'The Great Integrated vs Modular debate.'
Can't remember if anyone has stated this already, however, to be honest, a real debate can only arise whenever there is a job market to speak of.
Speaking to a lot of influential people within the industry, the real synopsis, I find, is that there is not a lot of difference between the qualities of either. Infact, if I'm perfectly honest, I have heard one or two larger 'integrated' establishments being severely slated for the end product that they were sending to the airlines. I had always been a little indifferent towards the whole debate, willing to accept that the integrated schools would always forge a stronger relationship with the carriers because 'that's the way it has always been.' Now I would sit firmly on the modular side of the fence. Not just because I was a modular man myself, but because I have been left with a very dim view on integrated courses and indeed with one school in particular. One thing that I would say is that integrated schools will get you that preverbial 'foot in the door' with some airlines. However, call me a cynic if you like, I do believe that it's not just raw ability and a credible personality that will get you there by itself. This makes the integrated world even more of a gamble. However that's only my opinion.
I'm a firm believer in, 'if you want something badly enough, go out and get it yourself.' I'd stand by the fact that this philosophy worked for the vast majority of the guys and girls who completed their CPL/IR's around the same time as myself at a particular modular establishment mentioned a few times in this thread. Yes, many ended up in Ryanair (avec moi) however a few more ended up with other airlines such as Titan, CityJet, Aurigny and DHL. One or two also joined the executive jet market after their training. We all got jobs of our own backs, a few had 'contacts,' however that's often the way to go. I too had made a few and ended up in a hold pool for an airline before I had completed my MCC. But, as someone correctly mentioned, 'timing' had a lot to play in our success stories as well.