So Many Choices.....

[aktotkobell]

Hi everyone,

I have a lot of questions so please bear with me.

First of all:

I am currently training to become a private pilot and am still in high school.
I was looking at aviation colleges and I got the shock of how much they can be. Mostly I am deciding between UND and ERAU. I would really like to go to ERAU for many reasons but honestly, I don't want to be paying back loans for 20 years of my life. I am definately out to get a good education but what do you guys think (between UND and ERAU) I should attend. I live in colorado and at UND i figured it about 100,000 while erau was 168,000. Thats a very big jump in price. If i did go to ERAU or UND how much do you think i could get in scholarships if my mom (filing single) makes about 15,000 a year. I am definately out to go to one of these colleges and am making the best attempt to cut some of the costs down with scholarships.

In terms of weather:
Would it be better to go to UND or ERAU?

In terms of the quality of education you get:
UND or ERAU?

I have pretty much singled out the idea of joining the Air Force.
My brother in law is in the Air Force and I like their quality of life but I have been saving my money for years just to pay for my private liscense and i feel if i join the military, my previous certificates will not count. Also with the small chance of actually getting a pilot slot, I'm not sure if i want to take the chance of flying every couple of weeks and sitting at a desk job for the 6 remaining years left, when i could have attended a university and started working toward a career for those 6 years.

Please if you have any of your own opinions, other than the ones i told you, feel free to tell me them.

Thanks

[Doug Taylor]

One thread on the same topic is plenty.

Most folks scan most of the thread topics.

[aktotkobell]

Sorry,

I'll be sure to remember that next time.

Thanks

[BuickCFI]

use the search. there are many posts about this topic. UND is a great school in terms of the flight programs. most of us have our gripes about it, but the training was excellent. sure FBO's might be cheaper (depends on where you are).

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by BuickCFI

use the search. there are many posts about this topic. UND is a great school in terms of the flight programs. most of us have our gripes about it, but the training was excellent. sure FBO's might be cheaper (depends on where you are).

yep.

for the most part, the quality of training, price, equipment, and curriculum is great here. +1 UND

the weather and quality of living here is terrible. +1ERAU


depends what is more important to you.

[aktotkobell]

Thanks,

I've searched the forums about scholarships/financial aid but haven't found much.

Do you have any suggestions?

[Micaoct]

I don't know that the weather is really that bad, sometimes it does suck when you have to weather flights but it really allows you to be exposed to different situations. I'm more proficient at crosswind landing then when it's calm. Calm winds throw me off now. ND weather seems to throw everything at you and it's good learning. QOL here is bad but weather could be good for learning and bad for getting stuff done, especially with the damn icing in the winter.

So far I'm glad I came to UND, personally I wouldn't go to Embry, cost is a big factor but I like how much more diverse UND is and they have many more majors to choose from (can do a double major, or just take extra classes). Only negative is the location.

As for financial aid you should be able to do scholarships and I'm sure if you fill out the FAFSA you would probaly get something as well. For scholarships check out http://www.fastweb.com

[CRJ700]

Man, if I were you, I'd stay in colorado. I'd go to school there and get in-state and just do the fbo route. Way cheaper and you can find a reputable place.

[juxtapilot]

Originally Posted by CRJ700

Man, if I were you, I'd stay in colorado. I'd go to school there and get in-state and just do the fbo route. Way cheaper and you can find a reputable place.

That's what I would do too... Have you looked at Metro?

[JaceTheAce]

Stay in Colorado and get a NON-AVIATION degree at a state university. Use the $1000s of dollars saved for flight training at an FBO, which will be cheaper than flight training at UND too.

There is no such thing as airlines choosing a UND/ERAU grad over someone who did their training at a Part 61 FBO operation. More often you see people from the FBO route in my airline. UNDs marketing department will love to throw this in your face... "well if you don't go to UND you won't get hired!"...blah blah blah

[Stinger]

UND does have preferential hiring with some airlines, but this made more of a difference a few years ago when the minimums to get on with a regional were greater.

The UND guys a few years ago were getting hired with fewer hours than the ones who went the FBO route. But today, regionals are hiring people with multi-commercial licenses. So you can get your ratings anywhere and the airlines won't care.

[Farva]

I would say that even though a part 61 route is fine it doesnt always mean its great. You need to really find a good part 61 instructor that can make you be a good pilot. The preferential hiring is still very applicable even in todays hiring market but sadly that market is going to be done by the end of this year and with that you might want to consider that when things are on the downturn that the preferential hiring can be a leg up. Doesnt mean that you are a better pilot but it just means that to the airlines that you had many checks and balances in your training where as in part 61 some individuals do not get as many checks and balances.

I have retrained several part 61 aviators and they came from reputable places and well they still had alot of basic concepts not well understood. I have also had a few part 61 guys in my airline ground school struggle and one even washed out because certain concepts were never taught nor explained. Now I am not saying UND is a freakin "perfect" place.The school does provide a good education in other subject other than aviation. The flight training is very good and even though you might pay top dollar it does pay off in the end. Some of UND Aerospaces policies are a little outdated and well they could use a overhaul, I would still do all of my UND training over again. The cost was worth it.

Grand Forks does have its faults. The cost of living is moderate. Quality of life is not too bad. I actually miss el forko grande jsut because of the fact that the things I need are right there and that its a town big enough to have people around but small enough so that if I want away from the city life all i have to do is drive 2 minutes outside of town and BAM, I am in the middle of nowhere.. Now there is alot of stuff to do but it just takes some imaginantion and maybe taking a small trip to a town over to do stuff. The place has everything you need to live. Other things found in the cities or else where is just luxury. If you have questions you can PM me.
-farva

[CAFFEINE]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

There is no such thing as airlines choosing a UND/ERAU grad over someone who did their training at a Part 61 FBO operation. More often you see people from the FBO route in my airline. UNDs marketing department will love to throw this in your face... "well if you don't go to UND you won't get hired!"...blah blah blah

Oh come on Jace, do you honestly think you would have gotten hired at your airline with 201 TT if you hadn't had UND on your resume??

I'm not saying that UND is the best route for everybody, but airlines certainly do reduce (in some instances considerably) their minimums for UND grads.