[keat]

It looks like your are doing a good job on researching, but here a few things I can give my opinion on from experience

(20 yrs. old 235 hrs private w/instrument, working on comm/cfi with 1 year of college aviation experience)

I left my collegiate program in washington state and fly at a mom and pop FBO now. I love it there, I was able to finish faster, get actual instrument time, and fly in some more severe weather with regards to winds and imc conditions.

First off ground school- At my college you spent 11 weeks in ground school while paying 4 college credits for the course. I bought ASA dvd's and studied the Gleim and got a 95 on my instrument written after studying for about a week. They are thurough ground schools at big programs, but I wouldn't say that they take less time.

Second-I would never say that at an FBO you have less networking/job connections. In some ways at an FBO you have more. I meet new people with airplanes everyday. I've been told I can instruct at my school when I finish my CFI. You meet lots of aviation enthusiasts. These people took the time and money to go to the FBO, a lot of kids in collegiate programs aren't really obsessed with aviation or have a passion for it. You'll see a high drop out rate at most programs. At the same time UND has some reduced regional mins. I know and some great connections so you are right in some ways.

Lastly, living at home may not be fun and your probably anxious to leave, but you can save a lot of money with good old mom and dad. That way you won't be one of those kids they show on tv at basketball games with the signs MOM SEND MONEY. however if your looking for the complete college experience, it can be a good thing. I made some good friends and had some fun times. I ended up switching to UVU online and am getting an aviation management degree because I didn't enjoy how long it was taking only flying a few times a week. I came in with my private and was pretty ansy. Good luck with whatever you choose, and hope I helped a little.

Evan

By the way my instructors at my aviation college were very old senior instructors and had over 10,000 hours, so don't assume there all young. UND is probably different. I would say bang out your ratings at an FBO with a good instructor in a year or so and instruct while you finish up your degree, by then you could go anywhere you wanted to.