Aviation Colleges

[tcco94]

Well im entering my junior year now and have been thinking of college since freshman year. As most of you know me, I love the Navy and would wish that I was still confident to go the Naval Academy but that dream has been shaddered after not getting all that good of grades already.

Nows the time ill start to go travel and visit colleges. Ive already got the Naval Academy in October (although I know I have a small chance I still wanna see the college ive dreamed of going too) My first choice in college right now is Embry Riddle. I want to be a pilot when I get older obviously most of us did or do. Ive done research and ive heard lots and lots and LOTS of people just bash Embry Riddle about its price and say the school sucks and so on.

Honestly I cant find any other flight schools like it, although I know about other universitys that have flight programs like someone told me about the Ohio State one, but I dont think I have the grades to get into a big Division I school which is the problem. But heres the main reason I want to go to Embry Riddle...Ive been playing Varsity golf since my freshman year, and I got MVP my soph. year. I talked to my mom and me and her both agreed I cant be a pro golfer when I get older. Im probably not a Division I golfer either in 2 years. So she told me find the school that has my major and what I want to do then find ones with golf. Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach has a golf team....and not only that an Ice Hockey club, which is another sport im involved with alot.

Now ill be visiting Daytona Beach in March to see Embry Riddle. The school looks amazing and it looks like ill be having a blast from day 1 till the end. So my question is, why do so many people bash on Embry Riddle when I cant find a better University like this? Honestly, I spent an hour trying but maybe I was searching the wrong things. My major of interest is Aeronatical Science. Ill be glad to hear any other flight schools that are universitys....im only interested in universitys....

Thanks 8-)

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning Tyler

I know little or nothing about the education system of the United States but over the years I have heard nothing fallacious about Embry Riddle.
When you arrive there in March I would suggest talking to some of the students to see what they think.

Folks tend to deride things they know nothing about.

The Naval Academy dream may not be shattered, can you not spend another year to upgrade your present grades and still enter the Naval Academy a year later keeping in mind their age requirements?

Good luck on whatever you do...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[DaveSims]

If your goal is to become a commercial pilot, I might not recommend necessarily going to college just for that.  I went to Louisiana Tech for aviation (which is a pretty nice school by the way ), but an aviation degree doesn't help much in the interview for a flying job.  I would recommend getting a degree in something else, and learn to fly and get your ratings on your own.  That gives you a back up plan in case a flying job doesn't work out, for whatever reason.

[olderndirt]

One of the Dakotas' Universities, can't remember North or South, is reputed to have an excellent aviation program.

[specter177]

ERAU is expensive, but it is also one of the best flying schools in the country, and having that sort of name recognition is important these days to get you in the door, when airlines aren't hiring that much.

[tcco94]

Well im almost certain I want to pursue a career in flying. Although I am young and things can and will change. As for now im trying to focus on getting a degree in flying. Ive also heard what some of the students and Embry Riddle in Daytona have said both good and bad. Ive heard some people complain about stupid things such as they're dorms  and then ive heard that its a great college with getting internships. Also when I flew my first flight, I was talking to one of the pilots there and he attended Embry Riddle in Prescott. He said lots of people are in ROTC and its a great school to go to for flying and some stay and become instructors maybe to work up they're hours and pay off some of they're debts? He also told me that the Prescott campus was beyond boring and that Daytona should be much funner although thats not what im worried about. I want to go to Daytona instead of Prescott for they're golf team.

I have thought about getting my ratings on my own, although im not sure that suits me. Im defiantly trying to go to a college and get out of the house when I graduate. Although I will be homesick when im on the other end of the United States but id rather get my ratings threw Embry Riddle than on my own, like said above....I think if I were to apply for an airliner saying I attended Embry Riddle would help me out more than just doing it on my own...at least I think so. Also I was reading about the price and it says $44-55k a year although that includes approx. $15k for flying but it says your junior year usually only have to pay approx. $10k a year for flying. Idk if that sounds right or not...

[SeanTK]

Even though you don't want to hear it, I would recommend majoring in something other than Aviation, or at the very least doing an unrelated double major/minor while you work on the flying degree. If something happens and you can't fly for whatever reason, it would be thousands simply burnt up for nothing.

Also, don't get tunnel vision with Riddle. Make sure you explore ALL of your college options.

Here are some other options with flight degrees:

University of Dubuque, Iowa
http://www.dbq.edu/aviation/

Perdue University
http://www.tech.purdue.edu/at/

Western Michigan University
http://www.wmich.edu/aviation/

[tcco94]

Well I think im looking at a minor in Meterology. Although I do sound like im hooked onto Embry Riddle I still want other options because I could end up not getting accepted at Embry Riddle so i have to have back up options.

Do other schools with these aviation programs in them allow you to fly? Or is that something you do on your own.

[tcco94]

Okay so ive been looking around a bit more now and seeing how to find the aviation parts of schools. I like the Western Michigan aviation program and I also found that University of Alaska Anchorage has one which I did request more information that will be mailed.

Looking at the costs of flying it says for Alaska about 35-43k and that doesnt include tuition I believe and for Michigan its $58k plus $19k for tuition. Looking at these costs they all seem to be around the same place as Embry Riddle...so why do people always say its more expensive at Embry Riddle, because your paying 44-55k each year?

[tcco94]

One of the Dakotas' Universities, can't remember North or South, is reputed to have an excellent aviation program.

That'd be North Dakota, just looked that school up...looks like a fun aviation school 
http://www.avit.und.edu/ProspectiveStud ... lAvit.aspx

[DaveSims]

[quote]Well im almost certain I want to pursue a career in flying. Although I am young and things can and will change. As for now im trying to focus on getting a degree in flying. Ive also heard what some of the students and Embry Riddle in Daytona have said both good and bad. Ive heard some people complain about stupid things such as they're dorms

[skoker]

If your looking for somewhere cheep go take a look at Kent State in Ohio.  I'm going there in 2 weeks for their open house.

Also I would look at Dowling, but its expensive.  Way better than Embry though IMO.

[tcco94]

It seems that im just getting alot of negative feedback on getting my degree in aviation. I know that it might be hard finding a job in aviation but once I graduate im certain ill be able to find a job flying somewhere weather its the airlines or being a flight instructor. Although cant I just get a minor in something and then if I need to fall on something cant I do that? I wanna fly, theres no doubt, but I dont wanna major in something other than flying then try to fly. I wanna get my major in flying then do that. Even if it takes some sacrafices and time to get where I want to get.

Ive been looking around at some other colleges with aviation programs and some of interest are:
Western Michigan
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of North Dakota
Rocky Mountain College

I like the Rocky Mountain one the best so far other than Embry Riddle, but im still on the lookout. The prices still seem high though because Western Michigan says about $59,000 for flight cost but is that for all four years then you have to add on tuition and all the other junk. It doesnt seem like its WAY cheaper than Embry Riddle like alot of people say. Rocky Mountains says $50,000 and Alaska around $43,000.

[BAW0343]

Here's an option for you.

Arizona State University. Its cheaper then Embry, in tuition anyway (by how much I don't know) and you get to fly all year round if you choose to do so. The prices for flight are up there at $66,000 so I don't know how feasible this would be as every other place seems cheaper. However the program will get you fully certified up to the CRJ700 with all the ratings you'll ever need. And tuition is in the upper teens for out of state, if I am remembering correct (I'm in state so I really don't know.) Another this to remember is ASU trains you into Mesa Airlines. So it makes getting a job easier. However, Mesa airlines is being affected by the economy and may not be hiring as many.

As far as getting accepted, ASU is a snap. Getting into the Flight program is a bit more competitive but i'm sure you can do it as long as you get your paperwork in early. And if your worried about not being able to get a job when you get out (totally possible right now) you can double major in Air Traffic control (my personal favourite ) or Airport management. All three of these degrees share about 50% of the classes so its pretty easy to double major.

[Mazza]

Air force