"Rachel" wrote in message
. ..
wrote:
snip
If'n it were me, I would tell my son to go to the State University and
pay the cheaper in-state tuition. Find a local FBO and a grey-haired
instructor and get the ratings there.

Sorry, I have to make my standard disagreement that age does not make a
great instructor. My instructors were all under 30 and all but one did a
great job. I was 22 when I got my CFI, and while I have a lot to learn,
no one ever complained. Older does NOT always mean better and it's a
disservice to suggest that it does.

Hi Rachel;

I agree totally that high time isn't necessarily an indicator of high
quality in a CFI, or a normal pilot for that matter. You'll find the
qualities that make a fine teacher in any age bracket, and as well find
these qualities lacking in the same wide range. Some CFI's are wonderful
teachers right out of the box, and some unfortunately go through entire
careers doing and teaching the same things wrong over and over again with
little change.
It's easy to spot the gray haired instructors who are good, as they are
still deeply motivated by teaching and are engaged in a constant self
improvement program that lasts from the day they become CFI's to the day
they quit flying.
About the post you have just answered;
I could be totally misreading the poster's intent that you are addressing,
but when I read the post I didn't come away with any negative reaction. To
me it simply read in a context that pointed toward a more "generic approach"
as opposed to seeking the more formal approach indicated by the higher
educational route we've been discussing.
I'm quite frankly wowed by that figure of 42 grand a year. That seems
extremely high to me, but having been one of those "gray haired
instructors", I have to admit I'm not that well up on present college fees.
Considering all the factors being discussed in this thread, I would be
leaning heavily toward a general college education dealing with a marketable
major for today's professional environment and going the flying route as an
additional effort; then playing the post graduation market to see what
develops.
Dudley Henriques