Help me guys, first post!

[elisamal2003]

Ok........
I need some help here. :-) so bear with me.
I'm 21 years old, female, and i would love to becomea  professional pilot.
The problem is I'm a little bit confused about what to do next.
First of all, i have already completed 3 years of university (towards a completely unrelated degree.)
I do not want to go back there.  There is a flight school at a local college where you earn your commercial pilot certificate for single and multiengine aircraft.  Is that what I should be doing?
There is also aeronautics university (Embry-Riddle), is it necessary to acquire a degree in aeronautics?  From what i have read, no...but it would nice to hear from some of you about it all. :-)
What is the job market like?  
My father is a professional pilot, and having trouble finding a job right now (although he is quite old and in not the greatest health, so i'm not sure his example is representative of the actual market.)  He also learned to fly during his days in the army so has little to no advice for me about choosing a flight school and what not.  He did however receive his degree from Embry-Riddle later on in life.
OK guys, thanks for reading my little rant and I hope you have some great advice for me.  I grew up around airplanes with my father and this is something i should have gotten into a long time ago, but it's never too late i hope.
Anyway, I'd like to hear about flight school, especially from professional commercial pilots if there are any out there.  About the process, how long it takes, what to expect, what degrees are necessary etc etc.  
BTW my name is Elisa and I'm very friendly so PM me or contact me on AIM: elisamal2003.  Thanks :-)  (or just respond here too that works!!)

[OTTOL]

Finish College!!!!!   That should be your primary concern. If money is not an issue, Riddle is the best way to go IMO. If you DO choose to finish school, then YES, go with a flight school associated with a College. If you just want to get your ratings as quickly as possible, find a Part 141 school. I recommend getting all your money together first though. After you get Pvt-Multi.Comm, you will have to time build. This means either: flight instructing, banner flying, traffic watch, or MAYBE check hauling.    If you have any more questions, you HAVE come to the right place. Just post them, and I'm sure they will be answered quickly. There's a varied, friendly group of people that hang out here.  

[Craig.]

Nice to see you finally decided to post:)
welcome to the forum officially, and like OTTOL said any help you need dont be afraid to ask

[Citationpilot]

Check your PM's.

[ozzy72]

Hi Elisa, welcome to SimV. You obviously know Craig
My advice, finish your degree as it will make you more employable. It doesn't matter what your degree is in, its that you've got one.
Okay other considerations, getting your wings isn't a cheap thing, and you need to think about what kind of aviation you'd like to do. Commercial jet? Short haul prop? Helicopter?
And finally you might want to consider getting up to speed in a second language too. This is a big bonus in the job market (French or Russian are popular).

Ozzy

[OTTOL]

don't forget Spanish, here in the Americas. I just read somewhere, that it is surpassing English as a preferred language in the Business world. I second what Ozzy says though. One of our Captains just beat out, five other finalists competing for a right seat job in a GV. The fact that he was bilingual and they operate primarily to Venezuela, was the deciding factor.    

[Craig.]

You obviously know Craig

we've only spoken for a short amount of time.

[elisamal2003]

And finally you might want to consider getting up to speed in a second language too. This is a big bonus in the job market (French or Russian are popular).

Ozzy

Well i got that one down.  Born and raised in french canada (Qu

[Meinas]

Ok here is the low down on Embry Riddle from a freshmen....its an awesome aviation college, it is the top of the line. (note period  ;D) The horrible thing about Embry Riddle is the cost, it is a private school and therefore its horribly expensive.  If you decide to try Embry Riddle, make sure you have the money to finish the flight program for the current year.  I learned that you can save A LOT of money by coming with your private pilots license. The Aeronautical Science is basically a program set up to become either a Airline pilot, or flying the business jets, which ever you choose.  Since completing 3 years of college, you should have all of the silly courses out of the way (english, computer, math, maybe physics) ummm if you have anymore questions post em, and I'll see if I can answer....its sooo early in the morning here...


a few other places to look at flight training schools is Western Michigan (maybe its South Western Michigan) and Purdue University in Indiana.

I wasn't impressed with them as much as I was with Embry Riddle though, .....maybe thats why Im here....

[KnightStryker]

Welcome to SimV Elisa. I wish i could give you some advise but it looks like you already have gotten it from the best around these parts.

Meinas, could you give me the names of the schools you are talking about in Michigan please? I am in west Michigan and would like to look into it.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Meinas]

Theres Western Michigan University www.wmich.edu
one reason why I did not like (basically the only reason) is that students would not be allowed to fly with the unviversity until junior year, explanation I guess is that all other classes will be out of the way.

[Fredgirardo]

Hi Elisamal,

   Me, I am going to a pilot college in Quebec Canada. I thing it is the best thing to do. You don't need to go to University. It is more when you wanna design or work in the engineering world. The most important thing to become pilot is to accumulate hours and hours and hours.

[Fredgirardo]

Sorry , I forgot, there is no real job in Quebec, it is more up to north. I know to that there isa lot of work in Florida and California.

                                      Cheers

[P-40_Warhawk]

WELCOME TO SIMV First off although im not a pilot...YET i will in less than a year hopefully i can give you advice. you might want to start with a regular flight school and reg aircraft. Then you can upgrade to a commercial flight school. it would prob be eaiser on ya.

[Craig.]

P40, your profile says your 13, its gonna be a few years yet till you can get your license.