Bachelors for ATP
08-05-2018 | 12:31 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: B767/757 Capt
I'm a mom of a future pilot and we just finished researching an economical plan for my son to get there. He is 20 in Sept. and is making the following choice: community college for first 2 years (very cheap, just finished his first year there and is living at home) and transferring for 2 years to finish online at a university (we're in FL and there are several universities like UCF or UF with good online Bachelor's; he is going for History). The total for all 4 years will be about $20K plus books. Since we are saving $ going this route (no room/board), we are going to pay for pilot training at our local airport flight school, about the most economical path we could find. It will take about a year of training (3-4 days a week), plus 1-2 years working CFI hours to meet requirements (our estimate). So he will get his Bachelor's in 3 years, about the same time as he will earn his hours needed for a Regional job. I have a friend whose son goes to Full Sail. Pros: an online degree in 29 mo. Cons: not regionally accredited so credits don't usually transfer to another school if you don't finish, plus very pricey ($50K+ right?). My advice, since you have a job, would be find the lowest online Bachelor's degree you can get (WGU might work like someone suggested, I am not familiar with it) and pay cash for it or get Financial Aid if you can. Save your borrowing power for loans for flight training, unless you have parents paying for it.
HI "Mom"....you are doing well for your son, sounds like a sound plan. The object is to get as much Education and Flight time in the earliest possible timeline. Seniority is everything and the goal is a Major Airline position. Keep debt to a minimum--living at home is great as well as local flight schools, skip Humpty Diddle and the other schools that offer a "Fast Track" to high debt!
08-05-2018 | 05:17 PM
#12
Disinterested Third Party
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,758
Likes: 74
Full Sail has some respect if you're looking for a job as a screen writer (but it's the screen writing that's of interest, not where you went to school). As a pilot, a non-regionally accredited facility won't be recognized as a legitimate four year degree.
At the initial stages of one's career, a degree is superfluous. It's irrelevant, and without meaning.
If you choose certain corporate paths or a major airline route, which will take a number of years, a four year degree will be required at the upper levels by some operators (major airline, some corporate). Otherwise, one can begin and end one's career over a lifetime without a degree, and make a very good living doing it. I would suggest getting the degree regardless of the direction.
I would not suggest an aviation degree unless you're already well established in the career, doing it online, and it will get you through the degree quicker. Otherwise, focus on a degree that you can use outside aviation. An aviation degree means nothing to anyone inside aviation or out; only the fact that it's a degree.
Don't feel rushed by those mewling at alter of seniority. Most of them have never been through a furlough, downsizing, merger, bankruptcy, or any of the other things that typically befall an aviation career, and despite the pie-in-the-sky optimism that the employment boom will last forever, it will not. Reality will set in soon enough, and many of those who sold their souls for a little seniority will find themselves unqualified to go anywhere else when the music stops and no chairs remain. There aren't as many chairs as some seem to think, and there will be a lot left standing.
Plan accordingly.
At the initial stages of one's career, a degree is superfluous. It's irrelevant, and without meaning.
If you choose certain corporate paths or a major airline route, which will take a number of years, a four year degree will be required at the upper levels by some operators (major airline, some corporate). Otherwise, one can begin and end one's career over a lifetime without a degree, and make a very good living doing it. I would suggest getting the degree regardless of the direction.
I would not suggest an aviation degree unless you're already well established in the career, doing it online, and it will get you through the degree quicker. Otherwise, focus on a degree that you can use outside aviation. An aviation degree means nothing to anyone inside aviation or out; only the fact that it's a degree.
Don't feel rushed by those mewling at alter of seniority. Most of them have never been through a furlough, downsizing, merger, bankruptcy, or any of the other things that typically befall an aviation career, and despite the pie-in-the-sky optimism that the employment boom will last forever, it will not. Reality will set in soon enough, and many of those who sold their souls for a little seniority will find themselves unqualified to go anywhere else when the music stops and no chairs remain. There aren't as many chairs as some seem to think, and there will be a lot left standing.
Plan accordingly.
08-06-2018 | 06:39 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Right Seat
Highly suggest getting your FIRST class medical before you start to make sure you are even eligible for the airlines.
Online doesn't matter. Most do online and it works very well.
My route was go to ATP, get my ratings ASAP, build my hours, and then get my online degree while building hours since you don't need one until you get to the majors.
Also, you can use your FAA licenses (commercial, single, multi, instrument, ATP) towards Aviation degrees at verious colleges such as UVU, ERAU, ASU, etc etc which sort of saves a little bit of money and time.
just my thoughts.
Online doesn't matter. Most do online and it works very well.
My route was go to ATP, get my ratings ASAP, build my hours, and then get my online degree while building hours since you don't need one until you get to the majors.
Also, you can use your FAA licenses (commercial, single, multi, instrument, ATP) towards Aviation degrees at verious colleges such as UVU, ERAU, ASU, etc etc which sort of saves a little bit of money and time.
just my thoughts.
08-06-2018 | 08:41 AM
#14
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 694
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I'm a mom of a future pilot and we just finished researching an economical plan for my son to get there. He is 20 in Sept. and is making the following choice: community college for first 2 years (very cheap, just finished his first year there and is living at home) and transferring for 2 years to finish online at a university (we're in FL and there are several universities like UCF or UF with good online Bachelor's; he is going for History). The total for all 4 years will be about $20K plus books. Since we are saving $ going this route (no room/board), we are going to pay for pilot training at our local airport flight school, about the most economical path we could find. It will take about a year of training (3-4 days a week), plus 1-2 years working CFI hours to meet requirements (our estimate). So he will get his Bachelor's in 3 years, about the same time as he will earn his hours needed for a Regional job. I have a friend whose son goes to Full Sail. Pros: an online degree in 29 mo. Cons: not regionally accredited so credits don't usually transfer to another school if you don't finish, plus very pricey ($50K+ right?). My advice, since you have a job, would be find the lowest online Bachelor's degree you can get (WGU might work like someone suggested, I am not familiar with it) and pay cash for it or get Financial Aid if you can. Save your borrowing power for loans for flight training, unless you have parents paying for it.
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