Why do people think Embry Riddle is so great?
 

Just currious, why do people think ERAU is the greatest school on earth? A continental rep once came to my high school as a guest speaker, and the only aviation school he knew about was ERAU. I just do not know why this school gets so much attention. If one was to major in aviation, is it really worth paying 45-55k/yr?

edik

PS
this subject is not about wither to major in aviation or not

[QUOTE=edik] If one was to major in aviation, is it really worth paying 45-55k/yr?

NO!

[QUOTE=saab340driver]somehow the school keeps on getting people that are willing to fork out the cash

If you only pay 55K at ERAU - consider yourself lucky...

-LA

Dunno.

I don't know why anyone would think any aviation school is great....all of them are ripoffs....IMHO.

Beware I would get your multi before going there. I had a friend that went there and they milked her for 70hrs for multi engine rating. While on one hand thats good because she got a lot total multi time towards the magical 100hr mark the airlines want to see but, none of it was PIC multi time and it was really expenses.

Any aviation school is going to be the same as another. Embry Riddle just advertises more, so you pay more.

there is other ways to get to into the career but when you consider that 25% of all current airline pilots graduated from embry-riddle thats hard to argue with. Think about that 25% out of all the littel mom and pop FBO's, aviation colleges, and fast track programs in the country? All of you knock it but how many of you have been here. Does your FBO offer internships to almost every regional airline and most of the majors? Im not saying UND doesnt because UND is a great college too but its just a littel to far north and freezing for me. Just some thoughts.

Eru
 

Embry Riddle is better because they say that they are better. Just ask anyone who has gone there.

SkyHigh

Let's see, I have a business degree from a non-aviation university and got all of my ratings at FBO's. As soon as I graduated from college, I went wherever there was work (several states in several years) and was never w/o a flying job. Banner towing, traffic watch, flight instructing and 135 freight.

Not going to Embry-Riddle didn't seem to slow me down one bit.

EDPM

I didn't go to Embry, but I did go to Pan Am for some of my training and it has paid off for me. You may end up paying more, but I have seen first hand, some embry guys/girls will get a 121 job with lower time compared to EDPM above, who had to do banner towing, frieght, ect. Not that it is bad, because you want the experience, but sometimes you get to cut the corners a little bit. I instructed for a few years, flew corporate for about 6 months and finally got hired with a regional. Compare this to 2 embry guys that just got hired at the same regional, they did that capt program and forked out a ton of money, but they are on with a decent 121 carrier with like 500 total hours, sh*t, one guy had only 280 hours. So in a sense they didn't have to spend 3 years of there life building time like myself to get there.

Do you have a source on that number? It sounds REALLY high to me. Also, are the costs being thrown about in this thread correct? $40K-$50K per YEAR for a BS/BA degree. :eek:

What percentage of the graduating class walks into a pilot job upon graduation without any additional experience or training?

Not trying to pick on you, I guess I fly with the other 75% of those in aviation, I really don't know anything about Riddle.

I graduated from ERAU a couple of years ago, and I didn't even come close to spending 55k a year. In fact, at the time, ERAU was the cheapest private accredited college on the East Coast. I am from the NE and all of my high school friends went to places like BC, BU, Holy Cross, ND, and spent alot more on tuition than I did. That being said the flying is more expensive than the local FBO would be. I think that one of the reasons is you fly the course until you get the minimum number of hours required by the 141 program, not fly until you are ready to take the checkride and meet the FAR reqs. Personally, when I was doing my private at ERAU I passed the ride with about 68 hours in my logbook. I had to do a couple of lessons twice (pre solo manuevers), but I finished the course with alot more solo x-country hours than the regs required.

As for why people think that it is the best...most people think that their college was the best. Ask any LSU, UCLA, UGA, U of F, etc. grad what the best school is and they will say their's is/was.

I am not very fond of being compared to the typical ERAU grad out there. All of the vocal ones seem to be the guys that think that they know everything and that they are Gods gift to aviation.

Every year ERAU is in the top 25 US News and World Reports college survey.....for Engineering!!

FO

Wow lots of Kool Aid going around.

Embry Riddle training program really is outstanding, but you will pay for it without a doubt. I am a senior at ERAU Daytona Beach, (not in the flight program). I am majoring in business with a flight ops area of concentration. I think it is really quite stupid to major in aviation when chances are you will not be flying airplanes your entire life, and you need to know how things work outside of the aviation world too! Another reason I don't fly on campus is because I earned all of my ratings through CFIIMEI in highschool at the local FBO I pumped gas for as a highschool kid. In short, I really think the prospective pilot needs to broaden themselves on the education end, and not have tunnel vision like most people fixed on getting an interview with a regional that I see around here. Anyways, ERAU has done alot of good for me, and yes a like the school, but it is not necessarily for flying. just my thoughts on riddlebashing.

I get that impression just by reading some of the posts on this board. The old aviation department chair at my school left to teach for ERAU and he seemed partly successful in convincing the other students in my class that they would be more marketable later with an ERAU degree.

No thanks. I'd rather join the military.

I've heard the United States Air Force Academy is also in the top 25 every year in Engineering...So is MIT...

For my money I'll stay with a local school (UL) and join the military...

-LA

And, you got paid to work at those jobs. The person that got the regional job sooner still has to pay all the money back for the program. In the end....I would rather do what you did and not have a huge loan to pay back. As for the capt. program grads, they may get to a regional sooner but how many years will they be paying back all that cash?

wait a minute dont attack me I said there are other ways and i never once said riddle was the best way at all. I said it is a really good option and it was the best option for me. Nor did I ever say I was God's gift to aviation.

Embry-Riddle has many connections in the industry and has some prefered hiring especially if you do an internship. X-jets minimums for an intern are 400tt 100multi. ASA has a direct bridge program embry-riddle students can participate in and recieve similar job offers with similar hours. Just some reasons why I chose the school not to mention it is closer to home for me. Never once did I say UND sucks or anything like that in fact i said UND is a good school.

As far as the 25% of airline pilots in the industry graduated from riddle it is on the website

"No longer does our program simply train pilots -- we educate the future leaders in the aviation industry. Already, one in four airline pilots is an Embry-Riddle alumnus, but more than that, our graduates are chief pilots, heads of flight standards, corporate vice presidents, military heroes, and astronauts; the "movers and shakers" of aviation and aerospace."
http://www.erau.edu/db/degrees/b-aerosci.html

Listen Riddle is a great option for me thats all i've ever said and I think it is a great option for others as well. If going here gets me 1 more year of senority at the average airlines top pay(at least 150k at todays pay) then I make money on the deal.

I got a non-aviation related degree At one point during school, I got frustrated with my major and went to the Flight dept. to talk to them about switching my major to Aviation Management. I decided not to switch after the director told me "Actually, a degree in anything other than aviation will hurt you when you are trying to get a job". Um, ok.....8 years later I am at UPS.

Funny, I never felt I had to do anything. I graduated college with a bunch of ratings in my pocket that, in my opinion, were tantamount to a license to learn. My first paying job was flying traffic watch in the NY class B. I learned a great deal from all of those jobs. I took my first 121 job with 1800TT and 500+ multi.

Honestly, at the time I was hired at that first 121 gig, I couldn't imagine being there without the experience garnered from those previous jobs. I was flying an incredibly unstable platform with no autopilot and no yaw damper.

Shorty after I was hired, this company established an intern program with ERAU. I distinctly remember one of the interns saying to me "come on, don't tell me you wouldn't have taken this job with 600 hours if you'd had the chance." Boy, do I remember that making my blood boil. Who was he to tell me what I would have done?

Anyway, I'm very happy with my career progression. I flew a lot of hours with those ERAU interns. Some were great guys but far and away, most had a "holier than thou" attitude.

Sorry, not trying to make this into an intern thread. Just felt the need to clarify that I didn't need to do anything. I chose every step of the way to get to where I am today and I'm glad that I did.

EDPM

hmmmmm....
 

Edik,
The 45-55k that you will be paying is your flight training (if you happen to follow and complete their sylabus to the "T"). The rep probably told all you guys/gals that ERAU was the 'greatest thing since sliced bread' because that is where he/she graduated from.

There are MANY other choices of flight schools in the US that you could choose from. And even if it is a smaller flight school, most of the time these flight schools have an affiliation with a local Community College nearby, or a Distance Learning Program. What I am getting at, is there is more out there than ERAU - I am sure that you are aware of this, but if not, now you know!;)

Anyway, use the WWW for research if you already haven't done so. Good luck with your future endevers, and happy flying!

D

I agree that there are other good aviation schools out there, but as me being a student at ERAU I can say that there some people here that don't have a clue on what they are talking about. The prices are a lot higher at the actual campus's (AZ and FL). Me myself I have went to a junior college, got the 2 years of GED out of the way, transfered my certificates and ratings for my aviation degree through them, and only have a little over a year to spend with them at $536/class- not $45K-$55K. Some of you need to do your homework before you start talking and look like an idiot.

Wow! If that's not the pot calling the kettle black!

I'm assuming you haven't satisfied your English electives yet?

Or was Ali G your professor?

EDPM

Lol....

-la

I second that ;)

It's funny how vigilant people are about spelling and grammar usage on here. Quite hilarious -- take a look at the "should kill bill stay" thread. I'm thankful spelling and English were always my strong suit.

Nick,

I think people meant that the $45-55K costs were (unless I misunderstood) for flight training, not tuition, which seems more reasonable, I guess. If the training is as good as many claim it is then maybe the cost is justified.

Good luck.

Chris

EDPM...Hilarious!!!

Chris,

Thanks for clearing that up. When I was checking out ERAU a few years back, those were the 'rounded figures' that I was told. (45-55k to complete their flight training sylabus.) And yes, the cost is justified. But, recently I was told that some of the people that come out of that school aren't as sharp as what people make them out to be. But hey, I am not one to judge, that could be one person out of a handful of people.

Also, nick@FL350, I won't take back what I said. I was not bashing ERAU in any way. I was just merely explaining that there is more out there. ERAU is one of the most well-known aviation colleges in the world, BUT there is more out there. Just take what I have to say as a grain of salt, it is only an opinion.

"As far as the 25% of airline pilots in the industry graduated from riddle it is on the website"

And that makes it fact? Please...

I went to ERAU and got a degree in aviation. Their ads back in those days made you think you'd have an inside track if you went to school there. Absolutely didn't help me at all. I didn't do an internship but I did learn how to drink beer, which is worth something. I was active in AHP and the flight team. Don't really remember any internships back in those days, anyhow, as getting on at a commuter flying a Beech 99 required 2000 total and 500 multi. I kinda long for those days, actually....

I've been anti-ERAU for years only based on my opinion that a non-aviation degree is the best way to go. What really made me hate the place was the CAPT program. Giving away MD90 type ratings to guys with 300 hours and making it seem like a great way to enter the career. Really ****es me off.

And Riddle still sends me alumni info....

The good and the bad about Riddle:
GOOD:
-great internships, bridge progams, aviation/aerospace related job opportunites
-career center can really help you find a job..lots of connections
-alumni that can help you land a job in the field
-flight training is thorough and challenging
-classes have professors that are retired airline ,air force, and navy pilots
-excellent maintanance on the planes
-nice beachside bars in daytona :)
-lots of scholarships for ROTC guys/girls and good way to be a pilot in the military....2nd behind the air force academy for producing pilots.-
-number 1 aerospace engineering program in the country

BAD:
-$$$$ expensive
-a lot of *********s walking around that think they are God's greatest gift to aviation
-guy/girl ratio that is the second worst in the nation behind College School of Mines in Colorado.....yes the military academies even have Riddle beat here
-No football team and the school spirit is very low
- Riddle keeps you in the dark about what your next step is once you graduate and look for a job in the regionals and what the pay is really like

I graduated there with a degree in Aeronautical Science with a couple of minors. People that say my degree isnt worth anything outside of flying are totally incorrect. My degree consists of engineering, human factors, computer, science classes etc. and this cant get me a job outside of being a pilot how? I went to Riddle beacuse i wanted to take classes in something that i was interested in and that i would benefit from the most in my opinion. This is just my two cents and opinion about Riddle.

"The rep probably told all you guys/gals that ERAU was the 'greatest thing since sliced bread' because that is where he/she graduated from."
D
No he did not go there, he went to some Cal State school. I just remember my teacher told him that i want to be a pilot, and the guy looked at me and pointed with both of his fingers and said ERAU, is the place to go if you want to get hired. At that point I was in 12th grade and had my mind made up on UND, and he dint even know anything about the school.

The whole reason i thought of this topic was because i was going to go fly down to Prescott, and i was just wondering what it would have been like if i went to ERAU.

edik

Why ERAU?
 

Because, it is the "Harvard of the Skies." That's why.

I thought UND held that title

Erau
 

I hate to break it to you guys but in the real world Embry Riddle is only known for turning out pilots with average flight skills and above average opinions of their skills.

A few cools ones slip through every now and then. I've met two in the last 12years. Just keeping it real.

The "real world" huh?

Lemme put it like this, I'm sure ERAU is great and all....but I go to a community college in upstate New York, for Aviation/Pilot option...tuition is about 1,300 per semester and the flight lab is all the same in terms of cost. My friend on flight team has a buddy who is currently a freshmen @ ERAU, and he wants to transfer to a small cold upsate NY college (my college) because he doesn't like ERAU. Not trying to bash ERAU, but I think it isn't work the 45K. All of our freshmen soloed i upstate NY before his classmates did in Flordia., because he told me ERAU has way too much emphazis on ground school.....I'm sure its a great place, but goto a community college for two years, get your CFI, then transfer to ERAU and teach while you get your BA, that's only if you don't wanna be paying loans while your making 18k a year @ a regional! And on second thought, not that I'm saying this matetrs as much, but I asked him how hot the girls were there and he said ...."yea all three of them are hot"

Well I don't post here very often as I am flying much.... but just wanted to put my .02 in.

I graduated in Dec. 04, and spent 3 1/2yrs at the Daytona Campus. Alot will say I was very fortunate due to the fact that my first semester at ERAU was 9/11, guess it was a good time to be in college huh? I bit the bug flying in high school, and I will say ERAU's marketing campaign caught my attention. Although I was also intrested in attending at perdue. I started my first semester with allready a private and instrument in my pocket. Unfortunately my freshman roomate had no experience and the flight department kept pushing back his training, which forced him to leave.

I have heard of some horror stories about students taking forever to complete a rating. I was averaging about a rating and a half a semester (only due to the fact that I was constantly putting pressure on my instructor to fly) And I did an internship at Continental in the fall of 2003. Instructed and did summer semesters as well. I really busted my a$$ over there and stayed very proactive. I wound up graduating with around 550TT and 120multi. Let me say that the average student will leave ERAU with only about 250hrs and a Commercial multi.

I had some great mentors that really pushed my limits, and I was able to absorb every resource that the university had to offer. Unfortunately there are alot of people out there drinking the cool-aid and think that ERAU is the best place to be and the greatest pilots of out of there, this is by far the case. Riding the wave and going along with the flow at ERAU will get you no job by the time you graduate. Most students will work various jobs for about a yr or two before getting on with a 121 carrier.

I was VERY VERY fortunate and able to interview with a 121 carrier during my last semester in college. I really knew I wasent going to get the job due to the fact that I had several friends that had double the time I had and were turned down. I dropped off the face of the earth for three weeks while I prepared for the interview. The extremely hard work and persistance paid off and I was offered a job the day I walked! I knew absloutely no one and had no connections at all, I was able to do all my networking in a matter of a week.

There are many facets of aviation and people come from everywhere. ERAU might not be the best choice financially or for other reasons for individuals, but I guess it worked out for me. I just think that ERAU is able to provide more resources to the student than some other insitiutions, but does not mean you can not get better flight training or an education else where.

I can say I was not well liked by certain people at the insitiution, and definitely created some waves while I was there, but it all worked out in the end!

Good luck to all of you seeking a future in this industry, keep your chin up and stay positive!

Beaglepilot

What? You mean you actually studied and applied yourself???:p

I've met SO many student pilots who think it's the instructors job to spoon feed them everything they need to get on with a major. You post is a breath of fresh air, thank you.

Truth is, it's hard work. It takes time, luck, and did I mention a lot of hard work. With your attitude, it looks like you could have succeeded at any school.

Good Luck!

Well for the most part no matter where you go it is what YOU make of it. I realize this may not always be true....but as I said, I go to a two year cummunity college in cold, cloudy, windy upstate NY, and most people leave with over 250TT in 2 years!! And I plan on leaving with alot more than that. We don't have many planes or intructors either, and we certaintly don't have the weather. I'm not trying to say my school is better. But what I am saying is that it's about $2,500 per year and $6000 lab fee....where Embry is about, well 8 times as much....and your not getting THAT much more, maybe I'm wrong.

Why dont you yell louder... bc we cant hear you!:D