I have my mind set on the aviation degree (most likely UND even though I also applied to MTSU and Kent State) so don't try to change my mind, that ship has already sailed.
Obviously the the loans the school is going to give me are not enough to pay for my flight training ... I am sure that many of you were in this exact same position not too long ago.
Where did you get your loans from, and is the contract fair?
My dad is going to cosign with me (he is making good money but his credit is just average) ... how hard is it to get a private loan this days?
Management its open season to rob and pilige the airline industry.
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The Dream that was told has already been sold.
Since you are european, that places you in a somewhat different situation since as far as employment options go. If you can do what it takes to qualify for a job over there you will probably not experience the entry-level poverty and instability we have in the US. But if you're going to have a go at it here in the states...caveat emptor.
The airlines don't give a damn if you have an aviation degree. If someone from ERAU walks into an interview with 300 hours, and a guy who majored in Communications walks in with 2500 hours from flight instructing, who are they going to hire?
You can save alot of money by avoiding aviation universities. There's no big hurry to get into the industry, save up, and do lessons through an FBO while working and going to college. By the time you graduate, it's feasible that you could have your CFI and be ready to start flying planes for a living (well, sort of...CFI's don't make a dime, lol).
If you're determined to do flight training a little more formally, maybe you should give an accelerated program a try. Although I've never been to ATP and don't know a whole lot about it, I've met a few very good pilots from there who really seemed to enjoy the program. Once you have your private, they will take you to CFI CFII MEI in 90 days for 40k. Now that's still a ton of money, but not as much as a university, and you could do it over one summer break and flight instruct until you graduate from Penn State.
You do realize that your looking at 10 to 15 years before you start making a living at this and then and only then if your lucky enough to work without being furloughed or worse yet the carrier that you work for goes bk.
As far as being a tough crowd yes it is and for good reason, too many people get into this business without doing due diligence and wind up leaving because they did'nt do their homework before hand or they went to school and ended up getting burned in the process.
Best of luck to you.
Ally
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There are old pilots and bold pilots ,but there are no old bold pilots.
If your going with loans shop around for the best interest rate. They are constantly changing. Ive heard good and bad about Sallie Mae. I would try and stay away from loans unless its the last option. If your going to UND look into all the scholarships that are out there. Like Riddle they have a lot of UND only scholarships put out by rich alumni. Thats all I can say.
HSLD-LOL at yr comment...
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"Success is not where you are at but how you got there"
On a lighter note. A student shows up Harvard on his first day of classes. He inquires "Where is there Administration building at." The english major overhearing the question, replies "Here at Harvard, we don't end a sentence with a preposition." The new student thinks about this for a moment and replies "Ok where is the Administration at a$$hole."
Now back to the original topic......
Sallie Mae: Bad if you run into trouble paying them back. (Drop your god complex and believe that someday you might have problems paying them back)
Wells Fargo: Lots with variable interest rates, early pay off penalties, and basically out there to take you for all you're worth.
Citi Bank, Bank one, Bank of America, US Bank: If any of these still exist they were pretty fair and decent. LOL A few on this list don't, but I don't watch the news.
LOL Ignorance is bliss but hopefully I can guide you away from Wells Fargo and Sallie Mae.
Read the quote below.
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The usefulness of a cup is its emptiness.
You have a European citizenship? What are you doing wasting your time here? Go get your JAA licenses then get your FAA licenses. Not the other way around. It is very hard, costly and time consuming to get your FAA and then convert to JAA. Been down this road and don't wish you go there. On top of that, there is a new proposed rule (should take effect very soon) that will make it even harder (and it is already painful) for FAA licensed pilot to convert to JAA licenses. Consider school like Oxford Aviation (OAA.com - Oxford Aviation Academy). They have bridge programs that make you transition right away to British Airways, Ryan Air, Net Jets to name a few. At this point, everything is in a recession but by the time you graduate things may pick up again to your advantage. My 2 cents.
I was in the same boat as you, CRM. NO ONE could change my mind away from the aviation major, and I'm glad I did it- there were some very good classes. However, I really wish, looking back, that I had at LEAST double majored in business or something. Yeah, I know, you have no interest in it (I don't), but it will pay more bills, at least in the early stages of your career.
IF you absolutely HAVE to major in aviation, my advice is to at least double major. The slight extra cost will be well worth it.
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