Hey guys, thx again for all the responses.

Okay... So I guess it looks like this might not be the most practical plan of going about getting my licenses. Plus if I cant even be hired at a regional until 21, it wouldnt matter anyways...

There is another option though that was my first choice before I heard about the whole ATP thing... I guess I might of gotten a little too excited about it before learning EXACTLY what going that route entitled.

My next plan is to attend a somewhat (about an hour away) local community college, who has a pretty good aviation program.

The pluses to this route are:

1) I get my PPL - CFI, MEI, II etc. in 2 years, not 4.

2) Federal loans! This is very important cause not only are they significantly easier to get, but they definately CAN be deferred until graduation.

3) Aviation will be my AA degree, and not my bachelors. Which means I can go to the 4 year university in my town, where my mom works and I get 75% off of tuition.

So basically, I will get my gen eds out of the way at this CC, while being enrolled in the flight training program. With your guys help I think this will probably be the best option.

This way I can live a regular life, do all the fun college stuff, get all my ratings relatively fast, instruct throughout my last two years of college to build time and make a little money on the side, and since its federal, the laon will be deferred until i'm done with my Bachelor's.

Then I guess after that, I will just have to build time after I get my degree, which unfortunately will put me a little behind the hiring curve, but I guess thats a reasonable sacrifice to live a somewhat normal life. As Skyhigh said, the jobs will always be there...

Thoughts?