Originally Posted by tnkrdrvr

If you are going to graduate at the age of 21-22 years old, finish college and do your best to get flight training while doing so. Once graduated, attack your flight training full time with the goal of hitting 1500 hours by the time you turn 23. There isn’t a lot of point in dropping college for flight training when you can’t get an ATP until 23. This also avoids putting all your eggs in one basket, which as others have said is foolish. This plan is relatively low risk and at every step will leave you in a position to have career options instead of leaving you vulnerable to the vicissitudes of a volatile industry.

If you are already within 18 months of turning 23, I would consider Rickair’s throw caution to the wind and bet it all on the airlines’ pilot hiring binge. Don’t do this if you have family obligations. It’s not fair to them and would be a significant obstacle to making the sacrifices this route would entail. This option could leave you sitting pretty in a great career job or jobless with a mountain of debt. You are betting you can get your flight training, 1500 flight hours, and regional seasoning done before some calamity or natural economic cycles ends this hiring cycle.

Good luck regardless of your choice. This can be a rewarding career.