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Best University with flight program?

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Best University with flight program?

Old 10-09-2010, 09:52 PM
  #31  
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Throwing my vote in for OU.
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Old 10-10-2010, 10:55 AM
  #32  
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Wow, a forum that is actually trying to mentor the next generation of pilots. I don't usually take place in these discussions but I could not resist this one, so, here is two cents from me, a current active duty USAF T-1 Instructor Pilot who is about to retire and join Delta Airlines as I was recently hired. Also, I currently fly and work with graduates from all of the aforementioned universities and schools to include USAFA, West Point, and the Naval Academy and all of these Military Academies were listed in the top ten schools from which you can receive the best education possible, right up there with Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Duke, etc...

Credentials:
BSBA - Finance Auburn University
MAS - ERAU (paid for by USAF)
USAF Air Command and Staff College
Flight Experience- 5000 hrs of military (C-9A, C-141B, T-37B student/IP, T-1 IP, T-38A student time); 300 hours of civilian flying time at a USAF Aeroclub in college
USAF Flight Safety School
USAF Advanced Instruments School

First and foremost, you can't compare USAFA with ERAU (Watermelon to Oranges) The Air Force Academy does not offer flight training (neither does AFROTC), rather, it merely uses it's fleet of aircraft to screen pilot candidates for aptitude and potential in whether or not the government should continue to invest millions of dollars in training and developing that person into becoming one of the world's best pilots by sending him/her to USAF, Navy, or Army helo pilot training. I know a lot of you civilian pilots will take this personnally (please don't), but hands down, you won't find better pilot training anywhere in the world outside of the USAF, Navy, or Army. That does not mean that we are better pilots, just that we have better training, equipment, more highly trained instructors, and probably more highly educated people. The U.S. government spends money on it's warriors for a reason and that is to develop them into the best trained leaders, rescuers, killers, fighters, and contingency force in the world in order to protect this country, and let me tell you, we are masters of our craft (just ask Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and every third world country we rescue from disaster when we show up). Hands down, the best training in the world. It sounds like your desires and goals do not lend itself to this dedicated lifestyle, so, the USAFA or AFROTC is probably not an option for you anyway, besides, it is very competitive to get into the military flying brotherhood and we breed some of the most intelligent folks I have ever had the privilege to serve with, fly with, flight instruct with, live with, celebrate with, party with, cry with, and learn from. ERAU or any other institution really are poor comparisons. Always consider the sources of magazines......those authors are usually uncredentialed and use words for entertainment and to make a living/sell magazines.

Second, in addition to academy grads, I work with tons of folks that got their degrees from ERAU, Perdue, Illinois, Illinois Carbondale, North Dakota, Auburn University, and many other aviation programs and I agree with the previous posts that say, get a degree in something other than aviation. Develop a diverse educational background which will serve your potential future marketability and needs. This way, if you ever lose your medical, you will have a backup plan. I'm paraphrasing but I saw the one post where the guy said that "a Finance degree would not be helpful due to the recent turmoil in the financial industry...", this is hogwash, their will always be a need for those who understand the nuances of the financial industry, banking, etc.... Also, if you would like to fly for the DEA (for whom I once interviewed with), FBI, CIA, Border Patrol, etc...they all require a 4 year Accredited UNIVERSITY degree in a technical field such as engineering, advanced mathematics, accounting, foreign language studies, and criminal justice just to name a few. So, if all you want to do is become an airline pilot one day, just go to any myriad of dedicated 141 flight schools in the united states and just dedicate yourself to being the best, most expert pilot you can possibly be. Due to the demise of general aviation since 911 with rising fuel costs, the aviation industry is forecasting a world-wide pilot shortage by 2015. Why do you think companies like Delta, FedEx, SW, Air Emirates, and others are ginning up their hiring/training departments very rapidly. Just make yourself marketable by diversifying your backround. Get as many ratings, type ratings, flying hours, and degrees that you can so that you make all other applicants pale in comparison when the Chief pilot of company XXXXX holds you application next to 10,000 other ones.

Finally, I would like to put in a plug for my Alma Mater......If you like flying, beautiful women, and college football, all located in a fair weather environment where you are close to both the Gulf of Mexico, the East Coast and you are interested in getting a degree in almost any field of study you want to include Aviation Mangement, Aviation Operations, engineering, mathematics, foreign language, criminal justice, then I've got two words for you buddy........WAR EAGLE!!!!!!

However, the average ACT score to get in as an udergrad is 26.5.

God Bless in your future flying career.
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Old 10-10-2010, 02:46 PM
  #33  
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Cheese -

That was a very informative post, but are you sure about this sentence?
Also, if you would like to fly for the DEA (for whom I once interviewed with), FBI, CIA, Border Patrol, etc...they all require a 4 year Accredited UNIVERSITY degree in a technical field such as engineering, advanced mathematics, accounting, foreign language studies, and criminal justice just to name a few.
I know quite a few who have interviewed and looked into some of these jobs (including myself) who don't have a technical degree, and I was not told that I didn't qualify. I'll agree that those degrees make you look better - especially since you might have a special power that they are very interested in (like speaking Pashto for example ), but not "require[d]".

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Old 10-10-2010, 05:33 PM
  #34  
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I'd be looking at a science degree from Embry-Riddle, particularly if you can score it on Uncle Sam's tab. All of the people who tell me they "don't need no college" are E-5's, I mean how far do you want to go, all the way right?
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Old 10-21-2010, 09:41 AM
  #35  
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I went to Riddle in the 80's and now fly for AA. Military training is always the best as described by previous posts but in the case of AA an awful lot of guys that were civilian trained went to ERAU. More so than any other school. I think Perdue comes in a close second. Is ERAU worth the money? Probably not. It is, however, well known with recruiters and still enjoys a good reputation for good, standardized fight training within the various Flight Departments. So if you want to spend a fortune to get a job with little pay, no pension (in most cases), and no future then by all means, knock yourself out! For what it's worth..
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Old 10-21-2010, 01:06 PM
  #36  
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University of Minnesota @ Crookston Learn to spray from the best.
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Old 10-21-2010, 02:28 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by AA gear puller View Post
I went to Riddle in the 80's and now fly for AA. Military training is always the best as described by previous posts but in the case of AA an awful lot of guys that were civilian trained went to ERAU. More so than any other school. I think Perdue comes in a close second. Is ERAU worth the money? Probably not. It is, however, well known with recruiters and still enjoys a good reputation for good, standardized fight training within the various Flight Departments. So if you want to spend a fortune to get a job with little pay, no pension (in most cases), and no future then by all means, knock yourself out! For what it's worth..
I am involved in the hiring process at a Major and I can tell you that the degree from ERAU is something that you will have get beyond during the interview. It is actually strike one for me unless you answer some of the questions correctly right out of the box.
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Old 10-21-2010, 07:00 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by ockham View Post
I am involved in the hiring process at a Major and I can tell you that the degree from ERAU is something that you will have get beyond during the interview. It is actually strike one for me unless you answer some of the questions correctly right out of the box.
That is really a shame that you discriminate someone based on them going to any school, some ERAU alumni must have really left a bad impression on you. Most of the interviewers I have known try to remain indiferent on what University someone went to just as long as they did well and were involved in a Aviation program or not. I am sure you have your reasons, I would be interested in why you don't like the ERAU degree. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to post it on here.
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Old 10-23-2010, 09:21 AM
  #39  
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Ockham isn't with SWA, FEDEX, or UAL since they happen to like the ERAU degree, in fact
they tend to be safer pilots as history has shown us.
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Old 10-23-2010, 01:10 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by clipperskipper View Post
in fact they tend to be safer pilots as history has shown us.
And the evidence for this claim (vs. other university flight programs)?

Last edited by bcrosier; 10-24-2010 at 12:47 AM.
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