As a CTC graduate myself, I understand what you are going through. I had the exact some thoughts until I finally got out of Killeen and realized it was more where I was at vs. what I wanted to do with my life. Killeen Ft Hood is a dump, no other way to put it. There is absolutely no aviation there and never will be. I graduated and immediately left and moved to Houston to do my CFI II on one of those quick programs, got hired by said flight school and got to work. One day someone shows up in a Citation asking if I wanted a better job....and the rest is history.

You are too young and too far out of the industry to really get a good scope on it. It is not all doom and gloom, only here on apf. Finish college, go flight instruct elsewhere and work your way into a job, even if airline. If you don't like that game then network your way into a corporate job like I did.

Pm if you want to talk more in depth.

 

Why not research what the most in demand degrees are this year and look at forecasts over the next 3-5 years?

 

It's important to realize how many aviation opportunities (not piloting, but opportunities within aviation) there are out there, and how many branching specialties there are within those or any industry. Everyone thinks delivery=drivers, airlines=pilots, medical=doctors, insurance=life and automobile, and so on. There are so many opportunities within if you go and search a little.

 

Read the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad". It may not make you an instant billionaire but it may give you some good advice/ideas to think about - and that may help you narrow your search for other options.

 

I wouldn't go as far as to say my heart isn't in it, I just need something incase I can't financially support myself.
I would If I wasn't too stupid to understand how to PM on these forums haha.
Because, that would make sense.
You're right, absolutely.
Looking at it, it looks like one of those Matt Lesko programs on TV. I guess since it's only 3 bucks at Wal Mart, I don't have a reason not to get it.

 

It's a good read. The author's main premise is gaining wealth working for yourself as opposed to working for someone else. I enjoyed the book but I still work for someone else - and I plan to continue to do so. However, I did learn and apply some of his points which have helped me gain wealth.

For example, the author hires people who have a particular skill set (i.e., a property manager) to perform a task which frees him up to spend more time on bigger and more important aspects which help his business grow. Also, instead of pursuing degrees and trying to know everything about everything, he hires certain people who already are knowledgable in certain areas to help him in those areas. The cost is much less than the benefits gained.

How do I apply that advice? Well, I could spend a lot of my free time researching the market and trying to learn how to manage my investment and retirement portfolios -which is a never ending task in and of itself. Or, I could hire someone who is already very knowledgable and passionate about this for a fixed fee and let him do the work. The benefits (i.e., monetary gains) far, far exceed the cost of hiring a good financial planner.

I've been there, done that with regards to living paycheck - to - paycheck as a young aspiring pilot many years ago. When the money starts rolling in, have a plan already in place as to how you are going to grow it. It may be through sound investing or through some type of business venture.

When you finish reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", get a copy of "The Millionaire Next Door" and read it too. Again, not saying it will make you a millionaire overnight, but it is wise to take advice from those who already are.

Having a back-up plan such as another degree is certainly not a bad idea. But, keep in mind that a good skill-set or entrepeneurship is a great thing to have as well. Who knows, you might be a successful entrepreneur whose flying job is second to it.

 

While we are talking about money issues, here are some very simple ideas:

5 of the Worst Things You Can Do With Your Money | The Exchange - Yahoo! Finance

 

I'm exactly like you, finishing off commercial and CFI with no idea what to do as a plan B. I would like to be a UPS package Driver or something like that, those jobs pay great with no degree. Sometimes I daydream with being a package driver and Fly on the weekends. But my second passion which is video games. Find your second passion and study that.

 

UPS package driver and video games

Seems profitable

 

I will give you my experience and you can make your own conclusions. I worked for an regional airline, which I will not name, but was recently shut down. During my time there and unsuccessful in finding a job at a better place or moving up and upgrading(10 year FO's from my initial class when they shutdown) I went to school during while flying and graduated with a master in accounting. I found a much better flying job while in school and thought about not finishing my education, but after 3 years at the place which claimed in out indoc, "welcome to the last aviation job you will ever have", I was furloughed. I graduated and found a job in the accounting finance field. If you are looking for a degree which is universal to most all business this would be helpful. There seems to be many opportunities one you get the experience in the work force. To be honest like most of us that pursued a flying career this work is not as exciting as flying, but droning along at FL380 for hours gets boring as well.

Good luck in your career path.