Knightmare

The Daytona Beach, Fl campus

Mitragorz

I just graduated from Florida Tech last May. I loved it, the campus is beautiful, it's in Florida, and Melbourne's not a bad place. Lots of fishing and lots of kayaking, if you're into that (it's a nice way to get the marine bio girls to spend some time with you). The number of students in the aviation department is relatively small, so you never need to worry about finding planes, and you can get really close to your profs. We'd go out on the weekends and go to the bars with them, or they'd come and hang out at our house parties. Lots of top-notch profs there, and the education you'll receive is excellent. I finished all my actualy flight training (up to Commercial AMEL), if I recall correctly, at the end of my Sophomore year. After that, I took a bunch of electives, such as Air Taxi, which is about 12 - 15 hours in a Seminole... basically a way to get some additional multi-time (and also to fill a slot for one of my electives). I used that time to fly a girl I knew up to her home in NC, and we spent the weekend. I also took an aerobatics course, which was awesome, and an International Ops. course, where you spend an entire day flying around the bahamas. I don't think I took any flight courses my Senior year, I used that time to concentrate on the more difficult upper-level classes during the first half. The second half of my Senior year, I only had 9 "required" credits left, but I had to take an elective to keep my "full-time student" status. I had class 2 days a week.

Three things convinced me to go to Florida Tech:
- The reputation. People do say good things about Florida Tech.
- The campus. ERAU was too urban for me. Too many buildings, not enough trees. Florida Tech has that botanical garden which, as cheesy as it sounds, is pretty cool to walk around. Go in there and have some lunch, or do a little studying... it's nice there. Overall, I really liked the campus.
- The student body. At ERAU, you're surrounded by aviation, and aviation only. Florida Tech has everything; aviation, engineering, marine bio... It's nice to have people around to have non-aviation conversations with.

We've got plenty of internships available. You said you visited Florida Tech, so I assume you met with Paul Davis? He's in charge of internships, and he does a good job. The wall outside his office is COVERED with possibilities. He's willing to help you out with anything, and will tell you whatever you need to know.

There are PLENTY of scholarships that are available to you. If you want the name of the contact there, just send me a PM.

I applied to both Dowling and Florida Tech; I didn't apply to ERAU, but when I visited, they told me right there that they'd accept me. I visited ERAU and Florida Tech, and fell in love with the latter. I didn't need to visit Dowling, bc I did my private training in the same building as they do. You're not from NY, but you're close, so maybe you know about BOCES. My high school paid for my PPL, and I got it at the Suffolk Aviation Academy, which used to be in the same building as Dowling.

Florida Tech and Dowling both accepted me, but Dowling didn't offer me enough of a scholarship to justify winters in NY.

Don't let the high price tag of Florida Tech fool you. I'm only about $10 or $14,000 in debt (before interest) after four years. Not bad at all if you ask me. That's much less than what I would've paid at Dowling, and DEFINATELY less than ERAU. Scholarships and grants help out A LOT, you just need to find them.

I can't push Florida Tech enough. You don't get that "big-school" feeling that you'd get at Auburn, but you won't get that at ERAU either.

As far as location, climate, education, and cost are concerned, Florida Tech (IMO) is the way to go. I don't regret going there one bit.



If you've got any questions AT ALL about Florida Tech, just send me a PM.

EDIT: Not sure if you're able to PM, so if not, then you can send an email to [email protected]

flightfreak86

That is one thing that I like yet at times dislike about ERAU, it is all aviation, but if thats what you love it is a great place.

whatthe6789

I know 2 recent grads from Dowling, and as far as I know, neither of them have jobs as of right now, and the college didn't really help them in the job search either.

atpwannabe

Knightmare:

I graduated from ERAU in 1987. I've enjoyed working in Airport Management & Operations. I was flight student (Air Science Prog.), but had to transfer out and into Air Studies w/AOC in Airport Management b/c of personal reasons.

At any rate, try UCF, USF or even FGCU located in the Naples/Ft. Myers area. I lived in Naples for two years. Major in Business or Accounting and fly at the local airport. You'll save a ton of cash. Lots of woman in SW Florida.


Blue skies.



atp

flightfreak86

The best advice I can give is to have fun and enjoy college while you are there because you only go one. Have fun and enjoy what you are studying and you flight. Pick the school whose culture, campus, social and academic atmosphere fit you. But most of all while you are out having fun remember to be smart and safe, DUIs can destroy or hurt a career and even small things like tickets (multiple) can hurt you too.

While you are in school studying to become a 777 pilot remember ****** happens so pick a minor or a second major so you have a contingency plan just in case. I chose ERAU Prescott because it fit me and I liked the safety minor they offered. I am now on my way to the safety masters program so I have something else I can do and still be in aviation, just in case.

Good luck in college and have fun.

Knightmare

I did meet with Paul Davis, I sat through one of his classes and he had a fun activity where you would determine what type of pilot you were. I ended up with a score of 40 which meant i was a macho pilot. After that I sat down with him for about an 1 hour, and instead of trying to outline why Florida Tech is where I should go, he told me how the business works, what my options can be, and what my options after college are. He was a great person to speak with about the program. I ate lunch on campus and then drove over to the flightline to take a sample flight with a nice kid (i forgot his name). We did some steep bank turns and a stall/ stall recovery and then flew over campus. I was very impressed with Florida Tech's presentation and right now I cannot decide to whether to go to ERAU or FT.

As for Dowling, I got a 1/2 tuition scholarship, but I hate New Jersey winters so why the heck would I want to spend 4 yrs in NY where the winters suck even more. I also like the school, but it's incredibly small the college of aviation only have about 130 students enrolled for Fresh through Senior years.

So now it's between FT and ERAU, as of now FT is cheaper by $1,000. I know ERAU is supposed to be the "Harvard of Flight Schools" but do airlines really care?

blastoff

NOPE!

"I see you went to ERAU...now tell me about your 121 and/or military experience, did anyone walk your resume in?"

Slice

Long Island winters are no worse than NJ...and you don't have the stench that lingers year round...

Knightmare

I'm on the Jersey Shore the only stench is the one coming from the "Bennies" (New Yorkers) that pollute our beaches in the summer.


Anyways I called up both FT and ERAU, and I told ERAU that I was also accepted to FT. 2 seconds later I was forwarded to a guy name jim or something and he "magically found" some scholarships I can apply for! FT also had some scholarships too!Tough choices.

Lol, after I pick which college I'm going to I have to find a date for prom, YAY Teen Stress!!!!!!