A degree isn't "meaningless." It's the price of admission. We've got a few folks without degrees. I don't agree with that. It's the price of admission.

I especially love to hear the impressive stories from one of our QC Check-Airman that has a chip on his shoulder because he doesn't have a degree.

go out and get it done. It shows you care about the profession and being a professional.

There are degrees and then there are degrees. Some may want to get a higher quality degree so they can do other things in addition to flying. There are "degrees" and then there are "degrees." Whichever road you choose based on your academic prowess go ahead and get r done.

A degree is only meaninless if you attach no meaning to it. It has meaning if you assign it meaning. It's subjective in your mind. But, it's an objective qualification and it's an easy discriminator.

Most that don't have a degree fall into three categories.

1. too lazy to do it
2. lack the dedication and discipline
3. No time, other priorities

Funds are not an excuse. The GI bill is there and so are student loans.

 

I think there’s a big difference between getting an “education’ and getting a “degree”. I’d rather see us focus on candidates with a good education rather than get wrapped up on the word “degree”.

 

You’re right. My business degree wasn’t nearly as demanding as one in engineering or science. Requiring the degree isn’t about ensuring that an applicant is highly educated, it is about showing that they can apply themselves over a long period of time and complete an expected task. Those involved in the hiring process look at someone without a degree as someone who doesn’t play by the rules, and therefore, a bad fit for United.

 

Ouch....being at one of those wholly owned I can’t even take offense to that and agree entirely that it’s disappointing to not require a degree even if it’s just a 2 year.

With that being said, I hope I’m not highjacking (sorry for the poor term) this thread by asking a few other questions.....I originally signed on to the wholly-owned for the I originally signed on to the wholly-owned for the true flow as I’ll be 55 next year and I felt it was important to get 10 years in somewhere. after flying non-rev a few times and seeing how almost useless it is at times, I don’t think that it’s worth it to stay there just for that reason. The flow is probably anywhere from 4 to 6 years depending on attrition. I could stay there, upgrade this year, and get in as a check instructor to pave the resume. Where I could jump ship in the spring and go to frontier, make more money and have more than 12 days off than 12 days off per month. I guess my question is would that be a bad move? Is frontier a kiss of death to get into a legacy? Right now I only have 3000 hrs TT, 600 turbine, Right now I only have 3000 hours, 600 turbine pt 121, G200 and E145 type, cfi/II and the 4 year degree with a 3.0 gpa. My plan at this point is to do whatever I can to get out and meet people at as many job fairs as I can, keep saying involved; Just can’t really afford to make any mistakes along the way as far as the wrong moves. Only have 10 years left unless of course the age moves to 67. Any of just can’t really afford to make any mistakes along the way as far as the wrong moves. Only have 10 years left unless of course the age moves to 67. Any and all insight is appreciated

 

Are you saying that the pilots that have been hired without a degree are a bad fit for United?

 

And do you still beat your wife?

 

I didn’t say that. I was repeating what pilots who are currently involved in the hiring process have told me. Like others have mentioned, considering the ease and affordability of online education, they view those without a degree as lazy, lacking discipline, or not wanting to do what is expected of them. The odds of an applicant successfully completing the interview process and gaining employment at United without a degree seem to be remote at best. If United is where you want to work, get a degree. If it isn’t then don’t worry about it.

 

I didn’t say you said that... That’s why I asked the question.... to clarify what you were saying.

All that being said, to have interviewers use the “degree” as the sole indicator as to whether someone can “play by the rules” or “complete a life goal”... they are being lazy themselves in not looking for other ways to determine those human traits. They are potentially passing up excellent pilots/people who might far exceed the qualities of their counterparts with the “degree”.

We used to require people to be no more than 30 years old to be hired. We used to require 20/20 uncorrected vision to be hired. Those criteria were modified because they were determined to be weeding out potentially excellent candidates.

I know what the rules are today... just stating an opinion as to why I think they should be altered.

 

Actually those were changed because of lawsuits against UAL and then someone “saw the light.”

The whole degree thing is simply a function of filter applicants. At a time when they need to hire 300 and there are 10,000 “qualified” applicants on file an objective and easy to defend system is required. Filtering out people by higher education is simple and defendable in court.

Don’t forget the UAL filtering system is some sort of weighted computerized point measure, that does include both formal education and life experience. UAL does weight experience highly, as is often seen in numbers of relatively low time military pilots hired who have taught, and led others during their service.

As the need for pilots continues non-degree pilots will get hired and they will be the ones who became check pilots, base chiefs, and basically excelled amongst their peers.

Of course they could also be someone who dogged out 20k in hours flying worn out cargo airplanes in the worst conditions possible. The school of hard knocks.

If you’re young, get a degree.

 

Even if you’re not young, get a degree if United is your goal. We are a long way from not having good applicants with a degree. Waiting until we relax the requirement will mean thousands of seniority numbers and dollars that are given up.