Originally Posted by
aviatorhi
So the gamble I made paid off big time, considering I work for a very stable company, live where I want to live and earn a respectable wage. If I had finished college I would have graduated last summer, and been completely unable to be this far in my career or be making what I make. It's a gamble, and it's my choice to make, so that's the Catch 22: degree or experience. You will not be able to convince me that I needed to get the degree to sweat my butt off in a 172 for the next few years until hiring picks up and upgraded to a CRJ working for poverty wages at that point, it just doesn't make a lick of sense to put oneself through that.
Good for you if you made it where you wanted without a degree. But you'd have to admit that you're an exception.
Originally Posted by
wheresmyplane
How many doctors do you know that had to get a degree in an unrelated field in order to practice medicine? We require doctors to go to medical school, lawyers to law school, etc. By your logic we should require doctors to get training in a 2nd field before they can become doctors just so we can be really sure they can finish what they started and that they're well rounded. Actually, let's make every profession like that. Not only do you have to learn to do what you want to do for a career, but pick something else (anything really, because what the degree is in makes no difference, right?), and then maybe you'll get a job that almost covers your monthly expenses.
I'm not knocking anyone who has a degree. I think that's great. Education is a good thing. I'm not against taking classes to have better understanding of a subject. I'm not even denying that a degree makes you look better to a potential employer. I believe it does. What I AM saying is that in reality it's just a blanket way of weeding people out that has no bearing on the reality of the quality of employees with whom said employer will end up. There's more to being a professional than just checking the 'Bachelor's Degree" box on a resume.
doctors do take multiple courses that dont relate to being a doctor, thats all part of getting a degree. Also you're making it out like i said you have to get a degree in something unrelated. Fact is that a large number of professional pilots have degrees in aviation and some have other degrees. Point is that that a degree is a degree. All degrees have basic requirements but when you move on to your decided major you then switch to other courses. A degree is another box to fill on the many requirements it takes to get into this profession.
I could do commercial maneuvers before i had a commercial ticket so why do i need a commercial license? I mean i can do all thats required, how dare they say i need to pass a checkride!!
Is that just another "hoop" to jump through or is tha a legit REQUIREMENT? how does that differ from a degree?
Again, getting a degree is everyones choice but those without a degree who "make it" in the airlines are a very small minority. I wouldnt be at NWA/DAL without my degree so i'd say it paid off. To each their own