Hello Hanna,
I am graduating high school this June and am interested in starting at ATP. I have completed my intro flight. I have been accepted to serval colleges and am supposed to start this fall however, I now want to pursue aviation and am having a hard time seeing the need to spend four years of my life and a lot of money on a degree I may never use besides putting on my resume. The main office said the next available start date is first in September for my location. My only debate right now is if I should obtain a bachelor’s degree or start flight school right away. I See in your previous post that you mention without a degree you are “severely limited in your career potential without a degree” I was hoping you would be able to elaborate on that. Also when I start flight school I will be 19. It’s my understanding that the program is 7 or so months plus 2 years to build your hours which would get me to the required age of 21 for regional airlines is the correct. Any suggestions or information are appreciated!
Evan,
This is one of our most commonly asked questions. I’m not sure what you find unclear about Hannah’s statement “severely limited in your career potential without a degree”.
The Major airlines desire and prefer a 4yr degree and those with one will get hired before you. That means when your peers at the Regionals are getting called up to a Major, you could very well be pushed to the back of the line. Now there are some flow agreements that might allow you to move up without a degree but that means locking your career to a single path. If that particular airline slows or ceases hiring for a time, again while your peers will have options to go elsewhere, you might not.
ALL the mentors on this forum recommend getting a 4yr degree first so if you’re asking for our advice or suggestions that’s what it is. If you’re looking for someone to reassure you that it’s not necessary and you’ll be fine, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Adam
Evan,
Adam elaborated well. Right now you’ll read about pilots advancing quickly and making it to their dream airlines fast. That’s true, hiring is at an all time high. Those with degrees and good resumes are getting hired. Some people without degrees are also getting hired, right now. When the hiring slows down, you better believe the ones without degrees are going to be the ones left at the regionals waiting. You’re risking a lot of money on your future career success. I wouldn’t play around and hope you’ll be alright without it. When you realize you need it, you’ll be far too late to start then.
Hannah
Evan,
While going to college may not be right you right now, ATP does have some partnerships with fellow college/universities that you can use your certificates for college credits. It is HIGHLY recommended to have a degree, at least starting a degree is better than not having anything in general.
We don’t know what the future will hold with aviation, things may or may not slow down on hiring and become super competitive again, it may not… no one knows. It is safe to say that getting a degree will greatly help you later in life.
Brady