Is my dream still valid?
08-13-2006, 04:01 PM
#14
Administrator
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: C-172
Posts: 8,024
Elliott,
First, I applaud you for having such a wonderful dream at a young age. Whether the dream is valid or not, only time will tell. However, you are doing yourself a favor by investigating and researching into this. Coming to this forum, albeit only stumbling into it, is a good first step. I encourage you to do a search for similar threads because your question has been asked by others before. Like any industry, aviation provides no guarantees of anything, except perhaps of change. You have a lot of time to try it out, make mistakes, and still have time to correct yourself. Whatever you do, however, always have a back up plan, so in case the aviation basket fails, all your eggs are not broken.
btw, I am in Seattle also. Let me know if I can help further.
First, I applaud you for having such a wonderful dream at a young age. Whether the dream is valid or not, only time will tell. However, you are doing yourself a favor by investigating and researching into this. Coming to this forum, albeit only stumbling into it, is a good first step. I encourage you to do a search for similar threads because your question has been asked by others before. Like any industry, aviation provides no guarantees of anything, except perhaps of change. You have a lot of time to try it out, make mistakes, and still have time to correct yourself. Whatever you do, however, always have a back up plan, so in case the aviation basket fails, all your eggs are not broken.
btw, I am in Seattle also. Let me know if I can help further.
08-14-2006, 07:16 PM
#15
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 42
Thank you all so much for the advice! The only deal is that I kind of would enjoy going to a larger school and leaving washington state for college. I have been in a small christian school for most of my life and the bigger college experience seems quite appealing to me. I only wish more universities carried flying as an option. I have another question for everyone. People on these forums keep saying getting a degree in aviation is worthless...How hard/realistic is getting a double major? Is it possible to do an economics major along with one in commercial aviation at UND? Would it be smarter to get just a minor in economics or what? I just would really love to take all those higher level aviation classes that are involved in a major because I love aviation so much. Economics would just be a back up plan since im really good at math and enjoy the stock market 
. Thanks again everyone for the advice!
. Thanks again everyone for the advice!
08-14-2006, 07:38 PM
#16
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Business
College is expensive and many of the classes don't overlap. I would resist the urge and get a business degree. The best plan however would be to attend the Air force Academy then join the military. If you don't like the idea of the military well then there is one strike against you. I didn't join the military and neither did any of my friends and that is why most of us are bums today. If you really desire to make it to the big time then the first sacrifice should be to have Uncle Sam tell you what to do for ten years. It is almost a requirement unless you have a well placed father or uncle at a major airline.
SkyHigh
PS Alaska Airlines likes Navy guys !
SkyHigh
PS Alaska Airlines likes Navy guys !
Last edited by SkyHigh; 08-14-2006 at 07:39 PM. Reason: Grammar
08-18-2006, 07:22 PM
#17
On Reserve
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: Training
Posts: 22
I don't have much advice except...
1.) Never take a loan out that will put you in debt up to your eyeballs.
2.) Get a job now! And start saving every little penny you can.
3.) Don't go to a big flight school like UND, go to a small mom and pop's FBO, find a good CFI.
4.) Study, study, study. Try to take your written test before you actually start your training. This will help immensly; you will understand much more.
5.) Already mentioned earlier... Flight Sims will not do much for you during your PPL stages, but IFR training it will help. For your PPl it can hinder you, because you will spend time staring at the instruments and will have to "unlearn" this habit. VATSIM does help with communication.
6.) Major in something else besides aviation; you never know when you need a back-up.
7.) Join the military. Ain't nothing like job security.
Well those are the tips I have for ya. Goodluck!
1.) Never take a loan out that will put you in debt up to your eyeballs.
2.) Get a job now! And start saving every little penny you can.
3.) Don't go to a big flight school like UND, go to a small mom and pop's FBO, find a good CFI.
4.) Study, study, study. Try to take your written test before you actually start your training. This will help immensly; you will understand much more.
5.) Already mentioned earlier... Flight Sims will not do much for you during your PPL stages, but IFR training it will help. For your PPl it can hinder you, because you will spend time staring at the instruments and will have to "unlearn" this habit. VATSIM does help with communication.
6.) Major in something else besides aviation; you never know when you need a back-up.
7.) Join the military. Ain't nothing like job security.
Well those are the tips I have for ya. Goodluck!
08-18-2006, 07:52 PM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 41
Elliot,
I graduated from UND last year and would definitely recommend it. I'll just leave my two cents:
Don't major in aviation, its full of filler classes. I majored in Business and got my ratings too. It was tough and boring at times, but the business classes and degree are truly beneficial.
Avoid debt like the plague. This career is way too rocky for large student loan payments.
Have fun and diversify. Join clubs and have a college life, you can be a good student and have fun.
Send me a message if you have any questions about UND.
I graduated from UND last year and would definitely recommend it. I'll just leave my two cents:
Don't major in aviation, its full of filler classes. I majored in Business and got my ratings too. It was tough and boring at times, but the business classes and degree are truly beneficial.
Avoid debt like the plague. This career is way too rocky for large student loan payments.
Have fun and diversify. Join clubs and have a college life, you can be a good student and have fun.
Send me a message if you have any questions about UND.
08-22-2006, 04:46 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 260
Elliot,
As a graduate of Central Washington University, I must plug CWU first. I really enjoyed it in Ellensburg and you get your ratings just the same as UND. If money is an issue, and when isn't it, you would save yourself a pile by staying in state. You really don't want to get into this business with a load of debt. You will be paying for it for years. Besides CWU, like UND, has a direct hire program with Horizon. If you want to stay in the Northwest, it isn't a bad place to go.
As a graduate of Central Washington University, I must plug CWU first. I really enjoyed it in Ellensburg and you get your ratings just the same as UND. If money is an issue, and when isn't it, you would save yourself a pile by staying in state. You really don't want to get into this business with a load of debt. You will be paying for it for years. Besides CWU, like UND, has a direct hire program with Horizon. If you want to stay in the Northwest, it isn't a bad place to go.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JoeyMeatballs
Regional
81
03-01-2006 05:51 PM
