Sault or Seneca?

[bverwegen]

I am trying to decide which college to attend next fall- Sault or Seneca?

I have visited both, and got a more welcoming feeling from the soo. A big deciding factor is the degree you recieve from Seneca, is it really a big deal to the airlines?

Please share experiences and anything which will help me make my decision!

[Bede]

Why not Con in Thunder Bay? It's a year less than Soo, 2 years shorter than Seneca. Every year you spend out of this industry (ie school) is a year less of seniority. Because of the cyclical nature of this industry, you may even graduate in an off year and not find a job, whereas in an earlier year you may have found a job easy.

Also university degree makes very little difference; I doubt there are points for a degree above a college. PS I have a degree and no college, so I'm not biased.

[mr.jinks]

agreed.

I'd go to confed or get private flight training and get a useful diploma, or at least some kind of trade that might actually come to use to you someday (incase you loose your medical) or, decide you'd like to have a social life and a 9-5 job 5 years down the road or....etc.

[Isis]

If I'm not mistaken, Sault College does have an opportunity to get a degree through Algoma University (or it did 2 years ago). I'd enquire about that, if you really want a degree.

[mcrit]

Confed or Sault, both produce excellent grads and have a good reputation through out the industry.

[mattedfred]

confed and i graduated from the sault

[lionheart27]

All 3 have their advantages and disadvantages.
Pros Cons

Seneca Degree looks good/MIFR 4yrs/Frozen ATPL might lapse
Sault MIFR 3yrs
Confed 2 yrs/float/ski/taildragger no MIFR

The end result is the same but as mentioned this industry is about seniority/experience and skills/licenses plus the report with the companies you work for.
MIFR is good but unless your hired by a company that wants to take a chance on you, have a bond agreement or put you in the right seat your working to get your PIC and build your ATPL time.
More likely you'll be hired as a Rampie/Dispatcher(Exams written) or Instructor(if you get your rating) or working a float job if you can cover their insurance requirements(usually 50hrs+)
That's one thing I could not understand. Why don't the colleges offer instructor ratings. I know they do hire some graduates after the fact so that's something to keep in mind.
Don't get killed doing a "Whisky" with the newbie
Seneca (giving a frozen ATPL) believes in post graduate entry but I hesitate that will happen unless the industry picks back up to its early state. Any Major Airline Daddies! No they sometimes have interview/class/SIM's to take a few from the colleges. Not sure if that's happening now.
Sault/Seneca believe in the "Military" style dress and conduct code so be ready for that. It will actually ship you up or ship you out as they say.
Sault/Seneca have an attrition program, so if your not up to snuff your asked to leave. Both academic and flying. Can be very competitive.
Confed has certain guidelines to meet this way too but is not run like "Top Gun"
I think both Sault and Confed have another advantage of being up north. Cheaper living, northern experience(something you'll get used to in your first CPL years) and more in tune with what you'll see in the first yrs after graduation.
Other things to mention is Seneca is not as funded/subsidized as Sault and Confed
Confed tuition 5800+3900+material and costs=10k-11k
Sault Tuition 6kx3+materials and costs= 20k
Seneca Tuition= 10kx4+ materials and costs=45k-50k
You add on living expenses to that. When you do Seneca looks like a private school.
You could go to MFC or Harv's and spend 50k and get it all.

**By the way it is April and students have already been accepted for all 3. You'll get on a waiting list if your lucky. May is the deadline for acceptance but they do have spots open up.
Seneca and Sault had a testing session that took place in March for placement seniority.
Seneca charges $50 for this. Crazy!
So you may be SOL this year.
So advice: Go get your PPL/Dispatcher/Taildragger/Float time/upgrading to MTH/PYHSICS college level or consider a private school and work for you flight time

Good Luck!

[Isis]

lionheart made some good points/comparisons.

In the end it boils down to what you want out of your career. If you're interested in getting to the end result (airline/bush/MNR/whatever your goal may be) then the first couple of posters are correct; go the private route and complete your licences on the fast track.

If you're more interested in the journey (and less concerned about finishing), then the timing of the college programs becomes a moot point and you're just deciding which program best fits you.

Personally, I admire those that completed their licences privately. If it wasn't for the structure of the college program, I don't think I would have been able to stay focused enough to complete my training on my own. Considering my age and maturity at the time, I'm glad I went the college route - it worked for me, doesn't mean it's the only way to go.

Not to mention the actual experience of college life. Again, things that I wanted, hence my decision.

This is a point I can't stress enough: figure out what you want.

This isn't a decision that a public forum can make for you. Decide what you want out of your education, what you want for your career, and go from there. Feel free to browse these forums (this topic has been debated before) talk to previous grads, and be sure to get positive feedback as well as the negative. Many didn't enjoy their time at either college and you should find out why - perhaps it won't affect you.

I attended Sault College and taught there as well. If you have any questions you can pm me or ask here.

[lionheart27]

Well said Isis

What year did you graduate the Sault?

[Isis]

I graduated 2004. I taught from Nov. 05-Aug. 08.

It wasn't all rainbows and puppy dogs, but I found the learning experience (aviation, life, and as an instructor) invaluable.

[lionheart27]

I ran into a graduate at Cameron Air here in Toronto at the Island airport. I think he graduated 2006
Oriental short forget his name. You probably instructed him at one point.
Cameron flies C-206 and Caravan Amphibs to Muskoka for the rich and aimless.

[Isis]

Oddly enough, your description does sound familiar. Pretty sure I know who you're talking about. A hell of a guy for sure, pretty good hands and feet too - from what I remember.

[CLguy]

Actually Confed is just one step away from providing graduates with IFR's. Students now graduate with the INRAT exam wrote and are only a few hours away from the requirements for a flight test. They also have a Level 6 sim that you can train on for your Multi-IFR.

I suspect it won't be long before the grads will not only be graduating with float time but also IFR's as well!!

[willing to fly]

First and foremost, you should enjoy going to post secondary schooling. It's not all about the diploma hanging on the wall of the I love me room. Go check out all three schools if you can. Talk to people currently in those programs. Past grads may wear rose coloured glasses.
As other posters mentioned, there are other options including getting a degree/diploma in something useful (wish I had done that) and flying at the local flight school during the evening and weekends. There are also a few other schools that offer integrated commercial pilot programs. UWO and Conestoga College come to mind. I know people who have left both Sault and Seneca and went other routes and were quite happy. They got to fly where they wanted, when they wanted and with whom they wanted - something you can't do at the big three as I understand.
I'm not in the hiring department where I work but FWIW, I don't think our employer cares that much whether you have a piece of paper from a school like Seneca or a lesser known one like Conestoga. Getting a job comes down to having the right qualifications in the book and being in the right place at the right time (or continuing to follow up).
There are many ways to climb a mountain but they all lead to the top. Enjoy the journey no matter which path you choose.