Hi I have a question similar to Nick@Fl350. I am going to school and a CFI and getting to the point where I am ready to move on except I have a year or a little less with college. Now the program I am in is for Business Adminstration, I only go on tues nights, Five weeks for each class, and a week off between classes. I also have some online course opportunties and chances to make up classes I would miss for training. I am considering Colgan or possibly Commutair because they are taking people with experience level. They also have bases that I might have a shot at getting, close to where I live and go to school. Colgan has MHT and Commutair has BOS. Anyone thoughts on this? What I should do? Also do the Majors look down upon online degrees like Phoenix online?

Thanks

Chris

 

Chris, Hi I am a CFI in your same situation. Approx. 1 year left to go for a 4 year university degree at ERAU. However I am a full time studnet only flying about an hour a week. I considered my options for a long time and talked to many people that have been there done that. I strongly believe the best way to go is to put your time in and get the degree. It is not worth half assing it just to get a regional airline job fast (one that you will make less than a manager at wal-mart). Your qualifications will be much better than your counterparts and when you do have the opportunity to advance to a position that requires a legit college degree, you'll have what you need when many of your peers will have a hard time advancing. It is important not to have tunnel vision on the whole regional airline job thing. Everybody on here loves to fly I know, but what happens if you have a freak accident that puts your medical out of commision? There will be plenty of flying opportunities out there for at least 5 or 6 years while everyone is retiring....if you do it the right way, a few months or a year to finish college won't make a bit of difference in your flying carreer......and you will have a legit degree!!! just what what I think....where are you in the boston area? I learned to fly at LWM..

 

I second Cocomojoe. I have my degree, now I'm finishing my CFI. Plan B is already there if I need it.

 

College will always be there. Employment opportunities will not. Take the job and do correspondence classes. Besides you will have plenty of years of being furloughed to finish college.

I finished college first and by the time I got out the market was so bad I couldn't even get a job as a CFI. It took years before I was able to break in. I would grab the regional job and build a 1000 hours or so of good flight time. College is becoming irrelevant anyway.

SkyHigh

 

hey, I am a CFII MEI out of BVY Thanks for the info