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Embry Riddle

Old 03-27-2017, 01:34 PM
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Default Embry Riddle

Hello, I'm currently a Junior in high school and wanted to get people's thoughts on Embry Riddle and what they've heard about it as far as the aviation program goes. I was also considering Purdue as they also have a good aviation program so I just wanted to see what people think is a better option. I know that Embry Riddle is expensive, but I'm fortunate enough to have well-off parents so I'm not too worried about the cost. Thanks.
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Old 03-27-2017, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by mmata View Post
Hello, I'm currently a Junior in high school and wanted to get people's thoughts on Embry Riddle and what they've heard about it as far as the aviation program goes. I was also considering Purdue as they also have a good aviation program so I just wanted to see what people think is a better option. I know that Embry Riddle is expensive, but I'm fortunate enough to have well-off parents so I'm not too worried about the cost. Thanks.
Embry Riddle- good education, poor value, you'll be stuck in the pilot autism bubble which will make everyone you fly with down the road hate you.

Purdue- Good education, good value, real university experience, and only 1/2 of the people you fly with will hate you because they think everyone who went to a university for flying is retarded.
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Old 03-28-2017, 01:04 PM
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How about applying to a good in-state school and majoring in something besides aviation while getting your ratings on the side? This will provide something to fall back upon should you get furloughed, fired, disgusted, disappointed with this industry in addition to the possible loss of your medical?

I've flown with many riddlers and those who went to aviation schools. Nothing about their education made me think "gosh that was worth $200k+"

Just because your parents are "well off" doesn't mean you should squander resources. In the end, my license looks the same as yours. Neither I, nor many others, will give a rat's behind that you went to riddle, purdue, et al. In fact bringing a non-aviation perspective into the cockpit makes for a more enjoyable conversational experience.

Above all else, these guiding principles apply:

1) Never pass up a bathroom
2) Never trust a fart
3) Never sign a training contract, promissory note, or any other kind of debt instrument

Most of all, have fun and take your time.
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Old 03-28-2017, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Quarryman View Post
How about applying to a good in-state school and majoring in something besides aviation while getting your ratings on the side? This will provide something to fall back upon should you get furloughed, fired, disgusted, disappointed with this industry in addition to the possible loss of your medical?

I've flown with many riddlers and those who went to aviation schools. Nothing about their education made me think "gosh that was worth $200k+"

Just because your parents are "well off" doesn't mean you should squander resources. In the end, my license looks the same as yours. Neither I, nor many others, will give a rat's behind that you went to riddle, purdue, et al. In fact bringing a non-aviation perspective into the cockpit makes for a more enjoyable conversational experience.

Above all else, these guiding principles apply:

1) Never pass up a bathroom
2) Never trust a fart
3) Never sign a training contract, promissory note, or any other kind of debt instrument

Most of all, have fun and take your time.
I kind of agree here. I went the way I did because I could get loans/aid for my flight training and an R-ATP. If mom and dad could throw money at me I probably would've majored in something else and flew on the side. That being said a lot of my friends at the airlines have seen non-aviation majors wash out while my school's pass rate at the 121 level is pretty solid.
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Old 03-28-2017, 02:34 PM
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Washing out at the 121 level is more about attitude than aptitude. Have a pleasant, non-entitled demeanor and genuinely have a desire to learn and somehow the system gets you through with a lot of hard work on your part. Be humble and respectful with the knowledge that you neither know Jack nor Schitt and be disciplined in your training. With few exceptions, you will succeed.

I caution greatly against going into debt for this line of work. I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, however, an occasional reminder to keep these young people out of a debtor's prison is doing the right thing.

Student loans are not discharged in bankruptcy and when you cannot pay, the banksters will come after you and they WILL get paid.

"A strange game. The only winning move is not to play "
--War Games, circa 1981
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Old 03-28-2017, 03:04 PM
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Skip to last paragraph for answer to OP.

Colleges are great if you want to get to the airlines. I did my Private (part 61) during my senior year in HS, Instrument and Commercial (part 141) at a college I got a degree in Aviation Management at, Multi engine add-on (Part 61) at ATP just to see what they were like (possible CFI job), CFI, CFII, MEI (Part 61) at a university (Part 141 program) I decided I wanted to work for and showed my dedicate. I got the offer, taught for about 900 hours (Needed 1250 to get to the airlines, went to a regional for about 6 months and decided I didn't want to have to pay to go to work flying a CRJ (that was when $21/hour was "great" first year pay 3 years ago). Now I'm flying here and there and working on my A&P at a community college.

Anyways, long story but I just wanted to show my background in both sides of the spectrum (61 vs 141).

I would highly recommend getting your Private Pilot's license now in high school. You will save money by not having to pay tuition for ground school in college and skip almost have a semester in college (I took a lot of AP classes and got my Private license and skipped 1.5 years of college).
**Make sure the college you want to attend accepts your Private License as credit for both the flight and ground classes/labs!***
Go to college and get as many of your ratings as you can while earning your degree. Consider non-aviation or at least aviation management to have something to fall back on if you lose your medical (I should have gone for something in engineering but oh well). You should be able to teach at the school once you get your CFI, maybe even before you graduate, and you will be set for the regionals, but hopefully the mainlines will absorb them by that time and we will have no more "B" scale for flying 100 people around instead of 110 like the "real" pilots do.

Last advice is to have fun flying! Another reason I got out of the airlines was most pilots didn't enjoy the flying so much and I didn't want to have my passion for flying disappear like theirs (not to say everyone in the airlines are like that).
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Old 03-28-2017, 03:06 PM
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Also, I would go with Purdue or an in-state school over Embry any day of the week. PM me for any advice or questions!
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Old 03-28-2017, 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Quarryman View Post
Washing out at the 121 level is more about attitude than aptitude. Have a pleasant, non-entitled demeanor and genuinely have a desire to learn and somehow the system gets you through with a lot of hard work on your part. Be humble and respectful with the knowledge that you neither know Jack nor Schitt and be disciplined in your training. With few exceptions, you will succeed.

I caution greatly against going into debt for this line of work. I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, however, an occasional reminder to keep these young people out of a debtor's prison is doing the right thing.

Student loans are not discharged in bankruptcy and when you cannot pay, the banksters will come after you and they WILL get paid.

"A strange game. The only winning move is not to play "
--War Games, circa 1981
Which is great and all, except for some loans are the only way it's even a possibility. If I'd worked for four years instead of going to school I'd just now have enough money to get all my ratings. Every year you delay going to an airline is potentially 200-250k lost off the end of your career. It's a gamble, for some it's worth it and others lose their shirts, but it isn't illogical.
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Old 03-28-2017, 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkSideMoon View Post
Which is great and all, except for some loans are the only way it's even a possibility. If I'd worked for four years instead of going to school I'd just now have enough money to get all my ratings. Every year you delay going to an airline is potentially 200-250k lost off the end of your career. It's a gamble, for some it's worth it and others lose their shirts, but it isn't illogical.
Trust me, I get it. I was an economic casualty of the lost decade. In one day, 9/11/01, many thousands of aviation careers were destroyed. Being free of debt made it possible to go work any job, doing anything simply to survive. All it will take is one market downturn, one brilliant idea (insert sarcasm here) to go to war, or a flood of NAI type carriers to shut down this party that we are now somewhat celebrating as a so-called pilot shortage. Be not a borrower nor a lender.

One thing that is often not discussed is not only is the principal amount taken out in loans a substantial amount in the beginning, but the compound interest upon that sum is destructive. You are right: it is a gamble. However, the odds are stacked in favor of the house. Salle Mae and her ilk will not simply let you walk away from student loans.
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Old 03-28-2017, 07:10 PM
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Interesting how no Riddle guys come to the defense of such an esteemed university... Weird.
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