To respond to the above - I don't think it's a waste of time to go to college. I think that if you need college to learn what you're going to to for a career, then go right ahead. To say that you need to have a degree so that it looks good on your resume - whether you ever use what you learned - doesn't make a lot of sense to me. You go to school to learn what you need to get a job so you can support yourself and a family. That's it. You don't need 4 years of college to "find yourself" or to be a better pilot. I don't know many people that are better pilots because they went to school for say, criminal justice or psychology. I DID look into the industry, which is why I decided it was not justifiable to spend four years and a boatload of money on something I'd never use just to impress somone. As far as anyone thinking that I have an entitlement problem, I don't. I don't think that because I went to flight school I should get the world. I'd be perfectly happy instructing if it'd pay the bills for any length of time. If you're going to say that I think I'm entitled, you might as well say the same thing to everyone on this forum that thinks they deserve good work rules and decent pay. I'm not the only person here who knows we don't get payed what we're worth.

There are a lot of great loans, grants and scholarships you can receive.

The problem with this is that our generation has already financed our future with college loans. If you thought it was bad when people couldn't pay their mortgages anymore, just wait until people can't pay their school loans. The cause is the same: biting off more debt than you can chew. I can get a college loan, spend it on a 4 year degree, get out, and find out that the airline/135 operator/etc. isn't going to pay me any more because I have the degree. The guy with the 4 year degree sitting next to me in basic indoc is making the same amount of money that I am, but he's got more bills. Getting a degree with the hope of getting an interview is like buying a 73 type hoping that Southwest will call. And: This is almost as ridiculous as spending your way out of recession. Grants and scholarships are great if you can get them.

Let me end by saying that I think it is incredibly important to improve yourself and to make it a focus of every day. Learning is invaluable. However I do not need to have a degree to say that I have improved myself. Learn a language, study subjects that interest you, take up a hobby. There are many great things that you can accomplish.

Again, I am not against college. It is not that I would not want a degree if it would benefit me. This is my opinion. I don't expect everyone to agree.