It depends on just how serious he is about his consideration of an aviation career. This is a avocation, not a job...it requires a certain 'fire in the belly'.
Assuming he has this, my choice would be to pursue a military flying slot. It's the best training available...and it's free. Of course, there's the commitment...but everything has a price, and the commitment is the military's pound of flesh.
The best of both worlds is to join an Air National Guard unit and have them send you to AF pilot training. Then return to the ANG unit to both a civilian job and a military flying opportunity.
The military experience will add a perspective on life that the civilian sector just can't provide.