Spartan

[mavsfflife]

Spartan has been the best school I have seen yet. It has a decently priced program and I applied there yesterday. Can anyone enlighten me any more about it?

[DE727UPS]

Go to the search funtion and put in Spartan for the last three years. I'd say it's 50/50 good vs bad and there is some fairly recent comment with guys willing to be emailed or PMed.

What was it about them that impressed you and what other places have you looked at?

[mavsfflife]

[ QUOTE ]
Go to the search funtion and put in Spartan for the last three years. I'd say it's 50/50 good vs bad and there is some fairly recent comment with guys willing to be emailed or PMed.

What was it about them that impressed you and what other places have you looked at?

[/ QUOTE ]

I checked out search for the last year or so, didn't find much..I'll go back a little further..thanks.

I liked that I could have about 16 months or more of instructor time there, they carry a big fleet, it was relatively cheap compared to some other place (14,000 a year including associate degree, then multi engine if you want it on top on that, and for the bachelors if you maintain a good GPA 80-90% is covered by the school). So probably $70000 or so for bachelors and through MEI. It's going to be cheaper in my case because I'd go in having PPL and Instrument rating that i got in a flying club. There is a 4 students to a plane, fairly close to my house compared to some others in Florida, good airspace to fly in, and a few other things. Anyways, I'm going to check out the search right now.

[mavsfflife]

[ QUOTE ]
what other places have you looked at?

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Florida Tech, Southeastern Oklahoma, LeTourneau, ERAU, Jacksonville, DCA, Dubuque, MTSU...

After reading other posts, sounds like I may be getting played by Spartan.

[DE727UPS]

"After reading other posts, sounds like I may be getting played by Spartan."

When you say that, I'm curious why you would take what's said at a website over your personal observations with a tour?

Do you think your tour might have been "fixed" in some way? Or did you apply before taking a tour?

I'm not knocking you but I'm just really curious about your thought process and how in depth you've look at different schools. You mention quite a few schools you have checked out. How many of those did you take personal tours at?

It's unfortunate that you can't believe the statements that many of these schools make with their marketing. And even personal tours can be misleading in the right circumstances. It's really a shame.

I read this and that at websites, such as jetcareers, and I personally put more value in what I read on line than what the schools own marketing has to say. Yet, certain people at those schools tend to back up their programs no matter what.

I guess the main thing to learn from all this is....just be careful out there.

[mavsfflife]

[ QUOTE ]
"After reading other posts, sounds like I may be getting played by Spartan."

When you say that, I'm curious why you would take what's said at a website over your personal observations with a tour?

Do you think your tour might have been "fixed" in some way? Or did you apply before taking a tour?

I'm not knocking you but I'm just really curious about your thought process and how in depth you've look at different schools. You mention quite a few schools you have checked out. How many of those did you take personal tours at?

It's unfortunate that you can't believe the statements that many of these schools make with their marketing. And even personal tours can be misleading in the right circumstances. It's really a shame.

I read this and that at websites, such as jetcareers, and I personally put more value in what I read on line than what the schools own marketing has to say. Yet, certain people at those schools tend to back up their programs no matter what.

I guess the main thing to learn from all this is....just be careful out there.

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I haven't taken a tour yet, have one scheduled for Thursday. Of the schools I listed, I've taken tours of all except Dubuque and MTSU. It's just getting aggrivating finding the right school I want to go to, and I'm thinking about going to a community college next year instead and just staying in a flying club I'm in and keeping on trucking. Either way, maybe some schools are right for some people and some aren't. I believe I'm just going to have to do what feels right to me. Some of the things I didn't like about the school included a cessna 152 costing $140/instructional hour, which I personally don't see how this fits in to their cost breakdown. Another thing is that they have you sign a contract that says you will work at least 25 hours a week, I don't mind working but I dont want to be told how much to work, and one last thing is that they only have one degree choice. So now I think, has anything I have seen about any school given me the real truth about their program? Anyways, just some updated feelings.

[montanapilot]

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I'm thinking about going to a community college next year instead and just staying in a flying club I'm in and keeping on trucking

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that sounds like a good plan to me

[planejay]

Though I am not going to knock the school I am going to graduate from, a lot of the stuff the recruiters tell you is B.S. here is an opinion/comparison I wrote a while ago. I am not sure if you have read it already but here it is....
I am currently attending Spartan. Like every flight school out there it has its good qualities and its negative as well. The flight training is quite good. First the negatives. By next year approx. 35% of the 400 students will be from China. They count as 3 domestics for training purposes. They also occasionally wreck our planes and don't understand ATC's directions, causing a safety issue. Furthermore, at the moment, our flight instuctors are getting hired rapidly so some students are left without an instructor for up to a month or so. I also strongly suggest that you get the general education classes out of the way, they are quite expensive here. Finally, in reference to the BS program, if you are after a great education this isn't the place, but if you just want the paper its a good choice. Flight instructors get a 90% discount on the classes for every A and am not sure about the other incentives but know they exist. Great way to get MER with the reimburstment. Now the positive. I have personally flown with people from other flight school and like the procedures spartan teaches as oppose to the others. The program is also some what accelerated (about 3 yrs 6-10 mos. depending on your pace). The fleet is some what large and very well taken care of. Though that fleet consists of approx. 36 older (79-83) 152s, 18 newer (00 or 01) 172s, 8-10 172RG, 3 (2 newer) pa-44 (seminole), 2 kingairs (though probably won't see time in those unless you have major $$$$) 2 frasca 141 ftds and a frasca 142 ftd. The Tulsa area is good to fly in because of a few reasons: first we are located right outside Tulsa international's class C airspace at the state's busiest airport (KRVS) therefore, you get excellent communication experience. Next is the weather. Tulsa is hot and humid in the summer monthes, can get cold in the winter, and normally October and November offer perfect instrument conditions. Meaning low ceiling but not too low and above freezing conditions, I know some people that never got the chance to get IMC time at their other flight schools. Therefore you get a well rounded experience. Everyone will have their own opinion about every school, I will tell you that a lot of people do not make it through the program here. I might have a bias opinion because I personally like most aspects of the school and program. If you get the chance tour the schools where you want to attend thats the best way to choose a school. Best of luck where ever you go and I suggest joining your schools NIFA team (if they have one) to sharpen your skills and meet people that could potentially get you a job. Good Luck.

[mavsfflife]

Thanks for the info. man. I actually sent in my letter of cancellation earlier last week for my $300 back and some last called me acting all pissy about it. I decided it wasn't the school for me and have decided to go to Texas State Technical College instead.

[planejay]

lol...they do like their money..Anyway I do'nt blame you for choosing some where else..like i said earlier i wo'nt bash the school im going to graduate from but I have a hard time recommending it to others. I still suggest you check out the flight team..if they have one....good luck down south.