College Advice
 

I'm a senior from Dallas, TX, have my PPL, and am strongly considering UND or Purdue. I took visits to both schools and really liked the vibe. I met with students and instructors from UND and heard great things about both programs. I know many pilots strongly discouraged getting an aviation degree, but that's what I really want to do. The good news for me is that UND and Purdue are being generous with scholarship for me and I can afford the training. Anybody on here from UND or Purdue have advice? Thanks in advance.

What school you choose all depends on what career route you want to pursue. Do you want to sneak into a regional with the R-ATP minimums or are you trying for something else? Find a university that has the approval for R-ATP and work your way down the list. Also just because a school is big doesn't always make it better. Find a school that fits your needs. Things like cost, lifestyle, weather, location are all factors you need to consider. Don't end up being someone miserable in school because you made your decision biased on what all the alumni told you on a message board.

Also both UND and Purdue are great schools. Obviously with scholarships the decision making is somewhat easier than what a typical high school student faces.

I'm really interested in the Gateway Program UND has with JetBlue/Cape Air. I like the somewhat job security that program offers if I were to join. The R-ATP minimums are also appealing, so yes, I'm hoping to sneak into a regional with the hour waiver, best case.

If you thought you might stay local, I work with US Aviation Academy with has a partnership with TCC and is right next to UNT. I know you said you are just looking at UND and Purdue, but figured I'd offer the idea.

For general college entrance, my advice is to get SAT or ACT scores as high as possible since a ton of the automatic and merit based scholarships will be based on these scores. I raised my score 150 points just by using the study guides on Sparknotes.com. From my experience applying with schools, they will raise your scholarship to fit your new SAT score anytime before you start. So that means even if you already have a good scholarship, you might be able to get a better one. (I go to Baylor University btw)

My $.02, based on 25 years in the industry is- Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Have a backup plan. Pursue your dream, but Get a degree in something other than aviation.

I'm thinking about double-majoring in something non-aviation for that safety net PerfInit is talking about. I do plan on majoring in Commercial Aviation, but I do not know what my other major would be yet if I choose to double-major. I got accepted into both UND and Purdue and recieved generous scholarship from UND and haven't heard from Purdue about scholarship yet. That will help me decide as well. I'm also looking at OU, OK State because they're close to home.

So you're asking for us to tell us what you want to hear?
My advice is to not go to UND. It's expensive, cold and a waste of money. Oh, and it's in Grand Forks, ND. And it's cold. Do not major in Commercial Aviation. It's close to useless. Major in Economics. Or Political Science. Or Marketing.

Pay in state tuition.

But you didn't want any of that advice...

There is a BIG reason pilots keep discouraging you.

"I know many pilots strongly discouraged getting an aviation degree, but that's what I really want to do."

You think you're the only one who wanted to do nothing but fly?

Listen to those pilots and the pilots here, get a non aviation degree and get a skill/education that will help you when, not if, WHEN the economy takes another dive.

I recently spoke to a 747-400 captain who has been flying since the 70s, he told me throughout his career he had seen the economy take a dive 3 times. 1990, 2001 (9/11/01) and 2008 (housing/financial) crisis. He said finding a job was so difficult when all he had to show for it was an aeronautical science degree, he graduated from riddle.

Just a warning from a Finance + Economics double major, jobs in these fields are relatively thin. Especially in economics.

Economics is almost completely useless if you don't take the math classes and econometrics (at least as far as employers are concerned).

Finance is a bit better for getting a job. The really high paying ones, like IB, are few and far between but there are a fair number of decent jobs and it is a very flexible degree.

Accounting is the safest choice. There are always tons of accounting jobs, albeit sometimes quite boring. Pays well if you get into the big four though.

I LOVE economics but to get a job in economics you need to take a lot of math (think math minor at minimum). It makes a great companion to finance. Finance is quite similar to economics, just the far more practical, micro-focused side.

DO NOT get an aviation degree. There are some good threads going on right now in the regional forums about pay, work rules, and quality of life. Don't go into that kind of debt for an airline career with no guarantee of a shot at the majors. I did all my training debt free. Guys I know who went to Riddle and UND are on food stamps because of the crushing debt and low pay they have to look forward to for years. And don't go somewhere because of the "security of a gateway program". You won't have a hard time finding a job at the regional of your choice in the years to come if that is the path you choose.