I'm changing my majors and need advice

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pdmcgrane

Filing Flight Plan
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Patrick
This past weekend I decided that I wanted to change at least one of my current majors in college in order to work toward something a little more aviation oriented. Up until that point my majors were Spanish and Global Studies and I was just taking flying lessons as a hobby. I decided that I want to drop Global Studies and would like to somehow combine Spanish along with something in the aviation industry. Anyone have any good ideas? I was thinking about starting an air taxi/charter company in the Southwest or opening up a high end FBO in the same area. At the moment I'm just brainstorming and need ideas. I am a 3rd year college student and I am attending a liberal arts college- how can I gain more experience in the aviation industry? I tried applying for jobs with the local FBOs, but they do not seem to be hiring at the moment( and there aren't many here in the Fargo-Moorhead area-ND, Northwestern MN). Help!
 
pdmcgrane said:
This past weekend I decided that I wanted to change at least one of my current majors in college in order to work toward something a little more aviation oriented. Up until that point my majors were Spanish and Global Studies and I was just taking flying lessons as a hobby. I decided that I want to drop Global Studies and would like to somehow combine Spanish along with something in the aviation industry. Anyone have any good ideas? I was thinking about starting an air taxi/charter company in the Southwest or opening up a high end FBO in the same area. At the moment I'm just brainstorming and need ideas. I am a 3rd year college student and I am attending a liberal arts college- how can I gain more experience in the aviation industry? I tried applying for jobs with the local FBOs, but they do not seem to be hiring at the moment( and there aren't many here in the Fargo-Moorhead area-ND, Northwestern MN). Help!
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Hmmmmm..... do they offer 'Cocaine Smuggling for Gringos' as a major?
 
Don't major in aviation. Consider a minor instead. Most degrees can easily be used in aviation in some way, shape or form, but using an aviation degree outside of aviation can be difficult.

Consider International Business or something like that. It really all depends on your desires. Just be sure to major in something that you're actually interested in.

If you do "Cocaine Smuggling for Gringos" as a major, make sure you don't limit it to aircraft only.
 
I second the International Business major. Most programs also require you to learn a foreign language. I'd suggest Japanese plus one other Asian language. These are usually five year programs but you can walk away with a Masters with less work than if you returned later.

Make Aviation Management a minor. That could put you in line for an executive position for an international airline and my experience around a few says Japan Airlines or Singapore Airlines might be awesome companies to aspire to.

Take that education, step into such an industry and build a nest egg over ten years beyond your current imagination. Your options open dramatically.

Maybe by the time you're late thirties or early forties, you could buy into an FBO of your choice or manage one to build more experience for a period of time. Take some "baby steps." Earn some experience. But, start with an education that will take you the distance, not limit the scope.

But, if you don't want to do this... trade ages with me and I'll do it. Trust me when I say I screwed up and didn't follow a prudent route for my life. I was an International Business major at the University of Denver and dropped out after three years to pay child support. So, stay focused and keep your priorities straight.

Edit: Whatever you do... don't become an attorney. Have some self-respect! (I couldn't resist!) :D
 
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Global studies is fine if you are contemplating a career in foreign service or international business. Your coupling it with a language is a very good idea. With that combo of majors you can pretty much do anything you want. If you really now want to focus in on aviation I would say stay the course with your present majors and then also consider a masters in public administration. This will set you up for a great job as an airport manager and with your language skills the whole of the south and southwest are open to you. If you are looking to make a small fortune flying I suggest you first get a large fortune and then be a pilot, you'll have a small fortune in no time.

Another route to consider is getting some more business background so that you can look to get into a FBO situation. You may need to get some backers unless you want and have the money to invest up front.
 
Wow, everyone that was really great advice. You guys seriously gave me some insight into what I need to do.....minus Henning...you just made me laugh .
 
pdmcgrane said:
Wow, everyone that was really great advice. You guys seriously gave me some insight into what I need to do.....minus Henning...you just made me laugh .
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As was the intent.:D As to an aviation major, don't bother. The airlines don't care about it, and no one else wants it. Stick to a business major, it's the most flexible. More languages you know, the more high value options you have. Mandarin is also a good languange for now and the future.
 
Get a business degree, I 'd focus on economics and finance as everything boils down to the dollars, even aviation.
 
If you're interested in running an FBO or charter service, changing your major to aviation management might work well -- sort of a cross between a straight aviation program and a BBA.
 
Henning's advice (as usual) is sound.

I have a BS from Wharton, MBA from Tuck (Dartmouth). Top business schools both, just check the ratings.

I, too, was smitten with the notion of international business as an undergrad. The best advice I ever received was to couple that (a Multinational Management concentration) with a "real" concentration. I chose Finance. Sound advice. If companies want an "international" they hire a local. Best bet is to work your way up to an international posting, then the "international" aspect of your education might help.

Without a second language skill, your "international" concentration will be far less valuable. With Spanish, at least you'll be able to eavesdrop on the cleaning ladies in the elevator. You think I'm joking. I'm not.

I am not an expert in the field of aviation. Check with Ron Levy if you want an expert's opinion. I would say, as a businessperson, that if you want to be a pilot, you need aviation experience. If you want to be a businessperson, you need business experience.

Whatever you do, good luck.
 
flyersfan31 said:
I am not an expert in the field of aviation. Check with Ron Levy if you want an expert's opinion. I would say, as a businessperson, that if you want to be a pilot, you need aviation experience. If you want to be a businessperson, you need business experience.
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And if you want to be an aviation businessman, you need both. Wendy's ain't been the same since Dave Thomas died and the company was taken over by people who never ran a restaurant in their lives.
 
Ron Levy said:
And if you want to be an aviation businessman, you need both. Wendy's ain't been the same since Dave Thomas died and the company was taken over by people who never ran a restaurant in their lives.
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It makes you think about the "kids" of a few decades ago who started at McDonald's. They remained committed... now, many are in upper management positions with that company or others.

The problem today... "commitment" is not in the vocabulary of many.
 
KennyFlys said:
It makes you think about the "kids" of a few decades ago who started at McDonald's. They remained committed... now, many are in upper management positions with that company or others.

The problem today... "commitment" is not in the vocabulary of many.
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and should it be? I think the days of people spending entire careers with one company are pretty much over. just like there are very very few pro athletes who spend entire careers with one team. why would you? i mean sure if the best you can do at any point is stay where you are then thats a great deal, but often there are better opportunities out there and they should be taken.
 
Ron Levy said:
And if you want to be an aviation businessman, you need both. Wendy's ain't been the same since Dave Thomas died and the company was taken over by people who never ran a restaurant in their lives.
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Well, I would submit that the best route would be an MBA doing an internship at an FBO with a thesis based thereupon if FBO ownership is where you want to go. I think the Dave Thomas example is an excellent one. Arlen<sp? "Colonel"> Sanders took Dave "under his (chicken:D ) wing" so to speak, early on, and that was where he got his education. You learn specialties and realities in the field, not in school. In my experience, specialized school programs are completely outdated and irrellevant to the realities of the current practicing business model and are of low value. Better to chose a top end business school with no aviation program than a top end "aviation" school with a low standing in the general business community.
 
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tonycondon said:
I think the days of people spending entire careers with one company are pretty much over.
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It was a never very good idea to begin with, at least as far as I'm concerned. I know too many people who went this route and all they could think about was how many days/month/years they had left to retirement. Some didn't make it that far. It's easy enough to fall into a rut and get entrenched in your job without making a specific commitment.

As far as choosing a major goes, I think you should choose whatever interests you. You never know what's going to happen in the future. If you are in your 20s and trying to predict what is going to happen to any particular industry within your working life (30-40 years), it's pretty much a crapshoot. Besides, unless you go into you degree field right away the subject matter will become less and less relevant. Employers will be interested that you have a degree in something, but your recent work experience will count for more. Once you get to 10-20 or more years past the time you went to school the subject matter may be completely irrelevant since new technology and theories will have made most of what you learned obsolete. That's the way it has been for me, anyway. Not saying it's true for all.
 
tonycondon said:
and should it be? I think the days of people spending entire careers with one company are pretty much over. just like there are very very few pro athletes who spend entire careers with one team. why would you? i mean sure if the best you can do at any point is stay where you are then thats a great deal, but often there are better opportunities out there and they should be taken.
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I'mreferring to short term, just a few years. People can't even do that.
 
I'm with Henning!

Mari- I work with a LOT of those kinds of people
 
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