Which Aviation College?

[Lilbirny21]

Which aviation college is the best and why?

 

[wt219200]

The Playboy number 7 party school of course

The Ohio University

 

[Lazy8]

Non-aviation colleges are the best aviation colleges.

 

[Goose Egg]

The cheapest, closest one you can find. I went to a state school and chose aviation as a major. I was able to live at home and save a lot of money because the school was only 20 min away from my house. It worked out great for me.

-Goose

 

[Lead Sled]

Why for Pete's sake would you consider an aviation college? You don't need a degree in "Airplane Fly'n" to have a career in aviation. Get a degree in something worthwhile, something that you could use as a back up just in case...

As for the "learning to fly" and "getting your ratings" aspect. Find a good local CFI and go for it.

'Sled

 

[JSky26]

Go to a big state school with an aviation program. You can get your ratings through them but actually major in something else than their "aviation management" or "aviation science" degrees. Once you get your CFI, you can instruct for them while finishing up the degree.

That is the best option for a couple reasons:

1 - You will make good contacts in the aviation world.
2 - You can major in anything you would like that a big school has to offer.
3 - The opportunity to party like a real college kid is there.

Some schools to look at where you can do this would be: OSU, SIU, U of I, Purdue, UND, WMU, SLU (Parks), Auburn, Kent State, OK State, and a few more...

I think that is the best bang for the buck....

 

[Alex429595]

Go to a big state school with an aviation program. You can get your ratings through them but actually major in something else than their "aviation management" or "aviation science" degrees. Once you get your CFI, you can instruct for them while finishing up the degree.

That is the best option for a couple reasons:

1 - You will make good contacts in the aviation world.
2 - You can major in anything you would like that a big school has to offer.
3 - The opportunity to party like a real college kid is there.

Some schools to look at where you can do this would be: OSU, SIU, U of I, Purdue, UND, WMU, SLU (Parks), Auburn, Kent State, OK State, and a few more...

I think that is the best bang for the buck....

Here at UND, you have to major in either commercial aviation, or aviation/airport management to fly our planes. You can certainly double major or minor in something else, as many people choose to do. I would chance to assume that most colleges with an aviation program would be the same way. To get the "UND Pilot" Stamp, you have to learn to fly in their aircraft, and learn your sh!t in their classrooms. You have to take meteorology, aviation weather, human factors, flight physiology (you go in an altitude chamber) , Vertigo training, long range navigation, gas turbine engines, etc..... They mean business about aviation. Don't do it because you think it will make you better than any other pilot. Do it because you love aviation and want to study it in detail for 4-6 years. I say this because the airlines, and any employer for that matter really won't care what you majored in. Major in something you like so you can get better grades, which looks better to future employers, but also pulls down more scholarship money.

 

[DC8 Flyer]

Here at UND, you have to major in either commercial aviation, or aviation/airport management to fly our planes. You can certainly double major or minor in something else, as many people choose to do. I would chance to assume that most colleges with an aviation program would be the same way. To get the "UND Pilot" Stamp, you have to learn to fly in their aircraft, and learn your sh!t in their classrooms. You have to take meteorology, aviation weather, human factors, flight physiology (you go in an altitude chamber) , Vertigo training, long range navigation, gas turbine engines, etc..... They mean business about aviation. Don't do it because you think it will make you better than any other pilot. Do it because you love aviation and want to study it in detail for 4-6 years. I say this because the airlines, and any employer for that matter really won't care what you majored in. Major in something you like so you can get better grades, which looks better to future employers, but also pulls down more scholarship money.

WHAT! Step away from the bong water. You have to take the corresponding ground school, ie AVIT 102 for Private Pilot, but you do not have to major in anything aviation. There is a minor in professional aviation that takes you through ASMEL Inst Comm. Then you can take your CFI, CFII, and MEI courses.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

while I don't think the quality of education or training really differs much from place to place....

I can tell you that the networking/contacts you make at any of the bigger aviation schools can certainly make a difference later.

I got all my flying jobs (and hopefully my last!) based on contacts from college.

and as far as harping on the non-aviation degree...in reality ANY degree you got 10yrs ago is not going to get you a job, its going to be your experience. I definitly see some value in non-aviation degrees, just not nearly the amount many here think..

just get a degree in something, anything.

Nobody cares, so long as you can show completion and check that box.

 

[flyer172r]

Whichever school you graduated from, that's the one you think is best. We can spend all day arguing over whether UND is better than ERAU or if ERAU Prescott is better than ERAU Daytona or if Purdue is better than SIU, and at the end of the day all we'll have done is wasted our breath. Find one in a location you like, with a program that you think you'd enjoy and be comfortable with, and that you can afford to go to (or that can take out enough loans for). Wherever you go, have a good time.

I went to Purdue, loved it for multiple reasons many of which have nothing to do with flying. But I would never say it is the absolute best school or that you would be crazy not to go there. I've met a lot of people who went to other colleges and they were all very good people and very good pilots. Best advice I can give is find a few that interest you, visit them, and see what feels right.

And on the whole aviation degree/non-aviation degree. I know of one person who graduated from the Purdue flight department, and is now the head of a big consulting firm in Chicago and has nothing to do with aviation. Getting the aviation degree isn't a show-stopper if you want to do something else.