Seneca College
05-07-2006, 05:36 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Mar 2006
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Seneca College
Hey all, i'm yet another highschool student here who's goal is to become a pilot. I'm a 17 year old Canadian, so my question is primarily directed to any Canadian members on this forum, but if anyone else has any information it would be a great help. I'm wondering if anyone here know's much about Seneca College's Aviation degree program or went there. How hard was it? what was it like? was it worth going to Senca? is it the best choice to make if you want to become a pilot?
A friend of the family who flies for AC has gave me alot of advice, and out of all the flight school's in Canada he says this is the best choice. It's the only school in Canada that offers a 4 year degree in Aeronautics (getting all your ratings and certificates at the same time) and the plus side is once you graduate your RJ certified (Also the only school in Canada that offers this). I'm also pretty sure that if your living in Ontario, the government pays most or all of your tuition, which is from $3000 to $4000 each semester and there are three semesters a year for four years. It would be friggin' awsome if I could come out with minimal expenses because from what i've been reading on here in the past couple months, they're a big turnoff for wanting to become a pilot.
Any info is appreciated! thanks guys!
A friend of the family who flies for AC has gave me alot of advice, and out of all the flight school's in Canada he says this is the best choice. It's the only school in Canada that offers a 4 year degree in Aeronautics (getting all your ratings and certificates at the same time) and the plus side is once you graduate your RJ certified (Also the only school in Canada that offers this). I'm also pretty sure that if your living in Ontario, the government pays most or all of your tuition, which is from $3000 to $4000 each semester and there are three semesters a year for four years. It would be friggin' awsome if I could come out with minimal expenses because from what i've been reading on here in the past couple months, they're a big turnoff for wanting to become a pilot.
Any info is appreciated! thanks guys!
05-07-2006, 10:34 PM
#2
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hmmm... I think some of you information is incorrect!
Seneca College's aviation program is extremely expensive and I continue to wonder what part is actually subsidized. All though they do not mention the cost on their website, they do have this written:
TUITION
Tuition fees for this program are significantly higher than other college degree programs. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
Another issue with Seneca is that "Bachelor of Applied Technology". Although you spend 4 years enrolled at Seneca, you don't graduate with a real degree like you would from a University. I'd also like to point out that they aren't the only ones offering a program like this in Canada. Western University has an Aviation Degree program which, like Seneca's, is extremely expensive too.
OK.. here's the good news
There are two other schools in Ontario that offer subsidized flight training: Sault Ste Marie and Confederation College.
I am currently enrolled in the latter, Confederation, and through my extensive research prior to enrolling, it was by far a much, much better choice than Seneca... and I'm really not being biased at all.
First of all, our program is 2 years (5 semesters) and concentrates on getting you the skills to attain an entry level job in the Canadian aviation industry. Having an applied degree and a RJ rating (which I'm sure doesn't exist at Seneca) will not help you in the least at finding that lucrative first break in aviation. Low time pilots fresh out of flight school in Canada end up either instructing or working up north in the bush. Our program prepares you for bush flying.
Second of all, our program is heavily subsidized by the Ontario government. As a student at Confederation, I am only responsible for paying standard college tuition ($8500 total for both years) while the flight training portion is payed by the taxpayers. $8500 gets you a commercial pilots license plus a float rating (approx 200 hrs plus 24 hours on floats) and a college diploma. Weather permitting in the winter, we even get a few hours of ski time. Of course you have to come up with living expenses, books, etc just like you would attending any other college.
We also have a brand new multi-million dollar facility with a fleet of 14 aircraft (8 C172N, 4 C172S, 1 C172XP and 1 C180).
You can check out more information here:
http://www.confederationc.on.ca/flig...ar/default.asp
The only downside to the program is you will have to get your Multi-IFR rating from somewhere else. We do all the IFR ground school but the actual flying portion of the rating can't be done since we don't have any multi-engine aircraft.
Hope that helps.
Seneca College's aviation program is extremely expensive and I continue to wonder what part is actually subsidized. All though they do not mention the cost on their website, they do have this written:
TUITION
Tuition fees for this program are significantly higher than other college degree programs. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
Another issue with Seneca is that "Bachelor of Applied Technology". Although you spend 4 years enrolled at Seneca, you don't graduate with a real degree like you would from a University. I'd also like to point out that they aren't the only ones offering a program like this in Canada. Western University has an Aviation Degree program which, like Seneca's, is extremely expensive too.
OK.. here's the good news
There are two other schools in Ontario that offer subsidized flight training: Sault Ste Marie and Confederation College.
I am currently enrolled in the latter, Confederation, and through my extensive research prior to enrolling, it was by far a much, much better choice than Seneca... and I'm really not being biased at all.
First of all, our program is 2 years (5 semesters) and concentrates on getting you the skills to attain an entry level job in the Canadian aviation industry. Having an applied degree and a RJ rating (which I'm sure doesn't exist at Seneca) will not help you in the least at finding that lucrative first break in aviation. Low time pilots fresh out of flight school in Canada end up either instructing or working up north in the bush. Our program prepares you for bush flying.
Second of all, our program is heavily subsidized by the Ontario government. As a student at Confederation, I am only responsible for paying standard college tuition ($8500 total for both years) while the flight training portion is payed by the taxpayers. $8500 gets you a commercial pilots license plus a float rating (approx 200 hrs plus 24 hours on floats) and a college diploma. Weather permitting in the winter, we even get a few hours of ski time. Of course you have to come up with living expenses, books, etc just like you would attending any other college.
We also have a brand new multi-million dollar facility with a fleet of 14 aircraft (8 C172N, 4 C172S, 1 C172XP and 1 C180).
You can check out more information here:
http://www.confederationc.on.ca/flig...ar/default.asp
The only downside to the program is you will have to get your Multi-IFR rating from somewhere else. We do all the IFR ground school but the actual flying portion of the rating can't be done since we don't have any multi-engine aircraft.
Hope that helps.
05-07-2006, 10:35 PM
#3
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And... if you want some more info on the Canadian aviation scene you can check out www.avcanada.ca/forums2
05-08-2006, 10:33 AM
#4
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Joined APC: Mar 2006
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Thanks alot fingersmac! i'll check out Confederation. Sault was the other one I was told to look into besides Seneca.
I'm also 100% sure that you graduate Seneca with an RJ rating, it's a new thing though that only started this year.
I'm also 100% sure that you graduate Seneca with an RJ rating, it's a new thing though that only started this year.
05-08-2006, 04:33 PM
#5
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hmmm... I highly doubt that they give you an RJ rating. I'm sure if that was available it would be heavily advertised by Seneca, yet I haven't heard anything about that. They have no mention of that on their website.
Besides.. what is an RJ rating going to do for you here in Canada?? As far as I know Air Canada/Jazz are the only RJ operators in Canada and you wouldn't qualify for employment with them with 250 hours and an RJ endorsement. Be wary of Seneca is what I'm telling you.
Sault College program is excellent too and costs around $12,500 for the three years. You end up with a CPL with MIFR rating which would cost you far more through Seneca or any private flight school. The downside to Sault is that it's highly competitive and top students in the class survive the first and second semesters. One of my classmates was in Sault College's flight program and he washed out midway through the second semester. Here at Confederation, there is a spot for every one of the 65 students enrolled in first semester.. as long as you get over 70% in aviation core studies and 60% in non-aviation studies.
The other nice thing about this program is you start flying right away... first week you're here. Sault and Seneca students don't start flight training until after the first two semesters.
Another option to satisfy the degree requirement for some major airlines is to apply your college diploma for credits towards a REAL degree from an accredited university (like Waterloo, Athabasca, etc). In this industry it is much wiser to get a degree in something other than aviation so that you can have a back up plan just in case you lose your medical, get layed off or there is a terrible downturn in the industry.
My plan after graduating with my college diploma here is to work away at building the necessary hours to be employable at regional/airline like Jazz, AC, Westjet, Cathay, etc.. while working part time on a degree through correspondance (through Waterloo, Athabasca, etc).
I'm not trying to discourage you from applying to Seneca, I'm just trying to give you some other options. You're definitely on the right track with one of the subsidized colleges here in Ontario. Sault and Confederation are by far the least expensive way to obtain CPL.
Do a search on avcanada (the link in my post above) for Seneca, Confederation and Sault. You can find some other peoples opinions on those schools and perhaps some more facts about each program.
Good luck
Besides.. what is an RJ rating going to do for you here in Canada?? As far as I know Air Canada/Jazz are the only RJ operators in Canada and you wouldn't qualify for employment with them with 250 hours and an RJ endorsement. Be wary of Seneca is what I'm telling you.
Sault College program is excellent too and costs around $12,500 for the three years. You end up with a CPL with MIFR rating which would cost you far more through Seneca or any private flight school. The downside to Sault is that it's highly competitive and top students in the class survive the first and second semesters. One of my classmates was in Sault College's flight program and he washed out midway through the second semester. Here at Confederation, there is a spot for every one of the 65 students enrolled in first semester.. as long as you get over 70% in aviation core studies and 60% in non-aviation studies.
The other nice thing about this program is you start flying right away... first week you're here. Sault and Seneca students don't start flight training until after the first two semesters.
Another option to satisfy the degree requirement for some major airlines is to apply your college diploma for credits towards a REAL degree from an accredited university (like Waterloo, Athabasca, etc). In this industry it is much wiser to get a degree in something other than aviation so that you can have a back up plan just in case you lose your medical, get layed off or there is a terrible downturn in the industry.
My plan after graduating with my college diploma here is to work away at building the necessary hours to be employable at regional/airline like Jazz, AC, Westjet, Cathay, etc.. while working part time on a degree through correspondance (through Waterloo, Athabasca, etc).
I'm not trying to discourage you from applying to Seneca, I'm just trying to give you some other options. You're definitely on the right track with one of the subsidized colleges here in Ontario. Sault and Confederation are by far the least expensive way to obtain CPL.
Do a search on avcanada (the link in my post above) for Seneca, Confederation and Sault. You can find some other peoples opinions on those schools and perhaps some more facts about each program.
Good luck
05-08-2006, 04:37 PM
#6
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I stand corrected. According to the Frasca website Seneca College did buy a CRJ200 sim. Strange that they don't mention it on their website though. I wonder if it is available for the students to use though?
We have two Dash 8 systems simulators here at Confederation but the flight students don't use them at all.
We have two Dash 8 systems simulators here at Confederation but the flight students don't use them at all.
05-10-2006, 10:08 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Mar 2006
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Thanks for all the info! I just called Seneca and asked them about admission requirements because i'm not living in Ontario, and the course codes for highschool subjects required arn't the same as here. Turns out I need two years of Physics&Chem and not just one like I thought, so Seneca's out of the question for now
.. I'll keep researching Sault and Confed, they both seem to be top notch schools.
Good luck at Confederation!
.. I'll keep researching Sault and Confed, they both seem to be top notch schools.Good luck at Confederation!
10-01-2019, 06:16 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Sep 2019
Posts: 1
University of Waterloo (science and aviation)
Hello, I hope I can find some good suggestions here, so I am currently studying first year of engineering but I think it’s gonna be boring so I am thinking to go for science and aviation in university of Waterloo and get a commercial pilot licence . Is that a good choice and is that a good school for aviation because it’s the only university in Canada which offers four year bachelors degree as well in aviation. Please share your suggestions thank you
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