hello,
I would like an opinion from any pilots and all of them.
Would i have a better chance of making it if I got hired at a Regional when im 19, or go to college, and try and get hired around 22 or 23? I am plannin on doing the ATP thing Summer of 2008, when i'm 18, then either a)Applying at a Regional or
b)going to college while CFI'g somehow.
What do u guys think?

Go to college and get a degree.

easy one...college. CFI is a great part-time job while in college where you will make more than other "college" jobs and you have some definite controll over your sched. One day, you will probally want to attempt a major and will have a better shot/more options with a degree. Plus, this reg. lifestyle is not for everyone. It may be nice to have that business degree in the back pocket.

Go to college, i almost quit college to go to ATP but i didn't and did flight instructing and you would never imagine how much more you will know and understand from doing it. Good luck

College, college, college. In case something happens down the road where you can't fly and your medical gets taken away, you will have college to fall back on.

College. Plus there is no rush. If you go to a regional at 19, then you will not be able to upgrade for at least 4 years. Gotta be 23 for the ATP.... Get the college degree now, and avoid paying the money to ATP. ATP costs about as much as a college degree anyways.

Definitely go to college, that will help and mostly be required for you to go to a major later on. Most regionals only hire pilots 21 years old and up, so get the degree now while you are young.

For sure go to college. You'll also learn alot of valuable things as a CFI.

Go to College first! - I've know quite a few people at regionals who got hired on at an early age with the intentions of finishing up the college degree while flying for a regional....Doesn't happpen (90% of the time;remember college is a full time job)...You get comfortable - start making a decent income, nice schedule, meet the man/women of your dreams(ha), buy a house, etc...Now your late 20s - early 30s and the whole college thing kinda flys out the window. And there you are...a grumpy 45 year old senior guy at a regional doing essentially the same job as your counterpart who finished college at 22 or 23 and is now flying boxes for UPS and making 3xs the money you are - And he may have even sat in the right seat next to you at one point! GO TO SCHOOL!

Have some fun at college. Get a good degree and your cfi at the same time. I'm graduating in May with a degree in Agricultural economics from Texas Tech and I have been a cfii mei throughout college and have about 1800TT and 500ME and I just got hired at republic. College is a total blast, join a frat, have as much fun as possible and enjoy it. You would miss out on a lot if you didn't go. Also don't get one of those useless aviation science degrees or whatever. Get something you can fall back on if you can't fly anymore. It would be really hard to be a pilot at a major without a degree, I think.