There are other alternatives. Work as hard as you can now to get as many ratings as possible, specifically Commercial and IFR. At college, get CFI/CFII/MEI. Then, spend your semesters instructing part time for the college.
Last time I looked ERAU allowed for employees to take 2-3 courses per semester free. UND was somewhat similar. UNO had better benefits. then there were the internships and co-ops. Say you want to find out where all of the skeletons are buried in general aviation. Go be an NTSB intern for a summer or fall semester. How about a Falcon 90 first officer, 6 months, about 200 hours, part time, a stipend, and college credit? One class was a cruise through the US Virgin Islands, a travel study in geology. I turned it down as the flight instruction side was keeping me too busy.
Don't let a college's anal-retentive qualities prevent you from becoming a safer and more experienced pilot. Most colleges will give credit for ratings you have already achieved (36 credit hours or more in some cases). That credit elevates your status in terms of class ranking (frosh, jr, etc). Once you hit junior status, the financial aid from student loans makes a flight college possible.
Now is the time to get smart about financial aid and take the time to apply for scholarships. Student loans reek, but at times become the only way to attend. If you can, get money smart now. (Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a good starting book, anything about the evils of credit cards is another). Aviation is notorious for leaving it's participants out in the cold, without a job, without an income, and in some pretty vile areas too. If you have six months of funds stashed away, that will allow you to conduct a job search without too much suffering. If/when you retire at age 60 or less, it’s nice to have the retirement savings.
Good luck!
Jedi Nein
Last time I looked ERAU allowed for employees to take 2-3 courses per semester free. UND was somewhat similar. UNO had better benefits. then there were the internships and co-ops. Say you want to find out where all of the skeletons are buried in general aviation. Go be an NTSB intern for a summer or fall semester. How about a Falcon 90 first officer, 6 months, about 200 hours, part time, a stipend, and college credit? One class was a cruise through the US Virgin Islands, a travel study in geology. I turned it down as the flight instruction side was keeping me too busy.
Don't let a college's anal-retentive qualities prevent you from becoming a safer and more experienced pilot. Most colleges will give credit for ratings you have already achieved (36 credit hours or more in some cases). That credit elevates your status in terms of class ranking (frosh, jr, etc). Once you hit junior status, the financial aid from student loans makes a flight college possible.
Now is the time to get smart about financial aid and take the time to apply for scholarships. Student loans reek, but at times become the only way to attend. If you can, get money smart now. (Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a good starting book, anything about the evils of credit cards is another). Aviation is notorious for leaving it's participants out in the cold, without a job, without an income, and in some pretty vile areas too. If you have six months of funds stashed away, that will allow you to conduct a job search without too much suffering. If/when you retire at age 60 or less, it’s nice to have the retirement savings.
Good luck!
Jedi Nein
