de727ups

"I want me education to prepare me for my future."

Yeah, I heard that. The point is, a degree in aviation doesn't prepare you for your future any more than getting your ratings, hours, and experiece as a pilot and working your way up. I have a degree from Riddle and it's the one thing I'd do different if I had it to do over.

SkyHigh

Lets also not forget that developing interests in other fields makes you more interesting in the flight deck, interviews and life.

Having an aviation degree as a pilot suggests that one is an avdork and a one trick pony. Balance your resume with a broad range of interests. Strive to develop other passions aside from aviation. It will help your career and your life.

SkyHigh

LAfrequentflyer

An aviation degree is good for debt, so it seems. My CFI had one and about $70K in debt from his school/ratings. He had to give up on flying to become a cop.

I felt sorry for him. He hoped to become a pilot for the police. I told him it would be difficult - most of them have a strong military network working in their favor.

I suggested the AF as a career. He was opposed to that based on the military being a dangerous line of work.

-LAFF

LAfrequentflyer

What would you have studied? Whats stopping you now?

You are never too old to learn.

-LAFF

tangoindia

So assuming you get your 4 year degree...lets say in aviation. Do you guys/gals believe an asoc. degree could be enough to be in a better shape for a JUST IN CASE?


Aviation = a big investment so money is just... not floating around

TI

planecrazyjenn

Well, it's better than absolutely nothing...but most companies are looking for the bachelors. I guess a few majors (airlines) require it, and it's competitive elsewhere. If you still really wanted to get your degree in aviation, several programs will grant you credit for your flight training - whether on campus or online. If it'll save a few bucks, I suppose why not.

Ewfflyer

Well, I assume you meant "Purdue," so you might want to take care of that spelling thing before applying!(Just messing with you, back to topic)

I'm a Purdue grad, in Aviation Tech. Our counselors are great. Had I not been involved in many extra activities I would've probably loaded up on a 2nd major/minor(this is my regret). They will work with you to get you what you want. I never had a problem scheduling and changing classes to work for me. Yes there are things I'd change in both the program, and the electives, but in the broad scheme of things, I'm grateful for the education I got, and where I got it from. Everything is a comprimise, so good luck!!!!!!

rickair7777

Yes.
........

N0315

well, I am finishing up my degree in Aviation Management at Eastern Michigan University. I guess I came to this crossroad 4 years ago as to what to do, and I'll kinda share my thought process through the entire ordeal. Went/ go to Jackson COmmunity college, working on finishing up my CFI. I saved A LOT of money going there first, which was one of the thigns I felt I did correctly. Mainly, you'll find college is a joke. About the only thing of value I have learned has came form the flight center at JCC. $66,000 of student loan debt, and 1 year left for a BA, with comm., multi, and ins, the savings have been huge compared to going to EMU first. Remember, very few us us have the money to drop the entire amount it costs for US to go to college. Unlike evereyone else, we get about 40K in flight training as an extra. go to a JC, and you get to cut a butt load off of tuition and probably wont have to live on campus. I drive to EMU, and its expensive, just not as expensive as living there. As far as degree goes, I think the only time, honestly, you will NOT be able to get any type of flying job is if you fail a medical. If you spend 10 years, fail a medical, and have a degree in say business, honestly, how easy will it be for you to get a job? NO business expirance, just a degree. You'll be older, so the jobs will the same qualifications will go to the younger person.

Do what you want. You'll always have time to go back and add on to your aviation degree into management or something. There is nothing worse than taking classes you dont want to take. You'll take plently of thoes while getting an aviation degree anyway, what get 120 credits worth? I suggest a degree in aviation management. Its in the field you love, but yet something that may help you in the field YOU love if you lose an eye or something. At LEAST get it in that field, if not directly in that profession.

rickair7777

I've taken plenty of classes that I didn't really want to take at the time...in retrospect most of them have made me a more well-rounded person. I certainly have more of an appreciation for certain fields which I personally have little interest in.

In the real world an aviation management degree is not really good for much...it will punch the degree requirement for an airline employer, but that's about it. Many airport operation jobs actually require a public administration degree, although an aviation undergrad might be a nice bonus.

If you really want a fallback degree that will keep you in aviation get an engineering degree: aero, electrical, systems, computer, software, materiels, etc.