Hey guys,

**Long post sorry in advance, just want to introduce my background**

I just stumbled upon this site while researching flight schools and have some questions, although I have been reading lots of good information the last couple of days.

I am 24 years old, married with a 3 year old son currently working for an Air Medical/Emergency Transport company in Texas as an EMT. I have been thinking long and hard of what I want to do with my "career", and have decided I would like to pursue a career as a pilot, maybe one day flying air medical fixed wing or similiar, although any pilot job I would be happy with starting out obviously, until I get hours and much needed experience.

I have always wanted to be a pilot but was pushed away from it by my family into computers which I pursued from an early age through high school and worked in the field for around 5 years at various programming companies.

I felt a void as I was not doing what I wanted to do instead what I was pushed into. I talked long and hard with my wife and various other people and had an interest in Air EMS so that is what I pursued and got certed in so I could work in a field I loved around aircraft.

Now, I have been doing this for 3 years for the same company and have decided the next step I would like to take is to become a pilot as my true lifelong career.

I know it is hard work, but I am used to that in the current business I am in, and I have a passions for this like no other.

My questions start with the fact that pay in EMS stinks and I could probably make more working retail, but I love helping people and being around the aircraft. I have looked at ATP and there financing, and $50K seems like a good deal when I actually calculate the hours you get etc., but it is still a huge amount to finance.

I am working full time so if I did ATP it would be the 10 month self paced not the 90 day. Are there other options I should look into? I don't want this process to drag out for 10 years, I would rather bite the bullet and eat Ramen for 3 if it was possible, because on my current wage, any extra money going to anything means Ramen anyway.

Another option is a 2 year course at a local community college, which is 2 years but you come out with your instructor and an Associates. What are your thoughts? Would loan rates be better going through the college way? Should I just bite the bullet get it knocked out and start doing my time?