First of all I'd like to say hello, and thanks in advance for any advice or opinions you provide me. It is greatly appreciated.

Let me tell you a little about myself: I am an 18 year old soon to graduate high school student with hopes and dreams of one day operating a 150,000lb. piece of machinery at mach .88 30,000ft above the ground, and living to tell about it. (sounds a lot better than an office job to me ) Actually, this has been my life goal, well, for as long as I can remember. Now that I am graduating high school and finally at the point in my life where I can start realizing my dream, I am at a complete loss as to where to start.

I guess my first question is about university. Where to go and what to take? I know I want to get at least a bachelor's degree. (not only because it looks good on a resume, but also because I don't want to go through life uneducated) Do employers in the airline industry favor certain degrees over others? Or is it only about hours and certifications?

My last question (for now, there will be more, oh, there will be more) is about getting hours and certifications. I've seen ads for flight schools that will take you from your PPL through ATP with all the ratings et cetera. Are these schools worth dropping the money on? Or should I just rent planes and get my hours?

-Also, I live just on the Illinois side of the river across from St. Louis. It's an easy commute to Lambert Airport for me, If that makes any difference.

Well, that's it for now. Once again if anyone has any tips and pointers it is greatly appreciated.

- thank you

Edit: I was not sure where to post this, so, if there are any mods out there that could place it in the right forum, that would be wonderful.