New member and future student

[jrosard12]

Hi!

I'm a high school senior in PA and just got my acceptance letter to UND last week for the class of 2012. Still a while before I start, but I just had a few questions.. I'm working on my PPL now from a part 61 school and hoping to have that done before I go to college but I've heard that it's still hard to finish the commercial aviation major in 4 years. Is this true? I'm also looking at double majoring in another field to have a back-up plan and was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the other programs. I was thinking about atmospheric sciences or physics since I really liked those classes in high school. Thanks.

[the_dmn8tr]

Congrats on the acceptance. I am a sophomore in commercial aviation and right now I am on track to graduate in 4 years with the major and a minor in economics. As for your PPL, you will have to do another course to meet UND standards which can be a downside. I took physics this semester and it was one of the toughest classes I have ever taken, but thankfully before the final and A was a 72. You have to take a class from both AtSc and Phys, so you can decide whether you want to major in those before you get too far along. I thought I wanted to double with AtSc, but Meteorology I was just so boring I decided it wasn't for me.

[juxtapilot]

Hey, Congrats on the acceptance to UND. Have you visted the campus?

It's very possible that you will finish your degree in 4 years. I think if you worked really hard you might even be able to double major in 4-4.5 years. Micaoct will chime in here I hope. He's a double major. I will probably finish my commercial aviation degree in 3-3.5 years (as I am staying during summers.)

As for your PPL... I came to UND with mine. 112 was not cool but since I've already had my rant about that, search the forums for 112, or test course, and there should be many threads.

Welcome to Jetcareers!

[BuickCFI]

Originally Posted by juxtapilot

Hey, Congrats on the acceptance to UND. Have you visted the campus?

It's very possible that you will finish your degree in 4 years. I think if you worked really hard you might even be able to double major in 4-4.5 years. Micaoct will chime in here I hope. He's a double major. I will probably finish my commercial aviation degree in 3-3.5 years (as I am staying during summers.)

As for your PPL... I came to UND with mine. 112 was not cool but since I've already had my rant about that, search the forums for 112, or test course, and there should be many threads.

Welcome to Jetcareers!

112 isn't completely horrible. it does generally teach that UND standards are higher than pt. 61 IMHO

but for the most part you shouldn't have to do the whole course, just enough to get you to UND standards and familar with the SOP's (another subject i know)

and btw, congrats on getting in, if you come here with a postive mindset you will have a much more enjoyable experience

[Micaoct]

Congrats on getting in and hope to see you around here soon.

Finishing Commercial Aviation in 4 years shouldn't be a problem if you stay a couple summers. I am going to be double majoring and I know it will be hard, but I think it is doable to finish in 4.5-5 years. This is assuming you don't have a full time job on the side. If you just focus on courses and take a full load each semester you won't have problems.

Also personally I strongly recommend attending in the summer and working on your 112 and take some other classes. You meet a lot of cool people and you get used to the campus and when fall rolls around you will be all set to go. I took 102 in the summer when I came and I did not think that was challenging AT ALL. I had ATC 103 too but that was a easy class...a fun, and easy class. I would take ATC 103 in the summer too, I wouldn't want to deal with that in the fall. I thought it would suck to "waste" my summer, but I am really happy that I came and I actually had a lot of fun even here, and met a few new people. Makes fall A LOT easier. I don't think I met very many people in the fall...it's just all the same people I became friends with in the summer.

[the_dmn8tr]

Originally Posted by BuickCFI

if you come here with a postive mindset you will have a much more enjoyable experience

Some of the best advice I have heard, If only everyone had that mindset.

[jrosard12]

Originally Posted by juxtapilot

Hey, Congrats on the acceptance to UND. Have you visted the campus?

Yes I have, twice. And I should add that so far I have an undefeated record at hockey games

I did some reading on the 112 course and it is indeed some extra money spent but at least it will help me transition into the UND training environment and that sounds like a good idea to come in during the summer to get that taken care of and meet some people early. BTW is anyone in the honors program?

[airplanerik]

Originally Posted by BuickCFI

112 isn't completely horrible. it does generally teach that UND standards are higher than pt. 61 IMHO

Yup, people complain about 112...but they just won't understand until they start teaching it!!

[BuickCFI]

Originally Posted by airplanerik

Yup, people complain about 112...but they just won't understand until they start teaching it!!

i taught it once and never again!

[juxtapilot]

Originally Posted by jrosard12

Yes I have, twice. And I should add that so far I have an undefeated record at hockey games

I did some reading on the 112 course and it is indeed some extra money spent but at least it will help me transition into the UND training environment and that sounds like a good idea to come in during the summer to get that taken care of and meet some people early. BTW is anyone in the honors program?

I hated 112. Come do it in the summer. I 100% regret that I did it during the fall. The first 6 lessons are fine, but the rest are just repeating everything you already know... Beware of severe burnout...

[AngelFuree]

It's absolutely possible to get done w/ it in four years. I graduated in 3 years, but that equated to me staying here every summer. Looking back at it, I don't mind that I stayed here in the summers. It was well worth it.

Congrats on getting accepted!

[CAFFEINE]

Originally Posted by airplanerik

Yup, people complain about 112...but they just won't understand until they start teaching it!!

So true!

[Dugie8]

Originally Posted by jrosard12

Hi!

I'm a high school senior in PA and just got my acceptance letter to UND last week for the class of 2012. Still a while before I start, but I just had a few questions.. I'm working on my PPL now from a part 61 school and hoping to have that done before I go to college but I've heard that it's still hard to finish the commercial aviation major in 4 years. Is this true? I'm also looking at double majoring in another field to have a back-up plan and was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the other programs. I was thinking about atmospheric sciences or physics since I really liked those classes in high school. Thanks.

No need to double major, unless you like taking that many more tests!! You can minor in proffessional flight and take all the flight courses up through CFI/CFII/MEI.

If you are so inclined I would look closely at UND's computer science department with the engineering department being a close second. You could also major in meterology, something that could be very useful for a pilot.

Another possible option, on that I haven't explored too deeply, is to attend UND part time while working on your first few flight courses and earn a Technical Degree from technical college in East Grand Forks MN (I am drawing a blank on the name now, my wife would kill me).

[Snickersnwa]

Originally Posted by CAFFEINE

So true!

[jrosard12]

Well thanks for all the advice and welcomes and I'm sure I'll have some more questions later. The Alumni Survey is very helpful too. Hopefully I'll see some of you next year!