Thank you to all who posted constructive advice based on your experience with the industry. That's all was what I was looking for. Hopefully someone else reading this thread in a similar position can benefit as well.

 

I've always thought, "if you can make good money without a degree, why get it"? I've never understood the overwhelming need for people to go into massive debt for a piece of paper that in many cases they don't make much money with. Right now to even get a glance from a legacy, you need the degree. In 5 years who even know? If you're worried about it, get it and don't look back. As for myself, I have no degree and I don't think I'll go back to finish my bachelors. My AS? Yes. BS, No. I have already saved a considerable amount of money towards retirement, I have other sources of income, and I have other skills with which I can make a good living with if flying doesn't end up working out. So for me, it just doesn't make sense to incur the debt. Plus I'm busy putting my wife through school right now, and my education is on the back burner.

 

College is becoming obsolete. Most people learn nothing useful for their career, come out with a 6 figure debt and wind up working a low paying job that is completely unrelated to their field. Unless you go to an Ivy League school and become a CEO, college is mostly useless these days.

 

This times 1,000... I don't think many in the older generations (guys at legacies) understand what has happened very well. College is really almost pointless unless you want to become an engineer, or work in a scientific or medical field. I can count on one hand how many of my friends from high school who got degrees are even doing as well or better than I am as a regional FO. That's sad. My friends who went to serve in the military or learned technical/trade skills are doing great.

 

For the record

Out of the 1850 pilots hired since the hiring start at UAL February 13

5 and that's 5 got hired without a bachelors degree and that's a number I was given by the ones that doing the hiring at TK

 

6 airlines later, I can count on 1 hand how many have not had degrees. Get the degree.

 

Why is everyone in such a hurry to work their lives away? You have the rest of your life to work! I wouldn't trade my college years for anything. I learned a lot (both in and out of the classroom), grew up, partied, traveled and made lifelong friends and connections. There are ways to graduate debt free...even will flight fees.

 

Get a degree in something versatile and different from aviation. Finance or economics would be highly recommended because they can be used in many other places. Other than that, nursing or engineering although realize those are more subject to industry downturns in their specific sectors.

 

Foot stomp, GET THE DEGREE!

You must have gone to a crappy school.

 

A degree isn't about getting a job, it is about being, well, educated. It's about knowledge, critical thinking, about accomplishing goals and meeting timelines. If college were about jobs, it would be called tech school.

GF