A 4 year look into the Future

bsusnitzky Newcomer Santa Clara, California

Greetings to everybody again,
Today I am flying home to California from Latvia, which will entail a 26 hour layover in NYC

I was talking to my parents about colleges that I want to visit, and right now I have 3 CTI schools, ASU,UND,MtSac, and 2 normal schools on my the list. Now it feels like i am reading all these posts taht make it seem in 4 years time all the jobs will be gone, so if i choose ASU or UND will i be screwing myself over before I even go to school? The only two year program near me is MTSac, and if i go there I would probably also be attending CSU Long Beach at the same time for normal classes.

Is the talk of jobs being gone in 4 years really true, or just people who are having trouble finding them now overreating? Everything I can read from the FAA says the blah blah blah over 10 years we will hire 10k plus, but I cant find any updates on the status. Ive always loved aviation and i think becoming an ATC would be a great job, but I dont want to step in, go through the specified education, only to find that I cant get a job in the industry.
Thoughts?

MTCTIGUY Trusted Member The 'Boro

They will still be hiring 4 years down the road, so if you want to go to a four year school, then by all means do. 90% of the people I know who are CTI have gotten jobs. The two main reasons people end up not getting an offer are 1). Too restrictive geographical preferences and 2.) A qualified score on the AT-SAT. The second reason only usually comes into play when number 1 is also true. I will be graduating with a B.S. in aerospace soon and assuming all goes well and I get hired, I plan on starting a masters program in airfield operations from ERAU soon after I become a CPC. And, If for some reason ATC does not work out for me, I can fall back on my B.S. and do flight dispatch or FSS OR I could return to school and get a masters in several different areas of study. Also assuming you end up going to Mt. Sac, attending CSU Long Beach would be pointless because all of the general education classes that you take at Mt. Sac should transfer to a four year school should you decide to do so. You're going to have to take at least 15 hours a semester a Mt. Sac to graduate in two years anyway, so you won't really have any time to do school anywhere else.

blakeh Trusted Member SLN

Seriously, dont get a 4 year degree for this career. There is mixed feelings on this among everyone, but I have yet heard of a reason that will push me into getting a 4 year over a 2 year degree. Most people will argue it will benefit you if you are trying to go management. But, thats the only way its going to help you. Honestly, from what ive heard people only go management when they cant control.

Up to you. Good luck choosing!

MTCTIGUY Trusted Member The 'Boro

The main reason to get a 4 year over a 2 year in my opinion is that a 4 year opens more career options. You might find out that you hate ATC for instance, and then you're stuck looking for a job with a worthless A.S. in ATC. Also, what do you want to do after you are forced to retire? There aren't exactly many oportunities for a retired ATCer with no education or an A.S. The only options I could see for that situation would be a non-controlling supervisory position with the FAA, contract tower, or possibly flight dispatch. All of these (except perhaps FAA management) probably have a lower salary than what you had been making as a controller. A B.S. gives you several more options, and a M.S. gives you even more. More education never hurts. What do you plan on doing when you retire, blakeh?

blakeh Trusted Member SLN

I knew I was gonna get in trouble for saying that. lol.

You make a vary valid point.

But, I dont have any energy to discuss it. So, lets just leave it at that. Sorry, long day.

DeltaNui Rookie Grand Forks, ND

I can't speak for other four year institutions, but at UND you will be required to study in a second field, which usually leads to a minor or second major. I graduated with a BA in Communication as well as my BSA in ATC in four years, for example. The program is designed so that you can get experience in an unrelated field.

travelingcutie Junior Member Portland, Oregon

Get the two-year degree, and then apply. You can always get a bachelors or masters later!

My 2 centavos

MTCTIGUY Trusted Member The 'Boro

Most people who get a two year degree and find themselves in a decent job situation never go back for a four year degree, even if they say they will later. If you want a four year degree, it's best to knock it out all at once.

ChrisDTC Junior Member Texas on my mind

Im currently in the CTI program at the University of Oklahoma. Its cool here because OU is also a flight school so the ATC classes are at the airport. We have an 10 station center/tracon simulator and a real working tower to use.

spades9048 What's happening?

One other thing to keep in mind is that a four year degree is becoming more and more common these days. It is hard to stand out when you need to in other fields. I know plenty of people that are already returning for their MBAs and we just graduated in '06. A two year degree in ATC will work just fine but I wouldn't count on that two year degree meaning very much in other areas. As usual, experience will always speak the loudest but everything helps.

At the company I used to work for, we wouldn't even look very close at applications for management trainee positions unless they had a four year degree and that was for a $10.50 an hour job.