Is a Masters Degree worth it?
 

All,

I am getting ready to make the transition in the summer of 2019 and I'm wondering if it would be worth it to pursue a Masters Degree in order to improve my application. My question is...Is it worth it to go through the hassle? I am a little concerned that my TT is a bit on the low side. The cost of the degree is low, so that is not really a major concern.

My projected stats at time of separation should be:

Single engine fighter background
TT:1900
TPIC: 1500
IP: 500
GA/flight training: 400
Director of Ops, IP/EP quals
3.7 GPA in Aviation Major

Thanks in advance!

You should be pretty solid. Take the money that you'd have spent on a masters degree and use it to make up for low pay at a regional for a few months if you're not picked up immediately by one of the majors.

Unless it's free or super low cost, I would pass.

Probably won't need it, but every box checked moves you closer to the top of the stack.

If you're staying the reserves and still need a promotion or two, it might be worth doing a PME + masters program, kill two birds.

If you're doing it to make O-4 or O-5, yes.

It is thoroughly unnecessary for the jump to the airlines given your quals and timing, so long as there is not a quantum shift in the demand for airline pilots in the next three years.

no, not needed for airlines.

I will say though, if you are an an O4 going into the reserves, knock out your ACSC now on AD. You can legitimately work on it during office hours and are essentially paid for doing it. Im a reservist and have to do it on my time. I put it off and now have to complete the whole thing in a year.

Ill say that the great thing is, it really makes me realize what a great choice i made to bail. ACSC is a complete asspain. Most civilian airline guys would be appalled at the work and queep required.

I have a 3 hour commute, and that's when Im doing my reading. If I lived in base, I would quit ACSC and accept retiring as an O4. It simply would'nt be worth the time required. One could work extra at the airline the same amount of time required and more than make up the retirement difference.

A masters or PhD will definitely give you an advantage when applying to Delta.

Likely obvious to you but just in case..do not incur an extension by using education funds/GI Bill, etc. If there is any increased commitment--even concurrent--I'd just say "no".

Thank you to all of you for your quick and informative replies. I'm already an O4, and if I pick up O5, it will be in the reserves. Right now, the promotion to O5 is very low on my priority list. Good idea about combining PME and the masters, as I might be able to knock out 2 birds with one stone. I also don't see myself doing any reading for PME in between an airline job and reserve commitments post AD. As far as PME goes, it is now or never.

Lastly, I do not plan on using education benefits for the exact reason that Albie mentioned...It is not worth it for me to incur a service obligation in exchange for a few grand of tuition assistance. As far as the GI bill goes, I plan on transferring that benefits to my kids once I transition to the reserves.

Thanks again for the replies.

Somewhat related, question for Albie et al...

I'm 8/12 classes toward a semi-BS online masters from a real school. I stopped altogether a few years ago, when the AF came to its senses and dropped the requirement (for the most part) for promotion to O-4. I mostly did it to get the "BAC+" on my SURF... that way you could tell brainwashed leadership that you were working towards it and you were a team player, blah blah blah.

I might finish it some day, and ACSC by correspondence might count towards a class or two, but it's not really a high priority. I'm an IDE select (and have zero intention of going to IDE), so I can't even sign up for ACSC by correspondence until I 7 day opt IDE... so might as well wait til I do ACSC in the ARC and have that count anyway. Not going to waste any TA or GI Bill toward additional classes- not worth any ADSC incurred, and I'm leaving AD ASAP.

My question is... should I disclose the progress toward the masters on my apps? I think I can justify why I put the progress on pause- work/life balance, etc- but if the airlines (or air line) doesn't care either way, then why even mention it? Does the potential bonus point for starting a masters (but not finishing it) outweigh the risk of it looking bad that I just stopped and am in no hurry to finish? Timeline wise, I started sometime in 2010 and worked on it on and off through 2015 or so. 5 years to get 8 classes done... yeah, not a big priority. It's not exactly hard but it is time consuming, and definitely more difficult than joke schools like ERAU/TUI/Phoenix/etc.

FWIW, I don't think I need a masters to make up for a ****ty undergrad like some have suggested- 3.4ish undergrad GPA in a real major from a real school.