PPL before Collage

[crazy9111]

Hello, I am 16 years old. I am a sophomore in high school. I have my mind set on becoming a Commercial Pilot. I plan to attend Utah Valley State Collage, or Utah Valley University, as it will be called when I attend there. Admission should not be a problem, I hope. I have a 3.8 GPA and I am extremely involved in extra curricular activities. I play football, starting defensive Linemen. I play baseball. and wrestling. I have had my eagle scout since 2005All of these things my councilor tells me will be guarantied admission, assuming I get high ACT and SAT scores in my senior year. Anyhow, I was wondering if It would help me if I got my PPL right now. My mom is not very convinced, but if it will help, me she will pay the $5,909 for the school.
Thank you.

[ThrashN]

Welcome to the site
I'll let someone who has experience answer this question.

[airfreddy]

hello:

I would say that if you have the chance to do it now, go for it. The main reason is that life will get in the way. First it will be college then a job and on and on. If you have the chance now take it.

Most of my students now are in their 40's and 50's and they never got it done because life got in the way.

If you are looking at flying as a career get into it now. Meet as many people as you can in the industry. The four year degree is not as important as it used to be. It is more of who you know in the industry.

Years ago I was trying to get on with america west as an instructor. I have two degrees from embry riddle. I never got an interview. Once I got a recommendation from one of their pilots, I got an interview within a few weeks.

It is who you know. Get out there and meet as many pilots as you can

Airfreddy

[HGHFLYR]

I think it may save you some classroom time by getting your ppl prior to enrollment at utah valley. They also give you credits toward your degree. 7 credits for the ppl, 6 more if you have an instrument, etc etc. The program is only 35 credits to graduate so you see that having your certificate and rating may save you time at college. Not to mention the cost of classes, which i believe is about 275 bucks per credit. Just my opinion FWIW...

[mooney]

Go to ground school, get your training get ppl. I have been flying 33 years got my Ticket at 25 along with my first new airplane a 1974 172.You will never regret it. M

[HectorD]

My suggestion is to not major in a professional pilot degree. There are too many hurdles for keeping a long career as a pilot, the major one being health. You cannot predict if you will have a car accident, get cancer or any of that, it can happen to anyone. I suggest you major in something else other than aviation and then get your certificates someplace else. I am going to major in aircraft maintenance with a concentration in flight so I will graduate with an A&P and commercial pilots license. If I happen to loose my medical one day, I still have that A&P plus I could open a business of some sort with the experience.