flyinhigh6165

You are just guessing about the NTSB, boeing and the like. I am sure you will get your chance to find out for yourself someday. Aviation degrees are about worthless.

SkyHigh[/QUOTE]

I actually had a job offer with an aviation insurance company and NTSB doing field investigations of crashes with my " worthless" degree. I chose to stay with flying because of how important senority is and getting in as soon as possible. Again, that's your own opinion about how worthless an aviation degree is but you can still get jobs outside of being a pilot with it. How many people are in their jobs today that have nothing to do with their major....a lot. I had to take engineering, science related courses, human factors courses, and computer courses......so how is this not a real degree? It is not just taking a class on regs or parts of an airplane class that you might think. I bet you would be amazed if you knew of people that majored in aeronautical science and got to where they did...... to start Jimmey Doolittle....wait you might not know who that is.

edik

We are on page 9, and honestly it does not seem like we progressed with this topic. I wonder if we are helping the poor guy, or did we confuse him even more?

LAfrequentflyer

aeronautical science and got to where they did...... to start Jimmey Doolittle

It was aeronautical engineering - he happened to get he 1st PhD given in the field in the USA....There is a big difference btwn aero science and aero engineering....

-LA

SkyHigh

flyinhigh,

Sure you are right I guess. When I think back I too was offered a job once as a commercial truck dispatcher. I'll bet it was because of my aviation degree !!
Miracles do happen. Keep the dream alive and don't stop proudly telling people that you have a degree in aviation. It will wear off someday.

SkyHigh

flyinhigh6165

Skyhigh-

Great Post....want a cookie for that one? Ever thought it just might be the person themselves that couldn't get a better job such as yourself with that degree?

daytonaflyer

I have first hand experience with this subject. I have a degree in Aeronautical Science from ERAU. I currently am an ATP with a small airline.
I got out of aviation a couple years ago and had to search for a job in other industries. Within the first month of searching, I had 4 interviews. I got a job with a base pay of $38,000 and a guaranteed raise after 6 months, also medical, dental, vision benefits. Also they offered free college after 6 months of employment.
It may not have been a $100,000 dream job, but the starting pay was higher than any airline would pay a pilot with no experience in the industry. For a new hire, I thought the pay and benefits were pretty good. It was not hard to get interviews at all.
I even got an interview with a financial company offering $60,000 base pay + commission. I did not get that job because the woman competing with me had prior experience in the industry, but she had no degree at all and ultimately the boss decided she was more qualified than me (which she was). That was proof that you don't need a degree to get a good paying job.
The point is that most jobs don't require a specific degree.
You may have to work for a few years to make a real good salary, but if you are polite, intelligent, and determined, you will do fine.

GliderCFI

Even though I don't have any Kilo Alpha bashing to do, I still have a few cents to throw into the pot. I'm a junior at Middle Tennessee State, and an aerospace major. Why? Because it's the only way here to get priority on flight labs. Why am I at MTSU? Because it has a growing reputation in the industry for training, and I pay less than one third what my best friend from high school is paying at ERAU-daytona. Do I regret majoring in aviation? I honestly haven't been in the field long enough to say. But I have given it much thought. I am minoring is Business Administration, and those credentials are plenty to get into the airport management field. Anyone who wants to argue that one can do so all they want, but I did an internship with a small class C airport authority in high school, and learned much about the field, whats involved, and what it takes. Personally, I wouldn't want to have a career outside aviation, so my present options offered by my degree choices are fine with me. I had been told before I got to college by many fellow pilots that an aerospace degree is pointless. However, I've learned plenty here on topics ranging from aircraft structures to weather to FMS training. It's things that are involved with the career path that I've decided to pursue. Does a professional know as much as possible about their line of work? I certainly hope so. So in a nutshell, I'm fine with my degree because I'm bettering my knowledge and skills in aviation. If you want to double major, I suggest University of Illinois. I believe they have a program that allows you to double major rather efficiently with these thoughts in mind. It's a bit pricey though. Hope some of this helps.

Jonesthepilot

Anyone have info on Colleges that offer degrees in basket weaving?

freezingflyboy

Speaking as someone who has majored in aviation and who now instructs for a collegiate 141 program, I now realize there are some pros and cons.

Pros:
- Some airlines really like to hire pilots from some specific collegiate aviation programs (as much as it irks the old dogs). This is one hell of a pro if your ultimate goal is an airline job. Most airlines I have looked at hire pilots from specific collegiate programs with much lower minimums than a guy off the street. That is because coming from a collegiate program with a reputation in the industry, you are a known quantity vs. some guy with a business or engineering degree who got his ratings at the local FBO.

-You recieve a much more in depth aviation education, giving you a broad, firm base in the aviation world (of course, this comes at the expense of liberal arts and other non-aviation knowledge you might gain in college).

-Most collegiate programs are very well structured and have very good facilities and equipment. Having done both 61 and 141 instruction as a student and instructor, the structured route definitely saves you time and money.

-Depending on the program, some collegiate programs are run in a similar way to how an airline is run in terms of levels of management and oversight, SOPs, dispatch, etc. which makes the transition that much easier.

Cons:
-I think you miss out on something focusing so hard on aviation. You really have to work to stay connected to the non-aviation world. But if you love prop heads, this may not be that big a deal.

-You are 100% right, if you lose your medical or get furloughed you will have difficulty in the job market outside of aviation. If I could do college over again, I would have done a double major or a minor in some sort of managment field. You can transfer a management degree pretty much anywhere but not so much with aviation.

-The old dogs will hate you cause you'll get a job much sooner than they ever did. You'll need to put on a flame retardent suit before coming on these forums.

-My BS in Aeronautics looks kind of silly hanging next to my girlfriends BS in Mathematics from Stanford.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask

B767

Now my question. I am going to major in Aeronautical Science no matter what. Yes i have read everything in these forums about it and over at jetcareers. I am not closed minded, and in fact read everything and take it to heart. I feel that my greatest chance for success in college is by studying something i enjoy and something i am willing to learn and put lots of time and effort into. However, i was planning on minoring in something like aviation safety. Would everyone here agree for me to switch my minor to either Aviation, Airport, or General Management? I will be attending the PR campus this coming fall and as of now am planning on getting that minor in general management. Good choice? All opinions welcome.

Taylor