I understand that flying is your dream. However, being a professional pilot may not be. There is A LOT to being a professional pilot besides flying. This job is not just go out to the airport whenever you please and fly to Rome and back and get paid $400,000. This is sitting reserve for 10 hrs at a time, with only 10 days off each month, in a hotel crashpad with 8 other guys while your wife is having your second baby and your first child is is playing in his Little League All-Star game.

There is a reason why the standard answer as crew's pass in the jet bridge to the question, "Hows it going?" is "Oh, sigh, just livin' the dream".

This is because EVERY airline pilot has realized that it is not like they imagined. I'm not saying its unbearable for all, but it is for many. I would stop first and talk to pilots of all backgrounds and ask them what life is like. THEN, if you still think that this is your "dream", start worrying about how to pay for it.