I understand that. Right now my main focus (and the point of this thread) was to make sure that I am on track and saving money appropriately.

Thanks for all your help!

Don't know if anyone mentioned this yet but it might be a good idea to try to get a job at the local FBO working the line. You would be making money and contacts.

Also, do not take other people's advice as gospel. Everyone has different experiences. My wife flys for UPS, she did go to college and majored in aviation, and she flew for a regional after flight instructing for a couple of years. I went to college, got a business degree and pursued a more "normal" career path, quit that after ten years and went to ATP for all of my ratings. Now I'm flying a Shorts earning turbine multi time for a 135 operation at night...you know, living the dream.

Good look with whatever you decide to do.

Call me crazy but I don't think it's a bad idea to major in aviation. I seriously doubt an aviation degree will prevent you from pursuing a career in another field if necessary. Both of my brothers majored in political science and one works with computers and the other in logistics. I majored in aviation because I enjoy it and figured it would be more fun studying about what I love than about something in which I have no interest. Plus I actually learned important things that I didn't learn in the flight training aspect of it. If I stop flying someday and want to change careers, the important fact is that I have a degree. Just make sure you enjoy your 4 years of college.

I have often wondered why so many are against it. I imagine that you do learn things that they don't tell you in flight training. I think that I would enjoy a major in aviation, but if it really isn't going to get me anywhere, I don't think I should do it.

Many people go to college having no idea what they want to do after they graduate. So they major in something they enjoy and when they graduate figure out what to do. Well, you know what you enjoy and you know what you want to do. Seems logical to me. If you want to get the best of both worlds, do a practical aviation degree. I majored in Aviation Management. So while the focus was on aviation, I still took economics, accounting, finance, and several management classes and received a BS in Management. Trust me, an aviation degree will not limit you only to aviation.

Any opposing views?

You won't get any from me. I, too, have a BS in Aviation Management. My professional experience has taken me from a Public Assistance Case Manager for the State of Florida to Airport Management and Ops to Sales & Marketing. Now...I'm hoping to pursue a career as an airline pilot very soon. Currently, I work in the A/P Department for Signature HealthCare that is HQ'd in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. M-F; 8-5; weekends off; great pay; Life's good!:)

But by no means will an aviation degree limit you. Look at me!



atp

"I imagine that you do learn things that they don't tell you in flight training."

I've got one, and I can say they don't teach you anything you couldn't read in a book. Besides, so much of what you learn is useless fluff.

Anyhow, it's not so much that an aviation degree is bad, it checks the square. It's just that if you have another area of interest outside of aviation it makes more sense to focus on that as an addition to, or fall back from, being a pilot. I wish I had studied counseling, or some sort of social service, as that's where I enjoy spending my non-aviation free time.

I got very little out of my aviation degree that I didn't figure out during the normal course of gaining flight experience and working my way up.

Hate to say it but I agree with the mod here:D

I too have an aviation degree and feel like there was little, if any, added value vs. going to a good FBO and doing some reading in aviation on the side. Honestly, I learned as much or more doing my CFI and instructing than I did in any of my aviation classes (except for the management classes). I didn't figure out until my junior year of college that I would have rather majored in something else but at that point I had neither the money nor the inclination to switch to a business degree and spend another 2 years in college. If nothing else, it makes you a more well rounded individual and helps spread the eggs out amongst several baskets. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my college experience and had a lot of fun going through the aviation program. But what's the most fun and what's the most useful are sometimes not the same thing.

All good points.

That's what I meant by "practical aviation degree." I went to Auburn University for Aviation Management. The program is in the school of business therefore I took all required classes for any business degree. I also minored in spanish, which I find VERY useful in and outside of the cockpit. Away from class I had fun with a big SEC school: sports and social life.

There are pro's and cons either way. Take all the advice and make an informed decision.