Question from my dad

[SteveC]

Pick a major based on what you want to learn about.

[FlySooner9]

Im all for OU after reading this site and other things for the last couple of years. Im just trying to get my dad fully convinced. Thank you all for the responses.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by Craig_Davidson

So this is the question he wants answered. "Is a degree from Embry Riddle more appealing to airlines then other schools with an aviation curriculum such as University of Oklahoma?"

No, having the degree from ERAU will NOT make you more appealing to ANY airline.

Having the four year degree is the most important thing.

Email or PM me if he has any other specific questions!

[flyguy]

Having a degree from ERAU won't really give you much of an edge over a degree from any other school in any course of study. Airlines want to see a degree to know that you can handle a demanding academic program, which will give them an idea of how you'll do in training. And obviously you'll need your ratings. Whether you combine the degree and ratings is irrelevent. Go anywhere you like and major in anything you are interrested in. If aviation is your one and only love, then go for the avaition degree. If you have other interrests this is you chance to explore them. Yeah you'd still have a business background with the avaition degree, but are you really interrested in business? Is that what you would persue if you couldn't fly? If so, that may be your best option. If not, study something else. If you are not truely interrested in business you'll be miserable studying it for four years, even if it is avitaion related. College should be an enjoyable experience. If you study something you are interrested in, not only will it be more enjoyable but you'll be more likely to be successfull, which BTW will make you more appealing to the airlines.

[C150J]

Originally Posted by flyguy

College should be an enjoyable experience.

Although I certainly agree to some extent, I believe college should also be an exercise in delayed gratification. Challenging coursework and working for those 120 credits taught me that things don't come easy. I think such a mentality is critical, as it teaches you not to give up. This is the type of commitment necessary to hold a good job.

[flyguy]

Originally Posted by Craig_Davidson

Im all for OU after reading this site and other things for the last couple of years. Im just trying to get my dad fully convinced. Thank you all for the responses.

So your dad is the one pushing you to go to ERAU? Well, I'll tell you this. If he's only willing to pay for your education if you go to ERAU, then its better to graduate debt free. An ERAU degree may not help you but it certainly won't hurt you. If you'll be paying, then its your decision hands down. If he'll pay for either, but strongly suggests ERAU, thank him for his advice, but go where you truely feel you'll get the best education. Hey, if your dad is willing to pay ERAU tuition, maybe you could go to another school and buy yourself a Corvette with the money left over. No joke!!

[flyguy]

Originally Posted by C150J

Although I certainly agree to some extent, I believe college should also be an exercise in delayed gratification. Challenging coursework and working for those 120 credits taught me that things don't come easy. I think such a mentality is critical, as it teaches you not to give up. This is the type of commitment necessary to hold a good job.

No doubt!! But if you try to study something you are not truely interrested in, you are more likely to give up, and that lesson is wasted. Any course of study is going to involve hard work, and classes you don't really enjoy, but your major course of study should be something you really want to learn about, otherwise you'll have an absolutley miserable experience and probably won't be as successfull as you could be. The same is true with your career. There will always be challenges, and always things you don't really want to do, but if overall you don't enjoy your job you'll be miserable, and probably not very successfull.

[oktex88]

University of Oklahoma was my second choice, being from Edmond, OK. It has very nice facilties and seems like a great school. They keep the school grounds amazing with landscaping and spend lots of money on the students. If you ever went to visit you'd be impressed with how nice the towers(dorms) are and the big fancy couches and rooms for the students to hang out are. They have a little food court there that is really nice too. I went to visit the Aviation program there and it looks like they are just getting it started, but it's bound to grow. Right now the Aviation program is considered part of the "Continuing Education" department, which means they don't really have their own Aviation department at OU. Also consider Southeastern OSU, in Durant, OK if you want to stay in Oklahoma. They have an Aviation program there aswell but I never went to visit there though and don't know much about it.

[Cheechako]

As one who was on the recruitment and interview team at a large regional airline, I can say that when it all comes to it, there is no difference in where your degree comes from. We liked to check grades and degree programs to see how the applicants handled the program they had committed themselves to. That being said, straight A's in an Embry Ridle Aeronautical Engineer program would impress me more than straight A's in psychology at community college. It's my impression that the flight program at Embry Riddle is fairly rigorous and very organized, and I liked to see it. I interviewed applicants from both Embry Riddle and U of O. Both programs had applicants pass and fail. The college degree program was only a small part of the total package. It's where they went after college that would tip the scales one way or the other.

[B767]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

It's my impression that the flight program at Embry Riddle is fairly rigorous and very organized, and I liked to see it.

Why did you like to see that?

Sorry if it comes off harsh...don't mean too. I just can't think of a different way to say it.

[Cheechako]

There are programs that teach the PTS and that's all, just enough to get you through the checkride. Other programs, like where I went in Texas (LeTourneau University), ERAU, UND, go above and beyond just the PTS. They integrate airline-like checklists and flows, they offer opportunities to be in flying competitions, their classes are tailored more toward the professional pilot instead of the FBO private pilot curriculum. Don't get me wrong, there are Part 61 programs that will stretch students beyond checkride knowlegde, and on the other hand there are large programs that will do the minimum. Much of this also depends on how much the students apply themselves.

So... to answer your question, I liked to see those that had applied themselves to complete the program and knew the quality of their training.

[bwade210]

I would go to OU! The airlines are looking for a 4 year degree and that you are a smart, experienced, competent pilot!

[KLB]

There are quite a few other aviation schools out there if you want to go that route. Don't forget about Oklahoma State University. I believe that they have an aviation program also. There are many of them out there. I'd go to a university that offers more than aviation related fields....More stuff to do.

[Luv2FlyPlanes]

i dont think theres any reason to waste4 years aon school for something i kno i dont want to do - when it comes time for me to aply to colleges im going to go some where to learn more about what i luv doing and thats flying airplanes - wy should i get a bunch of useless taining in anything else if im just going to fly anywya

[ananoman]

Originally Posted by Luv2FlyPlanes

i dont think theres any reason to waste4 years aon school for something i kno i dont want to do - when it comes time for me to aply to colleges im going to go some where to learn more about what i luv doing and thats flying airplanes - wy should i get a bunch of useless taining in anything else if im just going to fly anywya

Hopefully you will learn some grammar along the way.

[Swen]

Originally Posted by Luv2FlyPlanes

i dont think theres any reason to waste4 years aon school for something i kno i dont want to do - when it comes time for me to aply to colleges im going to go some where to learn more about what i luv doing and thats flying airplanes - wy should i get a bunch of useless taining in anything else if im just going to fly anywya

Ahh...what direction should we take with this post?

[Luv2FlyPlanes]

i dont need no gramer to be flyin no planes! plus i use grammer when it counts like it that novekl i been workin on hmmm?

[Swen]

Originally Posted by Luv2FlyPlanes

i dont need no gramer to be flyin no planes! plus i use grammer when it counts like it that novekl i been workin on hmmm?

Huh?

[oktex88]

Originally Posted by KLB

There are quite a few other aviation schools out there if you want to go that route. Don't forget about Oklahoma State University. I believe that they have an aviation program also. There are many of them out there. I'd go to a university that offers more than aviation related fields....More stuff to do.

I think at OSU they offer a Aviation Management Degree, but don't quote me on that.

[TonyC]

Some folks need to look for a college where English is offered as a second language.











.

[I_WANNA_BE_ATP]

Who is paying for the education ??? If dad pays, go where he wants you to go. If you are doing the bill paying, tell dad, politely, I'm going to U of Ok.

[moxiepilot]

Tulsa Tech is even cheaper and they have a flight dept

[TXaviator]

go to OU and have fun watching Texas beat them in football this year :-)


no really, i WISH i had gone to OU.

and who cares what you major in, the key is making sure you have an employable skill other than aviation when you graduate.

not all skills come from getting a degree. major in what you want. but have a realistic outlook and be prepared.

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by oktex88

Right now the Aviation program is considered part of the "Continuing Education" department, which means they don't really have their own Aviation department at OU. Also consider Southeastern OSU, in Durant, OK if you want to stay in Oklahoma. They have an Aviation program there aswell but I never went to visit there though and don't know much about it.

not true. its an accredited degree program now. it does focus a lot on business courses as well though.

[Realms09]

I'd go to OU. More generally, I would go to the best school you can get into that meets your financial needs. I mean best in an overall sense - strong academics across the board in a vibrant social setting. When I visited ERAU in Daytona the campus came across as a community college rather than a university that would offer the full experience. Also, at ERAU you will be able to receive a good education in engineering or aviation science, but what do they have going on outside of that? How is their philosophy department? Art? Music? Politcal science? Also, depending on where you are at in high school, if you perform well enough on the national merit test you could go to OU or many other state schools for free. ERAU could care less how good of student you are, no scholarship for you!

Another thought, if you take a heavy load of AP classes and pass the AP tests, OU will likely give you a lot of credit, allowing you to graduate in 3 years if you so choose.

Good luck in your pursuit!