<p>Hi, Ive been browsing around this site for awhile and decided I would ask a quick question. I have have wanted to become a pilot since I was 3 years old and have every intention of becoming one when possible. I am currently working towards obtaining a private pilots license and hope to have one by the time I apply to college next year when I am 17. My question is: would having my ppl provide a significant boost in the selection process? Or should i just focus on my grades and wait until I am in college-beyond to get my license?(expensive$$$)</p>
<p>yes it will be a unique ec for sure and can help but it wont get you in if you dont have the other stats.</p>
<p>Wow, that's exactly what I did during the summer between junior and senior year! It'll definitely help for college apps as a boost to ECs, but you still need your GPA/SAT. It's a great thing to write your essays about too.
What my plan was was to get the private during the summer so I could put it down as an EC and then finish the instrument, commercial, and multi-engine stuff in or after college. That way you get it down on your apps and won't have to spend 50k+ on all your certificates and ratings all during one summer (just about 8k for the private but still lol)
In anycase if you love flying as much as I do you're probably gonna do it when you're 17 anyway so don't worry about it and enjoy the training! (You can solo at 16 btw) I'd also recommend you visit some aviation oriented forums, try googling "student pilot forum."
I'll see how good of an EC it is when I get my results from UCLA xP In the meantime have fun with your training!</p>
<p>Honestly. I think it could hurt. Read the books on getting into selective colleges. A point many make is to loose anything that might peg you as a rich kid. Flying lessons are associated with wealth. Wealthy kids are often counseled to not mention world travel, summers sailing and any other expensive, exclusive EC. So unless this is something you got to do for free, think twice about highlighting it.</p>
<p>In addition, it's not something that takes any exceptional skill or talent, so why would it help a lot?</p>
<p>Sorry Hmom, I disagree. Like being an eagle scout it shows a lot of devotion to something. If you can show that flying is your passion then it is certainly a good EC.</p>
<p>Did you read Hmom's comments. Eagle scouting doesnt cost very much -- thats the difference.</p>
<p>he could always say that he took out significant loans to pay for the education. This will demonstrate
1. he is not rich
2. he was motivated enough to go into debt for this
3. his college career could be very similar, in that he will go into debt to get an education that he really wants and thus do well in college</p>
<p>It's a nice EC, but unless you're doing something like working a job to pay for your lessons, it also shows that you're privileged in terms of being wealthy. Colleges expect far more of students who come from privileged backgrounds.</p>
<p>In terms of ECs, a student who created their own EC that was a real EC that accomplished things or a student who's doing something like working a menial job to help support their impoverished family would impress colleges more than would your EC since your EC depends so much on having the good fortune to have well off parents.</p>
<p>I too am a private pilot and put that on my MIT app as my number 1 EC. I also brought it up with my interviewer who was very impressed that at such a young age I got my PPL. It also helped, I think, that I wrote that I have been planning an aero/astro career since I was about 9 so having the PPL showed my focus on that field. Attaining a PPL also shows a large amount of discipline and responsibility, you can't earn your wings if you are an immature risk-taker. To what extent it helped me get accepted I don't know, but I can't see it hurting :D</p>
<p>Adcom make very modest salaries. Their kids don't typically spends thousands on their ECs. They are out there looking for low income kids who've done impressive activities despite having no financial backing. They are flooded with prep school applicants who've been to every continent, Harvard summer school and are golfers, sailors and pilots. especially at very selective colleges. </p>
<p>I speak from experience. I also did not understand this despite having worked in an ivy admissions office 30 years ago. Times have changed, schools are biased against wealthy kids and much more inclusive of other socio economic backgrounds.</p>
<p>Putting the activities of the affluent on their applications probably cost my two older kids their first choice colleges. A good counselor explained this all to me, my third child's application read very differently and he's now happily at his first choice, highly selective college.</p>
<p>Yeah, Im definatly not rich! Im a middle class URM (AA with mixed Native American Background) :) I plan to take an intern job at a local law firm to support the lessons+ loans, and I will definatly make it clear on my application that I have alot of determinaton when it comes to my goals.</p>
<p>I think the advice to avoid an activity that one is passionate about, just because it might be perceived by some admissions worker as a rich kids' activity, is silly. If you are interested in obtaining a ppl, go ahead and pursue it. If you need assistance with the cost, seek out scholarships such as</p>
<p>AYA</a> Scholarship
Leroy</a> Homer Foundation Scholarship
Aviation</a> Scholarship Foundation
Epps</a> Aviation Scholarship
Young</a> Eagles Scholarships</p>
<p>My son earned his ppl and felt it was an advantage in applying to aerospace engineering programs. Go for it.</p>
<p>The issue isn't whether to avoid the activity, it's whether to feature it on a college application. The advice not to was given to me by a former ivy adcom.</p>
<p>To archiemom: Thanks you so much for the links they will prove to be extremely valuable in the coming months. I will get started on my ppl ASAP!</p>