Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
Recently I have encountered some college students who are studying aviation and it never fails to surprise me that few seem to know about this place. For all that the modern computer age offers it seems that those who are in training to enter the profession prefer to remain in the dark regarding the realities of the career.
Even knowledge of the basics like the seniority system is new material to them. It almost seems like they would prefer to remain in the bubble of their own fantasy until it is too late to change. Others it seems are aware of the futility of their major but do not hold any real plans of pursuing it anyway.
If mom and dad are picking up the tab for a four year post high school retirement then you might as well do what is the most fun I guess. One guy told me that most in the program know that the majority of aviation graduates are going on after graduation on to work in the family furniture store or on some other non-aviation career like Barista but they don't seem to care.
I imagine that when the first student loan bill comes they will.
Skyhigh
This is pretty spot on analysis of most college students in the aviation programs. Most that I encounter on our main campus just brag to their non-aviation familiar friends about how they "fly planes" for their classes, and have no real idea (other than the jaded idea implanted by the aviation department) of what the aviation industry is all about. That being said I did know a few people, myself included, who did do substantial research before starting. Of the 4 that I knew that did that, 3 dropped the program after the first year, and the other transferred schools.
I guess they all decided the risk-vs-reward wasn't worth it, and got out early.
It's funny, even if you read all about what is wrong with the aviation industry on here before you start your training, for some reason you tend to blow it off and major in aviation anyways.
Just my experiences though...could be different at other schools...