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| Post Number: 11
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Hanna 
Group: Members
Posts: 132
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Apr. 28 2004,12:00 pm |
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Good points Spidy. I also believe that street smarts and on the job training in as valuable as college courses.
At the beginning of every course I taught, I'd always tell my students two things:
1) When you leave here, you will know a small portion of the total industry, but you will have enough knowledge to get your foot in the door to a promising career, then "they" will teach you what I did not.
2) Don't look at me as a teacher, look at me as a fellow worker that has years of experience, and I will show you what I've learned in those years.
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| Post Number: 12
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Apr. 28 2004,12:35 pm |
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Very good, Hanna. As a flight instructor, I told my students "I can't teach you to fly, I can only guide your self-discovery".
In our industry, new pro pilots usually come from two sources--"home-grown"--kids that learned to fly on their own--or from one of the universities like UND. The "Home-grown" kids can be a little rough around the edges--but the fact that they had the interest and perseverance to get through speaks volumes for them. The UND grads, while they have a good background, have no practical experience.
Though the UND grad will spend TWICE the money on their education as a smaller college grad--or THREE times the money of a "home-grown" pilot, the industry gives the nod to "home-grown" pilots (or graduates from schools like St. Cloud) nearly every time. There is no difference in the graduation standard--the FAA written, oral exams, and practical tests are the same. The UND grads--with a degree in aviation, usually go to work for one of the aircraft manufacturers, or into government.
Having the "big name university" sheepskin might be impressive right after graduation, but declines in value as the years go by. The degree only arms you with facts, and makes you prepared to think. The facts presented in some industries (electronics, for example) become obsolete within a couple of years.
Hanna's post brings out the old adage "It's what you know AFTER you know it all that counts!" 
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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