Originally Posted by
bryris
Agreed. The best action, IMHO, is to major in something that is readily marketable. An actual skill, not psychology or something. Get your ratings on the side and see what happens. Being a pilot just isn't a good career anymore. The competition is high, especially right now, or for the next 3-5 years anyway. If you can land a JOB, then enjoy it, but always be ready to fall back on your non-aviation training.
I am in my 2nd year at a regional. I much enjoy my job, but I am almost 90% certain that I'll be furloughed or the company will go out of business within the next 6 months. All the planets are aligning, unfortunately. I am sticking it out for now just as a "hale mary" to pad the logbook as much as I can while the getting is good, but I'll probably be back at a desk job (for which I majored in) inside of a year, unless I decide to instruct for a while, but even those jobs will probably be taken. But, I'll catch it on the upswing again. It feels good to know that I don't NEED aviation to put food on the table. You might feel the same way.
I agree with this post wholeheartedly. (Maybe because I wrote it)
I would also condone working in your backup field for a little while before taking up aviation. When I graduated college, I worked for 17 months in my majored field, earned about $55,000 during the process. Bought a house, paid off the cars, etc. Life requires some prep costs to set yourself up, working in your backup field first might help you better weather the first few years of ultra low pilot pay. Also, your backup resume will have some experience on it should you ever need it.
I fly with so many pilots who have no other marketable skills. It sucks for them. If they get the oust, its back to school. You are young enough now to make the right decision at the onset.
You'll thank me later.