of I Tweak]

U of I

Lets see what I can do to answer some questions....
If you have a CFI when you show up you'll have to go through a semester 'refresher' and/or do a CFI ride with one of the check instructors here...but it is possible to be a CFI as a freshman. Other than that, flight training is pretty good. I'm not a huge Piper fan, but the fleet here is very well maintained and are overall nice planes. You are assigned a flight slot which is a two hour block three days a week. Flying outside your flight period is done on an as an airplane is available basis. The system works pretty well, but having never flown at another school, I don't know how it compares. It gets tight toward the end of semester if there has been a lot of bad weather and a lot of people are behind. Overall I've enjoyed it here and wouldn't go any place else if I had to do it all over again.

 

[BoilerUP]

I liked it as my first choice...Purdue and SIU were 2nd and 3rd choices.

The *only* reason I didn't apply to U of I was because I was too lazy to write the 500 word essay - Purdue didn't require one! I was very interested in the Human Factors program.

 

[1800 RVR]

Man, I miss U of I!

'95 grad here.

I thought the flight program was good. I was very happy with it. Did my private through MEI, had students part-time for my last three semesters. After I graduated, I was hired by Parks to do CFIing, as there were no full-time jobs to be had at U of I. Let me tell ya, back then, our program at UI was SUPERIOR to that of Parks. There were lots of good instructors down there, but the "management" left something to be desired. One of the biggest differences was how you paid. At UI, you knew in the beginning of the semester the cost of your course and its content (i.e. how many flt hrs, sim hrs, supplies, etc.). At Parks, this wasn't necessarily so. It seemed to be more of an FBO-style payment plan.

I also LOVED the Sundowners. What a great first airplane. Great tailgating during football season, great b-ball (now, not then), lots of women (not necessarily all good looking), great bars, etc. I killed many-a-brain-cell while there, and don't regret it at all!

Personally, you can't go wrong going to U of I!


I - L - L

 

[flyboyzz1]

Great school! Fun town! Good flight program... although we have no "ins" with airlines...no help getting a job from the flight program like other schools

 

[Dubya]

INI!!!
...now...about that alumni network (wink, wink, nudge, cough)

'95 grad here.

I thought the flight program was good. I was very happy with it. Did my private through MEI, had students part-time for my last three semesters. After I graduated, I was hired by Parks to do CFIing, as there were no full-time jobs to be had at U of I. Let me tell ya, back then, our program at UI was SUPERIOR to that of Parks. There were lots of good instructors down there, but the "management" left something to be desired. One of the biggest differences was how you paid. At UI, you knew in the beginning of the semester the cost of your course and its content (i.e. how many flt hrs, sim hrs, supplies, etc.). At Parks, this wasn't necessarily so. It seemed to be more of an FBO-style payment plan.

I also LOVED the Sundowners. What a great first airplane. Great tailgating during football season, great b-ball (now, not then), lots of women (not necessarily all good looking), great bars, etc. I killed many-a-brain-cell while there, and don't regret it at all!

Personally, you can't go wrong going to U of I!


I - L - L

 

[FN FAL]

Cons...no affiliation with regionals (flow-through agreements),

Look at the pro side, no "flow-back" agreements with regionals, either.

 

[1800 RVR]

I like the way you think...

Hey Dubya,

My mind used to work just like yours is now - always looking for a glimmer of hope! :laugh: We do have an alumnus who used to come to our career nights; she is a CA here at UPS, and I know she is still active. In fact, there are more of us alumni here. I would help if I could, but right now, well... you know how the industry is stacked up. How I got on at UPS is still a surprise to me!