Degree Questions

[SY737]

Just a little background story behind this thread. I am currently an 18 year old Private Pilot with about 80 hours now and have wanted to be a Professional Pilot for my whole life. For the past year or so I have been planning to attend a state college (Minnesota State University - Mankato) with an aviation program. Recently, after being accepted and all, I have decided that this road is just way too expensive for me. I currently work at a fairly large general aviation airport and have plenty of connections that benefit me right now. I get a great rate on some of the flying I do, have plenty of connections, and have a pretty promising future with the airport as I continue my ratings. Not to mention, I can continue working at an airport, rather than a crummy part time job somewhere near campus.

All in all, staying put seems to be the right choice for me. I can keep making money, plus the flying will be a bit cheaper. I have decided to pursue an online degree and it seems I have narrowed it down to either Utah Valley Online or Embry Riddle Online (If there are any others I should consider, please let me know). I'm curious what the pros and cons are considering:

-Cost
-Flexibility
-Reputation
-Overall Quality
-Difficulty Of Licenses transferring to Credits

At the moment I am earning my licenses through an instructor on the field, rather than an accelerated flight school. Is this going to be a hassle for credits?

I have both applications finished and am waiting to submit them.

Thanks, Tony

[PGT]

St. Cloud State has an aviation program

[JulietBravo]

What airport do u work at now? - just curious on my part.

I'm attending SDSU (South Dakota State Univ) currently right over the border. From my experience, you definitely want a degree with your flying if you can get it! But as for credits and online classes, it all depends if you have the time to put into it. I know you've probably pictured working 40 hours/week, flying, and online classes... but can you handle that? Or would you mind taking out loans for 4 years and just getting it done while you can? For our school, coming in with a private, we give you the credit for having it. Other places, I know UND for instance, make you go through their accelerated private class and pretty much fly all over again. I'm not sure how ERAU is however, and especially online. If your getting your ratings through an outsourcing instructor, depending on the school, they might have you take a test or just a few classes or something, everyone is different. Your best bet would be to call admissions at the schools your looking at and ask them how it is.

IMO, I prefer classes on campus rather than online because the instructor is right there explaining everything to you. MSU-Mankato I hear is nice, St Cloud has a good program, and we have a great one at SDSU here too. I'm not promoting/knocking down any schools, but I just advise to just go to a school and get everything done in 4 years. Everything nowadays, especially with rising fuel costs, is going to be expensive. I hope that deal you have flying is a very good one if it keeps you at that airport and you do not want to attend campus anywhere. I hope this helps and if you need details on anything, I have some connections around the area. I'm always up for helping fellow pilots!

[Kmaceri]

Personally I wouldn't get a BS Degree in Aviation, right now the airlines are going through a crisis, very few airlines are hiring, and many are furloughing. I'm going to guess the furloughed pilots with try to get on with the airliners that are hiring, so i would guess that us pilots trying to get on with airliners is going to be a bumpy ride. I'm 18, have PPL and my instrument, I take my commercial check-ride next month, my TT is 205 hr. I rushed through my training only because the airlines were in a hiring boom, the regionals were hiring like crazy. Now thats not the case, lol. I'm going to go to college for a business degree because i own landscaping company and thats pay for all my flying. I'm getting a BA in business for a back up in case being a pilot does not work out. The airlines just want a BA degree, it doesn't have to be aviation related. Getting your ratings now can get some credits out of the way but there is no rushing now, i found out the hard way. My suggestion is get a degree in something else as a back-up and get your ratings at your local airport. Like you mentioned you have connections, you can probably find someone to build time with or get paid to fly a person around in their aircraft. My friend works at my flight school and has built over 300 hr and has only spent 20k in his training, he has his ppl, instrument, and comm license. He got many of his hours through networking and generous people. I'm sure there is many at your airport if you said your airport is a fairly large GA airport.

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[JulietBravo]

Originally Posted by Kmaceri

Personally I wouldn't get a BS Degree in Aviation, right now the airlines are going through a crisis, very few airlines are hiring, and many are furloughing. I'm going to guess the furloughed pilots with try to get on with the airliners that are hiring, so i would guess that us pilots trying to get on with airliners is going to be a bumpy ride. I'm 18, have PPL and my instrument, I take my commercial check-ride next month, my TT is 205 hr. I rushed through my training only because the airlines were in a hiring boom, the regionals were hiring like crazy. Now thats not the case, lol.

It is a smart thing to get a backup degree. I'm receiving a business minor with my degree and I have places where I can go besides flying... but... There are more flying jobs than airlines! Like you said, you've wanted to be a professional pilot your whole life. So get your degree, use your connections at your airport, and go fly with whoever you can to build your experience/time.

[bdhill1979]

Originally Posted by SY737

Just a little background story behind this thread. I am currently an 18 year old Private Pilot with about 80 hours now and have wanted to be a Professional Pilot for my whole life. For the past year or so I have been planning to attend a state college (Minnesota State University - Mankato) with an aviation program. Recently, after being accepted and all, I have decided that this road is just way too expensive for me. I currently work at a fairly large general aviation airport and have plenty of connections that benefit me right now. I get a great rate on some of the flying I do, have plenty of connections, and have a pretty promising future with the airport as I continue my ratings. Not to mention, I can continue working at an airport, rather than a crummy part time job somewhere near campus.

All in all, staying put seems to be the right choice for me. I can keep making money, plus the flying will be a bit cheaper. I have decided to pursue an online degree and it seems I have narrowed it down to either Utah Valley Online or Embry Riddle Online (If there are any others I should consider, please let me know). I'm curious what the pros and cons are considering:

-Cost
-Flexibility
-Reputation
-Overall Quality
-Difficulty Of Licenses transferring to Credits

At the moment I am earning my licenses through an instructor on the field, rather than an accelerated flight school. Is this going to be a hassle for credits?

I have both applications finished and am waiting to submit them.

Thanks, Tony

My advice,

You are young and have connections at the airport. Use that to your advantage.

I think flying through a collegiate flight program is NO BETTER than flying at an FBO or with a buddy, or whatever. I see extremely good collegiate pilots, and I see extremely bad collegiate pilots. I see extremely good FBO pilots and I see extremely bad FBO pilots.

I genuinely believe that it is you who determines what kind of pilot you will be by how much effort you put into it yourself. Take the time to find a good instructor and work hard.

As to a degree, I hold a BS in Aviation Science, earned online from UVU, and while I have a degree, that does nothing more than check a box for me. The degree in and of itself will never get me a job. I think at your age you should go enroll in general ed classes and take your time figuring out what you might be interested in majoring in. The kids that pick a major their first semester usually change it five times.

All the while earning your ratings and certificates and filling the logbook. By the time you graduate you could probably fly whatever you wanted at that point, and most likely the industry will be on an up cycle in 4-5 years (no promises though)

College is for meeting chicks and partying like a rock star, don't waste those precious moments online unless you just want the box checked.