Flyguy4723

So I'm currently enrolled at Wetsern Michigan University in their professional pilot degree program. I'm working on my instrument right now and have about a 3.5 GPA, hopefully 3.6 by the end of the summer. Is this GPA good enough for what the airlines are looking for or do I need to be even higher? Most of my classes are aviation related with some gen eds like Psych, Calculus, and physics. Am I on the right track?

JohnBurke

Nobody will care what classes you took. They'll ask if you have a degree, and not everyone asks for that. Some will ask about your GPA. It's definitely not a big deal. The classes themselves; nobody will care whether they were aviation related.

IDIOTPILOT

Most major airlines will give you the highest score possible for GPA as long as it's above 3.0.

Flyguy4723

Then what's the biggest thing I should focus on during my training? In other words, what do they care about the most when looking for new hires?

JohnBurke

You should focus on learning the material. Don't get ahead of yourself. You need to learn to fly, first. As far as what you did or took in school, it doesn't matter. Underwater basket weaving is as good as astrophysics. Neither will help you in flying an airplane.

When you get to instrument training, focus on being precise. If you have a 50' tolerance, give yourself 25 and don't let the airplane go beyond that. There's no regulation that prevents you holding yourself to a higher standard than the minimum.

There's no magic bullet that will make employers sit up and beg for you. When you are low time and low experience, you're a dime a dozen, and the degree won't mean a thing. It won't mean anything except checking a box at an airline, or a corporate job, few other places or employers care at all about a degree, and not all airlines do, either. There's quite literally nothing that you can do that's going to impress anyone as you get into the job market as a pilot; you're one among the masses; one of many.

Don't try to run before you can walk, or walk before you crawl. There is a never ending line of posters begging to know how to get ahead, skip flight instructing, etc. Don't. Follow the steps, follow the path, gain experience a bit at a time. Take every opportunity you can to fly. Consider all avenues. Airlines are just one, and for you, they're a long way off right now. Be available to move, to travel, to adjust. Be flexible. Learn that home is where you hang your hat, and that will be where your employer wants you to be.

Make your experience as broad as possible.

sourdough44

Yes to the above. Western is a good school, enjoy.

While you're at it, keep your personal life in order. Don't be driving home from that party after a few PBRs, plan ahead.

The GPA sounds great.