Help with CTI desicion (Mt. Sac or Vaughn)

Michalak87 Junior Member MI

The students have been working with Vaughn, they are going to open summer ATC classes come this summer

angryweb Site Editor Los Angeles

The tides are turning. This week I started Mt. Sac and I am extremely disappointed. I will create a post about my experience so far as a warning to those that are considering moving out to CA for CTI.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

In the school? You're gonna stick it out though, right? I mean, in the end, it's just the recommendation that matters.

bradjackman Trusted Member Salt Lake City

Man, Mt. Sac is definately the best option. You've got to be agressive to get your way, but its pretty flexible if you push a little. The faculty obviously want you to stay there a long time, so they try to stretch the program out a little. I had a degree from another university, and I know my situation it pretty unique, but I did the whole freaking program in one semester. 27 credits. And you know what? It was a cake walk. Sure there were a couple tough weeks when all the tests collided, but I went to the beach quite a bit.

If you don't take no for an answer and just do it, you can make Mt. Sac work for you. If you want to be spoon fed, go somewhere else. Like Rosta said, in the end, it's the recommendation that counts!

PM me if you want the scoop on professors, admin, program info, etc.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

27 credits in a semester? Geez, man, I want the scoop on how you managed THAT. Wow.

bradjackman Trusted Member Salt Lake City

Yeah, about halfway through the semester, I was actually wishing the classes were MORE difficult. It was mind-numbing to sit through 8 hours of class a day where all you get are pilot stories and hanger talk.

I won't say it was the best education available, but it did what it was supposed to do - let me apply CTI.

923 Newcomer Carlsbad, CA

I graduated in DEC 09 from Mt.Sac and i might have few helpful tips. I took private pilot ground school down at Palomar college as I am from San Diego but they do not offer CTI. The class ended up transfering without a problem. I had attended Cal State San Marcos and Palomar before I decided to get into ATC. Most of the classes that i had taken from those colleges ended up transfering just fine. The classes that didn't were the ones that the specific university makes every new student take. The classes are always full every semester, they limit them to 30 a classroom, but Mr. Shackleford usually ends up keeping 45 because he doesn't care. As you know LA is a huge city with lots of airports and a lot of people interested in aviation so it makes it kind of tough. My experience with Mt. SAC turned out just fine, especially since I do live in San Diego and I commuted for two years and it worked out better than moving to a different state. If you want to know what teachers to take and not take let me know.

angryweb Site Editor Los Angeles

So here's my update. I waived a couple of classes with my BA and my PPL and was able to pick up 2 other courses which gives me 4 out of the 11 I need. The main problem stems from the CA budget cuts. The classes cap at 36 students and after sitting in every class for 3 hours and trying to add the past 2 weeks, I ended up with 2 classes.

The school is nice and the faculty is knowledgeable but some of the teachers don't really try and help on an individual level. I was hoping to do the program in 2 semesters since I am older than most students but it made no difference. The part that upset me was that I was sitting in the back of the classes trying desperately to add because I have a career in marketing and am dead set on sticking to ATC as aviation has always been my dream and see kids fresh out of high school in there sleeping in the aviation safety courses.

Again the school is not bad but it is impossible to get classes and there really should be a screening of students who actually want to be there rather than point to the first subject in the catalog...aeronautics, and take it as an elective.

I have driven 600 miles this past 2 weeks and spent 60 hours at the school and only got 2 classes.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Is it too late to get an add in? This'll sound crazy, but I'll bet if you stand right outside the classroom (possibly even inside) right as class ends and tell everyone, "Listen up. I absolutely need to do this class this semester. I'll give $100 to the first person who's willing to drop it and take it later so I can get added in. I'm dead serious."... it'll work. Have the money right on you so they know you're legit, go with them immediately to the registrar to get the form and straight to the professor for the signatures, or however it's done.

I've done similar things before, and it sounds a little nuts, but money talks. You can get almost anything done for a price, especially if you catch people off guard with an offer like that. College kids should be an especially easy target. It may cost you a bit extra, but if we're talking a possible delay of six months or however long it'll take, maybe it'd be worth it to you. Maybe not.

Just an idea.

mtlatc Epic Member In a bus down by the river!

Yea, you're gonna be a hell of a controller.