Good Idea?
01-20-2010, 04:35 PM
#1
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Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 22
Good Idea?
I'm a senior in high school right now and really want to become a commercial pilot one day. I'm planning on going to The Ohio State University and join the Air Force ROTC program my freshman year... then I'm planning on applying to The Air Force Academy and joining them. Does anyone recommend this? I'm just not exactly sure what the best route would be to take in order to accomplish my goal, but this seems like it could be reasonable.
Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!
Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!
01-20-2010, 05:17 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Left Seat, Toyota Tacoma
Posts: 593
You have several questions and I'll do my best.
1. USAFA versus normal college. USAFA is a prison camp that has the best odds of getting you into pilot training - assuming that you get good grades, stay out of trouble, and are physically qualified. I'm a USAFA grad and I know how that place works. However, I must admit that it's a hell of an education and it's opened a lot of opportunities. It just comes at a high social cost.
2. Going to Ohio State to "prepare" for USAFA. I'm not completely sold on that idea. Have you started applying for USAFA? It's a long process that typically starts with your Senator or Congressional rep. What they want: a clean cut Boy Scout type, very high GPA, high SAT scores, lots of sports, community activities, leadership, Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, etc. You don't need to have everything, but the more the better. If you are a very strong athlete or politically connected, then you might be able to work around the academics by getting into the USAFA Prep School - it's essentially a junior college designed to prepare some high potential (but academically lacking) candidates. What is keeping you from applying directly to USAFA? Think about that and think about how to mitigate that. Ohio State might not be the only pathway... maybe a couple semesters at a junior college will do the same thing for a lot less money.
3. Going military versus civilian when your end goal (at least right now) is civilian. You need to be willing to risk that you'll spend 4 years at USAFA and not get into pilot training, or get into pilot training and get a career UAV job. However, the military does offer way better pay and benefits compared to putting yourself through college, flight instructing, and getting a regional job. Keep in mind that you might eventually need 1,500 hours and an ATP to get hired.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Riddler
1. USAFA versus normal college. USAFA is a prison camp that has the best odds of getting you into pilot training - assuming that you get good grades, stay out of trouble, and are physically qualified. I'm a USAFA grad and I know how that place works. However, I must admit that it's a hell of an education and it's opened a lot of opportunities. It just comes at a high social cost.
2. Going to Ohio State to "prepare" for USAFA. I'm not completely sold on that idea. Have you started applying for USAFA? It's a long process that typically starts with your Senator or Congressional rep. What they want: a clean cut Boy Scout type, very high GPA, high SAT scores, lots of sports, community activities, leadership, Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, etc. You don't need to have everything, but the more the better. If you are a very strong athlete or politically connected, then you might be able to work around the academics by getting into the USAFA Prep School - it's essentially a junior college designed to prepare some high potential (but academically lacking) candidates. What is keeping you from applying directly to USAFA? Think about that and think about how to mitigate that. Ohio State might not be the only pathway... maybe a couple semesters at a junior college will do the same thing for a lot less money.
3. Going military versus civilian when your end goal (at least right now) is civilian. You need to be willing to risk that you'll spend 4 years at USAFA and not get into pilot training, or get into pilot training and get a career UAV job. However, the military does offer way better pay and benefits compared to putting yourself through college, flight instructing, and getting a regional job. Keep in mind that you might eventually need 1,500 hours and an ATP to get hired.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Riddler
01-20-2010, 05:21 PM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by Buckeye12
I'm a senior in high school right now and really want to become a commercial pilot one day. I'm planning on going to The Ohio State University and join the Air Force ROTC program my freshman year... then I'm planning on applying to The Air Force Academy and joining them. Does anyone recommend this? I'm just not exactly sure what the best route would be to take in order to accomplish my goal, but this seems like it could be reasonable.
Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!
Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!
If you still really want to go to Colorado's School for Wayward Boys (and Girls), why even go to OSU for a year?
01-20-2010, 05:25 PM
#5
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: 777 FO
Posts: 931
I'm a commercial pilot and an AF reserve pilot. I have a ton of friends who are commercial pilots. Why in the world would you want to be a commercial pilot in this day and age? Not to burst your bubble, but it's kind of like saying I want to go to college to be a bus driver pulling down $18K to start, $80K 20 years later. Not to mention the constant assault upon our work rules, rest rules, and retirements. Unless you're lucky enough to get hired by FDX or UPS...which kind of requires going the military route these days. Just sayin'...
01-20-2010, 05:30 PM
#6
Get me outta here...
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: Boeing right seat
Posts: 1,541
If you want to be a "military pilot", consider the Academy. I did AFROTC, and it worked out, but I believe you have a better shot at a UPT slot out of the Academy.
If you want to be a "commercial pilot", avoid the military route. It is probably not the lifestyle you are expecting, e.g. it's not an airline.
As posted before, if you "want to fly", go get a degree in something you love, make a bunch of money doing it, and fly recreationally.
If you want to be a "commercial pilot", avoid the military route. It is probably not the lifestyle you are expecting, e.g. it's not an airline.
As posted before, if you "want to fly", go get a degree in something you love, make a bunch of money doing it, and fly recreationally.
01-20-2010, 05:38 PM
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
Military is the best route to commercial aviation for many people. But insiders generally agree that if the airlines is your goal, air national guard or air force reserve are the better options, for many reasons.
Also all of the service academies are 4-year programs...even if you have previous college, you have to start over so if you want to go that route try to get in right out of HS. If you don't, not a big deal probably a third of academy students have prior college.
The military offers some great advantages compared to civilian training, but be sure that you have a sincere desire to serve and put up with the requisite hardships.
Also all of the service academies are 4-year programs...even if you have previous college, you have to start over so if you want to go that route try to get in right out of HS. If you don't, not a big deal probably a third of academy students have prior college.
The military offers some great advantages compared to civilian training, but be sure that you have a sincere desire to serve and put up with the requisite hardships.
01-20-2010, 06:11 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Kickin it "C"old School in AK
Posts: 283
Originally Posted by UPTme
I can assure you that once you get to a real college you will not consider leaving for the academy.
If you want to be a commercial pilot some day, skip the military and go straight for your goal.
If you want to be a commercial pilot some day, skip the military and go straight for your goal.
01-20-2010, 06:23 PM
#9
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Kickin it "C"old School in AK
Posts: 283
Originally Posted by blastoff
You can get a Pilot slot out of OSU ROTC. Don't even bother with the Zoo (USAFA).
Story time--In the early 90s UCLA was getting MAYBE 1 UPT slot per year. Are you going to be the #1 guy in your ROTC unit? How many seniors in that ROTC unit 4 yrs from now? 10 or 100? What school are your odds better at making # 1 for that UPT slot? Is USAFA giving 400 slots out of 900? Will your ROTC unit even get that 1 slot? Maybe no slots for them that year. Constant flux and difficult decisions to make.
01-20-2010, 07:07 PM
#10
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Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 22
Originally Posted by Riddler
You have several questions and I'll do my best.
1. USAFA versus normal college. USAFA is a prison camp that has the best odds of getting you into pilot training - assuming that you get good grades, stay out of trouble, and are physically qualified. I'm a USAFA grad and I know how that place works. However, I must admit that it's a hell of an education and it's opened a lot of opportunities. It just comes at a high social cost.
2. Going to Ohio State to "prepare" for USAFA. I'm not completely sold on that idea. Have you started applying for USAFA? It's a long process that typically starts with your Senator or Congressional rep. What they want: a clean cut Boy Scout type, very high GPA, high SAT scores, lots of sports, community activities, leadership, Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, etc. You don't need to have everything, but the more the better. If you are a very strong athlete or politically connected, then you might be able to work around the academics by getting into the USAFA Prep School - it's essentially a junior college designed to prepare some high potential (but academically lacking) candidates. What is keeping you from applying directly to USAFA? Think about that and think about how to mitigate that. Ohio State might not be the only pathway... maybe a couple semesters at a junior college will do the same thing for a lot less money.
3. Going military versus civilian when your end goal (at least right now) is civilian. You need to be willing to risk that you'll spend 4 years at USAFA and not get into pilot training, or get into pilot training and get a career UAV job. However, the military does offer way better pay and benefits compared to putting yourself through college, flight instructing, and getting a regional job. Keep in mind that you might eventually need 1,500 hours and an ATP to get hired.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Riddler
1. USAFA versus normal college. USAFA is a prison camp that has the best odds of getting you into pilot training - assuming that you get good grades, stay out of trouble, and are physically qualified. I'm a USAFA grad and I know how that place works. However, I must admit that it's a hell of an education and it's opened a lot of opportunities. It just comes at a high social cost.
2. Going to Ohio State to "prepare" for USAFA. I'm not completely sold on that idea. Have you started applying for USAFA? It's a long process that typically starts with your Senator or Congressional rep. What they want: a clean cut Boy Scout type, very high GPA, high SAT scores, lots of sports, community activities, leadership, Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, etc. You don't need to have everything, but the more the better. If you are a very strong athlete or politically connected, then you might be able to work around the academics by getting into the USAFA Prep School - it's essentially a junior college designed to prepare some high potential (but academically lacking) candidates. What is keeping you from applying directly to USAFA? Think about that and think about how to mitigate that. Ohio State might not be the only pathway... maybe a couple semesters at a junior college will do the same thing for a lot less money.
3. Going military versus civilian when your end goal (at least right now) is civilian. You need to be willing to risk that you'll spend 4 years at USAFA and not get into pilot training, or get into pilot training and get a career UAV job. However, the military does offer way better pay and benefits compared to putting yourself through college, flight instructing, and getting a regional job. Keep in mind that you might eventually need 1,500 hours and an ATP to get hired.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Riddler
Someone I know that went to my school a few years ago did this "plan" that I was thinking of and is successful in it as of right now. Currently, he is flying Cargo to the victims of Haiti.
I'm sorry I didn't state earlier... my DREAM is to become a commercial pilot for an airline. But, my main goal is to become a pilot and fly in general. I would be satisfied with that because I love the aviation field and have always been interested in becoming a pilot.
Thank you for the help everyone!
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