etflies

I'm at Purdue now, although not in the flight program (Aviation Management) and for the most part, it is a good school. The area royally sucks, but hey, its Indiana. Chicago is 2hrs north, and Indy is an hour south if you want stuff to do on a weekend. The people here are great, students and professors alike, and we have what people call the "typical college atmosphere" as options that will keep you around aviation, without majoring in flight. I know several people here who transferred from Riddle, but have not heard of any going the other way...which is not to say it doesn't happen, just that I haven't seen it.

If you want to fly, go to the FBO on the airport and fly there. We have great instructors and plenty of airplanes. With my tuition, and training costs I still come out cheaper than had I gone through the flight program and will have everything you can get through Purdue.

Outlaw2097

Riddle.

You are comparing a school with an aviation program to an aviation school.

flyfresno

I went to Purdue and couldn't have been happier. It's a small aviation program where all your professors know you by name and give you personal attention. The entire aviation staff is the best in the business, many are retired from airlines, the military, or both. On the flip side, Purdue is one of the biggest universities in the US. You can take almost any class you want, join almost any club you want, and generally enjoy all the amenities of a major university. Haha, and did I mention Big Ten sports? Finally, I think a degree from Purdue carries a lot more weight in fields outside aviation than a degree from an all aviation school would, which could be a big plus if you ever want or have to get another career outside flying. Don't get me wrong, they are both great schools, and nothing against Riddle or any other aviation universities, I'm just proud of the program at Purdue.

wanttofly

They're both good, I hear. I was accepted to both, and Riddle gave me some money. I picked Riddle and spend my first two years hating it. Then I realized I wasn't giving it a chance. Have a thick skin, a lot of people hear Riddle and start to hiss...even though they haven't seen the place. Some people might think less of you because they heard "Riddle"...guess what...they're idiots. I had some horrible professors and some amazing ones, the same as any school. The school is improving. It's becoming less like a "tech school" and more like any other small university. You still make yourself though. If YOU'RE an idiot you'll get treated like one eventually, the school doesn't make you one.
You're comparing a small university to a big ten school...if you want a small school go to Riddle, a big school go to Purdue. You'll get what you expect either way.
As far as cost, out of state at Purdue and Riddle tuition were pretty much the same. Flight costs weren't that different.
As far as jobs, it won't get you a job, but it will definitely help. I was fortunate enough to sit in on an interview at a major airline and the guys that got hired were from Purdue and Riddle. The guys that didn't weren't. It didn't get them the job, but it helped.

whatthe6789

I am a senior at Purdue right now, graduating in May from our flight program. In my opinion Purdue is the better choice for a few reasons... 1. Cost - It is RIDICULOUSLY expensive to go to Riddle for flight, plus with the cost of living in FL or AZ compared to IN. 2. Experience - At Purdue of course we do our primary training in Warriors with Garmin 430's and then Instrument/Commercial rides in Arrows with dual 430's, and finally multi in a Seminole. Also EVERY FLIGHT STUDENT gets around 10 hours in a KingAir 200, which can lead to some very interesting experiences. We fly anywhere from the East coast to just about anywhere in the Midwest. Plus, since we ARE a big name school, you can get the chance to fly some real notable people around, for example, we had the Dalai Lama come to PU last semester and I got to fly him around and shake his hand, where else do you get the opportunity to do that? As if thats not enough, around 12 out of the 60 or so flight students in each class get to fly a Beechjet for either a semester or the summer which usually ends up getting the student around 20-30 hours in the jet. 3. Class size - As I stated above, we have very small class sizes so you get to know both your professors and classmates really well, which in this industry, connections are everything. 4. General knowledge - I know this may be the exception rather than the rule, but I have personally met a graduate from Riddle who when looking at a sectional chart saw a TRSA and looked at me and seriously asked me what it was, who he had to talk to in order to enter and other rules about it, I just looked at him and was like REALLY?!? This is something I learned BEFORE I had my private, let alone before graduation. Also, flying in the Midwest presents you with all different kinds of wx to handle and make decisions about, from severe clear and 70 degrees in Jan. to LIFR and a blizzard 2 days later. 5. Class selection - Being a top-level university allows Purdue to offer it's students many different class choices other than aviation classes. There are many different minors to choose from, or even double majors that afford you other choices after graduation or if you get laid off from the aviation industry.

577nitro

Riddle, if your want it in aviation. However, I would suggest getting a double major as most have as well. I would suggest as the non aviation degree something in the engineering fields, Mech, Comp Sci, Stress Analysis, or Electrical. This gives you something to fall back on that is employable. FL is a blast too.

To commit on one of the above post about professors being good or bad, their that way everywhere. I have three degrees, from two different Colleges, two from Washington State and one from ERAU. Big schools have just as many FU classes as the small ones. As a matter of fact, many of my teachers at WSU were post grad students....they sucked. Like everything else in life though, your success will be determined by the amount of effort you put in. Stay away from the fraternity life.....unless you want lousy grades! louie louie...we gotta go now....yeah yeah yeah yeah...:0

blastoff

Remember, its not what you know but WHO you know. Fraternity members know more students and far more prestigious alumni than any other student group. The only caveat is that you join a house that matches your personality and goals. Funny how all of the curve breakers in my Air Force and Airline training have been Fraternity men....stop talking about things you know nothing about, a struggling student will get academic pressure from his Fraternity and the Greek system before he ever hears from school administrators.

Outlaw2097

Dammit...I just wrote a nice long thing and the browser logged me out. Ill just go over the main points I guess...STUPID IE.
* Courses are small, staff are all retired from the profession
* Living is cheap in AZ.  Rented for ~$350 a house with two other guys
* New G1000 172s, new DA42 G1000s, Super Decathlon for upset training
* Good co/op and internship opportunities
* Community college nearby allows to take other classes if you want
* Mountain flying ain Arizona offers some different experiences especially when running around MOAs and Restricted areas
* Phoenix has a lot good sports teams and things to do. Prescott has minor league hockey and arena football and a lot of clubs on campus to keep you active
* Guest speakers average about one a month. Ive seen Al Haynes (United 232 CA) and Mike Wier (VP Boeing 787) just to name a few

If you want to do Riddle, but it comes down to price, transfer in as many credits and certs as possible. Come in, get your CFI, instruct and get courses for free (2 each semester), then graduate and move on. Simple as that.

/.02

SPDBOILER

Purdue but I'm biased. Met my wife at Purdue. She graduated from their flight program. She flies for UPS now. She considered going to Riddle but wanted the "college" experience to go along with her aviation degree.

atpwannabe

Riddle.



atp