Answers on an ePostcard
Pablo Unintentionally you are making my point. You sound like a good guy. You weren't born with a silver spoon in your mouth and were not handed your licence on a plate. You worked hard to overcome numerous personal difficult situations to achieve the standard required to become a commercial pilot. That standard is the same for everyone but you achieved it.
My point is that had the required standard been that you needed a degree and a CPL like many other nations then you are the sort of chap who would have done that as well. You are a self starter and will likely eventually be rewarded for your effort. Would you be a better pilot NO, would you be a better person NO would you be better qualified YES.
Jolegg You are right. I have already agreed this point twice now. Uni DOES NOT make you a better person/pilot or give you better experience than you can get outside. It simply raises the bar as you have had to acheive something else that not everyone else has.
Meirda Apologies I thought I had for clarity I would choose the chap with a degree in food science. Here's why (I fear I hear the flood gates opening) The chap who can speak 4 languages fluently and holds a fATPL is clearly a gifted individual, it is very unlikely that someone with this sort of linguistic skill would not be academically strong enough to have a degree by virtue of the fact that he/she does not it implies that they are not willing to go the extra mile and get a qualification which they could easily obtain. It is likely (bear in mind I have no other information except what you have provided as the scenario for this hypothesis) that this person is the sort of person only gets qualifications that they believe are necessary. This is likely to be a character trait of someone who will therefore do what is required and no more.
The chap/chapess with the degree in food science doesn't just know about food by virtue of the fact that they have a scientific degree, they also understand statistics, numerical analysis, sales, marketing and food engineering. They have demonstrated with one qualification that they are prepared to prove academic ability rather than rely on someone having to dig for it. i.e they make the recruiters job easier, they also reassure the recruiter that they have the intellectual horsepower to turn thier hand to multiple and varied tasks as food science would help little with the aviation studies and thus demonstrate flexibility of application to more positions within the firm.
Reheat I would argue that many of the magic circle law firms prefer solicitors who are lawyers and specialists in an area. i.e an engineering graduate who qualifies as a solicitor is the chap to have when defending an engineering lawsuit. Vocational degrees are of course different i.e a doctor needs to study medicine and a priest needs to study theology but increasing numbers of accountants and lawyers have unrelated degrees. The point I was trying to make though and you point out is that the qualification of choice is still the degree for ENTRY standard the professional qualification itself comes afterwards. It would do us great standing amongst that community (who bear in mind our very much in control of share capital and trade our airlines worth for a living) if we had a similar ENTRY level qualification.
Contentious probably but just my humble opinion.