College..?
 

you all mention how much smarter/better it is to go to college. the question i have is that when you say college, does that mean a bachelors degree? associates? does it matter? the problem i have is I'm by no means a classroom learner, I went to college for 2 years and I decided it wasn't for me and decided I wanted to try a career out in aviation. so as far as college goes? 4 years? 2 years? what kind of degrees? etc... thanks.

4 year bachelor's degree


Almost every major airline (especially the good ones that everyone wants to go to) require a 4 year college degree. A 2 year associate degree is basically the same as having a high school degree as far as the airlines are concerned.

If you decide not to get a 4 year college degree, you are costing yourself a good MILLION(s) dollars over your career. The fact is if you don't get a 4 year college degree, your career will likely end at a regional airline, making $90,000 a year. You will be excluding yourself from all the good jobs in aviation (major airline, cargo, corporate). With a college degree, your career is much more likely to end at a major airline making $190k a year. BIG DIFFERENCE! And that adds up over 10,20,30 years!

Be prepared
 

One more thing -- many pilots, by choice or necessity, have found themselves looking for work outside of aviation. This can happen suddenly, and many years before the pilot was expecting it.

Ryane I respectfully disagree. I don't have a college degree and I have flown three airliners for a major airline.I was hired at a regional without a degree but with QUALITY time. Also when I participated in the interview process at my former carrier a degree was a square to fill. An individuals quals,and whether the individual could coexist with a crew for an extended period of time were paramount.True I encourage folks to strive towards your goal of a major,but in my short 17 yrs in this business I have found networking,and quality time to be the deciding factors. Just my .02.

Ve, I respectfully disagree. While not having a degree may have worked for you the problem is that there are too many today that have them. While personality and experience do count, a degree does as well. In many cases it is a requirment for employment eligibility. This applies to many, if not most regionals and majors today.

Get college done first, I'm not and I am regretting it because it's just another thing I have to get done after I land that first flying job. It's a weight on my shoulders, so I really need to get it done asap.

A dregree demonstrates to an employer that you are 'trainable'. That you have the discipline and dedication to do what you have to to earn that sheepskin. It definitely puts you on another plane (so to speak...) when you submit the resume. While I was earning my Business degree, I was flying my tail off and building time. Though I have never actually applied my degree, it is there to fall back on should the need arise. It is definitely a personal and financial (not necessarily in that order) decision but all things being equal it can't hurt to have it.

Your path was not altogther uncommon in the past, but in today's entry-level world the 4-year degree has become ubiqitous. A couple decades ago there were plenty of folks who had the ability but not the opportunity to attend college.

Today, the college opportunities are more readily avialable (at least at state schools), so most young people can't really say it wasn't available to them. Hint: If you can afford flight training, you can afford state tuition.

The validity of someone's decision to not attend college depends on what kind of work they wish to do...there are many sectors in the economy where you don't need college, where initiative and motivation carry more weight. Small business, construction, etc.

However, anyone who wants a white-collar job in corporate america, heavy industry, or certain specialty fields (including airlines) will probably need the degree. Someone who aspires to to these jobs and thinks they can do it without the degree (in spite of all the evidence to the contrary) would seem to be exercising poor judgement.

but see then how does one go about doing it in the first place? go to college for 4 years than get your ratings? by the time I go through college and get all my training I will be at least 25 (im 20 right now, currently taking a break from college after 3 semesters) then I would have to build my hours and wouldn't get a job for at least a regional till im 26. Whereas if i start my training right now I could be with a regional by the time im 22 (hopefully). Whats the most important thing in the airline industry, seniority right?

What's the point of worrying about seniority if you can't get the job in the first place?