Calling a spade a spade.
I can't help myself - I swore I wouldn't bother with this topic after the last similar thread. People that come here and ask this question have some of the strongest confirmation bias (you will learn this at uni) that I've seen in the industry. I had it for some of the same reasons. On others i wasn't kidding myself.
These are the reasons:
1. Avoiding biting the bullet and spending the big cash and going through the pain of intensive training that most organisations offer. Lets face it 50k is alot of money to spend in 11 months.
2. Avoiding packing up the car and going into GA where people (me included) know full well a bed of roses is not awaiting.
3. Avoiding leaving the major centres where mums cooking, clubs and plentiful of the opposite sex are available at short notice. These are generally promptly replaced with !!!!holes and country types that really ain't got time for your "fresh CPL degree bulllshieat!".
4. Not actually being sure they want to be a pilot because they really just want to fly the big stuff and walk around in an impressive uniform inclusive of hats, bangles, badges and other cary on. The whole Cessna theme doesn't really impress anyone in various conversations at social events as they are "just little planes that crash all the time aren't they?".
5. Been done like a dinner at the uni open day with the line "airlines will have this as a minimum requirement very shortly... they do in America". Do they? Well F@ck America mate they pay 30k per annum for jet jobs over there is my answer to that! Qantas look favourably on it. Qantas looks favourably on people that naturally fit their mold. You either do or you don't - you could be Albert Einstein's son and Check Yeagers younger brother but if you don't fit their strange mold they ain't going to hire you let alone for some degree. Come on!
6. Listening to people that have no idea how the industry works for example: mum and dad.
7. "The contacts I'll make will hold me in good stead" Sure you will make great contacts but you can do this whilst in the industry working anyway. The contacts can only do so much at the top level. There are about 1 million filters you'll have to go thru its not about just knowing one person.
This is the reality:
You can do the degree whilst working and building critical hours toward minimum requirements for decent paying flying jobs. I don't want to hear - "oh I'll just do it for the love of it". Do you plan on renting for the rest of your life? Average home price heading toward half a million - wakey wakey. Next news flash - by the time you are old enought to retire there will not be an old age pension.
Of the 100 or so that rocked up to first year about 25 were left by third year and of that half would be still flying. The rest quit or couldn't muster up the courage/balls to drive off into the sunset. Still at home talking about it or blaming low cost carriers or whatever else for not sticking at it.
People that do the degree fulltime are often brainwashed into thinking they will have an advantage of some description over others. Its nearly like a superiority thing. I'd say I've done my tour of pistons, turbo props, jets ect and I can say that the degree did not get a mention once. Not once. All my High Distinctions and awards made not one iota of difference. The employers didn't even notice them.
The result was that I am where I would have been anyway three years later than I should have been. Luckily it worked out but let me add this to the uni open day at the "Anti putting of the inevitable" stall. Windows of opportunity come and go in this industry. There is a window now that was interrupted by the GFC started in 2005 and could end at anytime just make sure that you've used the next 3 years to get the airline minimum requirements or close to and a few uni subjects knocked over rather than a degree which you will show not one person and 150 hours plus minus 60k in your bank.
Confirmation bias.