Good rule of thumb for standing out on your app and especially in the interview is to follow your passion and take a level of responsibility within it. Into home brewing, compete and get prizes; into running, run a marathon, kids play sports, coach; flying club, be the treasurer. It really doesn’t matter, they want to know that you are willing to step up as need be to lead or guide a group; not unlike what is expected flying the line occasionally. Then most crucially, put it on your app, find a bubble to put it in and let them see it.

As far as degrees go, good advice already given about only do it if it means something to you. There are multiple ways to expand your responsibilities while working at smaller companies, find something that fits your interests or skills and throw it on your app, you don’t have to do it forever but make sure it’s long enough to show you weren’t just checking a box.

Failures are not the end of the world, the further back they are the better. Just be honest and don’t put one in your app then admit there are actually two more in the interview.