Even after espousing the (alleged) advantages of an aviation degree, you still recommend against it...that says a lot.
I 'espoused' one advantage which, as far as I can tell, is the only one, dick.
More often than not these promises of reduced minimums sound great in a recruiting presentation, but don't exist in practice. Regardless, how much further below 1000 TT can minimums go?
They do exist in practice, in fact it's pretty common. How much further below 1000 TT can they go?...I've seen over 400 hours; 300 happens all the time.
Aviation degrees have worked out fine for many (if you consider "fine" landing a job just as easily attained with another degree), but non-aviation degrees have worked out fine for many more.
I consider 'fine' to be all the pilots out there who have earned an aviaiton degree with the sole intention of being a pilot; they are successful and doing what they love.
Again, my contention is not that aviation degrees CAN'T work out--it's just that there are other options that don't result in newly minted CFIs and regional FOs barely (if at all) able to cover monthly payments on student loans, let alone living expenses. There are far better ways to start a flight training career.
I agree...it's reason I'm no longer an aviaiton major.
There's also a cost in time, which is four years spent confined to a tiny academic realm, completely useless and irrelevant to any facet of existence aside from flying airplanes. The natural progression of flight training and subsequent instructing is what's necessary for a solid foundation in an aviation career, not a degree program bloated and padded with simple fluff in order to stretch vocational training into the 120 semester hours required for accreditation.
If you are talking about UND with that your pretty far off...like out in the weeds on this one.
As I said before, I wouldn't recommend an aviation degree to anyone. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone go into debt to finance an aviation degree as there are much better ways of going about getting your ratings and experience.
Whats your background Bose? You sound like a scorned man. Are a professional pilot or aviation major?