Southerner

I'm not saying a BS is necessary to be smart or well-rounded, but in general, formally educated people (who applied themselves in school) are better rounded and know how to think. You're right. It's easy to just select those with the degree, and if you've got a mountain of applications, why would you go to the trouble of finding the guy who is brilliant, but decided to not get a degree?

The bottom line is that if you don't have a degree, you better make yourself stand out by going to job fairs and getting to know the recruiters. Good luck.

MikeF16

Not sure if you are agreeing of being facetious, but let's be honest here. It doesn't take a brilliant college drop-out to do our job. If you're that brilliant college drop-out, you should go start your own company and make a billion dollars. If professional flying is what you want to do then be smart enough to know that a 4-year degree will make your road a lot easier in the airline industry. We can argue back and forth about the merits and probably violently agree, but in the end you take 2 identical dudes: 1 with and 1 without a 4-year and you know which one will get the nod.

SVTCobra

The one that's not a tool to fly with and not complain should be the one that gets the nod, degree or not.

Bozo the pilot

Your right- A Type rating is more useful...

TurboDog

I don't think anyone said the two were equivalent. I think that is the context in which you chose to take it. Can't speak for the other guy, but what I was getting at was in regards to the original post and being "trainable."

So in thinking who the company may look at from that aspect, I don't think they are even going to compare the two. However, I don't think if they see type ratings, maybe even a type rating for an aircraft that they fly, that they will just throw out your app because you don't have a degree. It shows them that you already have been trained in the environment that they are recruiting for and as an addition, you have already trained on their aircraft and been successful. That is all.

Personally, I am in the same boat as one of the others mentioned. I am a Senior with just a few credits left for my Degree. On my resume it shows my college career along with Dean's List achievement and a high GPA. Will that hold any wait? Or since the box is checked no on the app will it be thrown in the trash?

Minimums

Does anyone know how the internal rec system works now? I know its a not link anymore and you just attach letters, but how does the computer system weed out internal recs from regular letters of rec? Do the internal guys need to send them along to someone else as well?

Beechnut58

What I gathered was before internal recs didn't matter until you interviewed. Now recs are considered in the interview selection process. From what I gather.

Likeabat

Soooo....I finished the app and submitted it. I, like many people, thought I would get a "link" to send to my contacts for letters of rec.

Now that my app has been submitted, I have found the spot where I can go into my profile and upload my letters. Does anyone know for sure if letters submitted "after the fact" are indeed attached to my application - or would it be best to delete my current application and ~ sigh~ start over and attach the letters to the app before I submit it?

SVTCobra

Well said..I have no degree, so the only thing I have to offer is my type ratings with a boat load of total time and PIC time. If a company fixates on me not checking the degree box, then so be it.

pilotpayne

They won't, there are many guys here without one.
I think if you can fly a 747 you must be trainable.

Good luck.