meet EA deadline or earn private pilot certificate?

[Anonymous]

DD really wanted to use her pilot certificate on college applications, but she won't turn 17 and thus be eligible for her checkride until after most if not all EA deadlines of the schools she's interested are past. I know it can depend on the school, but in general, which is more important: having that box checked or applying EA?

[Anonymous]

Is she applying for an aeronautics program?

I mean, this is a rich kid hobby and it's not going to confer much of an admissions bump unless specifically related to her field of study, so I'd take the EA over the pilot license any day.

[Anonymous]

Does she want to continue flying while in college? Also how certain are you that she is on track to earn her certificate as soon as she turns 17?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she want to continue flying while in college? Also how certain are you that she is on track to earn her certificate as soon as she turns 17?

She won't have the money to fly in college, but I'm a CFI and while she's not my student, I've flown with her and believe she can pass the checkride on her birthday, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she applying for an aeronautics program?

I mean, this is a rich kid hobby and it's not going to confer much of an admissions bump unless specifically related to her field of study, so I'd take the EA over the pilot license any day.

She's interested in aerospace engineering, but not a flight program. And it's not a rich kid hobby (how funny).

[Anonymous]

Not sure the problem…just list the activity and show how you are on track and expect to get license at 17.

What’s the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure the problem…just list the activity and show how you are on track and expect to get license at 17.

What’s the problem?

+1. Also, perhaps she can apply this activity in an essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is she applying for an aeronautics program?

I mean, this is a rich kid hobby and it's not going to confer much of an admissions bump unless specifically related to her field of study, so I'd take the EA over the pilot license any day.

She's interested in aerospace engineering, but not a flight program. And it's not a rich kid hobby (how funny).

How is it not a rich kid hobby? It's like $8K minimum to get a private pilot's license. https://americanflightschools.com/learn-to-fly/cost-of-flight-training/
More in the DMV---the kids I know paid $15K.

Then once you have the license it's $150/hour to rent a plane to actually USE the license (unless you happen to own a plane--lol).


Our private school said it is definitely perceived as a rich kid's hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure the problem…just list the activity and show how you are on track and expect to get license at 17.

What’s the problem?

She won't actually hold the license, so I didn't know if it was worth listing. But we can always try that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is she applying for an aeronautics program?

I mean, this is a rich kid hobby and it's not going to confer much of an admissions bump unless specifically related to her field of study, so I'd take the EA over the pilot license any day.

She's interested in aerospace engineering, but not a flight program. And it's not a rich kid hobby (how funny).

How is it not a rich kid hobby? It's like $8K minimum to get a private pilot's license. https://americanflightschools.com/learn-to-fly/cost-of-flight-training/
More in the DMV---the kids I know paid $15K.

Then once you have the license it's $150/hour to rent a plane to actually USE the license (unless you happen to own a plane--lol).


Our private school said it is definitely perceived as a rich kid's hobby.

It's all about priorities. She does not pay for instruction (having parents in the industry helps, yes), and she answers phones at the FBO in exchange for flight time. This is a really common agreement among teenagers.

Source: have been a CFI for 25 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD really wanted to use her pilot certificate on college applications, but she won't turn 17 and thus be eligible for her checkride until after most if not all EA deadlines of the schools she's interested are past. I know it can depend on the school, but in general, which is more important: having that box checked or applying EA?

I think this is a misconception. Schools are interested in her, the person. I would think what is more interesting is Why does she fly? Why is this important to her? What has she learned by doing so? What will having done this, bring to the school community? Doing in thing is great, but the questions to address and convey is the ability to answer "So what?" In that, I dont know that the certification is as important as the other questions.

That said, I agree with the above comments that EA is probably the better that waiting in many circumstance, but will depend on the school. Many schools, cough (Harvard), defers just about everyone. So you could still put in an app, most likely be deferred, and can send an update that she got her certification for RD consideration.

Net, I would imagine any bump for EA > pilot certification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure the problem…just list the activity and show how you are on track and expect to get license at 17.

What’s the problem?

Right. Just put something like: pursuing pilot license - 500/600 hours completed


It will have nearly the same impact

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure the problem…just list the activity and show how you are on track and expect to get license at 17.

What’s the problem?

She won't actually hold the license, so I didn't know if it was worth listing. But we can always try that.

Of course do this…you aren’t lying, right? You would still show all the hours and make it clear she expects to get the full license when she turns 17.

You can then email the regional admissions person and tell them she actually now has the license when she gets it.

It’s no difference…especially if it is an age thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD really wanted to use her pilot certificate on college applications, but she won't turn 17 and thus be eligible for her checkride until after most if not all EA deadlines of the schools she's interested are past. I know it can depend on the school, but in general, which is more important: having that box checked or applying EA?

I think this is a misconception. Schools are interested in her, the person. I would think what is more interesting is Why does she fly? Why is this important to her? What has she learned by doing so? What will having done this, bring to the school community? Doing in thing is great, but the questions to address and convey is the ability to answer "So what?" In that, I dont know that the certification is as important as the other questions.

That said, I agree with the above comments that EA is probably the better that waiting in many circumstance, but will depend on the school. Many schools, cough (Harvard), defers just about everyone. So you could still put in an app, most likely be deferred, and can send an update that she got her certification for RD consideration.

Net, I would imagine any bump for EA > pilot certification.

+1

Just list it as pending, OP, and it could be an excellent thing for her to talk about in an essay. See PP's questions above. d is going to be interested in her if she has interesting answers to those questions about why she flies and what it's taught her about herself, her goals, etc.

[Anonymous]

If she really wants to include this, she can apply EA and then update after getting the license. Many schools will accept a brief application update via the portal or email.