The University of Oklahoma

 

I would recommend something along the lines of an engineering degree or medical and maybe do some aviation based courses on the side along with the ratings.

 

Uncle Sam University (USU). Price is right too.

 

Go to a regular college and learn something useful. I made the mistake of going to a semi aviation college my first semester. Talking about airplanes and how you're all going to be a Fedex or Southwest CA all day everyday among your fellow aviator brothers gets very old. I can't imagine doing it for 4 years for 150 grand..

I would strongly recommended you do a health or medical science degree because they've got Medical School, Law School, and Business school covered in case you decide to change careers.

 

1. the school where you will meet connections...you could go to the best school but if you don't have the connections your just another fish in the water. And i'm not talking about just meeting other students.

2. cheap. the cheaper the better...there is something called the rule of diminishing returns that alot of aviation schools and scholars have never heard of...or they like to live in their fantasy world of just cause they spent 100k on their CPL means they're gonna be making the big bucks sooner then someone else (or at all for that matter). however remember you still want to get a good education so look for a school around the 35k-45k area...this should include Commercial cert w/ ASEL/AMEL privledges aswell as CFI and CFII.

3. Associates. Don't waste your time getting a bachelor in flying...a bachelor in flying is called a Commercial Pilot's Certificate. However if your bent on getting a bachelor in aviation look for something related to the business side of things ie airport managment. Personally i'd recommend a bach in business operations bc if your gonna cross the line to management that is most likely the place you will find yourself.

4. Finally post-edu options. will the school hire you as a CFI? and if they do will you actually be able to support yourself while you teach for them?

is there a school that accompanies all of this? probably not...but if anything this will help you eliminate some of the schools that will waste your time...ofcoarse like all alum, i'd argue my school is the best but that is irrelevant.

good luck!

 

I still can't believe people actually want to become pilots. Go the atc route and actually enjoy your life...have time to spend with your family, and make more than enough money to pay for that lifestyle.

 

Heh, silly poster thinks ATC newhires have lots of time to spend with their families AND make "more than enough money". You must not have heard about the work rules & compensation changes imposed on NATCA by the FAA a couple years ago, or the new controller B-scale.

Guess the grass is always greener...

 

Stare at a screen for a whole shift. Sounds fun. About as fun as putting a gun to your head. No thanks. Do what you like. Like what you do.