Originally Posted by
bcrosier
I think part of the problem here is we are at times talking past each other as there are so many different aspects floating around in this thread.
Agreed!
It's been said and it's true - airlines do not care what your degree is in (and I can't emphasize that enough - they really don't, just have a 4-year degree and decent grades). The converse is not the case, many businesses outside of aviation will accept a variety of degrees, but one in aviation (they don't see value in that) from a university that people outside of aviation know nothing about has very limited utility. Do an informal survey amongst acquaintances - name virtually any state school or university in a major sports conference and ask them if they've heard of it and if it's a good school. Then ask the same of an aviation only university - see what your results are. This is essentially the same thing that will happen when your resume crosses a non-aviation desk along with 157 others. It's something to think about.
I know that. Something that I see a lot around here is: "Airlines don't care if you have a degree in basket weaving!" I'm not getting a degree to get hired by the airlines. I'm doing it to better myself in a field in which I'm truly interested in.
First of all, the "Embry-Riddle name" is not a selling point for me. I know that it's not as prestigious as it once was (if ever). I don't care if it was called "Big Jim's Kool 'n Awesome Flight College." (Actually, that name would make me hesitate, but still...) I'm attracted to it because of (a) what they teach and (b) how they teach it.
(A) I'm interested in the actual topics in the Aeronautical Science curriculum. (
http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/degrees...nce/index.html; click on "Requirements")
Courses like Aerodynamics and EFMS and Flight Safety and Aviation Legislation excite me; they're topics that I genuinely enjoy learning about. College is supposed to be interesting! And aviation is the most interesting topic to learn about in general for me. As I'll say below, I am aware that this component is available at aviation-specialty state colleges.
(B) I like the flight training model. First of all, I'm getting the PPL before college. But the way, for example, my Instrument Rating would be taught is a two-step process. First it's taught in a traditional classroom setting. But the difference at ER (and other similar places) is that for example,
that very afternoon, I could be seeing what I was taught in real life application. You literally walk from classroom to aircraft. I know that you can do ground school at a state college and fly at a separate place, but this way, it's coordinated and really is synchronized. I know I've said it before, but this is the best way, for me, to learn.
Finally, a misc. benefit - some major airline internships (United comes to mind; Delta strongly prefers it) only accept applicants from certain aviation or aviation-specialized institutions. (ERAU, UND, etc.) Internships could be the key to (a) bypassing the regionals [God, are you listening?] or (b) spending less time at a regional.
I'm not trying to "sell" anyone on ERAU. But I want to justify my point of view as I make my decision.