Give yourself something to fall back on. You are still very young. Go to college and get your private. College is going to do nothing but help you in the aviation world anyways. Alot can change in your life and the aviation world in a number of years.

I was the same way at 17 staring up at every thing that moved in the sky and was determined to be a professional pilot. I talked to a bunch of people who gave me the same advise I just stated above and that has already been mentioned in this thread. So after looking at the cost and the fragility of the airline world (where i wanted to end up) I went to college and when I got out had completely different priorities and goals. A few years went by and I still stared at every airplane I could find and the itch never left. I grew to hate my career at the time (even with making really good money for a 23-24 year old) and that same stupid itch for flying was still there. So.... I said screw it. I got my ratings and never looked back. I still have something to fall back on if it doesn't work out.

In summary:
-Go to college/tech school or something along those lines
-Get your private
-Make a decision based on that, Know that you want to do it, don't just do it because you think you might like it. If you still have doubts look else where because there is and always will be alot of bull !*$$ you will have to look past and put up with in this industry.
-And most importantly, if you do make the jump, do WHATEVER you can to not go into debt while working on your ratings.

Good luck!

PS: (don't know if your a guy or not) but chicks don't give a $&$& about pilots anymore :-D

Stets656: Stop posting the same question all over the forums. Use this thread for all of your general career questions.

Thanks,
The Moderator

I would also add, investigate the Young Eagles and Civil Air Patrol. Hang out at busy gen aviation airport. Just go in to some flight schools and talk to people, offer to wash someone's airplane for a free ride, get a copy of Flight Sim X--there are some good tutorials for flying on that.

Then realize, a private pilot's license is going to cost about 10K, and a couple hundred a month to maintain currency. You could do Sport Pilot first, then add PPL.