Aviation Colleges

I'll keep the story to a minimum:

I fell in love with aviation when I was 5 and have progressed to almost getting my private rating. I'm currently at an arts school (since I fell in love with photography as well) but avaition is number 1 and I need to be going to a school that specialized in aviation.

Embry Riddle, either campus, is absolutly out of the question. I refuse to pay the tuition that they want, especially for getting a degree which is the same throughout the country. They all have standards, right?

While I don't want to mention the names of any specific universities, I do want to mention Middle Tennessee State University as well as University of North Dakota. They are both ranked right up there with Embry-Riddle.

I am leaning more towards Middle Tennessee simply because of easier job transfer (I work at a local deli for now and a freelancer for the newspaper) as well as an easier move.

What are your thoughts? I need to get something figured out since I would like to transfer for Fall 2012.

Any help, contacts or insights would be appreciated.

~Michael~

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Permalink Reply by Paula Williams on January 24, 2012 at 5:37pm

Hey Michael-

What is your career goal?

If you just want to be a pilot, the quickest way is to get your private, instrument and multi, get a type rating in the most popular aircraft you find jobs in, (A320, B737 are good choices - lots of them in service) and fly for anybody that will give you a job. (Could mean overseas regional or something like that - they have lower requirements.) Everything for pilots is based on seniority, so it's key to get your butt into the first officer seat or captain seat as soon as possible. That will determine your tenure, benefits, choice of equipment, choice of time off, and salary forever.

If you want to be a flight department manager, airport administrator, or something else, then you will need a college degree from the best college you can find. You'll be competing against other candidates same degree - it's not always about standards, it's about perception. Hiring managers like known quantities and brand names. (It's not ideal, but it's reality!)

Don't count out a good school because of money, you can often get grants or work study or other opportunities.

Best wishes, let us know what happens!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carr on January 24, 2012 at 9:36pm

Thanks for the reply Paula. Honestly, I'm kinda of following the "main" bandwagon and want to fly for the military. Either branch if fine for me. So, that's my end goal I guess you could say.

I'm only counting out Embry-Riddle because it's ridiculously expensive. I mean upwards of $250,000 for everything. That's seriously too much for me, even for an education.

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Permalink Reply by RoDrop on January 24, 2012 at 5:38pm

My reply is going to be more 'educationally based' and financial than aviation.

Here is the thing..if there is an aviation type curriculum at an ABHES or SCHEV approved school, the education should be up to par as far as educational standards (most colleges and universities participate in these accreditation standards).

If the school is affordable, another plus.

If the classes are small, then that might be super great--more attention from the professors etc

I would try to find some alumni from each school (facebook , here etc) and try to get some feedback on the educational portion.

Embry has a great reputation and some of that is 'branding'... and if they are more expensive than the other schools if there is no clear reason to go there, then you should go with one that is more affordable to you.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carr on January 24, 2012 at 9:38pm

Hi RoDrop,

I'm not sure what ABHES or SCHEV schools are...

I believe I read on Tennessee's website the student/professor ratio is 22:1.

That's my biggest thing about Embry-Riddle is I don't see a big advantage of going there. I wish I could say if I was guaranteed a job in the long run by an airliner and they said if you go to XXX school you are guaranteed a school, unfortunately that's not the case though :(

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Permalink Reply by David Mcleod Stone on January 24, 2012 at 5:47pm

Michael, I was in your shoes in 1986 and the choices were ERAU, La. Tech, and a few others. If you are the least bit mathematically or engineering inclined, I would attend a school such as Purdue (or simillar) DO NOT MAJOR in Aviation, but rather Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering. Get your Pilots license for sure, but DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT YOUR A&P and an engineering degree if at all possible. You won't regret it. If you're not the math/engineering type, then study Aviation, get your ratings and major in Business and a heavy dose of foriegn languages. Oh if I had to do it over again! for the first 20 years or so, that A&P will take you places an ATP can only dream of. Not trying to dissuade your dreams at all, but an engineering skill is so much more valuable in a tough climate than a Pilot's license it's not even funny.

Good luck and happy flying!

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Murphy on January 24, 2012 at 6:47pm

Michael: You might want to consider what we used to call "community colleges". They offer 2 year degrees in aviation. Florida has quite a few including Miami-Dade, Broward and Jacksonville. I work for Sunrise Aviation and we are the flight training vendor for Florida State College at Jacksonville. Besides a 2-year degree in Professional Pilot Technology, they also have a 20 month A&P program. FSCJ also has new 4 year degrees including business administration but so far no 4-year degrees in aviation. Here are links to FSCJ's aviation programs:

http://www.fscj.edu/mydegree/academics/schools/aviation/index.php

http://flysunrise.com/sunrise-aviation-jacksonville-satellite/

Patrick Murphy

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carr on January 24, 2012 at 9:40pm

Hi David,

Thanks for the reply. I'm not mathematically inclined. Maybe engineering, I'm not sure. There are so many aviation colleges out there. The list is just overwhelming and I"m just narrowing it down to Tennessee because it's close.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Lange on January 24, 2012 at 7:34pm

Michael,

All the advise below is great! and you have put a lot of thought into this pending decision of yours. I consider we make what we want out of what we get/do. I am not going to say that you should do one thing or another. I help people all the time find jobs or change what they want to do with their life goals. (And I am not a life coach) I grew up with a learning disability and I was told that I would have a hard road ahead of me in any direction I went. I will not tell you it is easy out there but if you want something you can figure it out. I wanted to fly since I was 8 and now I have my own plane (well it is in peaces but it is going back together) and I have 20+ years as an Avionics guy. I have no complaints about my path. There are schools all around us. UNT here @ KDTO has an Aviation Degree in the business school of the university. I would say do what makes sense for you. If you need help make sure you share your goals! Like you have done here. You will be surprised who will help you. I would look for help with grants and such. I know the AEA has a learn to fly grant you can go after that can help you as well. http://www.aea.net/ It has been a while but you can find scholarships on there somewhere. As for that check into the AOPA and other local organizations near you. Good luck and congrats on the path you are about to take.

Either way good luck and stay in touch. All the best!

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carr on January 24, 2012 at 9:43pm

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the reply. I have been culling over this college change for a while. While I'm not old - at 23 - I'm certainly not getting any younger and the longer I wait, the older I'm going to be getting out of college competing against others who have been working their entire lives for this.

I have recently become a member of AOPA (mainly to apply for the $5,000 scholarship for a private license) and also EAA. I have not looked as much as I should, but I know they can be a huge resource to find money.

Thank you for your help.

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Permalink Reply by Karlene K Petitt on January 24, 2012 at 9:18pm

Michael, Either University is going to be great. You just need to get your degree from a reputable university, earning your ratings while attending college, and doing the best you can will put you in the pilot's seat. In the long run the "name" won't matter. You're beginning at a great time and there will be many jobs waiting for you when you're ready.. Get the hours and education, you'll be golden. And oh my... will you have the ability to take incredible photos from the best view in the world, and around the world. Good luck on your journey! I hope you'll come and fly with me someday! I have no doubt you won't find ultimate success.

On a side note, for what Delta Air Lines wants... this is the link to the first post... then I wrote something each day. Check it out, it might help. http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2011/05/monday-motivation-its-all...

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carr on January 24, 2012 at 9:57pm

Karlene,

First, thank you for the link. I don't see how you can keep such an updated blog and a flight schedule! Amazing! I will keep looking into your blog after I hit reply...

I fly Delta alot, maybe you'll be my pilot one day. (although I'm usually on CRJ's from CLT.)

You mentioned UND in your blog, along with Embry-Riddle. What is your view in UND?

~Michael~

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Permalink Reply by Karlene K Petitt on January 24, 2012 at 10:32pm

Michael, I know a young man who attended... graduating this year. He's on the fast track. If you want me to connect you... let me know. Check this out. http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2011/06/daniel-schumann.html

He'll tell you everything you want to know. Email me and I'll forward it to him.