Biggles,

Don't sweat the checkride. If you still enjoy flying, follow your dream. A busted checkride is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I am in my mid 30's and in the middle of a career change, myself, so I can relate to your doubts....that being said, don't let any of these "Pilot Factories", sucker you into giving them a big pile of money up front. RUN, don't walk from anybody that says you need to take out a loan for $60K, and give them all of the proceeds, up front.

Take a few lessons, and see if you are happy with your CFI, and the training program, before you pay big bucks. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket, esepecially this early in your career. I have seen too many people get sucked in, and destroy themselves, financially, like this. If you can't pay as you go, be very suspicious of the school. You should be able to walk away, at anytime, if you are not happy with the training, and take all of your money with you. You don't have to buy a job, especialy not if you are planning to do the CFI thing. There are plenty of jobs.

If you finish your Private, and find that you still love to fly, my advice is to buy a good used airplane, build some time on your own, and find a good local CFI, to work with, on your advanced ratings. You can sell the airplane when you when are done. If you are committed to this thing, you will be miles ahead, and much less in debt, when you finally get a job, or even if you decide this "professional" thing is not all that it's cracked up to be. (I'm sorry to say, you won't be able to afford to keep your plane, on a new F.O.'s salary) You will also will be a much more educated and well rounded pilot, by being an aircraft owner, than by being just a "stick wiggler".

I am currently working as a full time CFI, and recently sold my old Cherokee, for $40,000, that I bought four years ago, for $29,000. Accoring to my calculations, I was building time about $50/hr., while I owned it. (Although you can make good money on the appreciation, it still costs money to own and oprate the thing.) That little airplane tought me more about flying than any "Zero to Hero, in 6 Months Program" ever could.