orangesky
Totally agree everyone should visit the FTO's and talk to current students. It still amazes me how little though is put into where to go for your IR.
You must check number of a/c, student instructor ratio, pass rate, facilities, how often you train and when you are at an FTO for a visit ask the students if what you have been told is correct.
And just for the record I have worked in advanced training for 2 years and have never known of a student who left Bristol, Aeros or airways(exeter) without completing their course. I cannot say the same about most other FTO's from which I met many refugees and I think that says more than anything else about the standard.