What to Do?

[MiragePilot]

I am about to start my sophmore year in college. I am (as of now) majoring in criminal justice and working on my PPL at a local flight school. I was recently informed of jacksonville university that has an aviation program where I could earn my ratings and earn my BA degree at the same time. However, it is a lot of money and I'm not sure that I really "need" any ratings other than PPL and maybe instrument since I'm want to go Air Force anyway. I love flying but I'm not sure I want to put all of my eggs in one basket. What do you guys think is the best option?
Thanks

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Stay where you are and avoid the academy hype. I believe Jacksonville is affilitated with Comair/Delta Connection Academy.

Best of luck on the AF gig.

 

[5ontheglide]

Save yourself!

Whatever you do, don't go to one of these academy deals. I've been around plenty of them and the greatest majority are total rip-offs. I know there are some people who have succeeded with them. But trust me, you can do it for cheaper and in many cases - get better training. If all you have is a Private certificate the Air Force will bite hard on you! Good Luck!

 

[Cessna611]

I think you should Major in something other than Aviation because if your a pilot professionally u can allways have somthing else to fall back on if somthing were to happen. I personally would not go to the Airforce because flying for the Airforce is not written in stone, you may not get a pilots slot then you'll be stuck doing somthing you don't want to do for 10 yrs, but if you want to go to the Airforce then be my guest, lots of benefits. I'm at Florida Memorial University (FMU) and I'm one of the few blessed students to have a 4 yr scholarship for school and flight training all the way up to CFI. Only thing I have to do is go to the University of Miami and do a yr in thier AFROTC program and keep a 3.0 GPA at FMU. So you should try looking on FMU website and try to see if u can apply.

 

[Cessna611]

By the way, how do I update my profile

 

[MiragePilot]

Whatever you do, don't go to one of these academy deals. I've been around plenty of them and the greatest majority are total rip-offs. I know there are some people who have succeeded with them. But trust me, you can do it for cheaper and in many cases - get better training. If all you have is a Private certificate the Air Force will bite hard on you! Good Luck!

Is this saying that it is enough just to have a PPL for the Air Force or that I need a lot more?

 

[Cessna611]

You don't need any flight experience according to my recollection, you don't need any flight experience the Air Force will train you how they want to train you. I know a guy who only had about 3 to 5 hours in a piper just graduated from UM and their AFROTC and he recieved a pilots slot with the Airforce.

 

[Tater Salad]

Where are you going to school now? I'm also majoring in criminal justice. On top of that, I'm also working at the local airport and starting my instrument training.

Cessna611 is right. Major in something else other than Aviation so you have something to fall back on. All it takes is a medical condition that fouls your medical and makes a degree in Aviation absolutely worthless.

Also, you should consider holding off on the flight training IF it is going to affect your focus in school. The Air Force will look at you more favorably with a good academic record.

Good luck!

 

[MiragePilot]

Tater, I'm going to school at Valdosta State University Kingsbay Center. I'm doing my flight training over the summer, not during school.