Flight Training
You are always judged firstly on your appearance! Look smart, fly smart! It's as simple as that. People who care about their appearance generally care about most things including the quality of their flying. Those who've rushed to a lesson with inadequate time to shave and shower etc., will probably be equally unprepared for the flight to come with the obvious expensive consequences. Those students who complain about their appearance being criticised would not dream of attending an interview at British Airways (or any airline) unkempt and I doubt whether any airline Captain in that company would tolerate his First Officer in the same condition: Qoute from BA Flying Orders: The Captain should ensure that he and his crew always present a good personal appearance. Enough said?
As for OAT, CTC, Jerez etc., one thing all these schools have in common is a healthy wish to do the job well. Not all have the financial back-up which Oxford has but all are trying to produce the best pilots which are as much a function of the flying instructor as they are the school. Get a good instructor and the rest normally follows. OAT attracts no different wannabees than the other schools and it is rude and insulting to infer otherwise. OAT's investment at Goodyear has been enormous in both finance and interest from all the managers at Oxford right up to the MD and beyond.
As for jobs, OAT is the only school with a department dedicated to obtaining their graduates' positions. Not everyone will be immediately successful but this is more a function of suitability and attitude and frankly not the fault of the training organisation. There has never been a better time to get into this industry but make sure you pack your razor blade!