maddog81

For some reason people always seem to forget that airlines are still businesses....if you look on Delta, Southwest, Northwest or JetBlue's career pages right now you will see that there are co-op opportinuties for people of all majors - in fact, I would guess that there are more non-aviation specifc co-ops (accounting, comm) than there are aviation. A foot in the door at a major is a foot in the door - it doesn't matter if you got it by interning as an accountant or an ops guy.

I find that the problem with aviation degrees is that aviation is not meant to be a major: most of the stuff you learn comes from hands-on flying and learning from the people ahead of you. It is not meant to be taught in a classroom and as a result in order to fill a course cataloge a lot of universities create what I call "filler classes" which really serve no purpose other than to allow the school to become accredited and swindle students' money. I had one called "Turboprop Theory" basically the user manual for a PT-6 read to us over a 12 week span.

If you want to fly, I would suggest getting a four year degree in something else that interests you and flying at an independant FBO on the side. Not only will this save you money, but also allow more flexibilty in your training. At Flight Team nationals last year I talked with some of the other team and I was appalled to hear that they were paying about $200 for a single engine, fixed gear airplane for they primary and instument training (SR22). For $200/hr you should be flying something with no less than two engines on it. The whole goal of your flying should be to get your rating as cheap as possible.

Aviation students are not the people you want to spend the next four years of your life with...unless you enjoy sitting in a dorm room with three other dudes watching Top Gun for the 12th time.

But since it sounds like you already made up your mind, at least compromise with us and do just an aviation minor or even minor in another program.

I am an aviation major who drank the cool-aid and is now going back to finish a business degree, so trust me, there's way better ways to go about getting your ratings. As PilotPip said, you should be making yourself more diverse, not boxing yourself into a very specific field.

CaptainCarl

Hell no, that's straight talk from a wise old pilot.

And if you believe that, I've got some ocean-front property in Montana to sell you.

CaptainCarl

The ATC "industry" maybe hiring thousands of controllers soon. However, don't ever, EVER, EVER take anything in the aviation industry at face value. Nothing is what it seems and everything will be delayed. You are right though, ATC is a good career to fall back on... if you made the mistake of getting an aviation degree. No need to fall back on ATC if you have a degree which you can actually use. If you really want to be a controller, go get some first-hand information from your local towers and en-route centers.

As for the economy... who knows...

byebyeairlines

Hey d22block,

Do you see a theme here? These guys all are saying about the same thing. They have been there and done it. I have too. I didn't know how lucky I was being a dumbass in High School and not getting accepted to ER. My parents forced me to go to community college and then transfer to a four year school afterward. The community college had an aviation department where I learned to fly for a fraction of the cost. Long story short, I am a captain flying at a crappy regional with FO's who can barely afford to eat because their school loan is killiing them. Don't do that to yourself. By the way, my degree is in business and I am leaving the industry in the spring. Good luck with your decision. Be smart and party at college with actual girls. (not aviation girls, no offense) Don't do the aviation school!!! I had a blast in college, you will to if you listen to us.
Hell you may even decide to bartend like I did in college and leave with very little debt at all. Good luck!

P.S. Show this forum to your parents!!!!

atpwannabe

Hey! Some of us didn't spend a whole lot of money. I majored in Aviation Management and it has served me well. Granted that's been a few years back but it's all relative.

d22, I would advise you to see how far the 32K would take you at each school and then make your decision. Yeah, Riddle is expensive, but I damn well bet you, apply for an aviation related job/position outside of flying with a degree from Riddle and I bet you or the person(s) from Riddle will more than likely be offered the job.



atp

byebyeairlines

Yeah, Riddle is expensive, but I damn well bet you, apply for an aviation related job/position outside of flying with a degree from Riddle and I bet you or the person(s) from Riddle will more than likely be offered the job.



I disagree with that statement. If this kid gets a MBA from any major college, they will chose him over anyone with a Riddle degree. A business is a business, they all have balance sheets, employees, HR departments, etc. (regardless if it is an airline) If he is flying most of the time in college and happens to get a management degree by taking courses like turbo-prop theory, it won't hold as much weight as someone who actually concentrates on "real" business courses. Come On Man! Just cause you spent the money, don't send this kid down the wrong path too.

RmTrice

Yea, man listen to these guys. They know their stuff. I'm a 19 year old college sophomore working on an AA in business at a community college and taking my PPL checkride this friday (1/9) at a small flight school. It is definitely the right way to go. My total flight training after my PPL will run me back $50,000 and college MAY cost me $5-7,000 at most (thank God for Florida Bright Futures and Phi Theta Kappa honors society). $60,000 for everything beats the hell out of $100-120,000 at ERAU.

My "dream" was to go to ERAU until these guys helped open my eyes and I looked at the facts. My best advice is pay for your PPL in cash as best you can, and maybe even grab a multi or instrument rating with ur own money as well. Hold off on that loan as long as possible. Take the college who offers you the most financial aid. Most important: have a backup plan! This world ain't easy...

atpwannabe

Now you're comparing apples to oranges. Of course and MBA from any school should give the person who has it a leg up.



atp

MarioWife

The Us is printing money now, to support all the finance saving. When China stops lending money, this is the part where they realizes that The Us is just printing more money, what happends to the economy then? What happends to the dollar, compared to any other currency?

And also, the oil price is ridiculously low now, havent been this low in many decades, do anyone really dont think that the top Man on each oil producing company will twist the crane so it produces less. Then the demand goes up, and prices goes up. I know Norway is planning to reduce production. The economy will crash and burn. And money will be tight.

jaxpilot

Do the 4 year state university thing! I started at a private university with an aviation program (Jacksonville U), then wised up after 3 semesters and left and finished my ratings on my own. But I am stuck pursuing an aviation degree online because I am already in the workforce and have too many aviation credits to throw away and major in something else. I would only tell someone to do the online aviation degree if they were already older and couldn't do four years at a real college. At least then the online school will give you over 30 credits for your pilot ratings.