Correct. Usually a "remote" degree program is more challenging. The average student at a brick and mortar university are completing the degree full-time with no other responsibilities. The person completing the degree "remotely" (usually from the same brick and mortar school curriculum), arguably has a family, full-time job, and has to complete that same degree with many more distractions. THAT'S the person I want in my cockpit.

 

I agree with everything posted, but is college the only way it can be done.

It's probably the most efficient way to demonstrate you have character traits listed by everyone who has posted, and if my son gets into aviation I will encourage him to get a degree to make his life easier.

I also think people should look at other things on a resume in lieu of a degree. A good example would be Army helicopter pilots that are warrant officers. They might not have a degree but they have certainly demonstrated the character traits associated with having a degree.

No, I don't have a degree but I have built 3 aircraft from scratch. One was temporarily put in the Smithsonian, and one holds a FIA world record, and was nominated for the Collier Trophy. I think this demonstrated the character traits associated with a degree.

 

you may be right but if a company has minimum requirements and you don't check that box, no matter how silly you think it may be, you wont ever get the opportunity to demonstrate those other accomplishments. Just think about this, say you take the time required to get a degree so that you match 1,000 other candidates. Well, that worthless piece of paper got you in the door and NOW you get to talk about your Smithsonian aircraft and a whole bunch of other stuff that someone like me would not have on my resume.

Was college worth it now? I going to say that it was.

 

In the army, aviation is supporting arm to their core capability (ground power).

In the other services aviation is either THE mission (USAF), THE primary combat power (USN), or an essential core component of the mission (USMC MAGTF). Those services require degrees for their flyers (who will be future leaders). The army also requires some flyers to be regular officers (ie college grads) to provide some future leaders.

You can debate how that relates to airlines, but in some cases the pilots are the ONLY college grad/white collar professionals among the army of folks turning a plane around at a station. Also a few pilots work in management, technical support roles where the non-aviation equivalents would be MBA's, engineers, computer scientists, etc. You could presumably adopt the army model where the line pilots are warrant equivalents.

But you're missing a key point.... Army warrant pilots don't HAVE to have a four year degree, but it's sufficiently competitive that I think most do at this point. Pretty sure they do need to have a 2-year degree or equivalent college credits.

 

I get what you are saying CLE to IAH. I also understand that big airlines don't have the time to read every resume and that having the degree box check in an application form just makes things easier for filtering people threw a system. But in this situation disqualifying someone from a flow because they don't have a degree I'm not a fan of. I'll also state the idea of a guaranteed flow to AA for anyone doesn't sound ideal. The idea that a total crap employee can just ride threw the system and reach the same outcome as good hard working pilots I don't like.

If I was king (lets all be glad I'm not), along with getting hired by an airline with a flow you wold have an individual contract with things that would need to be accomplished prior to being eligible for a flow. So some people would be eligible for the flow day one and others would need to get a degree, get your CFI, or ????. It should be a case by case system when it comes to eligibility for a flow, as its not a case of filtering threw the 10,000 resumes AA has on file.

 

But you're missing a key point.... Army warrant pilots don't HAVE to have a four year degree, but it's sufficiently competitive that I think most do at this point. Pretty sure they do need to have a 2-year degree or equivalent college credits.

My point exactly. Yes to be competitive most people need to have a degree. However the Army doesn't have a blanket must have a degree policy they look at people on a case by case basis. In the case of the Army the degree isn't the end all be all. If you have a strong resume you can get in.

 

First of all, a "total crap employee" isn't going to just "ride THROUGH the system", as you described. They are going to call out sick, show up late, cuss out a scheduler, blow through an altitude, miss a crossing restriction, offend a flight attendant, smart off to TSA, talk down to a van driver, get wasted on an overnight and just generally do the job poorly. That is IF they even make it through systems, which goes back to companies wanting to protect their assets and not send drop-outs through class. How can a company somewhat ensure they are getting a candidate that can study and pass? Require a college degree. It is really that simple.

Look man, everything and every job will always have candidates that "have" and candidates that "do not have." That is life. I got passed up by the first Fire Dept I applied for and I was incredulous at how stupid they were for passing on such a great candidate. "The Best Candidate in History", or so I thought. Turns out, I needed to check a few more boxes (paramedic, experience etc) so I checked those boxes and two-years later got into a much larger Fire Dept. You can state your case until you are blue in the face but you are not going to change people's minds or company hiring practices just because you are passionate about it. You can only control yourself and how you conduct yourself. Life is not, and never has been about a "case by case basis" or "what is fair". Get out there, take a few classes online, see how it feels and then who knows? Maybe you find out you can finish in no time? Maybe you learn how to use key phrases like, "through, threw and thru"? (kidding, mostly)

The point is (if I even have a point anymore)....if you or ANYONE wants it that bad, research the steps. Complete the steps. Then walk in there and get that job. Don't sit back and complain that it isn't fair or it isn't consistent or "the Army does not do it that way" or any of the other things you have said. Take the first step. Enroll in a Junior College online class for $200. Take a bite and then see what comes next. Best of luck to you.

 

I’m not really sure what point you’re trying to make. You’re right, Army WOs don’t need a degree (regionals); commissioned officers do (legacy). Not a direct correlation, but see the point? Could a senior WO command a battalion or a brigade? Sure. Some much better than a lot of LTCs/COLs kicking around I’m sure. Just like some regional pilots could run circles around legacy pilots.

Certain jobs require a degree. Don’t have it, don’t get the job...

 

The USA is the only country on earth that requires a University Degree to work for a legacy airline.

Sort of makes all the above arguments irrelevant. Its a Resume filter. Thats all.

 

Irrelevant or not. It is what it is.