How am I so different? I am choosing to make a living at this as well. Yes I do say "what is right for me" and "what I need to do". Yes it is about me, in my mind and I think you, along with everyone else on the board does the same thing.

You make a good point about wasting $30k. No one wants to do that. But I have to get to my career goals in the most efficient manner that I can along with learning all I can about what it takes to be a darn good pilot. I am making a career change and I have a family to support, and there are others out there that are in the same position and if going this rout is the best for them, and they are still becoming excellent pilots, then how is that hurting the industry?

You provided definitions of a professional. So I will take it a step further; professionalism. It is a state of mind, a manner in which you conduct yourself, how you treat others in the job site and how you regard the company's policies and values. It is working with dignity and solid ethics. Regardless of where you got your training, you either have this or you don't.

Having said all that, I am not sold on Gulfstream. Heck, I don't think I liked the guy that I spoke with at the school, sounded as if he was trying to sell me a car. I just don't think that, if I or anyone else who goes through this rout, is any less of a pilot that someone who instructs, or tows banners for several months.