I'm 29, have 1600+ TT, 250 ME, CFI, CFII, MEI, 1300+ as a CFI, B.S. in Aeronautical Science and I'm 9 credits away from a M.S. in Aeronautical Science (Operations). I don't think that I'm competitive enough for a regional with all the furloughed pilots out there with thousands of hours of airline experience, jet time and multiple type ratings which is why I'm working on my ATP-ME (not that its going to help a lot).

I suggest the CFI route to build some flight time and most of all experience.