I’m aware that all locations are relatively the same despite the different experiences depending on the types of instructors present during one’s tenure. As of now, I plan on attending ATP in April 2025 so I can have time to save up some more money and also get all of my written exams done beforehand.
I’ve recently took a tour of the Long Beach location and really enjoyed it. However, the LGB location does not offer housing. That is why I am considering the Carlsbad location (KCRQ) since they offer co-ed housing with 3 other students.
Is there any advantage to rooming with other ATP students as opposed to living alone? I’m currently 26 and a college graduate who’s never had roommates. Can someone share their experience on the housing, more so the Carlsbad location and/or the Long beach location. I want to make a decision fairly soon. Thanks.
I actually enjoyed the ATP housing as I found it very motivational to be living with others on the same path with the same goals. There was alot of mentoring going on which was great.
That said others have had similar experiences simply hanging out in the training center.
Long short I think you’ll be fine either way. Do what works best for you.
I’d highly recommend utilizing the ATP housing. As Adam mentioned, it’s a built in community of study partners and peers that understand and support you throughout the program. Also, the ATP price is very competitive compared to what other housing options are available in the area on your own. You also have flexible leasing options for if you leave to go to a CFI location for an extended period of time and when you graduate from the program compared to being locked in to a lease for a fixed 12 months.
I had a few friends who went through at LGB and instructed there, I took all my students down there for their long cross country flights. It’s a nice location, and I’m sure Carlsbad is as well. Here’s a few things to think about:
LGB is a larger ATP location vs CRQ, there are pros and cons to either side. With a larger pool of students and instructors, there are more people to interact with and learn from, but for some having so many people around and so much activity can be overwhelming as a larger location can mean more distractions as well.
LGB is a busier and more complex airport than CRQ, again pros and cons. Starting out at a busy airport can be more intimidating vs starting at a quieter less busy airport. However you’ll gain that valuable experience that will make you more comfortable going to other big busy airports in the future.
Finally LGB is a maintenance location for ATP, and you guessed it, pros and cons. Having maintenance close by could mean small issues are taken care of quickly with minimal interruptions to the day’s schedule rather than having to sit around and wait for the planes to get fixed. However being a maintenance location also means people like to bring you their broken planes and leave with your working ones…
Anyway as you can see, everything is a tradeoff. I think you’ll be fine at either location, good luck with your studies.
Welcome to the forum, sorry I am a few days late to the thread, as new topics come in, things get bumped down on me and I get to them late.
Here’s how the priority of training center would be if I was to go back through the program:
There a training center where I could keep the costs lower and mitigate a financial comparison.
Is housing available at the location that I am interested in
Am I willing to explore and try a new city
ATP’s housing is a great option that I feel is under looked. Imagine having available resources at your ready 24/7, that if you had a question and you couldn’t get ahold of your instructor because they were flying, that you could peep over and ask a peer in the housing. I found the housing to be extremely beneficial, asking questions, group study, and being able to socialize outside of the training center (even being in an unfamiliar place).
Ultimately, it comes down to what you think is best for you, if you’ve gone through a roommate situation before, you may have that experience, if not, it might be a slight bit of change and experience.