I would highly recommend K-State at Salina. I'm currently a senior there, and it's been an excellent experience. I know that Salina isn't the most exciting place, but I'm from Phoenix and I've managed to survive just fine. The primary reason I chose this school is that the training is unparalleled and you're able to fly quite a bit. I came in from high school with my private and instrument rating, and was immediately able to start working on commercial in the Bonanza. I finished all of my ratings and was hired as an instructor at the beginning of my sophomore year, and since then I've flown well over 1,000 hours. I know that there are many other great schools, and I looked seriously at and was accepted to both Purdue and Embry-Riddle, but I'm really glad I chose to come here based on what friends of mine at both of the other schools have told me about their experiences. I recently secured a post-graduation position flying for a major corporate aviation company, and I don't think it would've been possible to do so if I would've gone anywhere else.

As a grad of K-State Salina I would suggest it if you want an aviation degree. When I left I had 40 hours of multi turbine time flying all over the country in and out of the busiest airports. Salina is ok, with Manhattan or Wichita only about an hour drive. The school has made several improvements since I was there with a new Student Life center, newer airplanes and a new CRJ sim. The aircraft are well maintained. I think it is a great bang for your buck. The school also helps find jobs for all the students. I know jobs are not plentiful right now, but they are still having people leave employed.

Don't know about K-State except meeting some of them at flight team competitions. They all seem to like it however like others have said, Salina is in the middle of nowhere.

All I can say though is stay away from UCM whatever you do

[QUOTE=Sheriff Pilot;739864]I would not wish upon any of my students or anyone else’s students, good or bad, to have to take a check ride with Bill Gross

I took my instrument and commercial checkrides with good old Bill. I can affirm the above statement. He will make you feel so lucky to have your shoes laced and tied; and that's before you even start the oral exam. It doesn't matter who you are, how much you've studied, or how confident you feel going into the oral exam, you'll come out feeling like an incapable adolescent which is a nice confidence booster while you're climbing into the cockpit for the checkride to frazzled to know right side up from upside down.

Bill likes to cut you down hard in the oral exam asking the questions that you didn't need to know, (knew at one time but forgot) but probably should know because the FAA said so. He rattles you initially and if you recover well enough by the time you're cleared for takeoff by the Salina tower, well you're probably doing all right.

You best bring your top of the line A game anytime your with Bill (wittingly and knowledgeably)

I would highly recommend KSU-Salina. I took all of my checkrides with Bill Gross and signed off at least 30 students for checkrides with him. He does a very good job and I never really heard of anyone having problems with him.

Without discrediting anyone I will say that a DPE should no doubt verify if a pilot is worthy of a rating within all standards of the FAA during a checkride, but I will also say it's of poor character to discourage capable pilots of ever flying a plane again. I saw it happen to a couple of individuals.

I personally enjoyed the instrument and commercial checkrides I took with Bill; he asked a lot from me and didn't offer much leeway; he put my brain through the meat grinder, but I'm also a better pilot because of the questions Bill forced me to ask myself in the oral exams.

Bill's checkrides aren't for the faint of heart.

First off..... K-State Salina has good quality 172's both G1000 and steam gauge, bonanzas and barons are getting aged quite quickly. My experience level was increased by flying the KA 90 and the Citation Jet. You will receive a lot of flight time, if you are hired by the school. With that said, every school has its bad apples. Recruiting, Nathan Gorrell needs to learn how to speak properly to recruits and future students. I have heard several horror stories from him putting his foot in his mouth... K-State needs a professional recruiter, enrollment is at 50%. Kurt Barnhart is a great guy and an excellent leader of the aviation department. Bill Gross is hit and miss on checkrides, depends what type of mood he is in. (I'd rather send my current students to someone like Godfrey or Albertson) When I looked at the school Mr. King was quite rude. Rest of the faculty is excellent. For the money its worth it... just have to put up with some distasteful people, but you will anywhere you go. For the money its ok. After graduating several years ago I don't know if I would do it the same way...

It's a good school and like someone else said, they have made alot of improvements in the last 2 years. If I had to do it all over again I would have gotten my degree in something else and pursued aviation on the side, especially in this economy. Another thing to think about as well is the airlines are going to start requiring FO's to have 1500 hours before you can apply. Something to think about when you drop 105 grand and maybe get 500-750 hours out of it getting your ratings and instructing for a few years. If your serious about going to an aviation program, i'de say take as many core classes at a community college that transfer to KSU, then take all the aviation stuff their...saved me about 40 grand and an extra year in Salina. Salina sucks, but it will definately help you focus on school, since your spending so much money.

Yep, I also did a couple years at a Junior College before transferring to KSU-S (also had my PPL). It saved me a lot of money and 1.5 years in the end.

BTW, I was born and raised in SoCal and I found Salina to be a nice little town. I was there to go to school- I didn't care about going out partying and getting hammered EVERY NIGHT (like several people I knew...). I got a couple of jobs off campus, went to school and flew, and I ended up having a great experience. If you're the type of person who is looking for a party experience at an aviation school, you might look elsewhere. (That said, people find some pretty crazy/funny ways to entertain themselves in SLN while drinking, lol!)

Things have definitely changed quite a bit since I graduated, nearly 10 yrs ago. I, too, was fortunate to get some time in both the C-90 and CJ. I took my IFR/Comm/ME checkrides with Bill and I agree that Bill can definitely make you feel flustered, but I didn't think he was that bad. I passed all of them. I was also fortunate to be hired on as a CFI and I instructed for a couple of years at the school.

So, if I had to do it all over again, I'd go to KSU based on past experience. (Current prices though...who knows!)

just wondering (legit question here) if you can get a Accounting Degree or CPA or Computer/IT degree from these aviation schools and still get your ratings.

because I am not sure what an aviation degree even means