Yup.

Student01, just because you keep asking the question it won't change the answer.

If you want to fly for United, get the 4-year degree...and even then it will still be EXTREMELY competitive. The minimums are the minimums.

Several months ago I met a regional pilot who was about my age (late 40s) on the same commute flight. He was quite upset with UA that he could not get an interview after flying at a regional for nearly 20 years. He was particularly unhappy with the company's preference for a 4-year degree---which of course he didn't have.

I asked him point blank, "Well....hasn't that always been the case with UA?"

He mumbled something about dropping out to take the first regional job (to get "hours") and the hope that UA would have changed their preference by now.

Meanwhile, pilots 20 years younger with a tenth of his "experience" (cough) are getting hired.

Your call.

The take away: there are many paths to UA and many different ways to get an education and experience. You need to develop a strategy that works for you to achieve your goal.