Almost everyone saved the going home during sims.

You'll know if you're struggling or not. They have clicker questions, post scores, you'll know inside if you're understanding it or not. Most people don't have many problems but some people do. I know how you feel about being worried when you hear guys failing out but it doesn't really happen often. The cases where that happens they almost always have something going on.

If you are understanding the systems and have a good background then feel free to go home. I always used the Friday night after the week to party. Saturday and Sunday I was with my group and we studied and went through questions/systems.

Find yourself a group to study with and fix up the systems that you don't understand on the weekends. Doing that, you'll be perfectly fine. Sims are pretty easy to go home, just don't be that dude who goes home and doesn't study a damn thing. You'll screw over your sim partner and you'll be the one looking real bad in the sim. I don't understand why some guys show up to sim expecting to be spoon fed the callouts and profiles....but even they still get through the program...

^^ what he said. It won't be a surprise if you fail. You'll know exactly how you're doing every day

Yes, this is true. I'm currently in the 2nd AQP class and we were learning 27.1 for the first 2 days and then they got smart and switched it to 25.5 to avoid the confusion during the DTS, Matrix, FTD and sim sessions.[/QUOTE]
I found this to be partly true. There certainly were times where the instructors told us, "don't worry about that, it's just a sim-ism". As far as a hard reset and waiting for the computer to re-load, that never happened to me personally.
Didn't see this, but then again we're the 2nd class through so I imagine the instructors are getting better at teaching the material and what they need to train the students for to pass the MV (passed today actually!). I heard that the 1st class wasn't working on single-engine hand flown missed approaches (because it wasn't in the syllabus) and the FAA decided they wanted to see it be a part of the training program, so these crews unfortunately had very little practice at a difficult maneuver. That's what the instructors were saying anyway.
It is true that the majority of the instructors we had in indoc, ground, FTD and Matrix were all F/O's with about a year + of experience on the line, however, most of them actually taught the material well and I saw no evidence of them just being there because they wanted higher credit times. They all seemed like they genuinely cared about teaching the material and making sure that all of our questions got answered, even if they had to ask someone else.
I actually found FTD to be one of the more helpful aspects of training. I could have done without Matrix. FTD did a good job of getting me ready for the sim sessions. Helped me a lot with the call-outs and flows.
Overall I've been blown away by the training I've received thus far. Granted, my back round has been all 135 up to this point, so my frame of reference might be a little off. All but one of the recent LOE failures have been due to crews not paying attention to the bigger picture (I heard one crew literally sat in a hold for 15min and didn't even once discuss fuel or where they should try to go next) and getting too reliant on the automation.

OK thanks I may decide go home then on some weekends. Probably help to keep the spouse happy anyway.

I have worked as a mechanic (Automotive repairman in the Army 8 years) went to trade school for mechanics. I have spent most of my working life doing that kind of work so hoping that will help with systems. Presently attending college on-line while flight instructing. Maybe training will seem like a break lol :-)

I am also in this boat, though I haven't pulled the trigger yet. If I do this and leave my high-paying job, there can be no failing. I went the military flying route and have only been "out of the game" a few years, so hopefully I can get those braincells dusted off...

You'll be fine. Mil wings (even rusty) + good attitude will more than suffice.

Are you sure they aren't saying you contribute the first year then after a year of service they will
Match what you have contributed the first year up to the 3%?

"Auto" and "...according to system logic." The systems are NOT that intensive on the 175.

Cool thanks I just have heard about people having trouble with systems so good to know :)

So apparently, come summertime, we will be flying United's shortest route: SFO-STS. I'm not even sure that's 50 nm. We may just be leaving the gear down...