Western Michigan?

[A Passenger]

[I don't really know where to post this, please move this to the correct forum.]

What do you think of the Aviation program at the University of Western Michigan? I am looking to pursue a full aviation degree that will qualify me for a position at a commercial airline.

 

[MarineGrunt]

Whatever you do, dont major in "Professional Pilot" or anything of the like. Does you absolutely no good. Get a real degree that you can fall back on (i.e. sales, markerting, management) and get you pilot ratings elsewhere. There are going to be people that argue my opinion, but trust me, you'll see the value later...

 

[pilotshan]

There are pros and cons to an aviation degree. A major advantage is that many of the aviation schools have flight internships available as well as preferential hiring agreements with airlines. On the other hand, many of the pilot training centers (Delta Academy, Flight Safety) also have these agreements without the degree, so you could major in something else and still have the contacts that could be vital somewhere down the road. But that wasn't the original question asked.

Western Michigan has a good program that will be great in the very near future. Expect big things.

PM me with any specific questions. I'll be happy to answer them.

 

[C77MD80]

I went to WMU and graduated with a BA in Aviation Technology and Management (they probably changed the name by now). I flew afterward since I could not afford school and flying at the same time. I did ok in this field but agree somewhat with Marinegrunt that you do not need a degree in Aviation. I would have much preferred a degree in Liberal Arts, Political Science or a “fall back” degree such as Business “fill in the blank.”

What is nice about being in the Aviation program however is the fact that you will meet other people in the field that will help you tremendously later on when you need to network for a job. Networking is so important in this field; aviation is still a small industry when you think about the number of pilots. Another important factor is the schools network. What does WMU offer for their Alumni? Can you touch bases with old students? Do they have reunions? I found WMU very lacking in this arena. SIU is an example of a University that has an incredible network for graduates. They have career banquets with people that have made it in the industry. Recruiters are at the banquet talking with and taking resumes from Alumni. WMU to my knowledge has nothing of the sort. The downfall of SIU is the location and the fact that you are a Saluki (whatever that is!!)

I graduated a long time ago so maybe things have changed at WMU, I hope so, good luck!

 

[DGdaPilot]

Hey! Don't make fun of my mascot. I'll sick my Egyptian hunting dog (saluki) on your azz if you do! j/k

 

[Illini Pilot]

i wasn't a big fan of the actual curriculum when i was looking at schools, because you don't start flying until your 3rd year. I already had my private so i didn't want to wait for 2 years to work on more ratings. Other than that, the facilities and equipment looked spectacular.

 

[SwissAviator]

you might want to look into a school that requires that you get your cfii before you graduate and will allow you to gain some instructor experience before sending you out the door

 

[CXAV8]

WMU

Great school, I had a lot of fun. The dept. is good but has alot of preferential treatment and favortism. The main gripe I and other graduates have is that there is no placement assist. or flow thru agreements with any airlines. Once you get your diploma your on your own. ERAU is more expensive and not as well rounded, but there placement is much better.

 

[88_MALIBU]

Amen on a degree besides flying...

 

[Groucho]

RE: WMU

Sorry, but I have to disagree with some of the statements made on this thread.

I am a 1978 graduate of the WMU aviation program. The new program doesn't look anything like the old one. The new college of aviation is just that its own college. The training curriculum was revamped somewhat on the international model. It is not a rating factory and the training standards are desinged to meet the JAA standards of Europe. This doesn't mean much now but I have been flying since the early 1970's and inisde of this decade we will see cabotage, joint international ownership or some form of more world wide standardization.

WMU is trainig the pilots for British Airways, and other international carriers. The training is highly respected, but so are other aviation univesity programs ERAU, and North Dakota, Purdue etc, I am just biased.

If you are committed to avation and a professional pilot career I would recomend the program highly. I know there are a lot of negative comments about aviation degrees but when I went back for the dedication of the College of Aviation facility in 2001 I saw all my former classmates and we represented every single US Major carrier, some forturne 100 flight departments.

It's my $.02 but in my own company and those of other airline pilots I talk to I keep meeting graduates of the Aviatin programs of universitys or the military. Pursuing an aviation degree from an aviation University like Western Michigan indicates to your future airline a commitment to the professionWhen United was hiring in the late ninetys they hired mostly aviation university graduates.

I would however note some truth to some statements made about a fallback degree or position. If in the future you find you don't want to put up with some of the junk aviation has to offer your life than all fallback degree can make sense.

I have gone back to school myself, so I know where that is comming from, but I don't think I would have a job with a major without that degree from Western. Please understand that's my opnion and it's worth what you pay for it.

Good luck.

 

[Groucho]

RE: WMU

Sorry, but I have to disagree with some of the statements made on this thread.

I am a 1978 graduate of the WMU aviation program. The new program doesn't look anything like the old one. The new college of aviation is just that, its own college. The training curriculum was revamped somewhat on the international model. It is not a rating factory and the training standards are desinged to meet the JAA standards of Europe. This doesn't mean much now but I have been flying since the early 1970's and inisde of this decade we will see cabotage, joint international ownership or some form of more world wide standardization.

WMU is trainig the pilots for British Airways, and other international carriers. The training is highly respected, but so are other aviation univesity programs ERAU, and North Dakota, Purdue etc, I am just biased.

If you are committed to avation and a professional pilot career I would recomend the program highly. I know there are a lot of negative comments about aviation degrees but when I went back for the dedication of the College of Aviation facility in 2001 I saw all my former classmates and we represented every single US Major carrier, some forturne 100 flight departments.

It's my $.02 but in my own company and those of other airline pilots I talk to I keep meeting graduates of the Aviatin programs of universitys or the military. Pursuing an aviation degree from an aviation University like Western Michigan indicates to your future airline a commitment to the profession. When United was hiring in the late ninetys they hired mostly aviation university graduates.

I would however note some truth to some statements made about a fallback degree or position. If in the future you find you don't want to put up with some of the junk aviation has to offer your life than all fallback degree can make sense.

I have gone back to school myself, so I know where that is comming from, but I don't think I would have a job with a major without that degree from Western. Please understand that's my opnion and it's worth what you pay for it.

Good luck.

 

[8HourPilot]

Groucho is a bit misinformed.

 

[CrewDawg]

Looked into the program didn't like the whole idea of waiting until my junior year to fly. At the school i'm at now, I am going into my junior year as a CFI. That's two years of not building flight time, that I didn't want to waste. Getting a degree other than Flight is a good idea, but that's your choice. I tried business but I hated the classes and wasn't doing well, so I switched back. Just my 2 cents.

 

[SwissAviator]

yeah same here, i was able to get my cfi my sophmore year, you might want to think about a program that's a little smaller than western michgan where they let you fly starting your freshman year. places like wmu are becoming pilot factories.

 

[DGdaPilot]

I came into SIU with my private, but I got my instrument, commercial, multi, CFI, and took the charter course (cessna 340 and 421C) all within 6 semesters (2 fall, 2 spring, 2 summer). Hell, they usually even hire they're own CFI grads (like me) as part timers. Then you can move into full time when ya graduate.

 

[8HourPilot]

Same up here at good old Wastern.

Oh yeah this semester we are starting the flying during the second half of the freshman year.

 

[wmudriver]

Things are changin at WMU,
We will be starting students to begin flying earlier in their acedemic studies (freshman) starting in the fall of 2004.

About the degree thing...different strokes for different folks. I know some people who did the double major thing (Aviation Flight and Aviation Maintaince, or who did the flight and Aviaton Management). I know people who also had a business major as well. Getting an extra degree isn't that many credit hours more considering you probably wouldn't be working on a minor and alot of the general studies overlap (Calculus, Stats, Psycholgy ect.) Some people come to WMU with a lot of their ratings and just take a few months to finish up. So they do the double major thing.

There are alot of different backgrounds here. You'll find that out as you go along in your career. Not everyone landed their job the same way. We all take different avenues to get to our ultimate goal. Just do whats best for yourself and not others.

 

[TDTURBO]

I went to Wastern back in '83, spent all my time at Coral Gables, Wayside West and East, The Other Side and plenty of time in the ghetto. After all that, I left just shy a degree in aeronautical engineering with a co-major in Human Biology. Didn't fly once while I was there. Went on to Medical School at CCOM in Chicago, built a practice and fly a 1982 C182RG. After getting my PP in '84 and my INST and COMM a few years later, I feel this was the best, most secure route to go with a back-up degree. Now I can buy or fly just about anything. Much easier this way for me!

Try it, you might like it!

You can have your cake and eat it too, no bosses telling you where and how to fly their planes. Go, see and do what you want.

 

[Flightjock30]

Medical School

Your comment about becoming a doctor is easier said than done. I appreciate your modesty, but if you got into medical school and are now a doctor you are a highly intelligent person.

 

[350DRIVER]

A degree in "aviation" will be useless should you go this route. Not only a complete waste of time but should you ever have the "need" to fall back on something if you ever loose the medical then you are pretty much outta luck. Most pilots I know have a degree in business, accounting, etc, etc, that would actually be "worth" something should they ever become unable to fly. Get the ratings on the side and get a degree that will help you out one day down the line if need be.

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