Hello all,

Well I have finally decided it. I am going to change my major out of aviation. I haven't jumped into student loans or anything yet and I decided that before I dive into a pile of debt that I should decide what to do. With the current state of the economy and the way that pilots are being furloughed and such, it would be smart for me to switch majors and flight train on the side through part 61. Since I am only a couple of years through college, I feel as though I can switch now without really backpeddling very far. I was curious as to what majors some of you other folks have graduated in. Any suggestions? I would like to do something fun although advanced math is not my strong suit. (I realize the phrase "something fun" is ridiculously broad). I have so much fun hanging around FBO's and I would like to have my CFI in a few years if I can hack it financially. I also want to get into part 135 flying as some of the old crummy twins and things really intrigue me. I am taking my sweet time with flight training and maybe someday I can fly for the airlines. I am in no hurry though.

ANYWAY, anyone have any major suggestions? I was thinking a degree in transportation or something as I am a truck driver. I guess I have realized that there's so much negative about flying majors passed around this forum that I need to start listening to you pro's out there!

BTW, This is meant to be a fun thread where you can throw out ideas for college, please no flamebait or namecalling or whatever.

 

If you like business, you can get a pretty broad business degree that will leave you a lot of fallback options. That, or maybe an IT/web design or graphic arts degree- something where you can make money building/fixing/programming computers or editing pictures. Good luck, I think you're making a wise choice.

 

Assuming you are planning an aviation career, I might suggest a degree which is more towards the skill end of the votech-education spectrum.

English lit, history = education
Computer Science, accounting = skills

Education is great, and can also allow you a post-furlough fallback job as a general white-collar type. But a skill is probably better because you can maintain and develop that skill as a sideline while flying for an airline. This can provide supplemental income during the lean years, and the ability to quick ramp up to a liveable income when aviation falls through.

If you go into computers, it might best to focus on programming vice hardware since you can write code anywhere with a laptop.

 

Based on what you have said I would look into Logistics/Supply Chain

 

Can you explain what that involves? What kind of fields would I go into?

 

May I suggest the medical field. More specifically, Pharmacy. Yes, the degree takes 6 years, (in some states it is going to 8 years) however the pay is excellent, great fallback for when you get furloughed, (and you will be). And when the timing is right, you are senior enough, you can hold CD's (cont. duty), be done by 8am, go into work wherever you practice, 9 to 6.

 

Management, business, accounting, pretty much the jobs that bring in the money, or help you manage money, or manage people and money.......it's about the money!

I wish I would've added a second degree while I was at college, but now that I've been out 6 years, I really doubt I'll go back unless I have to.

 

Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, information and other resources, including energy and people, between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of consumers (frequently, and originally, military organizations).

The above is a very high level. Basically is getting a material or some product from point A to point B. Or how do we deliver something from the shop to the customer and there is a TON that goes into that process.

Check out this website for some examples of careers...

What are Popular Careers in Logistics?