If you just want to check the bachelor degree box, there are plenty of respectable colleges that offer online(out-of-state) degrees in the $25K range. Just do a google search.

 

Now how in the heck is one supposed to conceivably do that with a full-time flying position and a family?

 

I have a B.A. in a worthless field, have yet to make use of it. I agree with you, life experience is a cruel teacher, and no one survives it.
Every young 20 something year old thinks they will make 70 to 80k first year out of college, only to be crushed to find out that they need to swallow their pride, work for far less to gain real world experience before they would ever be considered for a job in their chosen field at the pay rates they expected to make.

Computer programming is an exception to this, only because so few people can do it, but also doesn't require anything other than a computer to learn. All the material is free on the internet, and even ivy league colleges offer classes for free online. To say that the industry is crying, begging for people in this field, would be an understatement. Many companies don't care if you went to college for it. Can you guess what my plan B is? Although I have to admit, my ego REALLY wants to replace that BA with a BS engineering degree...

 

Dude...Lots of fine people in this business are serious ambassadors to this profession that have all kinds of experience, knowledge, dedication, and passion. If a person delayed attending college and if the airlines really want to define and obtain a "whole person" then the real interesting and "whole person" is the one that didn't take life each cliche step at a time. The real well-rounded person is the one that stuck it out in this profession during the down years. The one that sacrificed year after year to put food on the table etc. Real character in this business are the ones who didn't quit but may be short of the Gender Studies degree...or whatever.

 

It's what you make of it. I know plenty of dumbasses who have come from the military, who I wouldn't trust with my dog (if I had one).

Plenty from universities too.

It totally depends on how the individual applies them-self. That's one of the reasons why the majors look so much at extra-curricular activities. Was he trying to get the most out of the experience? Or just skimping by on the bare minimum.

If you'd take some random PFC who just got out of the military over an accounting graduate who's a CPA, just because the former spent some time in the military...well, don't go working for human resources please.

Now, if that PFC did something spectacular or otherwise had a noteworthy record (why's he still a PFC?) then its a different story.

 

I have a REALLY hard time believing your story, but even if this did happen, it won't make a difference because a degree is a degree and IF you're a white male like 95% of all airline pilots you are STILL going to be hired after the female FO with 1000 sic and the half samoan/half african american that may only come with an associate's degree.

Point is, the old fart born in 1934 that wrote that stuff in red is going to retire too eventually, and the day will come (sooner than you think) when majors won't require the 4 year degree because they too will realize they won't be able to afford to be picky and/or weed out candidates by their degrees because they will need pilots and badly in the next 5-10 years.

American Airlines is already accepting flows with nothing but GEDs, hell, they even advertise it in writing, "flow to AA, no college degree required".

Work experience, life experience and a combination of total time in 121 should and will eventually become a more acceptable standard when you walk into an interview.

Remember when regionals were able to be super picky about who they hired and would only accept you with 3500 TT, a 4 year college degree and a min of 1000 hours of multi? What do you think will happen at the major level eventually?

 

I'm seeing a lot of rationalization from posters like Fpmx, Learflyer and Da40 here. When you're using terms like "cheapest" and "easiest" rather than "best" or "most valuable", I think that says more about you than having or not having a degree. That was my point, in a nutshell.

And the argument that "it won't matter in a few years" is bogus as well. Because it matters NOW. And no one can say what the industry will look like in a few years. So ask yourself, where do you want to be when the music stops from the next worldwide socio-economic burp; on the leading edge of this current upswing, or the trailing edge?

Well believe it. I was asked the same or similar questions at two United meet and greets, a Spirit interview and a Delta interview. You must have better data points?

What does "more acceptable standard" even mean?! Seems like just more rationalization. The standards are dropping because they have to. It's not a choice airlines are making because they WANT to, it's just the only way they can get butts in seats with the downward wage pressure and miserable mess that has been created. Your argument is literally "Why waste your time becoming more competitive? Just give it some time and the bar will lower to my level." Again, in my opinion, this speaks more about your character than any degree or life experience you may have.

 

You have a lot to learn about character my friend. The degree has been watered down (it basically became a business and student loans are the next bubble to burst) and is not the excitement it used to be. Again...In my opinion a degree doesn't tie the "whole person" concept together. A well-rounded life has many tentacles to it. At some point the aircraft still has to be flown safely.

 

You may be right. But I would suggest that you have a lot to learn about irony and reading comprehension.

 

Well at least you admit to your character flaw.

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