True, but even a marginally intelligent person should have no trouble getting above a 2.5. Below a 2.5 and I feel effort is the most likely culprit.

A high GPA won't help you but a low GPA will hurt you early on in your career.

A 4.0 and 3 bucks gets you a plane cup of coffee at Starbucks

 

I had less than a 2.5 but I worked 3 jobs an averaged 60 hours week. I still have debt but I paid my way through college. If I went back now and didn't have to worry about money I'm sure I'd get a much higher gpa.

 

Explains everything.

 

I agree. Looking at the whole package in your situation would probably also entail looking at what college you attended and what classes you took. I hope this doesn't come back to hurt you. Hindsight is 20/20 and you'll probably never know if this was the case but if your gpa does end up hurting your chances, it might have been more intelligent to lower the school load in order to get at least a 2.5. It's unfortunate in a way that interviews are so subjective, good luck.

 

No worries I'll prolly end up going back to school for a second degree. Feels weird not being in school.

 

Bottom line...without a degree your options are very limited in the 121 world...Those guys are regionals without degrees have little chance of moving to something better... fair? probably not... reality...yes.

 

I feel for you but you have to play the game in order to get hired. It isn't a meaningless number. It raises a huge red flag for most recruiters that either the person doesn't have time management skills, learns slower then others, or can't deal with the bureaucracy of college. College isn't meant to have people working three jobs and going to school full time. If your grades suffered then you should have taken fewer classes. If you needed to graduate ASAP then your stuck with the reality that that number will be looked at for at least the next 10 yrs.

If you realize that your gpa is your weak point then you need to tell them that you worked three jobs to pay for flying and I would still expect them to hold it against you. You need to fill the rest of your resume with some impressing stuff. Volunteer, gold seal instructor, take a few graduate level courses at a cheap school (and get A's), learn another language etc... make it a small blip on your record vs the last big indicator they have to judge you on.

 

The good thing is only airlines seem to care about the grades. I don't really plan/want to go to a major to be honest, so it will be nice to not have to worry about it being looked down upon.

 

God, I recall when I interviewed at ASA back in the mid 90's... the interview was made up of "what's your favorite airplane?" .. and "most of our pilots wind up at Delta in 3 years"..

now they want GPA?

 

For now until the "pilot shortage" happens.