Low grades and GPA
 

Hi, so I had a question about going into being a cargo pilot for the major airlines. I heard when it comes to regional or major airlines, they look at school transcripts and your GPA. And my question is I go to community college and I have multiple F’s, failed the same class multiple times, had Withdrawals from classes, and I’ve got a 1.4 GPA. So knowing all that is there still a good chance for me to work in the airlines or is it to late for me. Thank you

Regionals, at least the one I’m at doesn’t care about your GPA. Don’t sweat it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I cant see how you would pass the required FAA exams and training. If you can you will be limited to the regionals or lower tier cargo outfits. The other option is to do a complete turnaround in your academic performance. That would probably get your past performance forgiven if you complete your degree with a reasonable GPA.

I don’t know that they would look at community college grades. However, you might have a tough time getting into a four year institution to complete your degree. But there is no call to give your dream, whether it’s to fly for a major or a cargo carrier. There are always ways to get to your goal.

What is the reason for the low grades and failures? Sometimes people have too much going on in their lives, personal issues or tragedies, or lack of motivation. The fact is, you will have to accrue some academic proficiency, do you feel that you are capable of that? I know extremely smart people who have flunked out for one reason or another (usually too much beer), but have gone back to college or the trades, and have done well.

Thanks for replying: yeah in my years of community college I just didn’t care where my future was headed. Oh and it doesn’t help the fact that when I used to be in High School not only did I receive bad grades but I got a suspension for academic dishonesty It was about 7 to 8 years ago. But after going through all that I realize how dumb I was being and just thinking of my childhood dream of being a pilot. I want to dig it back up, but I also want to know the truth of where I actually stand if I were to fully commit or am I just wasting my time.

None of the regionals are even going to look at your grades. It WILL be difficult to get to a top tier airline without a four year degree.

The current demand for regionals pilots is high so it should be easy to get hired at a regional. Go to a regional that has a flow program like the AA wholly owned airlines. One interview at these regionals and you won’t have to interview at AA. You just show up to class once your number is called.

Echo what those above have said.

However, interviewers are human as well. If you're able to somehow turn it around and find a way to get a 4 year degree, and do well, you will probably be okay in the long run. And you will have a helluva story about how you turned your life around to tell in an interview one day.

Best of luck.

My junior college performance was not quite as bad as yours but honestly not much better. That being said I eventually got it figured out and got enough credit to transfer to my hometown 4 year university where I finished my bachelor's with a good GPA. I was embarrassed by my early collegiate performance and worried about having to explain it during interviews, if the call from a major ever came... I was working nights, flight instructing and trying to finish my degree all at the same time but still my junior college performance was an embarrassment to me.

Fast forward, 4 years after graduating college and heading off to the regionals, I have interviewed and been a hired by TWO MAJOR PAX airlines at 28 years old. One of which is a legacy that hires less than 10% of its pilots off the street (of which I am one of the <10%).

So if you want this then go for it, IT CAN BE DONE and its not too late to get serious!! But you have to charge hard and do a 180 on your academic performance. I think despite a rough start in junior college, finishing with a good 4 year GPA is what kept me in the running to get the calls eventually.

Good luck!