Bridgewater State College

[frequentflya]

What's up everybody

I have been looking at aviation colleges and I wasnt really able to stomach embry riddle's tuition fees.

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Bridgewater State's aviation program, Is it reputable? Career placement? that sort of thing
thanks

[Joe]

I'm a graduating senior in the aviation management concentration, so I might not be that much help, but here's what I know: The aviation department has been through a little turmoil this past year. While flight training had been done at New Bedford EWB with Delta Connection Academy for the past few years, DCA packed up and left rather suddenly last fall, so the college went back to allowing students to choose a local flight school at EWB, TAN, PYM, and 1B9. The latest I've heard is that flight training will be returning to EWB through college owned aircraft, but supposedly they're getting Quartz Mountain Aerospace Spartan 11E's, which just received FAA certification.

If you were to go to BSC, I'd recommend doing it the way I did it: attend 1 or 2 years at a community college, and transfer those credits. Apply for the Aviation Management concentration, but get your PPL beforehand, because it's required for the degree. I transferred mine for 9 credits. However, by choosing the management concentration, you can fly on your own time, at whatever flight school you choose (preferably one that uses aircraft that have stood the test of time, like Cessnas or Pipers).

You'll save a ton of money over Riddle or Daniel Webster or any of the other bigger schools. I don't know what my loan amount is, but it's less than $20,000. I paid for community college out of pocket, as well as my textbooks, my PPL, instrument, and eventually my commercial, multi, and CFI. I also commuted 1 hour each way from home as opposed to living on campus. For a career that starts off paying $20,000/year, you don't want to spend any more than you have to.

The classes and instructors were pretty good for the most part, both on the aviation side and the other gen. ed. and business courses. DCA had the "guaranteed interview" but I'm sure students won't have any issues finding work after graduation now that they're gone. Most students were dissatisfied with them anyway (all the negative reviews here helped my decision not to go) and would switch to the management concentration.

Anyway, that's all I can think of right now. Let me know if you have any other questions.