Greetings. I've spent an extensive amount of time reading the different threads in these forums, but I'm still not clear on several things. I know this post is going to be like dropping a bomb on the forum, so forgive me.

First some introduction: I'm a 22 year old, holding an A.S. degree in Math and Science (3.75 GPA), and working as a Unix support technician at GE Global Research. My salary is 40k. I really don't find my job fulfilling, in fact it's quite boring and mundane, but it pays. I have about 30 hours of flight instruction; I started when I was 13 and had to stop a few years later due to my parent's financial situation. My girlfriend recently bought me a flight lesson at Richmor Aviation in Schenectady, NY, and it sparked that interest back up. I've always wanted to be an airline pilot, flying the big jets.

Now to the questions. I love that there are actual airline pilots in these forums, and those are the people my questions are directed toward. All I'm looking for is your $.02, and I'm not looking to spark any kind of debate. Please just state your ideas and agree to disagree; I'm trying to learn from everyone. I don't expect everyone to be answering every single question, so do me a favor and just let me know which one you're answering before you begin. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read this and answer my questions. I really do appreciate it very much. This is my life, and a lot of effort, patience, and especially MONEY is at stake here.

Question 1: How important is a Bacchelors degree to the employers at the Airlines? Will my A.S. cut it?

Question 2: How does one build the minimum required flight times for the regional airlines if they get their ratings from a flight school and not a degree program? As I understand it, you have to be an instructor, you have to be rich, or you have to get lucky. Does it take considerably longer? I'm not much for starving and waiting around for a big break, so it's really important that I feel safe about my prospective career opportunities. That's why I'm seriously considering attending a university for aviation. I'd like to be the captain of a 777 en route to Heathrow from JFK by the time I'm 40. I already have something to fall back on, so I'm not really interested in getting my four year degree in anything that isn't going to further my career.

Question 3: I have applied and been accepted to both the University of North Dakota and Western Michigan University. I'd like to hear from graduates of both programs. Tell me what you liked, what you disliked, whether or not you feel the training helped your career, whether or not life in the area sucks, etc. Is it easy to get your career going once you graduate from these programs?

Question 4: This is directed towards those who are already flying big jets for major airlines. What does the timeline look like for a career as an international airline pilot? How do you advance? As I understand it, you start off in a regional airline as a first officer gaining experience in something like a CRJ-700, then you get promoted to captain. How long are you a first officer before you become a captain? How do you go from something like a CRJ-700 to a Boeing 747, and how long does it take? Are you locked into a certain aircraft/airline forever, or seemingly forever? What are the steps in between that I'm missing? Also, what's it like to be a first/second officer?

Question 5: Right now I'm making 40k. From what I've read on these forums, I will probably be making quite a bit less as a flight instructor or a FO in a regional airline. Is this correct? If so, when can I expect some return on my training investment assuming everything goes as planned?

Question 6: Is the 777 to Heathrow thing realistic? I've read a lot of scary posts here. Posts like this... http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...ad.php?t=15705 I don't even know what to say to this kind of thing. It sounds like the opening monologue to a really depressing true story. No time for kids? No time for your wife? Can't afford a house? What? Well paid, happily married, know the names of your son's teachers, flying to Tokyo tomorrow airline pilots please step forward and refute these claims...