Spent $20,000 back in 1989 dollars to go to one of the best schools around, Flight Safety. Spent another 10K after that for commercial single add on, CFI and instrument recurrency over the years. Worked in aviation for years and got nowhere because my daddy did not work for the airlines. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn't. My father was a chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of America for 24 years, If I had decided to be a chef like he was I could have had a job anywhere in the world - but I wasn't interested in doing that. Unless you know someone on the inside I wouldn't bother. The reality is that most people who set out to be a big airline captain never make it. Not trying to be negative, just fact. I would like to save someone from wasting the time and money that I did. Those schools that you are describing are "selling you dreams" that you will probably never see. Beware. Some of those schools cost upwards of $60,000 for a slim to none CHANCE at making $18,000 a year to start. Do the math. If you must get your ratings just go to a reputable school at a fair price.