College Education and Aviation

[DrBenny]

I couldn't reply to the thread below for some reason, so I had to start a new post on this one.

About that college education. . . .

You should know that $140,000 for a Bachelor's degree is not an extraordinary sum, especially for institutions of national repute. In many places, some have attempted to compare a degree at ERAU with FBO training, or getting a degree at a state school while going the FBO route for the ratings. All have their merit, and my point here is not to argue the merits of one route versus the other. Instead, I want to simplify the discussion.

If you attend a college or university with a national or international reputation, you will pay a lot. It matters not what your major will be. Learning to fly is expensive, but it absolutely pales in comparison to the cost of an education at an institution known generally to be of superior quality.

If for whatever reason the "famous institution route" is not your cup of tea, you can still get a solid education by attending one of the many excellent state schools, or combination of community college and state school. Incidentally, don't dismiss the community college route. I teach at a private college AND a community college, and I am often impressed that there are many students who are more motivated at the community college than at the private college. Also, the community college pays their faculty well, and often better than at the private college. "So what," you say? Well, this means you still have the opportunity to work with excellent faculty. If the college doesn't have an aviation progarm, you could get your ratings at your FBO of choice.

Perhaps after finishing school, you find that although you have your ratings, you feel you lack certain necessary experience (such as a type rating, or enough ME hours). You could get that experience in a few weeks to a few months at one of the major training centers (such as FSI).

There are many roads that lead to your goal, as you know. We are speaking of the cost not only of your ratings, but also the cost of your overall education, and THAT is why there is such a range in prices.

Notice that I do not recommend one route over the other? There are two reasons for that: 1) I am not speaking as a professional pilot; rather I am discussing the educational piece, which is a larger issue, and 2) You will want to make your own choices based not only on your future career, but also on many other factors such as finances or learning environment.

[aloft]

Fortunaly, aviation is one of those career fields where they couldn't give a damn whether your degree is from Harvard University or Ottumwa Community College. You just gotta have one. Same goes for your flight experience; most places don't care where you got it as long as you have it.

Happy B-Day Aloft!

[Cutlass1287]

Well said, DrBenny

[DE727UPS]

"There are many roads that lead to your goal, as you know. We are speaking of the cost not only of your ratings, but also the cost of your overall education, and THAT is why there is such a range in prices."

I think the REAL professional pilot "education" comes by proving yourself with ratings and hours of experience working your way up. The best jobs still require a degree, so if you wanna go there, you better check that square. If you want to check that square at ERAU, more power to you, but don't buy into the hype that you'll be a better pilot or have an easier road in the career cause you went there.

I just read a notice for a Skywest internship and was surprised to see that graduating from one of the big aviation schools wasn't a requirement....any college will do.

I'm a big proponent of majoring in something other than aviation as a fall back or side interest down the road. I sure wish I had done it that way instead of going to ERAU.

[DrBenny]

[ QUOTE ]
Fortunaly, aviation is one of those career fields where they couldn't give a damn whether your degree is from Harvard University or Ottumwa Community College. You just gotta have one. Same goes for your flight experience; most places don't care where you got it as long as you have it.

[/ QUOTE ]

That makes the point even more succinctly. If you already have a college education, you only need focus on getting your ratings, and where you would like to get them. If you do NOT have your bachelor's yet, what you need to realize is that you are actually making TWO decisions: 1) Where do I want to get my general education, and 2) Where do I want to get my ratings?

[DrBenny]

[ QUOTE ]
Well said, DrBenny

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you.

[CaptainChris87]

Yeah very good point, another advantage to a large aviation school is the internships it offers with the airline companies itself, or former employees that once attended those colleges would show more interest in hiring those who came from their school. and yes Community college is a lot cheaper, and I agree with you that you are using two different stand points and looking at them from "above". Does the private and community college you teach at offer the same quality education, because here in Cali, a UC and a Cal state offeres the same type of education, just cost more for a UC because oft the name, and large pool of applicants.

[DrBenny]

[ QUOTE ]
"There are many roads that lead to your goal, as you know. We are speaking of the cost not only of your ratings, but also the cost of your overall education, and THAT is why there is such a range in prices."

I think the REAL professional pilot "education" comes by proving yourself with ratings and hours of experience working your way up. The best jobs still require a degree, so if you wanna go there, you better check that square. If you want to check that square at ERAU, more power to you, but don't buy into the hype that you'll be a better pilot or have an easier road in the career cause you went there.

I just read a notice for a Skywest internship and was surprised to see that graduating from one of the big aviation schools wasn't a requirement....any college will do.

I'm a big proponent of majoring in something other than aviation as a fall back or side interest down the road. I sure wish I had done it that way instead of going to ERAU.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again, the main point is that you are making two decision: 1) Where do I want to go to college, and 2) Where do I want to get my ratings?

There are many considerations for #1 above. For example, the environment may be important to you (big university, small college, community college). Maybe you want to spend four years of your life in a certain area of the country. Perhaps you want to major in Japanese, or live near the beach. Maybe you are rich and money is no object. Perhaps you are dirt poor, and your decisions must per necessity be driven by economics. Whatever, there are many, many factors to take into consideration. The main point is that you chose the place where you get your undergraduated degree based on many criteria.

Maybe you'd like to keep the two separate. For example, perhaps you'd like to major in English at a certain college that has no aviation program whatsoever. The college, however, has a great reputation, and you like the environment. Meanwhile, there is a great local FBO, and you decide that you probably can get all of your ratings during the four years you are at the college.

There are many ways of working it. When you consider how many variations there are, the price shouldn't surprise anyone.

[DrBenny]

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Does the private and community college you teach at offer the same quality education, because here in Cali, a UC and a Cal state offeres the same type of education, just cost more for a UC because oft the name, and large pool of applicants.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a famous exception, because California community colleges are well-known for being the best in the country. The are closely linked to the state schools, so here you have an advantage not enjoyed in other states. In Maryland, we do have letters of agreement that essentially state that courses will meet the basic level required by the state schools and that if a student with an AA is accepted to the state school, that they will have automatic junior status. Not as good as Cali, but pretty good.

Now, as to my specific situation, the private college where I teach has nothing to do with the state schools. It is VERY expensive, not surprisingly, and the quality of the faculty is very good. But again, the salaries at our community college are very good (state, and local funding), so it attracts excellent facutly, as well. Also, courses are quite affordable at only $100 a credit--that's right, not $1,000 per credit, $100 per credit!

It depends on the program, I guess.

[mtsu_av8er]

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Does the private and community college you teach at offer the same quality education . . .

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I spent two years at a small community college in NC, and then transfered to MTSU's Aerospace Program. I learned more at the 2-year school than I have at MTSU.

Something to think about.....

[DrBenny]

[ QUOTE ]


I spent two years at a small community college in NC, and then transfered to MTSU's Aerospace Program. I learned more at the 2-year school than I have at MTSU.

Something to think about.....

[/ QUOTE ]
It doesn't surprise me. The first two years of college are critical, wherever you go. Often, those two years are make-or-break, and good community colleges stress this to their faculty.

Yes, it is great getting a talented student whose success is never seriously in doubt, the kind of student I often see at the private college. It is much more satisfying in many ways, though, to get someone who has potential but who needs a boost, and help them reach there goals. Also in the community college I'll see people already in the workforce who are simply looking for a change of career. These are the most highly motivated students.

[C150J]

Great posts. Here is my PERSONAL take (this certainly doesn't apply to everyone, so I'm going to qualify a lot of what I say):

My decision to attend an Ivy League University instead of UND was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I think it was a sound one. I have become much more well-rounded than I was in high school, and thoroughly enjoy exploring other fields.

I am the type of person that fully immerses themselves in their studies, so I think it would have been a GRAVE mistake for ME (again, no knock on anyone else) to attend an aviation school, as I would be extremely unidimensional (again, NOT due to the school, but due to my personality), not knowing anything outside of the cockpit. I sometimes wish I had gone to such schools, but then I realize that I have managed to get all of my ratings in the same time and also have discovered non-flying occupations that are just as interesting to me.

If it weren't for my liberal arts education, I would still want to be a scheduled airline pilot. I still want to fly professionally at some capacity, but for ME, there's more to life than tarmac and avgas at this point. Should that change, I can be confident that I know what else is out there, something I wouldn't know with a more technical degree.

J.