Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Gunslinger on February 04, 2004, 09:37:18 AM

Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Gunslinger on February 04, 2004, 09:37:18 AM
Just wanted to get some opinions.  I have the oppertunity coming up to either finish up a degree of some sorts or to start flight school.  My question is what would you do?  I have 10 years left on active duty so a degree isnt going to help me job wise...but a pilots liscense wont help me either...its just somthing I wanted to do.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: CyranoAH on February 04, 2004, 09:48:40 AM
(Doing my best oracle impersonation) The question is, what do you really want, Ne... I mean Gunslinger?

Daniel
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: rpm on February 04, 2004, 10:58:57 AM
Get the degree, you can always do flight school later.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: FUNKED1 on February 04, 2004, 11:17:05 AM
University of Illinois, you can do both, just ask Wolfala.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: LePaul on February 04, 2004, 12:02:44 PM
North Shore Community College, in Beverly Mass had a program...aviation science, that tiered in a 4 year degree...2 there, 2 at Salem.  I ran out of funds after year 2.

If i had it over, I would've just gone the Business Admin major/computer science and persuit flying after.

I have lots of credits, no degree.  And  PPL  :)
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: gofaster on February 04, 2004, 01:37:04 PM
Embry-Riddle University.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Gunslinger on February 04, 2004, 01:42:57 PM
Quote
Originally posted by gofaster
Embry-Riddle University.


that's were I've taken a couple of classes so far.  It not so much a money thing but more of a time thing.  With a family I know I can do one of them but not both.

On base here they have the "aero club"  They have all the ground school classes planes and instructors.  Its not that expensive for lessons and the ground school is free.  But then again with Tuition assistance embry riddle is free as well.

BTW does any type of aeronautical degree from ER hold any type of weight in the "real world"?
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: jigsaw on February 04, 2004, 01:53:48 PM
How far into flight training do you plan to go? Just to private or are you going into advanced ratings?
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Gunslinger on February 04, 2004, 02:18:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by jigsaw
How far into flight training do you plan to go? Just to private or are you going into advanced ratings?


Just private for right now.  Maybe somthing more in the future
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: matthews on February 04, 2004, 02:19:14 PM
If your interested in doing both, then i would suggest looking into Western Michigan Univeristy.  It has a very nice 4 year flight program where you can earn a degree.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: LePaul on February 04, 2004, 03:01:14 PM
Ah...Embry-Riddle...and Daniel Webster College (NH)...was accepted at both, couldnt get enough financial aid.  Sigh!
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: midnight Target on February 04, 2004, 03:27:38 PM
Get the degree.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Dago on February 04, 2004, 03:45:22 PM
If you want to fly for a living, get the degree.  Its a very very competitive job market for full time pilots at any airline or employer worth working for.  You can pick up the ratings anywhere, anytime, even in your spare time.

There are a lot of pilots out there, the degree puts you in the pile of resumes that will first be considered.

dago
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: mia389 on February 04, 2004, 04:02:58 PM
regional airline accademy (http://www.raajobs.com)

Thats where im going for my flight training and loving it so far. Can get a degree online or through riddle
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Maniac on February 04, 2004, 04:06:11 PM
You married yet mia? :)
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: jigsaw on February 04, 2004, 06:22:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Gunslinger
Just private for right now.  Maybe somthing more in the future


Something you might want to think about then...
Get your private, check into your VA benifits for training.
Can't recall if it's before or after your instrument when the bennies kick in. A lot of guys at our flight school went through the program that way to start a new career. Once you have your private, you can build time easily for more ratings.

As for the degree there are many options. Aside from the ones I've seen mentioned already, UVSC (http://www.uvsc.edu) has an interesting program where you can get up to 16 hours for ratings you hold or are working on. I'm currently going that route as the online classes are easier for me to manage time wise. Downside is that if something is wrong with the course, it's a royal pain to get it looked into and stay on schedule.

The biggest complaint I've heard from people with regard to an aviation science degree is that you're limited on what you can do with it. That's true in a sense, but if you can pick up a BS fairly easily, then it will be a small step to add another degree or go for something like an online MBA program.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: mrblack on February 04, 2004, 08:57:14 PM
take the money and have an affair with a stripper.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Raubvogel on February 04, 2004, 11:51:25 PM
Degree all the way. It will pay off far more in the future.

Gunslinger, you at 29 Palms?
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Connection on February 04, 2004, 11:54:48 PM
A degree can pay for your flight school, but it doesnt work the other way.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Wolfala on February 05, 2004, 12:06:02 AM
Gunny,

Use my example as a cautionary prescription for what you are asking. I've come out of the U of I with the Human Factors degree - but short of a PHD it is pretty much useless. Additionally, I took the gamble that my health wouldn't fail me - but you remember finals week in april when I got ****ed by type 1 diabetes. Point is - you can do the major - but have a backup plan incase things don't pan out the way you planned.



Wolf
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: Dingbat on February 06, 2004, 03:41:28 PM
Quote
Originally posted by jigsaw
Something you might want to think about then...
Get your private, check into your VA benifits for training.
Can't recall if it's before or after your instrument when the bennies kick in. A lot of guys at our flight school went through the program that way to start a new career.  


Jigsaw is pretty much on the money.  I fly out of quantico and can get you the info if you want it.  IIRC after you get your PPC, you IR and on is partially or fully covered provided you pass.
Title: Degree or Flight School?
Post by: capt. apathy on February 06, 2004, 06:19:40 PM
Quote
With a family I know I can do one of them but not both.


I was about to say go with what makes you happy while you can.  then I saw the above line.

  that changes everything, when you have a family, what makes you happy don't mean a damn thing.  do the thing that could lead to aditional income not aditional out-go.  

and as far as
Quote
I have 10 years left on active duty so a degree isnt going to help me job wise...


I'm a walking poster-child for how your career path can be derailed in a matter of seconds and you have to figure out a new way to make a living.  having a degree in something marketable as a back-up should help you sleep a little better at night.