these young guys and gals should go to a school like Purdue, UND, SIU, or something like that......and get an excellent aviation education, while doing other things as well. Make yourself a hot commodity.
I can say from experience that NOTHING is guaranteed when you get of college. Heck, you might think that you want to be a regional pilot...but 6 months of actually doing will give you a better idea of the life.
ERAU may be a great aviation school....but it was awful nice getting a four-year degree from Purdue, King Air time, 120 hours in 727-100/-200 sim, crazy partying, lots of girls, and some awesome networking for doing other things.
(Want to get a job in something other than aviation? ...having a degree from a school that everybody thinks is "Ivy League" is pretty darn nice. Purdue's a state school.)