Pilots please help again!?

Question

I've now been told that I need a four year degree in something to become a pilot! The thing is, my GPA isn't very high... at all and i'd have to pay for two years of community college to bring up my gpa, two years of a university and then aviation school! AHHH!!! any chance there are some pilots on that are just starting? did you need a degree? how do you pay for all of that?! my family already has next to no money! please help! i've dreamt about this for so long and now it sounds like i'd have a better chance making it as a waitress my whole life! not that there's anything wrong with that for other people, but it's a bit far from my vision of retiring at an old age as an accomplished pilot and having led a great life earning money for spending time in the sky!

Answer 1

I flew forty years with only a high school diploma but I was extremely lucky. Oh and naturally super intelligent hahaha. kidding. But things have changed. Too many people have college degrees know for the airlines not to require one. It is tough money wise I realize but that's the way things are. Costs alot to become a doctor or lawyer too. Which brings up a good point. If I'd spent four years in college and hadn't learned to fly in the military and still had the money to pay for flying lessons, I'd be a doctor now. Then I wouldn't have to get paid to fly somebody else's airplane, I'd be flying my own. Good luck.

Answer 2

i started out at my local airport taking flight lessons right after i graduated high school.. i also started going to community college with plans of transferring all my credits to a 4 year program.. there is basically 2 routes you go can.. take lessons at a local airport and go to school at the same time or go to a university that has a flight program and get a degree in aviation while taking flight lessons through the university.. if you go to a university program, you can get financial aid to help you pay for everything, and whatever financial aid doesnt cover, you can get student loans..  but if you go to your local airport, to get your flight training, financial help will be limited, but sometimes, options are available to help you out.. my personal opinion is to get a 4 year degree in aviation and take flight training through the university.. it will probably cost more, but you are more likely to get a job quicker when you graduate.. plus the contacts that you make while in an aviation college can come in handy.. there is a huge amount of knowledge and advice all around you.. i dont mean to deter you, but if you go this route, youll spend 100k easily and regardless of which route you choose, you probably wont make much more than 25k your first year as a pilot which is tough to live off of and pay back your loans..

spending 200k is why you dont go to Embry Riddle.. WMU cost me about 115k which is about average according to the people i graduated with last year..

Answer 3

Depends what kind of Pilot........Military Forget it you need 4 years and even then it's a long shot. for Commercial a 4 year is becoming the standard however most Aviation universitys are very lax about Admissions because they can make some extra Dough but are confident many will drop out their first year. if you have a Highschool Diploma chances are you can get into ERAU (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University) the Harvard of aviation schools. My friend informs me it's also easier then driving to the grocery store to get a Loan.............He has 215,000 Accumulated and he's just about to Graduate. so ask yourself...........is it worth your arm to be a Pilot? it is to me............see ya there :)

Answer 4

I wouldn't lie to you, Lys.  It ain't going to be easy in your situation.  But things worth doing tend not to be easy.

Let me give you a couple more ideas.

My old calculus teacher used to say, "If you can't solve a problem, solve any part of it that you DO understand, and then step back and look at it again.  It may look easier, then."

Sounds to me like your problem is made up of two problems:  Grades and money.  Your community college may be able to help you with grades, at minimal cost.  Sounds like you may qualify for financial assistance.  Get yourself over there and talk to a career counselor.  That person may be able to flesh out our suggestions with some step 1-step 2-step 3 stuff.

You need to assess a couple of things realistically.  (1) why are your grades not all that good so far?  What really is your ability level?  Your career counselor can give you some tests and help you decide how far you can go.  (2) Do you really have the talent, physical traits, and outlook to become a professional pilot?  No point in wasting time and money if you won't be able to pass the medical requirements.  It will cost you a couple of hundred bucks to find out, but it could save you lots of wasted time and effort.

Again, your career counselor can help you with vocational aptitude testing.  See your USAF, Navy, or Marine Corps recruiter and ask about taking the ASVAB.  That is free and it will give you some major hints.

You can join one of those branches without a college degree and put in for some aviation related field that will give you some insight and experience.  That will look good on your resume later.  You can then get your Private and Commercial Certificates, multi-engine, CFI, and instrument ratings cheap through the base aero club in the service.  And the training is top quality.

While you are doing that, you can get your service branch's help with at least some of your college expenses.  Serve your country and go to college, while you work on jet engines or electronics or something and learn to fly.  It has been done, and it can be done.  You will be exhausted all the time, but if you are really up for it, you can make it.  Then depending on the flight hours you have at that time, you can ETR then and start applying for jobs, or, if you need to build time, go back in as a commissioned officer and go for flight training.

If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.  Go see the career counselors at the community college, your military recruiters, and an aviation medical examiner.  Why not today?

Grab that phone!

Answer 5

I am in high school last year in egypt ,, and iam going to an aviation school in california after i finish my high school .. they dont need a four year degree !!!!

call them and make sure your self

www.iflyasa.com

you only need high school to become a pilot ,,!!

iam already accepted in this school !! only with my high school !!!