Originally Posted by bcrosier

I'm going to pretty much repeat the same things everyone else has said, but I'll do so just to add my little bit of agreement to all of them:



WAY too expensive, particularly given todays market. I haven't been there, but I have heard the same thing about the lack of overall diversity (not just M/F, but intermixing with people in other fields of study. That is part of the true university experience, and you won't get it there.



My suggestion for a 12-step program:

Step one - Look at a map and determine what state you live in.

Step two - Find out what state schools there are in that state.

Step three - Pick a field of study which might interest you and doesn't have the word aviation anywhere in it's name.

Step four - Look at the schools from step two and determine which ones offer the field of study you chose in step three.

Step five - Select schools from the list in step four in order of preference based on other factors of your choosing, such as location, M/F ratio, access to a FBO or Part 141 school, ect.

Step six - Take the money you save from not going to Riddle and get your ratings at said FBO or 141 school.

Step seven - Get your CFI and instruct while in college. Learn far more about flying than a 300 hour wonder, including how to not get killed in an aircraft.

Step eight - Graduate with a marketable degree AND your pilot ratings AND WITHOUT debt that could have put you through medical school (which would have the promise of some return on that investment.

Step nine - Discover that airlines (and other aviation employers) really don't care what your degree was in, just that you have a Bachelor's from a good school.

Step ten - Bust your butt to find a job.

Step eleven - Have a successful career in or out of aviation.

Step twelve - Retire.




Already having your private is great, you are one step ahead of things in that regard, and you can build flight time without having to pay a school for it - just get checked out in an inexpensive rental somewhere.

Virtually any non Ivy-league school will be cheaper than Riddle. Don't buy into that "Harvard of the Skies" crap - many make fun of Riddle grads because they are perceived as having a silver spoon in their mouth and a attitude to match (I'm not saying all Riddle grads are, but that is a very real perception among many. I've personally met both Riddle grads that were great, and some that were tools - just like anyplace).

Regarding the degree to choose - again refer to step three. For aviation, it won't matter if it's a degree in classical literature, history, pre-med, or physics. I personally would recommend you pick something that both interets you in general and you would consider for a career if aviation doesn't work out.

I'll throw in one other thought - I'd reccommend getting your instrument rating in a round-dial aircraft. You will have to developd much better situational awareness than I think you would in a glass aircraft. Certainly it's more difficult, but that's the point. Absolutely become proficient on a glass avionics system as well, but I think skill you will gain learning the "old fashioned" way will serve you well regardless of what type aircraft you end up flying.