Don't forget to check out the M1 and J1 AFTER way of doing things.
Saves time on J1 that gives you competitive edge - sort of against those who have less time on their J1 left. Also be carefull to have the DS 2019 form printed and handed to you (so you know it's real :-D ) by end of this year (31.12.2009) and then enter USA no later than June 2010. Ideally May or so. In case you want to take time. I don't think you would once you kickstart things, but..
J1, such great tool for European heli pilots in training, is being phased out.
You can read about it here at lengths. The future of special subclass of M1 as vaguely proposed, is not that certain.
You'll feel like home (literally) with all the Scandinavians - mostly from Norway in both Bristow Academy and Hillsboro.
If you've got the cash side of things sorted, get your M1 visa sorted for PPL and bit more, then return on J1. Summer in Oregon's great. Florida summer doesn't suit me personally (spent one in Georgia, 'bit higher' but).
There's lot to trawl through to get an idea, make up your mind etc.
Hillsboro won't give you JAA papers. On the other hand, there's quite a queue for Bristow Academy's FAA/JAA programme. It's also more expensive.
Some went to BA for FAA programme only and then it's easier to work hard and do the JAA DS with the test centre around the corner. You better check with Anisha or whoever is there for that stuff now.
Although probably 'easiest' to score a job as CFI with the school, it's not that case for everyone - pretty obvious. Less US students due to stricter lending rules etc also means less CFIs needed in small schools - where you'd head if not successful in 'alma mater'. Not the case of either of the abovementioned schools, plenty Europeans, Americans, very few Asians or Latinos. Should be about the same in Bristow Academy although they also do military RW training for some Latin American govts so definitely more than Hillsboro.
Nice vids on youtube if you search.
As for R22 vs S300. Ehm. If you end up in Bristow Academy, try to get at least 50h TT in R22 - from what I've heard/read from past students, not that easy. Most schools use R22 due to cost etc, and BA is mostly S300. You can't instruct in the USA in R22 without 50h on them. In Hillsboro, vast majority of training is in R22, only few heavier (or those tall guys who don't like being cramped in Robbies) studes have to fly in 300. There are no 'S300 only' instructors in HAI as far as I was told by Jenifer.
Also, once you finalise the plans when you start, check out the dates for RHC (in California) 'safety courses' as it's requirement in FAA system, to have SFAR 73 sign-off. You can do that as soon as you have PPL(H). Be warned, book early, very early. Irrelevant for instructing in Schweizers, but you want to be competitive and for chance to instruct in the most common heli for initial training, R22, kinda no-brainer.
If you want, I'll PM you a link to my picasa with couple XC pics out of HAI.
With Norsk lowering requirements (oops, Bristow Norway), as soon as you have CPL/fATPL and IR(H), it's a chance. Having FAA IR also helps reducing minimum hours towards JAA IR(H), thus less. Places like Bilund in Denmark etc.
Jetranger time won't do you much good with low hours. It's good to do the JAA type rating if you're in Bristow Academy, as it could be useful for the SE IR route before ME IR(H). But that's very, very far ahead. Pardon my bloating.
Me? Could have finished training or be almost done had my funding not been badly screwed. Or sorting J1 for next year. Whatever. Ehm, not so. Screw that 50h in R22. No use for them for loong time.