Originally Posted by
TXTECHKA
Also when you go to a big school you can get all of your flying done on the side. You don't have to have a degree before you start flight instructing.
I flew on the side by taking a different degree that allowed more flexibility. I flew turbo-props on the side and graduated with 1500 TT 1200 ME turbine. Granted my story isn't typical, but anywhere you go you have to rise to the top.
Originally Posted by
TXTECHKA
You don't get any contacts or anything.
That statement is very dangerous. If you don't seek contacts you won't get them, but my university had internships with all 6 legacy carriers not to mention an 8 month program with FedEx and internships with almost every other airline, including SWA, Alaska, etc. Just recently quite a few corporate internships have come about.
All those stories you guys tell sound fun. I'm not argueing that you will get laid more at an aviation university. Just that like any school that specializes it will offer more oppurtunities for advancement. Obviously the regionals are hiring, but if you want to go to a major/Cargo/good corporate gig and your father doesn't fly there already, an internship can help.
Bottom line:
Who cares how the guy next to you got where he is, if you're happy with what you did then why bust on him?