What do I do financially?
 

Well I posted on this forum about 2 years ago questions on how to become an airline pilot and I described my passion for aviation. Here I am 2 years later and 18 years old and I've made up my mind to either attend UND or ERAU: Daytona Beach. Now I just got a phone call today from Embry Riddle saying I received another scholarship and so now it's up to $17,000 of scholarship every year at embry riddle.

That brings the estimated cost per year to $28,426 including everything (scholarships, tuition, room & board, books, and 10k/year of estimated flight costs). UND totals up to $21,009 with everything. Now originally, ERAU was about 45k and UND was 25k each year and it was a no brainer.

Now that the schools are a lot closer in price, I'm having a serious problem deciding which one. Financially, my parents agreed to 20k a year to help me out and any more I'll have to pay the difference.

My question to all you experts is, what would you have me do? Should I cough up the extra money to ERAU? Is it going to give me that much better of an education? I'm just looking for guidance because I'm lost as to what to do now. I've visited UND and loved it and visited ERAU:Prescutt and wasn't too impressed. Now that the prices are closer, I'm planning to visit daytona beach and I'm more confused than ever.

Please help! THANK YOU!

As a graduate of ERAU, I would say go there if prices are truly that close. You'll enjoy practically year round flying, Spring Break, and being in an all aviation environment keeps you focused and motivated. The contacts, student activities, friendships, organizations, faculty, staff are all geared toward one thing....AVIATION!!! Not just flying, but aviation as an industry. It is truly a remarkable and rewarding experience.

On the other hand, you could find another school that is in a climate that has year round flying weather and has an aviation degree program that is more cost effective. Do the research. Think of the money that you can save and how much will be left in your student account at the end of each year.:D

Whatever you do I wish you all the best.


Blue skies.


atp

This is not to offend anyone... If I were your age again I would go to a big state university and have fun... Major in something non aviation related and fly on the side... I went to a big aviation school and I regret that more than anything.. My freshman year I went to a big school and had fun. Then I transfered to an aviation school. No girls, no fun, just pilot dorks.... Thats something to consider. Out of the two I would probably go to UND simply because atleast you won't be surrounded by pilot geeks 24-7.

What school did you attend?

Riddle as far as I know is still predominently male. I hung out and attended activities sponsored by Riddle and by Bethune-Cookman which is an HBC. I dated women from Riddle who were from Savannah, GA and Philly. The ones from Bethune were from Pompano Beach, FL and Indianapolis, IN and not to mention the locals.:D

I had a blast.:cool:


atp

Don't go to ERAU. I was thinking of doing that but found out the cost. What a joke.

UND has other degrees outside aviation, I'd go there first over Riddle. Why? Because you will broaden your horizons and not surround yourself by people obsessed with flying. Have fun in college, study, party, chase girls! You can get your ratings and a 4 year degree for 80K at several universities! Which means no student loans for you...

I would vote for State U, UND, Riddle in that order.

Are you kidding me? I went to Louisiana Tech for only 60k (it was that high despite being out of state) for all four years, got the degree, all of my time (900 hrs in the same kind of aircraft ERAU has), got glass time, multi time (about 50 in a 2005 king air 200),and a job through our alumni program (mesaba crj 900). Tech is the only other part 142 certified program in the nation other then erau and has the same exact simulator. What could possibly cost that much? You don't need to spend a trillion dollars to get your education, the HR people at the airlines really don't care if you went to the very best school, only if you are able to fly.

I would go to UND for the following reasons, in this order:
1.) There are LOTS of girls and NON-aviation people at UND. The number 1 major at UND is (or was when I was there) nursing followed by education. 'Nuff said. If you want to get away from the prop-heads and go flirt with some blonde Scandinavian hotties, its as simple as a walk across the bridge to the "real" UND.

2.) UND is FAR cheaper than ERAU. The residency rules are a joke. You just need to have an address in ND for 12 months. Either stay for a summer and take classes or use a friend's address who lives in ND as your forwarding address over the summer. Cut your tuition by about 1/3 depending on where you are coming from.

3.) You'll actually learn how to fly in varied weather conditions. Florida, Arizona and California are great if you want to learn how to fly in blue, sunny skies. UND has all 4 seasons (Ice in the spring and fall, thunderstorms in the summer, bitter cold and snow in the winter).

The cost alone should be enough to convince you. I've talked to Riddle guys who have $800/mo student loan payments!:eek: And will for a very long time. You don't need that massive debt, especially when you're only taking home $1200-1500/mo your first year at a regional.

If you have any questions about UND, feel free to PM me.

UND '05

This is 100% true. They will care far more about your grades than where you went to school. The only exceptions are the US service academies (this does NOT include Delta Connection Academy :rolleyes: ).