Alex...I will also add my vote for Purdue, a great University. I will also give you one more thing to consider...my daughter applied for and received an AFROTC scholarship and chose Purdue and was accepted into the flight program. When attending the freshman orientation visit to campus, her Air Force ROTC Commander told her that she has been accepted to a great university and that she should use that opportunity and take advantage to get a great education and not go there to learn how to fly. He said she could work towards and apply for a pilot slot upon graduation and let the United States Air Force teach her to fly. She changed majors, got a wonderful first class education, worked her butt off and got her pilot slot and Silver Wings and now is flying all over the world and having the time of her life. Her commander was right and she never looked back. Good luck to you.
I guess it would help if you wanted to fly military...you really didn't say

Hi,
Just read your post and you sound A LOT like me when I was your age. Having said that, I also see that Embry Riddle is on your list. That happens to be my alma matter, so I may be a little partial, but do consider the service academies and a possible military career, it's not a bad way to go. Also take it from someone who knows, consider a double major in something along with aviation. You might not want to hear that, but in about 10 years or so, you'll wish you would have listened. :/
Good luck with everything!

Unless her scholarship was contingent on a major other than Aviation Flight Technology, I'm not sure how I feel about the PAS telling her she should major in something else...especially since there were (are?) AFROTC scholarships available for ANY major.

BTW, I'm former Det. 220 myself and never once had any officer or NCO try to talk me out of an AvTech major. To the contrary, I was told every single AvTech major that had ever gone through Det. 220, qualified for a pilot slot academically, and wanted one had been selected for one due in part to the PCSM score bump from their flight hours; the same could not be said for Engineering, OLS, or Management majors.

Also, I think I know what you were trying to say, but the AvTech program at Purdue is also a "world class education" - its not just a learn-to-fly vocational school.

Hey, those are good schools that you are looking at. I am working and getting myself setup through KS State university right now. There professional pilot program is a good program they got going. They offer many aviation jobs through KS State. Right now I am deployed in iraq with Ft. Riley KS as a ch-47 crew chief/ mechanic and I have been talking to them about getting myself setup for when I get out. Yea Kansas sucks but you can find things to do. Good luck with everything:)

BoilerUp...It really wasn't that he told her to major in something else, just rather asked if she had considered it. We all talked about what she wanted to do and had kind of an "AaaHaa" moment. Her scholarship was for any school, any major...no restrictions. She really wanted to double major with the addition of Management. We all sort of decided it made sense at the time to go with the Management side of things and go for a pilot slot as the time presented itself. She already had her PPL with around 85 hours and the Col. told her with good grades she stood a pretty good chance of a slot. We are all thankful it workrd out for the best and by no means did I mean to imply that the AvTech program was anything short of World Class...That was the whole reason for choosing Purdue in the first place and believe me we looked far and wide (remember she had an "any school, any major" scholarship) and Purdue was head and shoulders above all in our minds...it also meant going away to school almost clear across the country. Did you get commisioned and go on to UPT? I see that you mention CJ2 in your avatar...very nice!

Having a PPL and 85 hours definitely helped her PCSM score; I knew juniors in the program who would buy 10hrs in a C150 just to better their chances.

As far as my commission...no, unfortunately didn't make it quite that far. I was pushed out of the Detachment after my 3rd semester because I didn't medically qualify to go to Field Training (or my scholarship - stupid one entry of asthma in my medical records at age 14 and stupid DoDMERB for giving that more credence to my actual health than a 420+ PFT score).

I tried again in the ANG, but was medically disqualified for something else.

God didn't wish for me to be an Air Force officer, I guess...

FIT was great. I lived in Melbourne for 6 years (4 of school, 2 of instructing), it is a great little beach town. Orlando isn't far if you want the city. I'd recommend it!!

I'm graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondales flight program at the end of this summer, and so far I really have nothing negative to say about it. I don't know all of the stats of how many students are in the program, but what I do know is this school is great. Besides being one of the best aviation schools in the country, there is way more to do than aviation here. I'll give ya a pm and talk to ya if your interested.

No one mentioned Utah Valley University, or just going to your local flight school and doing your degree online. Trust me on this one, whatever route you choose, pick the cheapest, because it is going to be a long time before you make any real money in this career. I'm not saying it can't be done, but some people don't see it until their 30s, even when they go straight in after high school. That is alot of dollar burgers and ramen noodles.

When i toured purdue, i was told enrollment in their aviation programs was down, and they weren't expectin to deny anyon who didnt already meet their other academic criteria.
Don't know what your money situation is, but purdue is very expensive compared to other schools in Indiana... like Indiana State University. I do believe they allow you to transfer to Purdue as well.