Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Date: Dec 06 2008
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I came here, again, like so many others, wanting to become a pilot. In fact, that is what I am still going to do with my life.

I got here and was disappointed after the first few weeks. I was unchallenged, and knew that I made a mistake coming here. This was a personal decision, and this place may be for you, but don't let the one day campus tour fool you. There is not much to do here at all unless you like going to dirty clubs near the beach. The faculty in the Aeronautical Science department, I have found, are very nice. Most of the students are very nice too. It is a small school, so you definitely have to put yourself out there. NO GIRLS! Honestly, I thought that it wouldn't bother me too much. I was here to learn, right? I don't care who you are, it will get on your nerves. Daytona Beach is an honest hole in the wall. I visited the homes of friends I made here who live in Florida, and know that there is MUCH better in the state. Even then, I am from the northeast. I missed the leaves changing colors, I missed the brisk fall air, etc.

The flight program is overpriced. Don't let them give you the reduced minimums BS. Train at a local airport that has an approved 141 program/syllabus. I remember reading message boards such as airlinepilotcentral, and almost everyone recommended avoiding this school if you want to fly. I didn't believe them. I didn't want to believe them. ERAU was the Holy Grail. Because I have to pay for my college education through student loans, I am going the route recommended by those who fly for the airlines now. Train at a local airport close to your state school. Get a degree in something outside of flying. The Aeronautical Science degree at ERAU is worth the paper it is printed on, and is useless. The airlines don't care what you have a degree in, just that you have one. ERAU flying is not experience. If you think you are going to come in here with zero flight experience, try to impress your friends by saying that you are going to become a pilot, you should consider a change of your major. You will wash out of the flight training like so many others who think it is a joke to fly an airplane. Just by going to ERAU is not going to land you a flying job for a major airline. More than likely you are going to be flying the right seat of a CRJ for a connection carrier for a few years making very little money. Flight time is experience to the airlines.

If it was for the friends I made here, I would definitely stay. I am going to miss them when I leave, honestly. I also feel bad that they are staying, but hey, its a personal decision. Everyone has their reasons to stay. I tried to make excuses to stay also. Thankfully I was accepted into another highly ranked University back in the Northeast. I am happy to say that I am transferring after this semester. I don't know what I would do if I had to stay another semester.

If you are looking at this school, PLEASE, make sure that you know what you are getting in to. There are a lot of negative reviews on this school, but you have to take them all into consideration, not just bad experiences. I didn't have any bad experiences here aside from not liking the atmosphere of the school or the area. Stay on top of all paperwork to avoid the Riddle Runaround.

I am very open to any of you HS kids who are looking at going here. If you have questions, please ASK ME. Don't make the same mistake I did. PLEASE.