Freightpuppy

Just for clarification.....

The answers I posted are based on my experience and the route that has worked for me.

Also, about 12 years ago I was in the same boat you are in. If I didn't listen to my CFI who told me not to go to Embry Riddle, I would be in a lot of debt right now.

rickair7777

I would recommend NOT paying huge money and going into deep debt for a school unless it is Ivy League, Stanford, Berkely. In that case the name-brand degree will pay for itself.

Military Options:

2) ROTC or Academy scholarship. If you can't get it out of HS, go to your local state school, get good grades your first semester, and you will likely get some kind of scholarshipm at that point.

) Enlist for a few years to earn GI Bill. This will pay for college and/or 50% of your flight training.

2) Enlist as a means of earning a ROTC or Academy Slot. They have slots set aside for enlisted folk, and these slots are under-utilized.

awesomesauce17

well id like to say thanks for everyone so far. really good stuff here. few points here . . . .

1) Ive spoken to my relatives and pretty much everyone i know, and they are out of ideas. to clarify a bit, my family is broke, and the relatives are payin all the money to keep us a float. There advice ranges from staying in town and help the family to go out of the country. id much prefer to go to college. thanks for the point though about listenin to the family.

2) Ive researched the military route, and i would do it except i have a real life example why not to do it. When my cousins were going to college, they did the air force rotc, and joined it. the 8 year gig thing. well, the army took them out of air force rotc, and now they are foot soldiers in iraq, on the front not my idea of the air force. i wont get into how i feel about the war.

3) Thank you for the point about ERAU guys taking on 100G in loans. its a good feeling to know that it is possible.

thank you all for your opinoins, i really appreciate them.

de727ups

Do you have any interests outside of aviation that you could major in. While an aviation degree isn't a total waste of time, I don't believe it's as good as a second career/fall back major. When I was your age, I was interested in nothing else besides aviation so I went to Riddle. I consider that one of the biggest mistakes I made. Luckily, I made some good choices, too. Anyhow, if you could go to a cheap, in state, school and major in something outside of aviation that interests you, that would be best. You could work part time to pay for flying lessons.

BURflyer

Hey I'm a junior college student, trying to get my ratings. DONT go into college to study aviation. Students change their majors in college like they change their underwear. So far college has been a roler coaster for me. It's almost guaranteed that you will change your major in college atleast once. Second of all it's very probable that you will drop out after first year of college, some colleges have a drop our rate of first year students as much as 75% It happened to me and friends I knew. Not all of them failed though, they just moved to different colleges. I just went down to community college then transfered back to the Major leagues after getting my grades and credits up.

It's very easy to sit and say wow mother I'm going to learn Aviation Mangement, then I'm going to minor in Business. Untill you actually get to class and find that it's not interesting at all. Colleges know this. I've changed my major 3 times now patly because colleges encourage you to change majors and it's very easy to change majors. Originaly aviation management, that only lasted one semester. VERY BORING, I didn't care about running an airport or an FBO, I just want to FLY!! Then Geography now Business. I think people put so much importance in college, airlines don't care where you go for college as long as you have some kind of degree.

Go to your local college, even better to your local community college then transfer to your local university and SAVE YOUR MONEY for flight training, your gonna need every penny. My mistake was that I didn't go to the local community college first instead I went to college directly and wasted money the first few years for the same education. I thank Jesus or God or who ever, that I have parents who care and helped me through the crucial time between High School and College. Some kick their kids out of the house at 18 but unfortunately, that's when you really need your parents more than any other time in your life. Good Luck with your family they must be proud of you.

awesomesauce17

thanks man

NightFlyer29

I totally disagree. I went to a State College to obtain my aviation degree and ratings and it was the best experience of my life. Not only did I learn things in college I would have never learned at some "specialty school" but I learned life experience as well. I worked my butt off going to college full time and working full time to support myself and pay for my tuition and ratings. Not only did I graduate in 2 years instead of four but I now have all my ratings including CFI, CFII, and MEI and I am debt free. I instructed for a year and now I am getting ready to apply at a regional that I highly respect and have a good relationship with through networking and a little hard work. I just wanted to give you an example of how it is possible to work hard to get where you want and not take out $100+ in loans.

awesomesauce17

nightflyer which state school?

NightFlyer29

Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. That is where i instruct right now as well. They have 4 aviation degrees, own all there own planes, and run a good program.

awesomesauce17

il look into it a bit. i have until may 1st to decide what i want to do. im hoping to hear from some scholarship houses before then, see how much more free money is coming my way.