Globerunner513

Short version: I'm a Junior this year at UND, 25 years old.

Option 1: I continue with Comm aviation now that the ATP requirements have been lowered. Potentially could save me a year or more of time building.

Option 2: Finish Commercial/Multi ratings. Change majors to Mechanical Engineering. Probably looking at starting from scratch with another 4+ years to go, including at least a year of just math classes to get caught up.
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So I got my PPL through a UND satellite school after High School around 2007/2008. Moved back home to Washington and got a job with G4 as an agent. Traveled a lot, learned a ton, and made some great friends and contacts in the industry. Last year I decided to kick my own butt and get back to school.

Since I attended a UND program earlier, I decided to transfer to Grand Forks and continue classes at the main campus. I stayed in the Commercial Aviation major, however I had always liked the thought of taking engineering, but my lack of math classes recently (since around 2005), has always been the elephant in my mind and kept me playing the short game. Get in, out, and done as quick as possible. At least I would enjoy all the classes, even if they don't mean much in the end...(aviation)

Fast forward to this past spring, where I got involved with the UND Formula SAE team. It's basically a team of Senior engineering students who built a formula style race car to compete with other schools from around the globe. I was lucky enough to get a spot as one of the drivers, and got to spend a lot of time with an awesome group of guys, and equally brilliant engineers.
I realized it's the kind of design and troubleshooting work I'd be good at, and probably would enjoy if, God forbid, I can't fly any longer. I also realize the majority of engineering is mundane paper pushing, and number crunching, something I'm not terribly fond of, but I can chock that up to a necessary evil as part of a bigger picture.

My co-driver on the team was in my same boat, funny enough. Aviation student, 25 years old, slightly farther ahead in his training. Both of us have been talking about switching to engineering for the same reasons since being on the team. He recently pulled the trigger. And I've got to say I'm feeling like I should too.
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If I decide to stay in school, for potentially 3 more years than I had planned, will I be missing out on some of the best opportunities to be building time and getting my foot in the door at a 121 operator?

If I do get a job at a 121 operator, and make a career out of it....is there any sense in having a degree in engineering? How would one use it in a part-time setting? Does it become useless if I have no real-world experience?

Thanks gents! Any feedback always appreciated

yimke

I would say go finish your aviation stuff asap. You could be missing out on some of the best movement at the majors if you delay too long. Otherwise, I feel by the time you get your hours in, you will be at the bottom of a major list for a long time! Because think of all the regionals hiring X amount of people per year and take it times 3 years. You are in a slightly lower than prime position right now.. don't make it worse.

You aren't on scholarship, so what is the point. You can always come back later to finish your degree. I had to make the same hard decision. Turned down a paid masters degree to get my hours up to get in prime position. I'm coming back later to finish it.

Lucky8888

For whatever it's worth, my advice is to get your degree. A degree is never worthless.

JamesNoBrakes

Not as much as you might think. I interviewed with boeing for something similar, but the research into them and their operation turned up the fact that they realize you can't just sit at a computer and do the "same thing" all day and year after year. They make a huge effort to move people around in jobs, keep them doing new stuff, and so on. My uncle, a retired engineer for MD, got to travel all around the world doing testing and other projects in support of MD airliners, and I know current engineering grads/hires doing the same thing right now at Boeing. It's obviously not strapping on an F16 every day, but airline flying is pretty far removed from that too. Maybe you want to be a test pilot some day? Engineering is the path.

It maybe depends a bit on "how far" you are in the hole, but realize that spending another 20-40 grand for some certificates and college can be a huge waste of money that you have to pay back and that may not help you in the future.

What is the policy/setup if you CFI for that school? Do they let you take classes for free? You could get a wealth of value and knowledge by getting your engineering degree while you are CFIing (assuming there's some sort of incentive like the classes are free). I know a few universities have a program like that. Instead of slowly building up time for ATP requirements, you'd be furthering your education AND doing that, and the value would be off the charts IMO.

Hugely important is how quickly you can start paying back money if you took out loans. You can't take out more loans and put off paying it back for 4 more years, the interest would kill you and you'd never be able to get away from it, but there are ways to pay it back, earn a living, and take classes all at the same time.

kingsnake2

As said, a big part of this question is 1)How much debt do you have? and 2) What rate are you paying on it?

Some government loans can be paid as a percentage of your annual salary which could be a good solution if you have a low annual salary for the first few years.

Hawker445

That may be true, but the guys that are already in regionals will move up to the Majors and then the cycle repeats again. Fresh guys will be stuck in regionals for another who knows how many years, and will be stuck waiting for an upgrade.

8ballfreight

Finish school, it just gets tougher to finish with time.

Jamestlw

hit the nail on the head with these

paintyourjet

Edumucation is number one

Globerunner513

Thanks guys for the support! I think I should clarify that either way I will stay in school and get a degree. The question is getting a Bachelors in Commercial Aviation in less than 2 years, or a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in most likely 3+.

After talking with some friends in both industries, I have decided to formally switch my Major. However, the actual coursework I have isn't changing much for this coming semester at least, so I could still be on track if I decide to switch back in the next few months.