Would having a private pilot's license help or hurt an application?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine any reason why it would hurt an application. Why in the world do you think it might hurt?

September 11, 2001

No. It's because OP is worried it might look like a rich kid's hobby. Read the OP, won't you?

But if he doesn't disclose it what will the colleges think he does with his free time - video games?

OP here.
We know a kid who has this and he got his license over a summer and most kids are not doing impactful things over every high school summer.
They are traveling, sitting at home, etc. Sure, some are in high-impact internships but most kids i know are not.

Then this kid flies a few hours every month. He has time to play school sports, join clubs, etc.
Flying is not the time suck you would think. When you are paying $200/hour you generally don't go up for an 8 hour flight. Your are up and back
in 4 hours including the pre and post flight checks. That's less time then my son spends on youtube on most Sundays and he (my son) has plenty of time to do all homework and other extracurriculars.

I don't think we're going to do this but I was curious about the impact on college (and curious about other things but since we're on a college board here I posted about that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid thinking of pursuing just to put on an application? I don’t think it’s a big enough hook to move the needle for them unless there were something else to it— helping those in need somehow or something like that.

If they were already doing it because they were genuinely interested then I would have them add it just like I would have them include their other activities. A school is not to think hard about any one particular activity unless they are performing it at an elite level, helping people that don’t normally get helped, etc.

OP here.
No, not at all. That would be insane.
It is his interest and he does nothing with thoughts of college in mind.
I just wondered what colleges might think of it.

[Anonymous]

Colleges will think you have a lotlotlot of money. And you do.

Have him find a volunteer gig where his expensive hobby can be useful to someone else.

[Anonymous]

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/

[Anonymous]

I'd think it would be a plus because it will be relatively unusual. Few high schoolers pursue something, anything, which requires that level of effort. Becoming licensed demonstrates ambition, intellectual capacity, focus, persistence, and other characteristics which ought to show the applicant in a favorable light.

As others have said, it's an accomplishment which might prove useful for application essays.

The higher the level of licensing, the more positively impressive the accomplishment will be and the more the applicant will stand out compared to others with more basic licensure qualifications.

There's no reason whatsoever to shy away from an activity just because it's expensive. There's little value in posing as someone less wealthy than one is unless you're trying to gain admission based on low socioeconomic status, which most schools consider but which impacts a relatively small proportion of admitted students at most competitive universities and even then usually only in the context of offsetting otherwise inferior academic qualifications.

[Anonymous]

It’s good essay fodder, sure. I don’t think it would be that important. The license certainly not - you can write the essay whether you get to private pilot or not.

You can do ground school (even just with a book or online) take the FAA private pilot written exam without ever flying. That would be a reasonably impressive “credential” goal even if the kid hadn’t flown or hadn’t flown enough to get licensed. They could use it in an essay as pursuing a long term goal with interim accomplishments. And it would be less like “my mom paid for flight lessons.” I think you also get a drone license that way although I’m not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid thinking of pursuing just to put on an application? I don’t think it’s a big enough hook to move the needle for them unless there were something else to it— helping those in need somehow or something like that.

If they were already doing it because they were genuinely interested then I would have them add it just like I would have them include their other activities. A school is not to think hard about any one particular activity unless they are performing it at an elite level, helping people that don’t normally get helped, etc.

This is why UMC parents pay $$$ to send their kids to Ecuador to "paint an elementary school" (right before they go parasailing and tour the Galapagos). You're not fooling anyone.

Having the drive, focus and persistence to do something as difficult as earning a pilot's license is impressive for a young person. In my work, I used to profile the national winners of a major corporate scholarship competition. Many of the winners of that $100,000 scholarship did something similar -- pursued a personal goal that was hard because it was something they loved. Think about kids who sail in regattas, or climb mountains. Also hard, also not helping the poor, also very expensive. But damned impressive for a teenager.

You can't hide the fact that you're rich, OP. So encourage your kid to pursue his sincere interests. That will distinguish him on college applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine any reason why it would hurt an application. Why in the world do you think it might hurt?

September 11, 2001

Oh please.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine how this would hurt unless you're asking for FA. It's fairly unique, especially if the kid might be interested in engineering. Colleges love wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges will think you have a lotlotlot of money. And you do.

Have him find a volunteer gig where his expensive hobby can be useful to someone else.

So is having a lotlotlot of money a hindrance now in college admissions? Rick Singer fallout? Or is it a issue with wanting FA and not receiving any?

Yes, I would imagine there are kids whose parents buy them college admissions - promises of a big donation if Larla gets in. But I'm sure there are plenty of bright children who are hardworking and excel in the classroom but have parents who happen to be extremely wealthy. Just look around the DMV. So we're going to ding them in their college admissions because they happen to have a wealthy hobby?

[Anonymous]

Does your kid want to attend a service academy? I suspect it would be very helpful for those applications.

For any other they will simply appear to be a rich kid with expensive hobbies. And they are a dime a dozen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/

This. My son learned because he was interested in aerospace engineering. He also had to overcome a significant fear of flying, which was his essay. It’s very very time consuming and expensive. There’s also a physical required if you get to licensure. The driving back to and from small rural airports takes a lot of time in the metro area. Towards the end of all of this he joined the CAP. I have no doubt it helped his application to UVA, VTech, Purdue and Georgia Tech but he was applying as an aerospace engineering candidate. He Eve. Flew himself to accepted students day at VT.

[Anonymous]

If kid was interested in aerospace engineering - or military academy or ROTC - the pilot instruction and licensing might be a smart investment. Kid could pursue commercial pilot career as a fall back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/

This. My son learned because he was interested in aerospace engineering. He also had to overcome a significant fear of flying, which was his essay. It’s very very time consuming and expensive. There’s also a physical required if you get to licensure. The driving back to and from small rural airports takes a lot of time in the metro area. Towards the end of all of this he joined the CAP. I have no doubt it helped his application to UVA, VTech, Purdue and Georgia Tech but he was applying as an aerospace engineering candidate. He Eve. Flew himself to accepted students day at VT.

That’s all really amazing! Especially the last sentence.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a net positive. Plenty of affluent kids spend as much just on skiing and travel soccer.