Originally Posted by
N523UA
Hi Everyone! I've wanted to be a United pilot since I could speak, and the opening of Aviate Academy has only fueled my passion. I'm curious what you all think about applying for Aviate Academy & Aviate without a university degree. I have 4 years to go until I get my bachelor's degree, and while I'm interested in what I'm studying, flying is all I can think about, and I really don't feel like waiting for 4 years to spread my wings. Would it make sense to apply to Aviate Academy now without a university degree? Would my chances of getting into Aviate be lower without a university degree? Alternatively, can I apply and defer my enrollment? I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
If I were you I would start flight training, get your ratings as fast as possible, build time, get hired at any regional, and work on your degree at the same time either online or in person if you can swing it.
In my opinion, by being in Aviate and meeting all their requirements, it will take you longer to reach a United flight deck than if you stayed out of the program. This may be a controversial opinion, however, I have many friends who work for regionals and are in Aviate. None of them will get the call from United to "flow" until they meet the regional flight time requirements of the program. (minimum service requirements of 24 months and 2,000 flight hours for First Officers, or 1,500 flight hours for Captains, with a United Express Aviate partner.)
I never joined aviate, worked for a regional, got my degree while at the regionals, left for a LCC and was invited to interview at United shortly after finishing training at the LCC.
YMMV, but I know that all of my buddies who have been hired by United did it the fastest choosing a route similar to mine and outside of the aviate program.